Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

He took a deep breath, letting the pungent smoke swirl in his lungs, as if trying to suppress the heavy emotions mixed with sadness, relief, and endless weariness.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head, forcing a gentle yet weathered smile on his face, his gaze sweeping over the four travel-worn people in front of him.

"Thank you for your hard work... really... thank you for your hard work."

His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying a sense of exhaustion after a heavy burden had been lifted, and filled with deep apology.

"I'm truly sorry to have shown you such a wretched side of this old man."

Kakashi immediately bowed slightly, his voice behind the mask carrying genuine respect and a hint of barely perceptible comfort:

"Lord Third Hokage, please don't say that. You were also harmed by Danzo... the fault is not yours."

The Third Hokage shook his head firmly, his gaze becoming even more profound, as if piercing through the walls of the ward and seeing Konoha's past and future.

"No, Kakashi."

His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable weight.

"Everyone in Konoha... can criticize him, curse him, hate him... that's perfectly understandable."

He paused for a moment, the light from his pipe reflecting an indescribable, complex light in his eyes.

“But I alone… Hiruzen Sarutobi… cannot, and will not be able to.”

This statement made the atmosphere momentarily heavy.

Next, the Third Hokage briefly explained the arrangements for the subsequent handling. Then, the Third Hokage turned his gaze to Kakashi and the Rubik's Cube, and a gentle smile returned to his tired face.

"Kakashi, Rubik's Cube, you two really worked hard this time, especially you, Rubik's Cube."

His gaze lingered on the Rubik's Cube for a moment, carrying a subtle, unspoken meaning.

"Next, I have some things to attend to... I'd like to have a private chat with these two disciples who rarely get to meet. You two should go back and get some rest; the mission is over."

Kakashi and the Rubik's Cube exchanged a glance, instantly understanding the message in each other's eyes—the Third Hokage wanted to catch up with his long-lost students.

"Yes, Third Generation-sama."

"Yes, sir."

The two bowed simultaneously, turned around in unison, and left the ward, gently closing the door behind them.

In the hallway, Kakashi visibly relaxed, his tense nerves finally unwinding. The Rubik's Cube also stretched, its bones cracking loudly.

The two had just stepped out of the hospital, ready to go their separate ways.

"Hey, brat!" Jiraiya's voice suddenly rang out from behind, with a mischievous tone. He had somehow slipped out as well, and was now making faces and quickly catching up, while childishly and secretly sticking out a foot, aiming straight for Rubik's Cube's shin, trying to trip him up!

The Rubik's Cube seemed to have eyes in the back of its head, a wicked smile playing on its lips as if it had anticipated this. Instead of dodging, it instantly raised its foot, and then—

Boom!

—Using all his strength, he stomped hard and precisely on Jiraiya's outstretched foot!

"Ouch——!!!"

A deliberately suppressed, painful yet comical scream escaped Jiraiya's throat. He clutched his foot, wincing in pain, and hopped on one leg, his old face instantly turning a purplish-red. He wanted to shout out in pain but was afraid of alerting the people in the hospital, so he held back until the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Tsk, you old pervert, still playing these childish tricks at your age? Serves you right!"

The Rubik's Cube gave him a disdainful look, clapped his hands happily, ignored Jiraiya jumping up and down behind him, and turned around with a flourish.

Kakashi watched this scene, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily beneath his mask. He shook his head helplessly and walked in the same direction as the Rubik's Cube.

Konoha Hospital, inside a ward.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at his white-haired disciple, who was clutching his leg, grimacing, and still hopping on one leg. Several veins bulged uncontrollably on his forehead, and his grip on his pipe tightened. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh filled with helplessness.

"Ugh……"

However, in stark contrast to the Third Hokage's gloomy expression was Tsunade, who stood with her arms crossed to the side.

Far from showing any sympathy, she couldn't help but smile, her eyes gleaming with undisguised schadenfreude and... a hint of inquiry.

Seeing Jiraiya's comical appearance of being humiliated yet trying to hold back, Tsunade's heart stirred slightly.

