Chapter 479: The Kages
"Why the hell is YOUR ugly mug the first thing I see after dying?! Absolutely infuriating!"
A shout filled with disgust and irritation shattered the tranquility of a certain area within the Pure Land.
The voice belonged to a man with long yellow hair, dressed in a high-collared dark overcoat, two meticulously groomed mustaches adorning his upper lip. At this moment, he glared at the figure opposite him with undisguised revulsion.
"You're nothing but someone I once killed. What right does a Second Mizukage have to bark at me here?"
The response came in a low, flat tone devoid of emotion, yet carrying equal mockery. The speaker was a figure wrapped entirely in bandages, only his eyes visible, resembling a living mummy. This was the Second Tsuchikage, Mu.
"Ah... that time..." Gengetsu Hozuki raised an eyebrow, but immediately countered forcefully, "Wrong! That battle ended with us taking each other down! No, I killed YOU!"
"Did such a thing happen?" Mu's voice remained bland, even carrying a hint of innocent confusion.
"I don't have time to waste on scum like you! Get lost! Otherwise, I don't mind killing you again!" The Second Tsuchikage's attitude toward this old rival with whom he'd shared mutual destruction was absolutely terrible, his bandaged eyes flashing with impatient coldness.
"I'm already dead! And so are you! Besides, YOU'RE the one I killed! There's no way I could lose to a half-dead mummy like you!"
Gengetsu showed no weakness, his mustaches quivering slightly from agitation.
The argument escalated rapidly, the distance between them shrinking as their glares practically sparked with fire. Finally, no one could say who struck first.
"You bastard!"
"Want to die again?!"
Gengetsu actually reached out and grabbed Mu's bandages, while Mu simultaneously locked his bandage-wrapped arm around Gengetsu's coat collar.
These two legendary "Kages" who once commanded respect, representing the ultimate military might of the Land of Water and Land of Earth, were now scuffling like children, completely lacking dignity as they pulled, shoved, and hurled vicious accusations at each other.
"Yeah! Lord Mizukage! Show that stinking mummy what you're made of!"
"Don't lose to him, Lord Tsuchikage! That guy couldn't possibly be Lord Tsuchikage's match! Mutual destruction? He's definitely bluffing!"
"Want to die again?! Our Lord Mizukage clearly took down your Tsuchikage! Stop denying reality!"
"Don't make me laugh! That narcissistic little mustache couldn't possibly be Lord Mu's opponent!"
Behind the two Kages, several figures had already gathered. They were ninja from Iwagakure and Kirigakure respectively, all from that long-gone era of the early ninja villages, loyal subordinates of their respective Kages who had also awakened as souls in this afterlife.
They stood in two distinct groups, excitedly cheering for their leaders while glaring furiously at each other, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.
"Little mustache... Don't call me little mustache! Otherwise, even if you're already dead, I'll kill you again!"
Gengetsu, still tangled with Mu, caught that insulting nickname from the Iwagakure ninja. His temper exploded instantly, the chakra leaking from his body carrying tangible killing intent.
"Enough, Second Mizukage!" Mu's voice carried a hint of weariness, though he himself still gripped his opponent's collar. "...Save your energy. We're already dead. Here, fighting has no real meaning anymore."
"...What a shame," Gengetsu sneered, though his grip didn't loosen. "So the dead can't be killed again... Oh right! Everything else aside, you must admit this first! Our final battle ended in mutual destruction!"
"...Did such a thing really happen?" Mu continued playing dumb in that infuriatingly bland tone.
"You...!" Gengetsu practically fumed, ready to summon his Steaming Danger Tyranny technique. He even considered finding a soul from later generations who might have heard legends of that battle to serve as a witness.
Just then, a clear thought naturally surged into his consciousness, flowing into the perception of all the souls present. It was an instinctive infusion of knowledge about the fundamental rules of this realm.
Gengetsu froze for a moment, then his mouth split into a wide grin filled with cunning and triumph.
"Heh heh... Looks like this Pure Land's administrator is quite considerate. Everyone gets equipped with one of those things... Well then, you stinking mummy, let's see how you deny it now!"
With a thought, following the guidance of that instinctive knowledge, a mirror with an antique design and edges wrapped in a faint halo appeared in his hand in the next instant.
This was a simplified version of the Karma Reflection Mirror, or rather, a "personal terminal" for all Pure Land souls.
Every soul entering this realm would automatically be bound to one. Its function served both to allow souls to review and understand themselves, and as a reference for future guidance or judgment by the administrator.
Its core function was simple and direct: reflecting and replaying everything a soul experienced during life.
Mu's mind also received this information, his eyes narrowing slightly. He naturally understood the mirror's purpose instantly.
To think such a thing exists... capable of recording and recreating every soul's complete life... Just what kind of being is this Pure Land's current administrator?
"Watch closely!" Gengetsu triumphantly raised his mirror high, shouting to Mu and all the watching Mist and Rock ninja. "At the final moment of my life, this mirror will definitely show your pathetic death!"
Seeing that the Second Tsuchikage's and both sides' subordinates' attention had been drawn, Gengetsu couldn't wait to activate the mirror.
However, the first image to appear on the mirror's surface wasn't the earth-shattering final battle, but rather a somewhat mischievous yellow-haired brat practicing Water Style jutsu on a puddle.
"...That's you as a child? Just as stupid and violent as now. No wonder you grew up to be such a battle maniac."
"Wh-what?! Who told you to look at that!"
"Then what do you suggest? Should we sit here watching your entire life from when you wet the bed as a kid to when you became an old man? I don't have that kind of free time."
"Idiot! Use your brain!"
"If it's such a convenient device, there's no way it wouldn't have a fast-forward function! Let me see... how does this thing work?"