"It's definitely Edo Tensei!"
Seeing Kakuzu and Hidan at the scene, Kazama's heart skipped a beat.
"Only Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi can perform Edo Tensei. Since Orochimaru's already submitted to me, the one who revived Kakuzu and Hidan has to be Kabuto!"
"Kazama, what are you doing here?"
As Kazama was piecing things together, Asuma, Shikamaru, and the others rushed over with questions.
"Kazama, why'd you stop my Katon? Are you helping the enemy or what?" Asuma demanded.
"Because the enemy has a damage-reflection ability. If your Katon had hit him, you'd be the one dead!" Kazama explained.
"What?!"
Asuma and the others were stunned by Kazama's words.
"That guy's called Hidan. See the ritual circle under his feet? As long as he's in that circle, any attack you land on him will bounce back and hit you instead."
"No wonder this Hidan guy didn't even bother dodging my attacks!" Asuma said, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"You little punk! We were planning to come find you, but here you are, delivering yourself to us!" Hidan cackled upon spotting Kazama.
"Punk, you killed me back in Kumogakure. Today, I'm gonna make you pay for it—old grudges and new ones settled together!"
Brandishing his Death Scythe, Hidan charged at Kazama. But before he could get close, a golden hand from Susanoo snatched him up into the air.
"Damn it! Put me down!" Hidan yelled.
"As long as you're out of that ritual circle, you're no threat. So just hang out up there for now!" Kazama said coolly.
"Jerk! If you've got the guts, let me down, and we'll fight three thousand rounds!"
Kazama ignored Hidan's ranting and turned his attention to the other Edo Tensei ninja, Kakuzu.
"You got the kill order right, but I'm not the same as I was before!" Kakuzu said, summoning the five hearts in his body—Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth.
"With Edo Tensei, I have infinite chakra, endless stamina, and a body that can't be destroyed. You're doomed to lose!"
"What?! Is that for real?"
Asuma, Shikamaru, and the others, sheltered by Susanoo, were shocked by Kakuzu's words. They'd heard of Edo Tensei before but had never fought an Edo Tensei ninja. They had no idea how overpowered their abilities were.
"He doesn't sound like he's bluffing. If this is true, Kazama's in serious trouble!"
"Yeah! Infinite chakra and an indestructible body? Those alone make him unbeatable. How do you even fight that?"
"Die, kid! Haha!"
With a roar, Kakuzu's five heart-beasts—formed from his Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth hearts—launched their attack on Kazama.
"Betsutenjin!"
Kazama cast his strongest genjutsu, Betsutenjin, hoping to control Kakuzu again. But to his shock, Betsutenjin had no effect.
"Could it be…?"
Kazama quickly activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to peer into Kakuzu's body.
"Just as I thought—cells infused with Black Zetsu! Looks like Kabuto's teamed up with Black Zetsu. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to counter my Betsutenjin!"
As Kazama cursed himself for not taking out Kabuto sooner, Kakuzu's attacks came roaring in.
"Enfu Ranpa!"
"Kimen Bakuen!"
"Jiongu Saishu Shageki!"
"Punk, let's see how I crush you this time!"
Though Kazama wasn't afraid of Kakuzu's onslaught, he couldn't keep dodging forever.
"What if I absorb an Edo Tensei attack? Could I gain a skill to counter Edo Tensei?"
With that thought, Kazama charged straight into Kakuzu's attacks.
Ding! Successfully absorbed Edo Tensei attack. Congratulations, host, you've gained the Power of Edo Tensei! This technique allows you to directly seize control of Edo Tensei ninja!
"Perfect! This is exactly what I was waiting for!"
Overjoyed at gaining the ability to take control of Edo Tensei, Kazama's confidence surged.