Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Page 298

When Naruto saw you standing on his side, he immediately cheered happily, "Yay! Nagi-chan is the best!"

Sakura glared at Naruto, then looked at you helplessly, "You just keep spoiling him!"

She paused, then added with concern, "I'll come see you tomorrow. If Naruto's snoring bothers you, wear earplugs!"

Sakura is still worried about Naruto sharing a hospital room with you.

"Okay," you replied to Sakura in a flat tone, "Go back and get some rest."

Sakura really couldn't hold on any longer. She kept yawning and quickly waved goodbye to leave the room. "I'm leaving now, Nagi! Naruto, don't you dare disturb Nagi's rest!"

Now, only you and Naruto are left in the ward.

The noise subsided, leaving only the moonlight seeping in through the window and the soft sounds of each other's breathing in the ward.

You close your eyes to rest, trying to calm your chaotic thoughts.

Naruto was completely immobilized, wrapped tightly in bandages, but his mouth didn't stop, and he began his one-sided 'bedtime chat'.

"Nagi-chan, thank you for standing up for me last time! It was at the park! I still have some band-aids left, they'll come in handy!"

"Ichiraku Ramen's new flavor is delicious! Let's go together after I'm discharged from the hospital! It's on me!"

"What do you and Xiaoying usually do at home? Can I join you in your games?" His voice was filled with cautious anticipation. "I won't be a burden to you."

At first, you would occasionally respond to Naruto's talkativeness with an "uh-huh," but later you realized that this only made him more energetic, so you could only pretend to be asleep, hoping that he would shut up on his own.

A little while later, perhaps because he was tired of talking, or perhaps because he thought you were really asleep, Naruto lowered his voice and said, "Goodnight, Nagi-chan!"

The ward finally fell completely quiet.

After an unknown amount of time, just as your consciousness began to fade and you were finally feeling sleepy, Naruto's voice woke you up again.

Naruto probably took advantage of the fact that you were asleep, so he boldly spoke his mind.

The voice was soft, carrying a unique naivety and sincerity, and was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Nagi-chan, do you know, the first time I saw you, I felt like you were a god who came to save me."

Naruto couldn't help but grin foolishly when he thought of their first meeting, even though you had your back to him and couldn't see him.

"You're so beautiful..." His voice lowered, tinged with shyness, "My heart keeps racing uncontrollably... I've heard other kids say it's because they like you..."

He took a deep breath, as if gathering immense courage, and confessed softly yet firmly, "So, I like you!"

After saying that, he seemed much more relaxed and began to look forward to the future again, "You must get better soon, and I will definitely become stronger too. Then we can accomplish many things together..."

For example, eating ramen together, doing quests together, watching fireworks together...

Naruto's voice gradually subsided, and he soon began to snore, falling into a deep sleep. He had experienced a fall, emergency treatment, and hospitalization that day, and was already exhausted both physically and mentally.

Completely disturbed by his confession, you turn over and look at Naruto bathed in moonlight.

The soft moonlight bathed his golden hair and bandaged face, giving him an unreal sense of vulnerability.

There's something complicated in your eyes.

This Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is truly cheerful and pure, like a blank sheet of paper, making you reluctant to scheme against him.

His affection is so straightforward and passionate, without any impurities. Perhaps he really can become Hokage and use his sunshine to illuminate many people.

But that doesn't seem to matter to you.

You have absolutely no interest in Konoha; your goals and path are completely contrary to Naruto's dream.

Given how much Naruto loves you, he'd cry for a long time if you defected from Konoha, right?

The thought flashed through your mind, carrying a hint of cruel calmness; you could even imagine Naruto looking at you with his blue eyes brimming with tears.

But soon, you'll clear your mind of those distracting thoughts; it's too early to think about these things now.

A more practical problem arises: a month in the hospital is incredibly boring. Hospital life is too routine and restrictive, limiting your movements and plans. You need to find a way to get out.

Although Sakura didn't like Naruto, she kept her promise the next day and brought him the miso chashu ramen and soft-boiled egg he wanted.

When the steaming hot ramen is opened, Naruto's satisfied and loud laughter can be heard early in the morning; even his bandages cannot stop his good appetite.

Just then, the door of the ward was gently pushed open.

Itachi Uchiha appeared at the doorway.

He wasn't wearing his ANBU uniform today, just a simple dark-colored casual outfit, yet he still exuded a cold and aloof aura that kept strangers at bay.

