"Who's the bastard bold enough to attack my sworn brother?!"
Raikage exploded with fury, practically leaping out of his skin.
"The attackers' identities are unknown. All we know is they wore black cloaks embroidered with red blood clouds!"
"Akatsuki!" Kazama muttered to himself.
"It can't be Deidara; he would've warned me beforehand. That leaves Zetsu and Sasuke. If Zetsu dared to take Sasuke to attack the Hachibi Jinchūriki, he must've already helped Sasuke awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!"
With this in mind, Kazama decided to head to the site of Kirabi's attack to subdue Sasuke and seize the chance to absorb the Hachibi's power.
If he delayed, either Zetsu and Sasuke would capture Kirabi, or Kirabi would kill Sasuke.
Neither outcome was what Kazama wanted.
"Activate the Tensō no Jutsu! I need to get to Unraikyō to support Kirabi now!"
"Raikage-sama, please reconsider! The Tensō no Jutsu is for transporting objects. If used on a living person, they'd be torn to pieces!"
"Enough nonsense! With my Raiton Chakra Mode, you think I can't handle a mere Tensō no Jutsu? Get it ready!"
Raikage knew Unraikyō was far from their location, and the news had already taken a day to reach them.
He had to rush to Kirabi's aid without a second's delay.
"If the Tensō no Jutsu is that dangerous, let's use my method instead!" Kazama said, stepping up to Raikage's side.
"Kazama, I know you're strong, but Unraikyō is too far from here. Besides the Tensō no Jutsu, there's no way to get there instantly!"
As Raikage spoke, Kazama placed a hand on his shoulder.
In a flash, the two vanished with a whoosh, their speed so staggering it left everyone dumbfounded.
Tsunade and the others didn't even have time to process what happened.
Unraikyō
Just as Kazama predicted, Sasuke, now fused with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, could unleash a Complete Body Susanoo.
While not as powerful as Kazama's, it was more than enough to take on the Hachibi Jinchūriki, Kirabi.
With Zetsu's assistance, Kirabi was now battered and on the brink of defeat.
Seeing the Hachibi nearly captured, Zetsu cackled wildly.
"Unraikyō is far from the martial arts tournament. It takes days to travel back and forth. By the time Raikage and the others arrive, we'll have long taken the Hachibi!"
"Hmph, once we complete the mission to capture the Hachibi, I'll go after Kazama for revenge. With my Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Complete Body Susanoo, I'll tear him to pieces and grind his bones to dust!" Sasuke snarled, intensifying his assault on the Hachibi Jinchūriki.
"Don't worry, Sasuke. That little pest Kazama will definitely die by your—"
Before Zetsu could finish, a kick sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Seriously, have you two got no shame? Always talking trash about me behind my back!"
"Kazama!" Zetsu and Sasuke gasped, stunned by his sudden appearance.
Zetsu couldn't fathom how Kazama always tracked him down.
But the situation left no time for him to think.
Raikage, brought here by Kazama's Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique), had already unleashed his Rairyū no Hōtō (Lightning Plough Hot Blade), slicing Zetsu in half.
Unfortunately, Raikage underestimated Zetsu's resilience.