Currently, on the moon.
Next to the massive crater blasted into the chasm by the Super Bijudama, the emaciated Kyuubi lay paralyzed on the ground.
Hashirama and Madara were also resting on Kyuubi's head.
With the slug's treatment and the extraordinary self-healing abilities of the Sage Body, the bloody hole in Hashirama's chest healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. It wasn't long before it was almost completely healed, even beginning to scab over.
The slug was also assigned to treat Madara. Earlier, he had been kicked by Isshiki, and although the kick wasn't fatal, his internal organs were somewhat injured and needed proper care.
The two chatted while resting.
The crushing defeat against Isshiki had indeed brought a huge shock to both of them.
It made them acutely aware of the power and threat of the Otsutsuki, and also made them realize the gap in their own strength.
"Madara, are you okay?"
"What are you thinking, Hashirama? I won't die before you."
"HAHAHA! That's right, you're the candidate for the Second Hokage!"
The two looked at each other and smiled, with an unspoken understanding and indescribable joy.
Although the battle was dangerous, it had been years since the two of them fought side by side like this.
The previous battles against Kyuubi and Urashiki were just for fun and not taken seriously at all.
Only this time were Hashirama and Madara able to fully exert their abilities and fight in close cooperation.
Unfortunately, both of them were defeated by Isshiki's power.
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"I didn't expect this Otsutsuki named Isshiki to be so strong."
"I wonder, what level is this person in the Otsutsuki clan? Will there be even stronger enemies?"
Hashirama clicked his tongue and sighed.
"Hmph! Even if there are stronger ones, so what? We'll just kill as many as come." Madara snorted.
He had quietly formulated a series of improvement plans in his mind, determined to give these Otsutsuki a big surprise next time!
"Yeah! I need to train harder to protect the village and the entire ninja world. I can't fail again next time!"
Hashirama clenched his fist and joined in cursing.
Isshiki's power also made him feel a strong sense of crisis, and he was also eager to improve his strength.
"Oh right! Sir, I think he said that person was from Minato's future world, right? That means, could there be an Isshiki hiding here too?"
"Hisss…"
Madara looked at Hashirama with slight surprise. How did this idiot suddenly become so perceptive?
Could it be that the seven holes in his body were opened by Isshiki's fists?
"I think Isshiki is indeed hiding here. Just like that bastard Tobirama we met more than ten years later. This proves that unless they die, there should be the same people in every time and place, but their ages and experiences might differ."
Madara clearly thought more about it than Hashirama. After several time travels, he had largely figured out some characteristics of the various parallel worlds.
"Ah? What should I do?"
"Right now, none of us can defeat the hidden Isshiki. If he suddenly appears and attacks the village. It will be the end for us..."
Hashirama grew increasingly anxious, feeling that his village was under a strong threat.
To protect the village, Hashirama would not allow an uncontrolled threat to emerge. Even the Bijuu that could spit out Bijudama had to be captured and sealed.
Moreover, there was a powerful Isshiki hiding in the shadows, difficult to defeat.
"Why worry about that? That bastard Tobirama from the future, and Minato; neither of them knew anything about Isshiki."
"This proves that person should be hiding somewhere all the time and doesn't appear often, so it's very unlikely he'll randomly attack the village."
Madara was very rational and easily analyzed Isshiki's condition and risks.
"But we've changed the future, right? After all, we've made such a big commotion, so there's no guarantee that Isshiki here won't notice. What if he really tries to attack Konoha?"
Hashirama continued to chatter worriedly.
Madara frowned and sighed.
It couldn't be said that Hashirama's worries were unfounded. After all, although the probability of exposure was very small, it was indeed possible.
The battle they fought on the moon was so intense that most of the Earth could vaguely sense the abnormality.
Moreover, the Konoha Village truly couldn't afford to lose.
"I can't predict something like this. If you're really worried, you can ask Immortal Blessing later. Ask him if he can use that strange golden pot to capture Isshiki here."
Madara offered his own suggestion, which should be the most effective method in the short term.
Hashirama suddenly realized, slapping his head and replying:
"That makes sense! But won't this be too troublesome for Sir?"
