The next day…

"You know...it's weird. The other day when we passed Gao's...there was a lot of strange stuff going on." Natsu said.

"How so?" Minerva asked.

"Starting off...all of his furniture was left out and it was all perfectly good. He said he was redecorating but I'm not sure how true that is." Luffy said.

"Something's definitely going on. Everytime I try to talk to Gao about what he's doing, he's always so distant. Bal tries to butt in, but everyone else just piles on him. It's weird." Hope said.

"Hmm...I think it's best we leave him alone, we'll find out what's up eventually." Ace said.

"No way. I say we take things to Guru right here and now." Dan said as they marched out.

"Hey...open up!" Ranma said knocking on the door. "Huh?" He said seeing a sign. "I'm not here right now." It said. "Oh well...wait…" He said looking closer to see the word pretending above I'm. "Pretending?!"

"He's in there. He probably doesn't want to answer." Al said. "HEY OLD MAN, OPEN UP!" She said as she banged on the door.

"Al! Stop that!" Hope said pulling her back.

"I see you're as wild as ever, Al." A voice said.

"Hey, Al? Is this someone you know?" Hope asked pointing to a familiar sight to the treasure goddess.

"Day?! Is that you?!" Al asked.

Day looked exactly like Yang except her hair was a lighter color and she wore a torn up jacket.

"Who's this, Al? She looks like… me?" Yang asked.

"She's another former member of the Magic Lion Corps that I was member of. Her name is Day." Al said.

"Yo." Day said. "Sorry I'm late to this whole thing. I had to bring along some people saying they were old friends of some Jexi guy."

"You can quit showing off. You were just forced to say that for breaking certain laws." A figure said as the Dimensional Heroes recognized it.

"No way...Naruto?" Dan said.

"Hey...it's been awhile." Naruto said.

"It's been awhile man! You look great!" Natsu said taking note of Naruto's new attire.

"Well I am Hokage now. I do have a duty." Naruto said.

"Another old friend, huh?" Ace said.

"Not just anyone. He's also the leader of his entire village back home now." Hope said.

"So you managed to fulfill your dream huh, Naruto?" Roy asked.

"Yeah...I did." Naruto said. "I'm the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village."

"Seventh?" Mayumi asked.

"That's right. Kakashi-sensei was one before me." Naruto said.

"In any case, you're late! You missed the whole first round!" Lucy said.

"S-Sorry Lucy, geez…" Naruto said. "I had some stuff to take care of back home, and I got here as soon as I could. Besides, I couldn't miss the semi finals, not when you two are gonna fight against each other."

"You came right on time for when me and Jexi throw down, eh?" Hope smiled.

"Of course. Wouldn't miss Jexi wiping the floor with you for the world." Naruto said.

"He is not gonna win! I am." Hope said.

"Remember what you said about having fun, Hope. No reason to get competitive." Ace said.

"Just let it go, Ace. He's been looking forward to this for a while." David said.

"Alright…" Ace said.

"Y'know, I would've brought my son Boruto to see this, but he's a little different when it comes to me. I think he's just uneasy about me being Hokage." Naruto said.

"I can imagine." David said. "I mean, I was a little uneasy about the fact that my dad was once I multiverse-trotting warrior when he was my age, at least at first. It kinda left me with some big shoes to fill."

"In Naruto's case, it might be that Boruto is resenting the fact that you're away a lot." Mayumi said.

"Guess that would make sense." Naruto said. "I am busy with work."

"Anyway, we'd better get to the stadium. Wouldn't wanna be late for our big match." Hope said.

"Good luck, you two!" David said.

At the stadium…

"At long last, the Semifinals are about to begin! Our first match of this round is between the team of Noboru Kodo and Jexi the Hunter, and Gao Mikado and Hope the Victor! I can't take any more excitement! Let's just get to the action already!" Paruko said.

"Eclipsing the darkness with flames... and brightening the hearts of the mistreated! Luminize! The Mighty Sun Fighter!" Gao said.