In the hospital room, you sat on the bed, propping your face up with one hand, your gaze unfocused as you looked out the window, seemingly lost in thought.

Sakura was busy setting up the small table for Naruto when she turned around and saw that it was Sasuke's brother again, and her heart skipped a beat.

Sakura is actually quite afraid of Itachi.

It wasn't just because he was a genius of the Uchiha clan and the captain of the Anbu, but also because Itachi's eyes were too cold. When he looked at people, it was as if he could penetrate their skin and look straight into their souls, without any warmth.

Moreover, Sakura's intuition told her that Itachi was dangerous, not in an overt way, but in a subtle and unfathomable way, like a male ghost, silent and unpredictable, appearing from nowhere and sending chills down one's spine.

Itachi consciously ignored Sakura and Naruto, as if they were just two pieces of furniture in the hospital room.

He walked straight to your bedside and handed you two books that looked quite old.

"This was found on my father's old bookshelf; it's a record of the Uchiha Sengoku period." Itachi's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

He connected this to your preference for weapons from the Warring States period and guessed that you would be interested in these.

Looking up, you meet Itachi's gaze. His eyes remain calm, but something deep within them seems to stir slightly. You do indeed have a strange sense of familiarity and a desire to explore everything about the Warring States period.

“Hospitalization is boring,” Itachi said, explaining his act of sending books. “I’ll bring some books with me whenever I want.”

This sounds like simple concern, but you find Itachi's thoughtfulness absurd.

Itachi's mind is too deep; every action he takes and every word he utters may be driven by complex considerations.

You're unsure whether Itachi's feelings for you stem from concern for Shisui, care for his clan, or some deeper reason.

However, it seems that Itachi is unusually concerned about himself. This concern is hidden beneath his usual calmness, and it is elusive yet real.

You took the book, your fingertips touching the cool cover, and without saying thank you, you just hummed in response.

In your opinion, there are too many things to trouble Itachi with, so thanking him is completely unnecessary and even seems hypocritical.

It seems that an unspoken agreement and a tentative understanding have formed between you.

Itachi saw that you accepted the book, and although your face remained expressionless, your eyes seemed to soften for a moment before you left the ward with peace of mind and went to report to the Anbu.

Chapter 279 - Locked Affection (1)

The ward door closed gently, and Itachi's presence disappeared.

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.

She moved closer to you, glanced curiously at the two ancient books, and then looked towards the doorway, her emerald green eyes sparkling with gossip.

Based on the plot of the romance manga, Sakura reasonably suspects that Itachi likes you.

Sending books, showing concern for his hospital stay, his seemingly indifferent yet focused gaze... these are practically the standard behaviors of a reserved yet passionate male protagonist in a comic book!

But Itachi's behavior was too natural, without the slightest trace of deliberate effort or ingratiation; instead, it seemed more like... a habitual act of care? Or perhaps, a contribution based on a sense of responsibility?

"I need to observe further." Sakura stroked her chin, secretly making up her mind.

She has a responsibility to help you make the right choice. Although Itachi is handsome and powerful, is his cold and unfathomable personality really suitable for you? What if you get deceived?

And you, lying in your hospital bed, have already opened the book that records the history of the Uchiha Sengoku period, immersing yourself in those past events covered in dust.

The book is mostly lengthy and tedious, filled with hymns to the sacrifice of honor and displays of family power.

Amidst all this tedious content, you only remember a few distinctive figures.

One is Uchiha Chiri, a genius of forbidden techniques from the Warring States period. The book records that she developed many strange and powerful forbidden techniques. Another person from the same period as Chiri was Uchiha Showa, who fell into darkness.

The book's assessment of her is extremely negative and brief: "A madwoman who almost destroyed the ninja world, expelled from the Uchiha clan."

Interesting. I glanced at that line of text a few times. To be given the title of 'almost destroyed the ninja world' and even expelled from the clan, this Showa is no ordinary person.

But you didn't delve into it, quickly moved on, and your goal became clearer.

As the book neared its end, my fingertips paused, finally finding the person I wanted to read about—Uchiha Madara.

The legendary Asura of the ninja world, a powerful Uchiha who could rival the First Hokage, has his life, strength, and the Mangekyou Sharingan pattern on the pages briefly recorded. He ultimately died in the battle at the Valley of the End.

