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Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Reward the Good, Punish the Evil — This Is Your Judgment

"Reward the good. Punish the evil."

Naruto's voice echoed calmly through the vast hall, steady and unquestionable.

"You need to atone for what you've done," he continued. "I will place another seal on you. From this moment forward, you will no longer be able to interfere with the ninja world directly. You will observe it from beyond a barrier… and act only when assigned."

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya stood frozen.

Not just her—everyone present felt the weight of his words, confusion and disbelief spreading silently through the room.

Naruto didn't pause.

"No matter whether the ninja world is unified or divided… no matter how peaceful it may appear on the surface," he said, his tone calm but absolute, "darkness will always exist."

"And when it does…"

"There must be something hanging above the world like the Sword of Damocles."

"Something that makes people fear crossing the line."

His gaze lowered, locking onto Kaguya.

"Your second option… is to become that sword."

A faint tension filled the air.

"You will travel across the ninja world," Naruto continued. "Punish evil. Reward good."

"When you encounter injustice—you act. When you encounter kindness—you reward it."

"The seal placed upon you will weaken with every action."

"When you have punished enough evil… saved enough lives… and atoned for your sins…"

"It will disappear completely."

"And you will regain your freedom."

He paused for a brief moment.

Then his voice turned colder.

"But if you ever choose evil again…"

"The seal will tighten."

"And your punishment will be extended."

"Until it becomes permanent."

His eyes sharpened, leaving no room for doubt.

"So from now on…"

"You will be a good person."

Silence fell.

Thick. Oppressive.

Naruto had laid everything out—clear, direct, and inescapable.

Resealing her would have been easy. If he wished, he could have sent her back to the moon instantly—this time with a seal she would never break.

To most people alive today, Kaguya's crimes from a thousand years ago felt distant, almost irrelevant. If she had chosen to remain hidden, to never interfere again…

Naruto might have even let her go.

But she hadn't.

Through Black Zetsu, she had continued to influence the world—causing war, bloodshed, and endless suffering.

That debt still belonged to her.

At that moment, a dark figure emerged, clinging to her shoulder.

"Mom, don't listen to him!"

Black Zetsu's voice trembled with urgency.

"What 'good person'? You're the strongest! Even if you can't defeat him—just run!"

"You can travel through space! He won't be able to catch you!"

"You can't get sealed again!"

The hall fell into an even deeper silence.

Some stared.

Others scoffed quietly.

Even Obito showed a faint, almost mocking smile.

Naruto had been right.

Black Zetsu truly didn't understand the situation.

Didn't he see it?

That calm expression.

That overwhelming presence.

Like a mountain no one could ever escape.

"Shut up!"

Kaguya's voice cracked through the silence.

Her body trembled—not just with anger…

But with fear.

Yes.

Fear.

For a brief instant, she had considered escaping.

But the moment the thought surfaced, a suffocating dread swallowed it whole.

It felt as if the instant she tried—

She would be crushed.

Completely.

Black Zetsu's suggestion…

Was nothing more than a path to death.

"…Mother…"

Black Zetsu froze, his voice shaking with disbelief.

For thousands of years, he had existed for her sake.

And now…

She rejected him.

"Have you decided?"

Naruto's voice cut cleanly through the silence.

Kaguya's body trembled slightly.

"…I choose…"

She lowered her head.

"…the second option."

Her voice was steady—but heavy with resentment, pain, and helplessness.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

"A good person…?"

Naruto smiled faintly.

"Good choice."

He raised his hands and formed a series of seals.

In an instant—

Countless glowing symbols appeared in the air.

They surrounded Kaguya, wrapping around her like chains of light.

Each symbol radiated terrifying power.

Each one—

Comparable to an S-rank technique.

And there were millions.

Even the Sage of Six Paths felt a chill run down his spine.

Compared to this…

Even the technique that created the moon seemed insignificant.

Naruto spoke once more.

"Remember."

"Reward the good. Punish the evil."

"The system will assign your tasks."

"Only by completing them… will your freedom return."

The glowing symbols sank into Kaguya's body.

Her figure began to fade.

Bit by bit—

Her presence vanished.

Until nothing remained.

No chakra.

No trace.

Nothing.

A dull sound broke the silence.

Black Zetsu fell to the ground.

Desperate.

Panicked.

He looked around frantically, like a child abandoned.

Naruto didn't hesitate.

"You've caused enough harm."

He raised his hand.

Flames erupted instantly, engulfing Black Zetsu.

The screams lasted less than three seconds.

Then—

Silence.

The greatest manipulator in the ninja world…

Reduced to ash.

Naruto turned his gaze toward the others.

No one dared meet his eyes.

By now, they all understood.

This wasn't a discussion.

This was judgment.

His eyes shifted to Ōtsutsuki Shiren.

"Your crimes are minor," Naruto said calmly. "You never truly carried out your plans."

Shiren felt a strange mix of relief and injustice.

He had done nothing…

Yet still stood here awaiting judgment.

Naruto waved his hand lightly.

"You were misled. You don't understand this world."

"Your punishment—re-education."

"Learn how to live properly."

Then his gaze moved on.

To Obito.

For a brief moment, Naruto's expression became complicated.

This was a man who had fallen into darkness for love—

And drowned the world in suffering because of it.

"Do you have anything to say?" Naruto asked quietly.

Obito looked up, a faint smile on his lips.

"I have nothing to say."

After learning the truth…

After understanding everything he had done…

He felt empty.

The boy who once cherished his comrades…

Was gone.

Naruto raised his hand—

Then stopped.

"…Forget it."

"I won't decide your fate."

"You'll be judged by them."

His hand lowered slowly.

His gaze briefly passed over Itachi.

He shook his head.

Another sinner.

Another story too complex to judge alone.

Finally, his eyes settled on Nagato.

"You sought peace," Naruto said, "but caused countless deaths."

Nagato nodded calmly.

"I know."

With Yahiko and Konan beside him, he had already found clarity.

He understood his mistakes.

Accepted them.

And now—

He was ready to face whatever came next.

Around them, the members of the Akatsuki stood in silence. Even the most reckless among them didn't dare raise their voices.

Only Deidara muttered under his breath, "Why does this feel so intense…?"

"Shut up," someone snapped. "We're being judged."

The air grew heavier.

Even Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly.

Because by now, everyone understood—

This wasn't just power.

This was authority.

Absolute authority.

And no one…

Could escape it.

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