Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

Chapter 66 Son, would you like to learn about the Eye of the Moon Project?

The morning sea fog had not yet completely dissipated, and the air was filled with a damp, cold, and salty smell.

Deidara yawned and announced that he was going to visit a nearby town, but in reality, he wanted to find out more about the exact time of the daimyo's visit.

Naruto couldn't sit still any longer and clamored to go "see the world" too. Deidara initially wanted to refuse this troublesome burden, but then he thought that having this boisterous brat along would actually make it easier to disguise themselves as ordinary travelers, so he immediately changed his mind and generously agreed.

"Hmm~ Alright, alright, I'll let you see what kind of might I have!"

Gaara frowned slightly, looking at Naruto with concern, then turned to the Rubik's Cube. The Rubik's Cube nodded slightly, giving him an affirming look.

Gaara immediately understood and said in a deep voice:

"I'll go as well."

His gaze swept over Deidara and the "Flying Guy" in the corner, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Deidara shrugged indifferently, while Naruto cheered. Soon, the three of them left the hut and headed towards the town.

The room fell silent instantly, leaving only the Rubik's Cube and the figure wearing the orange swirling mask. The air seemed to freeze.

Rubik's Cube didn't look at Obito, but merely tilted its head slightly towards the door before walking out first. Obito stood frozen for a few seconds, his eyes behind the mask's holes shifting uncertainly, before finally taking a step and silently following.

Instead of heading towards the town, Rubik's Cube led Obito into the dense forest behind the village.

The unique humid climate of the Water Kingdom nourishes everything here. The trees are tall and lush, their branches intertwined, and low shrubs and vines grow rampant. The ground is covered with a thick layer of humus, soft and spongy underfoot, each step accompanied by a sticky, watery sound. The air seems to be dripping with moisture, carrying a rich scent of earth and decaying wood. The paths are slippery and rugged, making them extremely difficult to traverse.

The Rubik's Cube, however, moved with ease through the tangled trees as if it were in its own home, skillfully avoiding the slippery moss and tripping vines.

Obito, following behind him, appeared much more "composed." He activated his Hollowfication ability, his body moving like an invisible ghost, effortlessly passing through tree trunks, tangled thorns, and slippery mud, following behind the Cube as if taking a leisurely stroll. His Akatsuki robes were not even damp or muddy.

The Rubik's Cube glanced back at the figure who seemed to be playing with superhuman ease, and couldn't help but twitch its lips, muttering under its breath:

"Tsk... That's really cheating, this ability..."

After walking for an unknown amount of time, we passed through an unusually dense thicket of trees, and suddenly the view opened up before us. Deep in the forest, in a small, relatively open clearing, stood a tombstone.

The tombstone is not tall, and is even somewhat simple, made of a few rough bluestones, but you can see the care put into its construction.

It was cleaned up very well, with no weeds around it, and several bunches of wildflowers that were already withered but still intact were placed next to it, obviously placed there by the villagers or Rubik's Cube when they came back.

The Rubik's Cube stopped a few meters from the tombstone. He stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on the cold stone, as if trying to see through it and find the gentle face that lay beneath.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, with only the occasional birdsong from the depths of the forest and the sound of dripping water from the leaves. After a long while, he slowly stepped forward, his fingers trembling slightly, and gently stroked the familiar name on the stone tablet, his voice choked with barely suppressed emotion:

"Mom...it's been so long...I've come to see you..."

Obito stood a few steps behind him, like a silent black sculpture. The mask concealed all his expressions, only his slightly clenched fist betrayed a hint of inner turmoil.

"you……"

Rubik's Cube didn't turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the tombstone, his voice low and hoarse, as if drifting from a great distance.

"...So, really, there's nothing you want to say to her?"

A very soft inhale came from beneath the mask, followed by that disguised, hoarse voice that deliberately suppressed all emotion:

"I told you last time... I'm sorry to her. But... I have nothing to say."

The Rubik's Cube slowly closed its eyes, then opened them again, its eyes swirling with complex emotions, which ultimately culminated in a barely audible sigh:

“I guess so… After all, you’ve never truly loved your mother, and she knows that better than anyone.”

His fingers remained on the cold stone tablet, as if drawing upon its meager warmth.

"Ultimately... this is a matter between the two of you. Although I am her child, I should not, and cannot, distort her wishes from her lifetime because of my own subjective thoughts."

She...is not someone who likes to fight or compete; she just quietly stands behind, supporting those she loves. She's just that kind of...simple and unassuming person..."

Obito's breath hitched briefly beneath the mask. He understood everything the Rubik's Cube had said. He had never truly loved Chino deeply. But that didn't stop him from understanding her.

During the darkest and most desperate years when he left Konoha and wandered the edge of the world like a lost soul, she was the only one... who could truly get close to him, accept him, and stay by his side without any ulterior motives.

