Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Tian Tian smiled and opened a bottle. After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Ying looked at you and mustered up her courage to open the bottle cap as well.

Even Ya tried to imitate him and took a sip, immediately wincing from the spiciness.

"Hey! Be careful!" Choji's attempt to dissuade him was drowned out by the increasingly heated atmosphere and failed.

Sasuke knew he had a low alcohol tolerance and hated the feeling of losing control, so he just watched indifferently, without any intention of getting involved.

Shikamaru also sighed and rubbed his forehead, finding the situation truly troublesome, and naturally kept his distance.

Rock Lee was a staunch abstainer, waving the banner that alcohol would affect training, drinking only water and watching his teammates fool around.

You originally didn't plan to drink alcohol.

Alcohol can numb the nerves and impair judgment, which is dangerous and unnecessary for oneself.

But when you saw that Sakura beside you had already tilted her head back and taken her first sip, and her fair cheeks showed no signs of discomfort, you paused for a moment, then reached out and picked up a bottle, uncorking it.

You can't quite explain why you changed your mind. Maybe you just didn't want to seem out of place, or maybe you didn't want to miss any moment that would connect you with Sakura.

Sakura's alcohol tolerance was surprisingly good. After drinking several bottles of sake, her complexion remained normal, her eyes were clear, and she could still chat and laugh with Ino.

At first, you can keep up with the pace, but soon a sense of unreality, as if you are walking on clouds, envelops you.

The sounds of the world became somewhat blurred, and the surrounding lights seemed much softer, with hazy halos around them.

Ino was completely drunk. She laughed loudly, grabbed Sakura's arm, and dragged her to the performance stage in the center of the barbecue restaurant. She started singing and dancing, which attracted the attention of other diners. Some laughed, and some applauded.

Neji only took a few symbolic sips and then stopped drinking, maintaining the restraint expected of the Hyuga clan's heir.

He noticed that something seemed off about you; your usually calm dark eyes now appeared somewhat unfocused and unsteady.

Just as you were rubbing your temples, feeling that you shouldn't drink anymore, a soft and warm body suddenly hugged your waist tightly from the side.

This is Hinata Hyuga.

Before anyone knew it, the usually shy and introverted eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family had actually drunk quite a bit.

Her cheeks were flushed, like ripe apples, and her usually evasive white eyes boldly looked directly at you. Her voice was soft and sweet with a heavy nasal tone, "Nagi, I...I like you so much!"

This sudden confession caught you even more off guard, leaving you already dazed. Before you could even react, Hinata had already picked up the bottle, swayed, and refilled your glass. Then, in an almost coquettish tone, she pleaded with you.

"Drink some more~" Hinata's innocent yet slightly tipsy eyes were hard to refuse.

Under her gentle and persistent advances, you unknowingly downed several more drinks.

Now you're completely drunk. The lightness you felt before has been replaced by a heavy dizziness. You feel dizzy, your vision is blurry, and your body is limp and you can't muster any strength.

You stopped speaking and just sat there more and more quietly, your eyes vacant.

Chapter 326 The Hangover

Hinata seemed to have reached her limit. She let go of your arms, wobbled, and climbed onto the stage. She then joined Ino and Sakura, singing an unknown song off-key.

"Shikamaru! What are they doing..." Naruto stared wide-eyed at the completely out-of-control scene, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

Although he had drunk some, he was far from being drunk.

Shikamaru clutched his forehead in pain, his lips twitching, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

"This is really troublesome..." He sighed, then turned to the still relatively sober Hyuga Neji and whispered a reminder, "Neji, Hinata is already drunk. If we stay any longer... you know the rules of the Hyuga clan."

His implication was clear: the Hyuga family has strict traditions, and it would be bad for word to get out that the eldest daughter of the main family had behaved so badly in public.

Neji naturally understood Shikamaru's good intentions.

He glanced at Hinata, who was still humming softly on the stage, frowned slightly, and sighed inwardly.

He stood up and nodded to the still-chaotic crowd. "Sorry, Hinata isn't feeling well. I'll take her home first."

After saying that, he went up on stage without further ado, brought Hinata, who still wanted to continue singing, down from the stage, and half-carried, half-helped her away from the barbecue restaurant.

Right now, there's an empty space around you.

You sit alone in a chair, your head slightly lowered, your long black hair falling down, covering most of your face, leaving only your jawline and bloodless lips visible.

You were eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the surrounding noise.

