Chapter 490: Punishment
Uzumaki Naruto's explanation about sin values continued.
What exactly determined a person's sin value? The answer was already clear in the information flooding everyone's consciousness—determined by two things: historical evaluation and people's evaluation, plus harm inflicted on this world.
Senju Hashirama's 0.00 floated clearly visible above his head. He wasn't without combat experience. Who among ninja walking through the Warring States era didn't have blood on their hands?
But all his battles, all his killing, pointed toward the same goal—making war disappear. Even former enemies, when facing Senju Hashirama, felt not hatred but complex respect welling up. Because everyone understood this man wielded sword and blade with the purpose of making sword and blade no longer necessary.
Such a person, calling him a "saint" wouldn't be excessive.
Being a leader in chaotic times made sin index approaching zero nearly impossible. Unless one was pure to incomprehensible degrees like Senju Hashirama.
Wars launched for the people and greater good wouldn't be counted toward sin points.
But wars actively provoked for profit, from wariness—those definitely carried sin value.
The instant this understanding fell, Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu instinctively exchanged glances before quickly averting their gazes. They understood too clearly what this referred to—Shinobi World Wars, power plays between the five great nations, those conflicts ignited "for village interests," those preemptive strikes launched "fearing the other side's growth."
At this moment, the worst expression belonged to Uchiha Madara. 8.2—the highest number among everyone present, like an insurmountable wall standing between him and "Pure Land life."
Reincarnating as an animal.
These words repeatedly scorched his pride. More precisely, the concept of "reincarnation" itself already touched the most untouchable part of his bottom line.
Now Uchiha Madara could accept death. Could accept failure. Could accept ideals crumbling.
But he couldn't possibly accept no longer being "Uchiha Madara."
Reincarnate as human? That would be another person. Reincarnate as animal? That was thorough insult.
This was the pride carved into Uchiha Madara's very bones. He only allowed himself to be Uchiha Madara. He didn't allow himself to continue existing in any other identity, other form, other manner.
"Um, that—!"
Senju Hashirama's voice suddenly rang out. He practically jumped before Naruto, hands pressed together, eyes full of pleading.
"You just said—reduce sin values! That means there's definitely a method, right—right?! I'll help both Tobirama and Madara! What do we do? What exactly must we do to avoid them being thrown into—"
BOOM—!!!
His words couldn't finish.
Behind him, familiar chakra suddenly erupted, instantly sweeping through the entire hall.
Senju Hashirama slowly, stiffly turned his head. He hoped his ears had deceived him, hoped excessive tension produced hallucinations.
He hoped—
"Don't get too cocky, later generation."
Chakra surged wildly around Uchiha Madara. Those Rinnegan locked onto Uzumaki Naruto. Behind him, Susanoo's skeletal frame was rapidly forming.
"To think you'd dare make me, Uchiha Madara—reincarnate as some animal. Don't underestimate people!"
Senju Tobirama instantly retreated. In an eyeblink he'd pulled the distance between himself and Uchiha Madara to an absolutely safe range. In the distance, Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu had already tacitly withdrawn to the hall's edges.
Senju Tobirama gazed from afar at that figure within Susanoo, eyes like viewing an idiot.
The person opposite—was the existence who'd taken over the Pure Land, created this heaven and earth, awakened all souls. Was the monster surpassing the Sage of Six Paths. Was the rule-maker who just personally said "sin values can decrease."
Only Uchiha Madara could muster courage to challenge him.
Senju Hashirama stood in place, mouth open, looking at that imposingly aggressive Susanoo, then at the blond young man across who seemed to completely disregard the scene before him, then at his brother who'd already retreated eight hundred meters away—
"Madara—!!!"
His anguished cry echoed through the entire Pure Land.
Suddenly, the next moment, Uchiha Satsuki standing behind Naruto moved.
Her calm black eyes completed transformation in an instant—the left eye became deep purple, layers upon layers of ripples centered around six pitch-black tomoe slowly rotating.
