As dozens of leopard-shaped black lightning bolts surged toward him, Darui had no way to dodge. He quickly unleashed his Ranton (Storm Release) to counter.
"*Ranton: Reizā Saikōsu!*" (Storm Release: Laser Lock)
Hundreds of laser-like lightning beams not only shattered Kazama's black lightning leopards but, under Darui's command, shot straight back toward Kazama.
"Sorry, I told you I can't lose!" Darui shouted.
"Sorry, but you're the one who's done for!" Kazama retorted.
Spreading his arms wide, Kazama let the hundreds of lightning lasers strike him. The crowd below, who had been watching the match, fell silent. No one dared to predict the outcome or underestimate Kazama anymore—especially since the last guy who did was now eating dirt nearby.
Ding! Successfully absorbed Ranton: Reizā Saikōsu. Congratulations, Host, for obtaining Ranton: Raiun Kyōha! (Storm Release: Thundercloud Cavity Wave)
Ding! Absorb four more ninjutsu to unlock the eighth strange flame!
"Alright, mission complete! Now I can move on to absorbing the Nibi's power. Darui, see ya!" Kazama said with a grin. He unleashed his Ranton: Raiun Kyōha, enveloping Darui in a storm of energy.
"So, you gonna surrender now, or take a hit from my Ranton first?" Kazama taunted.
"Damn it! How is this guy so strong?" Darui muttered. Kazama's Ranton was somehow several times more powerful than his own. Though reluctant, Darui had to admit he was outmatched.
"How dare you mess with Darui? You really think there's no one in Kumogakure who can take you down?" a female voice interrupted. A ninja kicked away the Ranton surrounding Darui and stepped in front of Kazama. With straight beige hair and a haughty expression, her queenly aura commanded the entire arena.
"Finally, you're here, Yugito Nii!" Kazama thought, thrilled as he recognized her. She was Kumogakure's village flower and the Jinchuriki of the Nibi (Two-Tails).
"Thanks, Yugito!" Darui said, breathing a sigh of relief. He was sure Yugito would avenge him and take Kazama down.
"Next up, it's you and me, Konoha kid!" Yugito declared.
"Tell the referee Kazama can rest for a day before the duel," the Yondaime Raikage ordered his attendant. Though he wanted his village's ninja to win, he didn't believe in taking advantage of an exhausted opponent. Kazama had just fought two grueling matches back-to-back, which was blatantly unfair. Even if they won, it wouldn't be an honorable victory.
"Lord Raikage, Kazama says he doesn't need a break. He's ready to fight now!" the attendant reported.
"What?! This kid's tougher than I thought!" the Raikage said, his interest in Kazama growing. "But you're up against the Nibi's Jinchuriki now, not just any ninja. Just how strong are you, Kazama?"
The Raikage's eyes returned to the arena below.
"I know you're strong, so I'm not giving you any openings. I'm going all out from the start!" Yugito announced. With that, she began her Bijūka (Tailed Beast Transformation). Two tails sprouted behind her, blue chakra patterns spread across her body, and her hair floated upward as her eyes turned from black to white.
In this Bijūka state, Yugito's abilities were drastically enhanced. The Nibi Matatabi's chakra would also continuously heal her wounds, making her nearly immune to battle damage.
"I've got the Nibi's abilities too, but…" Kazama thought, deciding against revealing his own Matatabi powers in front of Kumogakure's crowd. That was his trump card, and he wasn't about to show it off.
Instead, to counter Yugito's full-force attack, Kazama unleashed his Strange Flame: Fūryū En (Wind Fury Dragon Flame). A massive fire tornado, dozens of meters wide and resembling an ancient beast, roared toward Yugito. Infused with both Katon (Fire Release) and Fūton (Wind Release), the flames fed the wind, and the wind amplified the flames. Even the spectators nearby felt the heat.
"Quick, set up a barrier!" the Raikage commanded. The guards scrambled to erect a protective barrier, barely containing the residual power of Kazama's attack.
At the center of the storm, Yugito, even with the Nibi's power, was scorched and battered by the Fūryū En. The attack's destructive force was so immense that even Matatabi's healing chakra struggled to mend her wounds.
"Just how much power is Kazama hiding? He's got even Yugito on the ropes!" the Raikage muttered. Even he, with all his experience, couldn't gauge Kazama's true strength.
"Yugito, if you don't go full Nibi mode soon, you're gonna lose!" Kazama called out.
"Hmph! You're nowhere near beating me! Come forth, Nibi Matatabi!" Yugito roared.
With a furious cry, the Nibi's true form broke free from Kazama's flames, its massive body looming before the crowd.
"Finally, I can absorb the Nibi's power!" Kazama thought, not intimidated but elated as Yugito unleashed Matatabi's full form.