Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

A white jade flute broken in two.

The flute body was as smooth and lustrous as ever, but the broken part was horribly flat, as if it had been split in two by some extremely sharp force.

He picked up the fragment and ran his fingertips over the tiny lines engraved on the flute's tail. It was an almost imperceptible Uchiha clan crest, with the character "Nagi" engraved next to it.

...It really was hers.

His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. Tobirama stared intently at the flute, the image of those eternally calm golden eyes flashing through his mind.

"How could I possibly die in a place like this..." He gritted his teeth and gripped the flute tightly. The edge of the broken jade cut his palm, and blood dripped down his wrist bone.

Suddenly, a familiar, violent chakra surged from the side!

"Whoosh—!"

Tobirama almost instinctively activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, and the ground he was standing on was cleaved into a ten-foot-deep crater by the giant sword of the blue Susanoo!

Amidst the flying debris, he teleported to a broken wall a hundred meters away, his red pupils constricting, and in the dust and smoke, the figure of Uchiha Madara slowly emerged.

His black hair danced wildly in a storm of chakra, his Mangekyou Sharingan glowed crimson like blood, and the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible: "Who gave you permission... to covet my people?"

The air seemed to freeze. Tobirama stared coldly at Madara, still clutching the broken flute tightly in his hand.

Madara's gaze fell on the broken white jade flute in Tobirama's hand, the one he had given to Nagi.

The Susanoo raised its giant sword once more, and the terrifying chakra caused the entire ruins to tremble. "Give me back the flute."

"Return it?" Tobirama sneered, putting the broken flute into his robes. "Once I find her remains, I will return it to its rightful owner."

These words completely ignited Madara's fury.

“Bones?” His voice suddenly rose. “You think a woman like that would die in a place like this!”

The Flying Thunder God Kunai clashed with Susanoo's sword, sparks flying!

The two clashed at high speed amidst the ruins, each collision causing the earth to shake violently.

"She mentioned you." Madara's blade grazed Tobirama's neck, drawing a string of blood beads. "She said that the Senju's white-haired rat only knows how to hide behind the Flying Thunder God Technique and shoot arrows from the shadows."

Tobirama retaliated with a Water Release technique that pierced through Susanoo's armor. "She also mentioned you, saying that the young Uchiha clan leader is as childish as an unweaned kitten, constantly chasing after her for promises."

Ban's kaleidoscope spun wildly, his rage almost tangible: "Shut up!"

The complete Susanoo rose from the ground, each of its four arms wielding a giant sword, and its destructive chakra caused the entire ruins to begin to collapse!

"She saw you before she left." A burning jealousy blazed in Madara's eyes. "What secrets do you two share?"

Tobirama paused, then retorted sarcastically, "What, she didn't tell you?"

A terrifying repulsive force erupted from Madara, leveling the ruins within a hundred-meter radius! Tobirama was thrown back by the shockwave, barely managing to stabilize himself with the Flying Thunder God Technique, but blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Madara hovered in mid-air, looking down at Tobirama as if he were looking at an ant. "Final warning, hand over the flute."

On a distant cliff, you stand quietly, your right eye watching the battle through the vision of the ninja crow. When you see Madara's complete Susanoo, a flicker of emotion flashes in your gray-white pupil.

"As expected... anger is the best catalyst."

You turn and walk into the shadows, the black runes on your neck faintly visible.

"We'll see each other again soon... Madara."

When Hashirama Senju pushed open the door to Tobirama's room, the room was filled with a strong smell of herbs.

Young Itama carefully held the medicine bowl and fed it spoonful by spoonful to Tobirama, who was leaning against the headboard.

The white-haired boy was pale, with bandages wrapped around his neck, from which bloodstains were faintly visible. These were the wounds he sustained during his fight with Uchiha Madara earlier that day.

Fortunately, we arrived in time today...

Hashirama felt a wave of fear wash over him. If he had been a moment later, his younger brother would likely have died at the hands of his best friend's Susanoo.

