Seeing Senju Hashirama's dejected expression, Shin and Madara both laughed in unison.
Ever since many years ago, the three of them had been roughly equal in strength. Back in the Warring States Period, there had been a time when Senju Hashirama stood alone against both Shin and Madara. Under that pressure, he had briefly become the strongest of the three.
Unfortunately, it did not last long. Shin's absurd rate of growth quickly left him behind.
Of course, the gap between the three of them had not been qualitative back then. All of them could crush every other ninja with ease.
Later, Konoha was founded, Senju Hashirama died, and Madara and Shin went into seclusion. Yet neither of them had fallen behind in strength.
By the time of the final Ninja World War, Senju Hashirama had been resurrected, while Shin and Madara had successively reached the Six Paths Level, formally opening up a vast gap between themselves and Hashirama.
Fortunately, Hashirama later caught up quickly as well. Though he could not compare to Shin, he was about on par with Madara. Moreover, Shin had also been at the Six Paths Level then, not yet so far ahead that Hashirama could not even see his back.
But after the Myriad Worlds, Shin had leaped in a single bound to a realm Hashirama could not comprehend, a level of power that could only make him tremble.
After this, Shin seemed even more unfathomable. Hashirama could not discern the depth of his strength at all.
And Uchiha Madara, who had previously been about as strong as him, had also rapidly grown stronger after visiting another world, leaving him far behind.
Hashirama secretly resolved that this time, he too had to visit a world and improve his strength.
"Haha, welcome back, Shin!" Uchiha Madara laughed.