BOOM!
BAM BAM BAM!!!
One punch!
A hundred punches!
Countless punches!!!
Fists collided in a flurry, afterimages filling every corner of the arena.
Each time their fists met, the air itself was shaken into layers of terrifying shockwaves.
The sheer impact of their blows twisted and warped the very space around them.
The already-ruined arena was now nothing more than a chaotic mess, wrecked by the overwhelming shockwaves.
This scene—this terrifying clash of power—left countless spectators wide-eyed in disbelief, their entire bodies drenched in cold sweat.
Weaker beings across various dimensions trembled, some even collapsing from sheer pressure.
In the spectator stands:
"That's strange! The power is insane—but why isn't Naruto using any ninjutsu?"
"Could it be… this form only boosts his punches?"
Goku wore a puzzled expression.
And he wasn't the only one—everyone watching had confusion written across their faces.
After all, punching was Luffy's specialty.
Every Gear form he used only enhanced his hand-to-hand combat.
But Naruto? He was different!
He had a wide range of ninjutsu and long-range techniques—yet he still chose to fight with only taijutsu.
But then...
Everyone began noticing something.
"Wait a second! How come Luffy hasn't won yet after all this time?!"
"Exactly! In terms of hand-to-hand combat, Naruto shouldn't be able to match him!"
"Guys... have you noticed? Luffy looks kind of... off!"
Hearing this, everyone focused on the arena.
Center stage.
BAM BAM BAM!
Punches continued clashing in a storm of afterimages.
"So weird!"
"Why do I feel like my body's getting heavier and heavier?!"
Luffy's lips were dry, as if he were severely dehydrated.
He shook his head violently and threw out more punches.
"Why does his strength seem to be increasing...?"
"And why do I feel like I'm shrinking? Is this an illusion?"
Naruto blocked the punches with ease and retaliated with a flurry of blows that sent Luffy flying hundreds of meters back.
Luffy got up, battered.
"Why… why am I losing in a fistfight?"
He looked at his hand in disbelief.
Then, as he examined it—he froze in shock.
His hands had become rough and wrinkled.
The lines on his palms were completely faded, as if aged skin had covered them.
"Whatever! Giant Form!!!"
But in the next moment—
His body didn't grow at all.
"What the—?! I clearly activated Gear 5!"
He touched his hair—
It still radiated the heat of fire.
A white mist still faintly surrounded his body.
"No time to think!"
Luffy channeled all his remaining strength into his right fist and struck.
But the punch… moved in slow motion.
At least, that's how it looked to Naruto.
"Now's the time! Naruto—your final blow!!!"
Kurama's voice roared in excitement.
The final punch?
Naruto nodded.
He could feel Baryon Mode coming to an end.
Facing Luffy's incoming punch, Naruto didn't hesitate.
He poured all his remaining energy into his right arm.
"Let's go!!!"
His fist, filled with unstoppable force, struck.
BOOM!!!
"Gah—!"
Luffy spat out a mouthful of blood.
The white flames on his head burned out, and the mist around his body slowly faded.
Gear 5... was gone.
Thud.
Luffy collapsed, unmoving. No sign of life.
What just happened?
All eyes in the stands widened in shock.
Across dimensions, viewers stared blankly.
But before anyone could react—
Countless screens across the multiverse lit up with golden light.
Lines of golden text appeared before everyone's eyes, striking directly into their hearts.
[Match Over!]
[Winner:]
[Uzumaki Naruto!]
WHAT?!
HE LOST?!
Just one second ago, they were still trading punches!
Wasn't hand-to-hand Luffy's specialty?
How did he lose?!
No one could understand what had just happened.
But the result was clear. Luffy didn't rise again.
Naruto had won.
In that moment—
Staring at his name on the screen, Naruto's eyes were dazed. It didn't feel real.
"I... I won?"
"But… why, Kurama?"
But the only response was the air around him—and thunderous applause from the audience.
"N-no... it can't be..."
Inside his mind, Naruto called out carefully once more.
Still no response.
Panic surged.
In the next moment, inside his spiritual realm—
The sealed gates in the sky had vanished, leaving only faint trails of white mist.
As if Kurama had never existed.
Staring at the emptiness before him—
Naruto suddenly remembered Kurama's words earlier:
"This form will burn up my life…"
Silent tears streamed down his cheeks.
"You burned your life away... didn't you, Kurama?"
Naruto stood frozen in his mental realm.
He couldn't hear the roars, applause, or celebration outside.
Not for a long while.
Until he felt someone shaking him violently by the shoulders.
Naruto slowly regained focus.
Through the blurry veil of his tears, he saw a familiar figure.
"Hey! Spiky Blond! Why are you crying?!"
"Snap out of it! It's time for your wish!"
It was...
LUFFY!!!