Chapter 487: Natural Airhead Plus Social Incompetence
The illusory hall stood vast and silent, soft light cascading from unknown sources, saturating every inch of space in a hazy silver-white color between dream and reality.
Senju Hashirama stopped walking, looking around before lowering his voice to confirm with his brother. "This is the place? The Pure Land's administrator... that ninja from later generations stronger than even the Sage of Six Paths is here?"
Senju Tobirama didn't answer. He didn't even glance at Hashirama, only stared expressionlessly straight ahead, jawline taut as a bowstring.
Tobirama was working hard to control himself, to not lose his temper at his elder brother here, in front of so many outsiders.
Just moments ago, that talking Tyrannosaurus Rex had gazed down at them with eyes suggesting it viewed them as idiots for quite a while, then slowly, syllable by syllable, revealed the truth.
"...What hell? I'm only following orders to bring you to meet my master."
In that moment, thin-skinned Senju Tobirama felt all the shame from this lifetime plus this afterlife concentrated and detonated in a single point.
And the culprit remained completely oblivious, currently looking around with that carefree, brilliant smile of "oh good, it was just a misunderstanding."
Tobirama took a deep breath, forcibly adding this matter to his mental list of accounts to settle slowly once things stabilized.
His gaze swept toward the hall's depths. They weren't the only ones here.
On the hall's other side, several figures stood in small clusters, maintaining subtle distances between them.
The residual chakra emanating from their bodies, plus that awe-inspiring pressure only "Kages" possessed, was unmistakable.
"Kages from later generations." Tobirama murmured quietly.
He recognized two of them—that yellow-haired man with a small mustache wearing a high-collared coat, and that figure wrapped entirely in bandages resembling a mummy. The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, and the Second Tsuchikage, Mu.
Slightly farther away, a powerfully built man with muscles coiled like mountain rock, still emanating fierce intensity even after death, stood with arms crossed, silently positioned at the shadow's edge.
The Third Raikage... the one who fought ten thousand enemies alone and died from exhaustion.
Tobirama calmly withdrew his gaze.
Hashirama had obviously also noticed these unfamiliar faces. His eyes brightened, enthusiasm for making friends practically overflowing. He stepped forward.
Swish.
A hand reached from behind, precisely grabbing his sleeve.
Senju Tobirama expressionlessly, with irresistible force, yanked his elder brother back. He really didn't want to watch Hashirama embarrass himself further.
Hashirama looked back aggrieved, eyes conveying "I just wanted to say hello." Tobirama's eyes responded with "you shutting up and standing still is your greatest contribution."
On the other side, those Kages from later generations indeed had no intention of approaching to chat.
Not from coldness, nor arrogance.
Rather—their gazes unanimously, carrying undisguisable wariness and suspicion, passed over the Senju brothers' shoulders to fall on that silently standing figure not far behind them.
Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna. Naturally, they only paid attention to Uchiha Madara.
That antique-styled red Warring States armor, that wildly flowing long hair, those Rinnegan that even while restraining their edge, one dared not look directly at.
Plus—the crimson, glaring number floating above his head.
[8.2]
They weren't far removed from Madara's era. The legend of the "Shinobi World's Asura," how he and the First Hokage jointly established Konoha, then broke apart and defected, ultimately being personally "killed" at the Valley of the End—that was carved deep in their memories, the previous era's most dramatic chapter.
8.2...
Senju Tobirama glanced at that number, feeling little surprise. As expected, this was the naturally evil Uchiha clan.
Just as he lowered his eyelids, Senju Hashirama beside him sighed and stepped forward. This time Tobirama didn't stop him.
Because the direction he walked was toward Uchiha Madara.
"Madara..."
Hashirama stood before Madara, his face no longer carrying earlier excitement. Instead, profound sorrow mixed with apology replaced it. He looked at that glaring 8.2 above Madara's head, then at his own spotless 0.00, throat rolling.
"Your life before death..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Don't give up."
"Since sin already has a clear numerical value, there must be a way to atone. I believe if this Pure Land has such rules, it will definitely give people chances to reform."
He gazed earnestly into those cold Rinnegan.
"I'll accompany you through it."
"..."
Uchiha Madara looked at this man before him who remained unchanged as always, even after death. Looked at that painfully clean 0 above his head.
