Chōmei was shocked into silence.
In his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, Kazuyama grabbed the Tailed Beast Ball directly, squeezing it into an irregular oval shape. It trembled violently, shifting unpredictably as if it could explode at any moment.
"Hey! Who said you can't grab a Tailed Beast Ball?"
"Look at mine! Close Combat Mode!"
The next second, Kazuyama Gekkō moved. The four tails behind him swayed as he charged straight into the thunder. The Tailed Beast Ball in his hand swung around before smashing directly into Raiga Kurosuki's face.
Boom!
Lightning, the Tailed Beast Ball, and Kazuyama—together, they triggered a massive explosion.
As for Raiga Kurosuki? His eyes had widened the moment Lightning Burial struck. The sensation of being engulfed in lightning was anything but pleasant, and before he could react, the still-trembling Tailed Beast Ball landed squarely on his head.
The terrifying blast sent Kazuyama flying, but he didn't care. Forcing his way through the crackling lightning, he lashed out, crushing Raiga's hands in a clawed grip and sending the dual Lightning Blades, Kiba, soaring through the air. Immediately after, his four crimson tails wrapped around him, dampening the explosion's impact.
Three tails quickly burrowed underground, avoiding the blast entirely.
For a moment, even the lightning was swallowed up by the sheer destructive force of the Tailed Beast Ball, utterly shattered. The aftermath alone was enough to make Obito and Rin—who had already fled—turn back.
"My god, what a massive lightning bolt. Will Kazuyama-sensei be okay?"
"And what's with this chakra...?"
Obito stared at the distant thunder and the chaotic airflow left in the explosion's wake, utterly shaken. The sheer scale of the battle was beyond anything he could comprehend.
Rin, just as speechless, could only silently pray for Kazuyama.
After a long time, the lightning and thunder finally faded, the explosion dissipated, and darkness reclaimed the battlefield.
The once-intact ground had become a massive crater, with even the surrounding puddles erased from existence.
From beneath the earth, three large snakes slithered back into the open, their reptilian eyes filled with shock. The power of the explosion had far exceeded their expectations.
And the revelation that Kazuyama was actually a Jinchūriki left Kinrin, Seirin, and Korin stunned.
Meanwhile, Kazuyama, now back in human form, was already searching the edge of the blast zone for the twin blades he had knocked away. Even his exhaustion couldn't stop him.
Finally, a cheer went up.
"Hey, I found them!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"Lightning Blades, Kiba!"
Kazuyama gripped both swords tightly, laughing with excitement.
"The Five Elements were missing Lightning! Missing Lightning!"
"But this time, I lack nothing!"
The three snakes slowly surrounded him, curiously eyeing the blades in his hands.
"Ninja blades? Attribute-bearing ninja blades are quite rare."
"Is this even an enemy? Feels more like they just handed us a gift."
Kinrin flicked out her tongue, her expression filled with curiosity.
Kazuyama nodded. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist rely on their seven swords. Lightning Blades Kiba is definitely in the top three."
"No, it should be ranked second. Apart from Samehada, no other sword compares."
Samehada was a perverse thing—better described as a fish with a soul rather than a sword.
"Thanks, you three. I'll bring you some snakeberries later."
With the battle over, Kazuyama smiled at Kinrin and the other snakes. He was satisfied—taking down one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist meant he was one step closer to Jūzō Biwa.
He wanted the Kubikiribōchō too.
"Alright, let's go. Korin, I'll leave the rest to you."
Kinrin and Seirin vanished in a puff of white smoke, leaving Korin behind.
"I didn't realize you were actually a Jinchūriki."
"Tsk, tsk, rare indeed."
Korin's teasing earned only a shrug from Kazuyama.
"Let's go, Korin. We'll pick up my disciples, then track down the other group of Kirigakure ninja and finish the job."
Korin nodded and carried Kazuyama as they chased in the direction Obito and Rin had fled.
When they reunited, Obito and Rin ran straight to Kazuyama, carefully inspecting him.
"Hey, what are you two doing?"
Kazuyama looked at them, confused.
"Inspection? Those were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
"I have to make sure you're really my sensei. What if you're an enemy in disguise?"
Obito pinched and poked him in different places, making Kazuyama's face turn red.
"Asshole!"
"If I could be replaced that easily, what about it? Can't you see that giant snake?"
"Are your Sharingan just for show?"
"Get out of my way!"
With a single kick, he sent Obito flying before turning to Rin with an approving nod.
"Rin, I've seen what you've been up to, and I think it's been very good."
"Learning from Pakura seems to have paid off."
Rin beamed at the praise, and even Obito felt happy for her.
"As long as I'm not a burden, I'm satisfied. After all, I'm mainly a Medical-nin, even if my Medical Ninjutsu still needs work."
Medical Ninjutsu?
Kazuyama suddenly thought of Tsunade. Damn, it's been a while since I performed dream therapy on her.
"Alright, let's go. There's still another group of Kirigakure ninja waiting to be dealt with."
"Korin, send a signal to Kakashi, tell him to move in our direction."
Korin nodded and used her ability to send the message.
"Kazuyama-sensei, what's that?"
Perched on Korin's head, Obito noticed the two swords at Kazuyama's waist glinting in the light.
If he wasn't mistaken, wasn't that the weapon of the Kiri leader at the time?
The weapon of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?
"Raiga Kurosuki's ninja blade. I killed him, so this is my trophy."
A surge of satisfaction filled Kazuyama. After all, this was the weapon of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and he had taken it with his own hands.
Obito's eyes immediately lit up, and he instinctively reached out to touch it.
"Hey, hey, hey! Obito, what are you doing?"
"I'm telling you, your sensei—me—lacks lightning in the Five Elements, and I rely on this sword to balance that out. Don't even think about taking it."
"If you want a weapon, get your own. Don't even dream of touching mine."
The Shameless Emperor was online—Kazuyama was the only one who went around robbing people. No way was he letting someone else rob him.
Obito pouted, muttering, "Stingy..."
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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