Naruto Immersive Replay, The Curse of the Sharingan

Page 142

The evening breeze of Fengdu City brushed against the tips of her light blue-purple hair, blowing a strand of hair to her lips.

Just as she was about to raise her hand to push it aside, her gaze was firmly fixed on an item on a street stall.

It was a black raccoon mask, designed for the upper half of the face, with dark gold vine patterns outlined along the edges. The material appeared ordinary, yet it gleamed with a low-key luxurious luster in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Xiao Nan's fingertips hovered in mid-air, and she suddenly forgot what she was supposed to do.

"You have a good eye, sir." The stall owner, an elderly man with a wrinkled face, smiled and held up the mask. "This is the last one. It's made of lacquered wood, a specialty of the Land of Thunder, and the gold patterns are made with real gold powder..."

Xiao Nan hadn't finished listening to the introduction when her thoughts drifted away—imagining what it would look like to wear this mask on your face.

Black makes the skin appear even whiter, and the dark gold patterns complement the occasional shifts in the Sharingan's appearance. When the mask covers the upper half of the face, which always carries a playful smile, revealing only those thin lips...

"I bought it." Xiao Nan heard herself say, her fingers trembling slightly as she paid, as if she had done something she shouldn't have.

As she turned the last street corner, she saw Lin standing on tiptoe, tidying your wind-blown hair. The medical ninja's fingertips were entwined with a few strands of raven-feather-like black hair, her movements as gentle as if she were bandaging a precious wounded soldier, and you bowed your head slightly to cooperate.

The black and dark gold raccoon mask was currently pressed against the inside of her arm, the coolness of the metal seeping into her skin through the fabric.

"Lord Tanuki! I heard there's a meteor shower in Fengdu City tonight!" Lin suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Would you like to come with me to watch it?" Her voice suddenly softened as she said the last part, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

Your gaze pierces through the distant clouds, as if you see someone far away, someone you also promised to watch shooting stars with, a promise that could not be kept.

A complex expression flashed across your eyes, eventually turning into a gentle smile, "Okay."

Xiao Nan stood at the door, her heart suddenly racing. She saw the curve of your lips when you said "okay," saw Lin's eyes widen in surprise, and saw her own reflection in the glass.

Would you mind taking me along?

Before those words even left her mouth, Xiao Nan's body had already moved. She wrapped her arms around your waist from behind and gently rested her chin on your shoulder.

"That's great! Tonight will definitely be unforgettable!" Lin's voice broke the subtle silence. She smiled and her eyes crinkled, seemingly genuinely happy that the three of them could travel together.

But Xiao Nan noticed that the girl's fingers unconsciously tightened around a silk scarf as she tidied her belongings.

Xiao Nan finally loosened her grip and took out the mask. "I saw it on the way," she said, feigning ease, "and thought it would suit you perfectly."

You turn around, your gaze shifting back and forth between the mask and Xiao Nan.

Finally, you took the mask, your fingertips inadvertently brushing against Xiao Nan's palm, causing a slight shiver to run through you.

"Help me put it on?" you asked softly, your voice a few decibels lower than usual.

Xiao Nan's breath hitched. She took a step forward, and as she wrapped her hands around the back of your head to tie the rope, she almost embedded herself in your arms.

"It suits me perfectly." The mask concealed your expression. "It's like it was tailor-made for me."

As night fell, the streets and alleys of Fengdu City were filled with crowds, cheers and the sounds of fireworks exploding one after another, shattering the originally tranquil night sky.

Lin's picnic basket was squeezed out of shape. They stood in the middle of the crowded square. Xiao Nan clutched the star chart she had just bought, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the curled edges, and her smile became forced.

"It's not quite what I imagined..." Lin muttered to herself, her fingers unconsciously twisting the gold-plated bracelet. Most of the cactus candied fruit she had specially prepared had spilled during the scuffle and was now pitifully stuck to the bottom of the basket.

Your gaze swept across their faces, and you suddenly chuckled. Before they could react, your arms were already wrapped around their waists.

Xiao Nan smelled a refreshing minty scent, while Lin felt the warmth of your fingertips through the fabric.

"Hold on tight." Your voice carried a mischievous chuckle.

The world turned upside down in an instant. Lin exclaimed in surprise and subconsciously clenched your sleeve. Just as Xiao Nan's paper wings were about to unfold, she found that her toes had already touched the hard tiles.

The night wind suddenly turned fierce, blowing the three people's intertwined hair.

"This is...!" Lin's eyes widened. You are standing on the top of the highest watchtower in Fengdu City, with the entire city unfolding beneath your feet, and the lights of thousands of homes like a fallen galaxy.

The real Milky Way hangs overhead, so close it feels like you could reach out and touch it.

Xiao Nan's fingertips were still clutching your sleeve. From this angle, she could see your profile, gilded by the moonlight, your smiling eyes beneath your long eyelashes, and the tips of your hair that were being gently lifted by the night breeze.

Her heartbeat suddenly became very loud, and she wasn't sure if it was because of the height or because of the warm touch that hadn't yet left her waist.

