Kazuyama Gekkō had already anticipated something big would happen tonight before anyone even left.
So after Obito won his first match, Kazuyama told him to prepare a sarcastic remark for maximum effect—hence the savage taunting just now. Though everyone was taken aback. After all, which ghost stays on the ground? They all fly.
Everyone looked skyward, but there was still no sign of Kazuyama. Frustrated, Obito's voice rang out again:
"Sensei, stop teasing. At this rate, your opponent's going to tire himself out."
"Tsk, tsk, a technique covering that much ground must use a ton of chakra."
Kazuma's face instantly darkened. He glared at Obito—and Obito just smirked more.
"Oh? Still got time to look at me?"
"You can't even find sensei, bouncing around like a headless fly."
"If he doesn't show himself, you'll just wait here and die—and still won't find him."
That sent Kazuma over the edge:
"You brat—stop hiding behind silence," he yelled. "Your sensei's a coward, playing hide-and-seek on the battlefield!"
The Daimyō covered his face; Yanagimura and Hōgen just shook their heads. They knew Kazuma was socially tone-deaf and harsh in speech—but Kazuyama had vanished, and if insulting him might bring him out…
"Heh, barking mad."
"What else can you do besides shouting?"
"Got such guts? Find my sensei. Or break the barrier to get me—got the guts?"
Obito barely registered Kazuma's insults. He'd seen worse in daily life—it was like neighbor wives bickering.
As Kazuma readied another rant, something new happened.
Crack!
A sharp sound silenced the field. Crystals formed around the arena, gathering toward the center and slowly rising.
"What is that?"
"My god..."
"A giant?"
Sure enough, a crystal giant coalesced before everyone's eyes. Lit by torchlight, it stood regal and imposing.
"Stop shouting—want a fight? Here it is."
Kazuyama's voice rang out, and he appeared atop the giant's shoulder, smirking.
He'd heard Obito's barbs and was amused—especially seeing Kazuma foam at the mouth.
Kazuma snarled, "Kekkei Genkai? Don't think that saves you!"
He formed hand seals fast. "Earth Release—Earth Flow Wave!"
The arena floor cracked. Huge boulders erupted, forming a stone river rushing toward the giant.
"Earth Release: Rock Cannon!"
He followed with dozens of rock missiles erupting toward the giant's shoulder—where Kazuyama stood—growing in size midair.
Kazuyama chuckled, "Wind Release, Earth Release—tsk, if you were anywhere else, you'd be decent. But you're facing me."
"Crystal Release—Shinra Tensei!"
The giant raised its arm defensively while Kazuyama formed seals—rare for him, he went through a dozen.
He extended his right hand. Crystals swirled and a massive Bagua formation rose overhead.
"What's that? Obito, you know?"
"Not asking me—I've never seen it."
Even Shisui was stunned—this was the first time he'd seen Kazuyama use chakra so deliberately. Obito's face matched; none of them recognized the jutsu.
But Kazuma felt it instantly: he'd been locked on.
"Notice that?" Kazuyama taunted. "Everything inside that crystal is within my attack range—this blow, you can't dodge."
"It's brand new—my own invention—but don't worry, we're comrades. I'm not killing you."
"Take this."
"Breaking Army Seal!"
Kazuyama formed the dragon seal. The Bagua glowed and unleashed multiple white crystal beams—Shining Crystal Release Arrows.
They tore through Kazuma's stone attacks with surgical precision—every boulder shattered. In mere heartbeats, the giant rocks were dust.
Despite the scale, not one beam touched Kazuma—his offense was destroyed, his position exposed.
Kazuma's expression twisted in shock. The difference wasn't a gap—it was an insurmountable chasm.
"Well?" Kazuyama teased. "My control's pretty solid, huh?"
"Kazuma—want to go again?"
His playful voice snapped everyone out of shock, refocusing the crowd on his dominance.