Madara felt the tension across his shoulders like steel as he turned. "You can't stop me; whatever they may call me now, it is not I who has. . ."

They watched him warily, they said that he had lost his mind, that he was a threat, undermining their peace - well, Madara had watched the dream he had helped to build develop a rot and shadows beneath, and he refused to remain and watch it spread.

". . .did you think I would allow you to go alone?" Tobirama said, voice low and steady, crossing the distance between them as Madara's eyes widened; he brushed a hand over Madara's forearm, and Madara realised that . . . his happuri bore neither the Konoha leaf nor the Senju kongou.