The bell rings. Hawk EXPLODES forward like a rabid animal, his fist smashing into Daemon’s jaw with a brutal uppercut.

  CRACK!

  Daemon stumbles—just a second. Hawk doesn’t waste it.

  Hawk:

  “YOU’RE JUST A CYBORG! YOU AREN’T EVEN YUTA’S KID!”

  He slams ten rapid hooks into Daemon’s liver, each one thundering through the stadium. Daemon blocks the eleventh strike and lifts his head slowly…

  Daemon (low, dangerous):

  “You ever get so angry at someone… that you want to kill them?”

  Hawk (scoffing):

  “Talking nonsense—”

  Daemon:

  “I feel that… for YOU.”

  Daemon grabs Hawk’s head and drags him down into a flurry of relentless punches, cracking over Hawk’s skull again and again. Hawk counters with another uppercut and a brutal liver shot.

  Around them, something shifts. Hawk’s aura rises — predator energy. Daemon’s aura rises — a demon on the hunt. They trade blows like monsters.

  Karin:

  “FIRST ROUND STOP! ONE POINT — HAWK!”

  Eida wipes blood from Daemon’s lips, voice trembling but firm.

  Eida:

  “Right now that brat is thinking Konoha is weak. Is that what you want people thinking about your grandmother Hinata… your mother… me… or your father Yuta?”

  Daemon’s fists shake.

  Daemon:

  “No… I want to show the whole world— I CAN FIGHT.”

  Eida smiles softly.

  Eida:

  “Good. Then put on that face.”

  The bell rings again. Hawk immediately twists his body in ways no human should, bending like a contortionist, messing with Daemon’s rhythm.

  BAM! BAM! BAM!

  It isn’t boxing — it’s street fighting, unpredictable, dirty. Daemon takes hit after hit, sees white light—his vision blurs—his knees buckle—

  Daemon (thinking):

  “No… Grandma… Papa… Mama… they’ll be sad…”

  Just before collapsing, Daemon forces himself UP. Hawk’s eyes widen.

  Hawk:

  “He’s… not dead?!”

  Daemon swings—WHAM! A monstrous uppercut cracks against Hawk’s nose. Blood sprays. The entire ring shakes.

  Metal Lee jumps out of his seat:

  “DAEMONNNNN!!! WINNNNNNN FOR TAIJUTSUUUUUUUU!!”

  Boruto:

  “MAKE MEEEEEEE RICHHHHH BY WINNINGGGGG!!”

  Sarada squeezes Yuta’s hand.

  Sarada:

  “It’s okay, Yuta. He wants this for you.”

  Yuta (voice shaking):

  “I just hope he doesn’t die…”

  Eida sits beside Guy on the manager seat. Sarada reassures again:

  “Daemon won’t die.”

  Yuta nods.

  Naruto (screaming):

  “DAEMONNN!! WIN THIS!! WIN THISSSS!!!”

  Shikamaru:

  “And there it is. Konoha’s reputation… completely ruined.”

  He sighs as he sees a 32-year-old Naruto cheering like a teenager.

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  Sasuke (deadpan):

  “Look closer. Every Kage is cheering.”

  Shikamaru looks—Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Darui, Chojuro, Higarashi, Kimiko—all cheering for Daemon.

  Sakura sighs:

  “What can I say… Naruto attracts attention. Daemon inherited it.”

  Hawk roars and unleashes a barrage of unpredictable fists, angles shifting every second.

  Iruka:

  “He’s not boxing anymore… He’s fighting like it’s a game.”

  Kakashi:

  “He specializes in reading rhythm and breaking it. Daemon is starting to get predictable…”

  Rock Lee:

  “If he slows even a little… He’ll be butchered.”

  Daemon whispers to himself.

  Daemon (thinking):

  “One counter… One counter is all I need…”

  Hawk:

  “Heh… He’s done.”

  Daemon’s eyes snap open. BOOM! A devastating uppercut. Then a straight punch to Hawk’s temple makes Hawk see white.

  Hawk:

  “DAMN YOUUU!!!”

  He smashes Daemon in the eye—Daemon tanks it without flinching.

  Daemon:

  “I told you. I WILL kill you. Remember that.”

  Hawk rages, swinging wildly.

  Karin:

  “ROUND 2 OVER!!! IT’S A TIEEEE!!!”

  Eida almost cries but holds it in. Guy wheels forward, placing a hand on Daemon’s shoulder.

  Guy:

  “Kid… you’re doing GREAT. I am PROUD of you—my student.”

  Daemon nods, breathing hard.

  Eida:

  “Win it. Win it for all of us.”

  Guy:

  “Take your time. Ice the wounds.”

  Daemon nods, eyes blazing again.

  Yoru slams his fist on the mat.

  Yoru:

  “WIN IT DAMN IT!! WHY ARE YOU NOT WINNING?! YOU NEVER WENT TO ROUND 3!!”

  Hawk wipes blood from his nose.

  Hawk:

  “Relax… There are six rounds left. Winner is chosen after round eight.”

  Yoru:

  “…I hope so.”

  Silence. Then chaos.

  Hawk swings a wild hook aimed straight for Daemon’s swollen, half-shut eye.

  CRACK—!!

  Daemon stumbles back, vision blurring. Hawk doesn’t stop—he launches a barrage of sharp, venomous jabs into Daemon’s ribs.

  WHIP—WHIP—WHIP—WHIP—!!

  Hawk (panting, furious):

  “Why isn’t he scared?! Why doesn’t he break?! I hate his guts— I HATE how tough he is!!”

  Daemon wipes blood from his mouth… smiling.

  Daemon:

  “Playing dirty? …Good. GOOD.”

  Hawk sees it—Daemon’s body twists unnaturally, a full 180 degrees, joints creaking like steel bending.

  Daemon (voice trembling with raw fury):

  “HOW. YOU. HURT. MY. GRANDMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!”

  His pupils flare—a demon staring back at Hawk. Hawk punches squarely—Daemon doesn’t flinch.

  Then—BAAAAAAAAAAM!!

  One hit. One nightmare. Hawk’s rib cracks under Daemon’s fist. The audience feels it.

  Yuta:

  “Kid… look at this.”

  He shows Daemon the legendary Hajime no Ippo fight—Liver–Gazelle–Dempsey Combo. Ippo smashing through the ring like a monster.

  Daemon’s eyes glow.

  Daemon:

  “I can do that.”

  Yuta:

  “If I train your body for it… you promise me one thing.”

  Daemon:

  “What?”

  Yuta (dead serious):

  “Kill Hawk with it.”

  Daemon blinks.

  “…Will I go to jail?”

  Yuta smirks.

  “You’re a cyborg. You don’t have human limits. And you won’t go to jail.”

  Daemon:

  “…Then I’ll kill him. Or break his spine for his arrogance.”

  Daemon explodes forward—JAB—LIVER—JAW—TEETH—!!

  Hawk’s tooth flies out spinning.

  Daemon (grinning wide):

  “DEMPSEY… ROLL.”

  Hawk’s eyes widen:

  “I’VE WATCHED HAJIME NO IPPO TOO!”

  He counters with a brutal jaw punch—almost breaking the sound barrier—but Daemon keeps spinning, body swaying like a killing machine.

  The boys scream:

  Boruto, Shikadai, Inojin, Ryouta, Metal, Yuta, Mitsuki:

  “WINNNNNNNNNN FORRRRR KONOHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

  The girls erupt:

  Aira, Sarada, Himawari, Chōchō, Sumire:

  “WINNNNNNNNNNNNNNN FORRRRR OURRRRRR VILLAGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”

  VIP seats—Five Kage stand up.

  Naruto, Chojuro, Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Darui:

  “WINNNNNNNNN DAEMONNNNNNN!!! KONOHA’S DEMONNNNNNNNN!”

  Hawk charges with the last of his dying strength.

  Hawk (roaring):

  “IF YOU CAN’T SEE— YOU CAN’T WINNNN!!”

  Daemon rotates—360 degrees—just like Yuta trained him.

  Then—LIVER—!! GAZELLE—!! DEMPSEY ROLL—!!

  Head. Jaw. Liver. Ribs. Chest. A storm of killing blows.

  Hawk’s scream tears the stadium:

  “I HATEEEEEEEEEEEE THISSSSSSSSSSSSS WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!”

  He collapses. Unmoving. Finished.

  Yoru throws the towel, hands shaking. Daemon keeps punching the air—he doesn’t even realize he won.

  Rock Lee leaps onto the ring and grabs Daemon’s fist before it crushes the floor.

  Rock Lee (smiling proudly):

  “You protected Konoha. And Konoha stands proud because of you.”

  Daemon collapses into his arms.

  Karin screams:

  “DAEMONNNNNNN WONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!”

  The stadium explodes.

  Yoru rushes out with Hawk in his arms. Outside, Yuta meets him calmly.

  Yuta:

  “I told you the ambulance would be here. Sakura’s treating him. He won’t die.”

  Yoru (crying silently):

  “…I won’t interfere with Kakashi or anyone again. The Shin Clan… I’ll leave it. Thank you for not letting Hawk die.”

  Eida walks beside him.

  Eida:

  “My son became a boxer because of your son. Thank you… both of you.”

  Yoru breaks down as he follows Sakura to the hospital.