"What does the Ten-Tails look like?"
Hashirama's puzzled voice rang out in the quiet chamber.
Watching Madara fall into thought, he offered an example. "Is it even cooler than the Nine Tailed Beasts?"
Madara glanced at the Tailed Beasts gathered behind Hashirama and pictured the Ten-Tails in his mind. It had absolutely nothing to do with being cool—in fact, it was completely unlike any creature in the Shinobi World.
Rikusei's description fit it best.
"An Abnormal."
Hashirama's eyes lit up. He raised a hand and gestured excitedly. "Is it a combination of the Nine Tailed Beasts?"
"Once I succeed, you'll see it for yourself. It's even more spectacular than you can imagine," Madara said earnestly, playing along.
"Why not do it in the village? The village can provide all the resources you need."
"The village can't give me the peace and quiet I need."
Madara gently explained this to Hashirama, who was still brimming with excitement.
"Fair enough." Hashirama calmed down. "The village keeps getting bigger. Tobirama's lab has even been moved to the outskirts. Fusing Tailed Beasts isn't an ordinary experiment."
"Is there anything else you need? The village will do everything it can to help. After all, this is the fruit of our shared dream."
Madara hesitated for a moment. For an instant, he'd wanted to tell Hashirama the truth he knew, but in the end, reason won out, and he held back.
A surprise he'd been planning for so long couldn't be revealed ahead of time, no matter what.
"My departure is bound to cause a sensation throughout the Shinobi World. Help me keep the truth hidden."
Madara's quiet voice echoed through the empty chamber.
"Even from Tobirama?"
"What do you think?"
After Madara shot him a look, Hashirama rested a hand against his chin and paced,