Naruto was delighted to see this and was about to take the opportunity to go over and show his concern when he was blocked by another drunk guy.

"Hey! Akamaru!" Kiba Inuzuka, his face flushed and eyes unfocused, grabbed Naruto's arm and stammered, "T-Tell me! Aren't I way more handsome than that Naruto guy?"

He was clearly so drunk that he mistook Naruto for Akamaru.

"I'm not Akamaru! I'm Naruto! And besides, you're nowhere near as handsome as me!" Naruto angrily tried to break free.

"Nonsense! I'm clearly more handsome! Even Akamaru admitted it!" Kiba persisted, holding onto Naruto tightly.

And so, the two drunkards started arguing for no reason, debating the pointless question of who was more handsome.

Meanwhile, the real Akamaru had somehow slipped away to a corner, curled up in the arms of the ever-silent Shino Aburame, and was fast asleep, snoring softly.

Shino pushed up his sunglasses and quietly stroked Akamaru's fur, as if all the chaos around him had nothing to do with him.

Nara Shikamaru looked at you, who were unusually quiet, and his brows furrowed imperceptibly.

He walked up behind you, hesitated for a moment, and then gently patted your shoulder. "Uchiha Nagi, are you alright?"

You seem to hear someone calling your name, but you don't give a real response to Shikamaru's question.

Shikamaru moved closer and immediately smelled a much stronger scent of alcohol emanating from you than from the others.

He couldn't help but sigh, walked around to face you, and sat in the empty seat next to you.

He reaches out, gently touches your shoulder, and turns you to face him.

"How much did you drink?" Shikamaru's voice lowered slightly.

You focused your gaze on Shikamaru, your expression unusually calm, even with your usual serenity, but you spoke a little slower, "I didn't drink it."

Shikamaru was speechless for a moment. Looking at your face, which was clearly drunk but still denying it so earnestly, the annoyance he felt from the troublesome situation strangely dissipated, and he even found it somewhat...amusing?

He reached out his finger as if possessed and gently poked your warm, soft cheek.

The touch from my fingertips was warm and delicate.

You seemed a little confused, unable to grasp the meaning behind Shikamaru's action, and just tilted your head in puzzlement.

Then, under Shikamaru's slightly teasing and inquisitive gaze, you imitated Shikamaru, raising your somewhat weak hand and tentatively poking Shikamaru's cheek with your index finger.

Seeing this, Shikamaru couldn't help but chuckle. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, but the smile in his eyes was undisguised.

He really didn't expect that you, who are not to be underestimated, would be so... adorable when you're drunk.

"Sasuke-kun! He's so—cool—!"

Just then, Yamanaka Ino's loud cheers broke the brief silence and instantly quieted down the noisy barbecue restaurant.

All eyes turned to the stage, where Ino was waving a bottle around without any regard for her image, her face full of infatuation.

Seeing her friend's state, Haruno Sakura knew she couldn't stay any longer.

She struggled to help Ino down from the stage, then looked apologetically at everyone, "Um... I'll take Ino home first. Is anyone going that way and could you go home with Nagi?"

Her gaze swept over the few who were still relatively sober, finally landing on you, who seemed normal. She said with concern, "Nagi, drive carefully on the way back, and be safe."

You looked up at Sakura, your eyes seemed to clear for a moment, and you nodded, answering calmly, "I understand."

Seeing that you answered so clearly and logically, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and then half-dragged and half-carried Ino, who was still rambling incoherently, away from the barbecue restaurant.

Lee Rock and Tian Tian also left together.

Shikamaru originally wanted to take you back himself, since he was the first to notice your unusual behavior, but Akimichi Choji was too full to move around properly and needed Shikamaru's help.

On the other side, Kiba Inuzuka was completely drunk, clinging to Naruto Uzumaki like a leech, slurring, "Let's go! Akamaru! We...we're going home!"

"Hey! Kiba! Look carefully, I'm not Akamaru!" Naruto was in a state of panic, trying to push him away, but to no avail, and was forced to drag Kiba away.

Aburame Shino silently picked up the sleeping Akamaru and helplessly followed behind this chaotic duo.

Given the situation, Shikamaru could only turn his gaze to Uchiha Sasuke, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, as their residences were indeed on the same route.

“Sasuke,” Shikamaru said, his tone carrying a hint of entrustment, “please take Nagi back.”

