The King Of Fighters

Naruto's eyes sparkled with determination as he spoke. "From what I heard, they don't sound good, so if I come across them, I'll handle them. And if they have databases of fighters, they must have databases on all kinds of abilities. I want to break into their base if possible." His voice carried a curious excitement, the same adventurous spirit that had driven him to explore unknown worlds back in his ninja days.

King studied him carefully, her expression softening. She understood that feeling—the thrill of uncovering hidden knowledge. The idea of breaking into an enemy base, not just for the thrill of it but to find powerful secrets, resonated with him deeply. He was no stranger to such pursuits. In his past, with Jiraiya, Naruto had raided several organizations in the ninja world, uncovering powerful jutsus and forbidden techniques. Some of those discoveries had been invaluable, though not without their risks.

King leaned back slightly, considering his words. "I know it seems useful, but the risk is too great. They have very strong fighters—fighters who could even take down demons, if they were willing to sacrifice their main fighters. Do you understand how dangerous it could get if you pushed them too much? They were fighting against countries and whole organizations."

Naruto's grin didn't waver. "Relax, King. I know my limits and would never act without thinking. I'll attack when an opportunity presents itself. I'm not going to go hunt them down or anything." His voice carried a casual confidence, but there was an underlying seriousness to it as well. He understood the risks, but he also understood that the greatest risks often yielded the greatest rewards.

King's gaze softened slightly, but her concern didn't wane. "Even then, you'll be on their wanted list. Ryu and Kyo face attacks every week. Are you okay with living a life where danger can strike at any moment?"

Naruto's expression didn't change, his resolve still unwavering. "I'm used to that kind of life. It won't matter much. Besides, now I have subordinates to help me out." He said this matter-of-factly, as if the presence of allies was just another facet of his growing journey.

King sighed inwardly, recognizing the determination in his words. It was the same kind of unwavering resolve that she had seen in fighters like Terry and Ryu—individuals who refused to back down, no matter the danger. She had long been accustomed to such attitudes, but she also knew the toll it could take. Even she, with all her years of experience, had moments where peace seemed more appealing than the constant fight.

"I understand," King said softly, "but what do you intend to do with them? These organizations can't be trusted, you know."

Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement as he replied. "I intend to use them for practice. You see, I'm going to be the leader of my village someday. This experience will help me out. I want to earn my keep, manage forces and properties. With them as the starting point, I can gather more fighters, build up my strength, and evolve my fighting style. I'm just starting to grow now, so this is the perfect time." His words carried a raw energy, the kind that came with a person ready to step into a new phase of their life.

King listened intently, watching as his excitement grew. He was already strong, perhaps stronger than most fighters she knew, but his ambition was something else. If he was just beginning to grow, the peak of martial arts was within his reach. She couldn't help but be impressed, even if a part of her wondered if he was simply boasting. But there was something in the way he spoke, a conviction that made it hard to doubt him.

"Well, if you want to train," King said, her voice taking on a more practical tone, "you can go to the mountains and nature for bigger purposes. But if you're looking to polish your fighting style without causing massive damage, there are many gyms for people like us."

Naruto pondered for a moment before responding. "Hmm, I'll need both, but first, I'll go with the nature one."

King nodded. "Your choice, but remember to be careful. You won't be the only one out there."

"I will keep that in mind," Naruto replied, his grin widening. "And thank you, King. You really are the best. From this day on, you're my friend. If you ever need help, just call me, and I'll come running without hesitation."

Before King could react, Naruto stood up, wrapped her in a tight hug, and spun her around in the chair, causing her to laugh in surprise. He set her down gently, his grin infectious.

"No problem," King smiled, still chuckling at his energetic display. "It's nothing, really. So don't go overboard on me. But yes, we're friends."

Naruto's face softened as he gave her a final nod. "Well, I'll see you later."

"Take care," King called as he turned to leave.

As Naruto walked out of her apartment, King couldn't help but smile. He was an unpredictable whirlwind, a force of nature. Whatever he set his sights on, it was clear he wasn't going to back down. She had no doubt that his journey would be one to watch. The world had just gained another person who wouldn't be content until they had reached the peak of their potential.

Naruto walked the bustling streets of Tokyo, his mind a swirling mix of thoughts and emotions. The world around him seemed so familiar, yet so foreign. He didn't belong here, but somehow, here he was. As he passed by neon signs, street vendors, and busy commuters, his thoughts drifted back to the chaos of his arrival.

He'd appeared in this world without any clue of how or why, after chasing someone through a portal. That portal had been his only link to his old world, his village, his people. But now, everything felt different. Kyuubi was missing, and he could feel the absence of the Nine-Tails in a way that was both physical and emotional. His body felt stronger, faster even, yet restrained. His power had been altered somehow, a feeling of being incomplete gnawing at him. He had lost something important.

A dream from the night before crept into his mind—a vision of a man from Akatsuki, a powerful figure who seemed to wield shockwaves that covered vast ranges. The memory was too vivid to be just a normal dream. In his past, Naruto had never experienced dreams like that. His dreams were usually filled with darkness, with thoughts of Kyuubi, ramen, or becoming Hokage. Dreams about his own ambitions and fears. But this was different. This dream felt real, as if it were a memory, a moment from his past. But whose memory was it?

Naruto paused at a street corner, his brow furrowing as the thought took root. "On a scale of 1 to 100, that seemed pretty messed up," he thought to himself, shaking his head slightly. He had always been someone who could laugh through pain, but this… this felt like something deeper, something more unsettling.