"After all, the Otsutsuki are our enemies..."
Madara looked at Hashirama and said unhappily:
"Then you can defeat that person yourself! If you can win, you won't need to ask anyone for help."
"This... this is impossible..."
Hashirama smiled innocently, helpless because he didn't have enough strength.
But he quickly found a solution:
"Madara, do you think it's possible to temporarily make peace and call a truce with that person named Isshiki?"
Madara looked at Hashirama in astonishment, with deep surprise and contempt in his eyes, as if he were looking at a fool.
He had thought Hashirama had come to his senses, but he didn't expect him to still be so naive.
"Hashirama, what are you talking about? Are you crazy? Do you really think you can understand and tolerate an enemy like that?"
"You can't even convince those stupid Daimyo nobles, let alone these Ōtsutsuki?"
"Have you forgotten the ultimate goal of these Otsutsuki? They are here to destroy the entire ninja world!"
Madara roared, silencing Hashirama:
"..."
The two sides are different species, how can we understand each other?
Not to mention, the main goal of the Otsutsuki is to come to Earth to plant the Divine Tree. To drain all the energy of the ninja world, they will kill all humans and creatures in the ninja world.
This is essentially an irreconcilable contradiction!
It can't be resolved with any kind of talk!
"Get rid of your foolish and naive thoughts! There's no room for negotiation with enemies from outside the ninja world! Either you die or I die. That's the only possibility for us!"
Madara saw things very clearly and was acutely aware of the threat posed by the Otsutsuki clan.
Just as sheep and wolves cannot possibly coexist peacefully; wolves have the nature and instinct to prey on sheep, and they have enough strength and motivation, which cannot be rewritten by any words.
"I understand, I was wrong!"
Hashirama honestly admitted his mistake and let go of that little unrealistic fantasy.
Madara was indeed right, even the ninjas and the powerful people of the Land of Fire couldn't understand each other.
Not to mention all of humanity and the Otsutsuki clan.
"So what should we do?"
"Hm! What else can we do? The most important thing is to improve your strength! After all, I think that bastard Tobirama's suggestion isn't bad."
"Those useless countries and high-ranking officials should have been removed long ago. The most efficient way is to unite all ninjas and humans in the ninja world."
"This will also help improve the strength of all ninjas, and we can also find a way to build an early warning system that covers the entire ninja world."
"As long as it's built well, it can reduce the likelihood of being caught off guard in the future, right?"
Madara stated his rough plan in one breath.
Originally, he hadn't thought about these things, but after listening to the story of Parallel World 3's future and being beaten by Isshiki, he had also changed his views a lot.
If that idiot Madara, deceived by Black Zetsu, could unite the ninja world, why couldn't he and Hashirama do the same?
He would lose to the Otsutsuki, but he would never lose!
"This…"
"I know, what you and Tobirama said makes sense."
"I can't fully accept it for the time being. The Warring States Period has finally ended, and I really don't want to start a war again!"
Hashirama sighed softly. Actually, humans do know what's right and wrong, but the firmer one's beliefs, the harder it is to change them.
"You don't want to start a war, but those Otsutsuki don't care about your opinion. Once they come, you won't have a choice!"
Hashirama was slightly startled. What Madara said did make sense. The Otsutsuki wouldn't be willing to negotiate with the entire ninja world.
"Then wait for Tobirama. If he and the entire Konoha can truly take control of the Land of Fire, then just destroy all the countries and unite the ninja world!"
"I will personally take action when the time comes and try to minimize casualties."
Hashirama gritted his teeth, making a real decision in his heart, and completely changing his initial beliefs and plans.
Seeing this, Madara smiled faintly.
Compared to the 'cowardly Hashirama' bound by the village and morality, he still preferred this diligent and energetic Hashirama; this was his best friend!
It wasn't wrong to have a heart-to-heart talk with him all this time, after all, it had an effect.
And if Lux were here, he would definitely give Madara a thumbs up for the best assist. It turns out that 'pillow talk' is still effective!
Just like the whispering technique Kushina used on Minato, for Hashirama, Madara's whispering technique was indeed the most powerful.