Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

You were finally slightly taken aback by Shikamaru's persistent and intense behavior. "Are you in a bad mood today?"

Shikamaru's sharp edge towards everyone instantly softened, and his tone immediately became gentle, with a coaxing undertone, "No."

He glanced at the pack of hungry wolves eyeing him menacingly, his voice not loud, but loud enough for those nearby to hear, "I just don't like them."

This blatant double standard immediately drew a chorus of suppressed boos and even stronger resentment from those around them.

When Coach Iruka arrived at the training ground with his notebook, he saw this peculiar scene.

In the center of the arena, you and Nara Shikamaru are moving slowly to some silent rhythm, performing basic dance steps in coordination.

Not far away, a row of people stood in neat rows. They neither practiced with their partners nor communicated with each other. Instead, they stared intently at the pair in the center of the field.

Iruka stepped forward, puzzled, and pushed up his headband. "Why aren't you practicing? What are you all doing here?"

Naruto Uzumaki waved his arms, pointing at Shikamaru with a face full of indignation, and complained loudly, "Iruka-sensei! You've come at the right time! You be the judge! That Shikamaru guy is too cunning! Why is he the only one who can be Nagi-chan's official dance partner?"

"Practice is fine! Why is he standing so close?! Ugh! It makes me so angry! I really want to dance with Nagi-chan too!"

Before he could finish speaking, Sakura Haruno's fist had already landed precisely on his head, producing a dull thud.

"Shut up, Naruto!" she hissed, then turned to Iruka, hands on hips, her face filled with disbelief. "Sensei, you didn't see how outrageous Shikamaru was today! He was like a completely different person!"

Uchiha Sasuke, standing to the side with his arms crossed, didn't say anything, but his eyes were fixed on Shikamaru's hand on your waist, even though it was just a standard dance pose.

Ino Yamanaka clutched her chest, feigning lingering fear. "Yeah, Iruka-sensei! Shikamaru went completely insane today! I couldn't even say a word to Nagi! He used to hate trouble the most, but now he's actively causing trouble for everyone! I really wonder how Nagi can put up with him like this!"

Kiba Inuzuka, squatting on the ground, tugged at Akamaru's fur and said sourly, "Exactly! He even yelled at Akamaru when he wanted to play with Nagi! What a stingy guy! He's probably afraid Nagi will think Akamaru is cuter than me!"

Aburame Shino's sunglasses reflected eerie spots of light in the sunlight, and his tone was resentful, "From a behavioral perspective, Nara Shikamaru's actions have seriously disrupted the average distance and frequency standards for harmonious interactions within the class, and his prejudice against the parasites I command is completely unfounded."

Choji Akimichi looked at the nearly empty bag of potato chips in his arms with a pained expression, adding tearfully, "I'm the most innocent one, okay? Shikamaru has never acted like this before! I just wanted to calm him down, and he suddenly turned around and asked me with a terrifying look if I wanted to steal his partner too... Iruka-sensei, Shikamaru, he... he's completely lost the ability to distinguish friend from foe!"

Sai maintained his signature fake smile, but his tone was a little hoarse. "I just drew a sketch, and Nara-kun immediately criticized it as a violation of the ninja code of conduct. It seems that, under certain circumstances, expressing aesthetic appreciation is also a high-risk behavior."

Even the usually timid Hinata Hyuga spoke up, "Iruka-sensei... Nara-kun's aura today... was truly... truly astonishing... Luckily, I only thought about it and didn't actually go over..."

As Iruka listened to the cacophony of accusations, his lips twitched slightly, and his gaze returned to the center of the field.

Shikamaru seemed completely oblivious to the outside noise, his head slightly bowed as he spoke to you, his profile showing unprecedented focus.

Iruka felt a headache coming on as he looked at the chaotic scene.

He cleared his throat, trying to project a teacher's authority, "Alright, alright! Stop crowding around here! Shikamaru-kun... well, he's probably just taking his partner practice for this dance party particularly seriously."

Even he himself felt the explanation was somewhat weak. "You guys should hurry up and find your partners and focus on practicing! You need to give your best performance at tomorrow's dance!"

Driven by Iruka, the crowd dispersed, glancing back every few steps, each seeking their own practice area. But those gazes, whether overt or covert, remained like a spiderweb, clinging to the two in the center of the field.

Even Iruka himself couldn't help but take a few more glances.

In the center of the training field, Shikamaru subtly glanced at the dispersed crowd as he spun around in his dance.

Trying to steal his partner? No way!

Chapter 351 Summer Festival Dance (25)

The school bell rang, and you and Nara Shikamaru walked side by side. You weren't walking fast, and the afternoon sun slanted through the corridor windows.

Shikamaru tilted his head slightly, his mind involuntarily replaying the interaction between Sakura and you yesterday.

