Black Zetsu was gone, and with another member lost, Akatsuki was essentially finished.
Only Muren Uchiha remained. As for Madara Uchiha—he was never truly one of Akatsuki in the first place.
"Madara, Black Zetsu is dealt with. That means you're next."
"I imagine Senju Hashirama has long been waiting for you down there. Why keep lingering in this world?"
Kazuyama rolled a magatama between his fingers. The current Madara was no match for him—killing him would be far too easy.
In truth, he had the Sage of Six Paths to thank. Without the old man's gift of Yin–Yang Release, he never would've broken through that final barrier.
"Kazuyama…"
"Ridiculous. All my years of planning, ruined by a brat like you."
"But, brat—are the things you said true?"
"A being above the Sage of Six Paths? Kaguya Ōtsutsuki?"
This was what Madara truly wanted to know. If all of it was real, then he was nothing more than the vessel for reviving Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
So what was that existence's true identity?
Could she really be stronger than the Sage of Six Paths?
Madara voiced his doubts while quietly working to restore his Rinnegan. When Kazuyama killed Black Zetsu, he wiped out all four of Madara's Limbo shadows as well.
Recovering them required time.
"Still curious, huh?"
"Well, I get it. Being treated like a pawn doesn't feel good."
"Fine—I'll explain. But it seems the other battlefield could use some help."
"Chōmei, stop messing around. What's so fun about two chunks of scrap wood?"
Kazuyama didn't answer Madara directly. Instead, he glanced at the distant battlefield and recalled Chōmei.
Hearing his voice, Chōmei immediately reverted his "toys" back to their original form—just a pile of broken wood—and floated back to Kazuyama's side.
"You finished here?"
"Not yet. But I need you to head over there. Shadow Clone Technique."
Right in front of Madara, Kazuyama formed a clone. The clone took Chōmei with him and flew toward the other fight.
Madara? Kazuyama could keep an eye on him himself. There would be no surprises.
"Alright… where should I start?"
"To put it simply, the Ōtsutsuki clan aren't humans from this planet. They're aliens. And Kaguya? She's a rebellious one. Fearing her own clan would come for her, she created Infinite Tsukuyomi to manufacture soldiers—the White Zetsu."
"All of it was so she could rule this world and resist her own people."
"Unfortunately, her two sons—the Sage of Six Paths and his younger brother—opposed her. Together, they sealed Kaguya away."
"And Black Zetsu—he was something she created right before she was sealed. He's spent all these years working to revive her."
"And you… you are the vessel she chose."
Hearing this, Madara fell silent.
So that was the truth?
How cruel. Hmph. That damned Black Zetsu—dying was too good for him.
But even so—Madara Uchiha wasn't ready to exit the stage just yet.
While Kazuyama told his story, explosions thundered from the distant battlefield.
Looked like Muren Uchiha was getting thoroughly overwhelmed.
"What now? Your Rinnegan has recovered?"
"You knew?"
"Of course. I know far more than you think."
Madara hadn't expected Kazuyama to realize he was stalling. But it was true—his Limbo shadow had recovered, and he could use the Rinnegan again.
Unfortunately for him, Kazuyama had no intention of giving him that chance. The moment Madara moved, he found himself completely locked down.
"When…?"
"While I was telling you that story. Did you forget? My tomoe can bypass obstacles."
Nine magatama now surrounded Madara, slowly rotating.
And suddenly, he realized the chakra around him had been severed entirely—an invisible force bound him in place, rendering him immobile.
"Nine magatama, plus nine Truth-Seeking Balls."
"Your defeat was decided long ago."
Not only the tomoe—Kazuyama, feeling dramatic, had thrown out all nine Truth-Seeking Balls as well.
Eighteen Yin–Yang Release constructs, each capable of pure destruction, encircled Madara Uchiha.
"Hahaha… incredible."
"I, Madara Uchiha, proud all my life, believing I could rule this world… and I lose to a brat like you."
"You've won. Your strength truly surpasses mine."
Madara felt the destructive pressure of the tomoe and Truth-Seeking Balls. He knew he had lost.
These constructs represented annihilation—no matter who he was, the power of the Rinnegan alone couldn't resist Yin–Yang Release.
"I'm glad you see it that way."
"You know, ever since the day you controlled the Third Mizukage to assassinate me, I've been waiting for this moment."
"I hold grudges. Big ones."
"From that day on, I targeted Akatsuki's growth at every turn. You didn't lose unfairly."
"After all—I settle scores from morning to night."
"Oh, and don't bother thinking about using Izanagi. I'll leave a clone guarding you. With two eyes, you can revive at most twice."
"Unless you're interested in dying repeatedly."
Kazuyama lifted his right hand and slowly closed it.
The tomoe and Truth-Seeking Balls shrank inward toward Madara.
What could Madara say?
This brat had even accounted for Izanagi? He was even planning to guard the corpse? Could he not just act like a normal person?
The magatama were the first to touch him. Unlike the instantaneous erasure of Truth-Seeking Balls, the magatama caused Madara to crystallize visibly upon contact.
In the blink of an eye, he became a crystal statue.
Crack.
A crisp, brittle sound echoed. Madara Uchiha fell apart into countless shards.
That was the power of Yin–Yang Release—touch meant death.
The man who had dominated the ninja world for so many years died in that instant.
As for Kazuyama, ending Madara stirred surprisingly little within him. In fact, he had felt more when eliminating Black Zetsu earlier.
Though he hated Madara deeply… he couldn't deny it:
Madara Uchiha had been a true tyrant.