???
Naruto was stunned.
"Kurama! Don't mess with me! I know you're out of chakra too!"
"Even if your chakra recovers, we tailed beasts still can't beat Luffy in Gear 5!"
Inside his mental space.
Naruto and the Nine-Tails stared at each other.
"Actually..."
Kurama trembled slightly, hesitant to speak.
"If you have something to say, then just say it. I've known you're the Nine-Tails Fox for a long time."
Kurama stared seriously at Naruto.
"The truth is... there is still one last trump card."
Hearing Kurama's deep voice, Naruto's eyes widened.
"How?! I always thought the Six Paths mode was my ultimate form!"
"This move... it's from my peak in the future—my strongest ability! I'm sure of it!"
Naruto spoke with conviction.
"No! I'm talking about an ability that we Tailed Beasts are born with!"
"You could call it our primal force. Once used, it burns away our very existence!"
"That's why I never told you—unless it was truly the final moment."
Kurama glanced down at his own claws, his eyes sharp.
"You mean… after using it, you'll die?"
"No wonder this ability never showed up in my subconscious."
"I guess... in my future, I never used that power at all."
Naruto nodded.
"You should've said so earlier! Don't forget—the Grand Priest promised to resurrect all participants!"
"Even if I die, it's fine!"
"Let's do this already! Haha!"
Naruto looked at Kurama with burning eyes, thrilled with hope.
At that moment, Kurama stared at Naruto's face—so familiar yet somehow different. He was dazed.
This brat, just a few hours ago, was still a goofy little kid scribbling with paint.
Now, in the blink of an eye, he had become a true ninja.
Fighting side by side with Naruto… Kurama had come to understand the boy's sincere heart.
To see the Sage of Six Paths form emerge—it was a miracle.
In that instant, Kurama's eyes softened.
Deep down, he muttered like Jiraiya used to:
"Burning away one's life... it's not Naruto. It's me."
"The Grand Priest can resurrect Naruto… but can he resurrect me?"
"Maybe this is just the fate of the Nine-Tails."
Having come to terms with everything, Kurama's face filled with resolve. He brought his paws together.
"Naruto! Tell me your resolve!"
Naruto mirrored him, fists clenched, and roared:
"To bring back my parents! To become Hokage! To protect everyone!!!"
Let's go, Naruto!!!
BOOM!!!
A thunderous roar echoed across the multiverse, erupting from where Naruto lay.
Suddenly—
A radiant red beam of light, like the very light from the dawn of the universe, shot into the sky.
10 meters...
100 meters...
10,000 meters!!!
It pierced into the skies of the Boundless Realm.
Then—
Before the trembling eyes of countless spectators across the worlds—
Like a brilliant comet, the light came crashing back down.
BOOM!!!
On the arena—
Naruto now wore a deep crimson cloak, nine flowing tails billowing behind him.
His face bore markings shaped like a fox.
In that moment, Naruto was no longer a Jinchūriki—
He was the Nine-Tails.
Burning his essence—
Baryon Mode—
Commence!!!
At that moment, every spectator was utterly stunned.
Eyes bulging, mouths dry, they stared in disbelief.
"He's ascended again! Damn it!!!"
"My whole scalp's tingling!"
"This energy is on a whole different level than his previous form!"
"He really did hack the system! I totally give up!"
---
DC Universe
"This energy is suffocating… it feels just like a nuclear explosion!"
In the Batcave, Bruce Wayne's eyes gleamed with intensity.
An idea suddenly sparked in his mind.
"I'll design a suit based on Naruto's form! Yeah, let's make it happen!"
---
Marvel Universe
The Avengers had just assembled.
Seeing Naruto's nearly world-ending new form, everyone was speechless.
After a long pause...
Thor was the first to react.
He raised Mjolnir and grinned.
"Uzumaki Naruto, huh? I'd love to test my strength against him someday!"
---
Demon Slayer World
"That aura... Naruto's energy is overwhelming!"
"If I could coat my Nichirin blade with it, I could slice through any demon!"
Tanjiro gripped his sword tightly, his eyes filled with awe.
---
Back in Naruto's World
All the tailed beasts watched the screen, moved by Kurama's determination.
Gyūki: "Brother! Would you go this far for your Jinchūriki? It seems this Naruto is truly one of a kind!"
Saiken: "Would I sacrifice myself for my host SpongeBob? I'm not sure…"
Shukaku: "Pfft! There's no way I'd enter Core Form for that brat Gaara!"
Isobu: "Good thing I don't have a Jinchūriki. But Kurama, I really respect you."
---
Back on the Arena
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Feeling the scorching heat and overwhelming pressure—
Luffy frowned.
"Didn't that guy just lose his will to fight?"
"How does he have a new transformation?!"
But now was no time to question it.
Let's fight!!!
In an instant, Luffy activated his Nika form.
"Giant Form!!!"
A massive fist, infused with Haōshoku and flowing Conqueror's Haki, smashed down toward Naruto.
"Perfect. Just what I wanted."
At that moment, Naruto abandoned all ninjutsu.
He recalled Kurama's final instructions:
"Listen carefully, Naruto! In this form..."
"All you need to do is land one clean punch!"
A punch… and pure taijutsu?
He didn't know why Kurama said that.
But now, there was no other way!
In a flash, his fists were cloaked in blazing red energy as he launched himself toward Luffy's giant fist.
Victory or defeat—
Would be decided in this final clash!!!!!!