"If I'm not mistaken, you're not from here, are you?" the two Jonin demanded, glaring at Ashveil.
Ashveil smiled faintly.
His attire was primarily for Deidara's sake; normally, he didn't need to disguise himself.
The reason was simple: even if every shinobi in the Earth Country came after him, none would truly challenge him.
Disguises were unnecessary.
"Greetings, I am Ashveil, a new member of the Akatsuki," he said casually, licking his lips with a faint smile, "My primary mission is to capture Tailed Beasts."
Hearing this, the two Jonin's eyes widened in shock, instinctively forming a defensive stance around him.
"We heard Gaara, the King of the Sand Country, was captured by the Akatsuki.
You intend to capture all the Tailed Beasts?
We didn't believe it at first, but now it seems the Tsuchikage Onoki was telling the truth!" they exclaimed.
"Quickly, tell us your purpose in coming to our lands!" the two demanded.
Ashveil merely pouted.
"Didn't I just make it clear?
Or are you all this stupid?
My purpose is obvious — to capture Tailed Beasts," he said with a casual smile.
The Jonin froze.
They had not expected such frankness.
At that moment, Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, stepped forward, laughter rippling from him.
"Capture Tailed Beasts?
You mean capture me?
Who do you think you are, daring to capture me!" Han said with disdain, his composed gaze fixed on Ashveil.
Ashveil rolled his eyes internally, amused by Han's arrogance.
Was Han attempting to use a low-level Conqueror's Haki against him?
"Hahaha, under Lord Han's gaze, you will kneel!" one Jonin stammered.
"Our Lord Han is not only a Jinchuriki but one of the strongest shinobi alive.
You are no match!" the other added, twirling the sword in his hand.
"Moreover, we were assigned to protect Lord Han's safety.
I advise you to surrender!"
Ashveil's smile deepened.
"Even if every shinobi from the Earth Country came to confront me, I am beyond your reach.
I exist in a dimension your skills cannot touch," he said scornfully, his aura radiating authority.
Immediately, Ashveil activated his Conqueror's Haki, the invisible force emanating outward.
The two Jonin paled, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"This… this kid… how could he possess Lord Han's aura?
Just by standing there, our hearts race and our bodies tremble!" they whispered, astonished.
They had witnessed Lord Han command such fear before, but never imagined a new Akatsuki member could wield it.
"You… what Ninjutsu is this?" one stammered.
"Could it be some kind of ocular power?"
Ashveil's smile remained calm.
"This invisible energy is Conqueror's Haki.
Even if I explain it, you low level IQ won't be able to process it," he said lightly.
The Haki affected the Jonin profoundly, rendering them incapable of fighting.
Ashveil's presence alone was enough to overwhelm most shinobi without needing numbers or strategy.
Only the most renowned shinobi could resist it.
Han, previously composed, stepped forward two paces, sizing up Ashveil.
"You possess a powerful invisible aura, like me," Han said, eyes narrowing, "but it's a pity.
Even with such strength, I am the Five-Tails Jinchuriki.
You, a mere rogue, cannot defeat me!"
Suddenly, steam erupted from Han's hat, enveloping his body.
Harnessing its power, he twisted midair and delivered a kick charged with tremendous force toward Ashveil's face.
"There are few who can withstand this kick… Die!" Han shouted, unleashing the full strength of his Steam-infused strike.
Boom!!!
The surrounding air roared under the impact.
The Jonin gasped, certain this arrogant intruder would fall.
"Lord Han's kick will destroy him!
We could have sent him to intelligence to interrogate him, but alas!" one exclaimed.
Han's technique had struck fear into countless shinobi before, demonstrating the terrifying potency of the Five-Tails' steam-enhanced combat.
Yet, the next moment stunned everyone.
Han's powerful kick never landed on Ashveil.
Instead, it collided with an invisible barrier generated by Ashveil's Haki, halting the strike in its tracks.
"This… what kind of Ninjutsu is this?
How can it withstand Lord Han's attack?" one Jonin muttered.
"Impossible.
If it's not a Genjutsu, then what could block Lord Han's strike?
A mere child?" the other whispered, disbelief in their voice.
Even Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, looked on in shock.
His kick, magnified by Steam power to an extraordinary level, was among the strongest in the shinobi world.
Yet the Akatsuki member before him blocked it effortlessly.
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