He has always hated trouble, especially emotional entanglements, but at this moment, he chose to step into it.

“Nagi,” his voice stood out clearly amidst the noise of the corridor, “your relationship with Sakura seems rather special?”

You paused slightly as you walked ahead, a very subtle pause that Shikamaru wouldn't have noticed unless he had all his attention focused on you.

You didn't answer immediately, your dark eyes fixed on the surging crowd ahead, as if you hadn't heard.

But for the perceptive Shikamaru, this momentary pause was already the best answer.

Shikamaru didn't press the matter. He knew the principle of moderation, so he immediately changed the subject in a relaxed and natural tone, as if the question had just been asked casually.

"I have already had the dress for the ball delivered to your home in your size."

You finally glanced at him, a faint look of surprise flashing across your eyes. Perhaps it was in response to his sudden change of topic, or perhaps it was because you were so certain that you would accept the arrangement.

"What if I don't wear it?" you ask him in return, as if stating an objective possibility.

Shikamaru met your gaze, and sunlight fell into his pupils, reflecting a strange brilliance.

"You will," he replied, his voice low but unusually certain, without the slightest hesitation.

You showed a hint of surprise at this answer, "Are you so sure?"

You have reached the classroom door. Most of the students have already left, and the classroom is empty, with only the afterglow of the setting sun casting a warm orange hue on the desks and chairs.

Shikamaru stopped at the door, turned around, and faced you.

His demeanor was completely different from his usual self, carrying an almost pathological certainty.

"Of course, after all, this is our agreement."

He deliberately emphasized the word "we," referring not only to the agreement between dance partners, but more like a connection that exists only between you two.

On July 18th, Konoha was not quiet at night, and the ball was held as scheduled.

The meticulously dressed young men shed their usual ninja attire and donned formal or glamorous suits, their elegant clothes and swaying figures moving gracefully amidst the interplay of light and shadow.

You stand at the entrance in an evening gown with a matte sheen. The gown has no extra embellishments except for a maple leaf embroidered around deer antlers on the upper left side of your chest.

"Nagi-chan?" Naruto Uzumaki, who was closest to the entrance, was the first to react.

He was wearing an orange suit that clearly didn't fit him well, his tie was askew, and the juice glass in his hand tilted in shock, almost spilling the icy liquid.

"That's... the Nara family..." Hinata Hyuga, who was also nearby, exclaimed softly, her pure white eyes widening slightly in surprise.

She subconsciously glanced at Hyuga Neji beside her.

Neji's gaze, however, was fixed on you, or more precisely, on the glaring silver embroidery on your dress.

He naturally recognized that it was the family crest that only core members of the Nara clan were qualified to use.

"Wow! Nagi! You look so good in this outfit!" Tenten, wearing an adorable modified cheongsam and with her hair in double buns, exclaimed sincerely, breaking the momentary silence.

Her praise was pure and direct, unaware of the deeper meaning behind the pattern.

Just then, the crowd naturally parted to make way.

Nara Shikamaru walked over from a short distance away, his face still bearing that listless, unmotivated expression.

But upon closer inspection, one can see that his eyes are much clearer than usual, "and it fits fairly well."

But instead of his usual habit of putting his hands in his pockets, he subtly extended an impeccable invitation to dance.

"Ah! It really was Shikamaru who sent it!" Kiba Inuzuka exclaimed, hugging Akamaru who had a small bow tie around his neck.

In the shadows not far away, Shino Aburame pushed up his sunglasses and stood there silently, the low pressure emanating from him almost comparable to that of Sasuke Uchiha, whose face was icy cold on the other side.

"Shikamaru... he's really fast." Choji Akimichi said, crunching on a plate of delicate snacks provided at the ball, his tone complicated, whether he was impressed by his friend's efficiency or mourning the sacrifice of the potato chips.

Sakura Haruno stood a little further away, wearing a pink knee-length skirt, her hands tightly clasped in front of her.

Yamanaka Ino was so angry she almost stomped her feet. Her carefully chosen pale yellow dress seemed to have lost its luster at that moment. "That scheming Shikamaru!"

Just as everyone was having different thoughts, the high-ranking officials of Konoha officially entered the room.

Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a divine robe, walked at the front with a kind smile. Nara Shikaku, who was beside him, immediately spotted the eye-catching pair of figures in the center of the arena.

His own son, who always complained about trouble, and the black-haired girl beside him wearing a dress with the Nara family crest.

Shikaku's gaze immediately turned into deep contemplation. He stroked his chin, his eyes sweeping back and forth between his son's tense profile and the girl's calm face, before finally letting out a meaningful sigh.

The music changed at the right moment, becoming a soothing waltz, which was the signal for the opening dance.

All eyes, whether open or hidden, were focused on you.