"Are you scared?" you asked, looking down at her, your voice teasing, a few strands of hair brushing against Lin's burning cheeks.

Lin shook her head, but gripped your sleeve even tighter. She secretly glanced down and immediately felt dizzy. The towering building reached into the clouds, and the pedestrians below looked as small as ants.

But when she looked up at the starry sky, all her fear was replaced by awe.

The trail of the meteor streaking across the night sky was clearly visible, like diamonds casually scattered by the gods.

"More beautiful than I imagined..." Lin sighed softly, subtly moving closer to you. When your shoulders touched, you could feel the warmth of your body.

At this altitude, the clamor of human voices becomes distant, and the world seems to consist only of the three of you and this starry sky within reach.

You suddenly let go of their arms and, amidst Xiaonan and Lin's startled gasps, magically pulled three bottles of sake from your ninja tool bag.

"Since you're here," you said, shaking the bottle, the amber liquid shimmering in the moonlight, "how about a drink?"

Chapter 127 The King's Game (4)

When Xiao Nan took the bottle, her fingertips deliberately brushed against the back of your hand. As she tilted her head back to drink, the burning sensation in her throat was hard to tell whether it came from the alcohol or something else.

Lin coughed from the strong liquor, tears welling in her eyes. You smiled and patted her back, your fingers smoothing her wind-blown chestnut hair.

Just then, a particularly bright shooting star streaked across the sky, trailing a long silver tail. Lin excitedly pointed to the sky, her movement so great that she almost lost her balance.

You quickly put your arm around her waist, and Xiao Nan instinctively grabbed your other arm as well. The three of you swayed and staggered on the top of the tower, eventually collapsing into a ball, your laughter scattering in the night wind.

"Did you make a wish?" you asked, your voice softened by laughter.

Looking into your eyes, which were lit up by starlight, Xiao Nan silently made a wish that she couldn't say. Lin blushed and lowered her head, her gaze falling on the three of them, whose hands were intertwined at some point.

"Aren't you going to take off the mask?" Xiao Nan suddenly asked.

You raised your hand to touch the raccoon mask on your face, its dark gold patterns shimmering in the starlight. "You want me to take it off?"

The question was too ambiguous, and Xiao Nan's fingertips sank into the origami in her sleeve.

Behind you, in the shadow of the tower, space suddenly warped unnaturally. A lisianthus petal drifted down from the void, only to be swept up into the higher night sky by a gust of wind that suddenly changed direction.

After settling Xiao Nan and Lin, whose cheeks were flushed from drinking, you gently closed the door.

The candlelight in the corridor cast long shadows, and the black raccoon mask gleamed with eerie gold patterns in the dim light. Just as he raised his hand to remove the mask, the air behind him suddenly distorted—

A hand wearing a black glove suddenly reached out from the void, grabbed your wrist, and yanked it hard!

In a dizzying moment, you were dragged into the alternate dimension of Kamui. The instant the cold stone floor pressed against your back, you reflexively put your mask back on and gathered chakra in your right hand to stab at the attacker's throat.

"Still so vigilant, huh?" Obito's low, husky voice carried a twisted smile as he instantly appeared behind you, forming a hand seal.

As if you had anticipated this, you spun around and lifted your leg, the straight lines of your leg drawing a sharp arc in the air.

The kunai collided, sparking dazzling sparks. For a moment, you vaguely saw a boy covered in bandages in a cave many years ago. Back then, you also sparred around the campfire like this, and the boy's clumsy martial arts always made you want to give him pointers.

This lapse in concentration slowed your movements by half a beat, and Obito seized the opportunity, grabbing your wrist and ripping off your mask with his other hand.

The crisp sound of the metal mask hitting the ground was particularly jarring in the silent space. You were slammed heavily onto the illusory ground, and Obito's scorching breath sprayed against your neck.

The vortex mask was roughly thrown aside, revealing a scarred yet still handsome face.

His eyes were bloodshot, and the patterns in his Sharingan were spinning wildly.

"Why?" Obito practically spat out those three words through gritted teeth, his fingers digging deep into your wrist.

You gaze up at the illusory sky of the Divine Might Space, your breathing irritatingly steady, your eyes indifferent, as if you were not the one being pressed down on.

This detached attitude completely ignited Obito's anger.

"Speak!" His voice began to tremble. "Why is Lin still alive? Did you leave because of her?"

As he asked that question, his heart clenched with pain, as if he had returned to the past, back to the moment when he witnessed Rin being pierced through the chest by Kakashi.

You suddenly chuckled, a mocking smile playing on your lips. "Didn't you see it all?"

Obito's breath hitched as a few drops of scalding liquid uncontrollably splattered onto your collarbone.

He pressed his forehead against it, his voice broken, "Why did you deceive me? For so many years I've been repenting in despair!"

Every tear was scalding hot, leaving invisible marks on the skin. He tilted his head slightly to avoid the excessively hot contact. "I never intended to interfere with Madara's Eye of the Moon project, but saving Lin was my selfish desire."

These words were like a dull knife, slowly sawing through Obito's reason. He suddenly looked up, his fingers gripping your chin, forcing you to look him in the eye. "So, for Madara's sake, you could deceive me so easily! Watching me go mad and despair, aren't you happy? Aren't you?"

