At last, no one was disturbing them in the Laboratory.
Tetsuhiro focused all his attention on Madara Uchiha, bending down to whisper encouragement in his ear.
"You can do this. Starting today, the Uchiha name is destined to resound throughout every universe and world."
"All right, that sounded a little fake, but you know I mean it. Come on, you can do this."
"You... you really are... sappy..."
Seeing that Madara was still gritting his teeth and clinging to his sanity, Tetsuhiro hurriedly seized his hand.
Madara tried to pull away in disgust, but he couldn't overpower Tetsuhiro.
Suddenly!
Madara convulsed, his eyes rolling back.
"Tobirama!"
"I'm investigating."
"Hashi... rama... tell me honestly... was the old you really... really you?" Madara struggled to speak through his shaking.
Crack! Tetsuhiro felt as though he had been struck by a bolt from the blue!
His mind buzzed and went completely blank.
"I... I..."
He had no idea what to say. He hadn't been prepared for this at all.
But it seemed Madara hadn't discovered that this "Hashirama" was no longer Hashirama.
From his tone, he seemed to think Hashirama had merely been putting on an act and deceiving him in the past.
"That was me. Everything we experienced together, our dreams, our bond, the battles we fought against each other... all of that was me. I've never changed."
"..."
Madara didn't answer-or rather, he could no longer speak.
His grip tightened as he clutched Tetsuhiro's hand with all his strength...
An alarm sounded.
Everyone in the Research Institute immediately sprang into action. Reports, warnings, frantic footsteps, and a constant clamor filled the air.
Tetsuhiro automatically tuned them out, watching as Madara began to mutate...
His body suddenly swelled, chakra pouring out of him in a frenzy.
It sent all the instruments and