This time, the Truth-Seeking Balls revealed themselves as far more than just a staff. Kazuyama swept the staff in his hand, and behind him, eight black Truth-Seeking Balls formed in an instant.
"You really have reached the level of the Sage of the Six Paths."
"Kazuyama Gekkō, my judgment back then was right. You truly are a troublesome opponent."
Madara Uchiha recalled all his Limbo shadows, replenishing their energy while staying alert in case Kazuyama moved in for an attack.
The moment those Truth-Seeking Balls appeared, his sense of danger flared sharply. Even with the Rinnegan and Wood Release at his disposal, he still wasn't at Six Paths level.
Their difference in power was undeniable.
But even so, Madara remained unshaken—his Rinnegan was not to be underestimated.
"Truth-Seeking Balls, huh? Hah, I already told you—they aren't my own power."
"Some old man shoved them onto me."
"My true strength isn't these."
Truth-Seeking Balls belonged to the Sage's domain, but the peak Kazuyama had reached wasn't the Sage's path—it was another entirely.
He could use the Truth-Seeking Balls simply because his power level matched that tier.
"Chōmei, don't come over here! Be careful not to get caught in it!"
"Got it! I'm having the time of my life over here!"
Chōmei laughed as he clashed with the Wooden Man and the Wood Dragon, and he truly meant it.
Covered in crystal armor, he had no fear of their close-range attacks.
Kazuyama stood still, unmoving, as the Truth-Seeking Balls behind him launched one after another straight ahead.
Even in their simple, untransformed state, Madara didn't dare underestimate them—they were, after all, manifestations of Six Paths power.
No matter how arrogant he was, charging headfirst into those would be suicide.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique!"
Madara wouldn't risk his Limbo shadows rushing in recklessly, so he chose another method—clones.
As the Wood Clones formed, one Susanoo after another rose from the ground.
In seconds, dozens of blue Susanoo filled the battlefield.
The sudden development drew attention even from the other side.
Minato had just cracked Muren Uchiha's Susanoo with a Rasengan—
When he spotted the sudden swarm of Susanoo in the distance. Startled, he instantly teleported back with Flying Thunder God.
"Unreal… Things are really heating up on Kazuyama's side…"
"Wait… what's that?"
Among the sea of blue Susanoo, a flash of red-gold power caught his eye.
It wasn't Susanoo at all—and that form… was it a Tailed Beast?
But why did it look like that?
Not just Minato—everyone's attention shifted. And what they saw left them all stunned.
Especially Kushina, her current form resembling that distant Tailed Beast almost exactly.
"Wings… tails… an insect-like body—Seven-Tails?"
"Where did it come from?"
Kushina held her Adamantine Sealing Chains steady, but her eyes never left the distant Tailed Beast. With everyone confused, she spoke bluntly:
"That's Kazuyama. He's also a Jinchūriki."
"The Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"Focus on the enemy in front of us! Don't get distracted! Minato!"
Distracted? How could they not be distracted?
Kushina's words hit the Kage like a hammer—except for Terumi, who already knew.
Yahiko and Konan weren't surprised either; they'd known for a long time.
But the Hokage Minato Namikaze, Kazekage Rasa, Tsuchikage Ōnoki, and Raikage A were left staring, dumbfounded.
"How is this possible!? The Seven-Tails has always been in Takigakure! How could Kazuyama Gekkō become its Jinchūriki!?"
Ōnoki immediately looked toward Yahiko and Konan.
One was Takigakure's leader. One was Amegakure's.
Had they allowed Konoha to take their Tailed Beast?
Had they both gone insane?
But when he looked for answers, the two merely stated:
"Takigakure is aware of this. Kazuyama and the Seven-Tails share a bond. We do not oppose him becoming its Jinchūriki."
Then they simply continued fighting, completely unaffected by their own statement.
They had no idea Ōnoki was moments from coughing up blood.
"Konoha really hid deep, huh? To think they have both the Nine-Tails and the Seven-Tails now! Tch!"
"Hokage, you've surpassed your predecessors. Even if Hashirama Senju came back to life, he'd praise you!"
Hypocrites! Absolute hypocrites!
Say Konoha has no ambition, no desire for war—yet secretly they snatched the Seven-Tails?!
Well done, Minato Namikaze.
Well done, Yellow Flash.
And Kazuyama Gekkō—what a bastard!
Minato flushed red with embarrassment. In his distraction, he nearly got struck by Muren Uchiha and had to teleport away again.
Flustered, he hurried to explain:
"Lord Tsuchikage! I truly knew nothing about this!"
"And Konoha has never attempted to obtain any Tailed Beast!"
"This must be some sort of misunderstanding involving Kazuyama!"
A misunderstanding? A misunderstanding, your ass!
Ōnoki's beard practically lifted off his face in fury. He refused to believe that excuse—this had to be intentional!
"Enough! Stop arguing! We face a powerful enemy! What use is this bickering!?"
"Look—he's laughing at you!"
Kazekage Rasa had doubts too, but he didn't care.
His relationship with Konoha was excellent, and Kazuyama was even his children's teacher.
With that connection, who cared about the Seven-Tails?
And indeed—Muren Uchiha was laughing. Mocking them.
"That's Konoha for you—devious and shameless."
"But Ōnoki, don't act like you're any better."
"Hmph! Just dogs biting dogs!"
"Die!"
The Spear of Longinus descended again. Its crushing force sent Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage scrambling to dodge.
The massive spear struck the Adamantine Sealing Chains barrier, unleashing ripples of chakra.
"Damn it! Is now really the time for you fools to argue!?"
"So what if Kazuyama Gekkō is a Jinchūriki!?"
"He isn't the enemy—the one right in front of us, Muren Uchiha, is!"
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Kushina was about to explode with frustration.
She'd only recently learned Kazuyama was the Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki, and she didn't think it was a big deal.
Who knew these idiots would react like this the moment they found out?