"Rinnegan?"
As Hashirama absorbed Natural Energy, the doubt in his mind did not linger for long.
He suddenly felt his body being pulled uncontrollably forward, tilting along with the airflow and wind toward Madara.
It was gravity.
Hashirama looked at Madara, who had raised an arm to become the center of gravity. He hurriedly increased the chakra beneath his feet, causing several wooden strips to grow from the Wood Golem's head and coil around his legs, stabilizing his swaying body.
"The Rinnegan's power isn't bad, is it?"
The somewhat smug voice ahead carried clearly to Hashirama's ears on the breeze. He slowly released his clasped hands, approval flickering in the eye sockets framed by his markings. "The Rinnegan should be capable of more than just this, shouldn't it?"
As his words fell—
The shattered arms behind the Great Buddha rapidly recovered under the nourishment of Sage Chakra. A thousand arms tore through the air once more and smashed toward the Ten-Tails before them.
"Hashirama, your speed truly is impressive!"
Being closely connected to the Ten-Tails, Madara could most clearly perceive the speed at which Hashirama gathered Natural Energy within his body, and he sighed with genuine admiration.
Faced with the wooden fists descending like a rainstorm, he silently raised his arm, drawing upon the chakra within the Ten-Tails. "Shinra Tensei!"
"Buzz!"
A silent wave of repulsive force continuously spread from Madara's palm toward the sky. The dense barrage of fists struck an invisible wall and, with a rumble, shattered into wood chips and vanished completely.
"This is?!"
Hashirama's astonishment pleased Madara greatly. He pointed at his Rinnegan, unable to conceal the excitement in his voice. "This is the power of the Six Paths!"
"Damn it! Madara, you've become this strong in just three years, while I could only stay in