Chapter 286: Gambler's Duel Badge — Akainu vs. Naruto Uzumaki
"Magma manipulation... The Navy Admirals from another world really are terrifying."
In any world, magma was a force of overwhelming destruction.
Unlike the varied Devil Fruits and reinforcement-based Haki in the pirate world, the ninja world had a systematic set of learnable and teachable active abilities—ninjutsu.
Thus,
Most ninja-world players enhanced their existing abilities through game upgrades. After all, familiar powers were easiest to master.
A ninja good with Fire Style would naturally lean toward flame-type game abilities, and the same applied to other styles.
But magma in the ninja world was extremely rare and seldom seen.
Few ever specialized in it.
So when the Navy Admiral from another world unleashed his magma powers, the ninjas were both frightened and deeply impressed.
"Repent in hell, ninja."
Akainu's voice was like molten lava from the deepest abyss, making every ninja feel like their flesh was being scorched.
The fully armored hellfire soldiers surrounding them looked like executioners risen from the underworld, ready to burn the entire ninja squad to ashes.
"Stubborn old man."
Naruto could sense the immense strength radiating from his opponent.
But as a [Paladin], one of the strongest player classes currently in the Reincarnation Game, he feared no challenge.
"In that case, it's time you get a taste of pain and snap out of it!"
Naruto opened his inventory.
He activated a badge shaped like a shield, with two crossed swords embedded behind it.
[Gambler's Duel Badge].
A rule-type item that initiated a formal duel.
Once activated, both parties would be pulled into a [Game Arena], isolated from all outside interference.
If the opponent accepted, the winner would get to randomly claim one item from the loser's inventory.
In this case,
Naruto activated the badge. If Akainu continued his assault, it would be considered an acceptance of the duel request.
A battle with heavy stakes was about to begin.
"Blond brat, you think I'm afraid?"
Akainu saw the duel prompt and accepted it without hesitation.
He was confident he wouldn't lose.
The previous magma barrage had merely been a probe. He hadn't sensed the same oppressive pressure from Naruto as he had from Tsunade.
Between players—
Strength could often be inferred from class, abilities, and core attribute stats. The Navy's intelligence department specialized in this.
Just earlier,
They had received detailed reports from agents observing the ninja squads.
According to intel, the strength of this blonde kid in front of him was slightly lower than his own. His estimated value was around 400,000 Reward Points.
Akainu, backed by Navy Headquarters, had already surpassed 500,000.
A full 100,000-point gap. No way was he losing to some punk.
"Let's go!"
Though unfamiliar with the Gambler's Duel Badge, having just arrived in the Arad map—
He knew that rule-type items followed strict system laws. No tricks, no traps. They were governed by the game merchant's absolute rules, unbreakable by any player.
In an instant,
Everyone except Naruto felt the searing heat of the magma disappear.
Even the walls of molten lava around them lost their temperature. Curious ninja players reached out and touched the magma—no heat at all.
Like an illusion.
Because the moment the duel activated, both combatants were pulled into a combat dimension.
To everyone else, they remained visible—
But they existed in a different layer of space. Until the duel ended, no one could interfere.
Their clash was on full display.
The surrounding ninjas and Navy players all noticed, and the tension—previously beginning to cool—flared once again.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes as she looked at the two locked in battle, her voice icy. "I've heard Admirals are your highest combat force. Should I take his actions as a declaration of war on Konoha?"
The ninja squads had also suffered attacks from Orochimaru.
Two commander-class kills had been stolen in quick succession. Anyone with a brain could tell Konoha had nothing to do with it.
This was intentional—a move to remove Konoha as a threat.
"Our Navy squad was ambushed by your world's ninja. As outsiders, we can't distinguish ninja factions."
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled calmly. "But the point remains—ninjas from your world attacked our Navy. That makes us the victims."
Even though she understood—
The rogue ninja was likely an outsider like a pirate—sharing a world but not aligned—
She still lumped them together, painting the Navy as the innocent side.
"A politician?"
Tsunade frowned.
This calm, composed, elderly woman reminded her too much of the Third Hokage.
The type deeply immersed in political maneuvering. Every word and move calculated to leave no gaps.
Always framing themselves as the righteous party.
So this was the Navy?
Utterly detestable.
Tsunade looked toward the battle dimension, where golden flames and molten lava exploded wildly, her gaze filled with scorn.
"If you want to start a fight, be prepared to pay the price. Even if we don't die for real in the game, the loser will pay dearly."
She had absolute faith in Naruto.
Within him, she saw a youthful determination—naive, yes, but reminiscent of her brother Nawaki and Dan's unbreakable will.
Besides,
While Reward Points were often used to measure a player's strength, there were always outliers.
Some people, even without enhancements, possessed terrifying power.
Inside Naruto—
Lurked the Nine-Tails, a chakra entity believed to have been created by the ninja world's only known Tier-2 Sage of Six Paths.
That magma-throwing Admiral?
He didn't stand a chance.
Elsewhere—
On the outskirts of Grand Forest,
From the Demon Slayer world, the gentle man Yoriichi Tsugikuni, temporarily suppressing the Demon King's curse, was hunting alongside the stoic Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima and the ninja-world's Konohamaru.
The three, close in level, had teamed up to farm monsters.
"My idol is Naruto-senpai!"
Konohamaru grinned, showing a chipped tooth. "He's super strong, and we share the same dream—to become Hokage! But I know he'll beat me to it."
Even without the Reincarnation Game,
Naruto's charisma had a unique warmth that naturally drew people in.
Especially kids like Konohamaru, who admired him even more than his own grandfather, the Third Hokage.
Just mentioning Naruto made his eyes shine.
"I understand. Just like we Demon Slayers worship Lord Ubuyashiki."
Gyomei pressed his palms together, eyes brimming with emotional tears.
Yoriichi smiled softly, saying nothing, perfectly playing the role of a quiet listener.
He had never met Naruto.
But if someone as kind-hearted as Konohamaru admired him, he must be a good person.
Konohamaru laughed loudly, teasing, "Hey, Gyomei-nii, has anyone ever told you… you cry too much?"
Just then,
A message popped up on his friend list.
[Your friend "Future Hokage" is currently in a duel. Would you like to spectate?]
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