Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Page 310

When you turned around again and caught up with Sakura and Ino, Choji finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Shikamaru watched your retreating figure, thinking to himself, "Just as my father said, you're an extremely troublesome person."

From now on, I'll stay as far away from you as possible.

Under the teacher's guidance, the children lined up roughly according to their classes, their innocent faces filled with curiosity, nervousness, or pure excitement about the future.

Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka, two long-lost friends, seemed to have endless secrets to share, but they didn't want to disturb the students in front of them.

They tacitly chose to stand at the back of the line, huddled together, and whispered about the interesting things that had happened over the past six months, occasionally letting out suppressed giggles.

You simply stood casually a short distance behind Sakura, and the other children, whether out of instinct to avoid danger or simply because they were intimidated by your sharp aura, unconsciously kept a distance from you.

The somewhat scattered group quieted down a little when the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, appeared on the high platform in front of the training ground.

You have no interest in his speech; those clichés about the Will of Fire, about protection and dedication, sound weak and uninteresting, far less interesting than studying the power within you.

You stand there listlessly, your gaze unfocused, your thoughts already drifting far away.

Just then, you feel that the empty seat next to you has been silently filled with someone.

I glanced at him casually and saw a boy wearing small, dark round sunglasses, with neat short black hair. He was wearing a high-necked coat, which wrapped him up tightly. He had a calm demeanor, and you could even say he was not very noticeable.

You instantly judged that they were members of the Aburame clan, and then nonchalantly looked away. A family that played with insects didn't pique your curiosity much.

On the high platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued speaking, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority.

The children in the audience were all thinking different things. Most of the children in the front row looked up, their eyes sparkling with admiration and longing for the Hokage.

At the back of the line, however, was a different scene: Choji Akimichi secretly took out snacks from his pocket and carefully stuffed them into his mouth.

Nara Shikamaru simply closed his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he felt that the speech was both a waste of time and energy, and that he might as well catch up on some sleep.

The boy from the Aburame tribe next to you didn't seem to be paying attention either.

He lowered his head slightly, his sunglasses obscuring his eyes, but you could tell that his attention wasn't on the Hokage.

He seemed to be trying something, his fingertips twitching slightly, as if summoning something.

Shino Aburame was indeed somewhat troubled at this moment.

He was trying to get the parasite out to move around a bit and feel the outside world.

Normally, he could control the insects with ease, but today was unusually strange. No matter what commands he gave, the parasitic insects inside his body seemed unusually restless and resisted coming out, as if there was something outside that terrified them.

Why?

Shino was not a slow-witted person. He stopped his pointless summoning and began to calmly observe his surroundings.

Sunshine, green grass, peers... everything seemed the same as always.

Finally, his gaze, with the keen insight unique to the Aburame clan—the ability to see through appearances to the essence—landed on you, who had exuded an unusual aura from the very beginning.

From the moment it gets close to you, the parasites show unprecedented fear.

As you're lost in thought, you suddenly notice a focused, inquisitive gaze fixed on you.

He tilted his head slightly and met Shino Aburame's gaze, which was hidden behind sunglasses but whose seriousness he could still sense.

It's a bit strange, but you conveyed this message through your eyes.

Shino didn't avoid your gaze. He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before asking in his unique, flat yet clear and earnest tone.

Why... is my bug so afraid of you?

This question was completely unexpected. A flash of surprise crossed your eyes, which quickly turned into a faint sarcasm. You tugged at the corners of your mouth, forming a smile that wasn't really a smile, and your tone carried an indifferent tone that seemed to say it was none of your business.

"I don't know." You paused, your dark eyes sweeping over Shino's heavily disguised attire, and added, "Perhaps it's because I'm a bit special."

Shino's brows furrowed slightly behind his sunglasses; the answer he received was both direct and vague.

I don't know, maybe it's because it's special, what kind of explanation is that? But looking at those black eyes that seem to absorb all light, and the aura around you that is indeed completely different from ordinary people, Shino fell into deep thought.

It seems that his understanding of insects and his perception of the source of fear are not deep or comprehensive enough.

This special girl is an 'abnormal individual' who needs to be redefined and observed.

He didn't press further, but simply nodded slightly at you, which was tantamount to accepting this answer that wasn't really an answer.

Then, he immersed himself back in his own thoughts, beginning to ponder the potential connection between particularity and insect behavior, as if the conversation he had just had was merely a small research interlude.

