The King Of Fighters

Naruto perched on top of a building, gazing down at the sprawling city of Tokyo below. The lights twinkled in the night, casting a sense of both wonder and isolation. So, I'm definitely not in our world anymore, he concluded, his mind processing the realization for what felt like the hundredth time.

It had taken him a while to figure out where he was. He had arrived in the city by taking the train, or more accurately, riding on top of it—something that vaguely reminded him of the Land of Spring, but much more advanced. After managing to find a map, he had stared at it for what seemed like hours, but everything about it was foreign. The layout of the continents was completely different, smaller than he remembered, and the names meant nothing to him.

How do I get back? he wondered, resting his head in his hand. He felt a deep sense of helplessness. Does anyone have power over space or something? He sighed deeply, the weight of being so far from home pressing on his chest. To make matters worse, there was no good news. The Kyuubi had disappeared with him, and while he had a fleeting hope that the fox wouldn't rampage in this strange world, the uncertainty lingered in the back of his mind. If it does return home or causes chaos here... I'm not sure I can stop it.

As he munched on the sandwich he had swiped, Naruto tried to push away the negative thoughts. He had no ID, no money, and no clear path forward. I'll figure it out, he tried to convince himself, though the words rang hollow. His stomach growled again, and he realized that this life was far from easy. His journey had led him here, but now that he was in this unfamiliar world, it seemed like every step brought him further away from the answers he needed.

Then, just as he was finishing his sandwich, he sensed it—a strong life force approaching. Naruto's head snapped up, his instincts immediately alert. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the streets. A figure emerged from the crowd, a large dark-skinned man with a striking blonde Mohawk. His appearance was unusual, to say the least—his fashion, especially, was unlike anything Naruto had ever seen.

At least I'm not that bad, Naruto thought with a wry smile. Despite his current situation, he still found amusement in the man's outlandish appearance. However, he didn't dare speak out of turn, not knowing how people in this world might react.

The man didn't seem to care about his oddities, continuing his stride with purpose. Naruto decided to follow, curiosity piquing his interest. The man headed for a bar on the far right corner of the street. As Naruto neared, his senses flared. There was another, far stronger energy coming from inside the bar. This energy... Naruto mused. It's unlike anything I've felt before. Guy was physically stronger, but this person has a much larger reserve of energy.

His curiosity getting the better of him, Naruto made the decision to enter. He dropped down from the rooftop and quickly transformed into a more average appearance—taking on the guise of a normal person, blending in as he walked out of the alleyway and towards the entrance of the bar. The sign above read "Illusion."

Naruto's pulse quickened as he walked through the door. He had no idea what kind of people or dangers awaited inside, but something told him that the answers he needed might be found here.

The inside of the bar was unlike any place Naruto had seen before. It had a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere—far from the chaotic party joints he was used to. Soft music played in the background, and patrons seemed content, enjoying their drinks, chatting, or casually dancing. It wasn't the kind of place where you'd expect a fight to break out, but Naruto's instincts told him something was about to happen.

He scanned the room and quickly located his target. A large, dark-skinned man with a striking blonde Mohawk, Birdie, was sitting across from a woman dressed in men's clothing. The woman—King—appeared calm and composed, her focus unwavering as Birdie attempted to engage her in conversation.

"Come on, love, why won't you give me a chance?" Birdie asked in a gruff tone, his words dripping with arrogance.

King, unfazed, paused for a moment before responding coolly, "Have you looked into a mirror? Let's forget about your looks and go to the main point. I'm just not interested, and you will never be the one, even if I was. So stop disturbing me, or else I'll send you to the hospital."

Birdie's face contorted with anger at the sharp rejection, his voice rising in frustration. "I've been nice to you for too long that you actually think you're good enough to fight me. Do you even know who I am?"

He slammed his fist onto the table, causing the bar to fall into an uncomfortable silence. Naruto's hand instinctively reached for his kunai, ready to step in and stop the situation before it escalated. But before he could make a move, King acted swiftly. With the precision of a trained fighter, she unleashed an axe kick aimed at Birdie's shoulder.

The impact was swift and brutal—Birdie crashed to the floor with a sickening crack, his bones creaking under the force of the blow. Naruto's eyes widened in admiration. Unlike Birdie, who had acted on raw instinct, King's attack had been controlled and reinforced with a powerful energy. It was a skill Naruto recognized, but he could tell that King had a far more refined approach to using energy.

"Stop causing trouble, or I'll break your limbs this time," King said, her voice calm but stern. She stood tall, facing Birdie with no sign of fear. "I know who you are, and it matters not."

She jumped back to her side of the table, her body language indicating that the matter was finished. She gestured for everyone in the bar to continue with their activities, unfazed by the disruption. Birdie, enraged but clearly in pain, slowly got to his feet. Though he had been humiliated, he realized that pushing any further would only bring him more suffering.

"I'll make her pay. No one gets away with hurting Birdie," he muttered, his anger bubbling over as he stomped towards the door. "I'll just inform that bastard Balrog, and she'll come running to Birdie."

