Chapter 4: The Boy Who Outran His Destination
There were many advantages to being ridiculously fast.
Escaping dangerous situations was easier.
Traveling long distances became considerably less troublesome.
And chasing down enemies who thought running away would save them was almost entertaining.
Unfortunately, Naruto Uzumaki had just discovered one rather embarrassing disadvantage.
When someone was fast enough, getting distracted for even a few seconds could become a serious navigational problem.
Especially when that someone was in a hurry.
"Where the heck am I?!"
Naruto stood on the rooftop of an unfamiliar building, staring across a city that looked absolutely nothing like the Tokyo he remembered.
He had been rushing back after his encounter with Zangief, eager to speak with King about the fight and his chances of entering the King of Fighters tournament.
The excitement had gotten the better of him.
He had accelerated across the rooftops without bothering to moderate his speed, his thoughts entirely occupied by what he would tell King.
By the time he realized something was wrong, the familiar cityscape had vanished behind him.
He had passed through several districts, crossed an impressive stretch of countryside, and reached an entirely different city.
All before he had properly registered how far he was traveling.
Naruto stared at the distant buildings.
Then slowly covered his face.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
He looked back in the direction he had come from.
There was no chance of seeing Tokyo from here.
He wasn't even certain which city he had arrived in.
"Great! Just great!"
He kicked a loose pebble.
The stone shot across the rooftop, struck a concrete wall, and buried itself several centimeters into the surface.
Naruto stared at the damage.
"...Sorry."
Fortunately, nobody had witnessed that.
He crouched near the edge of the building and sighed.
It wasn't that he couldn't control his speed. He was perfectly capable of moving slowly or precisely when the situation demanded it.
The problem was that he hadn't been paying attention.
He had been in such a hurry that he simply ran.
And ran.
And kept running.
Until he found himself here.
"I should've just gone back to King without rushing."
He shook his head.
At least he knew the general direction of Tokyo. Returning wouldn't be difficult.
Besides, he had already arrived somewhere new.
It would be a shame not to look around.
Naruto straightened.
"Well, since I'm here..."
He formed a hand sign.
Transformation Technique!
A small cloud of smoke surrounded him.
When it cleared, the blond teenager had disappeared.
In his place stood a taller, broad-shouldered man with dark hair, a short beard, and the familiar features of Asuma Sarutobi.
However, rather than wearing the standard shinobi uniform, Naruto had chosen an orange hoodie and black jeans.
He inspected his new appearance.
"Not bad."
The clothing was inspired by several outfits he had noticed while exploring Japan.
He liked the orange hoodie.
It reminded him of his usual jacket.
And with Asuma's appearance, nobody would associate him with the blond teenager who had just fought Zangief.
Considering that the entire match had been recorded, a disguise seemed like a sensible precaution.
Naruto jumped down from the rooftop, landed in a deserted alley, and stepped into the street.
"All right. Time to explore!"
The city was noticeably quieter than Tokyo.
There were fewer towering buildings, less traffic, and considerably more open space between the shopping districts.
Naruto rather liked it.
The streets were clean, the people seemed relaxed, and the atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful.
More importantly, there was food.
Lots of food.
Naruto stopped beside a stall displaying a variety of fried snacks.
His stomach growled.
He stared.
The food stared back.
Well, technically, it didn't.
That would have been terrifying.
But Naruto was hungry enough to imagine it.
"Those look good."
The vendor smiled.
"Would you like some?"
Naruto checked his remaining money.
He had learned enough about the local currency to understand that he couldn't spend recklessly.
Still, a small snack wouldn't hurt.
"Sure!"
A few minutes later, he was walking down the street with a paper container of freshly fried food.
He took a bite.
His eyes widened.
"Whoa!"
The exterior was crispy, while the inside was soft and filled with a delicious mixture of ingredients.
He swallowed.
"Okay, that's good."
He tried another piece.
Then another.
By the time he reached the next street, the container was empty.
Naruto looked disappointed.
"Man. I should've bought more."
He remembered his dwindling money.
"...Never mind."
As he explored, he noticed something else.
The people here were remarkably diverse.
Different skin colors.
Different clothing styles.
Different languages.
He passed a group of tourists speaking English, overheard another conversation in Japanese, and encountered several people using languages he couldn't identify.
Naruto scratched his cheek.
How do they communicate when everybody speaks differently?
In the Elemental Nations, regional accents and dialects certainly existed, but this world seemed to possess an extraordinary variety of languages.
He wondered how travelers managed.
Perhaps everyone learned several languages.
Or perhaps they simply pointed at things until someone understood.
Naruto considered that possibility.
Actually, that's pretty much what I've been doing.
He chuckled.
Despite his circumstances, the city was proving enjoyable.
Nobody had attacked him.
Nobody was screaming.
No buildings were exploding.
And unlike the underground arena, nobody appeared particularly interested in watching strangers beat one another bloody.
For once, life seemed peaceful.
Naturally, that was when Naruto noticed a ninja.
A shadow crossed the rooftops above him.
Naruto looked up.
A figure was leaping between buildings, moving with practiced agility.
It was a young woman dressed in dark ninja clothing.
Her movements were quick, precise, and deliberately quiet.
Most people walking below never noticed her.
Naruto watched as she disappeared behind a rooftop structure.
Huh. Another ninja.
He focused his senses.
The young woman possessed a modest reserve of energy.
By the standards of the shinobi world, Naruto estimated that she was roughly comparable to a genin.
That didn't necessarily mean she was inexperienced.
Her movements suggested proper training, and her awareness was clearly better than that of an ordinary civilian.
Still, compared with King and Zangief, her energy reserves were considerably smaller.
Naruto considered following her.
Then dismissed the idea.
Nah. Not worth causing trouble.
He knew how touchy ninja organizations could be about outsiders investigating their members.
He had experienced enough clan politics in Konoha to understand that following a stranger through the rooftops might be interpreted as an act of hostility.
And he had absolutely no interest in starting an argument with some unknown ninja clan.
Besides, if she's important, I'll probably run into her again.
He continued walking.
A few minutes later, another unusual encounter interrupted his exploration.
"Be careful where you walk."
Naruto stopped.
He had nearly collided with someone.
Well, not literally.
His senses had detected the person long before they came close.
But his attention had been occupied by the surrounding shops, and he hadn't bothered changing direction until the stranger spoke.
"Sorry!"
Naruto stepped aside.
Then he looked at the person.
And blinked.
The stranger was a slender young man with pale hair and delicate, almost feminine features.
His red clothing was stylish and unusual, immediately distinguishing him from the surrounding pedestrians.
His expression was serene.
Pleasant, even.
Yet Naruto sensed something beneath that calm exterior.
Power.
Not overwhelming.
Not enough to make Naruto genuinely concerned.
But significant.
More importantly, there was something unsettling about the man's energy.
It felt different from King's controlled Ki and Zangief's dense physical force.
Naruto studied him.
Interesting.
The stranger smiled.
"No harm done."
His voice was light and polite.
Yet his eyes remained fixed on Naruto for a fraction longer than necessary.
Naruto noticed.
He knows I'm a fighter.
The man appeared equally interested in him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then several companions approached.
One called out to the white-haired man, who turned toward them.
He exchanged a few words with his companions before looking back at Naruto.
"Enjoy your evening."
He gave a small wave.
Naruto returned it.
"You too!"
The group continued down the street.
Naruto watched them disappear into the crowd.
His expression became thoughtful.
Another strong fighter, huh?
He briefly considered investigating.
But why?
The stranger hadn't threatened him.
Hadn't behaved suspiciously beyond showing a little curiosity.
And Naruto wasn't interested in following people simply because they possessed unusual abilities.
If he's a martial artist, chances are he'll show up at some tournament.
Naruto smiled.
"Guess I'll find out eventually."
He glanced toward the sky.
The evening was getting late.
And he had already wasted enough time.
"Right! Back to King."
This time, he carefully calculated his direction.
Then he took a breath.
"No getting distracted."
He accelerated.
But unlike before, he moderated his speed.
The buildings blurred.
The streets vanished behind him.
And Naruto headed toward Tokyo without accidentally crossing half the country.
Progress.
Wonderful progress.
"You're becoming rather famous."
Naruto blinked.
He was sitting across from King inside Illusion, having returned to his normal appearance before entering.
The blond teenager stared at the thin rectangular device in her hand.
On its screen, a video was playing.
His fight with Zangief.
More specifically, the moment he struck the Russian wrestler with his Rasengan.
Naruto leaned closer.
"Hey! That's me!"
King gave him a flat look.
"Yes, Naruto. I'm aware."
"How'd they get that?"
"Cameras."
"Right."
He watched himself move across the screen.
The footage was remarkably clear.
Even his rapid movements had been captured, although several sections appeared blurred.
He frowned.
"These cameras are pretty good."
King smiled.
"You're missing the point."
"What point?"
"Your fight has been uploaded to the official Street Fighters website. It's already spreading across the internet."
Naruto looked at her.
"The what?"
"The internet."
"...Right."
King sighed.
"You really don't know much about modern technology, do you?"
Naruto scratched his cheek.
"Not exactly my specialty."
That was putting it mildly.
King watched him study the screen.
He's certainly unusual.
She had met martial artists who lived far removed from modern civilization.
Ryu, for example, spent considerable time wandering and training rather than concerning himself with technology.
Perhaps Naruto had experienced something similar.
It would explain his unfamiliarity with mobile phones, websites, and everyday aspects of modern society.
Although it still didn't explain his extraordinary power.
King turned the screen toward him again.
"Regardless, you've definitely made an impression. Your popularity is climbing surprisingly quickly."
Naruto grinned.
"Really?"
"Yes. People are already discussing the mysterious teenager who challenged Zangief."
"Awesome!"
"Some believe you're a newly trained fighter. Others think you belong to a secret martial arts school."
Naruto laughed nervously.
"People sure come up with weird ideas."
King looked at him.
"Do they?"
He wisely changed the subject.
"So how many more people do I need to beat?"
King chuckled.
"You're certainly enthusiastic."
"Well, I want to enter that tournament!"
"One or two more impressive matches might be enough to attract serious attention. But an invitation isn't guaranteed."
Naruto nodded.
"That's not too bad."
King studied him.
"Don't underestimate Zangief just because you managed to surprise him."
Naruto frowned.
"Why would I?"
"Because your attack clearly hurt him, and you seemed rather pleased with yourself."
"Well, yeah. He's really tough!"
King smiled.
"Tough is putting it mildly. Zangief is one of the finest grapplers in the world. His body has been conditioned to an extraordinary degree."
Naruto listened.
"When he's serious, his durability is exceptional. There are even accounts of him enduring attacks comparable to missile strikes without serious injury."
Naruto whistled.
"Seriously?"
"Yes. That Rasengan of yours was impressive, but Zangief was treating the match as an exhibition until you caught him by surprise."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully.
That made sense.
He hadn't been fighting seriously either.
The cage was simply too small.
And Zangief had been focused on entertaining the crowd rather than immediately ending the match.
Naruto remembered the Russian wrestler crushing his Rasengan between his hands.
That was pretty impressive.
The technique contained a tremendous amount of rotational force.
Disrupting it through raw strength and carefully directed energy required exceptional physical power.
Naruto smiled.
"I'd like to fight him again."
King shook her head.
"Of course you would."
Naruto leaned forward.
"Actually, King, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"How strong do you think I am compared to the other fighters around here?"
King considered the question.
"I haven't seen you fight seriously, so I can't give you an accurate assessment."
Naruto nodded.
"Fair enough."
"However, based on what I've observed, you seem to possess an advantage in speed and energy reserves over many fighters."
