Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Page 162

"Today..." you suddenly said, "did I look strange wearing that swimsuit?"

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly, and you saw his Adam's apple bob.

“...No.” His voice was hoarser than usual, “It suits you perfectly.”

The moment you said those words, a "crack" sound came from the corner of the corridor, as if someone had crushed a glass. You turned your head in confusion, but only saw a piece of paper flower falling.

The roller coaster tracks in the amusement park soar into the clouds, their steel frames gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The winding tracks pierce the sky and then suddenly plunge down, making your heart race just by looking at them.

In the queuing area, you are randomly paired up in pairs. You stand in the middle of the line, your long black hair gently swaying in the breeze. You look around, your gaze sweeping over everyone's face, as if you are expecting something.

Then, you saw the scorpion.

He stood right beside you, his Hiruko shell gleaming coldly in the sunlight, his puppet tail hanging quietly at his side.

A bright smile appeared on your lips. "So it's Scorpion!"

Scorpion's fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly. He looked up at you, his breath catching in his throat. Your smile was too dazzling, your dark eyes filled with sunlight, making him momentarily forget how to respond.

His heart skipped a beat in his chest, and an indescribable joy spread through his blood, but his face remained as cold and stern as ever. He simply nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "...Hmm."

But the tips of his ears turned a subtle red. You seemed oblivious to his odd behavior, only glancing at the roller coaster with great interest. "I heard this roller coaster is the most thrilling ride in the amusement park. I wonder if it's even scarier than the giant swing?"

The scorpion's puppet tail tightened silently for a moment, as if suppressing some kind of impulse. "...If you're afraid, you can grab me."

You were stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, "Scorpion would actually say something like that? That's unexpected!"

—The tips of his ears turned even redder.

When Orochimaru saw Hidan beside him, his golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted, and the muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably.

Hidan grinned, revealing a maniacal smile. "Yo! Orochimaru! We're sitting together!"

Orochimaru slowly closed his eyes. "This world should just be destroyed."

When Nagato saw Deidara, his Rinnegan showed a rare hint of weariness.

Deidara, completely oblivious to Nagato's expression, kept glancing furtively at your seat, muttering to himself, "Damn it...why am I not sitting next to that shrew! Ugh!"

As Shisui stood beside her seat, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes when she saw Bai standing next to her.

Bai also kept his head down, his fingers unconsciously twisting together, "If only it were Lord Tanuki..."

The two exchanged a glance and sighed in unison.

Yahiko glanced at Konan beside him, his expression calm, as if he was already used to this kind of random arrangement.

Tsunade strode confidently to her seat, and when she saw Kakuzu, she grinned and punched him right in the chest. "Yo! You're in luck today!"

"Pfft—!" Kakuzu was struck by the monstrous strength and nearly coughed up blood. He clutched his chest, his green eyes filled with pain and rage. "What a waste! How much money will it cost to treat this punch now!"

Tsunade laughed heartily, "Don't be so stingy!"

"Look at this! The latest special edition of 'Make-Out Paradise'!" Jiraiya excitedly waved the colorful cover, almost poking Kimimaro in the eye.

The pale-faced boy leaned back expressionlessly, bone spurs faintly visible from his elbows.

The steel tracks gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the slow, mechanical creaking of the roller coaster seemed like an ominous premonition.

You sit in the front row, your long black hair gently held down by the safety lever, a few unruly strands fluttering in the wind, occasionally brushing against Scorpion's arm beside you.

"It's about to begin." You turn to Scorpion and smile.

Scorpion nodded stiffly, and the three puppet tails silently wrapped around the bottom of the seat to ensure everything was safe.

Suddenly, a series of wailing and howling erupted from the back row.

"Long live the Jashin-sama!" Hidan nearly jumped out of his seat, his silver hair dancing wildly in the wind, his arms waving erratically like a windmill.

Each swing precisely struck Orochimaru's head, producing a dull "smack" sound.

"Orochimaru, are you happy?" Hidan shouted, turning his head and spitting onto Orochimaru's pale face. "I know you're very happy, you just don't show it, you repressed pervert!"

Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils narrowed to a thin line, and the bulging veins on his forehead were clearly visible. His fingers dug deeply into the armrest.

"Touch me one more time," Orochimaru's voice seemed to come from the depths of hell, "and I'll show you what true flight is."

Hidan ignored him and instead waved his arms even more excitedly, "Hahaha! One more time!"

"Aaaaaah, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!" Deidara clung tightly to Nagato's waist, his fingers almost digging into the other's flesh.

Nagato's Rinnegan spun wildly. "Let go!"