Ignoring the intense gazes around you, you hesitated slightly before gently placing your hand in Shikamaru's palm.

The moment he touched you, Shikamaru felt the slight coolness of your fingertips and his heart suddenly quickened.

He tried to maintain a calm demeanor and led her to the center of the dance floor.

The lights followed you, making you the focus of the entire event.

Shikamaru's dance moves were surprisingly standard and fluid, clearly indicating that he had practiced in private.

"It seems you've practiced before," Shikamaru said, trying to calm his inner turmoil with casual conversation.

Your dance moves are like completing a task, brushing past Shikamaru's shoulder and sweeping towards the edge of the dance floor.

Uchiha Sasuke did not invite any dance partners. He leaned against the pillar closest to the dance floor, crossed his arms, and stared intently at the overlapping figures on the dance floor.

Especially the hand you placed in Shikamaru's palm, and the glaring clan crest, the low pressure around him almost formed an invisible barrier, making some classmates who wanted to get closer hesitate.

Naruto scratched his head and paced back and forth, his blue eyes filled with anxiety and resentment.

He watched you dance with Shikamaru, and felt like countless claws were scratching at his heart. He desperately wanted to rush up and snatch you away, but his remaining rationality told him that he couldn't do that.

Hyuga Neji had originally intended to invite them to dance, but now he had to give up the idea.

Ino subconsciously touched her hair, and for the first time, she felt that perhaps liking you wasn't such a difficult thing to understand.

Sai, holding his sketchbook, stood in an inconspicuous corner and quickly sketched the figure in the center of the dance floor.

Rock Lee, dressed in a green bodysuit modified into a formal gown, exclaimed, "Miss Uchiha! Your beauty is the ultimate expression of youth! I feel your surging passion!"

Kakashi Hatake appeared at the edge of the second-floor corridor at some point. He leaned against the railing, lazily looking down, and unusually, he didn't open the book "Icha Icha Paradise" in his hand.

Chapter 352 Summer Festival Dance (26)

The first piece of music finally ended, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Shikamaru gentlemanly released his hand, nodded slightly, and was about to say something to you—

"Nagi-chan! Next dance! Please dance with me for the next dance!" Naruto was the first to rush over, his eyes shining brightly, loudly inviting Shikamaru without any regard for others, almost pushing him aside.

Shikamaru frowned slightly, about to say something, when another cold voice interrupted.

"Naruto Uzumaki, mind your manners." Sasuke Uchiha appeared out of nowhere and stood between Naruto and you. "Nagi Uchiha, I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Even Shikamaru's expression darkened. Although he was afraid of trouble, it didn't mean he would back down at this time.

"Sasuke, you can say what you have to say here." Shikamaru stepped forward, his tone carrying an unquestionable protectiveness.

"Shikamaru, you go back first."

Your gaze fell on Sasuke. "I'd like to talk to him alone."

A sense of crisis swept over him. Shikamaru gave Sasuke a deep look, his eyes filled with warning and undisguised hostility, before slowly releasing his grip. "Don't stay too long."

You didn't respond and walked straight towards Sasuke. Shikamaru watched your retreating figure as you left without hesitation, and his hand quietly clenched.

The noise and glitter of the ball were left behind, providing only a faint light source.

"Speak," you said, your voice completely flat.

Sasuke looked at the garish dress you were wearing and said, "You let him touch you."

“Nara Shikamaru is my dance partner,” you state the fact, “and dancing naturally involves physical contact.”

"I don't like it." Sasuke took a half step forward, his tall figure instantly enveloping you in the heavy shadow cast by the stone pillar, a strong sense of oppression washing over you.

"I don't like the way you look at him, and I don't like his hand on your waist."

You think this question is meaningless, "You specifically called me out just to ask such a trivial thing?"

"Irrelevant?" Sasuke seemed stung by the word, his voice suddenly rising a fraction before abruptly dropping, carrying a hint of gritted teeth, "Uchiha Nagi, you clearly..."

He wanted to say something, but suddenly stopped, the words stuck in his throat.

What does "clearly" mean? Does it mean he clearly knows his unacceptable nature? Or does it mean he clearly understands that any woman who gets close to him will cause him to lose control, to want to tear her to pieces?

These words surged within him, but pride held them firmly in place, preventing him from uttering them.

“You’re too arrogant,” you interrupted his struggle.

"Arrogant?" Sasuke repeated the word as if he had heard something ridiculous. "No, I'm just stating a fact, just like you and me, we share the same blood and have the same eyes."

His fingertips traced down your jawline, burning hot, and just as they were about to touch your collarbone, you raised your hand to stop him.

"If you don't have anything important to do, I should head back." You glanced towards the brightly lit ballroom. "Shikamaru is still waiting for me."

Just as you were about to leave, Sasuke grabbed your wrist and simultaneously pinched your chin with his other hand.