"Gather before me, Heroes of Justice and Bravery! Strike down villanly like lighting, and shine the light of the moon on the darkness! Lumenize! Full Moon Thunder Formation!" Hope said.

"Omni Lords who command the heavens. Lend me your unlimited strength! Luminize! Omni Lord Knights!" Noboru said.

"Gather under this banner of legends! All who are hero or beasts, lend me your power! Luminize! Final Legend!" Jexi shouted.

"Buddy...FIGHT!" Paruko said.

"Raise the Flag!" they said.

"Dragon World!" Gao said.

"Hero World!" Hope said.

"Dungeon World!" Noboru said.

"Legend World!" Jexi said.

"Noboru and Jexi take the first move!" Paruko said.

"Charge and Draw! I call Dogged Demon Lord, Asmodai to the center!" Noboru said/

"As usual, I'll give it my all." Asmodai said.

"I cast, Reset Button! My gauge goes up my four! Asmodai, attack the fighter!" Noboru called.

10-7

"That's all from me, now its my partner's turn." Noboru said.

"I Charge and Draw! I call to my right...Knights of the Round Table, Ywain and to the left I call Arc Hammer Knight, Brontes! Finally...the biggest shock of your life! I pay one gauge and one life...and Transform into Warrior Emperor, Red Arthur!" Jexi said.

"What?" Hope said as a red light surrounded Jexi.

"I know how strong you are Hope." Jexi said emerging in Red Arthur's armor. "So I don't plan on holding anything back! Haaa!" Jexi said slashing Hope.

10-8

"I end my turn!" Jexi said.

"Okay, that was good." Hope said. "Lets see if we can do any better! Draw! Charge and Draw! I Equip Azure Crest, Hero Emblem! I call "Sacrifice" Iron Moon Slash to the Right, Military Frill to the Left, and Police Frill to the center!"

All monsters were called out as they took their fighting stances.

"When Police Frill is called out when another Superheroine is on the field, one monster on your side of the field returns to the hand cards. I choose Arc Hammer, brontes!" Hope said.

"You're busted, pal!" Police Frill said returning Iron Moon Slash to the hand.

"Next, I activate Iron Moon Slash's ability! I discard one Darkhero from my hand, and you take one point of Damage!" Hope said.

"Ugh!" Jexi said.

9-8

"You're not the only one who's holding nothing back, Jexi. I'm not giving you any leeway! Police Frill, Military frill, let Jexi have it! By the way, since Military Frills with another Superheroine, her critical is now 3! You're taking 4 damage!" Hope said.

"I cast! Holy Grail!" Jexi said blocking.

"That bites…" Hope said.

"No sweat, Hope. Now it's my go! Draw, Charge and Draw! I call Merablade Inazuma to the left and buddycall Batzz to the right! And I equip Dracross!" Gao said. "Now Batzz, attack Asmodai!"

"I cast! Bunnycall!" Noboru said as a drink appeared in Asmodai's hand as he drank it, allowing him to stay after the first attack.

"Batzz attacks again!" Gao said.

"Aw come on!" Asmodai said vanishing.

10-8

"Now Mera Blade and I will attack together!" Gao said.

8-4

"This should do it! Double attack!" Gao said.

"Wow, this match is on like Donkey Kong." Stoj said.

"I'll use the ability of Fist Emperor of Manliness, Burn Nova! I can call him to my center and gain three life." Noboru said.

4-7

7-3

"Looks like Noboru survives another day!" Paruko said.

"And that means Jexi gets another chance to run Hope down." David said.

"It's my turn!" Noboru said. "I buddycall Omni Lords Loyal Knight, El Quixote to the right! I use his ability and add one omni lord to my hand from the top three cards of my deck. Burn Nova, attack Barlbatzz!"

"You got it! Burn, burn, burn, bashing fist!" Burn Nova said taking Batzz down.

"This is really tense." Hope said. "I like it."

"Okay… I can't take it anymore!" Noboru said. "Gao's hiding something from us, like what this tournament is all about, and why you were bringing all that stuff out of your room!"