"I won't let go! Hmm!" Deidara buried his face even deeper into Nagato's back. "This damn machine is going to fall apart! Art should be eternal! Not this... Ahhh!"

A 360-degree spin completely broke Deidara, who clung to Nagato like an octopus. Nagato stared at the sky, utterly dejected, and began to seriously consider whether to use Shinra Tensei.

"Whoa—!!!" Tsunade's scream echoed through the sky, each dive causing her to kick her legs in excitement, and the result was—

"My ribs..." Kakuzu groaned, his face green, as Tsunade's kick had landed squarely on his chest.

Itachi endured the sonic attack with a blank expression. Rin's screams caused continuous damage to his right ear, while his left ear had to endure Kisame's eerie "ga ga ga" laughter.

His Sharingan unconsciously activated, etching the curve of your profile deep into his memory.

The steel tracks gleamed coldly in the sunlight. As the roller coaster slowly climbed to its highest point, you caught a glimpse of Scorpion's unusual behavior out of the corner of your eye.

Sasori, who is usually calm and composed, now has his eyes tightly closed, his long fingers gripping the armrest so tightly that his knuckles turn white from the force.

"Scorpion...?" you whispered, your voice almost swallowed by the howling wind.

There was no response, only the clicking sound of gears meshing as the roller coaster climbed higher.

You hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out and covered the back of Scorpion's hand. His skin was warmer than you had imagined, and there were thin calluses on his knuckles from years of manipulating puppets.

"If you're scared, you can hold on tight to me," you whispered in Scorpion's ear, your warm breath brushing against his reddened earlobe.

Scorpion's body suddenly stiffened, and the puppeteer's perpetually cold fingertips trembled gently in your palm, like a dying butterfly struggling to flap its wings one last time.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly flipped his wrist, his slender fingers weaving through yours, the tightness of their interlocking fingers making you open your eyes slightly.

This is not a grip of fear, but a possessiveness imbued with a certain resolute determination.

At this moment, the roller coaster reaches its highest point, and the whole world unfolds beneath your feet. After a brief pause, the train plunges down at an almost vertical angle.

The feeling of weightlessness makes you instinctively lean towards Scorpion, and your shoulders, arms, and thighs press tightly together due to inertia.

Even through the thin fabric, you could clearly feel the other person's unusually high body temperature, and—Scorpion suddenly turned his head.

In the shadows where the train plunges into the spiral curve, in the instant when everyone is flung about by centrifugal force, his icy fingers pinch your chin.

A kiss lands, and your pupils contract abruptly. The touch on your lips is dry and hot, with a faint scent of chakra threads unique to puppeteers.

The kiss was awkward and clumsy, yet it carried an undeniable force; you could even taste the lingering tea scent on his lips.

Three seconds, or maybe only one second.

When the train emerged from the bend and saw the light of day again, Scorpion had already reverted to his cold and aloof puppeteer persona.

Only their still tightly clasped fingers and the chakra lines peeking out from their cuffs revealed the loss of control they had just experienced.

Scorpion's voice was lower and hoarser than usual, "The bend just now..."

“I know,” you interrupted him, your fingertips unconsciously touching your lips. “It’s because of centrifugal force.”

As the roller coaster slowly came to a stop at the platform, the metal brakes emitted a piercing screech. Static electricity from the high-speed airflow still clung to your hair, and a few stray strands stood up unruly, shimmering with tiny golden light in the sunlight.

As I unbuckled my seatbelt, my fingertips brushed against Scorpion's puppet joints, where the warmth of our hands still lingered.

"How are you feeling?" you asked, turning your head, your voice trembling slightly with the afterglow of the roller coaster ride.

"Not bad." His answer was suspiciously brief, as chakra threads moved uncontrollably back and forth on the armrest, carving out several marks of varying depths.

Deidara collapsed to the ground, his golden ponytail disheveled into a tangled mess, his face deathly pale as if he had been drained of blood.

He reached out his hand shakily, pointing at the roller coaster, his voice hoarse, "What the hell is this... Ugh! I'm never riding anything this thrilling again!"

Nagato finally broke free from Deidara's death embrace, and a rare trace of exhaustion, like someone who had survived a catastrophe, appeared in his Rinnegan.

He straightened his rumpled robe and said coldly, "If you dare to hug me again, I'll use Shinra Tensei to send you flying."

Deidara weakly raised his middle finger.

Tsunade laughed loudly, slapping the platform railing, making the entire metal structure vibrate. "That was awesome! Even more exciting than winning a gamble!" She turned to Kakuzu, who was crying his eyes out. "Hey, money-counting monster, wanna try again?"

Kakuzu clutched his soaked handkerchief, his green pupils contracting sharply. "Sixty-nine thousand taels... sixty-nine thousand taels..." he mechanically repeated the number, as if reciting some kind of eulogy.