A hint of sarcasm flashed in your eyes, "I'm just doing whatever I want, I don't care about your thoughts at all."

"Oh, Bitto, don't you understand?"

Obito's body trembled violently. He thought he was no longer in pain, but at this moment, the organs in his chest cavity felt as if they were being torn apart.

Even witnessing Lin's death was not as painful as those words.

"Hahaha—" He suddenly burst into laughter, the sound twisting and echoing within the Kamui space, "What's so great about Madara! Didn't you ever have feelings for me?"

You squinted, your pupils reflecting Obito's manic expression. "You've fallen in love with me."

This is not a question, it is a trial.

Obito didn't deny it. He cupped your face and kissed you without hesitation.

The kiss was bloody, like the tearing of a wild beast rather than the intimacy of a lover. Your struggles were easily suppressed by him, and your wrists were marked with red welts from the chains.

A golden light suddenly erupted between the two of them, and the Golden Release Shackles you summoned wrapped around Obito's neck like living things, tearing him away violently.

You took the opportunity to break free of your restraints and slapped Obito across the face.

"How shameless."

Obito licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, completely ignoring the increasingly tight golden shackles around his neck. The lack of oxygen was turning his face blue, yet he still wore a maniacal smile. "You haven't even done the most shameless thing yet, and you're already itching to do it?"

"I think you've gone mad?" Your metal-based escape technique loosened slightly, stunned by the implication in his words.

Obito seized the opportunity to grab the chains. "Yes, I've gone mad," he said hoarsely. "I've been mad since the day you left."

The Divine Might Space began to distort unstablely, reflecting the master's emotions on the verge of collapse.

Obito's Sharingan sheds tears of blood, locked in a fierce struggle with your indifferent gaze. In this alien space, isolated from reality, time seems to stand still, leaving only two hearts, riddled with wounds, beating wildly.

You suddenly reach out and touch the scar on Obito's face. In the instant he is stunned, you pick up the tanuki mask and use the Body Flicker Technique to escape the Kamui dimension.

"Don't go crazy next time we meet."

Having just escaped the distorted vortex of the Kamui dimension, your collar still wrinkled from Obito's grip, you raise your hand to tidy your disheveled sideburns, your fingertips suddenly freezing in mid-air—

Three steps away, Nohara Rin stood silently like a ghost.

The girl leaned against a pillar, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red, her eyelashes casting fine shadows in the moonlight.

Those eyes, which were always gentle and tender, were now terrifyingly deep, their pupils dilated to almost swallow their original brown color, reflecting your slightly disheveled figure.

"Lord Tanuki." Lin's voice was lighter than the night mist, with a slightly intoxicating sweetness.

You quickly stepped forward and supported Lin's swaying shoulders. "Why did you come out? Weren't you drunk?"

Rin didn't answer, but buried her face in your neck, her warm breath brushing against your skin. After a long while, she finally spoke softly, "Is it Obito? He's still alive."

Your fingers tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment. You didn't expect Lin to be able to guess it. But then you thought about it. Lin was never the innocent and harmless girl she seemed on the surface. She was more perceptive than anyone else and better at hiding her thoughts than anyone else.

"Mmm." A hoarse acknowledgment mixed with a sigh fell into Lin's hair. You mechanically patted her thin back, as if to comfort her or to be on guard.

The moonlight blended their shadows into a tangled mess of ink, making it impossible to tell who was supporting whom.

Rin's fingers quietly tightened their grip on your clothes, her knuckles turning slightly white. She tilted her head back, her hazy, drunken eyes holding a stubborn, searching look. "You... saved me because of Obito?"

"No." Your answer was resolute, looking into those abyss-like eyes, "I just feel that you shouldn't be a sacrifice, but should have a better future."

Lin was stunned. Her heart felt like it had been gripped tightly by something, then suddenly released. Her original bitter and sensitive emotions were soothed at this moment, but what replaced them was a more secretive and morbid sense of satisfaction.

"But……"

She opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't utter the second half of the sentence.

—(You are my future.)

You felt the body in your arms suddenly become burning hot. Just as you were about to look down and ask, Lin had already let go of your hand, took a step back, and revealed her usual gentle smile.

"I feel so dizzy. Can you take me back to my room, Master Tanuki?" Lin tilted her head, the moonlight casting a fan-shaped shadow under her eyelashes, as if the unsettling deepness from before had never existed.

You nodded and reached out to support her arm, but Lin slipped her fingers between yours, interlocking them.

This overly intimate gesture startled you slightly, but seeing Lin's tipsy appearance, you ultimately didn't pull your hand away.

"Okay." You finally bent down and picked Lin up in your arms.

In the shadows of the corridor, Lin's smile, her head buried in the crook of your neck, was so sweet it was chilling.

"We're here." You stopped in front of Lin's door and were about to let go when she suddenly grabbed you.

Lin looked up, her face flushed from the alcohol making her appear exceptionally vulnerable. "Could you... stay with me for a little while? Just a little while." Her voice trembled slightly, like a small animal caught in the rain.