Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

"...It's all my fault...It's all my fault...I shouldn't be here...I shouldn't be here..."

Her voice was broken and pained, each word seemingly squeezed out, carrying bottomless despair and self-blame. It was not a feigned drunkenness, but the raw, bloody truth revealed after alcohol had completely stripped away all the hard shells.

The Rubik's Cube, which had been trying to push her hand away, stopped in mid-air. The playfulness and wariness in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a deep solemnity.

He slowly and gently took her cold hand that was gripping his wrist in his own, and after a moment's hesitation, he placed his other hand on her slightly trembling back, patting it clumsily and gently, with a soothing tone.

“It’s alright…” he lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, his tone gentler than he himself had realized. “It’s all over… It wasn’t your fault. This is a safe place. You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

The body in his arms trembled even more violently, and muffled sobs escaped. Those broken, drunken words, like scattered puzzle pieces, rapidly pieced together in his mind.

Danzo!

'Basement, so cold'—the roots?

'Parents were murdered,' 'Because of me'—'Hostage'...

Everything became clear. Momono Senju, the seemingly aloof and cold girl who approached him with a mission, had parents who died because of their resistance against Danzo. She was kept behind by Danzo as a "hostage" to control her parents and ultimately force them to their deaths.

She lived, yet carried the heavy burden of feeling "unfit to exist," believing herself to be the root of her parents' tragedy. This profound pain and self-destructive tendency, tightly wrapped in a cold shell, were torn apart tonight by a few glasses of fruit wine.

Rubik's Cube felt a heavy weight in his heart. He no longer tried to leave, but simply remained in this position of being held tightly, letting her tears soak the front of his clothes, letting her pain and grievances, which she had suppressed for who knows how long, pour out without reservation to a mission target on this drunken night.

He held her silently, as if holding a fragile piece of glass, gently offering unspoken comfort. Until her sobs gradually subsided, her tense body slowly relaxed, and she finally fell into a deep sleep in his arms, leaving only her even, slightly alcohol-scented breathing.

The Rubik's Cube carefully and extremely slowly peeled her off, letting her lie back on the bed and covering her with the blanket. Momono's brows were still furrowed in her sleep, and traces of tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but at least she was no longer trembling. He stood by the bed, gazing at her sleeping face, now free of all pretense, for a moment, his expression complex.

He quietly left the bedroom, gently closing the door behind him. Back in the cold living room, Rubik's Cube walked to the window, gazing at the silent night view of Konoha. Moonlight bathed half his face, his expression inscrutable. He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips seemingly still carrying the touch of her skin and the coolness of her tears.

After a long silence, he muttered to himself in a low, cold tone:

“Shimura Danzo…” He spat out the name through gritted teeth, with an unprecedented chill.

Rubik's Cube doesn't consider itself a good person, nor does it demand that everyone in the world be good. However, everyone should have their own bottom line. If you don't abide by that bottom line, then you're no longer human.

The night breeze carried the unique scent of wood and grass, brushing against his face, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in Rubik's Cube's heart or that faint, almost imperceptible restlessness.

His figure flickered slightly, like a wisp of smoke blending into the night, and the Rubik's Cube vanished instantly from the quiet courtyard of the Momono family's residence. Within a few breaths, he appeared on the familiar rooftop of Naruto's house.

The moonlight, like water, tinged the roof tiles with a layer of silver frost. A tall, white-haired figure stood with his back to him, leaning against the chimney on the roof ridge, gazing at the silent Hokage Rock in the distance. It was Jiraiya.

"Hey kid, you've finally decided to come back?" Jiraiya didn't even turn his head, his voice as lazy as ever.

"Seeing you leave in such a hurry, I thought you weren't coming back tonight."

Ignoring Jiraiya's teasing, Rubik's Cube walked to Jiraiya's side, also gazing at the distant Hokage Rock. The Third Hokage's statue appeared solemn and aged in the moonlight. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice low and cold, carrying a suppressed resolve:

"Master, please do me a favor."

Jiraiya then turned his head, the moonlight illuminating half of his face. His carefree smile vanished, replaced by the sharpness and seriousness befitting a ninja.

Did you find out anything?

The Rubik's Cube doesn't beat around the bush; it goes straight to the core:

"Help me find out exactly who the Senju clan members within Root were who were murdered by Danzo back then? In particular... a couple who may have tried to resist him, did they have a daughter who was held hostage?"

After listening for a long time, Jiraiya let out a long, heavy sigh. He looked away and gazed at the Hokage Rock again, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He paused for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally making a decision.

“Alright.” Jiraiya’s voice turned low and serious. “I will investigate this matter personally.”

