At this moment, hope of victory had completely vanished for Naruto. All he could do was pray they could at least restrain Ashveil.
"This Ashveil… he's far too strong! Is he even human?" Tsunade shrieked in disbelief.
Meanwhile, after Naruto's Multiple Shadow Clone Technique had failed to affect Ashveil, he immediately switched tactics, activating his Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
"Damn it… then let me show you this move," Naruto muttered through gritted teeth, his determination unwavering. "Let's see if you can dodge this one!"
Under Sage Mode, Naruto formed a massive Rasenshuriken in his hand, a culmination of his life's work. The spinning disc of wind and chakra blasted toward Ashveil with immense force.
Ashveil observed calmly, barely moving, his Conqueror's Haki radiating like a palpable pressure.
"I told you, all your Ninjutsu is useless against me," Ashveil said, narrowing his eyes, his voice calm yet laced with authority.
Naruto's Rasenshuriken struck near Ashveil with a deafening sizzle, but the effect was almost laughable. The attack was repelled by a mysterious barrier about a meter away from him.
"What… what was that?" Naruto's eyes widened in shock. He had delivered similar attacks to powerful foes like Kakuzu, yet against Ashveil, the Rasenshuriken had no effect. A sense of defeat struck him instantly.
"Little Naruto, don't underestimate him! Keep your distance!" Shenzu and Shiji, perched on Naruto's shoulders, remained much calmer than him, quickly assessing the situation.
Naruto nodded, creating space immediately. Shenzu and Shiji formed hand signs, launching a second attack—terrifying magma fused with volatile oil—straight toward Ashveil.
Ashveil's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hmm… this one's interesting. Temperature's almost equivalent to my Magma Fruit Ability," he murmured, then extended his Conqueror's Haki to absorb the magma effortlessly.
The two Toad Sages exchanged frustrated glances.
"Do you think there's a time limit to his defensive ability?" Shenzu whispered.
"We can't tell if the magma was absorbed by his ability or by a barrier," Shiji replied, equally perplexed.
Ashveil's lips curved into a slight smile at their speculation.
"No need to guess… my ability has no downtime. All your moves are useless against me. Now… it's time for the Nine-Tails to meet me."
With that, an enormous surge of Conqueror's Haki gathered above Ashveil, crackling in the sky like a storm.
Rumble… Rumble… Lightning danced across the heavens, drawing wide eyes from Naruto and the two Sages.
"No way…" Naruto whispered, shocked. "This guy… Ashveil… is altering the very world?"
Shenzu and Shiji were equally dumbfounded.
"Could there be a force in this world even more terrifying than Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts? Something that can change the very environment?"
A massive lightning bolt struck the gathered Haki, merging into a single, terrifying force.
"Just knock him into a comatose state… then the Nine-Tails will come out," Ashveil said with a grin, sending the lightning crashing toward Naruto.
The bolt moved with blinding speed, barely giving Naruto time to react. When it struck, electricity surged through him, burning his skin, and even the Toad Sages twitched under the force.
Naruto's body fought to resist, but even his incredible willpower could not keep him fully conscious. He collapsed, his body and mind in a haze.
Inside Naruto, the giant Nine-Tailed Demon Fox stirred.
"You brat… still too weak," Kurama growled, glaring at Naruto.
Naruto's eyes snapped open, now inside the fox's massive internal seal.
"You… are Kurama!" Naruto gasped.
Kurama's voice rumbled like thunder.
"Do you want to protect those you love? To avenge your master? Tear open the seal, and I will handle the rest!"
Naruto's mind raced, torn between pride and desperation. He needed Kurama's power to save his village, and against Ashveil, there was no choice.
With a grunt, Naruto tore open the seal, and Kurama's eyes blazed with unrestrained madness.
"I've waited for this day for so long!" Kurama roared. Freedom had finally come.
On the battlefield, Ashveil's eyes narrowed.
"In that case… the Nine-Tails should be able to come out," he said, his tone indifferent.
Deidara, watching from above, could barely contain his astonishment.
"Those two toads… they must be Sages! I never imagined Ashveil could be this terrifying," Deidara muttered. Doubt flickered across his face—if the Akatsuki's leader fought Ashveil, he still might not prevail.
On the ground, Naruto began manifesting the Nine-Tails' power, six tails erupting from his body. Tsunade's eyes widened.
"No way… he's trying to use the Nine-Tails' power!" she exclaimed, panic-stricken.
"Kid, you carry a dangerous power even I can't ignore! Leave now if you know what's good for you, or face the consequences!" she shouted at Ashveil, trembling.
Ashveil's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"What a joke. A power I cannot defeat? A mere Nine-Tails… is nothing more than a small fox," he said, grinning.
Tsunade froze, disbelief etched across her face.
"No… did he really just call the Nine-Tails a small fox?"
Even Deidara laughed, shaking his head.
"Hahaha! That's it, Ashveil! You're simply too arrogant! Naruto gave me trouble before, but now… seeing him like this, I can only admire you!"
Meanwhile, Naruto, now with six tails, surged forward toward Ashveil. But before he could advance ten meters, a massive bolt of lightning, laced with Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki, struck him.
Rumble… Naruto and the Nine-Tails were sent flying, landing in a crater that reshaped the ground.
"Roar!" The Nine-Tails, unbowed, surged again, eight tails now flaring with raw power, charging directly at Ashveil.
Deidara's eyes widened in awe.
"Eight tails… the Nine-Tails is the strongest Tailed Beast. I never imagined it would appear in full! This battle… it's only getting more exciting!"