Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Seeing you nod, Sasuke seemed relieved, yet also made up his mind. "You said you would teach me swordsmanship, don't forget."

You paused for a moment, then remembered that after the night of the genocide, you thought all agreements and connections would be completely severed and nullified with that word "stranger".

Looking into Sasuke's eyes, which held a hidden obsession and a complex expectation, you didn't quite understand why he was so persistent. But since he had brought it up, and you had indeed agreed, there was no reason for you to go back on your word.

"I understand." You finally nodded, confirming the agreement.

A day at the ninja academy, from being punished by standing in the corner to reflecting on one's actions, to the cooking club's scandalous culinary incident, and then to all sorts of inexplicable attention and entanglement, completely depleted the already meager energy reserves.

You feel utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally, and even the fingers holding the pen seem powerless.

Just then, the space inside the room began to distort and fluctuate in a familiar way.

Obito looked at the girl under the lamp who rarely showed a slightly listless appearance, and a hint of surprise flashed in his single eye behind the mask.

"Uchiha Nagi?" he tried to greet her, his voice sounding somewhat muffled through the mask.

You didn't even look up, remaining focused on the manuscript in front of you, completely ignoring his presence.

This blatant disregard left Obito feeling both frustrated and curious.

He couldn't help but take a few steps closer and look down at what you were writing.

When Obito saw the eye-catching title "A Self-Criticism for Not Completing Homework on Time" and several similar drafts already written next to it, he was stunned.

"Why...why did you write so many self-criticisms?" he couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with disbelief. These things could be mass-produced?

Your pen paused for a moment, and without looking up, you uttered two words: "For backup."

The words are concise and to the point, as if to say that this is a strategic resource that needs to be kept on hand, just like ninja tools.

Seeing your serious expression, Obito was speechless for a moment. He had originally wanted to urge you to give a reply about the undercover mission, but seeing that you seemed really busy, he held back for the time being, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, intending to wait until you were done.

After all, he understands that pushing too hard can backfire.

The only sound in the room was the scratching of the pen tip across the paper. Time passed slowly, and Obito watched you write and draw, draw and then stare blankly, the progress was infuriatingly slow.

Just as Obito's patience was about to run out, you suddenly looked up and asked him a question that caught him off guard, "By the way, do you know how to write a self-criticism?"

Obito was taken aback by your question, and with a hint of pride from distant memories, he blurted out, "Of course I can! I used to be..."

He abruptly slammed on the brakes halfway through his sentence, his cheeks flushing red instantly beneath the mask. He recalled his glorious past as a bottom-of-the-class student, writing countless self-criticisms for various pranks and mission failures... This was hardly something to brag about!

"But what?" You noticed his pause and pressed for an answer, your eyes filled with pure curiosity.

"No buts!" Obito growled, somewhat embarrassed and angry, abruptly ending the conversation.

"Oh." You received a negative answer, but didn't press the matter. You immediately lowered your head and continued your struggle with the self-criticism, leaving Obito aside once again.

Seeing your attitude of using me and then discarding me, Obito felt a tightness in his chest. He took a deep breath and told himself to calm down and that important matters were more important.

He spoke again, his voice carrying an undeniable seriousness.

"Uchiha Nagi, when are you finally going to finish writing these backup self-criticisms? Give me a straight answer! I've been waiting for your reply for ages!"

You glanced at the slowly progressing manuscript in front of you and gave an extremely perfunctory answer, "Almost done."

What you call "quick" is, in Obito's eyes, nothing but daydreaming. His pen doesn't move for ages. At this rate, he won't finish writing even by dawn!

Obito's patience finally ran out, and before you could react, he snatched the pen from your hand.

"By the time you finish writing, it will be dawn!" Obito snapped irritably, then, as if a switch had been flipped, he took a deep breath and pulled over a blank sheet of paper.

Lines of messy yet fluent handwriting poured out, filled with deep regret, sincere apology, and a positive outlook for the future.

His rich emotions, skillful use of clichés, and ability to readily offer various excuses for mistakes all demonstrate his profound skill and rich past.

You looked at Obito's sudden action with some surprise, but did not stop him. Instead, you simply sat down in the chair with your knees drawn up and quietly watched him write.

One, two, three...

Obito seemed to have rediscovered the feeling of writing furiously back in the day, and wrote more than a dozen self-criticisms in different styles in one go.

When Obito put down his pen and looked at the stack of detailed self-criticisms in front of him, he suddenly snapped out of his long-lost creative state.

You picked up the stack of self-criticisms, glanced through them briefly, and looked at Obito. "Your past... is quite fascinating."