Was it just an illusion? She wondered to herself.

In recent years, this idiot and bottom-of-the-class student seems to have undergone some subtle yet profound changes. He is no longer the heavy figure who appears to be joking on the surface but is constantly suffocating under the weight of grand themes such as "the child of prophecy" and "world peace."

The Jiraiya before her, though still cynical and childish, seemed to have lost much of the lingering gloom between his brows. He seemed to have… rediscovered a trace of his mischievous youth? This change made Tsunade feel a strange… relief, even a little pleased.

Jiraiya finally recovered from the excruciating pain. He put his foot down, exaggeratedly rubbed his face, and put on his signature carefree and hearty smile again, as if the embarrassing incident had never happened.

He swaggered over to the third-generation hospital bed, plopped down on the chair next to him, and crossed his legs.

—Of course, the one that wasn't injured.

"Hehe, old man, calm down. It's just joking around with the young people."

He laughed it off with a joking smile, but then a barely perceptible hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.

"Alright, alright, let's get down to business. They definitely didn't keep us here just to catch up, did they?"

The Third Hokage didn't respond immediately. Only the faint crackling of burning tobacco filled the room. He remained silent, his gaze slowly sweeping over Jiraiya's seemingly frivolous yet resolute face, and Tsunade's thoughtful expression. This silence caused Jiraiya's smile to fade slightly, and his posture unconsciously straightened.

Finally, the Third Hokage took a deep drag of his pipe and slowly exhaled. The swirling smoke blurred his aged eyes. He put down his pipe, clasped his hands on his lap, leaned forward slightly, and looked directly into Jiraiya's eyes with an unprecedented and extremely solemn posture.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear and steady; each word was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples in the quiet hospital room.

"Jiraiya."

The third generation paused, seemingly gathering all their determination and expectations.

"I hope……"

His gaze was incredibly determined.

"—You will succeed as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village..."

The setting sun cast a golden glow, draping the reborn Hidden Leaf Village in a gentle veil. The rebuilding homes presented a strange beauty in the twilight.

However, beneath this tranquility interwoven with scars and new life, shadows are quietly approaching.

The gaze shifts south, away from the hustle and bustle of Konoha. On the edge of an inconspicuous town on the border of the Land of Fire, the wind whips up dry dust, sweeping across the slightly dilapidated streets. The setting sun also paints the eaves and earthen walls here red, yet it exudes a sense of desolation and loneliness.

At the entrance to the town, three figures appeared silently. They wore matching, wide black robes that fluttered in the evening breeze. The red clouds on their robes appeared particularly striking in the dim light.

An uninvited guest has arrived.

Chapter 50 Father and son meet

Chapter 50 Father and son meet

In the early morning in Konoha, a thin mist, like a veil, gently enveloped the village as it awoke. The rising sun pierced through the mist, casting warm golden dappled light on the rebuilt houses and newly sprouted buds. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and morning dew, tranquil yet brimming with life.

The vortex cube, bathed in the morning light, walked towards Naruto's somewhat simple little house.

After a long and tiring night, the rare moment of leisure felt especially precious, and he rubbed his aching back.

"Tsk, thank goodness it's someone from the Uzumaki family..."

He muttered something under his breath.

Pushing open the creaking door, the room was filled with Naruto's distinctive aroma, a faint scent mixed with the smell of instant noodle soup packets.

Naruto lay sprawled on the bed, the blanket kicked to his feet, fast asleep, a trace of drool even hanging from the corner of his mouth.

Hey! The sun's already high in the sky!

Rubik's Cube walked over without any hesitation and slapped Naruto's stomach, which was covered by his pajamas. The force was just right to wake him up from his sweet dream.

"Hmm...who is it...just five more minutes of sleep..."

Naruto mumbled sleepily, his eyes still closed, and shrank further into the blankets like a worm.

"five minutes?"

Rubik's Cube raised an eyebrow, grinned mischievously, leaned down, and whispered in Naruto's ear, deliberately drawing out the sound.