Carefully reading every sentence about Madara, trying to find more clues, you notice that all the people associated with him died in the Warring States period before the establishment of Konoha, as if Madara's era ended completely with the establishment of Konoha.

Why are the last two pages of the book completely blank?

As if someone's existence had been deliberately erased, this discovery made your heart beat slightly faster, and you couldn't help but think of Lian's self-evaluation of the Warring States period: arrogant, powerful, and contradictory.

If that 'Tanuki-sama' really exists, and you and Madara seem to have an unusual relationship, then why isn't Nagi's name mentioned in the book?

You can't figure it out; there are too many unanswered questions about this period of history.

Based on Lian's attitude towards you, you shouldn't be an unknown person.

A strong urge to explore drives you to try and find answers from fragmented, chaotic memories, but the familiar headache returns! This happens whenever you try to trace your connection to the Warring States period from your memories!

This is not just physical pain, but more like a... backlash from the seal.

The curse mark on his collarbone was faintly burning, resonating with the seal on the power within his body.

Who left these constraints? Someone wants you to forget these things.

Beings capable of such feats—able to alter history, seal memories, and impose insurmountable shackles—can no longer be considered human.

Is it the so-called "He"? The being with golden eyes in my dream?

"Ugh..." You clutched your head in pain, your nails almost digging into your scalp. Fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on your forehead, and your face turned deathly pale. This headache was more intense than ever before.

"Nagi! What's wrong?" Sakura, who was tidying up her things nearby, rushed to your side, startled by your sudden appearance of pain.

She immediately went to call the medical staff, her voice trembling with tears.

Even though Naruto can't move, he can still sense your discomfort.

He anxiously watched your curled-up figure, slowly moving his body, enduring the excruciating pain throughout his body, wanting to check on your condition.

Kurama shouted from inside the sealed space, "Don't go, brat! That power is very strange!"

The energy fluctuations of the Prajna aura made it feel palpitations.

Consciousness was gradually fading amidst the waves of excruciating pain. Just when you thought you were about to be tortured to death, a distant sigh from the depths of your mind echoed.

"Even so, you're determined to regain your memories. You're really persistent." As you hear this, your headache immediately subsides.

You tilt your head back and gasp for breath, your whole body soaked in cold sweat, as if you had just been pulled out of the water.

"Nagi-chan! Are you alright?" Naruto finally moved to the edge of the hospital bed, ignoring his own injuries, and looked at you with a face full of worry.

After a long pause, you weakly replied, "...It's nothing."

Sakura and the nurse arrived as well. The nurse immediately checked your basic physical data, including blood pressure and heart rate...

You did not resist, but followed the nurse's instructions, closed your eyes, and tried to calm your breathing and heartbeat, but a huge storm was raging inside you.

Whose sigh was that? Was it from the person who set up the seal?

Why did he describe himself as 'persistent'? Does it mean that regaining his memories will come at a great cost?

You opened your eyes, and in the darkness, you were wide awake, without a trace of sleepiness.

The headache during the day and that mysterious sigh made you realize that it would be too difficult for one person to uncover the historical truth and the mystery of his own life, which had been covered up layer by layer.

You know you need help, and the first person that comes to mind is Itachi.

It's not based on emotion or trust, but on a cold assessment: to some extent, Itachi and you are the same kind of people, equally deep-thinking, equally burdened with secrets, and equally walking in the cracks between light and darkness.

Moreover, Itachi possesses sufficient strength, wisdom, and a high status within the Uchiha clan, making him an excellent partner.

As night deepened, assuming everyone was asleep, you quietly got up and casually pulled a kunai from your ninja tool bag.

To ensure secrecy, an illusion was cast, enveloping the entire ward area, so no one would know you had left.

Just as Itachi was about to close his eyes and rest to relieve the fatigue of the day, his keen senses caught a fleeting shadow outside the window. The shadow was incredibly fast and carried a familiar yet unfamiliar chakra fluctuation.

He immediately got up and followed without any hesitation. His shadow seemed to be guiding him, moving at a moderate pace and always maintaining a certain distance.

Finally, they arrived at a secluded clearing in the woods on the edge of the clan's territory. The moonlight was shattered by the dense foliage, and just then, a cold glint flew in.

Itachi instinctively caught it with two fingers, feeling a cold touch on his fingertips. When he saw the shape of the kunai, he was stunned for a moment.

But his instincts, honed through years of combat, quickly allowed him to deflect the attack from behind. He whirled around and parried a sharp hand strike.