Obito felt like he'd been stabbed in the chest again! This was definitely a veiled attack on him, wasn't it?!

But since things had come to this point, there was no point in dwelling on it, so Obito forcefully steered the conversation back on track.

He straightened up, his single eye fixed on you through the mask, his voice low and resolute, "Uchiha Nagi, this game ends here. This is your last chance—"

"Do you want to join Akatsuki and become a spy for Konoha?"

A simple syllable echoed clearly in the room.

Obito's eyes, hidden beneath his mask, widened slightly in surprise, as if he were hallucinating.

"You...agree?" His voice was filled with disbelief and hesitation.

He had anticipated all sorts of reactions: rejection, ridicule, bargaining, or even physical violence... but he hadn't expected it to go so smoothly, so smoothly that it made him wary.

Something unusual must be going on. What exactly are you plotting? Countless conspiracy theories flashed through Obito's mind in an instant.

You saw through his doubts and weighing of options, but instead of rushing to explain or assure you, you simply stated a fact in a calm tone: "I have no feelings for Konoha, you don't need to doubt that."

There was nothing fake or deliberate in his voice, only an almost indifferent detachment.

This reason, though it sounds absurd, somehow carries a strange credibility when it comes from you.

Obito stares into your eyes; perhaps it is this indifference to everything that is most terrifying.

There is nothing to protect, and therefore no weakness to exploit.

“I need freedom,” you added, which was a prerequisite for agreeing to the conditions. “My undercover identity cannot be a shackle that binds me. I have the right to act according to my own judgment, rather than completely following your orders.”

Chapter 305 - Fascination

"Next time we meet, I will personally remove your mask."

He slowly turned his head to glance at you, his voice coming through the mask with a low warning, "Uchiha Nagi, being too curious... rarely leads to good results."

Obito said no more, and his figure completely disappeared into the distorted spatial ripples.

After he left, the room fell silent again. You slowly walked to the window, looked up at the cold, bright moon in the sky, and for a moment, an image of a blood moon seemed to flash through your mind.

What is true suffering?

Where does all this tragedy come from?

Weekend, along the Namka River.

The river flows gently, shimmering with tiny golden rays in the sunlight, while the grassy banks are lush and green.

Sasuke Uchiha arrived ahead of time as agreed. He imagined this would be a rare opportunity to spend time alone with you, and perhaps he could use it to get closer to you.

When he saw the scene by the river, his handsome face instantly darkened.

You are indeed there, but standing next to you are two people he least wants to see at this moment: Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki!

"Sasuke-kun! I didn't expect to see you here..." Sakura's face immediately flushed with surprise when she saw Sasuke, and her voice was filled with excitement.

Seeing both Sasuke and you at the same time, today is truly her lucky day!

"Hmph! How come this arrogant guy is here too!" Naruto made no attempt to hide his displeasure, crossing his arms and pursing his lips at Sasuke.

Sasuke ignored Naruto's taunts and looked directly at you, his gaze passing over the two of them, with a hint of questioning in his eyes.

You, however, seemed completely oblivious to the subtle atmosphere, focusing intently on adjusting Sakura's grip on the sword.

An unsharpened practice dagger looked somewhat clumsy in Sakura's hands. You stood behind her, gently supporting her wrist with one hand and her elbow with the other. "Keep your wrist steady, lower your center of gravity, and feel the dagger become an extension of your arm."

There was a perfect distance between you and Sakura, but the close guidance you provided still felt a bit jarring to Sasuke, who was watching from the sidelines.

Naruto's eyes lit up when he saw you personally teaching Sakura, and he eagerly tried to join in, "Nagi-chan! I want to learn too! Teach me!"

But as soon as he took a step, an arm blocked his way.

Sasuke looked at Naruto with a cold face and said in a hard tone, "...I'll teach you how to hold a sword."

He knew without even thinking that Naruto, that loser, had no interest in swordsmanship at all; he was just trying to get close to him, and he would never allow that!

"Huh? I don't need you to teach me!" Naruto immediately jumped up. He wasn't stupid; how could Sasuke's teaching be the same as yours personally?

"You have no choice." Sasuke's attitude was unusually firm. He reached out to grab Naruto's arm and forcefully began the lesson.

"Hey! Don't touch me! You arrogant Sasuke!" Naruto nimbly dodged, and the two of them immediately started pulling and tugging at each other on the grass, locked in a stalemate.

One insisted on teaching, while the other refused to learn, yet their attention kept glancing at the pair of teachers not far away.

