Traveling through Naruto, I am Uchiha Obito?

Sasuke's thoughts were interrupted, and his tone carried a hint of displeasure:

"Boruto, calm down. As a ninja, you must accept and analyze the situation as quickly as possible, instead of making a fuss."

Calmly handling any unexpected situation and perfectly completing the mission—that's the quality a ninja should have. Didn't you learn that at the ninja academy?

"But, Mr. Sasuke! Master!"

Boruto continued pointing excitedly in that direction.

"I see her! It's that idiot dad from this world! He... he's with a... such a beautiful girl! Damn it! Isn't that Mom?! Does she exist in our world? I've never heard Mom or Dad mention her before! Mr. Sasuke, do you know her?"

'Naruto? And there are pretty girls I don't recognize?'

Sasuke frowned slightly, his attention finally drawn to the "Naruto" that Boruto mentioned.

He glanced at Boruto out of the corner of his eye, whose mouth was agape enough to fit an egg, and thought to himself:

'You noticed even faster than me? Is this the special connection between father and son? But ultimately, you're still too young and inexperienced. It's just Naruto from a parallel world with a strange woman; is it really worth being so surprised?'

He maintained his usual composure and spoke in a lecturing tone:

"Boruto, I'll say it again, no matter what the situation, a ninja should never..."

His words came to an abrupt halt the moment his gaze followed Boruto's finger and he clearly saw the two people in the direction Boruto was pointing.

After many years, the face that had weathered countless storms and was now calm and composed showed an expression of near-dumbfounded shock once again!

There is no other reason.

It wasn't because of that handsome young man sitting outside the dumpling shop, whose similar appearance and dazzling blond hair made him almost unmistakably Naruto from this world.

Although his cold and even arrogant expression was quite different from the loser Sasuke knew.

What truly caused Sasuke's brain to freeze instantly was the beautiful black-haired girl sitting intimately next to "Naruto," holding a dango stick on a bamboo skewer and smiling radiantly as she offered it to his lips!

With Sasuke's experience, analytical ability, and the Sharingan that he subconsciously activated and meticulously observed everything, he reached a conclusion that made his scalp tingle and was hard to believe in almost a fraction of a second!

'That familiar chakra...that facial contour...and that inexplicable sense of familiarity...'

This guy...could it be...?!

Boruto, standing to the side, was still grumbling angrily:

"Where is the mother of this world? Where is she? Please save me! Otherwise, 'I' in this world will never be born!"

Hmm... But then again, whether I'm born into this world or not doesn't seem to affect me much, right? So should I still try to stop them?

Speaking of which, who exactly is this girl? Mr. Sasuke, don't you think... she looks a lot like Sarada?

"Ah... um."

Sasuke gave a very weak reply, quickly turning his face to the side in an attempt to hide his out-of-control expression.

'You can lose a fight, but you can't lose face!'

"Hey, Mr. Sasuke!"

Boruto clearly wasn't going to let him off the hook and continued to press him for answers.

"Didn't you and your good-for-nothing dad know each other since you were little? Do you know that girl? She seems quite close to this world's stupid dad..."

Sasuke's carefully composed expression almost crumbled again.

He couldn't very well say... that the girl in front of him had a high probability... no, it was almost certain... that she was "me" in this world, could he?

How could you possibly say such words!

He made a split-second decision—to change the subject!

"Boruto!"

Sasuke's voice regained its usual calmness (forced).

"Go and scout the surroundings immediately, keep an eye on your surroundings. I'll approach them to gather the necessary intelligence."

"Eh?"

Boruto was taken aback.

"Why can't we be together..."

"Because your stealth skills and chakra control are still too rough!"

Sasuke interrupted him, with a perfectly valid reason.

"If this Naruto is still the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, there is a high probability that he has ANBU members protecting him in secret. If you get close, you will easily expose your position and alert him."

"……All right."

