Hearing Kou's words, Hashirama was immediately overjoyed.
Though the battle before them appeared evenly matched, they had actually exhausted every means at their disposal merely to delay Madara from crushing them.
Until Sasuke and the Fourth Hokage completed their task, every second they spent fighting Madara carried enormous risk.
Kou obtaining Indra's chakra was undoubtedly excellent news for the current battle.
After all, according to what the child had said earlier, gathering the chakras of Indra and Asura meant...
"Can you contact him now? The legendary Sage of Six Paths?"
Hashirama looked at Kou before him and asked urgently.
Kou sensed the two powers merging within his right eye, along with the faint pull emanating from them, and spoke gravely:
"Based on the current situation, probably.
But... I'll need some more time."
He turned to Hashirama beside him and said solemnly:
"I need more time to fully draw out the Sage of Six Paths' chakra. You may need to hold Madara off by yourself for a while."
The smile on Hashirama's face immediately froze. He shook his head bitterly.
"Though I want to help, the current Madara isn't someone I can handle alone.
Without you, with my strength alone, I'm afraid..."
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Since I suggested this, I obviously won't send you out there to get kicked to death by that old bastard."
Facing Hashirama's curious gaze, Kou paused before saying in a low voice:
"It was only a temporary idea, but it should let you hold on for a while."
"I'll lend you my power—the power of the Uchiha!"
At the same time, Madara stood atop the pitted ground with his eyes closed, as if recalling everything that had just happened.
"That brat's dojutsu can not only absorb ocular power, but also seize