Inside the secret chamber on the top floor of the tower by the Water District shore.
Tetsuhiro controlled his Wood Release, weaving what looked like an enormous net that enveloped all of Ten Thousand Beasts Island.
"The trap is set. If Isshiki dares come in, he won't get out alive!"
Tobirama pushed a rolled-up Rulebook to the center of the table, tapping the newly added rule: "Destroying the core barrier is prohibited."
"This one's meant for whoever's lurking in the shadows, isn't it? It looks a little too much like we're deliberately baiting them into acting."
"That's fine. Sometimes we need to show a few openings. Otherwise, someone as cautious as him would only grow suspicious."
Madara leaned against the windowsill, his Five-Tomoe Rinnegan gleaming dark purple in the moonlight. "The Underground Sensory Barrier covers the entire area too. The moment he uses his Ōtsutsuki power, we can pinpoint his location."
Tetsuhiro suddenly laughed. "He should be thinking about finding a new vessel by now."
Madara raised an eyebrow. "So those so-called contestants are all candidates you're using to lure him in?"
"To be precise, it's just a probe." Tetsuhiro watched the young people on the large screen. "How could I bear to put them in danger? That's why we're putting comprehensive defenses in place."
"You would never have done this before!"
"Ah... sometimes you have to cut the knot. Otherwise, who knows how many people he'll manipulate in the future, or how many will die?"
Shadows shrouded Madara's face, obscuring his expression. After a long while, he sensed a faint fluctuation of spatial energy.
"Kaguya has the passage ready."
Madara scoffed. "The backup plan's ready too. What did you call it again? Inviting someone into something?"
"Inviting the prey into the trap!" Hashirama suddenly lowered his voice, blue-green light