Although Boruto was somewhat reluctant, he knew that Sasuke had a point, so he pouted, turned around, and walked in another direction to begin his reconnaissance mission.

Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Boruto disappear around the street corner. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

Finally, with a troubled expression and extreme caution, he used the crowd and buildings as cover to silently approach the dumpling shop, perfectly hiding himself in a corner in the shadows where he could clearly observe yet vaguely hear the conversation.

His gaze, filled with complex emotions, was fixed on the two "selves" and "Naruto".

Chapter 98 Menma and Satsuki

Chapter 98 Menma and Satsuki

The sun was shining brightly outside the meatball shop.

Menma and Satsuki sat side by side on a bench outside the shop, completely unaware that a top-tier powerhouse from another world, with complex emotions, was lurking in the shadows not far away.

Satsuki affectionately played with Menma's fingers, her fair and nimble feet swinging gently under the stool, occasionally brushing against Menma's trouser leg intentionally or unintentionally.

Her bright, large eyes were fixed on the boy beside her, as if trying to catch something from the subtle changes in his expression.

Perhaps because there were no familiar companions around, Menma, unusually, did not stop Satsuki's little antics today. He even grabbed Satsuki's mischievous little hand tightly.

The warmth and pressure from his palm startled Zuo Yue slightly, as if she had instantly returned to the time when they played together on the swing when they were children. Only, those small hands from back then had now become long and slender, tightly enveloped by Mianma's large, warm palm.

"Menma?"

The astonishment on Zuo Yue's face slowly faded, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. This usually cheerful, outgoing, and even somewhat bold girl rarely showed a hint of girlish shyness. When she saw the worry etched on the panel's brow, the teasing words she had intended to utter caught in her throat.

She squeezed her numb hand back with a touch of tenderness and asked softly:

"What... what's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

Hiding in the shadows, Sasuke forced himself to watch what was a psychological attack on him, feeling immense torment. He would rather go back and fight that loser three hundred more times... than endure this horrific torture here.

Menma didn't answer immediately, but remained silent, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the back of Satsuki's hand. Satsuki, seeing his expression, understood.

As one of the very few people who knew what Menma was carrying, she understood that what could make him show such an expression was definitely not a trivial matter.

Menma is always like this... carrying everything on his own shoulders. Even though everyone is his comrade, and everyone is willing to share the burden with him...

A pang of heartache rose in Zuoyue's heart, but it was quickly replaced by another, stronger emotion.

'But...it's for the best. The only one he can completely rely on, the only one who will always be by his side...we are each other's one and only, and no one can change that.'

A fleeting, almost morbid, possessiveness flashed across her eyes, then vanished just as quickly. She didn't press further, simply waiting quietly for the boy she had chosen to give her instructions.

After a long silence, Menma finally raised his head, looked at Satsuki who was gazing at him expectantly, sighed, and said in a low voice:

"Zuoyue, I have a task for you...

He paused, then said in an extremely solemn tone:

Of all the people I know, you are the only one I trust the most. I can only entrust this task to you. Am I right…

"Well!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zuo Yue suddenly leaned forward and, with a bold sneak attack, silenced all his apologies with her luscious red lips!

Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply in the shadows! His toes curled up involuntarily. Is this...right?

Sasuke subconsciously touched his dry lips. At that moment, he subconsciously recalled that unpleasant first kiss. The taste seemed to be... ramen?

……

After a brief but lingering kiss, Zuo Yue sat back down, her face flushed, her large eyes gleaming with smugness, like a kitten that had successfully stolen some fish.

"I've already collected the task reward in advance~ Now, issue the task, my cute little fox~"

Mianma seemed to be caught off guard by her sudden action, her ears turning slightly red, but the seriousness in her eyes did not disappear.

Sasuke, lurking in the shadows, watched the scene with an awkward expression. He suppressed his turbulent emotions, forcing himself to concentrate and listen for the crucial information to come.

"Sasuki,"

Mianma lowered his voice even further, making sure that only the two of them could hear him.

