Might Guy murmured under his breath, "Regarding my Eight Gates Formation, I remain confident. After all, I am Kakashi's rival. Before Kakashi falls… before defeating him, I have no intention of giving up my life."
Yet, deep down, Might Guy hoped that Ashveil's power would prove weaker than expected. If that were the case, he might only need to open up to the Seventh Gate, avoiding the mortal risk of the Eighth. He roughly estimated that a head-to-head clash at the Seventh Gate could be enough to overwhelm Ashveil.
Still, Might Guy had misjudged; Ashveil's power far exceeded his calculations.
Neji, meanwhile, analyzed the situation calmly. "Facing Ashveil directly, observation alone will not suffice. I must act… and I hope neither Deidara nor any others interfere. If they do, the consequences could be catastrophic."
Rock Lee, having recovered from earlier attacks, readied himself. Without his timely Eight Gates activation, his fate may have mirrored Tenten's—ending abruptly here.
Neji's instincts were correct; this opponent was unlike anyone they had ever faced.
Might Guy gritted his teeth. "Then it's settled. We attack together!" Hesitation was not an option; even a moment of indecision could cost them their lives.
The moment came. Might Guy launched himself forward, opening the Sixth Gate of his Eight Gates Formation. Sweat poured from him, not ordinary perspiration, but the sweat of vitality and unrestrained youth. A man should fight like this, fully channeling his strength.
His attack was instantaneous. In a flash, Might Guy was at Ashveil's front. Deidara, observing, was stunned. He had underestimated the speed of this seemingly ordinary, thick-browed man.
Deidara immediately activated his Flying Dragon in response, fearing a single strike could bring him catastrophic loss. Tobi quickly followed suit, muttering nervously, "Deidara-senpai, this thick-browed guy's power… it's unbelievable!"
Rock Lee, inheriting Might Guy's secret techniques, surged forward as well. Neji, though slower, launched his Eight Trigrams Palms, striking Ashveil from a distance with precise, long-range attacks.
Deidara, caught up in the chaos, shouted across the battlefield, "Ashveil, need my help? Say something if you do!"
Ashveil's lips curved slightly. "No need, Deidara. You gained no advantage in the last exchange."
The words ignited Deidara's fury once more. In a swift, frustrated motion, he delivered a precise scissor kick to Tobi, silencing the ever-mocking partner.
The battle intensified. Might Guy, Lee, and Neji's combined attacks converged on Ashveil. A subtle, mocking smile appeared on his face. His defense was near impervious; only the Eighth Gate could hope to pierce it. He was being underestimated, and he was fully aware.
The first blow struck Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki barrier with a tremendous impact. Dust erupted into the air, obscuring the battlefield. Might Guy's fist rebounded slightly upon contact, a shock mirrored in Rock Lee's expression. He had never anticipated that his Eight Gates power could be resisted with such ease.
Neji, peering through his Byakugan, could not fully gauge Ashveil's depth but knew one thing clearly: all their attacks were essentially futile. The enemy before them was terrifying.
Then, a shift occurred. Ashveil's Devil Fruit power activated—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit within him. Lightning crackled violently, filling the sky, dark clouds roiling as immense bolts of lightning tore through the air. Each strike seemed capable of obliterating everything in its path.
Might Guy's jaw dropped, eyes wide with disbelief. Rock Lee mirrored him, while Neji furrowed his brows in utter astonishment.
"Could this be… a rogue from the Land of Lightning?" Neji murmured. Ashveil's display surpassed anything the Land of Lightning was known to produce.
Even Kakashi, observing from afar, recognized the scale of the threat. His own mastery of lightning, including Chidori, paled in comparison. The magnitude of Ashveil's Rumble-Rumble abilities was beyond human comprehension.
Naruto, witnessing the storm of power, could only gape, lips trembling. "Kakashi-sensei… is someone really this powerful?"
Every member of the team stared in disbelief. The sheer scale of Ashveil's abilities—melding lightning with Conqueror's Haki—left them questioning the limits of what a single human could achieve.