Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

Sasuke answered decisively. The power the Cube displayed in that battle, especially the scene where it easily trapped "Lightning Blade" with "Needle Jizo," still shocked him to this day. It was unbelievable that Kakashi's Lightning Blade was so easily broken by a simple hair ninjutsu.

“That’s right, that’s the key—to crush them.” Rubik’s Cube nodded.

“From the very beginning, I’ve poured far more chakra into my ninjutsu than Kakashi has. Even if he masters a technique to the same level with exquisite skill, if I invest three or four times the amount of chakra, then in the face of such an absolute power difference, no amount of technique will matter. Do you understand?”

"You mean, you knew you were inferior to Kakashi in skill and experience, so you used your superior chakra reserves to suppress him from the start, denying him any room to maneuver, thus achieving a quick victory?" Sasuke quickly grasped the core idea.

“Smart, that’s right. Just think about it. How old am I? No matter how strong I am, I only have three or four years of real life-or-death combat experience at most. Kakashi is the renowned 'Copy Ninja' of the ninja world, with a wealth of combat experience.”

If I hadn't seized the opportunity to catch him off guard at the beginning, and instead let him drag me into a protracted battle, using his experience and skills to maneuver, I would never have won so easily. Of course, this was also for training purposes; neither of us went all out.

The Rubik's Cube concluded, "In short, learning from Kakashi is the best fit for you. His fighting style and teaching approach are more compatible with you. Even if I were willing to teach you, my ninjutsu and fighting style wouldn't suit you—your chakra reserves aren't sufficient to support that kind of fighting style." He stated bluntly.

"As for the Sharingan," the Rubik's Cube added, "I'm not particularly good at genjutsu; I use it more for combat analysis and insight. If you want to learn, we can practice a few more times. With your talent, you'll grasp the essentials quickly."

Sasuke was silent for a moment, a hint of struggle flashing across his face, but he finally nodded solemnly: "I understand. Thank you, Mr. Rubik's Cube."

“You’re welcome,” Rubik’s Cube smiled. “After all, as you said, we are ‘of the same kind.’”

Chapter 21 Momono Senju

After talking with Sasuke, Mo Fang left the training ground, intending to buy some meat in the nearby streets. However, as soon as he stepped out of the training ground, a slender figure followed him like a shadow.

"Tsk." Rubik's Cube's figure blurred, leaving only an afterimage in place, while his real body was already several steps away. Almost simultaneously, his elbow struck the "attacker's" soft abdomen with lightning speed.

"Ugh!" A muffled groan sounded. A flash of surprise and pain crossed Momono's eyes, but her ninja instincts, ingrained in her bones, made her react instantly. Using the force of the elbow strike, she retreated and then lay face down, her movements incredibly supple. Her right hand flashed out of her ninja tool pouch and pulled out a kunai, aiming for Rubik's Cube's lower body.

But when she thought of the task Danzo had given her, her wrist, which was gripping the kunai, stiffened almost imperceptibly.

That moment of hesitation was the opening. The Rubik's Cube precisely kicked the handle of the kunai. "Clang!" Before the crisp sound of metal hitting the ground had even faded, the Rubik's Cube reached out and grabbed Momono's slender neck, lifting her up, her feet off the ground, and bringing her so close that their noses almost touched.

The cold Sharingan gazed down at her face, which was flushed red from suffocation, with utter indifference.

“I told you,” the demon said expressionlessly, “don’t follow me anymore. It seems you care more about your mission than your life.”

Rubik's Cube considers himself an ordinary person, and he has little resistance to beautiful women, but only if they pose no threat to him. No one likes to be constantly stalked by someone with ill intentions, even if the other party is a beauty. Since persuasion is ineffective, he has no choice but to resort to some means.

The hand gripping her throat remained motionless, while the other reached directly for Momono's tightly pursed red lips. She shook her head in terror, clenching her teeth in resistance. Ignoring her resistance, the Rubik's Cube roughly pried open her teeth, forcefully probing deep into her warm mouth, rummaging about wantonly.