She was his companion, a glimmer of light he unexpectedly grasped in the abyss... and the first woman in his life. He knew better than anyone how resilient and powerful a heart lay hidden beneath that seemingly gentle and docile face.

It was this inner strength that made him feel unprecedented shame and... inferiority after he betrayed Rin out of impulse and despair and had a relationship with Chino!

He couldn't face his own cowardly betrayal, nor could he face Zhi Nai's eyes, which seemed to encompass and see through everything.

He chose the most despicable way to escape, burying his head in the sand like an ostrich, afraid to take responsibility and afraid to touch the warmth that might pull him back from the brink of madness.

But this very person—a resilient, tolerant, and "good man" who had offered him brief solace—died so easily and meaninglessly on this remote seaside, leaving behind only a young child and a cold stone tablet.

The lips beneath the mask moved silently a few times, and finally, a hoarse voice, carrying an almost ethereal weariness and an unfathomable coldness, slowly rose, as if stating a preordained, nauseating truth:

"Ha... but such a 'good' person died so easily."

His voice paused, as if gathering some kind of strength, then suddenly rose, carrying a destructive mockery and a twisted accusation, crashing down upon the silent forest:

"Don't you think this world is... utterly absurd?!"

Rubik's Cube finally turned around slowly. He couldn't see Obito's face covered by the mask, but through his tone, Rubik's Cube could feel the hatred and disappointment he felt for the world.

More than once, Rubik's Cube felt that Obito Uchiha was a complete freak.

When he held hope for the world, his enthusiasm bordered on naiveté. He could be late for work because he was helping an elderly woman cross the street, and he would sacrifice himself without hesitation to save his companion.

At that time, he was undoubtedly a purely good person.

However, once the world plunges him into despair, he can unhesitatingly transform into a demon. For the sake of that illusory "Eye of the Moon Project," he personally trampled upon everything he had once fought and died to protect:

His pride in the Uchiha clan, his long-cherished dream of becoming Hokage, and his master and mistress whom he regarded as family...

Everything was sacrificed to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, which was destined to be a deception.

The Rubik's Cube's gaze fell on Obito, gradually tinged with an indescribable sense of sympathy.

Kenji Uchiha was deceived and manipulated his entire life. The most tragic thing is that neither he nor the self-righteous Madara Uchiha ever doubted the flawed "Eye of the Moon Plan," not even once.

Obito noticed the Rubik's Cube looking back, and his heart skipped a beat. He mistakenly thought his son had finally listened to him, and a long-lost, almost unfamiliar sense of pride instantly swelled in his chest. He suppressed this inappropriate joy, striving to maintain his profound and mysterious demeanor, and confidently spoke:

“I want to talk to you about… my ‘Eye of the Moon Project’.”

Chapter 67 You believe everything others say? Are you stupid?

Chapter 67 You believe everything others say? Are you stupid?

As the Rubik's Cube looked at Obito, who had suddenly become "enthusiastic" and even somewhat clumsy in his attempt to "preach," a very strange sense of astonishment arose in his heart.

Has this guy... taken the wrong medicine? Suddenly he's trying to sell me his salvation plan?

Obito seemed completely immersed in the beautiful picture he had painted and the fantasy of being "approved" by his son, his voice carrying an almost naive confidence:

"Project Eye of the Moon is to create an unprecedented, massive illusion that covers the entire world! It will gently pull everyone into their own perfect dream! There..."

His tone carried a fervent longing.

"No war! No death! No pain! No sorrow! Everyone will attain eternal happiness! All departed loved ones will be 'resurrected' in the dreams of the living, achieving the most perfect ending! This is... the beautiful future belonging to all mankind!"

He seemed to realize he was getting a little excited, took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his surging emotions, and looked through the mask at the Rubik's Cube with a deep and complex expectation:

"In that perfect world... Chino wouldn't have died young, and you wouldn't have become an orphan... You and your mother could live happily together forever..."

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

"I... I might even be able to stay by your side... and try to fulfill the responsibilities of a father..."

He spoke these words softly, with a kind of unease that even he himself found unfamiliar.

The Rubik's Cube listened quietly, its face devoid of any mockery, but a complex, sorrowful smile slowly crept onto its lips.

He wasn't mocking Obito's belated desire to make amends, but rather felt deep pity for the man before him.

All his genuine feelings, all his desires and attempts to make amends, could only be entrusted to a vague, even enormous, illusion!

"Join my Eye of the Moon Project, Rubik's Cube!"

Obito's voice was once again full of power, carrying an irresistible allure.

"Even if you don't want to participate, that's fine! Hand over the One-Tailed and Nine-Tailed to me! Then come back to Amegakure with me, or you can go anywhere in the world you want! I swear on my life that I will do everything in my power to protect your safety! I will never let you experience... a tragedy like Chino's again!"

He emphasized it urgently.

