Senju Hashirama's answer was both unexpected and perfectly reasonable. However, Shin had not obtained all the information he wanted.
He could now fully confirm that the Sage of Six Paths brothers were in the world of the dead. His clash with the Sage of Six Paths from afar, followed by Otsutsuki Hamura's descent, had both confirmed this.
Yet their state was strange. They could not be judged by the standards of ordinary death; they were more like beings trapped between life and death. They could not be called alive, nor could it simply be declared that they were dead.
Shin raised his head and temporarily set aside his thoughts. At the very least, Senju Hashirama's information had lifted a corner of the veil surrounding the mysterious world of the dead, though for now, it did not seem particularly useful.
"As for this so-called true peace, that is a long story. If you truly wish to understand, I'll have to begin with the distant era of the Sage of Six Paths. Back then, the mother of the Ninja World's ancestor, Kaguya, unleashed a genjutsu that covered the entire world, called the 'Infinite Tsukuyomi'..."
Shin spoke unhurriedly, beginning to explain to Hashirama the origins of the plan he had laid out over the past century.
When he reached a pause, Shin lifted his tea and drained it in one gulp, giving Senju Hashirama enough time to digest it.
"So, you and Madara truly intended to cast the entire world into a dream, letting everyone immerse themselves in false dreams. That was your plan?" Senju Hashirama asked in a low voice, his brows tightly furrowed. "Sorry, but if that is the case, I can never accept that kind of 'peace.'"
Smack!
The teacup landed softly. A faint smile tugged at Shin's lips. "Of