"Ugh...!" The intense sensation of something foreign and suffocation caused Momono's body to tremble violently, her struggles quickly weakening, and an unnatural blush rising on her cheeks. Taking advantage of the moment, the Cube grabbed her pink, wet tongue, forcefully pulling it out and exposing it to the cold air. His crimson Sharingan instantly focused, the tomoe slowly rotating, coldly scrutinizing the exposed, hidden parts.

Sure enough! Deep within the tongue, twisted black runes clung to it like living things.

"The seal of eradicating the root of tongue-related calamities..." Rubik's Cube thought to himself.

"As expected, it was the work of that old dog Danzo."

The grip suddenly loosened. Momono collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, awkwardly supporting herself with one hand while covering her mouth, which was still stinging from the rough treatment, with the other. Those large eyes, which had always feigned gentleness and affection, finally shed their disguise, revealing only humiliation, confusion, and a hint of disgust as they stubbornly looked up at the Rubik's Cube.

Rubik's Cube casually wiped his saliva-covered fingers on his clothes and smiled at her, saying:

“This look is much more genuine now. Isn’t it tiring to force that affectionate look at someone you’ve only known for a few days? Let’s save our energy. I don’t want to offend Danzo because I find it troublesome, not because I’m afraid.”

"I have no interest in knowing what your mission is. However, carrying it out is quite simple. — Tear off your mask; the bloodline of the Thousand Hands shouldn't be like this."

Momono gave the Rubik's Cube a deep look, then without a word, she propped herself up, staggered, and disappeared around the corner without looking back.

The Rubik's Cube didn't stop him. He knew she would come back. A ninja's life was their mission. In Danzo's eyes, a tool that couldn't complete a mission was less than trash. If Momono didn't want to be abandoned by Root, she would come back to him.

Although Jiraiya and the Third Hokage seemed to want him to get along with Momono, the author didn't believe that a few gentle words would be enough to lower her guard against someone who wore a thick disguise and was like a puppet. Sometimes, drastic measures were more effective at tearing down the facade.

Raising the hand that had just wreaked havoc in the girl's mouth and pulled out her tongue, there seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible sweet scent lingering on the fingertips, like... a red bean dumpling?

"Judging from her reaction just now, she still has basic shame and resistance, which means Danzo's brainwashing hasn't reached the point of being deeply ingrained. There should still be room for redemption... However, the 'Tongue-Twisting Seal' is ultimately a problem," he thought to himself.

"Forget it, let's just give this information to that old pervert and have him pass it on to the Third Hokage. As for me, I'll just wait for Orochimaru's 'Konoha Crush Plan' to be launched soon."

Thinking of the impure World Reincarnations in Orochimaru's possession—the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju—which weren't at their peak, a surge of barely suppressed excitement welled up within Mofang. That was his biggest goal in coming to Konoha! Although it came with risks, he understood the principle that "the bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish." For the Wood Release and Flying Thunder God Technique he had long coveted, taking some risks was worthwhile.

After buying the meat needed for dinner, Rubik's Cube returned to Naruto's house. Pushing open the door, a familiar figure came into view, much to his surprise.

Jiraiya was sprawled out on the living room sofa, engrossed in flipping through a photo album of beautiful women. Hearing the door open, he glanced up, saw the Rubik's Cube, and lazily waved his hand.

As the Rubik's Cube approached, its gaze subtly swept over the magazine cover in Jiraiya's hand—yes, it was the very one it had bought.

Jiraiya casually stuffed the magazine into his large robe, cleared his throat, and adopted the air of a master: "Kid, you're back so late? Did you go to the bathhouse to peep at the girls? I've taught you long ago that the three prohibitions of ninjas are the foundation of one's character! If a strong person cannot discipline themselves, the consequences are unimaginable!"

"Which foot massage parlor did you go to today? Your 'post-coital slump' lasted so long?" Rubik's Cube bluntly exposed.

"Of course it's 'Sakura no Yu' at the east gate of Konoha... cough cough cough!" Jiraiya almost blurted it out, but quickly covered it up with a violent cough.

