There was nothing else he could do.
Ashveil let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
In the next instant, a burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted like a blinding flash, surging straight toward Yamanaka Fu and Torune.
The speed was terrifying.
Boom.
Neither of them had time to react. The impact detonated at the center of their positions, sending shockwaves through the ground.
With a single strike, both Yamanaka Fu and Torune were knocked unconscious, their bodies collapsing without resistance.
As an Uchiha, Sasuke's physical endurance surpassed that of ordinary shinobi.
He had not completely lost consciousness yet.
A yellow streak of light flashed.
Ashveil's figure appeared clearly before everyone.
Danzo's eyes narrowed sharply the moment he saw him.
The last time Ashveil had acted, the Fire Country had suffered considerable losses.
Because of that alone, Ashveil had already been placed on Root's assassination list.
Not only that, his threat level had been classified as SSS rank.
Facing such a former Akatsuki member, Danzo could not afford to lower his guard.
"So it really is Ashveil, the former Akatsuki criminal," Danzo said gravely. "A dangerous opponent has appeared."
Sasuke noticed Ashveil at the same time.
His body stiffened.
Memories from their previous encounter surged back into his mind.
The last time, he had tried to act composed and questioned Ashveil about Uchiha Itachi's whereabouts.
The result was nearly fatal.
He had barely escaped with his life.
Now, seeing Ashveil again, fear rose uncontrollably in his chest.
"A Ashveil…"
Sasuke's voice trembled despite himself.
Danzo frowned slightly.
Sasuke knew this man?
Ashveil walked past Sasuke step by step, his gaze never leaving Danzo.
"Uchiha brat, your strength is far too weak. You are not a match for Danzo. Leave. Danzo is mine."
His tone was calm and absolute.
Ashveil expected Sasuke to retreat immediately.
Instead, Sasuke's eyes turned bloodshot.
"You are not allowed to insult the Uchiha."
"You and the trash from other villages, all of you lowlifes."
Ashveil's lips twitched.
Sasuke truly had not changed at all.
Saved from death, yet still spewing arrogance.
If Sasuke were not a descendant tied to Six Paths power, and if Ashveil did not still need him for future experience, he would have already erased him.
But mercy did not mean indulgence.
In the next moment, Ashveil raised his hand.
Conqueror's Haki surged violently, intertwining with crackling lightning that tore through the sky and slammed downward toward Sasuke.
Boom.
A massive bolt of lightning descended.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?"
"What kind of lightning is this?"
He was completely shaken.
He had always believed his Lightning Release had reached its peak.
Yet the power before him eclipsed even his strongest technique, Kirin.
The lightning was purer, heavier, and carried a crushing will that overwhelmed everything it touched.
This was beyond comprehension.
Boom.
The lightning struck Sasuke directly.
For an instant, the outline of his skeleton was visible through his body.
"Aaah!"
His scream echoed briefly before his body collapsed.
Sasuke lost consciousness completely.
Silence followed.
Ashveil had controlled the force perfectly.
The strike was not lethal, but it devastated Sasuke's nervous system with unbearable pain.
Danzo stared at the scene, his mouth slightly open.
"This is impossible…"
"He also commands lightning?"
"This ability was never recorded during his previous battles."
Danzo's eyes narrowed further.
In his understanding, Ashveil was no longer just powerful.
He was abnormal.
Danzo even began to suspect that Ashveil had mastery over multiple elemental powers, each at an absurd level.
Facing such an opponent, even he lacked full confidence.
"It seems I must use Shisui's power to fight him," Danzo thought.
His gaze flicked briefly toward Yamanaka Fu and Torune lying unconscious.
That option was no longer ideal.
Danzo frowned slightly, calculating his next move.
Ashveil seemed to sense his thoughts.
"No need to think," Ashveil said calmly. "I will give you one minute. That eye of yours should be unsealed by then."
Danzo looked at him sharply.
"Brat, are you looking down on me?"
Ashveil ignored him completely.
"Three seconds have already passed."
Danzo snorted inwardly.
He was being underestimated.
Keeping his attention fixed on Ashveil, Danzo began the process of unlocking his right eye.
Watching the complicated sequence, Ashveil felt faint amusement.
"It's just a Sharingan," he said lightly. "Does it really require so many seals?"
"Or is it simply too much strain on your chakra?"
Danzo said nothing.
In his heart, hatred boiled.
You will pay for this arrogance.
The minute passed quickly.
Danzo's Sharingan was fully unsealed.
Ashveil's lips curved upward.
"Now we can fight, Danzo."
Danzo's blood red eye locked onto Ashveil.
"Arrogant fool. This battle will end very soon."
"I will make you die in agony."
Ashveil's expression remained cold.
"Is that so? I think it will end just as quickly."
In the next instant, Ashveil released his Conqueror's Haki again.
This time, it manifested as searing magma like energy that surged toward Danzo.
Sizzling sounds filled the air.
Danzo's body appeared to burn violently before dissolving into mist.
"Such power and speed," Danzo's voice echoed. "This is the strongest lava based force I have ever seen."
"But it is a shame."
"My Sharingan technique, Izanagi, surpasses you."
The destroyed body was an illusion.
Danzo reappeared behind Ashveil, his blood red eye glowing intensely.
"Kotoamatsukami."
A deep hum resonated.
Within Ashveil's spiritual world, an enormous crimson eye appeared.
Ashveil was briefly surprised.
It was the first time his inner world had been forcibly invaded.
So this was Kotoamatsukami.
Wave after wave of mental attacks surged forward.
Eighty one strikes landed in rapid succession.
Then it ended.
Ashveil felt mildly disappointed.
That was all?
The sensation was similar to a mental assault infused with Conqueror's Haki, but far weaker.
Against him, it was meaningless.
Danzo, however, was frozen in shock.
Impossible.
Within Kotoamatsukami, he was absolute.
Yet Ashveil remained unmoved.
This was the first time Danzo had witnessed someone resist the strongest Sharingan genjutsu through sheer mental force.
"Can someone's will truly reach such a level?" Danzo whispered in disbelief.
At that moment, Ashveil released his Conqueror's Haki fully.
Sweat poured down Danzo's face.
Fear surged uncontrollably.
His body trembled, then collapsed.
Danzo dropped to his knees.
His eyes widened as he stared at Ashveil.
"You bastard, what did you do?"
"My body won't respond."
"This isn't chakra, what is this power?"
Ashveil looked down at him.
"This is called Conqueror's Haki."
"Even if I explained it, you would not understand."
Conqueror's Haki?
Danzo had never heard of such a thing.
Was this some forgotten Sage art?
Boom.
Under the overwhelming pressure, Danzo's body exploded into a mist of blood.
Ashveil believed it was over.
Yet in the next instant, within the range of his Conqueror's Domain, Danzo's presence reappeared.
At the moment of death, Ashveil had clearly felt Danzo's aura vanish.
He had not expected him to return again.
___
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