Something was wrong.
Kabuto was certain of it.
He had personally recovered the bodies of these three people. They had been right in front of him, sealed and prepared. There was no possibility of error, no room for doubt.
Yet the pressure bearing down on everyone present told a different story.
Uchiha Obito, standing nearby, was also caught within that overwhelming force. His knees nearly buckled, his body instinctively reacting to the sheer weight of it. But unlike Kabuto, Obito did not panic.
Instead, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He knew who this pressure belonged to.
"Heh… this is going to be interesting," Obito muttered under his breath.
"You're in for a surprise, Kabuto."
Just moments ago, Kabuto had spoken with absolute confidence, even making Obito lose face. Obito had not forgotten that.
You think you can see through everything, Obito thought coldly.
Then try seeing through him.
Even I cannot fully grasp that man.
The pressure suddenly receded.
The air grew lighter, and Kabuto finally exhaled, his body regaining its freedom. His eyes snapped forward at once.
A man stood there calmly, as though he had always been present.
Ashveil.
Kabuto narrowed his eyes sharply.
"If I am not mistaken, you are Ashveil, formerly of the Akatsuki."
Ashveil's expression remained relaxed, his posture casual.
"And according to my information, you already left the Akatsuki long ago," Kabuto continued. "So why are you here?"
Ashveil smiled faintly.
"That is correct. I left the Akatsuki. But leaving does not mean I cannot cooperate with them again."
He paused briefly, then added,
"In the past, I worked for the Akatsuki. Now, you could say I am… a semi-partner."
As he spoke, Ashveil glanced casually toward Obito, who stood nearby in silence.
Ashveil then laid out the general outline of their intentions.
Kabuto listened, but his expression did not soften in the slightest.
"Hmph. So it is just Ashveil," Kabuto said coolly.
"I admit your combat power is exceptional, even greater than Uchiha Obito's."
Obito's eye twitched faintly.
"But," Kabuto continued, his confidence rising, "there is something you should understand. I cannot kill Obito, but you are different."
Kabuto's smile widened.
"No matter how strong you are, your defense may not withstand my attacks."
His confidence was not unfounded.
Kabuto had obtained Sage Mode.
With Edo Tensei ensuring immortality in large scale combat, and Sage Mode amplifying his strength to terrifying levels, Kabuto believed himself untouchable.
In one on one combat, he saw no equal.
In group combat, he saw no defeat.
Why, then, should he cooperate?
Ashveil lifted a hand and casually picked at his ear, unimpressed.
"So that is how you see it," he said calmly.
In Kabuto's eyes, Ashveil was beneath him, even ranked below Obito. Third place, at best.
Ashveil chuckled softly.
It seems nothing ever changes in the Shinobi world, he thought.
If you do not teach someone a lesson, they will never truly understand.
"Then how about this," Ashveil said, smiling.
"We spar."
Obito nearly laughed aloud.
He watched Kabuto with thinly veiled amusement.
Even I could not defeat Ashveil, Obito thought. And you think you can?
Kabuto did not hesitate.
With a swift motion of his hands, he summoned multiple coffins from the ground. The lids burst open one by one.
Uchiha Itachi.
Kakuzu.
Sasori.
"Allow me to demonstrate," Kabuto said smoothly,
"Edo Tensei."
The three revived shinobi opened their eyes simultaneously.
Among them, Itachi appeared the calmest. Using Shisui's Sharingan, he restrained his own consciousness, choosing to observe before acting.
Ashveil.
Obito.
Kabuto.
Itachi immediately understood that something catastrophic was unfolding.
Sasori, on the other hand, took in his surroundings and scowled deeply.
"Kabuto," he snapped,
"I am already dead. Did you really summon me just to disturb my rest?"
He tried to move, but instantly realized he could not.
An invisible force bound him completely.
Kakuzu's reaction was different. His anger flared immediately, but not toward Kabuto.
"Kakashi," he growled,
"And Naruto. Are those two still alive?"
Kabuto smiled faintly.
"They are."
That single answer sent both Sasori and Kakuzu into furious curses.
Kabuto allowed it to continue for a moment before raising his hand.
"I have answered your questions," he said flatly.
"Now do your job. Eliminate Ashveil."
The three finally turned their focus toward the man who had yet to move.
Ashveil stood there quietly, no visible aura, no killing intent.
To them, he looked ordinary.
Sasori scoffed.
"We are Akatsuki. And you want us to deal with him?"
Before he could finish, Kabuto clenched his fingers.
Instantly, all three lost control.
Even Itachi's expression shifted in surprise.
And then, they attacked.
Susanoo erupted around Itachi in an instant.
Sasori unleashed his puppets, mechanisms firing relentlessly.
Kakuzu released his hearts, powerful elemental attacks tearing through the air.
Ashveil did not move.
Every attack stopped ten meters away from him, halted by an unseen force.
An invisible wall.
Sasori's eyes widened.
"That technique… It resembles Susanoo."
Kakuzu stared in disbelief.
His most powerful Fire Style attack had been completely nullified.
"If this were a one on one fight," Kakuzu muttered,
"I would not stand a chance."
Itachi finally spoke, his voice steady.
"Do not underestimate him."
Kakuzu frowned.
"Itachi… am I wrong?"
Itachi's gaze remained fixed on Ashveil.
"Kakuzu, Sasori. There are things that happened after your deaths that you do not know."
He paused, then spoke with absolute seriousness.
"This man once stood among the Akatsuki.
His combat power surpassed mine."
Silence fell.
Sasori and Kakuzu stared at Ashveil as though seeing him for the first time.
And then they understood.
The barrier was not ninjutsu.
Not chakra armor.
Not Susanoo.
It was Ashveil himself.
And for the first time since their revival, fear crept into their expressions.