Hashirama Senju glanced at Tobirama, puzzled. "Tobirama, what's wrong?"
Tobirama Senju's composure cracked. "Back then, for certain reasons, I didn't dispose of Madara Uchiha's body. Instead... I sealed it inside a mountain. There was so much to handle in the village that I couldn't deal with it right away. And later..."
Hashirama Senju caught on. "So?"
"..." Tobirama Senju fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know."
Shinji nodded. "Izanagi. It was Izanagi. Madara Uchiha could surely delay its activation. Even I can do that now. Second, Madara used your greed against you..."
Hashirama Senju sprang to his feet with a clatter.
His armor plates rattled as he asked gravely, "So, young man, you're saying Madara remained active in the Shinobi World for a long time after I died?"
Tobirama Senju drew a sharp breath. "If that's true, there's no way he did nothing... But what has he been doing in secret all these years?!"
"Kid! What do you know?"
Shinji stood and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"I don't know the specifics. But you two can stay in the world of the living for a while. I founded a village in the Land of Grass under the name Dawn, independent of Konoha. I did it to break free of the village's constraints and uncover the darkness hidden deep within the Shinobi World!"
Hashirama Senju froze, then sighed.
"Is that so? Young man, thank you for your efforts. Who would have thought our generation would leave its problems for yours to solve..."
"Hmph!"
Tobirama Senju scoffed.
Only my brother would believe a story like that!
Still...
If it persuades him to remain among the living for a while, I'll have a chance to see this Shinobi World for myself.
*And find out how much of