"Gao, what's Noboru talking about? What's going on here?" Hope asked.

"I can answer Hope. I've figured it out from the sight of things. Gao...you're moving away aren't you?" Jexi said.

"Okay okay, you got me. I'm sorry for lying but… it's true. My family, all of us, were moving to the states." Gao admitted.

The entire stadium crowd, including the heroes, were in shock.

"Gao, you're… you're moving to America?!" Hope asked.

"Yeah...it's true. I'm moving there so my mom can teach Mikado Style Aikijujutsu." Gao said.

"Sheer, did you know about this?!" Gemini asked the Skyian.

"Yes...I've known for awhile." Sheer said.

"After I found out I was moving, I wanted Guru to make sure I had one last seriously awesome buddyfight. But I guess you figured out how this ended up coming to light. Who knew it would be this tournament?" Gao said. "I wanted to tell you all when the tournament was over, but…"

"But nothing. If you had something like this to tell us, you should've came right out. But, who am I to argue with how you operate, gao." Hope said. "I'm just gonna say this though, I'm really gonna miss you when I come back here."

"Oh I'll give you an argument alright…. Burn Nova, double attack!" Noboru said as Burn nova suddenly punched Gao.

7-5

"Hey, a little warning next time?!" Gao asked.

"Like you would know anything about warnings." Noboru smirked. "At least I've got a chance to beat you before you go. Burn Nova, El Quixote, do a link attack!"

"No way! I cast Green Dragon Shield!" Gao said.

5-6

"From here on the gloves are off! Take over, Jexi!" Noboru said.

"Right. Draw! Charge and Draw! Once again, call Arc Hammer Knight, Brontes to the left and then I cast Heroic Tale! Furthermore...I cast Fury of Odin and destroy all size 1 monsters on your field!" Jexi said.

"Crap!" Hope said as his field was cleared.

"Not done yet. I set the spell! Hero's Base, Castle Camelot!" Jexi said as a castle rose behind him.

"Why set that now? He's already gone through his main phase, so he can't add anymore gauge with Castle Camelot's effect." Rainbow said.

"He's not doing it for effect." Dan said. "He's trying to make this as memorable as he can."

"Come at me with all you got, Jexi!" Hope said.

"I intend to. Ywain, ride into battle and cut down Hope." Jexi said.

"For Honor!" Ywain said slashing Hope.

8-7

"Brontes...you're up! Take Hope down!" Jexi said as Brontes jumped at Hope.

"Take my hammer!" Brontes said.

7-5

"Now I ride into battle!" Jexi said charging in.

"Not so fast! I've got something for you, Jexi! Say hello to Gray Wind, Vint!" Hope said taking a card from his hand. "I can call this card during your turn when I have no other monsters on my field! I call Vint to the left!"

A black and gray ominous armored hero appeared on the left as he was decked out in spiked.

"Just so we're clear, I don't intend on fighting for your sake." Vint said.

"When Vint enters the field during my opponent's turn, he can decrease the critical of one monster by 1! I choose Red Arthur!" Hope said.

5-4

"Smart Hope….but you forget...if I have 4 or more heroes in the drop zone...I get double attack!" Jexi said.

"I had a feeling that was coming. I cast! I've seen through your moves!" Hope said nullifying the attack. "How's that?!"

"Not bad. Course...next turn isn't gonna be easy. I have one card left in my hand. And I'll give you a hint...its an impact you might know well...the one from our mock tourney between groups." Jexi said.

"The Godgenesis." Hope said.

"I almost have enough in the drop. Next turn...if you don't finish me...I'll win." Jexi said.

"This is all or nothing." Hope said. "Here goes! It's my turn! Draw! Charge and….DRAW!" Hope said as he looked at the card he got. "Go time."

"It seems as though Hope has drew the card he needed! Is this what he needs to win?!" Paruko asked.