"If you don't get up soon, I'm going to eat your special-sized char siu tonkotsu ramen all by myself, okay?"

"Hand-Pulled Noodle?!"

Those two words were like a spell; Naruto abruptly opened his bright blue eyes, his sleepiness instantly vanishing, and he sprang out of bed with a somersault.

"Where?! Where's my ramen?!"

Seeing Naruto suddenly become energetic and look around, Rubik's Cube couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"What's the rush? You just woke up and you want something so greasy? Wash up first! Breakfast is bread and milk, we'll talk about ramen at noon."

"Hey—how could this happen!"

Naruto deflated instantly, but still obediently jumped off the bed, rubbing his messy blond hair as he walked towards the bathroom.

While Naruto was washing up, Rubik's Cube skillfully rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out bread and milk. Hmm, newly bought, not expired.

He heated it up briefly. He sat at the table, gazing out the window at the tranquil Konoha morning. This ordinary, mundane daily life felt especially warm and comforting after a life-or-death struggle.

"Hey, Rubik's Cube Bro!"

Naruto plopped down opposite the Rubik's Cube, grabbed a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth, asking indistinctly:

"Is Grandpa Three generations alright?"

"Yes, the advisor is tough as nails."

The Rubik's Cube pushed the milk in front of him.

"Eat slowly, be careful not to choke."

Naruto gulped down a mouthful of milk, poured the bread down his throat, and let out a satisfied burp.

……

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the floor of Naruto's cabin, the air still carrying the lingering aroma of breakfast bread. After tidying the table, Rubik's Cube glanced at Naruto, who was lounging lazily in his chair, rubbing his belly, and casually asked:

"What's the plan for today? Back to the training ground to keep giving it your all?"

Naruto yawned, stretched like a cat sunbathing, his golden hair shimmering in the sunlight:

"Ah—I'm so tired from all this training these past few days! Today... I'll just stay home and rest, take a nap, hehe."

Seeing his relaxed expression, Rubik's Cube nodded understandingly.

"Yes, it's right to balance work and rest. A string that's stretched too tight is easy to break; you need to rest well to have more energy for training."

He played with Naruto for a while longer, then looked at the empty refrigerator and sighed helplessly.

"Looks like this picky eater hasn't been getting any vegetables while I was away... Alright, I'll go to the market and salvage your poor nutritional balance."

After saying goodbye to Naruto, Mofang strolled leisurely through the streets of Konoha in the early morning, enjoying the rare tranquility. He browsed through the bustling morning market, and soon carried a full basket of fresh, vibrant green vegetables.

Just as he was carrying his heavy shopping basket and preparing to head home, a familiar figure, carrying a whirlwind of anxious energy, suddenly rushed out from the street corner and almost collided with him!

"Sasuke?"

Rubik's Cube steadied himself and looked at the black-haired boy in front of him, who was panting, pale, and even had cold sweat on his forehead. He smiled and greeted him with some surprise.

"What happened? Why are you running so fast?"

"Why...why are you here?!"

Sasuke suddenly looked up, his dark eyes now bloodshot, filled with deep-seated hatred and fear, but overwhelmed by anxiety for his best friend's safety!

He practically screamed it out, his voice trembling as if it were being torn apart.

"Why aren't you staying at Naruto's house?! That guy... that man... he's back! He's got his eye on Naruto!"

The words "that man" made the smile on Rubik's Cube's face vanish instantly, and his eyes suddenly sharpened.

It's Itachi! Uchiha Touch! Today!

"Tsk, so it's on this day..."

The Rubik's Cube muttered to himself, his tone cold and knowing. He glanced at Sasuke, whose breathing was unsteady from running and emotional excitement, and frowned slightly.

"Your speed... is too slow!"

Before he could finish speaking, Rubik's Cube gave Sasuke no time to react! With his left hand carrying the heavy basket of vegetables, his right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Sasuke's waist and firmly securing him to his side!

"Lightning Release: Swift Lightning!!!"