"You don't know all of it!" Madara shouted.

"The Juubi, in its original form, would be capable of preserving the lives of people caught in the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Its roots would wrap around them and supply them with Chakra while keeping them in stasis suspending normal bodily processes. A population, therefore, could be kept alive almost indefinitely. These roots could protect against nearly any form of outside harm."

Madara smirked.

"Okay, but what about blind people?" Sakura asked.

"They would also be vulnerable."

Madara smirk widened. "You see-"

"However, certain kinds of Chakra system defects would leave one invulnerable." The Shinigami interrupted. "The Infinite Tsukuyomi would ensnare those who could not directly see the light of the Moon, even if they were underground and far away, but ultimately, it still requires a relatively normal Chakra system. Those brought back through the Edo Tensei would be immune, as well as those who have developed Chakra Immunative Defects. This is a very, very small population, however. Based on Madara's knowledge, the plan itself was perfectly serviceable. Even if it would, ultimately, wipe out your species."

Madara stopped smirking. "But-"

"Not that it matters." I interrupted. "Infinite Tsukuyomi is exactly what happened in the past, isn't it?"

Madara looked confused. "What-"

"Yes." The Shinigami confirmed. "And this is where the plan falls apart. Over a long period of time, the Infinite Tsukuyomi drains its victims of their emotions, personalities, and memories. The ultimate result is a blank person, ready to be imprinted with an artificial persona. You call them Zetsu."

Silence hung in the air.

"What." Madara said, flatly.

"That is why Drich refers to you as a puppet." The Shinigami stated. "Precisely because you are not actually aware of that. You, Madara Uchiha, have been manipulated into performing the goals of the creature known as Black Zetsu."

"Black Zetsu was formed of my will!" Madara denied.

"No." The Shinigami denied in turn. "Black Zetsu was formed from the will of the Juubi. To materialize one's will as a sapient entity requires dedicated effort, active intent, and a certain minimum of skills in the matter of Soul and mental manipulation, none of which you possessed at the time, considering you were dead. Of course, your Izanagi activated just as he appeared at your corpse to try and extract your useful features, and he was able to play upon your arrogance to make you assume that he was sourced from you. It worked perhaps a little too easily."

"But, that's-"

"Though, you should not feel too bad about it." The Shinigami continued, heedless of Madara's words. "Black Zetsu has been manipulating the people of this planet for a very, very long time. He is very accomplished in the art, better even than you. It started with Indra Ōtsutsuki, when Black Zetsu encouraged him to corrupt his father's philosophy of Ninshū into Ninjutsu, and didn't end until less than a week ago, when Black Zetsu made the mistake of wandering too close to a Darkling."

Darkling?

That-

That could easily refer to the fact that I'm of the Darkness, but...

For some reason, I get the feeling he's using the more specific meaning.

But this is neither the time nor the place for that.

"Poor decision, that."

"Indeed." The Shinigami agreed. "But that brings us back to you, Madara Uchiha. Your life, and your goals, are built upon a foundation of lies, not unlike what you yourself have constructed. The goal you seek is impossible, not just because the Juubi is dead and therefore cannot be used to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but also because the technique itself does not do what you think it does, and will not create the 'peace' you intended to bring about."

"Then I can change the technique!" Madara shouted, an ugly expression on his face. He didn't want to accept this. "I have an endless supply of Chakra, as well as the Rinnegan! I can-"

"Where, exactly, do you think your 'endless supply of Chakra' is coming from?" The Shinigami asked.

Madara went quiet. "Tobirama was... not able to locate the source." He says, delicately.

"That power comes from the Soul." The Shinigami stated. "In return for a Body that regenerates endlessly and a Chakra supply that refills continuously, the Soul is used as fuel. Unending activity will eventually reduce the Soul to nothing, your very existence forfeited to Nothing. Understand this: To stay in that form is to meet the fate of Cessation. To return to life is to die within a few short days as your stamina depletes and you tire until you cannot defend yourself. Your time has passed, Madara Uchiha. Your plans lie broken, and will achieve nothing. Either return to Death, to the Pure World, and regain peace, or continue fighting, and simply Cease. The choice is yours, Madara Uchiha."

Madara released a choked growl, stewing in rage.

Oh, but I was enjoying this. Kurama, too, feeling right down to the soul just how deep that anger went, knowing that everything Madara had done was all for nothing...

And feeling that despair that was growing within.

"You do not have the Rinnegan." My head turned, looking to Nagato.

Nagato's head was raised, Rinnegan eyes meeting Madara's own. "You have a pale copy, not the real eyes."

"Nagato?" Konan asked.

"That will not stop me." Madara spat.

"Won't it?" Nagato asked, leaning back on his knees. "Listening to all of this has lead me to a conclusion. These eyes are not mine, they're yours, and you, in a somewhat indirect way, are responsible for death of our dearest companion... And our righteousness was always a lie."

Madara's eyes widen, realizing what Nagato was about to do. "No, don't you dare-"

"So now I am making a decision!" Nagato declared. "A decision for myself! These eyes have led to nothing but pain! I reject that!"

He pulled out a Kunai, and Madara rushed forwards, again.

And was promptly kicked in the chest, again, by Naruto.

"Nagato, no!" Konan reached for his arm, but too late.

Nagato slashed, and blood splattered across the ground. The sound he made was a cross between a shout of pain and a roar of satisfaction.

I wish I could laugh. Seeing that look on Madara's face, as he beheld the result, chest regenerating too slowly to stop it... Kurama laughed enough for both of us.

A pair of Rinnegan eyes, ruined in their sockets. Madara's legacy, what little remained of his plan... destroyed just like that.