(Cue- Uncontrollable- Xenoblade Chronicles X)

"I'll activate the ability of Azure Crest, Hero Emblem! I add one Superhero, Superheroine or Darkhero and add it to my hand!" Hope said summoning a card. "I cast Hyper Energy, and increase my gauge by 4! I buddy call Overturn thunder Solder, Dawn Wings Moon bat to the right! Finally i'll call Uniform Warrior, Hakuran Frill to the left!"

The two heroines appeared.

"Let's do this, Hope." Hakuran said.

"I'd follow my buddy anywhere." Moon Bat said.

"When Hakuran Frill is called as another Superheroine is out on the field, i can destroy one card on my opponent's field! Say Bye Bye to Ywain!" Hope said.

"Here goes! Hakuran Slash!" Hakuran said destroying Ywain.

"I am not scared." Jexi said. "I shall stand no matter what."

"You asked for it, Jexi! Overturn Thunder Soldier…! Dawn Wings Moon Bat…! OVERTURN! I pay one gauge and discard one hand card! By doing so, Moon Bat gains one critical for every Superhero, Superheroine and Darkhero in my drop zone! Counting the ones you destroyed with Fury of Odin, Iron Moon Slash's effect and my one gauge… that makes five!" Hope said.

"And I have no cards left to defend with...well done." Jexi said.

"With a critical of 8! Moon Bat, attack the fighter!" Hope said.

"This is the end!" Moon Bat said drilling through Jexi in a tornado of lighting.

8-0

Game over, Jexi! Winner: Hope the Victor!

"HE'S DONE IT! Hope the Victor has beaten Jexi the Hunter in buddyfight! Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming!" Paruko said.

Stoj flew up and pinched her on the arm. "Nope, you're wide awake."

"That's a wrap from me. You got it from here, Gao?" Hope asked.

"You bet I do. I call Thunder Flash Swordsman, Billion Rapier to the right!" Gao said.

"I cast Hidden Crossbow! Destroy Mera Blade!" Noboru said.

"Then we'll link attack...and destroy Burn Nova!" Gao said doing so.

End of Move.

"Now you've done it! I'm gonna wrap this up on this turn!" Noboru said drawing. "I call to the center Karuna Ice Emperor, Miseria!"

Miseria appeared.

"Hey there Gao. I've been looking forward to this." Miseria said.

"I call Seventh Omni Earth Lord, Count Dawn to the left! El Quixote, attack the fighter!" Noboru said.

5-3

"Count Dawn follows up!" Noboru siad.

3-2

"Now all it'll take is one more attack from Miseria and you're history!" Noboru said.

"Sorry about this, Gao… Nereus Sream!" Miseria said blasting water at gao.

"I cast! Blue Dragon Shield!" Gao said.

"I use Miseria's ability to attack two more times! Attack again!" Noboru said.

"I cast! Arc Dragon Shield!" Gao said.

"One more time!" Noboru shouted.

"I cast! Green Dragon Shield!" Gao said.

2-3

"Argh, how many more shields do you have?!" Noboru said.

"Got a problem with me defending myself?" Gao asked. "In any case, it's my turn! Draw, Charge and Draw! Ready for this? I cast Dragonic Charge Plus! Then...I call Overturn Sun Dragon, Bal Dragon to the left!" Gao said as a portal opened on the left as Bal slowly emerged.

"I'll try my best, bal! Being able to buddyfight with Gao again makes me happy, Bal!" Bal said pulling his sword from his chest.

"And now….I release!" Gao said as his body slowly covered in bright red flames. "Dragon Force! Style of Impact!"

"Alright! I hoped you'd do that!" Bal said.

"Bal, go attack Miseria!" Gao said. "And when he attacks, my gauge increases by 1, and i can increase the power of one card on my field!" Gao said.

"I'll penetrate for you, bal!" Bal said lunging at Miseria.

"I cast! Divine Protection of Shalsana!" Noboru said.

3-4

"Billion Rapier...attack Miseria!" Gao said as Billion Rapier dashed him.

"Revive with soulguard!" Noboru said.

