But this news hit Yahiko and Konan like a bolt from the blue.
Based on their understanding, years ago—back when Kazuyama didn't even have his current level of strength—he had snuck into Takigakure, taken the Seven-Tails right under the noses of two villages, and actually pulled it off? And no one had discovered it all these years?
Good grief. Was he even human?
That was a tailed beast, not some ordinary object. A creature capable of destroying an entire village had been casually whisked away by Kazuyama?
Seeing Yahiko and Konan staring wide-eyed, Kazuyama waved calmly.
"Relax, my friends."
"It's just a tailed beast. We've gotten along fine all these years."
"Hmph. Everyone in the ninja world praises Killer Bee as the perfect Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails. Not to look down on him, but compared to me, he's way behind."
"Come on. I'll show you the truth."
There was no better explanation than seeing it firsthand. He would let them witness the so-called Seven-Tails seal with their own eyes.
Yahiko and Konan followed Kazuyama toward the cave where the Seven-Tails was sealed.
After dismissing the guards, they walked inside.
"This is…"
"The shell Chōmei shed when it stepped down. Oh—Chōmei is the Seven-Tails' name."
Kazuyama looked at the husk bound by chains and couldn't hold back a laugh.
His laughter was free and unrestrained.
"Hahahaha!"
"In this world, who else but me?"
While Kazuyama laughed, Yahiko and Konan stared at the husk in shock.
So it was true. Everything Kazuyama said was real.
The Seven-Tails had disappeared long ago. But it didn't really matter—they had only joined Takigakure later in its history.
If the previous village head ever learned of this, he'd probably die from anger.
A tailed beast he'd dedicated his life to suppressing had actually been swapped out years ago?
"Kazuyama, I don't understand. With your strength, why…"
"Why would I accept Chōmei and become the Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki?"
Seeing Konan's puzzled expression, Kazuyama answered with a smile.
"I don't always act for the sake of power."
"I have Transparent Escape to vanish, I have Flying Thunder God to move instantly."
"But the old me wasn't satisfied. As a man—one with ambitious goals—I needed Chōmei. Each tailed beast has its own abilities, but Chōmei was the one I needed most."
As he spoke, he recalled the moment he first met Chōmei.
And that line he'd used to convince her—no, that heartfelt line:
"Who says tailed beasts and humans can't get along? You can fly, and I long for the sky."
"To me, you're my most important friend."
At the same time, Chōmei drifted into her own memories and let out a sigh.
"Kazuyama, you little rascal. Back then, I really was fooled by you."
"But after all these years together, I've been pretty happy! Hahaha!"
Chōmei's laughter echoed in his mind, bringing a smile to Kazuyama's face.
He walked toward the husk and placed his palm against it.
In the next moment, Chōmei's chakra burst outward. The once-huge, energy-filled husk shattered instantly.
Crash!
In the blink of an eye, the shell Chōmei had shed vanished completely.
"I asked Chōmei to leave this behind back then, and I've been coming here regularly to infuse chakra into it. That's the only way to maintain the Seven-Tails' presence."
"And with this trick, we fooled the world."
After finishing, Kazuyama looked back at Yahiko and Konan, who were still frozen in shock.
They still hadn't recovered.
"Kazuyama, you…"
"I'm just a Jinchūriki. At this stage, Jinchūriki aren't exactly desirable assets. Nagato may be gone, but Uchiha Madara has already begun acting against every Jinchūriki."
"What should we do?"
The name Uchiha Madara immediately overshadowed Yahiko's shock about Kazuyama being a Jinchūriki.
A quiet battle intent rose in his eyes.
This bastard had deceived Nagato, torn apart their brotherhood, and caused Nagato's death.
Yahiko had sworn he would avenge him.
"Fight. There's no other path left."
"The Five Kage Summit is about to begin. Once the five great villages unite, the final battle begins."
"To be honest, I've been preparing for this for a long time. As a Jinchūriki, I've known their purpose from the start, so I've spent years getting ready for this war."
Kazuyama's eyes snapped open, a surge of chakra erupting from him.
Even Yahiko and Konan—powerful shinobi themselves—were stunned.
This was pure pressure created by chakra alone. Unless someone had chakra on the same level, they would inevitably be overwhelmed.
"Alright! I'll put Takigakure and Amegakure on full alert immediately."
"But Kazuyama, since you've hidden your status so well… the enemy doesn't know, right? Would they strike at Takigakure?"
Yahiko no longer cared about Kazuyama being a Jinchūriki, nor about whether he had stolen the Seven-Tails.
They were friends—comrades. Had Kazuyama not saved him back then, Yahiko would have died long ago.
For a friend and a lifesaver, Yahiko chose unconditional trust. Konan was no different.
"They won't. I've fought Uchiha Madara more than once. He already knows who I am."
"He suffered plenty dealing with my multiple identities back then."
"So he won't target Takigakure. You can assign your forces freely."
"Have Samui and Mabui handle it. I'll also call Yugito back. Oh—Yugito is also a Jinchūriki. The Two-Tails' Jinchūriki."
Shock after shock.
Yahiko and Konan had just accepted that Kazuyama was a Jinchūriki—
And now?
He was telling them that Yugito Nii, the girl they'd watched grow up, was also a Jinchūriki???
What kind of madness was this?!
"Oh come on, what's with those faces? It's just the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"Relax. Kumo forgot about it ages ago. When I snatched Yugito, she was just a little brat."
"Hahahaha!"
Kazuyama burst into laughter again.
He couldn't help it—thinking back on his past deeds filled him with pride.
Kidnapping a Jinchūriki from Kumo, snatching a genius from Kirigakure…
Ah, he truly was a capable man.
Just like the saying goes—In this life, who else but me?