Chapter 484: Sin Index
"No... it's not! Everything is my fault... I was too foolish, too stupid to believe those lies... I myself chose to walk that path, doing so many irreversible things..."
Uchiha Obito practically shouted, his voice urgent. He understood Rin too well.
Rin was exactly this kind of person—kind to her very bones, her heart containing great love for the village, for comrades, for life itself. She could sacrifice her own life without hesitation to protect these things.
At this moment, after witnessing the monstrous sins he'd committed, Rin's first reaction wasn't angry accusation but self-reflection on her own fault—was it because of her "death" that led Obito to fall into this state? Therefore, was she also responsible on this chain of sin and causality?
Obito opened his mouth, his throat dry and tight. Past "reasons" almost burst forth.
It was this world filled with war and loss that made him completely lose hope. He understood that as long as this world remained thus, conflict would never cease. Even bringing Rin back would mean losing her again eventually.
So he chose to believe in the Infinite Tsukuyomi, chose an extreme path seemingly leading to illusory peace once and for all...
But these words rolled on his tongue yet were ultimately swallowed back viciously. Before Rin, such excuses seemed so ugly.
Clearly he personally chose harm and betrayal, yet wanted to shift responsibility onto the world, using grand yet hollow reasons to whitewash personal evil and weakness... He couldn't defile Rin's ears with such words.
Rin used all her strength. Her knees weakened, collapsing onto this Pure Land's grass. She lowered her head, shoulders trembling lightly from sobbing, broken words overflowing from tears.
"That's wrong... this... isn't right..."
She raised her tear-filled face, looking toward the rigidly standing Obito. That gaze held no hatred, only bottomless sorrow and pleading inquiry.
"Obito... you... do you yourself know... you did wrong..."
"Yes... I know... I'm sorry, I..." Obito's voice dropped so low it was barely audible. Besides apologies, he discovered he couldn't say anything else.
Rin didn't speak harsh or bitter words. She only silently shed tears, as if all strength flowed away with them.
What should she say? She had no right.
She had no right to judge Obito because she wasn't a direct victim. Even less did she have the right to forgive Obito, because he'd hurt far too many people... Their pain and loss were far beyond what she could represent or pardon.
Moreover, this Pure Land itself seemed to have already established an order. That mirror capable of reflecting everything from life—its very existence was like a silent proclamation. Here, karma would manifest, deeds would be tallied.
Sinners... here, could not escape.
Rin's consciousness clearly received this information. Thus, in enormous disappointment and endless sorrow, she made her choice.
She didn't angrily leave, didn't try excusing Obito.
She only slowly raised her head again, using those eyes washed by tears yet still filled with pain, quietly gazing at Obito.
Then she spoke no more, only knelt before him like that, silently shedding tears, accompanying him. Using this wordless, heavy companionship to wait together.
Waiting for the "judgment" that mirror symbolized.
---
"Hmph... I never thought the day would come when I, Uchiha Madara, would be judged. Afterward I'll see exactly what methods this realm of dead souls possesses."
Uchiha Madara sat cross-legged on the ground, posture still carrying habitual arrogance. His Rinnegan lifted slightly, glancing at the number suspended above his head emanating dim red light—
[8.2]
Not far before him, Black Zetsu's soul form repeatedly pierced and torn by Susanoo blades continued enduring endless suffering.
Not only that, Madara had also branded Rinnegan-level genjutsu within, making Black Zetsu unable even to release soul-level screams. It could only experience dual hell of physical tearing and mental torture under absolutely conscious awareness, eternally.
Above Black Zetsu's head likewise floated a number with glaring red light—
[10.0]
The meaning of these numbers, like previous knowledge about the mirror and Pure Land order, directly imprinted into every awakened soul's perception.
[Sin Index]
A value intuitively quantifying the sins and evil deeds a soul committed during life. Ten was maximum value, representing monstrous evil beyond description.
Black Zetsu, as the mastermind lurking a thousand years, driving wedges between the Sage of Six Paths' descendants, tampering with history, triggering countless wars and tragedies—its crimes could be called this world's greatest, one of the souls in this Pure Land whose evil level reached the peak.
Uchiha Madara's 8.2 likewise proclaimed he belonged among the most heinous sinners.
He'd schemed with Nagato's and Obito's lives, directly or indirectly causing countless tragedies. He'd personally planned and nearly destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village he helped establish. The disasters brought by his obsessive ideals and methods were equally profound.
Madara's gaze shifted sideways. Uchiha Izuna stood beside him, face showing shock at his elder brother's sin value. He struggled accepting that the brother he most worshipped, viewed as his standard, was historically evaluated as such a heavy villain.
However, when Madara saw clearly the almost imperceptible pale red number above Izuna's head, that taut string in his heart released a relieved sigh.
Izuna's value was: 0.05.
This tiny value meant he wasn't a war instigator or conspirator, hadn't conducted meaningless massacres or atrocities against civilians.
In the Warring States era, unavoidable battles participated in due to clan positions weren't counted as sin. Uchiha Izuna was a tragic figure swept up by his era's tide—loyal to family, protecting his elder brother, ultimately dying young on the battlefield. His brief life never saw the sky beyond war's dark clouds.
---
The view shifted to another part of the Pure Land where a completely different scene unfolded.
"Tobirama! Look at what you've done!"
Senju Hashirama rarely raised his voice, face carrying unusual mixed shock and annoyance as he lost his temper at his younger brother.
Originally, the two brothers searched everywhere across this vast Pure Land grassland with excited and urgent feelings—they were seeking the souls of their two other brothers, Senju Itama and Senju Kawarama.
Hashirama's heart surged thinking about seeing his brothers who'd unfortunately died young in earlier years again.
Until above their heads as well, those conspicuous red numbers quietly appeared.
After understanding the "Sin Index's" meaning, Hashirama startled himself first. He immediately thought of the decisive battle with Uchiha Madara at the Valley of the End—ultimately unable to bring his dear friend back, forced to personally kill him.
In Hashirama's view, this was undoubtedly enormous regret and "sin."
However, the number displayed above his head was: 0.00
Pure, flawless zero.
Hashirama first froze, then relaxed, but immediately after, his gaze fell on his brother Senju Tobirama's head. He instantly stiffened completely.
Senju Tobirama's value was: 3.8
For an index where ten was maximum, this was already quite a considerable number approaching the midline!
Hashirama initially couldn't understand at all, feeling confused and upset. In his heart, Tobirama was the Second Hokage who devoted his heart and soul to the Hidden Leaf Village, the village's solid barrier and wise guide. How could he carry such an obvious sin value?
As if responding to his question, beside that floating number appeared several brief, pointed explanatory lines. The information clearly revealed the main source of Senju Tobirama's 3.8 sin points—
Not from battlefield killing or political conspiracy.
But from the numerous [Forbidden Jutsu] he'd devoted his heart and soul to developing, which produced far-reaching and complex effects on later generations.
Hashirama's expression gradually darkened as the information appeared. He looked at his brother's still-expressionless face that had clearly anticipated this, then couldn't help recalling how this guy wouldn't listen no matter how much he advised him as elder brother back then. His temper suddenly exploded.
****
80+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces