The sounds of Ashveil and Onoki clashing continued to reverberate across the battlefield.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Collisions thundered through the sky, each strike echoing with immense force. From the ground, Deidara and Tobi could only hear the impacts; the combatants themselves remained hidden in a stalemate.
Tobi's mouth dropped open. "Deidara-senpai, Ashveil seems to be evenly matched with Onoki…"
Deidara's eyes widened as he observed Ashveil, realizing Tobi's words were true. The young man, relying on his Bloodline Limit, was countering Onoki's Demolition Technique without faltering.
"This is unbelievable, Tobi. He's holding his ground against Onoki!" Deidara exclaimed, rarely showing such excitement. The sheer magnitude of Ashveil's power left him stunned.
With the Five-Tails already unconscious, it seemed the path to capturing the beast was now clear, provided they could deal with the Earth Country ninjas.
"Let's move, Tobi!" Deidara urged, brimming with anticipation.
Tobi matched his excitement. "Yes, Deidara-senpai! Ashveil is incredible!"
As they advanced, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi suddenly blocked their path.
"I will not allow Akatsuki members to interfere with Lord Onoki!" Akatsuchi declared sternly, glaring at Deidara.
Kurotsuchi stepped forward as well. "Deidara, why did you abandon your village to join the Akatsuki?" she demanded.
Deidara scowled. "Ridiculous! Your Earth Country is too feudal. You don't understand art! I joined the Akatsuki for art! Do you understand art?" he snapped, irritation clear in his voice.
Without hesitation, Deidara produced a clay bomb and hurled it toward Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi.
"You're incorrigible! I'll deal with you now, Deidara!" Akatsuchi shouted, swiftly evading the attack.
The clay grasshopper bomb exploded, sending shockwaves that shattered the surrounding debris. Akatsuchi quickly formed hand seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rise!" Mud erupted from the ground like a volcanic eruption, filling the battlefield.
Tobi stared, wide-eyed. "This Chakra… it's terrifying!"
"Deidara-senpai, help me!" he cried in panic.
Deidara rolled his eyes. "Tobi, always panicking at the wrong time," he muttered, maneuvering his Clay Dragon to give Tobi space to climb aboard.
"This Akatsuchi isn't simple. I can't protect you forever," Deidara warned.
Akatsuchi, on the ground, formed new hand seals. "Kurotsuchi, throw me up!"
Kurotsuchi, utilizing her immense strength, launched Akatsuchi into the air.
"Earth Release: Fist Rock!" Akatsuchi's fists and fingers hardened into reinforced rock, a technique taught by the Third Tsuchikage. The strike's sheer weight and power were formidable.
Once, Akatsuchi had used this technique to punch the Tailed Beast transformed Gin, demonstrating its true lethality.
The punch slammed into Deidara, piercing him. Tobi panicked. "Deidara-senpai, you've been pierced! What now?"
Akatsuchi tried to withdraw his fist but found it stuck inside what appeared to be Deidara. Examining closer, they realized Deidara had switched to a clay clone, leaving his real hand safely hidden.
"Careful, Akatsuchi! His clay is explosive!" Kurotsuchi warned.
Deidara, now safely airborne, clasped his hands and roared.
Roar!
A tremendous explosion erupted, obliterating his Clay Dragon and sending destructive energy outward.
"You're next, Akatsuchi! And you, Kurotsuchi!" Deidara shouted arrogantly.
Akatsuchi retaliated with another Earth Release: Fist Rock, the force nearly knocking Deidara unconscious. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, and Tobi shouted from below, panic-stricken.
Kurotsuchi summoned a swamp beneath Tobi, trapping him. Deidara and Tobi, intent on rescuing Ashveil, were subdued by the Earth Country ninjas. Now, only Ashveil remained free among the Akatsuki.
Onoki observed with a relieved smile. "Hahaha! Your Akatsuki members are insignificant…"
"I will throw all of you into prison and interrogate you properly! You trash!" Onoki added, confident in his dominance.
Ashveil, however, showed a faint smirk. "Onoki, for your age, haven't you realized we are not on the same level?" he said, the corner of his mouth curling into a slight sneer.
Onoki's gaze hardened. People like Kisame, Deidara, and Sasori were mere pawns in his eyes; for Ashveil to speak so boldly was audacious.
Yet he reminded himself of the decline of the current era: the Kazekage killed by Sasori, the Uchiha clan's massacre by Itachi—Kage like him had lowered the standards, allowing brats like Deidara and Ashveil opportunities to rise.
As the strongest Tsuchikage, Onoki needed to show these juniors the true might of a Kage.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!" Onoki unleashed, intending to crush Ashveil.
Ashveil's smile remained faint. "Boring, Onoki. Your Rei World Demolition Technique is useless against me," he said, his voice calm.
Yet Onoki continued, persistent, sending wave after wave of Dust Release. He panted heavily, while Ashveil's breathing remained even, revealing his superior Chakra reserves.
Onoki allowed a small smile, acknowledging the younger generation's strength. "Formidable… your Chakra exceeds mine, yet this is our territory. You won't escape if the stalemate continues…"
Ashveil laughed softly. "You're amusing, Onoki. Even your entire country wouldn't stop me. But I have no time to waste on stubborn old men. I must rush to the Water Country for the Six-Tails!"
Onoki asked sharply, "By what ability will you move?"
Ashveil only pointed to the sky. A giant figure appeared, towering above them, recalling Onoki to decades past when Uchiha Madara had instilled similar awe.
"This is the Uchiha Clan's Susanoo…" Onoki muttered, stunned.
"You're mistaken. This is one of my myriad Conqueror's Haki transformations," Ashveil corrected, a faint smile on his lips.
The colossal Haoshoku giant strode forward, blade in hand, charging at Onoki. The slash cut across the sky like a knife through the horizon.
"Lord Onoki, be careful!" Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi shouted in unison, sensing the imminent danger.
They used a combined technique, raising massive earth to block the strike.
Boom!
The massive Haoshoku slash shattered the earth, scattering debris and shaking the ground violently. Yet, even this did not stop the terrifying blow.