You are completely immersed in teaching, oblivious to the childish rivalry between the two people next to you. Perhaps you simply think that this way you can solve multiple problems at once, which is more efficient.

In the second week at the Ninja Academy, you believe you have fully learned from the lessons of the troublemaker from the previous week and are determined to keep a low profile, at least trying not to be punished by standing for not handing in homework again.

Sitting in the corner of the classroom, I absentmindedly twirled my pen, my gaze unfocused, praying that this week would pass uneventfully.

Trouble always seems to find its way to you. Naruto, sitting next to you, clearly can't stand the boring class.

He leaned closer to you, lowered his voice, and whispered in a cacophony of encouragement, "Nagi-chan~ I'm so bored! Anyway, I can't really understand what Iruka-sensei is saying, so... how about we sneak out?"

Your fingertips, which were turning the pen, suddenly stopped.

Skipping class? You glanced at Iruka, who was lecturing intently on the podium, and then looked at Naruto's expectant face beside you.

It seems... it's not entirely impossible?

In any case, Obito Uchiha had a large enough stock of apology letters to deal with any subsequent troubles.

The principle of efficiency takes precedence again; instead of wasting time here, it's better to do something else.

You nodded to Naruto, and the two exchanged a knowing glance. While Iruka turned around to write on the blackboard, you quietly slipped out of the classroom through the back door.

Hinata Hyuga, who was sitting not far away, saw all of this.

Her pure white eyes were filled with struggle, and her fingers were nervously twisted together.

She knows skipping class is wrong and she should tell the teacher... But if she tells you, will you be angry? Will you never speak to her again?

The anxieties entwined Hinata's heart like vines, and ultimately, the fear of losing that faint connection overwhelmed everything.

She lowered her head deeply, burying her flushed cheeks in her arms, selectively turning a blind eye, silently repeating to herself: I didn't see anything... I didn't see anything...

The sun was shining brightly outside the school wall.

You and Naruto nimbly climbed over the wall, dusted yourselves off, and breathed a sigh of relief, ready to enjoy this stolen moment of freedom, only to freeze in place.

Under the shade of a tree not far from you, a figure wearing sunglasses and a turtleneck coat is standing quietly.

"Nagi-chan! When did he appear?!" Naruto pointed at the figure, completely bewildered, his voice filled with disbelief. "This guy's presence is so weak! I didn't even notice him!"

You were also a little surprised, not expecting to run into classmates while skipping class, and you and Naruto squatted down on either side of Shino.

"Hey, Shino, what are you doing here?" Naruto couldn't help but ask, peeking over the wall. Skipping class instead of going out to play, just sitting here daydreaming?

Shino Aburame pushed up her sunglasses, her tone as calm and even as ever, and pointed to a few ants on the ground carrying food scraps. "I'm observing insects."

"Observing insects? What's the point of that?" Naruto scoffed, completely unable to understand such a pointless hobby.

But then his eyes lit up, and he immediately remembered the important matter, extending an enthusiastic invitation, "Hey, Shino! Why don't you join our Mischievous Kings? It'll be so much more fun to act together!"

"...The Demon King?" Shino's tone carried a rare hint of doubt, clearly puzzled by this abrupt and childish title.

"Yeah, yeah!" Naruto nodded vigorously, pointing proudly at you beside him, "Our leader is Nagi-chan! Isn't that amazing!"

Upon hearing this, Shino couldn't help but tilt his head slightly, his gaze behind his sunglasses falling on you, his tone inquisitive, "You also do this kind of... um, boring thing?"

In his past observations, you were more like an outsider than a core member of this small group.

Having remained silent until Shino used the word "boring" to describe it, you suddenly spoke up and asked, "Is observing insects boring?"

Shino shook his head firmly. The world of insects was infinitely mysterious, a subject he had dedicated his life to exploring; how could it be boring?

"This is the answer." You can almost see through those dark glasses and directly into his heart, as if you understand his state of being immersed in his own world.

You formed an unfamiliar hand seal in the air with extremely fast speed, without any sign of violent fluctuations in chakra, more like a silent resonance and soothing.

Aburame Shino's body trembled violently. He could clearly feel that the parasites inside him, which had been restless and even fearful because of his approach, had strangely calmed down the moment the seal was completed.

No longer the stiffness and fear of before, but a kind of... docility, as if soothed by a higher being?

How can this be!

The parasite's reaction stemmed from its most primal instincts; even it couldn't fully control this blood-rooted fear. What... exactly did you do?

Aburame Shino's gaze towards you has completely changed. If before you were merely an object of observation and research that piqued his interest, now you have been elevated to an ultimate mystery that he must do everything in his power to unravel.