"Madara."
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki broke the silence, his expression turning somewhat serious.
"Since you're here, join this old man in standing guard over Hashirama."
"Although he has not harmed anyone thus far, the Chakra unleashed by the Ten-Tails has already alerted the top powerhouses across Sea Star."
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki's Rinnegan swept across the surrounding void.
"At this moment, their eyes are watching from every direction."
"While it is unlikely that anyone will make a move, the world is unpredictable. Better to be cautious."
Hearing this, Madara Uchiha immediately reined in his thoughts.
Ensuring Hashirama's safety was indeed the most important matter at hand.
He was Madara's lifelong rival, and also his only true friend.
"Hmph. Let's see who dares act out of line."
Madara Uchiha's lips curled into a cold, arrogant smile as he looked down upon all living things.
Before his words had even faded—
Brilliant, resplendent starlight suddenly burst from within his body.
As the radiance flowed, his skin and long hair swiftly shed their mortal hues.
They became the distinctive pale white and silver-gray of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
His eyes transformed as well, becoming purple Rinnegan rippling with concentric rings and exuding supreme majesty.
At the same time—
His iconic black robe patterned with red clouds underwent a qualitative transformation beneath the starlight.
It became a Starry Sky robe flowing with the luster of cosmic nebulae.
As though he had draped the vast Galaxy over his body.
Then, a slit slowly opened at the center of his forehead.
An eye flowing with dazzling, multicolored starlight appeared abruptly.
Nine purple tomoe embedded within it rotated slowly.
It was the one and only Starry Sky Nine-Tomoe Rinne-Sharingan in the world!
In an instant—
A terrifying ocular power, less violently savage than the Ten-Tails yet deeper and more vast—
As though