Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Tobirama stared at Mito, his voice icy, "Princess Mito, what is your relationship with Uchiha Nagi?"

Mito dusted off his sleeves, regaining his composure. "Just an old acquaintance."

Inside the residence of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Wind, candlelight flickered, illuminating the mountain of domestic documents piled up on the desk over the past six months.

You recline on the chaise longue, your dark robe loosely draped over your shoulders, your slender fingers turning the pages of reports, your eyes gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

There was a gentle knock on the door, which was then pushed open.

The maid bowed her head, her hands trembling as she greeted him: "M-Master...Young Master Rin said he will not eat until he sees you."

Your fingertips paused slightly on the document. "Want to see me?"

"Yes, yes, Your Excellency." The maid lowered her head even further, afraid of angering the capricious prime minister.

Closing the document, you slowly stood up. "Then let's go take a look."

The maidservant, feeling as if she had been granted a pardon, quickly stepped aside to lead the way.

Inside Lu Helin's room, the exquisite dishes had long since gone cold. The boy knelt before a low table, his black hair hanging messily in front of his eyes, obscuring his reddened eyes.

The footsteps grew louder as they approached, eventually stopping in front of him.

Rin looked up and met those cold, indifferent eyes.

"I heard you skipped meals just to see me?"

Your voice was calm, revealing no emotion. You walked to the table, glanced at the untouched dishes, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lu Helin's throat bobbed. The questioning he had prepared vanished the moment he saw you, leaving only a humble plea, "Father... I don't want a marriage alliance..."

You chuckled softly, reached out and pinched his chin, forcing him to look up. "There are many things in this world that you have no choice but to do, whether you want to or not."

Your fingertips are icy cold, and your pressure is just right, yet you can't make him move. A hot tear falls into your palm.

"But the person my heart belongs to... is you."

The boy's voice trembled, choked with broken sobs.

You froze, almost instantly releasing your grip and taking a step back. "You've overstepped your bounds."

Your voice remained calm, but a rare flicker of emotion flashed in your eyes.

Stung by your reaction, Lu Helin abruptly knelt down, pressing his forehead against the cold floor. "Foster Father, I beg you, please don't send Lin to an arranged marriage..."

His voice choked, and his shoulders trembled slightly, like an abandoned young animal.

You look at him quietly, and after a moment, you suddenly bend down, reach out and stroke the top of his head, your tone unusually gentle: "Don't make things difficult for me."

She gently ran her fingertips through his black hair, her voice low and slow, "I need you to sacrifice your marriage."

Lu Helin's body stiffened, but he dared not raise his head.

"You'll listen, won't you?" Your voice carried an undeniable pressure.

The boy remained silent for a long time before finally straightening up, the light in his eyes completely extinguished. "...Rin understands."

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it made you smile with satisfaction.

The smile on your face vanished instantly after you left Rin Kaga's room.

Standing in the shadows of the corridor, looking down at the dried tear stain on his palm, a barely perceptible wavering flickered in his eyes.

But soon, you reverted to your indifferent demeanor.

A ninja immediately appeared from the shadows, kneeling on one knee. "My lord."

"Increase the number of men to keep an eye on Young Master Lin until the engagement ceremony is over." Your voice was icy. "If anything goes wrong, you will pay with your life."

"Yes!" The ninja acknowledged the order and withdrew, while you turned and returned to your study.

The moment the door closed, Lu Helin's tears finally burst forth.

He bit his lip hard to stop himself from crying out, but his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

"Why...why can you never see me?"

Why do you prefer solitude to accepting anyone's approach?

Chapter 45 - Dowry

Tobirama Senju stood alone at the edge of the training ground, his arms crossed, his red eyes slightly narrowed, his thoughts drifting to his chance encounter in the border town earlier that day, Madara Uchiha's almost out-of-control madness, and Nagi Uchiha's disappearance, which Madara had mentioned.

"...Why did she suddenly leave?"

He muttered to himself, his brow furrowed.

Standing beside Madara Uchiha, she was an opponent he could never truly understand. She was cunning, ruthless, and powerful enough to inspire fear.

Her sudden disappearance should have been a welcome development for the Senju clan.

But why...

His fingertips pressed unconsciously against his left chest, where his heart was, feeling empty, as if a piece of it had been ripped out.

He abruptly withdrew his hand, his eyes cold and sharp.

Undue emotions, undue wavering.

He turned and walked toward the clan's intelligence room. When he opened the door, Senju Kashiwagi was bent over his desk organizing scrolls.

"Kashiwagi." Tobirama's voice was calm and decisive.

"Lord Tobirama?" Kashiwagi quickly stood up and bowed.

"Investigate something." Tobirama tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "The whereabouts of Uchiha Nagi."

Kashiwagi was taken aback. "Uchiha Nagi? Isn't she an elder of the Uchiha clan?"

"She's disappeared." Tobirama's voice was devoid of any emotion. "Madara Uchiha is looking for her."

A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Mu's eyes, but he quickly concealed it. "Understood, I will arrange the manpower immediately."

Tobirama nodded, turned to leave, but stopped at the door. "Remember, investigate secretly. Don't alert anyone."

Kashiwagi nodded in agreement, but a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. When did Tobirama-sama start caring about the Uchiha clan's whereabouts?

After Kashiwagi left, Tobirama stood alone by the window, his fingertips gently tapping the window frame.

He was simply gathering intelligence for the Senju clan.

But from some point onward, those eyes began to appear frequently in his dreams.

He didn't need to think about these pointless things. Uchiha Nagi was an enemy, someone he had to be wary of. Her disappearance would only benefit the Senju.

