"Asuma…!"
A choked cry pierced through the chaos.
Blood spilled from Asuma Sarutobi's throat like a broken dam, soaking the front of his flak jacket. His breathing grew shallow, his knees buckled, and within seconds, the life faded from his eyes. He collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
The voice crying out in anguish came from Nara Shikamaru.
He stood frozen, his sharp mind unable to process what his eyes had just witnessed. His teacher—his mentor—had fallen. Killed in an instant.
"Asuma-sensei…?" Ino Yamanaka's voice trembled, her hands raised to her mouth as she struggled to comprehend the scene.
"Asuma!" Akimichi Chōji echoed, his body shaking in disbelief. The usually cheerful and easygoing shinobi now stared at his fallen teacher with tears welling in his eyes.
Even Kurenai Yuhi, who had only moments ago stood firm among the chaos, was momentarily paralyzed with shock. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
"You bastard!!"
Might Guy roared with fury, his aura erupting in turbulent blue steam. Without hesitation, he charged straight toward Leo, who stood calmly amidst the destruction. His entire body burned with the power of the Sixth Gate from the Eight Inner Gates technique.
At the same time, Kakashi Hatake reformed his signature jutsu—Raikiri—and moved in coordination with Guy, aiming to strike from the opposite side.
Leo narrowed his eyes. "I told you before… that color of steam? It's not enough to defeat me!"
Despite the overwhelming assault, Leo calmly engaged Guy, exchanging a flurry of high-speed blows. The two clashed violently, fists cracking through air with sonic booms echoing around them.
Although Might Guy's strength was immense in the Sixth Gate, it still wasn't enough. He managed to hold Leo momentarily, but he could not overpower him.
Just then—!
Kakashi rushed in from behind, Raikiri blazing like lightning, aiming straight for Leo's heart.
He no longer had the Sharingan to aid him, but his experience and instincts still made him a deadly threat.
However, Leo scoffed.
"Pathetic insect!"
ROARRRR!!
An explosive surge of chakra and eye power erupted from Leo's body as the blue skeletal frame of Susanoo burst forth, now fully evolved into its second form.
BOOM!!!
The sheer force of the transformation sent both Might Guy and Kakashi flying backward.
"Sensei!"
Naruto Uzumaki had just arrived on the battlefield with the other members of the Konoha 12. The devastation stunned him—flames, corpses, broken buildings, and a sky that seemed darker than ever.
His eyes widened as he spotted the armored figure standing within a glowing blue giant.
"That's…"
Sasuke Uchiha was beside him. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the figure encased in the formidable Susanoo.
"Uchiha Madara?!"
Sasuke's voice was tinged with disbelief. The armor, the sickle, the glowing red eyes—everything matched the legendary portraits of the Uchiha clan's most powerful ancestor.
"No… it can't be. He should be dead. He died long ago…"
Sasuke's mind reeled. Had he really come face-to-face with the specter of his clan's greatest legend?
He clenched his fists.
Was this… really his ancestor?
Why now? Why here?
Before he could process further—
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Mitarashi Anko shouted, launching her jutsu as poisonous snakes shot from her sleeves toward Leo.
"Foolish."
Leo smirked.
With a simple wave of his arm, Susanoo responded. Its massive limb swept across the air and smashed Anko's attack effortlessly.
"I've given you all fair warning," Leo declared, his voice carrying both disdain and finality. "Leave Konoha now. I don't wish to kill you all."
He then cast a glance at Naruto and Sasuke.
Yes… Ashura and Indra, reincarnated.
They were here. Fate had brought them before him. He didn't speak it aloud, but Leo had made a decision.
They must be tested… someday.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had remained quiet, carefully observing Leo's behavior. But now, with fury surging through her veins, she dashed forward.
"You won't get away with this!!"
BOOM!!!
Her punch struck the glowing ribs of Susanoo with earth-shattering force, creating a visible crack in the structure.
Leo raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Hmm? Hashirama's monster strength?"
He paused, eyes studying Tsunade.
"But you haven't mastered it. You're not him."
WHOOSH—
Within seconds, Susanoo regenerated completely.
Tsunade gritted her teeth in frustration.
She charged again—but—
WHAM!!
Susanoo drew a massive Chakra blade and swung it downward. Tsunade barely leaped aside in time to avoid being crushed.
"You're just a woman. Don't fool yourself into thinking you're on par with Hashirama," Leo said coldly, standing tall within Susanoo's glowing frame.
"You may share his bloodline… but you are not him."
Tsunade rose slowly, brushing off debris.
"The strongest thing I inherited from my grandfather is not his strength…"
She looked up with fire in her eyes.
"It's Konoha's Will of Fire!"
A declaration that shook every shinobi present.
"The Will of Fire?"
Leo chuckled. "What a childish fantasy."
He raised his hand slowly.
"No… The only thing that can truly be inherited…"
His Mangekyō Sharingan pulsed with raw hatred.
"…is hatred!"
Naruto was shaken by the cold finality in Leo's words.
"Who is that guy?! And what's that blue thing? Even Grandma Tsunade's punches didn't work!" he exclaimed.
"Quiet!!"
Might Guy reappeared with blinding speed and struck Susanoo's back with a devastating kick.
BOOM!
The armor cracked once more—this time deeper than before.
"Is it working…?" Sasuke wondered, clenching his fists tightly.
Kakashi had not been idle.
"All Earth-Style users—NOW!!" he shouted.
Dozens of Konoha shinobi surrounded Leo and activated Earth Style jutsu in perfect unison.
"Earth Style: Earth Rampart!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
"Earth Style: Earth Dome Prison!"
BAM—BAM—BAM!!
Huge walls, slabs, and spires of earth erupted from the ground, surrounding and pressing down on Susanoo.
Leo, inside his construct, stood still—unshaken.
He looked around calmly through the dust and debris.
BOOM—!
The final wave of jutsu collided, trapping Leo like a mountain sealed within stone.
Dust filled the air. The battlefield became a cloud of smoke.
"NOW!!" Tsunade ordered.
"Fire Style… unleash everything!!"
Scores of Konoha ninjas formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Flame Dragon Jutsu!"
A torrent of flames consumed the stone structure, burning with intense heat. The blaze illuminated the faces of the shinobi, their eyes locked on the inferno they'd created.
Nara Shikamaru remained kneeling by Asuma's body, unmoving.
His eyes, usually lazy and calculating, now held nothing but rage.
He stared at the burning mountain of stone and fire.
His teacher was dead.
Killed in front of his eyes.
By a man wielding Uchiha Madara's power.
The Will of Fire inside Shikamaru had ignited into something else entirely—
Hatred.