"I'm pissed!" the Gobi Kokuō roared.
Seeing that even its Bijudama couldn't touch Kazama, the tailed beast howled and thrashed like it had lost its mind.
"Pissed, huh? Let's see how you handle being terrified. Come forth, Rokubi Saiken!" Kazama called out.
"What?!"
In an instant, Kazama transformed into the Rokubi Saiken, the six-tailed slug.
The Gobi Kokuō stumbled back several steps, then collapsed to the ground, trembling. After all, the Rokubi naturally overpowered the Gobi.
"Betsutenjin!"
Seeing Kokuō's fighting spirit crumble, Kazama wasted no time and cast the ultimate genjutsu, Betsutenjin (Otherworldly God).
The technique forced Kokuō back into its human Jinchuriki form and placed it completely under Kazama's control.
"Of all the Jinchuriki I've tamed, you're by far the cockiest," Kazama said, landing in front of the now-subdued Gobi no Jinchuriki.
"From now on, you'll serve as a guardian for my Otogakure."
"Yes, sir!" the Jinchuriki replied obediently.
Under the influence of Betsutenjin, Kazama's commands were absolute. If he told the Jinchuriki to end its own life, it would comply without hesitation.
That was the terrifying power of Betsutenjin, the strongest genjutsu. Once caught, the victim became the caster's puppet for life.
Nearby, Terumi Mei had no idea the Gobi no Jinchuriki was now under Kazama's control. She assumed he'd thrown everything he had at it and still couldn't finish the job.
She prepared to jump in and attack the Jinchuriki herself, but Kazama stopped her.
"Thanks for the backup, but there's no need. The Gobi no Jinchuriki is under my control now. Without my orders, it won't lay a finger on Kirigakure. You're safe."
"What? You… controlled it?" Mei gasped, stunned.
She never could've imagined that the arrogant, unstoppable Gobi no Jinchuriki would be tamed by Kazama.
But then she remembered his Rinnegan. With the eyes of the Rikudo Sennin, nothing seemed impossible.
"I'm sorry for underestimating you earlier. Please forgive me," Mei said, her tone shifting to one of respect now that she understood Kazama's true power.
"No worries. I'm not one to hold grudges," Kazama replied with a wave of his hand. "Besides, the whole point of those arena battles with Kirigakure was to give my subordinates a chance to track down the Gobi no Jinchuriki."
"Oh, I see," Mei said, piecing it together.
Now she understood why Kazama's subordinates had vanished during the tournament, only to show up later, beaten to a pulp by the Jinchuriki.
"I don't know what bad blood you have with the Gobi no Jinchuriki, but you stepped in and helped Kirigakure. How can we repay you?" she asked.
"No need for repayment," Kazama said. "But if you really feel like you owe me, there's one thing I'd like you to do."
Mei nodded eagerly. "Name it. If it's within my power, I'll make it happen."
"Lift the bounty on Zabuza and Haku," Kazama said.
"Zabuza? Haku?" Mei blinked, confused. "We haven't heard anything about those two in years. Why bring them up now?"
Kazama smirked. "Truth is, those two subordinates of mine? They're Zabuza and Haku."
"What?!" Mei's jaw dropped, a mix of shock and amusement crossing her face.
To think that Kirigakure's most wanted renegades had been right under her nose this whole time—it was almost laughable.
---