Why did he feel a strange, inexplicable sense of loss?

Madara Uchiha sat alone on the edge of the cliff, holding a jade-green flute in her hand. The flute was as warm as ever, as if it still retained the warmth of her fingertips.

Madara's knuckles were slightly white, and his Mangekyou Sharingan glowed crimson in the night.

He thought he had won her heart, that their relationship had already transcended the boundaries between a bodyguard and a young master, and that the occasional tenderness in those beautiful eyes was something special that belonged only to him…

But now it seems that it was nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion.

—A farewell without any reason.

Uchiha Yoshihide's voice came from behind, calm and steady.

Ban didn't turn around, his voice as cold as ice, "Even you want to stop me?"

Liangying sighed, walked over and sat down beside him, her long black hair fluttering slightly in the wind. "Elder Nagi has her own ideas, and we should support her."

"Support her indulging in deception and then abandoning you?" Ban asked with a cold laugh.

Liang Ying was speechless for a moment.

In the past two years, the clansmen have clearly seen that Madara's favoritism towards Nagi is almost undisguised, and although Nagi appears indifferent, she has always stood by Madara's side.

Everyone assumed that she would be the future clan leader's wife.

But who could have imagined that she would leave so suddenly, without even a goodbye?

“…I know that you like Elder Nagi very much.” Liangying carefully chose his words. “You find it hard to accept her leaving without saying goodbye, but you have to look forward. Elder Nagi doesn’t want you to be depressed because of this.”

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Ban's eyes. "If she really didn't want me to become depressed, she should have come back to me instead of ending the relationship for no reason."

Liangying was speechless at his words and could only shake her head helplessly: "...Never mind."

Ban put away his flute, stood up, his robe billowing in the wind, and glanced at Liang Ying, the kaleidoscope patterns slowly swirling in his eyes. "If you have any news about her, you'd better tell me."

His voice was soft, yet carried a chilling undertone:

"Otherwise, I'm not sure what I might do."

Liangying watched Ban's departing figure in silence, a premonition rising in her heart.

The eldest brother and Uchiha Nagi are destined to be entangled for life.

Uchiha Izuna stood in front of the mansion, his finger hovering in mid-air, unable to push open the door for a long time.

He had just learned of Uchiha Nagi's departure, and was first shocked, then deeply confused. His older brother and she clearly had a very deep relationship, so why would she leave without saying goodbye?

Suddenly, a scene from a year ago flashed through his mind.

That day was his birthday, and Madara, unusually setting aside clan affairs, led the younger generation of the Uchiha clan to the capital of the Land of Fire to celebrate.

Izuna was carried on Madara's back, just like when he was a child, his cheek pressed against his older brother's back, listening to his steady heartbeat.

"Happy birthday, Izuna!" Madara turned his head to the side, a gentle smile curving his lips.

"Onii-chan, this year's birthday is my favorite!" Izuna smiled, her eyes crinkling, and she acted coquettishly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of you standing to the side, your long black hair ruffled by the breeze, your eyes quietly watching them, a hint of...pity in them?

Izuna's heart tightened.

"What's wrong, Izuna?" Madara noticed his unusual behavior.

“…It’s nothing.” Izuna shook his head, suppressing his unease. He knew how much his older brother liked Nagi and didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere with his overthinking.

"Really nothing?" Ban looked at you suspiciously.

You remained expressionless, as if the emotions you felt just moments before were merely an illusion.

"Big brother, stop watching! Today is my day, let Elder Nagi watch properly when we get back!" Izuna quickly teased.

Ban's ears instantly turned bright red, and he shouted angrily, "Who was looking at her!"

You chuckled beside me, and Ban's ears turned even redder.

"Big brother, let's go! There are so many fun things to do in Fire Elephant City today!" Izuna urged, trying to change the subject.

Ban gave you a helpless glare, signaling for him to go first, and then quickened his pace.

When Izuna turned around, he still felt your gaze following him like a shadow, as if you were looking at a tragic ending.

In the tavern at night, Huo He led the way in causing a ruckus. Hong Yi and Yao Wei were so drunk that they staggered around the room, chasing each other around, which made Chuan Lan stomp her feet in anger.

Madara then "drunkly" fell into your arms, and when you weren't paying attention, he secretly winked at Izuna, Ryoei, and Kiyo.

The three brothers exchanged a glance and sighed in unison. The once-renowned ninja demon had ultimately been defeated by love.

On their way back late at night, Hashirama Senju suddenly appeared out of nowhere and dragged Madara along to skip stones.

Izuna tried to stop him, but you stopped him.

"Elder Nagi?" Izuna asked, puzzled.

You didn't answer, you just crossed your arms and watched Madara and Hashirama's retreating figures.

Only after the two figures disappeared into the night did you speak: "Tobirama Senju is developing a special ninjutsu that is extremely effective against the Sharingan."

Izuna was taken aback. "...Why are you telling me this?"

Although he and Tobirama were sworn enemies, they were far from being locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Your left eye suddenly glowed with golden light, and Izuna's vision changed abruptly; he saw his own death.

Blood gushed from his chest as Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Slash pierced his heart, while Madara's devastating cries echoed across the battlefield...

"I..." Izuna's face turned pale, and his good mood for his birthday vanished.

"Be careful of Tobirama Senju." You withdrew your power, your voice calm to the point of cruelty. "I'm not sure if I can change your fate, but for Madara, this would be a fatal blow."

Izuna's throat went dry. "Does Onii-chan know?"