The Third Hokage's lengthy speech finally came to a halt amidst symbolic applause. Everyone, like birds released from their cages, rushed towards their assigned classrooms with a sense of relief and wonder.

Sakura Haruno naturally pulled you along, and together with Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and their group, they entered the same classroom.

In the bright classroom, desks and chairs were neatly arranged, and outside the window, green trees provided shade. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting dappled shadows on the clean floor. The air was filled with the smell of new books' ink and the aroma of wood, creating a fresh and hopeful atmosphere.

Sakura looked at the empty seat and was about to turn around and ask if you wanted to sit together, but saw that you had already silently shook your head.

My gaze swept across the classroom, finally settling on a corner by the window, the least noticeable one, where the light was relatively dim, seemingly perfectly matching your gloomy and aloof temperament.

Without saying a word, you walked straight over, sat down quietly, as if trying to completely immerse yourself in the shadows.

You don't need excitement or attention. This corner is an observation point you've chosen for yourself, a safe distance where you can coldly observe everything.

Sakura looked at your lonely figure sitting in the corner, her lips moved, but in the end she swallowed back the invitation.

She understands your habits, but she can't help feeling a little disappointed and worried, afraid that you are too lonely.

But then I thought, as long as we're in the same classroom and I can see you all the time, that seems to be enough.

Ino was still excitedly sharing her summer vacation adventures with Sakura, while Shikamaru and Choji had already tacitly reserved a spot for her in the middle row.

Shikamaru barely touched the chair before he sprawled out on the desk, muttering "What a nuisance," and seemed to drift off to sleep in the blink of an eye.

Choji sat next to him, continuing his battle with his bag of potato chips.

Just then, a series of suppressed yet excited screams and whispers came from the classroom doorway, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

A handsome young man walked into the classroom.

Uchiha Sasuke wore a dark blue stand-up collar short-sleeved shirt, his hands in his pockets, his chin slightly raised, and his eyes swept across the entire classroom indifferently.

His aloof and unapproachable demeanor contrasted sharply with his young age, yet it inexplicably drew the attention of those around him.

Sasuke's gaze swept quickly across the classroom, and when it briefly met yours in that dimly lit corner, he paused.

But he quickly looked away, as if it were just an insignificant stranger.

He walked straight to the empty seat in the center of the first row, sat down without hesitation, and left the whole class with a cold and arrogant back view.

"It's Sasuke!" Ino excitedly grabbed Sakura's arm and shook it vigorously, her voice filled with surprise. "Oh my god! We can actually be in the same class as Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura instantly snapped out of her worry for Sasuke, looking at his tall, straight back, a faint blush rising on her face. She nodded vigorously in agreement, "Yes! Sasuke-kun is definitely the most handsome!"

The two girls were instantly captivated by Uchiha Sasuke's appearance.

Sasuke was already used to the overt and covert stares and whispers behind him. He sat there expressionless, but the image of you in the corner flashed through his mind again at an inopportune moment.

His perpetually expressionless, world-weary face still bore the deep-seated hatred of that bloody night six months ago, but a more complex and indescribable emotion was also quietly growing within him.

"So noisy..." Shikamaru frowned in annoyance at the girls' commotion and buried his head even deeper.

While munching on potato chips, Choji objectively stated a fact: "The two remaining Uchiha from Konoha are both in our class."

Before the noise in the classroom had completely subsided, the light at the door was once again blocked by a figure.

The girl who walked in was wearing a white kimono-style top and had long, smooth hair.

She lowered her head, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, a blush of shyness on her fair cheeks, and her pure white eyes like clean glass.

Hinata's appearance silenced the somewhat noisy classroom for a moment.

Some children from ordinary families looked at her with obvious awe and distance, whispering among themselves.

"This is the young lady of the Hyuga family!"

"She looks so elegant..."

Upon seeing Hinata, Sakura immediately suppressed her infatuation with Sasuke, a genuine smile appearing on her face as she greeted her, "Hinata! Where would you like to sit?"

Hinata looked up at the sound, her pure white eyes timidly scanning the classroom.

Without any hesitation, her gaze swept over everyone and landed on the darkest corner, on you sitting quietly alone.

My heart started pounding uncontrollably; you really were here.

"I...I think..." Hinata's voice was filled with nervousness and shyness. She pointed towards the back row, "The back row...should...be more suitable for me..."

She mustered her courage, gave Sakura a grateful yet apologetic look, and then, as if afraid of being seen through, lowered her head and walked with small, hurried steps toward the back row.

