The King Of Fighters

Naruto stood confidently, his wide grin displaying his pride as he observed their reactions. His joy was evident, and he enjoyed the mix of awe, excitement, and surprise in their expressions.

"How was it?" he asked, his voice full of energy.

"That was so awesome!" Sakura exclaimed, her face lighting up as she rushed toward him. Ibuki and Mika followed close behind, equally enthusiastic. "How did you hit us? It wasn't wind!"

Naruto chuckled, enjoying their curiosity. "My power comes from nature itself," he explained, his tone casual but tinged with pride. "That means my attacks can come from all directions. It's not just physical force—it's an extension of the environment around me."

Zangief, always the powerhouse of the group, folded his massive arms and stepped forward. "That's impressive, but that's not muscle power. Show me the strength of your body," he challenged.

Naruto smirked. "Muscles, huh? Alright. Let's see if you're up to the task."

With a flick of his wrist, Naruto pulled a jacket out of his storage seal. The unassuming piece of clothing bore intricate seals carved into its fabric, glowing faintly with a mysterious energy.

"Try picking this up," Naruto said as he placed the jacket on the ground. "It starts at ten tons and can go up to ten thousand tons. I'm currently using it at its maximum setting."

The group stared at the jacket, puzzled. It looked like an ordinary garment, not something that could weigh more than a few kilograms.

Zangief crouched down and gripped the jacket with both hands. His muscles bulged, veins popping as he exerted his full strength. Despite his incredible power—capable of bench-pressing two thousand tons—the jacket didn't budge an inch.

"What… is this?" Zangief grunted, his voice strained as he pushed himself harder.

Mika stepped in to help, grabbing the jacket from the other side. Even with their combined strength, they couldn't lift it. Mika, who could lift up to five hundred tons, found herself equally stumped.

After several attempts, both fighters stopped, panting and on the verge of injury. Naruto watched with a triumphant smile, enjoying their shock.

"Are you ready to serve me now?" Naruto asked, his tone lighthearted but with an undeniable authority.

Zangief looked at the seemingly ordinary jacket, his mind racing. It was an impossible weight, yet Naruto had carried it effortlessly. He couldn't help but smile back at Naruto, his spirit ignited by the challenge. "I'm in," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

"Me too! Me too!" Mika chimed in, her enthusiasm infectious. She admired Naruto's flair and showmanship, the way he turned every moment into a spectacle. He wasn't just strong—he was inspiring, a true performer in the art of battle.

Naruto turned his attention to Laura, a playful smirk crossing his face. Lightning crackled around him, dancing across his body like a living beast. The electricity surged skyward before crashing down like a blade, obliterating a nearby tree in an instant.

"What about you, Laura?" he asked, his voice carrying both challenge and invitation.

Laura grinned, her eyes sparkling with admiration and excitement. "You just gave me the final push. How could I resist?" she said. "I'm in. Count me as your follower."

Naruto's gaze shifted to Sakura, who had been deep in thought. "And you?"

Sakura hesitated for only a moment before nodding firmly. "I accept your offer. I want to be your student."

Naruto's smile widened. He could see the determination in her eyes, the fire that burned within her. Sakura had made her decision not just to grow stronger but to stand as an equal beside Ryu, the man she admired and cared for deeply.

With their decisions made, Naruto stood at the center of the group, his aura radiating leadership and power. This was the beginning of something extraordinary—a team united by ambition, respect, and the drive to become stronger under the guidance of the legendary Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto stood tall, his gaze scanning the group with a serious, focused expression. His words carried weight as he asked, "Good, now did you guys call Ryu or not?" He turned to Laura, awaiting her response.

"I talked to Ken," Laura replied, her tone casual but earnest. "He said Ryu will arrive in three days, or a week at best." She paused, adjusting her stance. "Ken also showed interest in meeting you, but he left it to Ryu to decide. He trusts you, Naruto. But if you let them down, it could affect the trust between you all."

Naruto nodded in understanding. "I'm looking forward to meeting them," he said with a smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "But for now, let's focus on today's training."

He reached into his storage seal and pulled out several jounin jackets, each identical to the one he wore. "These are for you all," he said, tossing one to each person. "I've got plenty of these since they get destroyed in battle often, and I'm far from Konoha for resupply."

Each of them donned the jacket, adjusting it to their liking. Naruto then activated the seals on the garments, and a subtle but unmistakable pressure filled the air as the seals adjusted to their individual limits. He made sure to tailor the weight accordingly, pressing them without overwhelming their bodies.

Zangief's face twisted in concentration as he tested the weight, his body straining. Without the aid of Ki, he could only manage 200 tonnes, a number that would have been unfathomable for most. Mika, typically known for her agility and speed, felt the weight of 50 tonnes.

Laura, who focused more on speed and technique rather than raw strength, felt the same 50 tonnes as Mika, her body unaccustomed to such pressure. Sakura, similarly, struggled with the same weight. Ibuki, being more speed-oriented, found herself only able to handle 20 tonnes.

Naruto watched their expressions as they tested their limits, sensing their determination and resolve. "Surpassing human limits through the use of Ki is a basic for any decent fighter," he explained. "It helps stimulate the body to adapt and evolve, reaching new levels. Push yourself beyond the limits you think you have, and you will see the results."

"Now, sit down," Naruto instructed, his tone becoming more serious. "I want to show you something important today. You will face your darkness."

The group exchanged glances, confusion and curiosity in their eyes. Naruto's words were cryptic, yet there was a certain conviction in his voice that made them trust him.

"You don't have to fight it," Naruto continued, his voice calm but firm. "Darkness is yours, not someone else's. Denying it only makes it worse, and that's the root of Ryu's problem. He's been denying a part of himself, fearing it, and in doing so, he gives it more power over him."

