Victory and defeat were decided in an instant!
The decisive battle at the Valley of the End-Hashirama Senju won!
Hashirama Senju stood silently behind Madara, his body covered in wounds, his breathing weary. Yet his eyes were utterly cold, without a trace of their former gentleness or hesitation.
Gone were his old inner struggles, the bonds of friendship, and the tenderness of his youthful dreams.
He looked down at Madara Uchiha, who lay helpless on the ground, utterly defeated. His voice was low, cold, and resolute, devoid of emotion.
"For the village."
"For Konoha's peace."
"Even if they are my family or my friends, I can kill them with my own hands."
Those words severed the last thread of tenderness between them.
The softhearted, gentle Hashirama Senju, who had clung to peace and fought desperately to protect his dearest friend, changed completely in that moment.
Lying on the ground, Madara Uchiha struggled to lift his head and stared in disbelief at the unfamiliar Hashirama before him.
His eyes filled with shock, bewilderment, and disbelief, before finally sinking into endless disappointment and desolation.
He stared fixedly at Hashirama, each word ringing with bone-deep coldness and conviction.
"Hashirama, the one who has truly lost his way and taken the wrong path is you!"
Faced with Madara's accusations, Hashirama offered no rebuttal, no explanation, not a single word.
He merely stood there in silence, his gaze cold and indifferent as he watched his lifelong friend and rival.
Seeing his cold, heartless expression, seeing their friendship and dreams crushed utterly by reality, Madara suddenly threw back his head and burst into laughter!
His laughter was desolate, tragic, and defiant, carrying the bitter clarity of someone who had seen through everything.
"Hahaha! Wonderful! So much for Konoha's peace! So much for the God of Shinobi!"