Tsunade, standing nearby, let out a furious roar.
"Damn it! Even if it costs me my life, I will avenge Naruto!"
She charged forward toward Ashveil, but the nearby Anbu immediately stepped in to stop her.
"Lady Tsunade… the enemy is far too strong!" one said, voice trembling. "You are the Hokage… you cannot risk your life recklessly!"
The Anbu were terrified, afraid of what Tsunade might do in her desperation.
Meanwhile, Ashveil, with his Observation Haki pushed to its limits, had already noticed her movement.
"Hmph… I told you, Tsunade, there's no need for such a futile sacrifice," he said calmly.
In an instant, a wave of Conqueror's Haki radiated outward. The sheer pressure made Tsunade and the Anbu flinch. One by one, the Anbu sank to their knees, unable to resist. Beads of sweat formed on their foreheads, and their mouths hung open in shock.
"No… this can't be… our bodies… aren't obeying us!" one Anbu gasped. "Just his aura… it's too terrifying! Ashveil… is too powerful!"
After defeating the Nine-Tails, Ashveil's abilities gradually unlocked. A glance at his system panel revealed an overwhelming array of skills:
Host: Ashveil
Conqueror's Haki Attribute Points: 80,000
Devil Fruit Abilities: Tremor-Tremor Fruit (Max), Magma Ability (Max), Search Ability (Max), Glint-Glint Fruit (Max), Ice-Ice Fruit (Max), Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Max), Appearance Fruit (Max), Phoenix Ability (Max), Ope-Ope no Mi (Max)
Devil Fruits: Tanuki Fruit, three Artificial Devil Fruits, African Hyena Fruit
Skills: Flash (100 meters), Conqueror's Haki Passive Defense Shield, Shinra Tensei (Self-Created), Haki of the Supreme King Fusion, Golden Conqueror's Haki, Overlord Color Domain
Items: Healing Potion, Ham, Hamburger, Coke, Red Wine, Turkey Meat, Salad
Ashveil's expression brightened as he studied his abilities.
"Golden Conqueror's Haki… it's finally unlocked," he said, a trace of excitement in his voice. "Today… I'm in a good mood. Naruto doesn't need to die."
Tsunade, who had been ready to fight to the death, froze completely.
What? Did I hear that correctly? The Nine-Tails… he's letting it live? Even capturing a Tailed Beast like Naruto was supposed to require death… but Ashveil is in a good mood and spares him?
Even the Leaf Village shinobi were stunned. They had not expected Ashveil to be so magnanimous.
Deidara, floating on his clay dragon in the sky, almost dropped his jaw.
"Ashveil… you must be joking, right?" he exclaimed. "The Nine-Tails is the strongest of all Tailed Beasts. We need it more than anything! You can't possibly let it go!"
Ashveil's smile remained calm, almost playful.
"Deidara, do you think I'm someone who goes back on his word?" he said, his tone measured.
Deidara could barely comprehend it. Even the most trustworthy individuals wouldn't release a captured Tailed Beast. But Ashveil had done it effortlessly.
"Ashveil… how will we explain this to Pain when we return?" Deidara asked, feeling a headache forming. Ashveil's recklessness far exceeded even Tobi's.
Ashveil's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Pain? Akatsuki? I joined them only to make fighting the Tailed Beasts easier. Now that I've faced nearly all of them… Akatsuki is useless to me. If they want the Nine-Tails, let them come and take it themselves."
Deidara's eyes went wide. He had expected Ashveil to be reckless, but this was beyond his imagination. Even the Leaf Village shinobi were dumbfounded.
This man… he's letting go of the Nine-Tails simply because he's in a good mood? Could it be that the Leaf Village is saved…?
Deidara quickly spoke, still trying to reason.
"But Ashveil, you know Akatsuki's rules. If you do this, you'll be hunted down!"
Ashveil's expression hardened.
"Deidara, don't worry about that. I'm here for the Tailed Beasts, not the organization. If anyone wants a fight, they can come themselves. Remember that, Deidara," he said, eyes sharpening like blades.