Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 489 Reincarnation

Hashirama Senju's expression turned somewhat strange.

It was a subtle entanglement of...this method seems a bit...and a reluctant acceptance of...but...it does seem to work...and ultimately, it smeared on my face into an expression that was hard to describe as either gratified or complicated.

The methods used by later generations… He silently pondered the words he had just heard: intimidation. Demonstrating power. Destroying a nation in an instant. No one was killed. The other villages were all well-behaved.

...Okay, it's not unacceptable.

As mentioned earlier, Hashirama understood one thing better than anyone else: there was ultimately only so much he could do.

His generation, having devoted their entire lives to achieving nothing more than "pacifying the chaotic world." The Warring States period ended, the era of ninja villages began, and the clash of swords was confined to the framework of "missions," with rivers of blood becoming sporadic skirmishes on the border.

He could not guarantee that war would not break out again in future generations. He could not achieve "eternal peace." So he left the choice, the future, and all the possibilities to posterity.

Standing beside him, Tobirama Senju maintained a completely unchanged expression throughout.

For him, the logic of this matter was so simple that it didn't require any thought: the stronger the Konoha ninjas, the better. As for whether to "deter" or "reform," "demonstrate power" or "form an alliance"...

Tobirama had no interest in this.

He is dead. The course of the world, its rules, its wars and peace—these are things for the living to worry about.

Just like when he assisted his elder brother in becoming Hokage, although he made countless suggestions and proposed countless plans, the final decision was always made by Hashirama Senju.

The same applies now; those who are alive decide their own path.

"So."

Naruto's voice rang out again, carrying a barely perceptible sigh of relief that seemed to say, "Finally, we can get down to business."

He surveyed the crowd in the hall—the Senju brothers, the Uchiha brothers, and the Kage from different villages. His eyes calmly swept over each face, each with its own unique expression, before he slowly spoke.

"Everyone, as you can see. After the Sage of Six Paths entrusted the Pure Land to me, I created heaven and earth in this place that was once nothingness."

"All the souls that slumber here have awakened—or are awakening."

"From this day forward, death in the ninja world will no longer signify the 'end'."

A slight commotion arose in the hall.

Hozuki Gengetsu's mustache twitched, and a very soft inhale came from beneath the bandages. The Third Raikage's imposing figure, as solid as a mountain rock, leaned forward slightly.

Naruto continued without pausing, "People who have died can live here."

"After all souls awaken, their bodies will return to their best state before death—that is, the peak physical condition."

"But your strength will be preserved until the moment of your death, including all the results of your training."

……I see.

Madara Uchiha uttered these words in a low voice, his body returning to its prime, but his strength remaining until the moment of his death.

He stretched his arms—the body formed from his soul was indeed lighter and stronger than he remembered at the moment of his death. The hidden wounds from the final battle in the Valley of the End, and the fatigue accumulated during his years of incubation, had all vanished without a trace.

Wu is also experiencing his own body.

Indeed. Those old wounds that lingered and ached from his lifetime, those hidden ailments accumulated over years of fighting—all vanished at this moment. In their place came a long-lost lightness and fullness, a feeling that belonged to his prime.

Naruto continued, his voice steady and clear. "People who have died can live here, and they can also see those who have passed away—those they didn't have time to see in life, those they couldn't say goodbye to properly for various reasons."

His gaze swept over Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha standing side by side, and over Hashirama Senju's subconscious gaze into the distance.

"Continuously fulfilling the regrets of one's lifetime. Until the soul itself no longer has any attachment to its 'identity'."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink deep into everyone's consciousness. "Then—one can re-enter the cycle of reincarnation."

Forget everything. Reincarnate.

The hall fell silent.

It wasn't the kind of tense or guarded silence, but a deeper silence where everyone was pondering the meaning of those words.

Reincarnation.

Reincarnation.

Forget everything and start anew.

Hashirama Senju's gaze softened and deepened. He thought of those who died in the Warring States period—his parents, brothers, comrades, and countless enemies who had once clashed with him, yet who all yearned for tomorrow.

If there really is such a place where they can rest properly and say goodbye properly before starting anew... that would be wonderful.

