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Uchiha Madara's eyes swept across Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, and finally stopped at the most familiar figure, staring straight at him with a little disbelief.
"Is it really you, Izuna!"
The three of them shifted from the Wood Human Technique state to their normal appearances. Their auras were calm, and although they stood as ordinary people, they exuded a strange aura of life and death.
"..."
The three opened their eyes almost simultaneously. Senju Hashirama was the first to come back to his senses, looking around blankly, not understanding what had happened.
"Brother!"
Uchiha Izuna also regained his senses, but the first thing he saw was the person atop the Ten Tails' body. He would never forget that familiar look, not even in his dreams.
"It seems that it is really you, Izuna!"
Uchiha Madara grinned, quite wantonly.
"Big Brother!"
This "Big Brother" came from Senju Tobirama, who also took in the scene and frowned. Though he didn't understand the situation, he felt an instinctive hostility upon seeing Uchiha Madara.
"And... Uchiha Izuna! Why are you here?"
Senju Tobirama's heart sank.
"Wow, it's Madara!"
Senju Hashirama also assessed the situation, and upon seeing Uchiha Madara, he laughed out loud.
"Hashirama!"
The two locked eyes, and, in an instant, no one else existed in their world. A different momentum rose between them as they stared at each other.
Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna exchanged glances and gritted their teeth simultaneously.
This was not the first time they'd seen a similar scene.
It had happened many times in the past.
Whenever these two met, it was as if they were possessed, unable to tolerate anyone else in their gaze.
It was infuriating!
"Damn it!"
Senju Tobirama cursed inwardly, murderous intent surging within him.
Uchiha Izuna felt the same but turned his head, noticing Ishigami Hara.
"Uzumaki kid!?"
Ishigami Hara smiled and nodded slightly. "Izuna-senpai, long time no see."
"Really you?"
Uchiha Izuna reacted immediately, looking at himself, then at the others, and said in surprise, "How did you do it? You brought us out of the Pure Land together."
"Why is it different from last time?"
Ishigami Hara just smiled, not intending to explain.
"You don't want to say it?"
Uchiha Izuna frowned at this but didn't dwell on it. He knew Ishigami Hara had secrets, and those secrets were not important to him.
Swoosh!
Uchiha Izuna landed and swiftly moved toward Uchiha Madara. In just a few breaths, he landed next to his brother.
Clearly, he had made his choice.
Ishigami Hara wasn't surprised in the slightest. After all, the two were brothers, and Uchiha Izuna's loyalty to his elder brother was well-known, so this behavior was expected.
Senju Tobirama looked at his own body in surprise. He noticed Ishigami Hara as well but was more curious about his current state.
"How did you do it? And why am I able to fly above the ground?"
Yes, both Senju Tobirama, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Izuna had been suspended in the air just moments before. Senju Tobirama had no knowledge of flying techniques.
Ishigami Hara extended his hand and moved two fingers, revealing two extremely fine chakra threads attached to the two men, allowing them to hover.
"So that's it, a form of puppet control? Very creative."
Senju Tobirama understood and soon realized he could even control his own direction mid-air. Surprised, he floated directly toward Senju Hashirama and punched him in the abdomen.
"Foolish brother, snap out of it!"
Bang!
"Ugh!"
Senju Hashirama clutched his stomach in pain, the intense eye contact with Uchiha Madara broken, and he came to his senses.
"Ah, I got carried away!"
"Hmph!"
"Ahahaha!"
Senju Hashirama remembered his prior actions, realizing he had gone a bit too far. Only now did he take in his surroundings.
"What happened? Eh? It's you, kid? No, you've grown a lot. Has it been that long? And what's going on over there? Is there another war? Why do I see people from other villages?"
...***....
Senju Hashirama assessed the situation and noted the battle happening miles away. The battlefield involved shinobi from various villages, fighting alongside Konoha shinobi, which struck him as odd.
Though the distance was considerable, it was nothing for Senju Hashirama. His sensory abilities allowed him to discern everything clearly.
"It's a long story, but... Uchiha Madara and I are enemies right now. He plans to destroy the ninja world. Those shinobi form a coalition I assembled with the other villages."
As he spoke, Ishigami Hara pointed forward and said, "Do you see that? That's the Ten Tails. Uchiha Madara intends to use it to destroy the ninja world. Aren't you going to do something?"
Senju Hashirama frowned, eyeing the Ten Tails solemnly, then called out to Uchiha Madara, "Madara, do you truly intend to destroy the ninja world?"
Uchiha Madara came back to his senses, ending his conversation with Uchiha Izuna, and grinned at the sound of Hashirama's voice.
"Hahaha, is that what the kid told you? I'm not here to destroy the ninja world; I'm aiming to bring permanent peace to it!"
He pointed at Senju Hashirama and declared, "Will you help me, Hashirama?"
Senju Hashirama grew serious, took a deep breath, then shook his head. "I expected as much; you've come to this point. It's really troubling, but I will stop you, Madara!"
"Then come, Hashirama!"
The two locked eyes once again, but this time, murderous intent filled their gazes.
"Brother!"
Senju Tobirama began to speak but was silenced by Senju Hashirama raising his hand. "Do what you must."
"I understand."
Senju Tobirama snorted but nodded, then turned to face Uchiha Izuna.
The latter did the same, and as their eyes met, murderous intent sparked between them as well.
Ishigami Hara watched all this with a leisurely gaze, showing no impatience.