"Does that really bother you so much, Madara?"
Meeting Madara's gaze, Hashirama let out a sigh of feigned disappointment.
"I used to be the opponent you cared about most. This really hurts..."
As he spoke, he clasped his hands behind his back and tilted his head slightly, like an old friend who had been neglected for so long that he finally had to complain.
"Hmph, cut the act!"
Madara snapped back. His gaze lingered on Hashirama's poorly acted expression for a moment, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
Without that brat Kou, this rabble before him stood absolutely no chance against him.
Hashirama could not possibly be unaware of that.
What exactly is that brat plotting...?
After considering it for a moment, Madara slowly shook his head.
No matter. Having lost the Six Paths' yin and yang powers, Kou would never be a match for him anyway.
Besides, there was a very efficient way to confirm whether he was here...
With that thought, Madara shifted his gaze from Hashirama's face to the Jinchuriki among the army, a cold smile curling his lips.
He tugged the reins, and the black horse beneath him, formed from the power of Yin–Yang Release, gave a long neigh and reared up!
Madara vanished from where he stood in an instant.
Riding his black horse, he galloped toward the Jinchuriki in the army!
A hurricane swept through his path. The ninja in his line of charge had no time even to react before the gale hurled them high into the air!
In a single instant, Madara reached the Jinchuriki, his Long Halberd pointed straight at Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki.
Gaara had yet to react at all. He merely stared blankly at the flames on the halberd's tip, his pupils involuntarily contracting.
As Madara watched his prey within