"Let's get down to business! Let's get down to business! I've officially accepted Naruto as my apprentice. Hey, although he's a bit slow-witted, his talent is actually pretty good, he has a lot of potential, and his future is promising!"

"If you could put away that lecherous look, this might sound a little more convincing," Rubik's Cube retorted speechlessly.

"I also have some news for you." He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious. "That Senju Momonogi has been sealed with the Tongue-Severing Seal by Danzo. If I'm not mistaken, her brain also seems to have been sealed by some kind of technique. If you really want to win her over, it will probably take some effort. Remember to tell the Third Hokage."

As soon as he finished speaking, the photobook that Jiraiya had just tucked into his pocket instantly appeared in the Rubik's Cube's hand as if by magic. Ignoring Jiraiya's reluctant gaze, the Rubik's Cube calmly resealed the magazine into the sealed space in its left hand.

"Understood, I'll pass it on to the old man." Jiraiya clicked his tongue, his eyes suddenly turning mischievous. "But... how did you know she was struck by the Seal of the Tongue's Root Extinction? Could it be that you..."

Looking at Jiraiya's lewd expression, Rubik's Cube barely suppressed the urge to slap him.

"Stop having such filthy thoughts! How old is she? I'm not a beast!"

"Oh dear, I didn't say you did anything!" Jiraiya chuckled, winking. "Besides, it's perfectly normal for people your age to be experiencing puppy love! Back when I was your age, I was already passionately pursuing Tsunade! How about it? Do you need me to teach you a few secret techniques?"

"no."

"You hypocrite!" Jiraiya said, as if he saw right through you. "I've seen that little girl. She's so beautiful at such a young age. In a few years, she'll definitely be a great beauty! You dare say you're not tempted?"

"...Yes, a little." Rubik's Cube loves to tell the truth.

"That's settled then! Why don't you..."

“I’m not so desperate that I need to use a doll to satisfy my needs,” Rubik’s Cube interrupted him, speaking calmly.

“A puppet…” Jiraiya’s playful expression vanished instantly, his eyes turning serious as he sighed softly, “I never imagined that child would turn out like this… Konoha owes her a debt.”

"Hmm?" The Rubik's Cube keenly caught the story in the conversation, its eyes lighting up. "There's more to it than meets the eye? Tell me the details!"

He dragged a small stool over with astonishing speed, sat down in front of Jiraiya, and his eyes were full of anticipation as he watched the drama unfold.

"Hey!" Jiraiya said, both amused and exasperated. "When I was recounting my legendary experiences, why weren't you this enthusiastic and attentive?"

“Memories mixed with too much personal ‘artistic embellishment’ are not stories, they’re just unofficial history,” Rubik’s Cube said mercilessly.

"Smelly brat..."

"Don't interrupt! Get to the point!" Rubik's Cube urged.

"Alright, alright, I know, don't rush me!" Jiraiya waved his hand helplessly, his expression becoming more serious. "About that girl's family... sigh, it all started back in the First Shinobi World War..."

Chapter 22 The Secret of the Thousand Hands

Jiraiya began to explain the Rubik's Cube in detail.

"After the battle at the Valley of the End, Madara Uchiha, the Asura of the Shinobi World, was confirmed dead, and the First Hokage, who was in his prime, also passed away not long after. The position of Hokage was succeeded by his younger brother, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju."

"The Second Hokage was exceptionally capable and was considered the most suitable successor by most people in Konoha. However, there were still some who held strong opposition. Among them, the radical Uchiha faction, led by Setsuna Uchiha, was the most vehement. They even launched a coup d'état when Konoha was facing external threats, disregarding the safety of the village."

"However, the coup was quickly suppressed by the Second Hokage. The rebels, led by Uchiha Setsuna, were sentenced to life imprisonment, their information was blocked, and they were forbidden from leaving their clan territory for life."

"Just as the Second Hokage was preparing to handle diplomatic affairs, the Kage of the other four great nations learned of the internal strife in Konoha and, seeing the perfect opportunity, launched an attack on Konoha—thus the First Shinobi World War broke out."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Rubik's Cube couldn't help but interrupt, "Weren't we supposed to be talking about Senju Momono? How did we end up talking about the history of the First Shinobi World War?"

