Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

"You take all the blame upon yourself, believing yourself to be a monster, a piece of trash..."

The Rubik's Cube's sound remained calm, yet carried a strange power.

"This might give you an outlet for your current pain, but it's meaningless, and even... a form of arrogance."

Do you think you alone are enough to stop the evils brewing in this twisted world? You can save them once, but can you save them again?

Far too many things like this have happened throughout the ninja world. Do you really think you can change everything by stopping just this one time?

"You overestimate yourself, Naruto."

"The real mistake wasn't that you left the village to play around. The real mistake lies in the world itself that allows, even condones, this kind of thing to happen!"

"The problem isn't you, it's the world!"

The Rubik's Cube's words were like a cold tide, washing over Naruto's mind, which was filled with pain and self-blame. This was not a consolation, but a more cruel, yet more real, revelation.

He forcibly pulled Naruto out of his narrow self-condemnation, forcing him to confront the root of the massive, dark, yet more real problem.

"Crying and self-blame won't change anything. Admitting your own uselessness will only make your loved ones suffer and your enemies rejoice."

The Rubik's Cube stood up, its voice turning cold and hard again.

"If you're truly in pain, truly angry, and truly want to do something..."

The Rubik's Cube stared at Naruto with its crimson Sharingan, its icy gaze penetrating deep into his heart.

"Then stop crying and lamenting your worthlessness like a loser."

"Stand up and see who the real enemy is."

"Then, go learn, change yourself, strive to break this distorted cycle, and change this sick world!"

"This is what you should be doing. Give up that naive idea, Naruto."

The Rubik's Cube gazed calmly at Naruto, as if it could see through all his confusion and pain at that moment.

"You should grow up now."

"what should I do?"

Naruto looked up, his azure eyes filled with confusion and helplessness. He couldn't fully comprehend the deeper meaning of the Rubik's Cube's words, but he unconditionally trusted the person before him, the brother who endured far greater pain than he did, yet still stood there, trying to guide him.

All I need to do is trust him.

The demon extended his hand to Naruto.

"Come with me, Naruto. You need to become stronger now, not just in terms of physical strength, but also in terms of mental and spiritual growth. Next, I will show you the true face of this world and how to change it. To reshape this filthy world, I need your power."

Naruto grasped the Rubik's Cube, seemingly understanding but not quite. His mind was still a blur, but a sharp pain within him screamed, telling him that the Rubik's Cube was right.

There must be something fundamentally wrong with this world, whether it's the unwarranted hatred the villagers of Konoha have for him, the kind villagers being slaughtered before their eyes, or Sasuke's resolute departure...

All of these things that caused him pain seemed to be silently accusing the world of its errors.

Gaara, standing to the side, watched Naruto's constantly changing expression, a hint of determination flashing in his blue-green eyes.

"Rubik's Cube, Naruto,"

He began, "Next, I will return to the Land of Wind."

"Huh? Why, Gaara! Aren't you coming with us?"

Naruto looked at him in surprise, his face full of confusion.

"I want to become the Wind Shadow."

Gaara's tone was calm yet resolute.

"Using the power of the Kazekage, change the corrupt Sand Village from within, then the Land of Wind, and then... the whole world. From what you just said, I have understood the will of the Rubik's Cube."

Naruto, I will become your comrade. I will change this world together with you.

The Rubik's Cube looked at Gaara with some surprise at the unprecedented determination in his eyes. It seemed that... his mind was indeed much sharper than Naruto's.

Do you need any help?

"The Rubik's Cube asked."

"No need."

Gaara refused decisively.

"If I can't even control a mere Sand Village, then I'm not qualified to stand by your side. Isn't that right?"

He stared back at the Rubik's Cube with a serious expression.

"What do you mean 'just a mere Sand Village'?! Gaara, you bastard!"

Naruto couldn't help but complain, feeling inexplicably as if he had lost to his opponent on some important level.

"I see... Alright, Gaara, I respect your choice."

Rubik's Cube nodded. "When do you plan to leave?"

Gaara turned his gaze toward the village entrance and whispered:

"After everyone is buried... I'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

"……it is good!"

"Ah! That's right!"

Naruto suddenly remembered something and looked at the two of them anxiously.

"Where's Uncle Yamada? He came back with me! Is he alright?"

He was met only with a deathly silence.

Naruto looked at their expressions and instantly understood everything. His newly roused spirit seemed to crumble again, and he lowered his head heavily. At this moment, the pain was sharper and clearer than ever before.

At this moment, he finally truly understood his dearest friend who was consumed by hatred and resolutely left him in pursuit of power.

"I think... I understand you a little now... Sasuke."

……

The long night ends, and the sun rises in the east.

The three men silently buried the villagers' remains. They stood at the village entrance, gazing at the desolate village that had been filled with laughter and joy not long ago, but was now as silent as a tomb.

The time for parting has come.

Gaara waved goodbye to Naruto and the Rubik's Cube, then turned and embarked on his own journey.

Naruto stared at his departing figure, lost in thought for a long time.

"Brother Rubik's Cube, where are we going next?"

"Hidden Mist Village".

What are you going there for?

"Changing it is also for your own growth."

The Rubik's Cube gazes into the distance.

“I have some connections with the Mizukage there. Next, I will send you to Kirigakure’s Anbu for a mission. I think you will gain a deeper understanding of this world there.”

"Huh?! The Anbu?! Me? Really?! Alright! Kirigakure, here comes Naruto Uzumaki!"

"No, it's not Naruto Uzumaki."

