A sharp gleam flashed in Madara Uchiha's eyes when he heard Qingyun's words.
Hashirama Senju was both his friend and his rival. They had known each other since childhood, having met by chance when they were young. Back then, neither knew who the other really was.
Later, their fathers discovered their friendship and ordered each of them to use it to kill the other, luring out the other boy's father in the process so they could kill the opposing clan leader in one stroke.
But the two had spent years discussing ninjutsu and playing together. Both were outstanding members of their respective clans, lacking neither talent nor determination, and they had come to respect and cherish each other.
In the end, they did arrange to meet, but the instant they saw each other, they tacitly warned one another of the danger.
From that encounter onward, they were forced to turn their blades against each other.
Yet their strength was evenly matched. Years later, both became the leaders of their respective clans. Eventually, moved by Hashirama Senju, Madara decided to set aside his feud with the Senju Clan and join forces with him to establish Konoha.
Ultimately, however, their differing ideals drove them apart.
There was no denying that Black Zetsu had helped steer things that way.
But even without Black Zetsu, Madara's own temperament would have made it impossible for him to coexist peacefully with Hashirama Senju forever. Besides, Hashirama Senju's younger brother, Tobirama Senju, had always disliked him.
Now, after everything he had endured—especially being controlled by Black Zetsu without any power to resist—much of Madara Uchiha's arrogance had faded. Having experienced death twice, the malice in his heart had long since dissipated.
Yet although that malice had faded, the warrior's blood running through Madara Uchiha's veins had not