"You brat, listen to me! This is about Senju Momonoki!" Jiraiya glared at him. "Think carefully about what I just said. How did the Kage of the Four Great Nations find out about the rebellion in Konoha?"

"You mean... there's a traitor?" Rubik's Cube realized.

"That's right. Someone deliberately leaked news of the internal strife in Konoha to the four great nations, thus instigating this war."

"That person...could it be Senju Momonoki..."

"Exactly!" Jiraiya said gravely. "Momoka Senju, the grandmother of Momono Senju, was the true culprit who started the First Shinobi World War!"

The Rubik's Cube was stunned when it heard the bombshell news; the information was simply too shocking.

"Why?" Rubik's Cube asked, puzzled. "Wasn't she also one of the founders of Konoha? And a high-ranking member of the Senju clan! Wouldn't it be in her interest for the Second Hokage to succeed her?"

Jiraiya shook his head and sighed:

“You’re quick-witted, so naturally you can’t understand those who are bound by the old era. The generation of Senju Momoka are old bones that came from the Warring States period. Their stance and perspective are completely different from those of today.”

"When the First Hokage was still alive, in order to prevent the ninja clan from becoming a one-man show in Konoha, he took the initiative to disband the Senju clan and integrate its members into ordinary villagers. This policy was strongly opposed by many Senju leaders and elders, and even the Second Hokage, who had always supported his brother, raised objections."

"Ultimately, under pressure, the First Hokage retained the Senju surname for some members of his clan. But this only temporarily suppressed their discontent. In the eyes of these elders, Konoha must be 'Konoha of the Senju' to exist. If a peaceful ninja village cannot contain the glory of the Senju, then it would be better to return to the warring Warring States period! Intimidated by the First Hokage's immense power, they chose to lie low and wait for their opportunity."

"The time they believed was when the First Hokage died and the Second Hokage succeeded him. Taking advantage of the Uchiha clan's rebellion, they passed on the news of the First Hokage's death and the internal strife in Konoha to the other four great nations, directly triggering the First Shinobi World War—the first large-scale war in the Shinobi Village era."

The Rubik's Cube muttered to itself:

"So that's how it is! No wonder we never saw any other Senju clan members besides the Senju brothers in the original story. Even Tsunade, the princess of Konoha, doesn't use the surname 'Senju' anymore; there's a reason behind it..."

Jiraiya continued the story:

"Their plot was quickly exposed by the Second Hokage. They had intended to use the war to incite the Senju clan members who had already integrated into the village, thinking they could gain their approval. But the truth is, the clan members who had become part of Konoha had already identified with the village from the bottom of their hearts and did not want to return to that bloody era. They probably didn't even expect that they would be defeated at this step—defeated by their own arrogance."

"The Second Hokage quickly noticed their actions and decisively took action before they could escalate into a public coup like the Uchiha clan. And the one leading this group of 'Senju rebels' at that time was none other than Momono's grandmother—Senju Momoka!"

"Wow! They have this criminal record at home? No wonder they couldn't pass the Konoha recruitment exam," Rubik's Cube blurted out.

"Senju Momoka was once the third most powerful figure in the Senju clan, holding a high position and great power both within the clan and in Konoha. Although their actions were more secretive than those of the Uchiha and not widely known, their essence was the same: prioritizing clan interests over the village and peace! Their actions made the Second Hokage deeply aware of the fatal threat that ninja supremacy posed to Konoha."

"After that, the Second Hokage began to weaken the power of the ninja clans in Konoha, vigorously cultivated civilian ninjas, and established ninja academies, requiring ninja clans to send their core members to the academies to learn the Will of Fire from a young age, intending to eradicate the growth of the ninja clan supremacy ideology starting from the next generation."

"Didn't those ninja clans resist?" the Cube pressed. "In their view, they also contributed to the founding of Konoha. Wouldn't they see the Second Hokage's actions as discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose?"