"I want you to investigate the missing man with the orange swirling mask."

Zuo Yue's frivolous smile vanished instantly, replaced by a serious expression.

"I don't know why, but since he disappeared, I've sent people to search every possible area nearby, but we haven't found any trace of him."

His brows were furrowed, his face pale.

"Although his life or death won't significantly affect our plans, he's still a hidden threat. I hope that with your Sharingan and analytical skills, you can help me find him. His strength is currently unknown, but I can guess that he's no ordinary person. You need to be careful."

He paused and added:

"Hinata's Byakugan would have been the most suitable for this job, but... I can't explain the true purpose of this mission to her. Although she seems carefree, she is actually very meticulous. I'm worried... she will notice something."

Zuo Yue nodded solemnly and accepted the task. Then, with a serious expression, she asked for a name:

"How is 'Nail' doing these days?"

Upon hearing this word, Menma's expression visibly darkened:

"That Itachi from a parallel world... to be honest, he's not good. His physical condition is extremely poor; he's already at his limit and won't live for more than a few years. The reason he was chosen as a 'pill' was mainly because he arrived the earliest. At the time, he was chosen so that the plan could start as soon as possible."

His tone carried a hint of helplessness and weighing of options:

"Based on my observations over the past few days, the most suitable candidate to serve as the 'needle' should actually be that Vortex Cube. Whether it's the strength of his mental power or the vitality of his body, he is far superior to that terminally ill Itachi from the parallel world. If we choose him, our 'time' can definitely be extended a lot, instead of being like this now..."

As he spoke, Menma glanced at Satsuki with a hint of apology. He knew how deeply the girl before him admired her brother, and even though it was Itachi from a parallel world, he still felt guilty for making Satsuki endure such a cruel thing.

Zuo Yue seemed to read his mind, giving him a reassuring smile. The next moment, the three-tomoe Sharingan in her eyes slowly rotated, converging into an even more eerie and complex pattern. Her voice was unusually calm and firm:

"From the moment I learned the truth about this world from you, I had already made my decision..."

Even if hell lies ahead, I will walk with you through it.

"We're in this together, Minma. Don't even think about... leaving me behind and going ahead by yourself."

"Sasuki..."

Seeing the unwavering determination in the girl's eyes, Menma's doubts and momentary confusion vanished instantly.

He gripped Zuo Yue's hand even tighter in return, lowered his head, and repeated in a slightly hoarse voice:

"Thank you... thank you for always being by my side..."

"You don't need to say that so many times~"

Satsuki deliberately interrupted him in a lighthearted tone, trying to dispel the somewhat heavy atmosphere, and then changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, what are your plans regarding the 'you' in that parallel world, and that vortex Rubik's Cube?"

Menma took a deep breath and calmed down again:

"That parallel world's 'me' is nothing to worry about; he's simple-minded and easy to control. Let's focus on that vortex Rubik's Cube from now on."

Before I left home this morning, he specifically mentioned to me that he hoped I could arrange a meeting between him and Jiraiya-sensei. He seems to be a disciple of Jiraiya-sensei in his world.

To lower his guard, I plan to use the Flying Thunder God Technique tonight to go to the research institute and discuss our next steps with Jiraiya-sensei. We must find a way to keep him calm, and at the very least, we absolutely cannot let him discover anything about the nails, nor can we let him realize our true purpose…

In the shadows, Sasuke overheard their conversation, and his previously calm emotions instantly turned into turbulent waves!

A parallel world's Itachi?! Used as a "navigation dart"? And a man wearing an orange vortex mask... Is Uchiha Obito also in this world? Who is the Uzumaki Cube? And another Naruto...

Countless fragments of information collided and combined wildly in his mind!

The waters of this world... are much deeper than he imagined!

He thought of his older brother who had given everything for him, and his feelings were complicated and indescribable.

Brother… could that “weasel” they’re talking about be you? Or are you from another time and space…?