Itachi was the last to come down. His black hair was unusually messy, and his Sharingan lingered on your lips for a moment before calmly moving away.

The wooden hull swayed gently in the breeze, appearing harmless.

You brush aside your wind-blown black hair and casually sit in the middle of the wooden bench, where the warmth of the sunlight still lingers.

"Lord Tanuki, I'm so happy it's you!" Shisui's voice came from beside you, with his usual gentle smile. His slender fingers rested lightly on the armrest of the chair, only inches away from your fingertips.

His eyes sparkled with tiny lights, like they were filled with stars in the twilight.

"Me too!" Your answer made Zhi Shui's ears turn slightly red. He moved closer without making a sound, as if he were cautiously probing.

Ten meters away, Sasori's Hiruko shell emitted an unnatural "crackling" sound. Just as he was about to walk towards you, Yahiko suddenly blocked your view.

Yahiko pretended not to hear, and instead turned around to completely block Sasori's view. "Nagato," he deliberately raised his voice, "the view from here is good."

The sunlight gilded him, perfectly shielding him from the sudden, chilling gaze of the scorpion behind him.

Sasori's chakra threads silently wrapped around Yahiko's ankle, but were severed by the Rinnegan's gravitational field just as he was about to exert his power.

Nagato shook her head at him, her eyes filled with a warning: "Don't do this in public."

"Hmph." Scorpion flicked his sleeves and left, eventually sitting alone at the stern of the boat.

But those hair-thin chakra threads had already quietly spread, and some even wrapped around the bottom of your seat.

"Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts—"

As the staff reminded him, the pirate ship emitted a dull creak and began to rock slowly.

The initial movements were indeed gentle, and Hidan even yawned in boredom, "That's it? It's not even as good as the Jashin Cult's swings—whoa!"

Before the words were even finished, the pirate ship suddenly accelerated to a near-vertical angle! The centrifugal force instantly pressed everyone against the back of their seats. Zhi Shui's hand instinctively reached out to protect you, but in the swaying motion, it accidentally covered the back of your hand.

Chapter 149 Amusement Park (6)

The moment the pirate ship reached its highest point, your once rosy lips turned pale, and your slender fingers unconsciously gripped Shizuku's sleeve, your knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"If you're feeling unwell, you can lean on my arm." He subtly adjusted his posture so you could lean on him more comfortably.

When your minty-scented black hair fell into his arms, the boy's raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the fleeting dark glint in his eyes.

"Thank you..." Your weak breath brushed against Shizuku's exposed skin, sending a slight shiver down your spine.

Shisui's Sharingan glowed faintly in the shadows. Using the momentum of the swaying ship, he subtly placed his palm on your lower back.

This seemingly protective posture actually completely encloses the person in his territory.

When he lowers his head, the tip of his nose almost touches the top of your head, and the light scent of mint mixed with citrus lingers in your breath.

"Is it uncomfortable?" Shisui deliberately brought his lips close to your earlobe, his voice extremely low. "Take a deep breath next time you swing." His warm breath intentionally swept over your reddened earlobe, and he watched with satisfaction as the color of that skin deepened.

The boat lifted off again, and Zhishui took the opportunity to tighten his arms around you, pulling you into his embrace. Your slender back pressed against his chest, and through the fabric, you could clearly feel each other's accelerated heartbeats.

"Zhi Shui..." You struggled slightly, but your waist was held even tighter.

“Don’t move,” his voice suddenly became hoarse, “you’ll fall.”

This is clearly a lie. As Shisui, he has a million ways to ensure your safety, but at this moment he just wants this embrace to last a little longer, long enough—

Suddenly, a piercing metallic clang came from the stern as Sasori's Hiruko tail pierced deep into the deck, chakra threads stretching dangerously into the air.

Three nearly transparent threads were heading towards Shisui's wrist, but were cut off halfway by two unexpected shuriken.

Itachi's black sleeves fluttered slightly in the wind, as if he hadn't been the one who had just made the move.

Hidan's excited howl, Deidara's vomiting, Tsunade's hearty laughter—all the noise faded away at that moment.

In Itachi's world, only those two figures embracing each other remained, along with a strange, burning pain in his chest.

He never imagined that his dearest friend, who always smiled gently, would be so irritating.

"Itachi-san?" Kisame keenly sensed the abnormality, and the bandages on Samehada twitched uneasily.

Itachi didn't answer. His fingers formed half a hand seal for an illusion, but he stopped abruptly when he saw your distressed profile.

The three tomoe in the Sharingan spun wildly before finally fading into the unfathomable darkness.

(She would never be this dependent on me)