Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

Momono Senju, the girl controlled by Danzo with vacant eyes, carries such a heavy past.

The "Root" of Konoha, the dark organization loyal to Danzo's orders, was originally a group of Senju clan members who were burdened with heavy sins and tried to atone for them in another way.

Rubik's Cube opened his mouth, feeling a dryness in his throat. His conscience made it hard for him to accept this cruel reality.

"It's unbelievable. Root came about like this? A group of Senju ninja stripped of their names and identities, who voluntarily sank into darkness? And Danzo... he took over this team?"

Jiraiya nodded heavily, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Yes. The old man was young at the time, having just taken over as Hokage. The situation was turbulent, and Danzo was also a disciple of the Second Hokage. He had both strength and skill, so entrusting this fighting force to him was a reasonable choice at the time, and it did indeed play a huge role in the war."

But... the old man never imagined that Danzo would use this team to mold 'Root' into a monster completely outside the Hokage's control, loyal only to his personal will.

He paused, a barely perceptible hint of anger in his voice:

"What the old man didn't expect was that he originally thought... thought that the original 'roots,' those Thousand Hands people who voluntarily bore the darkness, had already been sacrificed in countless dangerous secret missions."

The Rubik's Cube exclaimed in surprise, "Completely sacrificed? How is that possible? Could it be..."

Jiraiya sighed, gazing out the window at the deep night, as if recalling a deliberately forgotten memory:

"The old man told me that after Danzo took over, the mission reports were always exceptionally tragic. Almost every high-difficulty, highly classified mission had the code name of a Senju clan member appearing on the 'fallen' list. The reports were very detailed, describing the perilous missions and the powerful and cunning enemy. It was only natural that there were casualties; they had shed their last drop of blood for Konoha... At the time, the old man was overwhelmed with the village's internal and external affairs. Although he was heartbroken by the sacrifice of these 'unsung heroes,' he could only choose to believe Danzo's reports."

He thought that the Thousand Hands bloodline, burdened with sin and a desire for redemption, had burned out in the darkness, fulfilling their mission. He had even silently mourned for them in his heart, but the existence of that girl, Momonogi, overturned all of that…

"fake?"

Rubik's Cube instantly understood. The thought of Danzo's actions sent a chill down his spine. "Those reports... were they fake?"

"Most likely!" Jiraiya's voice suddenly rose, filled with suppressed anger.

"The old man understood the moment he saw Momono! How could Danzo tolerate the existence of a team with independent will and loyalty only to Konoha? What he needs are tools with absolute obedience, no thoughts, and no past!"

"So..." Rubik's Cube swallowed.

"He deliberately sent them on the most dangerous, almost certain-death missions, and then... announced their 'sacrifice' in the report? In reality... in reality, he used even more cruel methods to completely brainwash the survivors, turning them into nourishment for 'Root'? Or even... possibly directly..."

"Directly eliminate those that are difficult to completely control."

Jiraiya's eyes were as sharp as knives.

"The old man suspected that the original core members of 'Root,' including Momono's grandmother, Senju Momoka, were probably long gone."

In this way, Danzo completely severed the last connection between 'Root' and the Senju rebels, turning it into his personal army and tool manufacturing plant. Children like Momono, who inherited the Senju bloodline, were seen as new, high-potential 'materials' by him, nurtured, distorted, and controlled from a young age in the darkness of 'Root'!

The Rubik's Cube felt a sense of suffocation. It had thought that Danzo's actions in the original timeline were already disgusting enough, but it never expected that Danzo could take inhumanity to a whole new level. He was simply invincible.

Danzo's ruthlessness and cruelty far exceeded his imagination. This was not only the persecution of a group of ninjas who were trying to atone for their sins, but also the trampling of a piece of history and the final dignity of the victims.

"After the old man realized all this, he carefully sorted through those dusty, top-secret files and discovered some suspicious points in the reports. He then sent his secret agents to investigate on-site. Considering Momono's existence... he realized what a terrible mistake his trust in Danzo had made back then."

What he perceived as a 'sacrifice' was nothing more than a carefully crafted lie by Danzo, designed to completely devour this force and exploit its descendants!

Jiraiya clenched his fist. "The old man feels deeply guilty towards Momono and the Senju clan members who were deceived and sacrificed. But as the Hokage, his direct intervention in Root's affairs, especially against Danzo, will certainly be met with obstruction from the two advisors."

Danzo's roots were already deeply entrenched, and the old man was now too old and lacked the will and courage to deal with his old friend. All he could do now was to keep Danzo under control while he was still alive, preventing him from harming the innocent villagers.

Seemingly recalling the spirited and heroic ninja of the past, Jiraiya felt sorry for his master as he thought of the weary old man sitting in the Hokage's seat, and couldn't help but feel a sense of loss for the fading glory of a hero.

Jiraiya turned his head, his eyes, which usually held a hint of playfulness and laziness, now gazing at the Rubik's Cube with seriousness and pleading.

"So, Rubik's Cube! The old man hopes you can try to save that child."

