Out on the ocean, the fight had become completely one-sided.
The frenzied Eight-Tails Gyūki was being pummeled mercilessly by the Seven-Tails duo.
Even as the eighth of the nine Tailed Beasts, there was nothing he could do against the equally massive Seven-Tails, a legion of water giants, and a swarm of summoned sea serpents.
Kazuyama Gekkō's battle style was simple—fight however he pleased, torment the enemy. With chakra to spare, he unleashed ninjutsu without restraint. Ten Water Release: Wave Giants loomed over the sea, while his summoning jutsu continuously called forth more sea serpents.
It was a full-blown monster parade against the Eight-Tails.
"ROAR!"
Gyūki's enraged bellow shook the sky—but what good was a roar? The next moment, several watery fists slammed into his head, each weighing tons. Even a Tailed Beast would be left dazed.
"Hehehe. Even the Eight-Tails can't withstand me and Kazuyama together."
"Bring the Nine-Tails instead!"
"Here—have a Tailed Beast Ball!"
Chōmei couldn't outmatch the Eight-Tails head-on, but long-range bombardment was another matter. Chakra gathered instantly, the Tailed Beast Ball forming in moments.
"BOOM!"
Blocked by giants and serpents, Gyūki couldn't even form a Tailed Beast Ball in return—he was forced to take the hit head-on. The explosion blasted him backward across the sea.
"Tch. As expected, a regular Tailed Beast Ball just can't compare to the Beam."
"If Kazuyama wasn't sparing you, I'd love to test if your Five-Tails could take as much punishment."
Chōmei still savored the memory of the Beam that had annihilated the Five-Tails in one shot. The satisfaction lingered even now.
"Enough, Chōmei."
"Hit him with another big one. Just knock him out."
"This is dull. An Eight-Tails like this doesn't even make it interesting."
Kazuyama Gekkō was already bored. After so long, his chakra reserves were still abundant—he hadn't even needed Chōmei's support. That was the benefit of maxed-out chakra attributes combined with passive regeneration.
The chakra within him wasn't much less than a Tailed Beast's—at least compared to the One-Tails or Two-Tails. Add in passive recovery, and he was practically a perpetual motion machine.
Gyūki was the perfect example. Even with all eight limbs flailing and his fists pounding furiously, the Water Giants wouldn't stay down. Blasted into droplets one second, they reformed the next—larger and stronger.
"Alright!"
"Let me charge one up!"
"One good shot should put him under."
Kazuyama Gekkō nodded and began forming hand seals. This was the Eight-Tails—they needed to coordinate and end it cleanly.
"Crystal Release…"
"Compression!"
Kazuyama Gekkō never stopped refining his techniques. Now, he was focusing on destructive power.
Crystal Release: Shinra Tensei only increased attack frequency—it didn't boost raw strength. So he worked on compression. Compress the refracted light of Crystal Release. The method was simple: use crystals, layer by layer, pressing the light inward until it condensed within.
When the crystal shattered, that light would burst forth, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, cutting down all in its path.
So far, it was only theory. The test would come now.
The crystal before him shrank, glowing brighter and brighter.
"Chōmei, ready yet?!"
"Coming! A massive Tailed Beast Ball!"
Synchronization drastically reduced chakra drain. Even Chōmei's chakra-formed body could fire an enormous Tailed Beast Ball without strain.
Half his size, the massive sphere burst to life and hurtled toward Gyūki.
At the same time, Kazuyama Gekkō's crystal reached its limit.
"Crystal Release: Compressed Quantum Bomb!"
He truly earned the title of "naming maniac." This was a mash-up of two skills from a game in his past life, stitched into one. A true Frankenstein technique.
The crystal shattered, releasing a blinding beam of light that shot straight at Gyūki.
"ROAR!"
"BOOM!"
In an instant, the beam pierced Gyūki's right chest and blasted into the sea.
Pain tore through him, driving his frenzy higher. The wound wasn't wide—just a half-meter hole, edges smoking—but it was unmistakable. Around him, the seawater evaporated, cloaking him in steam.
"Tch. Not bad."
"Wonder if this could pierce the Nine-Tails… Susanoo surely wouldn't withstand it."
Kazuyama Gekkō was pleased. If it couldn't pierce even the Eight-Tails, how would he stand against Madara Uchiha?
But Gyūki's suffering didn't end there. Chōmei's Tailed Beast Ball followed.
The colossal sphere dropped from above like a heavenly hammer, smashing directly onto his massive head.
"BOOM!"
"Heh-heh-heh!"
The explosion and Chōmei's cackle erupted together.
The blast hurled Gyūki from the surface into the depths below.
Chōmei beamed at his handiwork, his grin both gleeful and indecent. He had deliberately positioned himself overhead, ensuring the strike landed on Gyūki's head.
He knew Kazuyama Gekkō's intention—knock him out cold. And the head was the quickest way to do it.
"Chōmei, let's go."
"After those two hits, I doubt he stays conscious."
"Leave the Cloud and Mist to fight over the mess."
Kazuyama Gekkō's goal was accomplished. Now it was up to the four youngsters. Give it a few more days, and Kumogakure would be in shambles. And this was only the first step—the real show had yet to start.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Hehehe, Gyūki—this round's mine!"
Overjoyed, Chōmei dispersed back into chakra and returned to Kazuyama Gekkō's body.
Kazuyama didn't even glance at the Eight-Tails below. A true man never looks back at an explosion.
With a flash of the Flying Thunder God, he vanished from the sea.