Sasuke, with his hands in his pockets, merely glanced at Shikamaru, then looked at you sitting quietly there, and snorted coldly, "I don't need you to remind me."

He went to the counter to pay.

Meanwhile, seeing Shikamaru stand up as if to leave, you also swayed as you stood up, instinctively wanting to follow him.

When Sasuke returned after paying the bill, he saw this scene and immediately frowned in displeasure.

He strode forward and grabbed your wrist. "You're coming with me." His voice carried a hint of suppressed anger.

The force on your wrist and the cold tone of your voice startled you slightly.

Looking at Sasuke's handsome face, which was filled with displeasure, he seemed to take a moment to recognize him before responding, "...Oh."

Leaving the warm and noisy environment of the barbecue restaurant, the cool night air rushed in.

The streets of Konoha were quiet under the streetlights, and cherry blossom trees swayed gently in the night breeze, scattering delicate petals.

Sasuke walked ahead, his pace slow, but he didn't deliberately wait.

You followed behind him, your steps a little unsteady, but thanks to your ninja instincts, you managed to walk quite steadily.

"Uchiha Nagi?" Sasuke suddenly stopped and turned around to call out to you, wanting to make sure you were still conscious.

You seemed not to hear, your gaze drawn to a cherry blossom tree in the distance that was blooming exceptionally profusely.

The pink and white petals, like dreamy snowflakes, fluttered down.

Gazing at that dazzling display, you murmured unconsciously, your voice as soft as a sigh, "Cherry blossoms..."

Just one word instantly ignited Sasuke's long-suppressed anger, resentment, and possessiveness.

He turned around, took a few steps to you, and pulled you to the cherry blossom tree.

"Is all you ever see is Sakura Haruno?" Sasuke pushed you against the rough tree trunk, trapping you between himself and the trunk, his voice suppressed yet filled with a dangerous question.

His Sharingan eyes shone brightly in the night, churning with complex and intense emotions.

The slight pain from your back hitting the tree trunk made you frown, and the dizziness and headache from the alcohol seemed even more intense at that moment.

You were extremely exhausted, feeling dizzy and throbbing, making it impossible to concentrate on understanding Sasuke's anger or to find the words to respond.

She simply closed her eyes, as if trying to shut herself out of everything.

Your silence, your indifference, your exhaustion—in Sasuke's eyes, it was all because of Sakura, which completely enraged this already proud and stubborn boy.

The next second, Sasuke suddenly lowered his head and kissed your lips fiercely.

It has no gentleness whatsoever, and carries a faint aftertaste of sake.

At first, you didn't react at all, as if you had lost all senses. This complete passivity and disregard made Sasuke even angrier.

He took advantage of the situation and deepened the kiss, prying open your teeth and entwining himself with you.

You feel increasingly difficulty breathing, and your instinctive self-defense begins to awaken.

Sasuke grabbed your wrist and pinned it firmly to the tree trunk above your head.

With his other hand, he held your waist tightly as he continued the passionate, yet painful, kiss.

After what seemed like an eternity, Sasuke loosened his grip slightly, but his forehead remained pressed against yours, his rapid, hot breath spraying onto your face.

“Nagi…” His voice was terribly hoarse, carrying a morbid obsession and a declaration, “I like you so much…”

Sasuke forced you to look at him, "Who am I?"

He stared intently into your eyes, relentlessly pressing for confirmation that at this moment, in your eyes and in your heart, there was only the existence of Uchiha Sasuke.

Consciousness was already blurred due to the combined effects of oxygen deprivation and alcohol.

You strain to focus, looking at the handsome face before you, a face etched with obsession and longing. After a moment of silence, you answer with uncertain confusion, "...Sasuke?"

Just hearing your name from your mouth filled Sasuke with an unprecedented sense of excitement and satisfaction.

He pulled you closer into his arms. "You'll fall in love with me, Nagi."

In his overly forceful embrace and the lingering feeling of suffocation, your last vestiges of consciousness finally faded away.

The intense headache felt like being struck by a blunt instrument; all that remained of my memory was the smoky smell of grilled meat, the spiciness of sake, and an indescribable sense of haziness.

You prop yourself up, quickly wash up, and splash the cool water on your face, slightly dispelling the drowsiness. When you accidentally touch your thin lips, you feel a slight swelling.

Was it because the barbecue you ate yesterday was too spicy? Or was it because you drank alcohol? You try hard to remember, but your head still aches slightly, as if something is buzzing inside.