Jiraiya nodded:

"That's right. Many ninja clans saw through the Second Hokage's intentions and expressed their opposition. But some small and medium-sized ninja clans saw an opportunity to reshuffle the power structure. The supporters, led by the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Sarutobi, and Shimura, and the opponents, led by the Uchiha and the old Senju forces who were unwilling to integrate into Konoha, engaged in various battles, both large and small."

"Due to the capture of the Senju Momoka faction and the failure of the Uchiha coup, the opposition suffered a heavy blow in terms of public opinion and power. In the end, with the originally neutral Hyuga clan turning to the supporters, the first and largest power struggle since the founding of Konoha came to an end."

"To appease the Uchiha clan and prevent further trouble, the Second Hokage granted them a high degree of autonomy and retained the important Konoha Police Department that had been entrusted to them, as a sign of trust. The Uchiha were temporarily quelled, but deep down they still longed to return to the center of power."

"However, the Second Hokage displayed ruthless methods when facing his former clansmen. The clansmen who participated in the rebellion were not only dismissed from their posts and stripped of the 'Senju' surname, but were also stripped of their Konoha ninja status. Several elders who participated in the planning were executed, and the rebellion leader, Senju Momoka, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Her descendants were explicitly forbidden from becoming regular Konoha ninjas."

"The above are all official statements from Konoha." Jiraiya changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

Just as the Rubik's Cube was listening with great excitement, it keenly noticed something unusual: "There's a reverse?"

"Yes, I only heard about it from the old man not long ago," Jiraiya said slowly.

"In fact, Senju Momoka was not the mastermind behind the rebellion. She was just a scapegoat. The real masterminds were her father, Senju Noka, and her younger brother, Senju Morika."

"During the operation, Senju Nobi's faith collapsed because none of the clansmen who had integrated into the village responded to him. He died of depression before the Second Master could deal with him. His younger brother, Senju Morika, knowing that he was guilty of a grave sin, committed seppuku before the trial. Momoka, from beginning to end, was just a pitiful person who was deceived by his closest relatives."

"Then why do you say she was the culprit of the war? Was she framed?" Rubik's Cube asked, puzzled.

Jiraiya paused for a moment, then said:

"Because it was she who informed her father and brother of the news of the First Lord's death."

"Ah, this..." Rubik's Cube was speechless for a moment.

"She felt deeply guilty. During the trial, she took the blame for her father and brother and asked to go to the main battlefield to atone for her sins with her death."

"How could the Second Hokage just watch her die? He kept her alive on the grounds that 'Konoha urgently needed fighting power,' but he no longer allowed her to walk the world under the name 'Senju Momoka.' Momoka agreed and helped persuade some of the Senju clan members who had participated in the rebellion."

"They carry out missions under the name of the Anbu, but in reality, they operate independently of the Anbu. They have no names and are not recorded in Konoha's ninja roster..."

The more Rubik's Cube heard it, the more familiar it seemed, and a chill ran down his spine as the name of an organization suddenly came to mind.

"After the Second Hokage died in battle, the old man succeeded him as the Third Hokage and took over their command. However, at that time, there were internal and external troubles, and the old man was really unable to devote himself to commanding. He did not want to waste this important fighting force, so he handed it over to Danzo, who was also a disciple of the Second Hokage, to command."

"As it turns out, the old man's judgment was correct at the time. This ANBU squad, commanded by Danzo, did indeed make a great contribution to Konoha's victory. But looking back now, it may have been... a wrong choice."

"After the First Shinobi World War, the old man intended to pardon them as war heroes. Unexpectedly, they refused. They resolved to hide in the shadows, protect Konoha, and willingly become the 'roots' that silently provide nourishment under this great tree."

"The old man understood their resolve and agreed to their request, allowing Danzo to continue in command. Those former Senju ninjas and nameless ANBU squads were the precursors to the current 'Root' organization..."

Chapter 23 A Request from the Third Generation

Rubik's Cube felt as if his brain had been exploded with explosives, buzzing loudly.