The words sank into the group, and one by one, they followed his command, sitting down cross-legged on the ground. Despite the dust and rough terrain, none of them minded. They were used to harsh conditions, having trained their whole lives under similar circumstances.

Naruto then closed his eyes, making a series of hand seals. The moment his hands completed the intricate motions, the air around them shifted. The world around them began to blur, and the ground beneath them seemed to fade. They found themselves entering a new, strange realm—the world of their souls.

The new world mirrored the real one in every way. The environment was familiar, but the air felt heavier, charged with an ethereal energy. In the distance, their attention was drawn to the figures approaching them: dark clones of themselves. Their eyes were black and red, glowing with a malevolent aura. A heavy sense of dread filled the air as the clones' evil presence loomed closer.

"I've been waiting for you," a dark version of Zangief growled, his deep voice full of malice. The others saw similar figures of themselves, each exuding an aura of darkness, each echoing the same words: "Give me freedom!"

The group's eyes widened as the sinister clones spoke . It was clear that the darkness within them was taking form, and now, they had to face it. These were the manifestations of their deepest fears, regrets, and unresolved emotions.

The atmosphere grew thick with anticipation, and the pressure was almost suffocating. The training was no longer just about physical strength—it was a trial of the soul. Would they be able to confront their darkness, or would it consume them?

Laura stood alone in the vast, surreal landscape, the sea of trees around her only adding to the intensity of the moment. Her dark counterpart stood before her, an exact replica of her own form but with black eyes and an evil aura radiating from her body. The sight was unsettling, and the discomfort Laura felt in that instant was unlike anything she had experienced before.

Her mind flashed back to Naruto's words: "Accept your darkest thoughts and become one. Fighting will get you nowhere as it is a part of you." She turned her attention back to the dark version of herself, who stared at her with mocking amusement. The truth of Naruto's advice settled within her, and she realized this confrontation was not about physical strength—it was about facing parts of herself she had spent years denying.

"Come here, girl. Let's become one," Laura called out, her voice filled with newfound confidence. She opened her arms, willing to accept this version of herself.

The dark Laura sneered, her lips curling into a vicious grin. "And here I expected some self-reflection from a dumbass. How stupid of me. Kick the bucket already, and give me the body you pathetic wench."

Without warning, the dark version of Laura dashed forward with blinding speed, aiming a vicious strike at her eyes. It was a move that struck Laura as deeply underhanded, something she would never resort to. But in that moment, it was clear that this was her darkness at work—twisting her actions into something brutal and ruthless.

Laura's instincts kicked in. She blocked the strike with her right arm, the force of the blow reverberating through her body, and stopped the dark Laura's kick with her leg. Her left hand shot out for her shirt, but the dark version of herself reached for it as well, struggling for control.

"You can never defeat me. I am endless. You will only go crazy staying in my place," the dark Laura taunted, her voice dripping with venom.

A crackling bolt of lightning shot from the dark version, striking at Laura. The force of it was immense, but Laura matched the strike with her own, pushing against it until both forces collided and sent them both sprawling backward.

The dark Laura smirked, the air around her crackling with malignant energy. "Okay, we seem to have started on the wrong foot here. Open your heart, girl, and tell me what you really represent. I don't think I've ever suppressed any of my desires."

Laura took a step back, recognizing the futility of fighting the darkness. She couldn't simply destroy it. It was a part of her, and the longer she fought it, the more it would consume her.

The dark version of herself laughed bitterly. "Do you really not know? Hahaha, you really are a brainless failure, a warrior who can't even see their inner desires."

Laura's frustration mounted. "Stop bullshitting, open up with something real." Her irritation grew, especially since the dark version mirrored her every expression, her every movement. It felt like a twisted reflection of herself, mocking everything she had ever stood for.

The dark Laura's words cut through the tension like a knife. "I am your darkness. I am the desires you hide. The arrogance, the anger, the freedom you yearn for but suppress. I am the envy you hide behind your false humility. The lust you bury beneath your warrior's exterior. I am everything you refuse to embrace. While you are a chained soul, I represent total freedom."

The words echoed in Laura's mind, resonating with memories from her past. She remembered moments when her arrogance had flared, moments when she had wanted to lash out at her enemies with a fierceness that scared even her. She recalled the times she felt rage bubbling beneath the surface, yet she had always managed to suppress it, keeping it locked away.

Then there were the times when she had felt envy—envy for others' talents, envy for the victories that had eluded her. And the moments she had considered breaking the rules, even stepping into the shadowy realm of criminal activity, simply to survive. She had buried those thoughts, refusing to acknowledge them, telling herself she was a warrior above such things.

The lust, too, had always been there. The desire to connect, to feel the warmth of someone close, but as a warrior, she had always stifled it, telling herself that warriors didn't indulge in such things.

All of those thoughts and desires—things she had never acknowledged, never truly allowed herself to embrace—came flooding to the surface. It was uncomfortable. It felt wrong to see them laid bare, but deep down, Laura knew they were a part of her. She couldn't deny them any longer.

"Okay, I understand what you represent now," Laura said, her voice quieter, yet filled with a new kind of resolve. "And I accept all of it. You are me, and I am you. Those thoughts, those desires, they are mine. I will try to accommodate them."

The dark Laura's expression shifted, a smug grin spreading across her face. "Cool, let's hug."

Laura stared at her counterpart with a dull expression. Shit, this is too hard.

Fighting her dark side had proven to be far more complicated than she'd anticipated. For the next 30 minutes, Laura battled with herself, wrestling with her thoughts, her fears, and her desires. Despite her efforts, she couldn't bring herself to fully accept this part of herself—at least not yet. The darkness still clung to her, refusing to let go.

The fight was not over. The struggle for self-acceptance was just beginning.