Cosmic Cube

The Cosmic Cube was the container for the Space Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones in the Marvel universe. It was also known as the Infinite Cube.

The Cosmic Cube possessed the power of space, allowing it to teleport objects and open spatial gateways.

For instance, in the original story of this timeline, Red Skull activated the Cosmic Cube at the end and was transported somewhere unknown.

In the Avengers timeline, Loki used the Cosmic Cube to create a wormhole, allowing the Chitauri army and its warships to pour onto Earth.

The moment Kazuhiko Uchiha learned that his mission would take place in the Captain America timeline, he had already set his sights on claiming it as his prize. He looked forward to seeing what surprises the Cosmic Cube, one of Marvel's greatest treasures, would bring him.

Thud!

Steve seized an opening and slammed his shield into Red Skull, sending him flying into the control console of the Wings of the Valkyrie with a howl of pain.

Red Skull struggled to his feet, accidentally pressing a button on the console with his right hand. The Cosmic Cube rose from inside the console, revealing itself to all three of them.

Cornered, Red Skull took the Cosmic Cube in his hands and tried to absorb its energy, hoping to gain the power to defeat Steve.

Under Red Skull's guidance, a powerful surge of spatial energy poured from the Cosmic Cube and enveloped his entire body.

Delight appeared on Red Skull's face. Believing he had mastered the true power of God, he was about to make some grand declaration when he suddenly screamed in agony. Within mere seconds, the Cosmic Cube transported him to an unknown world.

Once the spatial energy subsided, the Cosmic Cube fell through the cabin of the Wings of the Valkyrie, melting through the metal fuselage beneath it before plummeting toward the sea.

Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the Black Iron Rank mission-[Save New York]. Commission received: 12 system gold coins, 11 mission points.

Ding! Mercenary mission completed. The host may choose to leave the mission timeline at any time within one day. Once that time expires, departure will be enforced. The host may also spend gold coins to remain in the mission timeline at a rate of 1 gold coin/day. Time remaining: 23 hours, 59 minutes.

With the mission successfully completed, Kazuhiko Uchiha could leave this timeline whenever he wished. He glanced at Steve, who was trying to steer the Wings of the Valkyrie, and immediately opened the fourth gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation.

"Goodbye, Steve."

Without waiting for Steve to respond, he tore open the metal cabin wall on one side and kicked off the fuselage, shooting toward the freely falling Cosmic Cube like a missile.

With barely a dozen meters between him and the sea, Kazuhiko Uchiha caught up to the Cosmic Cube. He grabbed it and immediately placed it in his system space. Not daring to waste even a second, he mentally commanded, Return. Just before he struck the water, he appeared in his inn room in Kumogakure.

"Phew, that was dangerous..."

Kazuhiko Uchiha wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Falling so fast from such a height would have subjected him to tremendous force upon hitting the sea. Even his physique would have struggled to withstand it. Forget searching for the Cosmic Cube underwater-whether he could even survive was uncertain.

Fortunately, luck had been on Kazuhiko Uchiha's side, allowing him to secure the Cosmic Cube and return safely to the Naruto World.

After a short rest, Kazuhiko Uchiha began checking his gains from this mission, just as he always did.

Because of the limited storage space, he had recycled most of the HYDRA soldiers' weapons while still in the mission timeline, keeping only fifteen Mana Guns in his system space. After recycling thirteen of those and adding the mission reward, his total earnings for this mission came to 243 gold coins.

"System, purchase [Lesser Defilement-Cleansing Pill]."

With gold coins in hand, Kazuhiko Uchiha immediately spent twenty-five of them on a pill capable of removing Orochimaru's Cursed Seal and swallowed it.

As the medicine took effect, a cool current rose from his abdomen and flowed throughout his body. It removed the Cursed Seal Orochimaru had planted on his arm while also beginning to disperse the excess impurities within him.

By the time the Lesser Defilement-Cleansing Pill's medicinal power was exhausted, all the impurities in Kazuhiko Uchiha's body had been purged. He felt light and clear throughout, experiencing a comfort unlike anything he had ever known.

"As expected of a mid-tier Black Iron pill. Its effects really are extraordinary."

After checking his body's condition, Kazuhiko Uchiha was full of praise for the Lesser Defilement-Cleansing Pill's effects.

With the hidden danger Orochimaru had left behind eliminated, Kazuhiko Uchiha began examining his greatest gain from this mission-the Cosmic Cube.

[Cosmic Cube]: The sealed container of the Space Stone. Possesses nearly limitless energy and the power of space. Recycling price: 200,000.

"Two hundred thousand..."

Seeing the Cosmic Cube's astonishing value, Kazuhiko Uchiha was momentarily overwhelmed by a wave of sheer joy.

Once he recovered, his face flushed red and his breathing grew heavier. Just as he was about to recycle it, the system's mechanical voice suddenly sounded.

Host, an item capable of enhancing system functions has been detected: [Cosmic Cube]. Would you like to use it to upgrade the system?

The system's voice was like a bucket of cold water, snapping Kazuhiko Uchiha out of his excitement. His reddened eyes began to clear as reason returned. Only after taking more than a dozen deep breaths did he calm down completely.

"System, what improvements would I get if I used the Cosmic Cube to upgrade you?" Kazuhiko Uchiha asked.

Although the Cosmic Cube could be exchanged for an enormous number of gold coins, the Myriad Worlds Mercenary System was Kazuhiko Uchiha's most important trump card. If he could enhance its capabilities, he certainly would not begrudge spending such material possessions.

After the system upgrade, certain spatial functions will receive a degree of enhancement. Once sufficient energy has been accumulated, the host will also be able to leave this timeline permanently and travel to a new, higher-level timeline.

The Naruto World was, after all, a low-level world. Even strength surpassing Kaguya's would amount to no more than that of an ant in those higher-level worlds.

Only by entering higher-level worlds could he obtain more resources and keep breaking through the limits of his strength, until he surpassed everything and took control of his own fate.

"System, use the Cosmic Cube to upgrade yourself," Kazuhiko Uchiha said. Choosing between the present and the future, he ordered the system to devour the Cosmic Cube.

Absorption of special item [Cosmic Cube] confirmed. System upgrade in progress. Time remaining: unknown. All functions will remain available during the upgrade.

The series of unexpected developments had sent Kazuhiko Uchiha's emotions soaring and plunging. Suddenly feeling somewhat weary, he abandoned his original plan to explore Kumogakure and threw himself into training instead. After working himself to utter exhaustion, he took a bath and fell into a deep sleep.