The Rubik's Cube interrupted him.

"Ugh?"

"Listen up, Naruto. After you arrive at Kirigakure, you will no longer be the Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha."

The Rubik's Cube looked at Naruto with a different kind of deepness.

"You are the Mizukage's direct bodyguard, a member of the Kirigakure Anbu..."

"Your name is Namikaze Menma."

Chapter 79 The Fifth Mizukage

Chapter 79 The Fifth Mizukage

Kirigakure Village.

Recently, a shocking incident occurred in the Land of Water:

The daimyo who went to visit his relatives and his entourage of high-ranking officials and nobles mysteriously disappeared. Meanwhile, Mei Terumi, a Kirigakure ninja and a strong contender for the Fifth Mizukage, who was originally responsible for escorting them, and her companion Ao returned safely to the village.

This news quickly caused a huge uproar among the noble class of the Land of Water. For a long time, the noble group had been dissatisfied with the closed and autonomous style of Kirigakure and its disobedience. Now, they suspected that these "tools" in their eyes had developed ambitions to seize power.

However, the people most deeply affected by this incident were not the high-ranking officials of the Land of Water who held a grudge about it, but rather Kirigakure, which was in the process of recovery.

Since the village had just escaped the brutal rule of the Fourth Mizukage, its overall strength was still quite weak. Therefore, they urgently needed a large number of orders from the country to provide funds for training a new generation of ninjas.

The original intention of dispatching the soon-to-be-in-charge Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, on this escort mission was to show goodwill to the high-ranking officials of the Land of Water and convey Kirigakure's sincerity in bidding farewell to its bloody past and building a new peaceful order together. However, they never expected to encounter such a huge change.

Now, the entire village is buzzing with discussion about this incident. It's worth noting that, compared to some short-sighted high-ranking officials in Sunagakure, Kirigakure seems far more reasonable.

At least the higher-ups of Kirigakure wouldn't stoop to the abstract act of betraying their own village's hero to a rival force for revenge. Public opinion within the village almost unanimously supported Mei Terumi, the universally acknowledged candidate for the Fifth Mizukage.

After all, she was the hero who ended the Fourth Mizukage's tyranny and rescued the village from the "Bloody Mist Policy." Having endured years of torment and suffering, the Hidden Mist ninja displayed remarkable unity, fiercely refuting all doubts about Mei Hidden Mist as if defending a faith.

During this period, the entire Land of Water subtly revealed a tense situation of mutual antagonism between the villages, which were armed groups, and the nobles of the Land of Water, who were the administrative organs.

This delicate and dangerous situation reached its peak when Mei Terumi announced her early succession as the Fifth Mizukage.

The atmosphere in the high-level conference room of Wuyin was heavy.

The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, sat regally in the main seat, her elegant posture exuding an undeniable authority. Her gaze calmly swept over every high-ranking member of Kirigakure present, her azure eyes seemingly concealing unfathomable turbulence.

Beside him, his adjutant Qing sat upright, his expression solemn; opposite him stood Elder Yuan Shi of Wuyin, the aged ruler holding a wooden staff, his aged eyes filled with barely concealed worry. He gazed at the Water Shadow before him, the one he had placed his hopes on and who had personally promoted, and felt a vague unease in his heart.

Since she returned to the village, some indescribable change has occurred in her; beneath her calm demeanor, there seems to be a strange determination.

He had no idea what she had gone through during that escort mission.

In the silence, Mei Terumi spoke slowly, her voice clear and firm:

"Everyone, today I would like to talk to you about what happened during the escort mission for the Daimyo."

In the Hidden Mist's high-level conference room, the air seemed to freeze. All eyes were focused on the Mizukage, Mei Terumi, who had just spoken, awaiting her explanation for the attack that had shocked the entire nation.

"The daimyo... was killed by a masked man."

Mei Terumi's voice was calm to the point of being icy.

"He possesses the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan. It is very possible... that he is the culprit who controlled the Fourth Mizukage and caused the tragedy of the 'Bloody Mist Village'."

The words had barely left his lips when the conference room erupted in chaos. The executives exchanged bewildered glances, shock and anger mingling in the air. Someone slammed their fist on the table and roared:

"That bastard! How dare he show such contempt for our Hidden Mist Village!"

"Should we demand an explanation from Konoha?"

One of the high-ranking officials suggested, "After all, the Sharingan is the bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan, and Konoha must take responsibility for it!"

"Foolish!" someone immediately retorted. "Are you trying to drag the entire village down with you? Putting aside whether we have the strength to hold Konoha accountable right now, given the current state of the Uchiha clan, this matter absolutely cannot be related to the Konoha government!"

Amidst the commotion, Elder Yuan Shi, who had remained silent until now, slowly raised his eyelids, his aged yet sharp gaze fixed directly on Terumi Mei:

"Lord Mizukage, I am very curious... how did you manage to escape from such a powerful enemy?"

The meeting room fell silent instantly. All eyes were on Mei Terumi.

“I ran away.” Mei Terumi’s voice was calm and even. “I abandoned the daimyo and fled back with Ao.”

An uproar erupted throughout the room. A high-ranking official abruptly stood up, furious:

"How could you do such a thing! You are the Mizukage, a hero of Kirigakure! You betrayed your daimyo and fled for your life alone..."

"You must not be disrespectful to Lord Mizukage!"

Ao immediately stepped forward, but was stopped by Mei Terumi raising her hand.

Her gaze remained fixed on Master Yuan, as if awaiting the old man's judgment.

Master Yuan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly: