The King Of Fighters

King leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as the tension in the room simmered beneath the surface. The conversation between her and the other women carried a charged undercurrent, shaped by their shared but tumultuous histories. The small office, with its peeling wallpaper and outdated furnishings, was illuminated by the soft, flickering glow of a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. It wasn't luxurious, but it was hers, a sanctuary carved out from the chaos of the slums.

Her mind was preoccupied with Naruto. She couldn't shake the gnawing concern for him. The thought of leaving him behind to fight Eliza, a foe whose aura reminded her of Rugal—one of the most fearsome enemies she had ever encountered—left her uneasy. It wasn't that she doubted Naruto's strength; his potential was undeniable, and he had already proven himself. But the sheer power Eliza exuded was a force that could turn even the most confident fighter's stomach.

Roxy, lounging lazily on the sofa with one arm draped over the backrest, broke the silence first. "Sis, what are we going to do now?" Her voice was light, almost disinterested, a stark contrast to the tension King felt.

King glanced at her, feeling a flicker of irritation at the younger woman's nonchalance. "We're waiting for him," she said simply, though the weight in her voice betrayed her concern.

Poison, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her chin propped on her hand, finally spoke up. "We'll wait for the new boss," she said, her tone surprisingly calm.

King's eyes narrowed, surprised by the remark. "I thought you'd be the first one to bolt before he came back," she said, her tone laced with suspicion.

Poison gave a dry laugh, flipping her middle finger casually in King's direction. "I trust my taste in men," she said with a smirk, not missing a beat.

King raised an eyebrow at that. "I thought you only slept with simps."

"Here's a finger for you," Poison shot back, wiggling her extended digit for emphasis. "As for my taste? I like strong men. If you didn't know, I even offered myself to Terry once. Of course, he turned me down—too much of a gentleman. And, well, I wasn't willing to risk getting my ass kicked by his 'bitch,' as you so eloquently put it."

King's lips thinned, her hands curling into fists on the desk. "Watch your mouth before I throw you out into the streets," she warned, her voice steely. "And remember, Mary is my friend. Now, tell me what your plans are with Naruto."

Poison shrugged, unfazed by King's growing agitation. "Nothing. What do you expect us to do, huh? Control him? He could snap our pretty little necks like twigs if he wanted to. We're not fearless warriors like you, girl." Her smirk was as sharp as the words that left her lips.

Roxy, who had been scrolling on her phone, finally chimed in, her voice tinged with annoyance. "She's right, sis. Naruto's not someone we can mess with. And frankly, I don't see why you're so worked up. He'll be fine. Probably already won."

King inhaled deeply, her mind flashing back to memories she had tried to bury. Images of her hometown, battles where she had faced impossible odds, friends nearly dying against foes that should have been insurmountable—it all bubbled to the surface. She slammed her hands on the desk, the sound echoing through the room.

"Do you even realize what kind of enemy we're talking about here?" she snapped, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. "This isn't just some thug or criminal. Eliza is... she's something else. If Naruto doesn't take her seriously, he could—"

"He won't lose," Poison interrupted firmly, her gaze meeting King's with surprising conviction. "You've seen him fight. He's not like anyone we've met before. If anything, Eliza's the one who should be worried."

The clock on the wall ticked loudly, marking the passage of time. Ten minutes had passed since the fight had begun. King clenched her fists, her heart heavy with doubt and anticipation. All she could do now was wait and hope that when Naruto returned, it wouldn't be with news that reminded her of the nightmares she'd spent years trying to forget.

Naruto stepped into the room, his presence as casual as ever, despite the lingering tension from the earlier battle. "I'm done," he said, brushing off some dust from his jacket as he entered through the window.

The intrusion, however, was enough to spark King's reflexes. Without hesitation, she lashed out, sending a precise Qi wave from her leg. The energy crackled through the air like a blade, aimed directly at Naruto.

"Whoa!" Naruto exclaimed, instinctively raising his forearms enhanced with chakra to block the strike. The impact sent a dull ache through him, reminding him of King's impressive power. Without chakra reinforcement, he knew the attack could have easily injured him.

King crossed her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "Next time, come through the door. People like us have to stay on guard, so reactions like that are necessary."

Naruto grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry about that. Old habits, you know? I'll try to remember next time."

King gave a small sigh, glancing down at the stains on her carpet caused by the coffee she had spilled during the sudden commotion. "Just be careful," she said, brushing off the moment. "So, how did it go? The battle looked intense."

Naruto settled into a chair, exhaling deeply. "We fought to a compromise, and now we're friends. Turns out she had some valuable information I needed, so it worked out for the best." His tone was light, almost relieved. For the first time in a while, he felt like he had a clear path forward.

King arched an eyebrow. "Friends? With a demon? Can you trust her? I've dealt with creatures like that before, and let me tell you, none of them are trustworthy."

Naruto's expression grew serious. "I'm pretty good at reading people. She's not evil—not in the way you're thinking. She's just... different. And right now, she needs me as much as I need her."

King considered his words, the skepticism still evident in her posture. "It's your choice, but I'd prefer it if you kept her far from my place. I've seen enough trouble from demons to last a lifetime."

Naruto nodded, respecting her boundaries. "Fair enough. By the way, have you ever heard of her? Her name is Eliza."

King frowned, racking her memory for any mention of someone with such power. "No, nothing comes to mind. What's her story?"

"She's resting somewhere for now," Naruto replied, his stomach growling audibly. He scratched his head in embarrassment. "Speaking of which, any chance I could get some food? I'm starving."

King suppressed a small smile, her demeanor softening slightly. "Wait here." She left the room and headed to arrange food for him.

As she placed the order, she pulled out her phone and sent a message to Chizuru Kagura, the priestess of the Kagura clan. If anyone could provide insight into a powerful demon like Eliza, it was Chizuru. Her clan's mastery of sealing and divination was legendary, and King trusted her judgment implicitly.

Her thoughts drifted momentarily to Chizuru's ongoing efforts to mediate between Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami, two powerful but rival warriors whose clans were embroiled in ancient animosity. King couldn't help but draw parallels. The idea of making peace with someone as unpredictable as a demon felt equally daunting.

Three demons are already too much for this world. King's mind flitted to Akuma, Jin, and Kazuya—beings whose immense power and inner darkness had left indelible marks on the world.

She shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside. I hope Chizuru's holding up. King sighed, feeling the weight of it all. Whatever the future held, she knew Naruto was a wildcard, someone who could either bring balance or chaos. All she could do now was wait and see where his path would lead.

With King out of the room, Poison and Roxy exchanged glances, clearly expecting some kind of reaction or interaction from Naruto. However, his exhaustion had taken over. He barely acknowledged their presence, slumping onto a chair as if the weight of the day had finally caught up to him.

"I'll just make the seal now and call it a day. We can discuss everything else tomorrow," Naruto muttered, yawning. His voice was heavy, his mind burdened by the whirlwind of events. From waking up in a strange world to fighting formidable foes and navigating intense emotions, he was nearing his limit.

"Okay," the two women responded in unison, stepping forward. To his surprise—and annoyance—both Poison and Roxy began shedding their clothes, their actions deliberate and teasing.

Naruto's tired eyes widened for a moment before narrowing in disbelief. "You didn't need to do that. Just your hands would've worked," he said, his gaze instinctively following the bold movements.

"All of this belongs to you now, Boss," Poison said with a sly smile, placing a finger below her navel. "I want the seal right here."

"And I want mine here," Roxy chimed in, her mischievous grin growing wider as she gestured toward the inside of her thigh. The two of them radiated a confidence born of their lifestyle—a mix of dominance and submission that they wielded as a form of flirtation and power play.

Naruto exhaled sharply, his weariness momentarily overshadowed by their antics. They're testing me, he thought, noting the provocative tone in their voices and the way they leaned into the moment.

Despite their efforts to stir him, Naruto remained steady. Not my first rodeo, ladies. He bit his finger, the metallic taste of blood briefly grounding him, and began inscribing seals on their chosen spots.

Poison and Roxy took every opportunity to make it as uncomfortable as possible for him, moaning exaggeratedly with every brush of his finger. Naruto kept his face impassive, though a flicker of irritation crossed his mind. I might need to whip them into shape before they think they can keep testing my patience.

After finishing the seals, Naruto sighed, ignoring their playful smirks. He gathered himself enough to eat the food King had arranged, grateful for the meal after such a taxing day. His stomach full, he finally allowed himself to collapse onto the bed. The fatigue he had been pushing aside hit him like a tidal wave, and he sank into the mattress.

As he lay there, his mind wandered. I wonder how everyone is doing back home. How's Master? And Sasuke—what's he up to these days? A flood of memories and questions threatened to pull him deeper into a restless state.

"Sleep," he muttered aloud, forcing himself to block out the noise of his own thoughts. "No need to think right now."

In a foreign place, far from everything he knew, Naruto finally closed his eyes. For the first time since his arrival in this strange world, he let himself drift into unconsciousness, his mind and body succumbing to the rest they so desperately needed.