The appearance of the Seven-Tails truly caught everyone in Akatsuki off guard. They had assumed that with their numerical advantage and the Three-Tails' assistance, suppressing Kazuyama Gekkō wouldn't be too difficult.
But from the very start of the battle, Kazuyama unleashed full force—first with the chaotic dance of four snakes, now with a frenzy of Senjutsu and Tailed Beast power.
For a moment, the Akatsuki members were all stunned. Even Kakuzu and Kabuto fell silent. After all, a Jinchūriki wielding Sage Arts—how could this possibly be an ordinary human?
"What the hell is going on?"
"Why can the Jinchūriki and the Tailed Beast act separately?"
"Forming a body with chakra? How is that even possible?"
It wasn't just those in the thick of battle who were stunned; even Black Zetsu, lurking in the shadows, was deeply unsettled. He knew Tailed Beasts intimately, and he knew Jinchūriki intimately. He'd never heard of, nor witnessed, a Jinchūriki allowing their Tailed Beast to act independently. Tailed Beasts were sealed within their hosts—how could one possibly leave its vessel?
Another Jinchūriki present, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, host of the Three-Tails, was currently in his Tailed Beast form. Yet only the Three-Tails manifested. Now look at Kazuyama—he was still there, and so was the Tailed Beast. What the hell was going on?!
The Akatsuki members were utterly stunned, but Kazuyama pressed his advantage. The Titan Python charged forward with unstoppable momentum, following the flames as it lunged toward Nagato and his two companions.
"Damn robot! You're next!"
His target was clear: eliminate the Asura Path first, wielding its thermal weaponry. After all, that bastard's long-range missiles were a pain—not only packing a massive punch, but also relentless.
As for why he didn't prioritize the Avici Path first, it was because the Avici Path stood firmly behind Nagato, making an immediate attack impossible. Thus, he settled for the next best option.
"Hmph!"
"Banshō Ten'in!"
During the charge, Nagato's Shinra Tensei hadn't recovered yet, forcing him to temporarily rely on Banshō Ten'in to meet the attack. Meanwhile, Kakuzu and Kabuto launched supporting assaults from both sides. Ninjutsu and Iron Sand completely enveloped the Titan Python on both flanks. The combined assault momentum was seamlessly executed.
"Tsk tsk. Truly a group of individuals standing at the pinnacle of their respective fields."
"Too bad. I'm not afraid of these attacks!"
"Fly!"
Just as all the attacks were about to land, Kazuyama vanished, disappearing along with the Titan Python. All three were startled, but quickly realized what Kazuyama had done.
"Flying Thunder God Technique?"
"When did he drop the coordinates?"
Nagato's Rinnegan was pushed to its absolute limit, aided by the search efforts of his other clones, yet he still failed to detect the Flying Thunder God Technique coordinates. The next second, they knew exactly where Kazuyama had flown.
"Crystal Release! Torrential Pear Blossom Needle!"
"Fire Release! Great Fire Destruction!"
The voices came from above. Kazuyama and the Titan Python had actually flown straight into the sky. Their vast, indigo forms blocked out the sunlight. Simultaneously, a torrent of crystal needles and searing flames rained down from above.
"Damn it! When did he set the coordinates for the sky?"
"Preta Path!"
"Animal Realm!"
Nagato spat venomously, but he wasn't helpless against techniques of this caliber. The Preta Path's power was to absorb ninjutsu—he could absorb the flames. As for the crystal needles formed by Crystal Release, he entrusted them to the Animal Realm's summoning technique.
"Summoning!"
The previously useless giant panda finally stepped in to help. With its hard skin, the giant panda blocked the needles falling from the sky. As for Kakuzu and Kabuto, they relied on their own abilities to defend.
"Sage Art! Paralysis Gaze!"
Kazuyama's attack wasn't over yet. In Sage Mode, his eyes had long since transformed into serpentine pupils. Seizing the moment while his opponents were busy blocking, his gaze pierced through the crowd, locking onto the Hell Path in the rear. Chakra imbued with serpentine pressure and venom struck the Hell Path at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
"What?"
Jigoku had been safely concealed in the rear, but the sequence unfolded too swiftly to react. First, Kazuyama had ascended via Flying Thunder God Technique, seizing the high ground. Then, he swiftly pinpointed Jigoku's location. A single Paralysis Eye rendered Jigoku completely immobilized.
"Is Jigokudō the target?"
"This guy... knows my abilities that well?"
Nagato's brow furrowed. He felt that Kazuyama's knowledge of him was far too thorough. Yet he'd never publicly displayed his abilities. Even if he had, who gathered this intelligence?
While Nagato pondered the source of the intel, Kazuyama showed no intention of giving them a moment's respite. Amidst his mounting confusion, the Titan Python's colossal form plunged downward. Its massive tail lashed out casually, sending the Preta Path flying. While the Preta Path could absorb chakra—even Senjutsu—the Titan Python's body was immense. Even if it could absorb it, it would take considerable time. Not to mention the Titan Python's immense strength—that single sweeping tail strike sent Preta Path flying off the battlefield. He likely wouldn't be returning anytime soon. Even if he could return, whether he'd be able to continue fighting was uncertain.
"Bad news! Kakuzu, Kabuto! Support me!"
"Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato fully understood the Titan Python's terror—this was a giant snake capable of directly blocking his Shinra Tensei. Kabuto and Kakuzu immediately sought to provide backup, but the situation was utterly beyond their control.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Serpent Sage Art, Mad Serpent Hell!"
Tagitsuhime's voice echoed with a hellish, ominous tone. Her attack unleashed in tandem. The ground was bathed in crimson light as countless red serpents materialized across the land. Kakuzu and Kabuto were instantly ensnared by the swarm of red snakes before they could react.
"Heh!"
"Nice work, Tagitsuhime!"
"Hell Path, huh? Eat this!"
With no one else to hinder him, Nagato's Shinra Tensei alone was no threat to Kazuyama. The Titan Python braced against the Shinra Tensei, swallowing the Hell Path whole. What lay within the Titan Python? Senjutsu chakra and Kazuyama. Swallowed into its belly meant certain doom.
"Hey! Even if you're just a clone, I'll still annihilate you—leaving not a single scrap behind!"
"Crystal Release: Finale!"
Kazuyama pressed one hand onto its head. Seeing the Hell Path's concentric Rinnegan and the black rods piercing his body, a smirk spread across his lips. He channeled his chakra, unleashing his Crystal Release finishing technique. The paralyzed Hell Path's eyes widened. The next instant, his body began to gradually crystallize. Ultimately, he transformed into a crystal statue.