"In that case, use your strongest attacks."
Kakuzu understood clearly that ordinary attacks were meaningless against Ashveil.
The moment those words fell, Uchiha Itachi acted first. Black flames burst into existence as Amaterasu ignited, spreading with terrifying speed.
Kakuzu released all of his hearts simultaneously, each one unleashing powerful elemental Ninjutsu without restraint.
Sasori activated his most advanced puppets, mechanisms whirring violently as a dense cloud of deadly poison surged forward, completely engulfing Ashveil's position.
Yet the result was instantaneous.
The poisonous mist vanished the moment it touched Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki domain. Before it could even spread, it was erased, crushed under an overwhelming will.
In terms of pure pressure, Conqueror's Haki stood at the apex. Poison, chakra, killing intent, none of it could exist within that space.
Explosions erupted one after another around Ashveil's position.
The ground shattered, smoke and debris filling the cavern as the violent force tore through stone and earth.
"Is it over?" Sasori asked grimly.
Kakuzu stared intently at the smoke-filled area.
Off to the side, Uchiha Obito curved his lips into a faint smile.
This was only the beginning.
The smoke slowly dispersed.
Ashveil stood exactly where he had been before.
Unharmed. Unmoved.
Not even a trace of damage marked his body.
Uchiha Itachi narrowed his eyes sharply.
This man… would become an uncontrollable variable in the future.
No, he already was.
Too strong.
Kakuzu was the first to act again. Without hesitation, he charged forward.
A massive chakra-formed palm slammed down.
In the next instant, Kakuzu's body was obliterated, shattered into nothing but mangled flesh.
Yet before the fragments could even hit the ground, his body regenerated completely.
Kakuzu stared at his restored form in disbelief.
"I recovered?" he muttered.
Kabuto's voice echoed calmly from the side.
"That is only natural. Edo Tensei binds the dead to this world. You have already died once, so death has no meaning for you now."
Sasori immediately launched another assault, flying machines firing relentlessly.
Boom.
His body was destroyed once more.
Even Itachi's Susanoo was torn apart under Ashveil's counterattack, his Edo Tensei form shattering completely.
Yet all of them regenerated again.
Kakuzu straightened, confidence flooding his expression.
"It is useless," he said coldly.
"We are already dead. You cannot kill us."
Ashveil observed them with calm interest.
Although they could not be killed, each of them had already contributed to strengthening his Conqueror's Haki. Unfortunately, that gain only occurred once per person.
That realization left Ashveil mildly disappointed.
If only it could stack endlessly, he thought. That would have been convenient.
Seeing Ashveil's silence, Kakuzu mistook it for hesitation and smirked.
"What is it?" Kakuzu taunted.
"You understand now, don't you? I cannot be defeated."
Ashveil's gaze shifted slowly and locked onto Kakuzu.
Having witnessed the events of this era, Ashveil already knew the truth of Edo Tensei.
There was only one way to end it.
Eliminate the caster.
The moment Kakuzu met Ashveil's eyes, his expression stiffened. But he quickly steadied himself.
Even if Ashveil realized it, so what?
He had Sage Mode now.
Defeating him would be no simple matter.
Ashveil moved.
His speed exploded forward in an instant.
"Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet!"
Kakuzu countered immediately, commanding the others to attack as well.
The combined force of four powerful assaults collided head on with Ashveil's bare fist, wrapped in pure Conqueror's Haki.
Boom.
The impact detonated violently, a thunderous roar tearing through the cavern.
The cave itself could not withstand the pressure and collapsed, stone and earth blasted apart in every direction.
Uchiha Obito felt a chill run down his spine as he watched from afar.
"Monsters," he muttered.
"If I were facing that head on, I would have to rely on Kamui or be crushed."
The Water Dragon Bullet was obliterated, scattered into the air, and moments later the fragments fell back down as a heavy downpour.
Rain poured relentlessly.
Itachi remained untouched within Susanoo.
Ashveil, however, stood exposed beneath the rain.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.
"There is something unusual about his body," he said quietly.
"I need to remove whatever that is."
As he spoke, Kakuzu fully activated Sage Mode.
The atmosphere shifted.
Everyone present felt it instantly.
Uchiha Obito's eyes widened.
"Sage Mode…"
Even he had only heard of it from Uchiha Madara.
This was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes.
Uchiha Itachi stared intently.
"That power… so this is Sage Mode."
With Sage Mode active, most shinobi, even elite ones, were insignificant by comparison.
Obito's expression grew serious.
"It looks like Ashveil has finally met a troublesome opponent."
Ashveil observed Kakuzu calmly.
So he is already analyzing me, Ashveil thought.
Interesting.
Kakuzu had indeed surprised him.
But surprise alone was not enough.
"If you think this is enough to look down on me," Ashveil said calmly,
"then you truly misunderstand."
He turned his head slightly toward Obito.
"Obito, if you want me to take things seriously, Kakuzu alone is not enough."
There was no arrogance in his tone. Only fact.
If Ashveil intended to truly exert himself, it would take Six Paths level power to force that outcome.
Kakuzu was not there yet.
Without hesitation, Ashveil charged again.
"To deal with you," he said evenly,
"I do not even need to use Golden Conqueror's Haki."
"But I will use a Devil Fruit ability."
Kakuzu froze.
Devil Fruit?
What kind of Ninjutsu was that supposed to be?
Even Obito stiffened.
He had stood beside Madara for years and had never heard of such a thing.
Both of them watched closely, memorizing every movement.
At that moment, Kakuzu reacted instinctively.
"Sage Art, White Rage Technique!"
A glowing red dragon surged forward, releasing blinding light and violent vibrations that shattered sound and vision alike.
Yet the instant it appeared, Ashveil vanished.
A flash of golden light streaked through the battlefield.
The red dragon exploded midair.
The resulting blast filled the area with dense mist, distorting senses and suppressing perception.
Obito frowned deeply.
This technique was dangerous. Even for the Uchiha, losing vision was fatal.
For the first time, Obito no longer underestimated Kakuzu.
If Ashveil fell here…
So be it.
Obito's gaze darkened.
If necessary, he was already prepared to strike Ashveil from the shadows.
Kakuzu was expendable.
Ashveil was not.
Then Kakuzu's laughter echoed through the mist.
"Hmph… hmph… hmph…"
"In that case," Kakuzu said confidently,
"defeating you will be far easier than I thought."
____
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