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**Chapter 9: I'm Uzumaki Rubik, Your Family**
Looking into Naruto's eyes, woven with expectation and anxiety, Rubik felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
After all, Naruto's current situation was largely caused by his "cheap dad" in this life—Tobi, the "God of Tears Unhidden."
Though Rubik had never truly seen Tobi as his father, accepting the son of his enemy—who had killed his parents—felt like pure hell.
Eh? Namikaze Minato, the real dad, had no objections, and Naruto himself said not to mock Obito. Why was he agonizing over this?
Fine, truth be told, it was Naruto's pitiful expression that tugged at his heartstrings.
Just thinking of Naruto's life—no parents, growing up amid the village's cold stares and isolation, only finding blood relatives after having kids of his own—softened Rubik's resolve.
He gazed at that face, so familiar from his past life, as memories flooded in:
"That's him, right? That kid... His thug dad got stabbed right after he was born."
"His mom died giving birth to him. So young, and already orphaned. Poor thing..."
"Listen, don't play with that kid."
"Why, Mom? Didn't you say he's pitiful?"
"He is pitiful, but no parents—and they were no good! Who knows if he'll turn out rotten too..."
In Rubik's childhood memories from his previous life, warmth was scarce.
Hiding in a dark room to secretly watch anime was one of the few comforts in those shattered times.
"I'll become Hokage and earn everyone's acknowledgment!"
"A guy who can't even save a friend could never be Hokage!"
"I'll inherit my Master's will! I can bear all the pain now... A world where people truly understand each other—I'll make it happen!"
Time flew by. That kid watched the blond, blue-eyed boy transform from a "demon fox" scorned by all into a revered hero through a tiny screen. He saw the reckless wild child grow into a steadfast ninja, endure trials, build a family, and fulfill his dream...
The ever-forward blond boy never knew that in another world's corner, an ordinary child had silently watched his entire life through that cold screen...
Even years later, Rubik clearly remembered the night he said goodbye to "Naruto."
He tossed his phone on the bed, chest tight with indescribable grief, eyes burning, but tears wouldn't fall. He knew he'd lost an irreplaceable "friend"—his chance to "watch" that friend's life forever gone...
"Hey, Rubik big bro? Are... are you my family?"
Naruto's voice lacked its usual bravado, carrying a tentative caution instead.
Rubik knew getting close to Naruto now wasn't strategic.
They'd only just met, Jiraiya hadn't revealed Naruto's heritage to him yet, and as an Uchiha, approaching him rashly could spark suspicion from the Third Hokage or Konoha's higher-ups—especially that old fox Danzo, who'd stir trouble.
He could protect himself with his current strength, but considering his future plans, playing it safe seemed wiser.
Refusing now was the safest move. Even without this, Jiraiya would eventually find Naruto, making him his senpai anyway. To Naruto, what difference was there between senpai and family? Silence felt like the best choice.
Yet, meeting Naruto's anxious, hopeful eyes made Rubik's chest tighten.
Naruto didn't know him, but to Rubik, Naruto was a dear friend he'd "known" long before arriving in this world—even if one-sided.
The buried loneliness of his childhood surged up, overlapping with the blond boy before him.
After fierce inner turmoil, he made up his mind.
"Damn it, just do it! I endured without power as a ninja; with kage-level strength and as Jiraiya's disciple, why hold back? They can try messing with me—they'd better think twice!
I didn't reincarnate to swallow this crap! One life to live—I'll do what I want! (Uchiha-level swagger)"
His thoughts cleared, breathing easier. He banished his hesitation, his gaze softening on Naruto's anxious face.
"Ahaha, Rubik big bro, if it's too much, forget it! I don't care that much anyway..."
Seeing this, Naruto waved his hands frantically, masking his disappointment with exaggerated laughter, trying to change the subject.
"Anyway, what'd you think of Uncle Teuchi's ramen at Ichiraku? Super tasty, right? Uncle Teuchi's the best in Konoha!"
"Naruto."
Rubik's calm voice cut through Naruto's forced cheer.
"Naruto—can I call you that?"
"Uh... yeah."
Naruto froze, hands dropping.
"Since your surname is Uzumaki, you're a survivor of the Uzumaki clan."
Rubik's tone was steady and certain, stating plain fact.
"My mother carries Uzumaki blood. We may be distantly related, but we're of the same clan."
He paused, then said clearly:
"So... we're family."
At those words, Naruto's eyes heated up. Years of pent-up emotion burst like a dam.
Big tears rolled down as the usually thick-skinned boy cried out with a choked voice:
"Thank you, Rubik big bro! Thank you!!"
Nearby, Sasuke watched Naruto bawling, his face twisting in habitual disgust. But deep in those black eyes flickered a faint, hidden loneliness.
Happy for Naruto, yet Uchiha blood memories tore at him again.
He clenched his fist unconsciously, icy hatred churning silently in his chest.
"Uchiha Itachi..."
The boy whispered in his heart:
"Someday, I'll kill you with my own hands."
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