Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

"Having a dream... that you can fight for."

His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, seeing Momono's peaceful profile as she slept soundly, Karin's focused figure as she diligently studied in the medical department, Naruto's sprawled-out sleeping posture and contented snores, and Jiraiya's reliable, mountain-like figure amidst his hearty laughter...

His smile deepened, carrying a sense of heartfelt satisfaction:

“I even have a home again…”

"It's also because of you,"

The Rubik's Cube raised its hand and gently touched its eyes.

"I now have these eyes..."

He lowered his hand, looked directly into Obito's eyes filled with shock and confusion, and said in a complex tone:

"Although... I still harbor an indelible resentment towards you..."

He paused, then nodded slightly:

"But I still need... and must tell you..."

"Thank you."

"Thank you... for saving my mother."

"Although she passed away from illness quite early..."

A deep sadness flashed across his eyes, only to be replaced by an even stronger warmth.

"But both my mother and I, during the years we lived together..."

The Rubik's Cube's voice was gentle yet firm, filled with undeniable power:

"We are all very happy."

Finally, he clearly and solemnly uttered that long-forgotten name:

"Thank you, Obito Uchiha."

"..."

Obito listened quietly.

There were no accusations, no condemnation, no angry denunciations as expected...

Only calm statements.

Only warm memories remain.

Only... sincere thanks.

And that familiar yet unfamiliar... happiness.

This should have been a spring of sweet water, enough to heal any wound.

But at this moment, it flows into my parched and cracked heart like molten lava!

A chilling, unprecedented fear gripped his heart instantly, making it almost impossible for him to breathe!

Has he been very happy all these years?

The child born because of his momentary cowardice and wrongful escape...

Surprisingly... she's very happy?!

This realization was like a thunderbolt tearing through the dark sky, causing the foundation of his faith, which he had built with hatred and despair for more than a decade, to crumble!

All that he did… the sins he bore… the destruction he orchestrated… the Infinite Tsukuyomi he pursued…

And for what?!

If... if in this real world that he sees as hell, that he madly denies, that he tries to cover up with illusion...

Something like the Rubik's Cube…someone like his mother, Chino…even…everything Rin once cherished…

Everyone can find their own true happiness...

Then...

He devoted his entire life, risked everything, and was even willing to sacrifice the world to pursue that "dream world without pain"...

Is there any need for it to exist anymore?!

For someone who already feels happy...

Infinite Tsukuyomi…

That so-called "redemption" that strips away reality and indulges in illusion...

Is this really... a good thing?!

This thought, like the most lethal poison, instantly eroded all his fervent beliefs! A massive wave of confusion and panic, like an icy tide, completely overwhelmed him. The slight fluctuation he had just felt due to the Rubik's Cube's words was instantly crushed by this disruptive impact!

He abruptly stood up, his movements as stiff as a marionette! He dared not look at the Rubik's Cube's face, which radiated genuine warmth and contentment! He dared not hear any more words about "happiness"!

That was the ultimate negation of the meaning of his entire existence!

"..."

He opened his mouth, but found he couldn't utter a single word. His throat felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand! In the end, he said nothing, only a deep, almost desperate look of escape as he glanced one last time at the Rubik's Cube, as if trying to imprint that face and that declaration of "happiness" deep into his very bones, or perhaps to erase it completely from his soul!

The space twisted silently for a moment.

The man's figure vanished instantly, like a shattered phantom, leaving only the still overflowing cup of sake on the table and the silently flowing moonlight.

Rubik's Cube sat alone at the table, looking at the empty seat opposite him, then at the glass of wine that Obito had never touched. In the end, he simply picked up his own glass of wine, which had also gone cold, and gently tossed it towards the empty seat, towards the moonlight, and towards the hastily fleeing figure.

Then, drink it all in one gulp.

Chapter 55 A new beginning

Chapter 55 A new beginning

The icy liquid slid down his throat, but it failed to quell the complex emotions churning within him. He remained silent for a moment, then reached out and poured himself another glass.

One cup after another.

He rarely touched this stuff, only having a few drinks on special occasions. But tonight, he suddenly understood that lecherous old man who always loved to drink heavily.

When people are feeling lost, this thing can indeed offer a brief moment of comfort.

All the words bottled up inside had nowhere to be uttered. The only person she could confide in was already asleep; she seemed to have recently taken on a root-related task assigned to her by the third generation, and she was exhausted too. The Rubik's Cube, reeking of alcohol, didn't want to disturb her peaceful slumber.

Gazing at the moon outside the window, Rubik's Cube tried to express his feelings by reciting a few lines of poetry, but after struggling for a long time, he couldn't utter a single word. Frustrated, he rubbed his spiky hair and simply leaped out of the window.

Let's go for a walk.