His voice was deep and powerful as he spoke:

"Bring her, bring Senju Momonogi out of Danzo's control, pull her out of the all-consuming darkness of 'Root'! We can't let her repeat the mistakes of her grandmother and the Senju clan! She shouldn't suffer such a fate!"

Jiraiya ultimately chose to ask the Rubik's Cube for help. When the Third Hokage asked him to convey this request, Jiraiya refused without hesitation. He did not want the Rubik's Cube to bear a responsibility that did not belong to him because of his master. The Rubik's Cube should be free, and its choices should come from the heart.

However, when Jiraiya learned of this hidden history, he was conflicted. Putting aside his friendship with Tsunade, as a Konoha ninja, he could not ignore Danzo's actions.

"The old man said that you can name any conditions, provided that the child can be saved."

Rubik's Cube listened quietly, and frankly, the benefits he could gain from getting involved in this mess were clearly limited.

Momono Senju was indeed a pitiful child, and Danzo was indeed born into a wretched family. If he could, he would like to execute Danzo on the spot, but unfortunately, he does not yet have the confidence to completely eliminate Danzo and his Root organization.

Should you refuse for the sake of your own plans?

To be honest, he didn't want to refuse, not for any other reason than that Danzo made him very uncomfortable after hearing this story. His dream was world peace, and he wanted to make this trashy ninja world a little better. Danzo's actions went against his dream and bottom line.

Since Danzo displeases him, then there's no need for that old dog Danzo to exist anymore.

He took a deep breath, raised his head, and met Jiraiya's gaze. His eyes were no longer their usual nonchalant expression, but had become serious and sharp.

"Master, please convey my request to the Third Hokage: grant me the sealing technique left behind by Mito Uzumaki, and the right to read the Book of Sealing. As for Danzo, I'll kill him for him..."

Chapter 24: The "Date" with Momonogi

The mornings in Konoha are pleasant, the breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees soothing the lungs. Steam rises from the steamers in the dango shop, mingling with the cool air, while dewdrops dangle precariously from the eaves.

Inside the shop, Senju Momono looked at the boy who had invited her with a cold gaze. Recalling her recent encounter, she touched her still red neck with lingering fear.

Seeing Momono's wary expression, Rubik's Cube awkwardly twitched the corners of his mouth.

"Hey, as the saying goes, 'No fight, no friendship'! I know two guys who fight and argue all the time, and everyone thinks they have a bad relationship, but their friendship is actually getting better and better. You see, a little sparring can actually improve a relationship, right?"

After hearing the Rubik's Cube's far-fetched explanation, Momono snorted and picked up a skewer of dumplings, putting it into her mouth.

Rubik's Cube's gaze swept over her rosy lips and nimble tongue, and he couldn't help but recall the touch on his fingertips from a few days ago.

"Tsk, I was so focused on showing off back then, I really missed out!" Rubik's Cube thought to himself.

Seemingly sensing his probing gaze, a barely perceptible struggle flickered in Momono's cold eyes. She swallowed the dumpling, pondered for a moment, and spoke in her clear, cool voice:

Why did you come looking for me? Didn't you forbid me from following you?

"I only said you're not allowed to follow me," Rubik's Cube smirked, "but I didn't say I couldn't ask you out. After all, who wouldn't be happy to have a beautiful woman by their side?"

He certainly wouldn't say that he had received favors from three generations of his family to curry favor with them.

Momonogi gave him a deep look, remained silent for a moment, and then said something surprising:

"If you're free now, we can book a room. Don't worry, I'll pay for it, and you don't need to prepare any protective measures."

As she spoke, she made a gesture as if to pull away the Rubik's Cube, which was listening in stunned silence.

Rubik's Cube was startled by her words, but instantly realized—it was Danzo's mission.

With a flick of his wrist, he pulled Momono, who was trying to pull him away, into his embrace. The girl's body stiffened abruptly, clearly showing an instinctive resistance to this sudden intimacy. A flicker of panic and struggle crossed her eyes, but the thought of Danzo's mission instantly extinguished the urge to struggle.

Instead of feigning a seductive gaze as before, she looked at the Rubik's Cube with the lifeless, numb look she wore during missions. She forced her stiff body to soften, collapsing into his arms as if all her strength had drained away, and whispered:

"If you want to stay here... you can. But be quick, don't let anyone see you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Momono's face flushed crimson—she felt something hard press against the outside of her thigh. She knew exactly what it was.

Rubik's Cube felt a surge of embarrassment and annoyance, inwardly cursing Tobirama for not having enough steam, but outwardly forcing a dry laugh:

"Cough... normal reaction, normal reaction, hahaha..."

“It’s alright…” Momono’s voice was barely audible. “I… came here for this very reason.” She shifted her body slightly, as if trying to adjust her position for easier action.

The Rubik's Cube, however, held down her thigh, which she was trying to move. A flicker of barely suppressed anger and sorrow crossed his eyes.

"Did I make you angry again? I'm sorry, if I did something wrong, please..."

"Of course you did wrong!" Rubik's Cube interrupted her, his voice low and deep. "You clearly didn't want to do these things, you didn't even want to get close to this 'lecherous guy,' yet you forced yourself against your will, all for Danzo's damn mission?"

Momono lowered her head.

