If there's a most terrifying way to die, it might just be this.
Surrounded by a horde of snakes—bitten, strangled—feeling their cold, slick bodies slithering all over you... what could be more horrifying?
That's exactly what the Root members were enduring now, dying in despair after a snake-filled execution.
"Tsk tsk, Kazuyama, your sense of humor is really twisted. You could've just taken him out with one strike."
"Instead, you gave him the full snake baptism. If it were me... tsk, I'd be fine with it too, haha."
Chōmei looked on at the poor soul buried under writhing serpents, letting out a series of exaggerated comments.
Even though he was a Tailed Beast and didn't fear snakes, the thought of being buried in a wriggling pile still gave him the shivers.
Kazuyama did have quite the collection of snakes—some were truly massive.
Suddenly, Chōmei had a new idea.
"Kazuyama, next time we fight another Tailed Beast, what do you think about giving them the same snake bath?"
"Sounds solid to me—especially that stinky fox, the Nine-Tails. Tsk tsk, just imagine him swarmed by snakes... now that would be a scene!"
Kazuyama shook his head. Chōmei was really starting to get carried away. Use snakes to beat the Nine-Tails? Would he even get the chance?
Wait—maybe he actually would.
If Madara Uchiha's successor had already emerged, then there was a real chance Kushina could be attacked.
If that happened... should he step in? If he didn't, that might be the perfect chance to see the Nine-Tails go berserk.
Tsk tsk. Just imagining himself in Sage Mode, summoning four golden-scaled snakes, transforming into a snake himself, then all-out brawling with the Nine-Tails—it gave him a rush.
Lost in thought, Kazuyama vanished from where he stood.
When he reappeared, he was at another edge of the village. To quickly eliminate all four sensor units, he had sent snakes carrying his technique-marked kunai to each location, setting his coordinates.
With Flying Thunder God, he zipped through each zone—one strike, snakes swarming.
Kazuyama took out all four Root members and their accompanying Amegakure squads without a sound.
Against Konoha's Phantom, none of them had a chance to react.
Even in death, they couldn't understand how they had been ambushed inside the village while actively casting sensory jutsu.
"Phew. Wiping them all at once was kinda exhausting."
"Chōmei, start guiding some bugs toward the castle."
"That old bastard Hanzō thinks he can trap me? Keep dreaming."
Kazuyama had no intention of facing Hanzō head-on. His goal was a quiet, lethal strike.
Finding a hidden spot, he clasped his hands as Chōmei's chakra surged.
The three Snake Princesses quickly pulled back their natural energy, making room for the Tailed Beast chakra.
Their coordination inside Kazuyama's body was seamless.
This was what it meant to be a true Jinchūriki—harmoniously merging one's own power with that of a Tailed Beast.
Senjutsu, Tailed Beast power, and his own chakra merged perfectly.
As Chōmei's chakra transformed into Scale Powder, it spread slowly along the ground, seeping deep below the surface.
"Kazuyama, this'll take a bit. We're still inside the village."
"No problem. Just go all out."
Kazuyama waited patiently for the Scale Powder to finish permeating the ground.
...
Meanwhile, inside the castle, Hanzō sat with Aburame Tatsuma and top fighters from both sides.
They were still discussing how to draw Kazuyama out.
"That guy's like a ghost. We're just supposed to sit here and wait?" Hanzō looked annoyed. He wasn't the patient type.
Someone had infiltrated his turf, and he couldn't even find them. The thought alone drove him mad.
But Tatsuma remained calm. He understood just how difficult it was to catch an opponent like Kazuyama.
"Be patient. You know how skilled he is."
"The Root Division's entire sensory system was redesigned just for him. He has a grudge against Lord Danzō—we want him gone as much as you do."
While they talked, they had no idea Kazuyama had already resumed his offensive, quietly spreading underground.
As the Scale Powder expanded across the village, swarms of insects began to gather, drawn toward the castle.
...
"Kazuyama, there are so many bugs. Ew."
"I mean, I get you're the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, and the Seven-Tails is a giant bug, but seriously—how can you control so many bugs? It's gross."
Kazuyama smirked. Just as he was enjoying the sight of his insect army assembling, Tagitsuhime's complaint cut through.
Both he and Chōmei were stunned silent.
A second later, Chōmei's furious roar echoed—transmitted directly to Tagitsuhime through Kazuyama's link.
"You damn snake! Do you even understand the beauty of bugs?!"
"I never said snakes were ugly, and you have the nerve to diss my insects?!"
Tagitsuhime was momentarily stunned—then immediately fired back, launching a shouting match with Chōmei.
Kazuyama rubbed his temples as the two bickered. So this was what it was going to be like as the next generation's host...
Tailed Beasts, Sages—they were all his power, but they sure loved to argue.
"Enough already."
"Let's get this done first."
The insects had already gathered beneath the castle. All they needed was a signal.
"Chōmei, go."
"Time to put on a show."
Kazuyama's cold laugh brought an immediate end to the quarrel.
Both sides gave a snort, then got to work.
The insects, guided by Chōmei's will, surged into motion.
At the same time, with the help of the Snake Princesses, Kazuyama cloaked himself and floated upward into the air.
"The party starts now..."
The bugs moved as one—Chōmei's Scale Powder gave him absolute control.
Under his command, the insect horde rushed toward the castle.
Most were beetles and ants, but scattered among them were all kinds of poisonous pests.
...
"What is that?!"
"What's all that crawling stuff?!"
The castle's perimeter guards quickly spotted the approaching swarm.
At first, they thought their eyes were playing tricks on them. But after a second look, panic set in.
"Bugs! It's a swarm of bugs!"
"Enemy attack! No—bug attack!"
The shout jolted everyone nearby.
But the swarm moved faster than they could respond. By the time weapons were drawn, it was already too late.
Screams erupted instantly.