A massive cavern.
At the very front stood Uchiha Madara, with the Gedo Statue looming behind him.
Standing at his side was Otsutsuki Black Zetsu.
At that moment, both of them were stunned.
Or rather, extremely confused.
They had been calculating what Senju Yukika might say after the end of all the meetings.
But they never expected he'd just outright insult them.
"Are you sick or something?"
Staring at Madara's corpse-like body, Black Zetsu fell into deep thought.
Madara did indeed look sick.
But he hadn't thought that Senju Yukika's opening line would be... a form of "concern"?
"Madara... your master... he insulted you..."
After a long pause, Black Zetsu whispered into Madara's ear, trying to jolt him out of his shocked state.
In return, he got a murderous glare from Madara.
What a joke.
Of course he knew he was being insulted.
But Madara was trying to figure out why.
Was it because of the grudge between the Senju and Uchiha clans?
No.
Even if Yukika recognized him, there was no need to provoke him like that.
What was he planning?
Was he trying to deliberately anger him?
Or did he know something?
Madara glanced at the Gedo Statue and grew cautious.
He wouldn't let himself be easily manipulated.
"Hey, this guy's a goner," came a grumbling voice.
Breaking the heavy silence, the Nine-Tails perched on Yukika's shoulder leapt down and sat in front of Madara with a puzzled look.
"My uncle's boss insulted you. React already."
Good fellow.
Even the Nine-Tails was trying to provoke Madara?
Black Zetsu chuckled inwardly.
When had a tailed beast ever dared talk to Madara like that?
Sure enough—
He came here just to piss me off!
Madara sneered.
Now he was sure.
First the insults, then the Nine-Tails' taunting.
What was Yukika planning?
Did he know that using the Gedo Statue's power while angry would drain Madara's life force and shorten his remaining time?
Did he?
Madara scoffed coldly.
In his life, he had never feared threats.
If the game was set, so be it.
Even if it meant one last battle before death, it wouldn't change anything.
He was Uchiha Madara!
He feared nothing!
"For the sake of battle, I don't mind taking another Senju soul. After all, I've killed enough of them already."
"Trying to anger me is meaningless."
Madara regained his composure and gazed at Yukika.
In that moment, Yukika saw a glimpse of the legendary man who would one day challenge tens of thousands of ninja alone.
But...
You could be arrogant, but acting tough toward me was unnecessary.
Yukika shook his head dismissively.
"That's true."
"After all, the Senju have killed plenty of Uchiha too—especially my grandfather, who killed your brother, Uchiha Izuna."
"That must have been a miserable death, huh?"
"Did you manage to avenge him before you died?"
With a sharp jab at Madara's heart, Yukika showed no mercy.
He even saw the veins on Madara's aging face bulge with fury.
Sighing, Yukika decided to stop wasting time.
"But think about it—your Uchiha kin killed my third and fourth great-grandfathers too."
"The grudges of the older generation have nothing to do with me."
"My grandfather already settled all that injustice. I never even met those ancestors."
Yukika slowly walked toward Madara, scooping up the Nine-Tails, and stared directly at him.
Madara looked genuinely puzzled.
Yukika could tell.
Maybe he was confused by these words.
After all, it was strange for a Senju clan leader to speak of old grievances with such detachment.
"In the end, it's the world's fault," Yukika said, delivering another shocking line as he calmly patted Madara on the shoulder.
"But there's a reason why I insulted you."
"Come, let's talk."
Madara frowned deeply.
He felt a strange, irresistible force from Yukika's hand!
Was it some unique Senju ability?
He seemed to have only two options:
First, forcibly absorb the Gedo Statue's power, destroy his own body, and fight Yukika to the death.
Or second, sit down and talk.
While still thinking, Madara found himself sitting down.
Fine, second option it is.
Madara squinted at Yukika.
"Do you know why I insulted you?"
Facing Madara's sharp gaze, Yukika showed no fear.
Illusions? Forget it.
Without the Mangekyo Sharingan, Madara couldn't do anything.
Even if he could, illusions still relied on chakra pathways, and Yukika's body held more than just chakra.
Even Infinite Tsukuyomi would barely affect him.
Madara narrowed his eyes and turned to glance at Yukika's hand still resting on his shoulder.
The meaning was clear.
You are not my equal. Remove your hand.
But Yukika didn't.
Instead, he pressed down even harder.
"You don't know? Then I'll tell you."
With a sudden change in tone, Yukika's gentle demeanor disappeared.
He grabbed the Nine-Tails by the ear and lifted him slightly into the air.
"Why are you touching my pet?"
"Don't you know he carries the Senju name?"
"Fine, I'll spell it out for you again!"
The Nine-Tails cleared his throat angrily and slapped his belly.
"My uncle's name is Senju Kurama!"
"Do you think you can just lay a hand on the Senju Clan Leader's pet?"
Goodness!
Finally, the Nine-Tails could vent all the resentment he'd bottled up since being controlled by Madara!
Senju Yukika was someone his uncle recognized and even knew his little secrets!
A wild beast.
A Senju brat.
And now he had finally overpowered the old man?
How dare you roar at me, Uchiha Madara?!
Madara, seething with rage, trembled violently, the tubes connecting him to the Gedo Statue writhing madly.
He was going mad!
To be bullied by a Senju brat!
But...
Why wasn't the Gedo Statue absorbing his life force?
Yukika smiled and cleanly severed the tube behind Madara with a blade.
Black Zetsu in the distance stiffened in panic!
Madara no longer had the Rinnegan!
The Gedo Statue, currently dormant, would never listen to him.
"Now, can you quietly listen to me?"
Holding the severed tube, Yukika casually toyed with it, making Madara's breathing fluctuate wildly.
Even acting as Madara, he could see through the facade.
Black Zetsu also realized something was wrong and cautiously approached Yukika.
Good sense.
Madara couldn't die yet!
"Sir Zetsu, if you come any closer..."
"I'll wipe out all the Tailed Beasts from the Five Great Nations, except for my family's and my pet."
"Then, once they're revived, I'll kill another dozen or two."
"Let's see... how long does it take for a Tailed Beast to revive?"
"Tsk, by then, Nagato might be dead."
"Who will inherit Madara's eyes then?"
In an instant.
Black Zetsu recoiled like a scared dog.
Madara's sharp eyes locked onto Yukika.
Clearly.
This kid knew too much!
Nagato's eyes.
The Tailed Beasts of the Five Great Nations!
"Now, shall we talk properly?"