#she's the antithesis of everything we've seen from a Kazama yet also still has the burden of parts of them

[naniwagusto]

I think Asuka's new wind attacks and vfx she has going on in 8 are her manifesting Kazama powers. She will either never get the ability to cleanse devils OR this is her precursor to getting that down the line. Even if she were to get her family's holy powers it would have to come from a moment of deep catharsis or emotion; Asuka would have to sincerely want for someone other than herself. In fact I'm still deeply glad 8 had Jin be the one to cleanse himself, due to a laundry list of reasons I believe that would have made Asuka terrible in that role, as opposed to him being the one to fix/better himself in the allegory.

But back to her and wind, wind makes perfect sense as an element she can be associated with. It fits with her bird motifs from the very beginning as a thematic symbol for her free spirit. For her taking pride in her freedom. For the storm that she is and exudes with all her strong headed turbulent emotions. For her self sufficiency. She's always been someone to do what she wants; someone blown in many directions by the circumstances that find her or she pursues. And it implies her movements have only grown in power that the force behind all her attacks is now becoming visible. Her power isn't getting stagnant it's growing meaning she's working at it and her body is responding.

She's gained a nature association like the other Kazamas but in a way that manifests from within herself, not a connection made with the world or the spiritual around her. From 5 to 7 she was forced into being alone. The battles she threw herself into then left her with no choice but to rely on herself and her own inner strength, running opposite to both Jun and Jin who matured their powers because of and in response to outside connection.

The new dragon install mechanic they gave her with 'Naniwa Gusto' is exactly this in practice to me. It's a rise in power and focus because Asuka off camera and through time became in touch with herself more and gained deeper understanding of her own spirit and power, but more importantly how to better control it. A lot of her new animations while in Naniwa Gusto exhibit precision, deliberately telegraphed control, focused aggressive bursts that make her active over reactive in only using her opponents against themselves before. And she's a Kazama from the inner city so detached from the heavy nature and spiritual tradition emphasis of the now dead main branch. Of course it would make sense for someone isolated like that to instead reach within themselves to connect to those sorts of concepts and forces. Most likely subconsciously when it started.

This is personal aesthetic choice too but I like to think when she does activate Naniwa Gusto, her eyes briefly glow whitish blue green to match her wind and the aura she gains in that state.

But I do really like the idea of Naniwa Gusto and her Rage Art now being able to summon wind on purpose down her arm/punch, giving her the Kazama dive kicks with massive gales behind them etc. Asuka has always been a self contained, opposing take on what it means to be a Kazama. So it's only fitting even when she gains power a Kazama is naturally expected to have her version of it manifests from her individuality, not conforming to her family.