Hashirama Senju still found it hard to believe. Back then, he had resolved to protect the village, even if it meant killing Madara.
Before that final showdown, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had fought another decisive battle.
The Senju Clan, led by Hashirama Senju, had won. Yet even after defeating Madara, he had been willing to kill himself to dispel the hatred in Madara's heart.
That alone proved that in their showdown at the Valley of the End, Big Pillar had held nothing back. He had truly intended to kill.
Tobirama Senju, meanwhile, fell into thought.
He had personally handled Madara's body and brought it back to Konoha.
But when he prepared to study it, Madara Uchiha's corpse had vanished.
From that moment on, Tobirama Senju had suspected that Madara Uchiha might not truly be dead.
He had not even told his older brother, Hashirama Senju. He had intended to investigate in secret later, but never got the chance.
The First passed away, and the First Shinobi World War broke out soon afterward. Tobirama Senju himself later died in that war, taking the secret to his grave.
Tobirama Senju asked, "Is he still alive?"
"He should be truly dead by now, but he found himself a human proxy to await the day of his resurrection."
"What is he trying to do?"
"The Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan."
Kazan told them about Madara's plan to cast a genjutsu on an unprecedented scale.
When he mentioned the Uchiha's Ancestral Stone Tablet, Hashirama Senju suddenly remembered something.
Before Madara defected from Konoha, he had taken Hashirama to Naka Shrine.
Back then, Madara had told him, "One god sought peace and divided into yin and yang. When these two opposing forces unite, all creation is born."
At that thought, Hashirama Senju believed Kazan completely.