The right eye maintained the Sharingan's crimson base, yet the pupil likewise transformed into undulating ripples, nine tomoe embedded on that scarlet background.
Six-Tomoe Rinnegan.
The nine-tomoe Rinne Sharingan called the Moon's Eye.
Then Uchiha Madara froze.
Not metaphorically, not exaggeration, but literally, absolutely frozen.
That Perfect Susanoo already condensed halfway with magnificent presence, along with chakra flames churning around it, along with the cold smile not yet faded from Uchiha Madara's face, along with his slightly raised fingers preparing hand seals—everything, like a paused image, solidified in that instant.
Time was stopped.
"Brother?!"
Uchiha Izuna had originally stood behind Madara, already prepared for battle the instant Susanoo appeared. But before he could react, he saw his elder brother suddenly become this bizarre state—frozen mid-air, unable even to move his eyeballs, like an ice-sealed statue.
"Heavenly Imperial Thunder God: Thousand Cranes!"
A cool female voice rang out. White light burst from Uchiha Satsuki's palm.
This was Six Paths-level Sage Art Lightning Style. Ultimate Yin Release chakra, Sage chakra, Lightning Release chakra—three completely different powers perfectly fused in her palm, transforming into a massive lightning torrent.
Then that torrent, the instant it left her palm, suddenly exploded—splitting into countless, uncountable lightning origami cranes!
Each crane danced with blinding blue-white electric arcs, wings lightly flapping, carrying destructive power. Like a sky-covering crane flock storm, they thunderously crashed toward that time-frozen Susanoo!
BOOM—!!!
Tremendous sound shook the heavens. Countless lightning cranes simultaneously detonated upon contact with Susanoo. Violent lightning illuminated the entire hall like daylight!
Then—Uchiha Satsuki withdrew her ocular technique.
Time resumed flowing.
"Gyah—!!!"
Uchiha Madara's scream exploded in the same instant! That Perfect Susanoo, having endured the full attack while frozen in time, could no longer maintain form as time resumed flowing—like a shattered glass sculpture, it burst apart with a crash!
Chakra fragments scattered in all directions, transforming into light motes dissipating in the air.
Uchiha Madara himself fell heavily from mid-air, kneeling on one knee, breathing heavily. His Rinnegan were written with incredible shock. His aura was chaotic beyond measure. His soul form's outline even showed minute cracks temporarily unable to heal.
What... happened?!
Why did he feel nothing—suddenly defeated?!
"Brother!"
"Madara!"
Uchiha Izuna and Senju Hashirama rushed over almost simultaneously.
Izuna grabbed Madara's arm, vigilantly sweeping toward that black-haired woman who'd withdrawn her hand, expression still cold. Hashirama directly blocked in front of Madara, spreading both arms, face written with urgent panic conveying "let's talk this out, no violence."
"Alright."
Uzumaki Naruto's voice rang out, carrying relaxation suggesting "finally can finish talking."
He didn't immediately look at Madara but first turned around, raising his hand to gently rest atop Uchiha Satsuki's head.
The motion was natural and tender, carrying encouragement and gratitude. Satsuki lowered her eyelids slightly, obediently letting him pat her.
Then Naruto turned, looking at Uchiha Madara kneeling on one knee, aura chaotic, protected behind Hashirama and Izuna.
"Uchiha Madara. Originally, you betrayed the dream you and Hashirama jointly established. Even though not a single clan member followed you, it couldn't make you reconsider."
"Rather than that dear friend who'd realize childhood dreams together—you chose lies on a stone tablet."
Madara's pupils contracted slightly. Naruto's words continued unhurriedly: "By rights, I should directly throw you into the Animal Realm—reincarnate you who knows how many times."
"However."
"The Pure Land's order was just established. I need an enforcer." His gaze fell on that still-defiant face, mouth corners lifting slightly in an ambiguous smile.
"As for duration... it means eternal damnation without rebirth."
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