Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

"So... someone like you who keeps saying 'ninjas are just tools and machines'..."

His voice was like ice scraping across the ground.

"Do you subconsciously want to 'save your life' in the moment of impending death?"

"I thought your backbone was as hard as your words."

"The power of words..."

Danzo's deepest survival instinct was exposed, and he was filled with shame and indignation. He managed to squeeze out a few words in a hoarse voice, but they were quickly overwhelmed by the excruciating pain. However, a kind of almost morbid relief and madness appeared on his contorted face.

"Whatever, kid..."

He stared intently at the Rubik's Cube, a final flame burning in his single eye.

"Come to hell with me...!!!"

At this moment!

Om-! ! !

Danzo's inner Four Symbols Sealing Seal on his chest suddenly erupted with a jet-black aura that devoured all light! Countless thick, python-like chains of dark runes, carrying a terrifying aura capable of annihilating everything, surged forth from his body like a black torrent bursting its banks! The air began to groan under the immense pressure, light distorted, and matter disintegrated! That terrifying black wave, with its will to destroy everything, frantically rushed towards the nearby Rubik's Cube and everything within the barrier!

Konoha Hospital.

The window of the ward was gently pushed open.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a plain hospital gown, his figure slightly hunched, slowly came to a stop, leaning against the window frame. His wrinkled face was pale from recovering from a serious illness, but his gaze was deep and unfathomable, looking over the hospital courtyard, over the layers of rooftops, and finally settling on the Hokage Rock in the distance—on his own majestic stone-carved face.

He silently took out his pipe and lit it. Wisps of smoke rose up, blurring his deep gaze.

He took a deep drag, the flickering light of the burning tobacco reflecting the unspeakable worry in his eyes.

Danzo's consciousness, like a candle flickering in the wind, began to dissipate and drift away uncontrollably under the dual torment of excruciating pain and cellular malfunction.

Although his one cloudy eye was still fixedly and unwillingly staring at the Rubik's Cube so close at hand, his thoughts had sunk into the mire of memories.

Fragmented images flashed through my mind: the newly born Konoha in my childhood, sunlight filtering through the new leaves onto the training ground; my like-minded young companions standing side by side; my powerful and dignified master, Tobirama Senju; and… the Hokage's hat and rock face, so close yet unattainable in my entire life…

A bitter laugh, a mixture of endless bitterness, resentment, and self-mockery, slowly crept up Danzo's twisted lips.

Looking back on my life... the one etched most deeply in my memory... is still you... Hiruzen...

In his final moments, his unfocused gaze seemed to be drawn by an invisible thread, drifting unconsciously and weakly in another direction to his side.

However, what came into view was like a lightning bolt that ripped his soul apart, instantly shattering all his dazed state and memories!

Fear! Unbelievable fear! Like cold ropes instantly tightening around his heart!

It's that kunai!

The kunai that the Rubik's Cube had just used to mock him, which he had instinctively dodged by slightly turning his head, was now stuck diagonally in the ground not far away!

The fatal flaw is not the kunai itself.

Rather, it was the technique deeply engraved on the handle of the kunai.

—Flying Thunder God Technique!

"No...impossible!!!"

Danzo let out a hoarse, broken roar like a dying beast, every syllable filled with utter despair and madness!

His only remaining eye was practically bursting out of its socket as he stared intently at that familiar mark!

"How could you...how could you possibly...Flying Thunder God Technique?!"

The Rubik's Cube looked down at Danzo, who lay slumped on the ground like a defeated dog, lost in a frenzy. His gaze was icy, as if he were looking at a pile of nauseating garbage. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it struck Danzo's already crumbling mind with a thud:

"Fool. Why would you be so naive as to think that you're the only one who knows about the barrier spell that completely sealed off the entire base?"

A contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"You really think you're the sole ruler of Konoha? Have you forgotten..."

The sound of the Rubik's Cube suddenly turned cold, like an icicle piercing to the bone:

"...Who is the true leader of Konoha?"

Hiruzen!

It's Hiruzen Sarutobi!

It was the Third Hokage, the one he had pursued, envied, considered his rival, yet had to acknowledge throughout his life! Only he could know and possibly reveal the core secret of this barrier!

The Flying Thunder God Technique…could it be…that he gave it to him too?! This thought eroded Danzo's last shred of sanity like poison.

"Take him down! Now! At all costs! Take him down—!!!"

Danzo went completely mad, letting out hysterical, incoherent screams, his voice distorted by extreme fear and rage!

The elite forces surrounding the Rubik's Cube at its root moved instantly! Like the most sophisticated killing machines, they unleashed their final, deadly killing intent!

however--

hum!

Just a moment!

The space seemed to ripple like water.

The Rubik's Cube disappeared completely and cleanly from the center of the trajectory of all the root members' attacks, as if it had been erased by an eraser.

He had already quietly activated the trial card for Edo Tobirama before even stepping into this base.

In the final instant before completely escaping this deathly space, the Rubik's Cube's gaze pierced through the invisible distance, landing once more on Shimura Danzo, who writhed like a maggot on the edge of death. A final, mocking smile appeared on his lips:

"This is the ending that truly suits you, old man."

"Just now... that heroic act of 'for Konoha' that he put on."

"It's absolutely disgusting."

"A hypocrite who coats his dirty desires with the sugar of 'righteousness'."

"You think you're qualified to talk nonsense to me here?"

The voice, like a chilling wind from the depths of hell, left an eternal curse in Danzo's utterly corrupted consciousness.

