Meanwhile, on the Toad Sage's territory, Naruto felt a wave of unease.
"Shenzu-sama, Shiji-sama, take me back to Konoha immediately!" he said urgently, his senses on high alert.
"I can feel it… something terrible has happened there," Naruto added, already activating Sage Mode. With this power, his perception became supernaturally precise.
Under the combined Sage Ninjutsu of Shenzu and Shiji, Naruto instantly moved toward Konoha. When he finally saw his beloved village, reduced to rubble, rage surged through him.
"Damn it! It's the Akatsuki! You… you killed Jiraiya-sensei, didn't you?!" Naruto roared.
In a blur of speed, he appeared on Deidara's giant clay bird. Deidara's eyes widened in shock, unable to sense Naruto's sudden arrival.
"Aren't you the Nine-Tails brat from before?" Deidara exclaimed, alarmed. "How are you this fast now?"
Before Deidara could react further, Naruto unleashed a colossal Rasengan.
"Super Rasengan!" he shouted, slamming it into Deidara's clay bird.
The impact shattered the massive construct instantly. Deidara barely escaped using his clay clone. His eyes narrowed, disbelief mixing with fear.
"No… this can't be Naruto… Is this still the same kid?" Deidara muttered. "And those two Toads on his shoulders… could they be the reason he's this strong?"
Naruto wasted no time. He darted forward again, fists radiating Sage power.
"Die… Akatsuki trash!" he shouted, striking with a force that sent shockwaves through the air.
Deidara scowled, unwilling to be bested.
"Damn it… defeated by a punch? I won't accept it! Art is an explosion! If necessary… I, Deidara, will take you down with me!"
But before he could retaliate, an invisible barrier appeared, halting his attacks. Naruto's strikes slammed harmlessly into it.
"Hey… your name is Naruto, right?" Ashveil's voice was calm, almost mocking. "Your opponent is me. Such a rookie fight… it's boring."
Naruto's eyes widened as he finally spotted Ashveil floating effortlessly across the sky. His casual demeanor masked the terrifying Conqueror's Haki radiating from him.
Shenzu and Shiji, perched on Naruto's shoulders, stiffened.
"Naruto! Be careful! He's extremely dangerous!" the two Toad Sages warned.
Naruto's gaze sharpened. "That person… he's strong… did he kill Jiraiya-sensei?" Only a being as terrifying as Ashveil could have done that.
Deidara used the momentary distraction to try escaping, while Naruto focused his energy on Ashveil.
"Jiraiya, huh… you've got the wrong person. But I'll take your Nine-Tails, Naruto!" Ashveil said casually, a smirk on his face.
Suddenly, a massive magma orb materialized beneath him, towering like a miniature sun. The surrounding air instantly heated by dozens of degrees.
Deidara gaped from above.
"Does he not have weaker moves? This… is insane… In this entire world, only Ashveil can do this!" he muttered, stunned.
Naruto's mind raced. He had never imagined Ashveil could be this terrifying. And this Akatsuki member didn't even seem to be the leader. What kind of foe had Jiraiya faced all those years ago?
"Damn it! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto shouted.
Instantly, his body erupted into dozens of Shadow Clones, each imbued with Sage power.
"Super Rasengan!" Hundreds of Rasengan, powered by the clones' Sage Mode, slammed into Ashveil's massive magma.
Rumble… Rumble… The magma shattered under the force, pieces crashing to the ground and creating massive craters. The temperature soared again.
Deidara's jaw dropped.
"His combat power… it's incredible! He can withstand one of Ashveil's attacks?" he muttered, incredulous. Even Onoki had failed to survive a strike from Ashveil.
"First, feign an attack… then find an opening!" Naruto commanded, coordinating his clones.
Ashveil's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I never expected… Naruto Uzumaki… you are strong. You can even withstand one of my attacks… but there's something you must know. Your Shadow Clones… are useless against me."
Useless? Naruto's eyes widened in shock. How could this be possible?
Shenzu and Shiji unleashed their own Sage Ninjutsu, creating a cacophony of powerful sound throughout Konoha. Pain himself had once feared this move.
Croak… croak… croak… The noise reached Ashveil's ears, but he barely flinched.
Deidara covered his ears, screaming in pain.
"What kind of Ninjutsu is this?! Are they trying to defeat Ashveil with sound? Despicable!"
But Ashveil, wielding Conqueror's Haki, controlled everything. Sage illusions and Ninjutsu alike were insignificant before him.
Gathering more Haki in his throat, Ashveil unleashed a massive roar.
In an instant, the Shadow Clones attacking him evaporated into smoke, leaving only Naruto's main body unharmed.
"I told you, your Ninjutsu… is useless against me," Ashveil said arrogantly.
Naruto's face paled, disbelief written across it.
"No way… my attacks… completely ineffective?"
Shenzu and Shiji shared the same shock.
"Little Naruto, never underestimate him! Even our Sage Ninjutsu… is powerless against him!"
Before coming here, they had believed their techniques could at least hold Ashveil off until reinforcements arrived. Now, that hope had been shattered.
Deidara, still hovering above, shook his head in disbelief.
"Ashveil… is he really that strong? These guys almost killed me before… but against Ashveil, their attacks don't even reach two steps before being destroyed. This… this is beyond exaggeration!"
On the ground, Tsunade's eyes widened as realization hit her.
"No way… he actually shattered Naruto's Shadow Clones that easily?"