"I am a ninja. A ninja is a tool, and a mission is one's will. If you pity me, you don't need to. There's no need to feel guilty; just use me as a tool."

The Rubik's Cube released its grip. Momono instinctively wanted to escape his embrace, but she forcibly restrained herself and prepared to sit back down.

But Rubik's Cube has no intention of continuing this farce.

A crisp snap of the fingers cut through the air.

"untie."

Momono's consciousness returned instantly. She looked at the unfinished dumpling in her hand, then at Kurohime, whose Rubik's Cube had returned to normal, and understood everything.

"Illusion...?"

She laughed, a laugh of anger—whether from anger at how the Rubik's Cube had toyed with her, or from anger at herself for feeling so angry about it.

She looked directly into the Rubik's Cube's eyes, paused for a moment, and then uttered:

"You're such a bad guy."

Rubik's Cube slowly sipped his matcha and responded with a smile:

"Don't say that. We're not on the same side, are we? I've been gentle enough with my methods against someone with ulterior motives."

"I'm sorry, my mission doesn't involve taking your life." Momono's tone regained some of its coldness.

"Tools only perform tasks. If you're worried that I might draw my sword halfway through, rest assured, I won't do anything outside of the task."

"Tools? No feelings?" Rubik's Cube scoffed. "Then what about your instinctive struggles when you were in my arms? Wake up, girl! Don't forget I'm Jiraiya's disciple. What are you pretending to be experienced in front of me for?"

Through the illusion, he had already seen through it all—this girl was clearly inexperienced, probably never even had a kiss. Her "knowledge" was nothing more than last-minute cramming; she didn't even know the proper positions. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

A thin blush instantly rose on Momonogi's cool and beautiful face—she was still angry.

She knew she wasn't in the right state to continue the mission, and forcing herself to stay would likely lead to chaos. She quickly pulled a card from her ninja tool pouch and tossed it to the Rubik's Cube, then devoured the remaining dumpling in a few bites, mumbling:

"This is my address... Think it over... Come anytime."

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.

The Rubik's Cube picked up the card; a faint fragrance seemed to linger on it. He examined the address carefully.

"Wow! As expected of the old Konoha Senju clan! A mansion in the inner circle of Konoha... Tsk, what an evil privileged class."

The Rubik's Cube also stood up; it was time to report the mission to the third-generation elder.

……

Rubik's Cube walked straight to the Hokage Building. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of Konoha trees, casting dappled shadows on him. Pushing open the door to the Hokage's office, the familiar smell of tobacco and the stench of piled-up documents wafted out.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was burying the first batch of case files he was reviewing, his pipe lying beside him, wisps of smoke curling upwards.

The Rubik's Cube boldly greeted the Third Hokage:

"Long time no see, sir. There's been progress on the mission, I've come to report to you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and raised his hand, gesturing for him to sit down and speak slowly.

The Rubik's Cube composed itself, its casual expression hardening, and said seriously:

“Through today’s encounter, I’ve seen something. That girl… is a very typical Root ninja. ‘Ninja is a tool, mission is will’—these words came out of her mouth as numbly as reciting dogma.”

"She took this for granted, and even when I pointed out her inner resistance, she still used this argument to defend herself, making it unquestionable."

The third generation silently took a drag of his cigarette, his eyes appearing even more profound amidst the swirling smoke.

"This is how the training at the root is done. Obliterate the self, leaving only loyalty... Rubik's Cube, in your opinion, is there any hope for that child?"

The Rubik's Cube paused for a moment, then organized its thoughts and said:

“There is still hope. Although she is numb now, there are signs of struggle. In my illusion, when I reacted in a way that was beyond her expectations, she instinctively showed panic and resistance. This shows that Danzo’s brainwashing method of ‘absolute instrumentalization’ has not yet been able to completely crush her instincts as a human being.”

“Deep down, there are still things that belong to ‘Momono Senju’ that haven’t been completely erased—such as shame, and a natural discomfort and resistance to intimate contact. But she has forcibly suppressed all of these with that ‘instrumental theory’.”

The third generation's eyes lit up slightly, and his fingers, holding the pipe, tapped lightly on the table:

"That's good! As long as there's still hope... wait," he said, as if suddenly remembering something he was wondering about:

"Illusion? Didn't you go on a 'date' today?"

"Ahem," Rubik's Cube coughed slightly, looking a little embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject:

"Details are not important. The most urgent task is to minimize or even cut off her direct contact with Danzo during this period. During this time, I will guide her to integrate into the environment of Konoha and try to awaken her emotions."

The third generation exhaled a long puff of smoke, his face a mixture of relief and heavy responsibility. He put down his pipe, his gaze fixed intently on the Rubik's Cube.

"Cube, on behalf of Konoha and the Senju clan, thank you. This was originally my oversight and mistake as Hokage, but now I must place this heavy burden on your shoulders." His voice was filled with deep apology.

"Whether as the Kage of Konoha or as your elder, I... feel deeply guilty."

Before he could finish speaking, to the astonishment of the Rubik's Cube's gaze, the old man, who had devoted his entire life to Konoha, solemnly bowed...

Chapter 25 Metkai