He said it softly to himself.

Naruto's voice rang out again, providing the final commentary on these words: "I have the ability to do this. That's why I created this afterlife, and I created the order of reincarnation."

"First, it is so that people can make up for their regrets in life after they die—reunite with important people and say the things they didn't have time to say."

"second……"

He paused. "It's also so that evildoers can truly... be punished here."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall subtly changed.

It wasn't out of fear—everyone present had witnessed enough bloodshed and darkness in their lives.

Rather, it's because of the underlying logic of this statement that this is not simply a "place of rest."

There are rules, there are judgments, and there are "costs" corresponding to evil deeds.

"so……"

Naruto's voice rang out again, interrupting everyone's reverie about the "afterlife" and "reincarnation." A sudden, undeniable solemnity appeared in those deep blue eyes.

"All of the above—living here, reuniting with the deceased, making amends, and ultimately re-entering the cycle of reincarnation—is not something every soul is entitled to."

"But there's a prerequisite. That is..."

"Sin points, not exceeding 2.0."

"…!"

Hashirama Senju's expression, which had been full of enthusiasm and anticipation for the future, froze instantly.

He subconsciously looked up at the clean, uncluttered 0.00 above him.

Then, his gaze shifted to his younger brother beside him.

Tobirama Senju's head height: 3.8

He looked into the distance again.

Madara Uchiha's head: 8.2

Uchiha Izuna's head: 0.05

Second Generation Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu: 3.2

Second Tsuchikage: 3.0

Third Raikage: 2.4

Hashirama's face went from stiff to deathly pale. "Th-that..." His voice trembled slightly, "What will happen to a soul that exceeds 2.0?" He asked cautiously, as if afraid of hearing some terrible answer.

The other people in the hall also didn't look too good.

Hozuki Gengetsu's mustache stopped twitching, and he seemed frozen in place. Beneath the bandages, his eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow passing through the depths of his pupils. The Third Raikage remained silent, but the knuckles of his arms tightened silently.

2.0.

This number is a dividing line, placing these "shadows," who in their lifetimes had more or less held the power of life and death, deciding the fate of countless people, on "the other side."

War between major powers.

A campaign launched out of fear.

The flames of war were ignited by resentment.

A "necessary sacrifice" made to protect the village...

Behind every decision lies a specific, vibrant life. Those lives are lost on the battlefield, but the numbers above the heads of those who make the decisions—no matter how many "just" reasons they may have—will never be zero again.

Naruto looked at Hashirama's tense face, which was on the verge of tears, and smiled slightly, revealing a... innocent and harmless smile.

"If you do not obtain forgiveness from those you harmed during your lifetime within the stipulated time—"

"If this reduces the value of sin, then this soul naturally cannot remain in the Pure Land."

Instead, they will be forcibly thrown into the [Animal Realm].

"...The animal realm?" Hashirama repeated those three words. "Th-what is that...?"

"The place of reincarnation for sinners."

Naruto's answer was as calm as stating the weather. "They are not qualified to return to this world as 'humans' once again."

He tilted his head slightly, his blue eyes reflecting Hashirama's face, which was gradually losing its color. "Instead, they will be randomly reincarnated into the world, into the body of a random animal."

"…!!!"

Hashirama's mouth opened and closed, then opened and closed again; images were uncontrollably flashing through his mind.

Tobirama turned into a hedgehog, covered in thorns, pricking anyone he encountered.

Ban transformed into a fox, still arrogant, but now only able to catch rabbits in the mountains.

No no no no no no no—!

He shook his head violently, trying to banish those horrific images from his mind, but his face was already as white as a sheet of paper.

However, Naruto hadn't finished speaking yet; he maintained his smiling expression and continued.

"Of course. If the evil is truly too great—"

"Then, sinners will be thrown into the [Asura Path]."

"The Path of Asura...?" Hashirama's voice had become dry and hoarse.

"There, they will personally experience—all the pain they inflicted on others in their lifetime..."

"The whole experience."

"Then—they are thrown into the [animal realm] to continue the cycle of reincarnation."