"Attack again!" Gao said as Billion Rapier dashed Miseria again.

"Soulguard again!" Noboru said.

"My attack should break through!" Gao said finally clearing Miseria away.

"Don't think you've won! I can now call to center...Ice Dragon of Rebirth, Roi Miseria!" Noboru said as Miseria returned now as an ice dragon.

"Once again, Miseria protects the center!" Paruko said.

"Final Phase!" Gao and Bal said.

"What?" Noboru said.

"Overturn Sun Dragon...Bal Dragon...OVERTURN! With the power of Bal's overturn...I can now draw an impact monster from my deck. IMPACT CALL! I pay two gauge and transform Bal into...AN IMPACT MONSTER!" Gao shouted.

"I won't let you down Gao, bal!" Bal said as from his body slowly emerged a large cannon blaster of sorts as Bal smirked as he lowered his goggles.

"Bal is now a Size 2 monster with 11000 power and a critical of 3. When he attacks, he can attack all of the opponent's monsters as well as the fighter!" Gao said. "Show them your new power!"

"Bal Blaster...Granbolt!" Bal said firing at all of Noboru's monsters and Noboru himself.

4-1

"Nice try. But Roi Miseria revives with soulguard." Noboru said.

"Not done! By paying two gauge...Bal can attack again!" Gao said.

"Bal will do his best for Gao...and all who live under the sun! Bal Blaster...Granbolt!" Bal said firing once again.

1-0

Game over! Winner: Gao Mikado!

"That's game!" Hope said.

Later outside…

"I can't believe you beat Jexi! I'm still in shock!" Chie said.

"I had to go all out, or else Jexi would've blasted me with the Godgenesis. It sure wasn't an easy fight, but… I pulled it off." Hope said. "Sorry you can't face anyone in the finals, pal."

"Yeah...though I should be apologizing...that card I had in my hand...wasn't an impact." Jexi said.

"It wasn't the Godgenesis?!" Ochako asked.

"Nope." Jexi said holding a Holy Grail card. "It was this."

"You could've blocked Moon Bat with that and then finished me off... But you didn't. Why?" Hope asked.

"Simple. I wanted to see you give it your all. I wanted to see how far you've come in this game." Jexi said. "Besides, I can't exactly go all out in a card game. If it were a fight fight, I would have trounced you easily."

"Oh, please! The last fight we had, we had a draw!" Hope said.

"True but that doesn't mean I can't beat you with an arm behind my back." Jexi said.

"Either way, that was an excellent match you two." Ace said. "But I still can't believe Gao is moving...I think we should throw a going away party for him."

"Nah, as much as I wanna throw a party for him, I don't wanna keep him from the states. But, that doesn't mean we'll come back." Hope said. "Besides, the book on Gao is almost closing. I think a new chapter is coming for this world soon."

"The way you said it kinda sounds poetic." David said. "Speaking of which...my match against Shade is next. I remember my confrontation with him like it was yesterday."

"You promised him that you'd fight him for real sometime, right? I can't wait to see that fight." Hope said.

"Is that the last match for the semifinals?" Al asked.

"Yep. Whoever wins that match faces Gao and Hope in the finals." Jexi said.

"Well, win or lose, give it your best out there, David." Ace said.

David nodded at this. "I remember that guy. On my first trip to this world, he was brutalizing every opponent he came across, even going as far as tearing up other people's decks."

"How horrible…" Aluche said.

"From what I realized during our battle, he was a slave in his universe, and all of that anger and rage was bubbling up inside him. He took it out on everyone he came across." David said. "It took our battle for him to realize that all it did was turn him into the very thing he despised. I started to realize that...it would've been any of us if we were in his situation. The fact that he has changed for the better after that proves that he really has turned his life around. Come to think of it...I think he was the first villain that I had successfully reformed."

"You're right, everyone does deserve a second chance." Ace said.

"Still he's partnered up with Kyoya and it's hard to tell what that guy is thinking." Natsu said.

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow." Hope said.