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When Akio saw Madara, he was already prepared for a thunderous attack. But to his surprise, after the lone remaining Sharingan in Madara's eye socket slowly rotated, the old Uchiha simply sat back down.
"It really has been a long ti, old man."
Akio was montarily taken aback. With a burst of gravitational force, a smooth rock jutted up beneath his feet, allowing him to sit as well, now facing Madara at eye level.
"What's this? Realized you're no match for , so you don't even bother to attack anymore? Madara, you've fallen. The old you would never have feared the strength of an opponent." Akio wore a look of exaggerated disappointnt.
Madara's face was deeply wrinkled, and his hair had turned nearly white. But the throbbing veins on his forehead proved he still had vigor... or so it seed.
After a long silence, Madara let out a slow breath. "You're still just as punchable, old man."
Akio chuckled. "Stop calling that. At this point, it's hard to say which of us is the real old man."
A long silence followed. Madara closed his eyes, deep in thought, while Akio sat there, smiling cheerfully at him.
"Old man," Madara finally spoke again, "I have so questions I need you to answer."
Akio paused, then slowly nodded, not refusing.
"Does the Infinite Tsukuyomi really exist?"
The question startled Akio, though it also made perfect sense. Because of his interference, Black Zetsu had exposed several flaws. He never believed Madara wouldn't have noticed sothing. What surprised him was that Madara would co to him for answers—as if Akio truly understood what the Infinite Tsukuyomi was.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi? What's that?" Akio replied with feigned confusion, his performance flawless.
"Don't play dumb with …"
"You knew I would die. You knew I'd leave Konoha. You even knew I'd attack the village…" Madara spoke slowly. "With your personality, you can't keep anything hidden. Only that idiot Hashirama would miss all the signs!"
Akio: "…"
He had always thought he hadn't given much away over the years. But apparently, his composed reaction to the unfolding events had been enough to raise Madara's suspicions.
"Is it true, then?" Seeing Akio fall silent, Madara continued. "So this ti too… you already knew I'd send Zetsu to find Nagato?"
Akio paused, then sighed.
"So that's where I slipped up."
He composed himself, then smiled. "Just a coincidence. Guess your luck ran out."
"My luck ran out, huh?" Madara stood slowly, enunciating each word. "So that ans you understand the Rinnegan's abilities too? You even know my true goal?"
Akio's expression shifted several tis. He covered his mouth with his hand and only after a mont did he remove it, revealing a bitter smile.
"Madara, when did you beco this clever? If you'd always been like this, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way. You and Hashirama might've truly built a peaceful world."
"A true peaceful world…" Madara murmured. "So you're saying the Infinite Tsukuyomi… is real?"
Akio hesitated, then shook his head. "It's real—but that's not peace."
That was all he said before quickly changing the subject.
"It's been twenty-four years since we last t. Don't you want to know more about the Uchiha? Or have you already learned everything through Black Zetsu?"
"What does it matter to ?"
Madara sat back down again.
Akio gave a helpless smile. It seed Madara had learned about the Uchiha's fate through Zetsu but just didn't know how to express his emotions.
Even if Madara never cared much for his clan, Akio's dying wish—that he protect their people—must have left a deep impression on him.
Since Madara showed no intention of fighting—he'd rely exchanged a few words like a weary old man and then closed his eyes to rest—Akio finally turned his attention elsewhere. Over half an hour had passed since they t, and until now, his focus had remained entirely on Madara.
The underground space was vast. Akio had entered from the base of the Valley of the End, traveling southwest for over ten kiloters before finding Madara. If his sense of direction was correct, the ground above them should be the old Wind Valley from the Warring States Period—renad "Wind Plains" by Akio himself.
Not far from Madara stood a bizarre-looking statue, dozens of ters tall, with several round stone pillars protruding from its shoulders. It was the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path—the husk of the Ten-Tails.
After carefully surveying his surroundings, Akio looked at Madara with a smile. "Spacious enough for a residence, I'll give you that. But living down here all these years without sunlight? That's rough. Still, your skin hasn't gotten any paler…"
Madara gave no response. Akio paused, then continued, "Your hope for resurrection is gone. Do you really want to die quietly here, without making a ripple?"
Madara opened his lone Sharingan and gave Akio a deep look, expressionless as he spoke again.
"One more question. That black creature—what is it, really?"
Akio smiled. "Why, that's your will. Hashirama represents the Will of Fire. You're the Will of Darkness. Red and black—such a fitting pair…"
Madara frowned but didn't respond. At his age, talking too long with Akio might just trigger a stroke or so other problem.
"Here—this belongs to you." Akio hesitated, then pulled out a box containing the Rinnegan and tossed it over.
Madara caught it. This ti, a rare expression flickered across his face.
"You've still got guts, old man."
Akio shook his head. "Just don't want to miss my final chance to beat you. Without the Rinnegan, you're no match for . Even if I won, it wouldn't be a fair fight."
Madara clenched his right fist, then slowly released it. He began the process of re-implanting the eye.
"You really are still as punchable as ever," he repeated his earlier line.
Akio's face softened with nostalgia. "As I recall, we've fought three tis. I lost all three. The first ti, I was 49—you were 17. Second ti, I was 62—you were 30. Third ti, I was 67—you were 35."
"But now…" Akio sighed deeply. "I'm 100. You're 68. Do you still have the strength to face ?"
Madara didn't respond. But as the Rinnegan's power returned, his chakra stirred. Slowly, his white hair turned black again, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed away. Two minutes later, the familiar Uchiha Madara stood before Akio once more.
Akio blinked, then laughed. "Back during our second fight, when you saw my youthful appearance, you thought I'd shortened my lifespan just to face you. Who would've thought you'd end up doing the sa?"
"Old man, don't bla if you die this ti!" Madara didn't respond directly. He had no intention of dying quietly in obscurity.
"Die?" Akio scoffed. "Let this be our final battle. I'll see you off with honor."
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