Lifting the summoning doesn't mean Kazuyama Gekkō will flee. Rather, the battle about to erupt will far surpass anything before. If the Four Serpents remain here, they might get caught in the crossfire.
"I've been waiting impatiently!"
"Kazuyama Gekkō, I'll strike first!"
Tagitsuhime took the initiative, her chakra surging violently. A vast pool of crimson chakra surged around the Titan Python, coalescing before the onlookers into a scarlet serpent whose bulk rivaled the colossal serpent itself.
"What is that? Another snake?"
"Don't underestimate this one. It's the Snake Princess of Ryūchi Cave, wielding Senjutsu."
Before Kabuto could voice his confusion, someone explained the situation unfolding before them. Nagato had fought Tagitsuhime before; he knew full well how formidable this Snake Princess from the Ryūchi Cave was. The damage inflicted by that Senjutsu defied conventional understanding. Even he had no effective counter against her, forced to endure her power head-on.
"Senjutsu, huh…"
"A remarkable power. If only such power could be channeled into puppets…"
A sharp gleam flashed in Kabuto's eyes. Clearly, this entirely new power piqued his curiosity. With Tagitsuhime now revealing her true form, the battle was set to resume.
"Let's move."
The moment Nagato spoke, he sprang into action. Besides him, Kakuzu and Kabuto also began their advances. Only Muren Uchiha remained still. Sensing something amiss, his eyes darted about as the nearby Three-Tails charged in his stead.
"Kazuyama Gekkō! I'm going in!"
"Oh? I'm not done yet!!"
Before Tagitsuhime could finish speaking, Tsunade had already lunged forward. Bathed in crimson light, Tsunade unleashed a mouthful of poisonous flames.
"Sage Art: Poison Flame!"
The flames, flickering with an eerie crimson glow, surged toward the Akatsuki members.
"Don't clash head-on!"
"That's no ordinary flame—it's fire poison!"
Nagato, who had fought Tagitsuhime before, raised his hand without hesitation. A single Shinra Tensei countered the attack.
"Hmph, Rinnegan? I'm not afraid of you!"
"Snake Senjutsu: Serpent Dance!"
Facing Nagato's Shinra Tensei, Tagitsuhime didn't brace for impact like before. Instead, she abruptly surged her chakra and twisted her body. Using a rhythmic motion, she deflected the incoming shockwave. It was as if she'd executed a Tai Chi form. Her serpentine nature allowed her to leverage her body's advantages to mitigate external forces, and with Senjutsu support, Tagitsuhime could push this trait to its absolute limit.
"Can you dispel shockwaves?"
"Hmph, how about physical attacks then!"
Unmoved by this display, Nagato remained unfazed. Beside him, the Asura Path unleashed another barrage of missiles, seeking to strike with the destructive force of thermal weapons.
"Help him! Puppet Boy! Earth Grudge Fear!"
"Got it, got it! Iron Sand Realm!"
Kakuzu understood perfectly what "help" meant. Since Nagato had already taken the lead, he had no reason not to seize the opportunity. He immediately used his Earth Grudge Fear for an auxiliary attack, striking back with his pitch-black thread tentacles. He also reminded Kabuto, who had been happily watching the show. Hearing Kakuzu's voice, Kabuto reluctantly intervened with a displeased expression.
As for the Three-Tails, it had now transformed into a high-speed spinning tire hurtling toward Tagitsuhime. All four targets were singularly focused: Tagitsuhime. This made Kazuyama Gekkō chuckle.
"How big do you want it?"
"Chōmei! We're going in!"
The Titan Python let out a thunderous roar. The name "Chōmei" startled everyone in Akatsuki. Chōmei? What the hell is Chōmei? But the next second, they seemed to understand what Chōmei was. It wasn't a thing, but a glowing... energy... Tailed Beast?????
"Ahahaha! Here I come!"
"Kazuyama, leave that stinking bastard and Uchiha to me!!!"
"Little ones! Prepare to witness the might of the great Seven-Tails, Chōmei!"
The immense energy mass rapidly coalesced into the form of Seven-Tails Chōmei. The next instant, its wings flapped as it charged straight at the Three-Tails. High-speed tires? Who cares! Anyway, Shōmei had no physical body now. As an energy form condensed from chakra, it was completely immune to physical damage!
"What?"
"A tailed beast?"
"A jinchūriki? Impossible!"
The sudden appearance of the Seven-Tails shattered the minds of Nagato, Muren Uchiha, and the lurking Black Zetsu. Kazuyama Gekkō is a Jinchūriki??? But a Tailed Beast? Why is it manifesting as chakra?
"BOOM!"
Amid their bewilderment, Chōmei and the Three-Tails collided.
"Ha ha ha! Think I can't touch you just 'cause I'm an energy form?"
"Take this—One Thousand Years of Death!"
Chōmei drove his horn straight into the Three-Tails' body, teaching it a lesson. High-speed tires? No problem. He drove his horn into the ground, then executed a powerful upward thrust. The sheer force sent the Three-Tails flying into the air. Seizing the moment, Chōmei thrust his horn again, striking the Three-Tails squarely in the abdomen.
"ROAR!"
The sudden pain enraged the Three-Tails beyond measure. Landing, it immediately opened its mouth and began spewing water.
"Hey, you stinking turtle!"
"You actually spit at me!"
"Come! Insect Blade!"
As the Seven-Tails Chōmei, he possessed six-foot wings, a single tail, and a horn. The horn could be used for thrusting, while the wings naturally served for slashing. Infused with chakra, each swing of his wings unleashed a razor-sharp blade.
"And you! Damned Uchiha!"
"Come here and let Lord Shōmei teach you a lesson!"
"Phosphorus Powder Festival!"
While fending off the Three-Tails' water cannon, Shōmei didn't forget the promise he'd made. He'd vowed to stop the Uchiha, and stop him he would. A massive cloud of highly concentrated phosphorous powder erupted from his mouth, engulfing Muren Uchiha, who was in Susanoo mode.
"What is this...."
"No! Poison?!"
Sensing danger, Muren Uchiha activated his Dōjutsu without hesitation, using Mugen to block the phosphorous powder. He knew inhaling this powder would have catastrophic consequences.
"Don't space out!"
"We continue!"
"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!"
Chōmei had already moved, and Kazuyama Gekkō certainly wouldn't stand idle. While the enemy was stunned, a mouthful of fire erupted. Both the tentacles of the Earth Grudge Fear and the spikes formed from Iron Sand were engulfed in flames.
"Damn it! Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
"Mechanical Light Shield Block!"
"Shinra Tensei!"
Suddenly under attack, and with the fire continuing to spread, Kakuzu, Kabuto, and Nagato snapped back to their senses. Each of the three summoned their defenses, preventing them from being instantly incinerated by that torrent of flames.