"And strength?"
"Your physical strength is impressive, but I don't know its limits."
She paused.
"Against most ordinary professional fighters, I'd expect you to have a considerable advantage."
Naruto grinned.
"But?"
King smiled.
"But there are monsters in this world, Naruto. People whose abilities go far beyond what you saw tonight."
His grin widened.
"Now you're making me excited."
"That wasn't my intention."
"I know!"
King sighed.
She was beginning to understand why people like Terry Bogard enjoyed traveling so much.
There was a certain appeal to meeting ridiculous individuals who considered dangerous fights a form of recreation.
Naruto suddenly snapped his fingers.
"I've got an idea!"
King raised an eyebrow.
"Should I be worried?"
"Probably not."
"That isn't reassuring."
"Why don't we fight?"
King blinked.
Naruto continued enthusiastically.
"Not a serious fight or anything. Just some sparring. You can tell me where I need to improve, and maybe recommend opponents I should challenge."
King leaned back.
"That's actually not a bad suggestion."
"Really?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"But I have something better."
Naruto tilted his head.
King placed a phone on the table and slid it toward him.
"Take this."
Naruto examined it.
A black rectangular device with a smooth, reflective surface.
He had seen people carrying similar things throughout Japan.
Some used them to talk.
Others stared at them for hours.
Apparently, the machines were incredibly interesting.
Naruto picked it up.
"What's this?"
King stared.
Then slowly smiled.
"You really did grow up somewhere remote."
Naruto laughed awkwardly.
"Something like that."
"It's a smartphone."
"Smart... phone?"
"Yes."
"What makes it smart?"
King opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
A surprisingly reasonable question.
"Never mind. I'll teach you how to use it."
Naruto grinned.
"Thanks!"
King folded her arms.
"Now, about my proposal."
"What kind of problem?"
Naruto had stopped playing with the phone.
King's expression became serious.
"There's a criminal organization called Mad Gear."
Naruto leaned forward.
"Criminal organization?"
"Yes. They've been causing trouble in several districts. Extortion, intimidation, assaults, and other illegal activities."
Naruto's smile faded.
"Sounds like a bunch of thugs."
"Some are. Others are considerably more dangerous."
"Then why haven't the authorities arrested them?"
"Because identifying their activities and proving who's responsible are two different things."
King tapped the table.
"I know they're behind several recent incidents, but I don't have the evidence to connect the organization to those crimes."
Naruto frowned.
"So what do you want me to do?"
"Investigate them. Find evidence. If necessary, deal with the members responsible."
Naruto considered the request.
"Why me?"
King met his gaze.
"Because you seem capable."
"That doesn't explain why you can't handle them yourself."
King sighed.
"Mad Gear isn't a single opponent. It's an organization with numerous members and connections. Fighting everyone alone would be impractical, and defeating a few thugs wouldn't necessarily accomplish anything."
Naruto nodded.
That was understandable.
He had encountered criminal networks before.
Simply beating up their members rarely solved the underlying problem.
"So you want me to investigate?"
"Yes. And intervene if you encounter criminal activity."
Naruto examined her.
"That's a pretty big favor."
"It is."
"And this phone is supposed to be payment?"
King raised an eyebrow.
"Are you dissatisfied?"
Naruto placed the device on the table.
"I'm not saying it isn't useful. But you're asking me to deal with a criminal gang. That's dangerous work."
King smiled faintly.
Interesting.
The boy might behave like an enthusiastic fool sometimes, but he clearly understood the value of his abilities.
"What would you consider appropriate compensation?"
Naruto thought.
He needed money.
Somewhere to sleep.
Food.
Information.
He could earn money through fighting tournaments later, assuming those competitions offered prize money.
But food was an immediate concern.
And a very important one.
Naruto looked up.
"Feed me for a year."
King blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"I want food for a year."
She stared.
Naruto continued.
"Three meals a day. Enough to keep me from starving while I figure things out."
King studied his expression.
He was perfectly serious.
Then she laughed.
"You want a year's worth of food?"
"Yep!"
"That's all?"
"For now."
She shook her head.
Of all the things he could have demanded...
Money.
Expensive equipment.
An introduction to famous fighters.
He chose food.
He really is an unusual boy.
King considered the arrangement.
She had the resources to support another person, and Naruto had already demonstrated abilities that could make his assistance extremely valuable.
"Very well."
Naruto blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'll provide your meals for one year."
His face lit up.
"Awesome!"
King pointed at him.
"Provided you actually complete the job."
"Of course!"
Naruto extended his hand.
"Deal?"
King shook it.
"Deal."
Naruto grinned.
"Great! Give me the details, and I'll handle it tonight."
King looked at him.
"You're certainly confident."
"Well, standing around won't solve anything."
"Perhaps. But we should plan properly first."
Naruto paused.
"We?"
King smiled.
"I'm coming with you."
He blinked.
"I thought you didn't want to fight."
"I don't particularly enjoy unnecessary violence."
"Then why come?"
"Because this isn't just about fighting."
King leaned forward.
"I want to see how you handle yourself outside a tournament."
Naruto regarded her.
King continued.
"Anyone can throw punches. That doesn't tell me whether they have judgment, discipline, or the ability to make difficult decisions."
Naruto smiled slightly.
"So you're testing me?"
"In a manner of speaking."
He chuckled.
"You're pretty clever, aren't you?"
"I try."
Naruto nodded.
"Fine by me."
He stood.
"Let's go deal with these Mad Gear guys!"
King raised a hand.
"Not so fast."
Naruto stopped.
"What now?"
"You have a few things to learn first."
She pointed toward the smartphone.
"Starting with that."
An hour later, Naruto Uzumaki had reached a terrible conclusion.
Technology was evil.
Not all technology.
The trains were impressive.
The cars were entertaining.
And the food machines he had seen were practically miraculous.
But this tiny device?
This innocent-looking rectangle?
It was clearly designed to torment him.
"Why does it keep doing that?!"
King sighed.
"Because you're pressing the wrong icon."
"I pressed the one you told me!"
"No. You pressed the camera."
"What's the difference?"
"One opens the browser. The other takes photographs."
Naruto stared at the screen.
"...Why does it need both?"
King rubbed her forehead.
Teaching Naruto to operate a smartphone was proving considerably more exhausting than expected.
He wasn't stupid.
Far from it.
Once he understood a concept, he learned remarkably quickly.
The problem was that he lacked the basic familiarity most people developed through years of using technology.
Simple things like applications, touchscreens, and websites were entirely new to him.
Still, progress came quickly.
Within another twenty minutes, Naruto had learned to browse websites, use a map application, send messages, and search for information.
His eyes widened as he discovered how much knowledge the device contained.
"Wait. You're telling me I can look up almost anything?"
"Most publicly available information, yes."
"History?"
"Yes."
"Geography?"
"Of course."
"Martial arts?"
"To an extent."
Naruto grinned.
"That's incredible!"
King smiled.
"Welcome to the modern world."
The boy immediately began searching.
King watched with amusement as his expression shifted from excitement to astonishment.
He examined photographs of countries.
Videos of professional fighters.
Articles about historical events.
Then scientific discoveries.
He became so engrossed that King eventually disappeared into the back room and returned with several books.
"Here."
Naruto looked up.
"What's all this?"
"Reference material. Some history, science, and basic information about martial arts."
He stared.
"You're lending me books too?"
"Consider it part of your education."
Naruto grinned.
"Thanks, King!"
She smiled.
"Just try not to destroy them."
"Why would I destroy books?"
King looked at him.
Naruto looked back.
"...Fair point."
Several hours passed.
Naruto sat with a collection of books scattered across the table, his new phone lying beside them.
He had become unusually quiet.
For someone as energetic as Naruto, that alone would have attracted attention.
But King had left him to study.
The information he was discovering was extraordinary.