Looked at the concern in his eyes—without grudge, sincere to the point of stupidity.
Then Madara slowly spoke: "I remember that during life I intended to personally destroy Konoha. I thought you'd be the person least likely to forgive me."
"Forgive?"
Hashirama froze, then shook his head. "No, Madara... I never hated you."
His gaze didn't flinch, tone didn't hesitate. "Never."
"Death already means we can no longer interfere with the living world. Those things from the past... whether war or rupture, they're all already past."
He stepped forward slightly, shortening the final distance between them. "We're here. In this world after death, so—I'll accompany you to start over."
"..." Uchiha Madara fell silent for a moment.
"Scram."
"—!!!"
Senju Hashirama's shoulders visibly sagged. He lowered his head, his entire form like a large canine drenched by torrential rain, emanating low pressure.
Senju Tobirama closed his eyes, deeply, with all his strength, inhaling air that didn't exist.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting."
Suddenly, a peaceful voice gently transmitted into every soul's perception present.
Water-like ripples spread across the hall's central void as two figures gradually materialized. First to appear was a blue-eyed, blond-haired young man.
He wore simple, neat ninja casual clothes, face carrying natural gentle warmth. Half a step behind him stood another figure quietly.
Jet-black long hair fell past her shoulders, features cold as frost. She'd changed from those strange clothes, now wearing proper ninja attire, emanating a "stay away" distant aura.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Uchiha Satsuki.
...Can't see through him.
Senju Tobirama's pupils contracted slightly. His perception instinctively reached toward that blond young man. However, the moment his chakra tendrils touched the other's outline... he couldn't perceive anything.
Not powerful beyond measure, not deep as a vast ocean, but thoroughly, completely like probing into void—perceiving absolutely nothing.
Stronger than the Sage of Six Paths... apparently not an exaggeration.
Then Senju Tobirama's perception swept toward the black-haired woman half a step behind—irritating, cold Yin Release chakra.
Tobirama's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. Could she be Uchiha clan... He hadn't yet conducted deeper analysis.
"That Sharingan aura—are you from the Uchiha clan?"
A penetrating booming voice exploded without warning, making Tobirama's temples throb.
Senju Hashirama had somehow already rushed to the front, eyes shining as he stared at Satsuki, smile so brilliant that Satsuki paused slightly.
She looked at this smile-filled man without airs before her. That face—from the moment she had memories, hung daily in Konoha Hidden Village's most prominent location.
First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
"...Yes." Satsuki's voice remained cool yet still offered response. "I am from the Uchiha clan."
"Oh—!" Hashirama grew even more enthusiastic. He looked at Satsuki, then at Naruto, gaze moving between them. "In that case... could it be you're both Konoha ninja?"
His gaze finally settled on Naruto, carrying natural expectation. "Could you be—the current Hokage? How is the village now? Peaceful? Is everyone doing well?"
Questions poured out like floodgates opening. Hashirama's eyes sparkled with genuine, undiluted concern.
Naruto held deep respect for this pioneer who'd ended the Warring States chaos and personally initiated the "ninja village era."
Even though he now possessed power surpassing the Sage of Six Paths, that respect for elders had never diminished with power's growth. Acting superior to everyone just because you have power? Naruto wasn't that terrible.
"I am indeed a Konoha ninja." His tone was calm, neither servile nor overbearing. "But you're mistaken—I'm not the Hokage. Currently Konoha's Hokage is the Fifth."
"Really—!" Hashirama's eyes brightened further, that joy and pride of hearing about prosperous descendants and thriving family. "Already the Fifth generation... Looks like the village really is peaceful."
He eagerly pursued. "Then who serves as the Fifth?"
"My teacher." Naruto answered. "One of the Sannin, Jiraiya."
"Jiraiya...?"
Hashirama froze. He seriously, forcefully, searched this name through his memory three times.
"...Uh, who's that?" He scratched his head, genuine confusion surfacing. "And what are the Sannin?"
Naruto blinked. Then his expression grew somewhat subtle—right, this First Hokage had died when his granddaughter was still a pigtailed little girl. He naturally wouldn't know later titles like the Sannin.
Naruto cleared his throat lightly, explaining as concisely as possible: "Your granddaughter—Tsunade-hime's teammate. And admirer. Currently the two of them jointly govern Konoha Village."