Naruto watched the large man leave with a sense of disinterest. This guy's completely incompetent, Naruto thought, his judgment forming quickly. He's not evil, just a loud, overconfident fool. There's no need to waste my time on him.

Naruto decided against following Birdie any further. Instead, he turned back toward the bar and made his way to an empty seat across from King. He sat down, his posture casual, though his curiosity about the woman was piqued.

King didn't look surprised by his presence, nor did she acknowledge him at first. The atmosphere in the bar returned to normal as patrons resumed their conversations and activities, but Naruto's attention remained fixed on King. Her calm demeanor, coupled with the way she had handled Birdie, suggested there was far more to her than met the eye.

"Mind if I join you?" Naruto asked, breaking the silence between them.

King turned to look at him, her gaze sharp and assessing. "Do you have business here, or are you just looking for trouble?" she asked, her voice as steady as before.

Naruto leaned back in his chair, giving a small, friendly smile. "I was just curious. That guy… he didn't seem like much. But you? You're something else."

King's expression softened slightly, though her eyes still held an air of caution. "I deal with people like him all the time. They're loud, they make threats, but in the end, they're just talk." Her eyes flicked briefly to the door where Birdie had exited. "They never learn."

Naruto nodded, sensing that she was someone who had dealt with similar situations countless times before. "So, what do you do around here?" he asked, trying to engage her without coming off too eager.

King's lips curved into a faint smirk. "I handle problems," she said simply. "Sometimes that means dealing with guys like Birdie. Other times, it's something more complicated."

Naruto felt a strange sense of understanding. He was far from home, and though he didn't fully know the rules of this world, he sensed that King might be someone who could help him find answers—or at least give him some direction.

"Well," Naruto began, leaning forward with a glint of determination in his eyes, "maybe I have a problem that could use some handling."

Naruto sat across from King, his eyes scanning her figure carefully. He could sense something unique about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She exuded strength, and her confidence was undeniable. Despite the initial tension in the air, Naruto felt a connection as he spoke to her. His tone remained friendly, warm even, as he said, "Hello, my name is Naruto. May I know your name?"

King didn't immediately respond, but her eyes fixed on him with an assessing gaze. After a moment, she spoke in a calm, measured tone, "You have guts and strength to attempt the same thing—or you're just not right in the head."

Naruto, ever the optimist, chuckled lightly. "I just want to be friends, so I don't need guts for something like that." He paused for a second, thinking about the energy King had used earlier. "I want to ask, though. What is that energy you used?"

King blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly. She had felt something strange from Naruto when they spoke, but now, as he looked at her, she could feel it more clearly—an unrefined strength emanating from him. His energy wasn't fully controlled, but there was something raw and potent about it.

What power? How did I not feel it before? King thought to herself, startled. She was quick to recover, her demeanor still calm. An enemy or just an admirer?

Naruto noticed her change in expression, but he didn't overthink it. He smiled casually. "I'm just curious. I've never come across something like that before. I want to know more."

King considered his words before answering, "It's called Ki. It's the energy formed from the physical force of the body, and it requires extensive training to acquire unless you're a blessed individual." Her voice remained steady, with a hint of caution. She was no stranger to danger but sensed no immediate threat from him.

Naruto listened intently, his curiosity growing. "Thanks for the honest answer. I'm sorry to disturb you, but do you know where I can find more people who use Ki, or any abilities like that?" His gaze remained steady, though his mind was racing with possibilities. He had to learn more, to see if there was a way to harness this energy himself, or perhaps find a way back home.

King leaned back in her chair slightly, considering his question. "I know a few, but not many. And I can't share their information, as it's private." She gave him a pointed look before continuing, her voice calm but resolute. "If you want to see different abilities, the King of Fighters tournament is your best bet."

"King of Fighters?" Naruto echoed, confused but intrigued. "What's that?"

King's lips curved slightly, as if amused by his lack of knowledge. "The King of Fighters is a tournament that gathers the strongest fighters from all around the world. It's a place where you can see many different abilities. The last tournament ended on a bad note, but it became a worldwide phenomenon, and this time, it's going to be even bigger."

Naruto's eyes lit up, his interest piqued. "That sounds like something I'd like. But how do I get in?" He paused, sensing there was more. "I take it there's a catch?"

King nodded. "You'll need a reputation to earn an invitation. I've never heard your name, so you'll need to enter smaller tournaments and street fights to get people's attention." She took a sip from her drink, her eyes never leaving him. "Start from the ground up, and you'll eventually make it to the top."

Naruto's mind was already racing. A tournament to prove myself? And I can learn more about Ki along the way? That's perfect. I love a good challenge.

He smiled brightly, not a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Thanks for the explanation. Do you know of any tournament I can enter right now?"

King raised an eyebrow, taking in his eager expression. She studied him for a moment, her mind calculating. He looks like a rookie, doesn't know much about Ki, and his control over it is almost nonexistent. But... his posture and presence tell a different story. He's had some combat experience—maybe more than he lets on. She set her drink down and nodded. "There's a local tournament happening tonight. It's not much, but it's a start. You can enter there. It's a good place to get noticed, and you might even win a few fights."

Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement as he nodded vigorously. "Thanks, King!