It was over.
The scarlet fox eyes flickered with disbelief as they stared at those striking Rinnegan eyes amid the crowd.
Kurama, shrunk to the size of a doll, hurriedly steadied himself and remained standing on the balcony railing.
Overlooking the bustling square.
All nine tailed beasts had shrunk back to their most basic forms, hiding on the balconies of residences around the Hokage Building. Their excellent vantage points allowed them to witness the entire Hokage Inauguration Ceremony.
Gyuki, in the form of a little octopus, twisted his boneless neck and glanced at Uzumaki Mito not far behind him. A Tailed Beast Ball sat at her feet, silently reminding them where they belonged and completely snuffing out any thoughts of joining the crowd for a closer look.
As parts of the same whole, the tailed beasts linked their chakra tightly through the railing, entering a shared mental world.
"How did Madara open his other Rinnegan so quickly?"
Having shrunk down, Shukaku looked rather plump, and his sharp, raspy voice had become much lower.
"I know this." Chomei, back in his cocoon form, immediately answered. "When I took off from the square, I caught a glimpse of it. Madara seemed to be exchanging chakra with Hashirama."
Chomei's answer dispelled the tailed beasts' doubts.
No matter how hard Hashirama tried to conceal the fluctuations of his chakra, the tailed beasts could still sense that familiar chakra drifting from within him into the air.
Without even thinking, they instinctively knew the answer: it was Sage of Six Paths chakra.
After all, they had spent their childhoods inside the Sage of Six Paths.
"Madara seems to have more Truth-Seeking Orbs in his sleeves."
"He still has the Ten-Tails inside him."
Kokuō signaled Saiken not to make such a fuss. Madara had far too many