The sea of clouds churned. Sean's consciousness submerged. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was already standing in front of Madara, hands in his pockets.
After the great battle ended, his taut nerves relaxed, and exhaustion caught up with Sean. The young man flipped his hand, pulled a pack of cigarettes from the sea of clouds, lit one for himself, and tossed another to Madara.
The old relic who had lived from the Warring States period to modern times was naturally no stranger to cigarettes. Through Tobi, also known as Obito Uchiha, he had learned about many new things. But as for smoking... Madara copied Sean's action, rubbing his fingers to create a small flame, and lit the cigarette. He took a deep drag and, unsurprisingly, started coughing.
"Cough, cough... This thing doesn't have the flavor of pipe tobacco, but it's got a strong kick."
"Heh." Sean gave Madara a mischievous wink. "Is it possible that you're just not used to it?"
Madara grunted and took another drag, muffling it. This time, he gradually found the taste. He opened his mouth and blew a smoke ring at Sean. "Mysterious brat, speak up. What is this place? Don't tell me this is Konoha or the Land of Fire. The power you and your father use isn't chakra. I think you know this better than I do."
'As expected of Indra's reincarnation. That sharp perception is truly admirable.'
'Nen is indeed not chakra, but it is also a type of bodily energy. To be able to distinguish them based on such subtle differences...'
Sean flicked his ash, looking at Madara with admiration. "You just said this cigarette isn't pipe tobacco. Naturally, this isn't Konoha, but an entirely different world from Konoha."
'Another world?' Madara's eyes flashed imperceptibly. Even though he had anticipated it, he couldn't help but be startled.
He suppressed a laugh in his throat. "Hahaha... This is getting more and more interesting. To think there are other worlds besides the moon and the Land of Fire. Hashirama, it's a pity you're dead. If you heard this news, your jaw would drop in shock."
'Uh... I wouldn't go that far.'
"Sorry to interrupt you," Sean said, looking at Madara teasingly. "Mr. Madara, I'm just saying... is it possible that Hashirama Senju knew this news even earlier than you?"
'The last time Tobirama came, he took three servings of ramen back with him. Sean didn't know if Minato and Hiruzen got any, but as Tobirama's older brother, Hashirama definitely ate some. In other words, it's not the previous Hokage who are outdated, but you, Madara Uchiha, you old fossil who has been clinging to life by relying on Hashirama's cells!'
Madara: "..."
Stunned for a moment, he looked at Sean in surprise. "You've already met Hashirama?"
"Not exactly," Sean replied truthfully.
'The First's ninjutsu is too expensive. Sean didn't want to waste the savings he had worked so hard to accumulate.'
Almost scared by the boy, Madara quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He really thought Sean could pull the souls of the dead over. He hadn't expected that the relief would last less than two seconds before Sean's next words made him tense up again.
The young man winked at Madara. "I may not have met Mr. Hashirama, but his younger brother, Tobirama, is a regular customer here."
Madara: "..."
'This damn kid, does he have to split one sentence into two? What's the difference between meeting Tobirama and meeting Hashirama?'
Madara stared deeply at Sean. "I never thought... that you, boy, have also mastered the Edo Tensei."
'His horizons are limiting his thinking. "Edo Tensei," huh?'
"It's just pulling someone over. I don't need to use that thing." Sean smiled faintly, revealing a set of white teeth to Madara. "Mr. Madara, if you ever miss Mr. Hashirama, just let me know in advance. I can arrange a meeting for you, free of charge."
"Of course, if you want to see Mr. Tobirama right now, I can arrange it immediately."
"Tobirama?" Madara sneered. "No need. I don't get along with him. On the contrary..."
Madara looked at Sean with a grave expression. "I'm starting to believe that claim about you being 'God'."
'God, the creator of the world... omnipotent and omniscient...' Sean flicked his finger, and the cigarette butt was rolled up by the sea of clouds and extinguished.
He said modestly, "Mr. Madara, you flatter me. Well then, time for the usual rules." The young man raised a finger and wagged it at Madara. "In return for you teaching me Susanoo, I will now answer one question for you, free of charge."
"Please believe me, God is omniscient and knows everything about the world."
"Including the ninja world?" Madara raised an eyebrow.
"Including the ninja world!"
Madara put his hands on his hips and laughed heartily.
"In that case, here's the question." The old fossil suddenly stopped, squinting at Sean. "My dear God, please tell me... did I, Madara Uchiha, bring peace to the ninja world?"
'Bring peace in what way? Through the "Infinite Tsukuyomi"?'
Sean looked at Madara with pity. This Uchiha, who had been high-spirited all his life, would never have guessed that he had been deceived by Black Zetsu his entire life, becoming a crucial pawn in the plan to revive Black Zetsu's mother.
Sean sighed. "I can only tell you that the ninja world did achieve peace. But the one who brought peace to it... was not you."
"Is that so?" Madara's eyes flashed, and he chuckled in a suppressed voice. "Your expression is very wrong, boy. Is that pity? Or sympathy?"
"I hope you can expand on that answer."
'Unfortunately... rules are rules.' Sean flatly refused. "Expanding on that is a different price. You have to add more money!"
Madara's expression darkened. He stepped forward, his black hair stirring without wind, revealing the other Rinnegan beneath it. "I have no money. But I think you will expand on that, won't you?!"
"Kaka-ka~" The Perfect Susanoo manifested instantly, leaning down to grab at Sean. Sean dug his ear and said, 'Scary...' He sneered, completely unafraid. "Kneel!"
"KACHA~" It was as if his knees were suddenly shattered by two heavy hammers. Madara and the Susanoo enveloping him shuddered, then fell straight to their knees in front of Sean with a thud.
'He only learns his lesson after being hit.' "Mr. Madara, haven't you already tested this before?"
He lightly pointed a finger at the Susanoo. The blue skeleton shattered with a mournful cry. Sean calmly strode over to Madara and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know the truth is cruel."
"It's often hard to accept."
"But," the young man leaned in, whispering in Madara's ear, "who the fuck do you think you are?"
"You demand that I expand, and I'm supposed to agree and expand for you?"
"You naturally evil Uchiha. Do me a favor and get your own position straight!"
"PA~" A hand rose, and a slap landed. Sean stood up, shaking his hand. Madara's head, which had been hit, split open from the center of his brow. Only a headless corpse remained, which collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"Sage, come out and clean this up."