In the Forest of Death, atop a giant wooden Ferris wheel.
Madara stared speechlessly at Hashirama's smug expression. Sometimes, he really felt helpless.
Wasn't it just a very peculiar-looking moving contraption his student had made?
Did he have to look that pleased with himself?
The sunset shone in from outside the Ferris wheel, lighting up the side of Hashirama's face.
Looking at Hashirama before him, Madara felt that something about the atmosphere was a little strange.
Why had he come to ride something like this with Hashirama?
Rather than this, having his chakra released and fighting another all-out battle would have been more interesting.
But just then, Hashirama began to speak.
"Madara."
"What is it?"
Madara looked at Hashirama, whose expression had changed, and asked in puzzlement.
"What do you think of Konoha now?"
"What do I think?"
Madara glanced sideways out the window.
The Ferris wheel had just reached a high point, rising above the trees of the Forest of Death. In the distance, Konoha was bathed in the sunset, looking rather warm and inviting for a moment.
If Madara's Rinnegan hadn't been sealed-no, even his Mangekyō would have been enough to let him see every detail within Konoha.
"It's so-so."
After a moment of silence, Madara spoke slowly.
The corners of Hashirama's mouth rose into a genuine smile.
After the Battle of the Valley of the End all those years ago, Hashirama's greatest regret had been that Madara had never acknowledged the village, even at the very end.
Although the village had many shortcomings, Hashirama had always believed that through people's efforts, the village, and even the Shinobi World, could become better.
That was why he had asked Tobirama for permission and spent a whole day taking Madara on a proper tour of Konoha.
Looking at the smiling