"Itama, put the medicine down." Hashirama tried to make his voice sound calm. "Tobirama and I have something to discuss."

Itama nodded obediently, gently placed the medicine bowl on the low table, and glanced at his brother with concern before leaving.

After the door closed, a brief silence fell inside the room.

Hashirama sighed and sat down beside his brother's bed. "What's going on between you and Madara?"

Tobirama's gaze shifted to the pillow, where he had carefully repaired the white jade flute with chakra threads, barely restoring it to its original form.

Hashirama followed his gaze and immediately understood.

No wonder Madara and Tobirama have disliked each other for years; even a single glance between them can spark a fierce argument.

He was torn between a like-minded close friend and a blood-related younger brother.

“Tobirama…” Hashirama carefully chose his words, placing his hand on his younger brother’s arm, “What you’re doing is a bit immoral.”

Tobirama's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot: "Brother, if you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all. What do you mean by immoral? What did I do?"

Hashirama scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "That's not what I meant... it's just that Madara and Elder Nagi have long been in sync, you should be more understanding."

"A meeting of minds?" Tobirama scoffed, his eyes filled with mockery. "What made you think that?"

Hashirama was momentarily speechless. "Uh..."

He thought back carefully and realized that Madara and Nagi had never made any intimate gestures in public, nor had they ever said a single ambiguous word to each other.

The only thing that can prove their relationship is the undisguised possessiveness in Madara's eyes every time he looks at Nagi, and the occasional indulgence that Nagi shows.

But can such subtle feelings truly be considered "mutual understanding"?

"See? Even you can't say it." Tobirama turned his face away, his voice low. "Brother, you should worry about your marriage to Princess Mito. I'm tired."

Hashirama opened his mouth, but in the end he just stood up helplessly. "Oh... I'll go now. Tobirama, get some rest, I'll come see you again tomorrow morning."

He gently closed the door and stood in the corridor, gazing blankly at the night sky.

Why did things turn out like this?

Why would the two people he cared about most fall in love with the same woman?

Inside the room, Tobirama stared at the white jade flute, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cracks on its surface.

“Our hearts are connected…” he repeated Hashirama’s words in a low voice, a self-deprecating smile curving his lips.

If that were true, how could this flute have broken in the ruins of Canglan City?

In the dead of night, Tobirama Senju's door was pushed open once again.

He looked up and a hint of surprise flashed in his red eyes. Mito Uzumaki was leaning against the door frame, her red hair as striking as flames in the moonlight.

"Looks like Madara Uchiha really went all out!" She crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over the bandages on Tobirama's neck, her tone laced with a hint of mockery.

They had no personal relationship, so her late-night visit must be suspicious.

Mito nimbly slipped into the room, closing the door behind her. She leaned close to the bed and suddenly lowered her voice, "I heard you and Madara fought because of that lunatic?" She blinked. "You like her too!"

Tobirama's expression froze instantly.

Seeing his silence, Mito smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream. "Are you trying to avoid the problem? I'm actually trying to help you!"

Without waiting for an invitation, she sat down on the edge of the bed as if they were old friends, her movements as fluid as Hashirama's.

"Help me?" Tobirama finally fixed his gaze on her, his voice as cold as ice. "How will you help?"

“Yeah!” Mito wagged her finger. “If you like Uchiha Nagi, I’ll help you create opportunities~”

"Do you know where she is?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Tobirama regretted them. His tone had unconsciously risen three points, revealing too much emotion.

Mito proudly raised her index finger and shook it. "No, but I can contact her!"

"Why me?" Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "What's your purpose?"

"Anyway, my marriage to your older brother is destined~" Mito swung her legs, laughing carefree. "And why let the good stuff go to outsiders! If Uchiha Nagi becomes your wife, I can see her every day!"

"...Become my...wife?!"

This bold proposal made Tobirama's ears burn with embarrassment, even though he was usually calm.

He gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, but the image uncontrollably surfaced in his mind—

Uchiha Nagi stood before him in her white kimono, her golden eyes still cold, yet a slight ripple appeared during the ritual of exchanging cups of wine...

