The moon was still trembling faintly.
The enormous fissure carved open by the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion stretched like an ugly scar beneath the purple sky. Now and then, loose stones tumbled from its edges into the bottomless darkness.
Ōtsutsuki Jing led Ryuto and the other four back to the buildings of the clan grounds as fast as he could.
"This way." Jing pushed open a door, revealing a fairly large room with several simple beds.
The moment Ryuto entered, he collapsed onto the nearest bed.
"Got any food?" he asked, panting.
Jing froze for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Yes. I'll have someone bring it."
Hashirama supported Madara and helped him lie down on another bed. The new flesh on Madara's chest had nearly finished growing, but his complexion was still awful, and he kept his eyes closed without speaking.
Hashirama himself was frighteningly pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He pulled over a chair, sat beside Madara's bed, and stayed there watching over him.
Izuna and Tobirama did not enter the room.
Without needing to discuss it, they took positions on either side of the corridor outside the door, their backs to the room as they watched the end of the empty hallway.
"Brother, get some rest," Tobirama said, glancing back.
Hashirama waved a hand. "I'm fine."
Before long, several members of the Ōtsutsuki Main Family came in carrying plates and platters. The food was all unfamiliar, and there was plenty of it.
Ryuto's eyes lit up at the sight.
He scrambled up, grabbed a flatbread made from who knew what, and stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing after just two chews. Then he picked up a bowl of soup and gulped it down.
"Slow down," Hashirama could not help saying.
"Can't." Ryuto's mouth was stuffed full.