Her target wasn't the empty back center row, but rather the area around that corner.

How can she get closer to you more naturally?

Hinata ultimately chose a position that was neither too close nor too far from you, so as not to be too abrupt or impolite, yet still allowing you to greedily sketch that unique profile with a single glance.

This distance was just right for her; being able to feel her presence was a silent comfort.

The empty seats in the classroom were gradually filled, and the children's noise, like the chirping of cicadas in early summer, filled the entire space.

When most of the people had arrived, the classroom door was pushed open again, and a young Chunin with a gentle smile on his face and a horizontal scar on the bridge of his nose walked in.

He stepped onto the podium, his gaze sweeping over the young, energetic faces below. His voice was loud and friendly, "Hello everyone, I'm Iruka Umino. From today onwards, I will be your teacher at the Ninja Academy. It's a pleasure to meet you all here!"

As soon as Teacher Iruka finished speaking, the classroom door was suddenly pulled open with a "bang," and a figure rushed in, bringing with it a gust of wind.

"Sorry... I... I overslept!" Naruto Uzumaki scratched his dazzling short blond hair, his face showing obvious panic and apology, and stood panting at the door.

The classroom erupted in a burst of unrestrained laughter.

The teasing gaze fixed on Naruto, making his already tense mood even more awkward. His cheeks flushed red, and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.

"Quiet down!" Iruka-sensei frowned and spoke to maintain order, but there was not much reproach in his eyes when he looked at Naruto; instead, there was a hint of barely perceptible tolerance.

He gently patted Naruto's shoulder, indicating that he didn't need to be too nervous.

At this moment, only two seats remained in the classroom. One was in the very center of the first row, next to Uchiha Sasuke.

The other one is in the dark corner at the very back, next to you.

“Go find a seat,” Iruka said gently.

Naruto took a deep breath, slowed his pace, and scanned the classroom. He first walked to the first row and paused in the empty seat next to Sasuke.

Sasuke coldly raised his eyes, his gaze revealing undisguised rejection and disgust, as if to say, "Stay away from me."

Feeling Sasuke's unfriendly gaze, Naruto snorted annoyed "Tch!"

"Who wants to sit with a cocky guy like you!" he muttered, his earlier frustration instantly replaced by a surge of defiance. He turned his gaze to the back of the classroom. "Of course I want to sit with Nagi-chan!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the entire class, including Iruka who was about to begin his lecture, all turned to the back corner.

Naruto seemed completely oblivious to the stares he was receiving. With a smile that was a mix of anticipation and silliness on his face, he quickly walked to your side.

He asked in a low voice with a hint of ingratiation, "Nagi-chan...you don't mind me, do you?"

Chapter 293 Introduction

You looked at the expectant face in front of you, then glanced at the curious or amused looks in the classroom, and nodded helplessly.

It's not that I have a special fondness for Naruto, it's just that I feel it's easier to accept Naruto's mind than to deal with those complicated thoughts and gazes.

Moreover, his sunny disposition, though incompatible with your own, is not so off-putting as to be annoying.

"Great!" Naruto had never felt so happy. He practically jumped for joy as he sat down in the empty seat next to you, feeling completely enveloped in a sense of happiness.

Being able to sit next to Nagi-chan is the luckiest thing in the world!

"That Naruto! He's bothering Nagi again!" Sakura, sitting in the front row, couldn't help but grit her teeth and mutter under her breath when she saw this.

Sasuke Uchiha, sitting in the first row, had his back to the back of the house, but he could clearly hear Naruto's excited voice and the sound of him taking his seat.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Naruto carelessly pushing a bunch of random trinkets onto your desk like treasures, and you... didn't refuse, just watched calmly, without even showing any impatience.

Sasuke clenched his fists unconsciously, his knuckles turning white. He remembered the resolute words you uttered to him on that bloody night half a year ago: "From now on, we're just strangers."

Why did I say those things back then? Why did I push you away?

The Uchiha clan now consists of only him and you; you should be interdependent and inseparable.

You should... be each other's only kindred spirits and your only home.

"Alright, students, welcome to the official start of your studies at the Ninja Academy. Before we begin our lessons, let's get to know each other."

His gaze swept over the young and energetic faces below. "Now we'll start taking attendance. Students whose names are called, please come to the front and give a brief self-introduction, such as your dreams, things you like, things you dislike, etc., so that everyone can get to know you better."