"Okay, think," Naruto muttered to himself, trying to piece things together. The man in his dream wasn't someone he knew. It was a memory, but it didn't fit with his usual recollections. Could someone have placed false memories inside of him? Or had he forgotten them due to some kind of trauma? His mind raced, trying to fit the pieces into a coherent picture.

"Where were they fighting?" he wondered. "Most likely inside a city, and not just any city… Konoha. I'm pretty sure it was Konoha." The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. If the man in his dream was connected to the destruction of Konoha, then Naruto's memories were more fragmented than he thought. He had jumped through that portal, but now he was left with nothing but gaps.

"Someone must have messed with my memories," Naruto muttered, his eyes narrowing as the pieces began to form. "But it wouldn't make sense for it to be false. The last thing I remember is jumping through the portal, right before everything went to hell. So… if I take the most likely outcome, I probably forgot because of the trauma. My mind is trying to protect me from it."

The more Naruto thought about it, the more his stomach twisted with anxiety. If Konoha was destroyed by this man, then what had happened to the people he loved? Kakashi, Sakura, Hinata, everyone—had they survived? Did anyone make it out?

"They must have survived," he whispered to himself, trying to hold onto hope. "If I'm here, then they must have made it. Maybe it's because of Kakashi's space-time jutsu. If something went wrong with it, this could be the result." The thought was comforting, but not entirely reassuring. "But I can't think too much about it. I need to stay focused."

He breathed deeply, forcing his mind to calm. "Okay, let's stay positive. No need to let bad thoughts take over." He had faced darkness before, accepted it, and used it as fuel to move forward. But this? This was different. This was his home, his village, and he had no idea if it was still standing, if his friends were safe.

"Jiraiya would want me to stay strong," Naruto thought, recalling his old sensei's words. "Don't turn away from your pain. Face it, accept it, and keep moving forward. That's the only way."

He exhaled slowly, finding some measure of peace in the decision. His friends were strong. They could survive. But he couldn't afford to waste time. He had two years, two years to figure this out and return to them before it was too late. "They'll be okay, I just need to make sure I get back before things get worse."

Naruto stopped in front of an electronics store, his attention momentarily caught by a display showing the Spiderman movie. His lips twitched into a smile as he looked at the screen. "I went to the movies just last week in my memories. I wonder how good the movies are in this world."

A sense of nostalgia washed over him. In his past life, he had always enjoyed action-packed movies with some romance or comedy thrown in. It was a simple pleasure, one that reminded him of the life he had before everything turned upside down. It was moments like this, small and quiet, that helped him find balance amid the chaos.

Naruto wasn't particularly fond of the horror genre. The scares never seemed to hit the mark for him—after all, in the ninja world, real threats were far more terrifying than any movie could conjure up. The terrifying, life-or-death stakes of a mission or an unexpected attack always kept his senses sharp. Horror films felt like child's play in comparison, and honestly, only normal civilians seemed to enjoy them. In his experience, ninjas didn't get scared easily; they'd trained their minds and bodies to handle far worse things.

Still, there was something curious about the film world in this new world. The people here were from all kinds of backgrounds, and the action scenes, while sometimes exaggerated, were real in a sense. The special effects and technology behind them were fascinating. In his world, technology was still behind in many areas, even though they had electricity, radios, computers, and guns. Cameras and game consoles existed, but vehicles like automobiles weren't common in the ninja world—ninja could move faster than the machines, and those machines weren't practical in a world of constant conflict.

The lack of cars was one of the reasons why tech had remained underdeveloped. Most of the focus was on magical powers, combat techniques, and other arcane practices. The ninja world had its share of advanced biological science, though, particularly in medical research, as many powerful families sought ways to enhance their bloodlines and perfect their warriors through biology rather than technology.

Naruto paused, feeling his thoughts start to spiral again. He needed to calm his mind before he drove himself to exhaustion. "Right, I shouldn't forget to relax or I'll end up doing more harm to my body than good." He couldn't afford to lose balance, not when his body and mind were in such unfamiliar territory. Jiraiya's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him about the importance of moderation.

"Balance in life," Naruto muttered to himself. That had been one of his sensei's key teachings. It was easy to get lost in the intensity of training or the rush of battle, but in the long run, pushing too hard could lead to burnout. His original plan had been to train steadily and enjoy the world he found himself in at a moderate pace, learning new things and growing into the leader he aspired to be. There was plenty of time ahead of him to become stronger, and he had to pace himself, especially if he intended to travel the world, gaining experience and wisdom from different cultures.

He smiled to himself as he thought about Eliza. She had the knowledge he needed about the enemies he might face, and with her help, he could form strategies that would give him the upper hand. As much as Naruto enjoyed fighting, he knew that strategy and preparation were just as important. "I'll talk to her soon. We can start planning. Then I can focus on my jutsu. It's only a matter of time before I master them all."

Naruto had confidence in his abilities. He'd trained in the most difficult conditions, and his control over chakra had become top-notch. With his newfound control, he knew he'd master his jutsu in no time. The hand seals would come naturally to him, and his training would be all the more efficient without the limitations he used to face.

Taking a deep breath and stretching his arms above his head, Naruto steeled himself for the next step in his journey. He had a lot to do, but it was all part of his growth. With his resolve firm, he turned and headed back to meet up with Mad Gear. There were new challenges ahead, but he was ready. There was no time to waste.

"Time to get to work," Naruto thought as he moved toward his next destination.