He turned his head and looked at the Rubik's Cube again, his eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity and a hint of warning:

"But Rubik's Cube! Listen to me carefully! Before we have solid information, before the old man makes a decision, you must remain still! Absolutely! Absolutely! Do not make any rash moves!"

Jiraiya stepped forward and solemnly said, "Danzo is not an individual; he represents 'Root,' a powerful force that has been cultivated for decades! Acting rashly will only cause unimaginable turmoil, and may even plunge the entire Hidden Leaf Village into civil war. This not only concerns the safety of the entire village, but may also endanger your life. Do you understand?"

He nodded slowly: "I understand the importance of this matter. I'm not foolish enough to fight the entire Root organization by myself. I will discuss the plan to eliminate Danzo with the Third Hokage."

Jiraiya nodded in agreement, then turned and left.

The Rubik's Cube gazed at the moon under the night sky and murmured to itself.

"What I want to create is a ninja world where people can live well... But Danzo, my ninja world doesn't need someone like you..."

Chapter 31: The Chunin Exams Begin

Chapter 31: The Chunin Exams Begin

Konohagakure - Outside the Chunin Selection Exam Venue

The Chunin Exams are finally about to begin, and the entire Hidden Leaf Village is immersed in a tense atmosphere. The entrance to the huge exam venue is bustling with people. Genin from various ninja villages, dressed in ninja uniforms of different styles, gather here with either confidence or trepidation.

"Oh—! It's finally starting!"

Naruto Uzumaki took the lead, his orange figure standing out in the crowd. He swung his fist, his blue eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.

"Watch how I, Naruto Uzumaki, sweep across the entire field! Just wait to be defeated by me!"

"Stop talking big, you loser."

Sasuke Uchiha walked coolly to the side, hands in his pockets, his sharp eyes scanning the surrounding competitors, especially the Sand Ninja:

"Don't get eliminated in the first round."

"Naruto-kun! Sasuke-kun! Go for it!"

Sakura followed closely behind the two, her face beaming with anticipation, but her gaze remained fixed on Sasuke. She silently encouraged herself.

Kakashi Hatake followed leisurely behind, still holding "Icha Icha Paradise" in his hand, as if the surrounding hustle and bustle had nothing to do with him. Only his exposed eye would occasionally scan the crowd, keeping an eye out for any potential danger.

In stark contrast to the group of enthusiastic genin rushing towards the examination hall, stood a solitary figure atop a tall tree in the distance. He crossed his arms, leaned against the tree trunk, and looked down at the restless crowd below.

'The Chunin Exams...it's finally starting!'

The Cube thought to himself, his current target is the venomous snake lurking beneath this prosperous facade—Orochimaru. This guy is like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment; he can't let him interfere with his plan to investigate Danzo.

After confirming that Naruto and the others had successfully entered the venue, Rubik's Cube took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

"Kagura's Mind's Eye!"

Silently, a vast and precise sensory power surged forth from him like an invisible tide, instantly covering most of Konoha Village. Within his sensory "vision," countless chakra points of varying strength lit up like stars, outlining the lifeblood of the entire village.

He deliberately avoided the dense but generally weak chakra groups of genin inside the venue, using his sensory "tentacles" like the most sophisticated radar to focus on those dark corners, remote woodlands, and... the direction of the Forest of Death.

He was searching for that cold, slippery chakra, as sinister and venomous as a snake, filled with an aura of foreboding and taboo.

Just as the Rubik's Cube was fully focused on sensing, a group of Konoha ninjas approached from the road not far below. Leading them was Sarutobi Asuma, a mature and composed-looking man with a cigarette dangling from his lips. Behind him followed his Team 10:

Nara Shikamaru, looking languid and seemingly uninterested in anything; Akimichi Choji, a stocky man munching on potato chips as he walks; and Yamanaka Ino, with her short blonde hair and beautiful face.

Asma had clearly noticed the Rubik's Cube in the tree as well. He stopped, gestured with his chin towards the treetop, and introduced it to his disciples behind him:

"See that kid in the tree? That kid, who's about your age, is called Whirlpool Cube. He's Jiraiya's disciple, and he's really strong."

Asuma said in a casual tone.

"You're all the same age, you can ask him for advice, you might get some unexpected insights?"

"A disciple of the Sannin?" Shikamaru lazily raised his eyelids, glancing at the blurry figure in the tree. "That sounds like troublesome..."

Choji glanced at it curiously, then quickly returned his attention to the delicious potato chips: "Oh."

When Ino heard the name "Whirlpool Cube," her cheeks flushed bright red. She subconsciously raised her hand to smooth a stray hair behind her ear, her eyes darting away.

The Rubik's Cube in the tree naturally sensed Asuma's team's chakra and their conversation. He slowly opened his eyes, and when his gaze swept over Ino's slightly flushed cheeks, his eyes instantly lit up.