He wandered aimlessly through the quiet streets of Konoha, the dim streetlights casting long, swaying shadows. As he walked, a faint light seemed to appear ahead. Rubik's Cube instinctively followed the light, muttering to himself:

Whose deity can outlast this drunkard?

The road beneath his feet became increasingly familiar. Finally, he stopped in front of a familiar house.

Looking at the light shining from Naruto's house, Rubik's Cube's lips twitched violently.

Good heavens, it turns out the lights were on in my own house!

"Wasn't it supposed to be that old man Jiraiya who took care of him today?"

Rubik's Cube rubbed his throbbing temples, a surge of anger mixed with the effects of alcohol rising within him.

"What kind of trouble are these two clowns up to now?"

A sense of helplessness, mixed with a concern that she herself was unaware of, quietly rose in her heart.

He concealed his presence and silently approached Naruto's window, intending to sneak in as usual to see what mischief the "Sleeping Dragon and Phoenix Chicks" were up to, when he clearly heard a conversation coming from inside.

"Hey! Naruto, Rubik's Cube kid said he has something to do tonight, so don't force yourself, just go to sleep!"

Jiraiya's voice was filled with obvious helplessness.

"I do not want!"

Naruto immediately retorted loudly.

"You perverted sage, you didn't see it! Brother Rubik's Cube was really agitated today! Although I don't know what happened, Sasuke was in a really bad mood too... but they all came to save me! When you're in a bad mood, talking to someone is the most effective thing! If I had fallen asleep, they definitely wouldn't have come!"

"No one's coming to find you in the middle of the night, you brat! Go to sleep and listen to your elders!" Jiraiya's voice rose a little, tinged with exasperation.

"Ah! I don't want to! You perverted sage, you big idiot!" Naruto yelled, sounding like he was rolling around on the bed.

"What did you say?! You brat..."

The argument inside the house seemed to have escalated.

The Rubik's Cube outside heard everything, and a warm current quietly flowed into his heart, dispelling some of his drunkenness and vexation. He abandoned his usual route through the window, walked to the door, gently knocked, and called out:

"Naruto! You pervert! Open the door, I'm here!"

"Ah! Brother Rubik's Cube!"

Naruto's surprised scream immediately erupted from inside the room.

"You lecherous immortal, look! What did I tell you! Brother Rubik's Cube, wait for me! I'm coming to open the door! Ouch...!"

This was followed by a dull thud as the heavy object hit the ground and a cry of pain.

Jiraiya sighed heavily from inside the house, a resigned voice echoing:

"What an idiot..."

He walked to the door and opened it for the Rubik's Cube.

Looking at his disciple, who was slightly drunk but whose eyes were softer than usual, Jiraiya felt a fleeting pang of heartache. Uncharacteristically, he refrained from his antics, silently stepping aside, his tall frame turned away from the Rubik's Cube, and gently closing the door behind him.

Rubik's Cube entered the warm room and immediately saw Naruto sprawled on the floor, fast asleep, a satisfied smile on his lips. He couldn't help but smile faintly and murmur:

"This kid... he must have been terrified today."

Jiraiya walked to the side of the Rubik's Cube and complained in a low voice:

"That brat, he absolutely refuses to sleep tonight. He was already exhausted from being tormented by those guys today and couldn't hold on any longer, but he insisted on waiting for you and that kid named Sasuke, saying he was afraid you'd be in a bad mood and no one would keep you company... making this immortal stay up too."

He rubbed his temples helplessly, then changed the subject, teasingly adding with a hint of concern:

"So you actually came? I thought you were going to stay at Momono's place tonight."

Rubik's Cube naturally sensed the unrealistic concern in his words.

The Rubik's Cube smiled, the moonlight reflecting on his slightly tipsy face:

"I originally intended to stay there, but the moonlight was nice tonight, so I came out for a walk. Before I knew it, I had wandered into this area and saw that your lights were still on, so I came over to check it out."

"is it?"

Jiraiya looked at his disciple and returned a gentle smile.

Together, the two carried the soundly sleeping Naruto to bed and tucked him in. Then, they lay down side by side on the makeshift bed on the floor. The cool moonlight streamed through the window, gently bathing them in a tranquil and reassuring silver glow.

This tranquility did not last long.

"Old pervert,"

The Rubik's Cube stared at the ceiling, its sound exceptionally clear in the silence.

"Don't you have anything to ask me?"

"Yes, I have!"

Jiraiya immediately chimed in, his tone slightly mischievous.

"How are you going to explain to Momono tomorrow that you're reeking of alcohol? I'm really worried about your love life!"

"...You know that's not what I meant."

The Rubik's Cube turned its head away helplessly.

"Tch, we've been found out."

Jiraiya scratched his face, then changed the subject, his voice carrying an exaggerated pleading tone.

"Tsunade is back, isn't she? Disciple! Quickly help your master think of a way! My lifelong happiness depends on you! Can you bear to see your master grow old alone?"

"Master..."