"Just three or four years! At most three or four years! My plan will be complete! You will be able to see your mother again in that perfect dream! Hug her! Talk to her! She once told me... she also longed for a dream world where she could reunite with her deceased parents... Rubik's Cube, you are her child, you must understand this longing, right?"

His tone was almost pleading.

Looking at Obito, who was acting out of character and had become a chatterbox eager to promote his products and seek recognition, Rubik's Cube felt a sense of absurdity and amusement, but also a deep sense of surprise and shock.

It seems... I, his 'son,' hold a much heavier place in his heart than I imagined...

He originally thought that, given Obito's current fanaticism in being brainwashed by the Eye of the Moon, his existence would at most be like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, causing only a ripple before returning to stillness.

In retrospect, he underestimated the undercurrents beneath this deep pool. This man, who only used "divine power" to hide his tears, harbored emotions that were frantically suppressed deep within him, far more turbulent than they appeared on the surface.

When Obito finally stopped his tempting and expectant persuasion, and fixed his gaze on him with burning hope, Rubik's Cube slowly stood up and faced him properly. The undisguised expectation in his eyes made Rubik's Cube's lips twitch violently, and he felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

Instead of directly responding to the tempting invitation, he abruptly changed the subject, posing a cold and sharp question:

Before you start thinking about your "dream," let me ask you a few questions.

"First,"

His voice was deep.

"Where did you hear about this so-called 'Eye of the Moon Project'? Don't tell me it's your own original idea. There has never been a single word about this level of ninjutsu concept in the history of the ninja world."

Where did it originate? Is the source reliable? Who told you?

"This……"

Obito was speechless. He certainly couldn't say that Madara Uchiha had told him!

He hesitated for a few seconds before finally managing to come up with a seemingly reasonable explanation:

"It's... it's recorded on an ancient stone tablet beneath the Uchiha clan's Naga Shrine! It's inscribed with the Sage of Six Paths' words of wisdom and the method to save the world! Only... only Sharingan whose power has evolved to a sufficiently high level can decipher the complete secret! According to the Sage of Six Paths, only the Eye of the Moon Plan is the only righteous path to save humanity from its descent into darkness! He failed to complete it back then, so he placed his hopes on the Uchiha descendants who inherited the Sage's bloodline and will..."

"stop!"

The Rubik's Cube rudely raised its hand to interrupt, its face clearly saying, "Are you kidding me?"

"Ultimately, this thing is just an ancient document that you unearthed during your 'archaeology,' right?"

Obito's face flushed red beneath the mask, but under the Rubik's Cube's sharp gaze, he could only nod with difficulty:

"…Indeed."

"second,"

Rubik's Cube's tone became even more aggressive.

"In other words, this plan was never put into practice! It's just a theory written in stone, its veracity unknown! You have no idea what would happen if it were actually launched, or what the consequences would be! Right?!"

"That's the Sage of Six Paths' stone tablet! It contains his unparalleled wisdom and power! Only those who have reached that level can..."

Obito tried to argue.

"The stone tablet claims to be written by the Sage of Six Paths, so it really was written by the Sage of Six Paths?!"

Rubik's Cube couldn't help but laugh in anger, its voice suddenly rising, filled with undisguised sarcasm.

"Uchiha Obito! You've been a seasoned veteran of the ninja world for so many years, witnessing countless conspiracies and tricks! You don't even understand the most basic principles of 'deception'?! The history of the ninja world is so long! Is it really that difficult for a master of history, sealing techniques, and genjutsu to forge an ancient document and fabricate a myth of salvation?!"

God knows what the guy who left this stone tablet really wanted! What will the world become if this plan is carried out in the end? Besides the mastermind, who the hell can know?!

"You think you're some chosen one, a savior, just because of a piece of junk of unknown origin?! You're as naive as a three-year-old!"

The Rubik's Cube's words were like a whip, lashing Obito's heart:

"To put it bluntly, you're nothing more than a drowning person who's desperate and clinging to a rotten straw as a lifeline in the deep sea of ​​despair!"

"The third, and most crucial, issue!"

The Rubik's Cube suddenly stepped forward, its crimson Sharingan blazing with a terrifying light, locking onto the eye behind the mask, its voice like a torment from hell:

"Look in my eyes! Tell me! When billions of people around the world are trapped in your perfect illusion, completely unaware, what will happen to their physical bodies in reality?!"

Stop eating! Stop metabolism! For days? For weeks? For months?! Will they starve to death and turn into skeletons?! Or will they be drained dry by that so-called divine tree, becoming nourishment hanging on it to maintain the illusion?! Answer me!!

"This...I..."

Obito was completely dumbfounded! The series of logically rigorous and crucial questions from the Rubik's Cube exploded like thunder in his chaotic mind! Each question was a blind spot that he had never explored in depth and had deliberately avoided!