"Ahem!" He abruptly cut off this absurd fantasy. "What's your relationship with her?"

“Three years ago, in the black market of the Land of Iron,” a look of reminiscence flashed in Mito’s eyes, “she rescued the Uzumaki orphan who had been trafficked.”

She chuckled, "That's when I learned that the fearsome 'raccoon dog' had actually been establishing orphanages in various countries."

Tobirama was stunned.

—Does Nagi Uchiha have this side to her?

Mito Uzumaki suddenly lowered her voice, "Actually, she's a really nice person, she just always puts on a cold and aloof act."

"Later, we would occasionally exchange information..." she suddenly smiled slyly, "Uchiha Nagi even complimented my hair color!"

Tobirama: "..."

That cold-blooded, ruthless assassin actually complimented someone's beautiful hair?

Nagi Uchiha never even glanced at his white hair!

"How about it?" Mito nudged his arm. "Want to cooperate? I have a way to get her to show up on her own!"

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, and as the doorman stared at the crack in the flute, he seemed to see his own shattered reason reflected in it.

"...Tell me your plans."

Mito stood up, took a golden talisman from her sleeve, and placed it on the bedside table. "If you want to see her, light this at midnight."

She walked to the door, turned back, and smiled sweetly: "By the way, Nagi's favorite flower is the iris—the pure black one~"

After the door closed, Tobirama stared at the talisman, his fingertips gently tracing the intricate swirling patterns on it.

The black iris symbolizes desperate love.

Madara Uchiha sat alone in front of the shrine, with seven or eight empty wine jars scattered around him. The strong smell of alcohol filled the air, and he held a bright green flute tightly in his hand.

"Madara, do you believe that fate will always be intertwined?"

In Ban's memory, you sat on the stone wall of the tribal watchtower, your black hair blowing in the wind. You turned to look at him, your golden eyes shining brightly in the sunset.

Chapter 48 - Cursed Seal

Ban remembers walking up to you, the night breeze carrying a scent that brushed against her nose, cool and slightly bitter with herbs.

You paused for a moment, then chuckled, "I thought you'd say you didn't believe me."

Your smile was faint, yet it warmed Ban's heart. He reached out and put his hand on your shoulder, gently pulling you closer.

Sometimes when I see you, I have a feeling of déjà vu... as if you were originally there for me.

Instead of dodging, you turned your face and gently touched his cheek. "It seems we have the same feeling."

That moment of soft, warm touch made Ban's heart pound like thunder.

"Perhaps we were very much in love in our past lives," he tentatively said, his voice slightly hoarse.

"I don't think so, they might even be sworn enemies!" You pushed his arm away, turned your face away, but the tips of your ears turned slightly red.

Ban simply lifted you down from the stone wall and gazed at you face to face. "Love-hate relationship sounds pretty good too."

You were silent for a moment, then finally responded softly, "What you said...I agree."

At that moment, Madara clearly sensed that Nagi Uchiha was not indifferent to him; her heart was beating just as fast, and her eyes were just as intense.

The morning bell in the ancestral land suddenly rang, startling Ban from his memories.

A crack appeared in the flute in his hand, and wine dripped through his fingers, wetting the hem of his clothes.

"You are not indifferent to me..." Madara stared at the flickering candlelight on the shrine, his eyes dark. "But why..."

A dull ache came from my heart, not from the alcohol, but from a deeper, sharper pain—a feeling of resentment.

He was unwilling to be abandoned like this, unwilling to accept that Uchiha Nagi disappeared without a single explanation, and even more unwilling...

The wine jar was smashed against the wall, shards flying everywhere.

Ban staggered to his feet, the kaleidoscope shining eerily bright in the darkness.

“Since you say fate will intertwine…” he stroked the crack on the flute, “then I will chase you to the end of your cycle of reincarnation.”

As he pushed open the shrine gate, the morning light pierced through the clouds, illuminating his cold, handsome features.