This world was called Earth.
Its history was completely different from that of the Elemental Nations.
Its nations possessed advanced technologies, enormous populations, and military capabilities that Naruto had never imagined.
Yet most people lived ordinary lives.
They worked.
Studied.
Raised families.
And generally avoided doing anything that involved superhuman martial arts.
The most interesting difference was Ki.
According to what Naruto had learned, Ki was primarily the physical energy developed and controlled through martial training.
Chakra, by contrast, was produced through the combination of physical and spiritual energy.
The distinction fascinated him.
So they're related in principle, but not identical.
He turned another page.
Every human on Earth possessed the potential to develop Ki.
But potential and mastery were entirely different things.
Training could require years of dedication.
Many people never developed enough control to use it consciously.
Others inherited specialized traditions through families, clans, or martial arts schools.
A few possessed exceptional natural talent.
Naruto smiled.
Sounds familiar.
The more advanced practitioners could reinforce their bodies, release concentrated bursts of energy, and perform techniques that seemed impossible to ordinary people.
However, the material he had found suggested that Ki possessed limitations different from chakra.
He hadn't encountered reliable descriptions of widespread summoning techniques, dimensional teleportation, or the extraordinary versatility of elemental ninjutsu.
At least not in the introductory sources.
That qualification was important.
Naruto knew better than to assume a technique didn't exist simply because a book failed to mention it.
After all, if someone wrote a book about ordinary shinobi training, they probably wouldn't include information about forbidden techniques, secret bloodlines, or highly classified village abilities.
Better keep an open mind.
He continued reading.
And eventually encountered several names.
Names that appeared repeatedly in discussions about the strongest and most dangerous martial artists in the world.
Tung Fu Rue. Akuma. Jin Kazama. Kazuya Mishima. Rugal Bernstein.
Naruto leaned forward.
"Now this is interesting."
The first was Tung Fu Rue.
A revered master of Hakkyokuseiken.
According to the accounts Naruto found, Tung had trained numerous exceptional martial artists, including Jeff Bogard and Geese Howard, while Terry Bogard was also associated with his teachings.
The old man was widely respected for both his abilities and his character.
He lived a relatively secluded life, preferring discipline and peace over fame.
One account particularly caught Naruto's attention.
Tung Fu Rue had defeated Akuma.
And apparently, the victory hadn't required his full strength.
Naruto blinked.
That old man's seriously powerful.
Then he read about Akuma.
His expression became grim.
The martial artist was infamous for seeking powerful opponents and pursuing battles to the death.
He possessed extraordinary strength and could unleash devastating energy techniques.
One documented incident attributed the destruction of a small island to his power.
Naruto stared at the account.
An entire island?
That was no ordinary martial artist.
He turned to the next name.
Jin Kazama.
The young man's history was complicated and violent.
Naruto read about his involvement with the Mishima family, his martial arts abilities, and the dangerous power connected to his bloodline.
He frowned.
Then came Kazuya Mishima.
Jin's father.
Another extraordinarily powerful fighter associated with the ruthless Mishima legacy.
Naruto read about the family's conflicts.
Betrayals.
Power struggles.
Violence.
He slowly lowered the book.
"Man. And I thought some ninja clans had family problems."
The final name was Rugal Bernstein.
Naruto recognized the tournament connection almost immediately.
Rugal had organized the King of Fighters competition, gathering powerful martial artists from around the world.
He had also defeated the head of the Kusanagi clan.
An extraordinary achievement, considering the family's reputation.
Later, Kyo Kusanagi and his team had defeated Rugal.
But the confrontation had ended disastrously when Rugal destroyed the ship hosting the final battle.
Naruto leaned back.
So this tournament really attracts monsters.
He wasn't frightened of powerful opponents.
If anything, the possibility of meeting exceptional fighters was exciting.
But he also understood that strength without restraint could be dangerous.
Especially in a world where so many people possessed abilities he didn't yet understand.
Then he reached the section on modern weapons.
And his enthusiasm disappeared.
Naruto stared at the photograph.
A towering mushroom cloud rose above a devastated landscape.
The text beneath described the destructive power of nuclear weapons.
His expression hardened.
He read the figures again.
Then a third time.
Entire urban areas could be destroyed in moments.
The blast was only part of the danger.
There was heat.
Radiation.
Long-term contamination.
Effects that could continue harming people long after the explosion.
Naruto swallowed.
What kind of monsters invented these things?
He had encountered powerful jutsu capable of devastating entire regions.
But this wasn't a technique performed by a legendary shinobi.
It was a weapon.
Something manufactured.
Something that could be deployed by people who might not possess any personal combat ability whatsoever.
He remembered the extraordinary destructive power of Akuma.
Then considered what governments could accomplish with their military arsenals.
The implications were disturbing.
Even if I can avoid the blast, what happens to everyone else?
He couldn't imagine simply standing in the center of a nuclear explosion and walking away unharmed.
His abilities were remarkable, but that didn't make him invincible.
And even if he survived an attack, the surrounding population might not.
Naruto closed the book.
For several moments, he stared silently at the table.
This world was dangerous.
Not simply because powerful martial artists existed.
But because ordinary people had developed technologies capable of destruction on an almost unimaginable scale.
And he had arrived knowing practically nothing about any of it.
King approached.
"You look troubled."
Naruto glanced up.
"Just reading."
"Something unpleasant?"
He tapped the book.
"These weapons are insane."
King glanced at the page.
"Nuclear weapons?"
"Yeah."
Her expression became serious.
"They're among the most destructive weapons humanity has developed."
Naruto looked down.
"In my world..."
He stopped.
King noticed immediately.
"Your world?"
Naruto froze.
Oops.
He laughed awkwardly.
"I mean, where I grew up, we didn't really have stuff like this."
King studied him.
Then nodded slowly.
"I see."
She didn't believe that was the whole explanation.
Not even close.
But she decided against pressing him.
Naruto returned his attention to the books.
There was still so much he didn't understand.
Ki.
Martial arts organizations.
The Mishima family.
Kusanagi techniques.
The mysterious power of Akuma.
And whatever strange energy that white-haired man had possessed.
He had only scratched the surface.
Naruto took a slow breath.
I'll figure it out.
He always did.
Maybe not immediately.
Maybe not without making mistakes.
But eventually.
He glanced at King.
She had already helped him considerably.
And now she was trusting him with a dangerous assignment.
Naruto wasn't going to disappoint her.
He closed the book.
"All right."
King looked toward him.
"Finished?"
"For now."
He stood and stretched.
"Time to deal with Mad Gear."
King smiled faintly.
"Feeling confident?"
Naruto grinned.
"Always."
She shook her head.
"Confidence is useful. Just remember that we're investigating a criminal organization, not entering another exhibition match."
"I know."
"That means we need evidence, not merely a pile of unconscious criminals."
Naruto chuckled.
"Got it."
King studied him for a moment.
Then retrieved her jacket.
"Very well. Let's go."
Naruto followed her toward the entrance.
Outside, Tokyo's nightlife continued uninterrupted.
Cars moved along illuminated streets.
People laughed outside restaurants.
Music drifted from nearby establishments.
An ordinary night in an extraordinary world.
Somewhere beyond those bright streets, the Mad Gear gang continued operating.
Naruto didn't know how many members they possessed.
He didn't know who commanded them.
And he certainly didn't know how complicated King's investigation might become.
But he had made a promise.
A year's worth of food in exchange for helping her deal with the organization.
That was a bargain he intended to honor.
Besides, he had spent far too long wandering around without a proper mission.
Naruto smiled.
Finally.
Something familiar.
A job to complete.
People to protect.
And possibly a few criminals to punch.
He could work with that.
King glanced toward him.
"Ready?"
Naruto pulled up the hood of his jacket.
"Lead the way."
Together, they stepped into the night.