The boost from Ninjutsu Amplification had pushed Kazuyama Gekkō's mastery and control of techniques to an entirely new level.
The surging torrents of the Water Colliding Wave swallowed Motoi whole. Under the crushing pressure and suffocating force, Motoi blacked out instantly—no Chūnin could withstand such punishment. With precise control, Kazuyama Gekkō directed the currents, flinging the unconscious Motoi onto the beach.
He was no longer needed.
"ROAR!"
"You bastard from Kirigakure! What did you do to Motoi?!"
"Konoaru, I'll cut you down!"
A furious roar erupted from beneath the waves. In the next moment, the massive body of the Eight-Tails burst up from the ocean depths.
His state was strange—sea snakes clung to his octopus limbs, and even in his hands he gripped two serpents. Clearly, Gyūki had already dealt with the swarm below. Summoned beasts, no matter how large, could not endure long against a Tailed Beast—especially not against Killer Bee, a near-perfect Jinchūriki.
"Heh… the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki of Kumo?"
"A fine opponent. Too bad I don't fear you."
To Killer Bee, this fish-faced ninja was insufferably arrogant. The urge to smash him in the face boiled inside him. Without hesitation, his colossal tentacles lashed out at Kazuyama Gekkō.
But Kazuyama Gekkō didn't flinch. His hands snapped together—he didn't even bother with hand seals.
"Water Release: Fang Cage!"
The ocean, still churning from the earlier Great Waterfall Technique, erupted once more. Dozens of spiraling water streams surged skyward, trapping Killer Bee inside.
"Tch, using the terrain, huh? Konoaru!"
The sea serpents all dispersed into smoke, but the sudden whirlpools surrounding him left Killer Bee momentarily restrained. Irritation surged within him.
He wasn't a perfect Jinchūriki—too much agitation carried the risk of losing control. Rare, but not impossible. Exactly what Kazuyama Gekkō was aiming for.
So he pressed harder. The seawater twisted into dragons and waterspouts, even the ocean beneath Killer Bee's feet turning into a vortex, locking him down completely.
"Tsk tsk… Kazuyama, I've got to admit, your strength now could even hold its own against us Tailed Beasts."
"Even if you're leaning on the terrain, restraining the Eight-Tails… damn, maybe even I'm not your match anymore."
Chōmei's eyes were wide with amazement as he watched Kazuyama Gekkō wrestle with the Eight-Tails.
Had Kazuyama grown this powerful already? Once upon a time, he was just an ordinary Chūnin who, thanks to his Kekkei Genkai Transparent Escape, had stumbled across the Seven-Tails and become its Jinchūriki. Step by step, he had climbed, until even a Tailed Beast could not overwhelm him.
"Not quite. These techniques restrain him, but they don't hurt him."
"Chōmei, prepare your chakra. The Scale Powder needs to be hallucinogenic."
"Mix it heavy into the seawater."
"He must lose control. He must rampage."
Chōmei chuckled darkly. He wasn't good at much else, but dosing enemies? That was his specialty.
"No problem. I'll pour it on thick."
As the powder spread into the waves, Kazuyama Gekkō drove his ninjutsu harder.
"Bee! Something's wrong—there's something in the water!"
But Killer Bee, already agitated, didn't notice. Even with Gyūki's warning, he ignored it, thrashing to break free.
It was Gyūki who sensed something off—familiar, even. A method he'd seen before. But years of sealing had blurred his memory, and he couldn't recall.
"Hehehe… still haven't realized?"
Kazuyama Gekkō's mocking voice carried over the water.
The powder thickened. Killer Bee's mind grew muddled, his thoughts tangled, his body sluggish.
"What… is this? Konoyaroo… Bakayaroo…"
He felt madness creeping in. His mind processed thoughts erratically, and a faint red glow began to creep into his eyes.
"Kazuyama, I'd say he's got a minute left."
"In Tailed Beast form, he resists somewhat. You know how volatile Tailed Beast chakra is—it makes the powder struggle to take hold."
This wasn't Kazuyama Gekkō's first time drugging a Tailed Beast. He knew the rules. In human form, a pinch would suffice. In full transformation, it demanded overwhelming amounts.
Time didn't matter. Only results.
"Bee! Fall back! Retreat!"
"Retreat?! No! I'll rip him apart!"
Inside his head, Killer Bee struggled against Gyūki's warning. His thoughts unraveled, the red haze swallowing his vision.
The Jinchūriki's chaos dragged the Tailed Beast down with him. Gyūki's own mind began to fracture.
He was already prone to rampage—this pushed him over.
"ROAR!"
A thunderous cry ripped across the sea. His eyes gleamed blood-red.
"He's gone berserk."
"Chōmei, let's go. Time to tear him down!"
Kazuyama Gekkō's grin widened, chakra flaring wildly—his own, and Chōmei's.
"I've been waiting for this!"
"Let's go, Kazuyama!"
Tailed Beast Synchronization ignited.
Another massive wave of chakra surged across the sea. Crimson energy gathered, shaping into form.
Six wings, one tail—the Tailed Beast Chōmei rose above the waves.
"Damn you, Gyūki! Taste my Horned Charge!"
Chōmei burst forward, wings beating, horns crashing straight into the Eight-Tails.
"ROAR!"
"Heh!"
Their voices collided as their bodies did—two titans crashing together, one of flesh, one of chakra.
"Water Release: Umbrella Canopy!"
"Water Release: Giant Wave Avatar!"
Kazuyama Gekkō's own power erupted as well. Surging seawater became his weapon—giant umbrella for defense, towering giant for offense—all flowing seamlessly together.