"You'll regret this—Hiruzen—!!!"

"You'll regret this—!!!"

Danzo's last shred of sanity completely crumbled! Like a mad dog with its spine removed, he used the last of his strength to unleash a heart-wrenching howl filled with endless resentment and unwillingness towards his dearest friend, fate, and the entire world!

"Ah ah ah ah ah--!!!"

Konoha Hospital.

"Lord Hokage, you really need to rest! In your current condition, you absolutely cannot get out of bed, let alone smoke!"

The nurse, anxious and helpless, gently closed the ward door.

"boom."

A soft sound shut out the outside world.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, remained standing by the window, seemingly oblivious to the nurse's instructions. His wrinkled fingers unconsciously stroked the warm tobacco pipe. Outside, the last rays of the setting sun cast a long, long shadow of his aged figure.

His murky yet profound gaze seemed to pierce through distant space, fixing on some unknown corner that was being completely swallowed by darkness.

A barely audible sigh, mingled with endless weariness, resolve, and profound pain, dissipated like smoke in the silent hospital room.

"Forgive me... Danzo..."

"...I am the Hokage."

"...Because...I am the Hokage..."

call out!

A faint spatial fluctuation flashed by in the cozy living room of the Momono family.

The vortex cube appeared out of thin air like a ghost, landing steadily on the Flying Thunder God Technique mark it had previously carved.

The familiar, warm air, carrying a faint aroma of food, instantly enveloped him.

Chapter 49 Uninvited Guest

Chapter 49 Uninvited Guest

The Rubik's Cube appeared on the Flying Thunder God Technique in the living room of the Momono family.

"I am back."

He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of weariness after the battle, but more so a sense of calm after the victory.

Momonogi, who had been anxiously waiting at home, immediately had tears welling up in her eyes the moment she saw the Rubik's Cube, and her glistening tears were about to spill over.

Rubik's Cube took a step forward and gently but firmly pressed its warm index finger against Momono's soft lips, just enough to stop the sob that was about to spill out.

"Shh..."

A familiar smile bloomed on his face.

"Now is not the time to cry, Momono, this is the time to laugh."

Feeling the warmth from her fingertips and the unharmed presence of the Rubik's Cube, Momono's tense nerves finally relaxed. She sniffed, trying to suppress her tears, nodded firmly at the Rubik's Cube, and forced a trembling yet incredibly bright smile onto her lips.

Rubik's Cube ruffled her hair and gave a very brief farewell:

"Wait for me. I need to let my master and the others know that I'm alright, otherwise they'll probably be worried sick."

The next moment, he jumped out of the window.

Outside the root's boundary

Jiraiya paced restlessly, Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, staring grimly at the motionless barrier, Kakashi leaned against the broken wall seemingly calm, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner anxiety. Might Guy, meanwhile, was stretching exaggeratedly to try and ease the tension.

Whoosh!

The Rubik's Cube appeared in front of Jiraiya without warning.

"Stinky boy!"

Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, then burst into a thunderous roar! His large, fan-like hand, accompanied by a whistling sound, slammed mercilessly and heavily onto the Rubik's Cube's head!

"What are you doing? Ouch!"

The Rubik's Cube exaggeratedly covered its head, squatted down, crowed like a rooster, and grinned.

"I knew you wouldn't die so easily!"

After Jiraiya finished smashing the cube, his face instantly brightened, and he grinned, revealing his signature bold smile. He patted the cube's shoulder hard, almost knocking it over again.

"You made us worry for nothing!"

Kakashi's tense body instantly relaxed, and the breath he had been holding in was finally exhaled slowly, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted. His figure leaning against the broken wall seemed to soften a bit, and a barely audible sigh of relief came from beneath his mask.

Looking at the Rubik's Cube's profile, which bore an eight or nine-tenths resemblance to Obito's, and how it was grimacing and complaining about Jiraiya's excessive force in the sunset, a complex and incomprehensible pain and determination flashed deep in Kakashi's eyes.

'Obito...Rin...'

He silently clenched his fist, making a silent vow in his heart:

'This time, I will never let this tragedy repeat itself! Never!'

"Hey! Rubik's Cube! As expected of a passionate and youthful companion! I knew you could create a miracle!"

Matt Kai instantly appeared next to the Rubik's Cube, gave it his signature thumbs up, his white teeth gleaming brightly in the sunset, his smile even more radiant than the sun.

Tsunade snorted, her gaze sweeping over the Rubik's Cube to confirm that he was indeed not missing any limbs, before her tense expression relaxed slightly.

"It's good that you weren't seriously injured."

After a brief reunion and confirmation, the atmosphere became solemn again. As the core members and leaders who raided the Root organization's base, exposed Danzo's conspiracy, and ultimately brought it to an end, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi Hatake, and Cube Uzumaki walked together towards Konoha Hospital.

They needed to report to the Third Hokage, who had just recovered from his illness and was now awaiting the final news, the outcome of this event that had occurred in the shadows and concerned the future of Konoha.

The familiar smell of disinfectant from Konoha Hospital filled the air, and the corridor was so quiet that only their footsteps could be heard. A huge storm had finally settled down at this moment.

In Konoha Hospital, a faint smell of tobacco permeated the quiet wards.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, listened quietly to Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the Cube's complete report on the events surrounding the Root organization's base. His head was bowed, his gray hair appearing somewhat dim under the lamplight, and the flickering flame of the tobacco in the pipe between his fingers.