The light of the teleportation array gradually faded inside a hidden cave in the mountains behind the Senju Clan Compound.
Ryuto emerged first, stepping onto the familiar soil of the Shinobi World and drawing a deep breath. The air smelled of vegetation and earth, far more pleasant than the cold smell of stone on the moon.
Hashirama, Madara, Izuna, and Tobirama followed close behind.
"Finally back." Hashirama rolled his shoulders. "That Jing set up a pretty stable array."
Tobirama immediately began checking their surroundings. "Secure. No abnormal chakra fluctuations."
Madara said nothing. He merely looked up at the clear blue sky of the Shinobi World, recalling the enormous fissure cleaved into the moon and Kaguya's pure white eyes. He clenched his fists, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan flashing briefly in his eyes.
"Don't just stand there," Ryuto said. "Hurry up and tell the people who need to know. Black Zetsu and Kaguya won't wait for us."
Hashirama nodded. "Come on. To the Council Chamber."
They quickly left the cave and headed toward the heart of the Senju Clan Compound.
The Council Chamber of the Senju Clan Compound had never been so crowded.
Hashirama had summoned every clan head and elder he could. The Hyuga Clan, the Kaguya Clan, the Hagoromo Clan, and the leaders of the smaller clans who had accompanied them to the moon were all there.
Ryuto leaned against the wall, watching Hashirama stand at the head of the long table and recount everything that had happened on the moon.
He spoke of Black Zetsu possessing Hyūga Tenshu.
He spoke of the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion splitting the moon.
He spoke of Kaguya's resurrection and how she was absorbing tailed beast chakra.
He spoke of the thousand-year conspiracy Black Zetsu had admitted to himself-inciting the reincarnations of Indra and