"Hey! Mr. Asuma! And everyone in Class 10!"

The Rubik's Cube's voice was clear and cheerful as it greeted them warmly. With a swift movement, it floated down from the treetop as lightly as a falling leaf, landing steadily in front of Asma's team. Its movements were fluid and natural.

He smiled and fixed his gaze on Ino:

"Miss Yamanaka, it's nice to see you again. The bouquets you arranged at the flower shop last time were beautiful."

These words made Ino blush even more, and she murmured "Thank you" softly.

The Rubik's Cube then smiled at Shikamaru and Choji and said:

"Nice to meet you. You're also Asuma-san's students, right? Good luck on the Chunin Exams!"

Shikamaru was a little bewildered by this sudden enthusiasm and scratched his head:

"Ah...thank you."

Choji stopped eating his potato chips and gave a good-natured smile:

"Yeah! I'll try my best!"

Asma, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, chuckled, "Hey kid, in a good mood today? Why aren't you joining the fun? What are you doing here?"

He glanced at the tree canopy where the Rubik's Cube had stood.

"Haha, watching the fun is much more interesting than joining in," Rubik's Cube chuckled, cleverly avoiding his true intentions. He then became serious, his tone still carrying a smile, but his gaze swept over the three students from Class 10 with sincere encouragement:

"Alright, I won't keep you from your exams any longer. The first exam is about to start, right? Good luck!"

"Thank you!" Ino replied happily.

"Oh!" Choji nodded vigorously.

Shikamaru, unusually earnest, replied, "Understood."

Asma, seeing his disciples' slightly invigorated expressions after being encouraged, nodded to the Rubik's Cube:

"Thank you. We'll be going now."

"Well, I wish you all the best!" Rubik's Cube smiled and waved.

After watching Asuma lead Team 10 into the flow of people heading to the venue, he swayed again and returned to his previous position in the treetop. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was fixed on the distance. His vast Kagura Mind's Eye perception was once again fully activated, like an invisible giant net, calmly searching for the traces of that dangerous "venomous snake" in the bustling village.

Shortly after, the Rubik's Cube grinned:

"found it!"

The exciting prelude to the Chunin Exams has begun, and it's time for me, the hunter lurking in the shadows, to get into gear.

"Hey! Rubik's Cube boy! Long time no see!"

A loud voice came from afar, accompanied by a green whirlwind-like figure that rushed to the tree where the Rubik's Cube was located at an astonishing speed.

The newcomer was none other than Might Guy, the Blue Beast of Konoha. His signature watermelon head, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and green bodysuit shimmered in the sunlight. His face beamed with an unwavering smile, and he gave a bright thumbs-up to the Rubik's Cube in the tree, his pearly white teeth seemingly gleaming.

"On such an important day of exams, standing apart from the hustle and bustle, are you scrutinizing the battlefield of youth with your profound gaze? This calmness and insight are truly worthy of Jiraiya-sama's disciple! It's truly exhilarating!"

"Mr. Kai!"

Rubik's Cube responded with a smile, raising its voice slightly as it replied enthusiastically:

"Long time no see, Mr. Kai. How have you been?"

He swayed and landed lightly in front of Kai once again.

"Where are your disciples? Lee, Tenten, and the Hyuga kid?"

Mentioning his disciples, Kai's smile widened, and he proudly proclaimed, hands on his hips:

"Haha! My disciples, their youthful passion burning brightly, have already rushed into the examination hall! They will surely shine the brightest in this trial! I believe in them!"

"You're already inside..." Rubik's Cube nodded, his smile fading slightly, a hint of seriousness in his eyes. He lowered his voice slightly, his tone becoming more solemn:

"Senior Kai, now that they've gone in, there's something I'd like to ask you to pass on."

Seeing the change in Rubik's Cube's expression, Kai raised his thick eyebrows slightly, also suppressing some of his exaggerated smile, and listened attentively:

"Oh? Please speak!"

The Rubik's Cube looked directly into Kai's eyes and said:

"Tell them to be very careful of that kid from Sunagakure who carries a gourd and plays in the sand. That guy named Gaara... is extremely dangerous."

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"His strength has probably already surpassed the level of Chunin comprehension."

Kai's smile vanished completely. As a seasoned Jonin, he knew all too well what this meant.

Kai's eyes sharpened instantly. He nodded solemnly and said in a deep voice:

"Understood! Rubik's Cube, thank you for reminding me! I will deliver this crucial information concerning the safety of my disciples to Lee, Tenten, and Neji without missing a single word!"

He gave a thumbs-up again, but this time there was no exaggerated smile, only utmost seriousness and a hint of solemnity: