Chapter 24: Battle Crazy and Bubblegum
(Or: That Time the Berserker Was Just the Sidekick)
The arcade lights glowed like a battlefield under a disco ball. The musketeers froze the moment they locked eyes with Shogo—a.k.a. the Berserker. And not the cool anime kind. No, this was the real-world version: a bubblegum-chewing, muscle-packed menace who fought like the world owed him an apology.
Ukita paled slightly, already reaching instinctively for his judo belt like it was a security blanket. Takeda tensed, his jaw clenching around that perpetually cool blade of grass. Even carefree Koga, who usually strolled into fights like he was walking into a beach party, stiffened and dropped the swagger.
It wasn't just PTSD. It was survival instinct.
Last time Shogo had dropped by, the fight had been so one-sided, the arcade had closed early, the trio had spent a week in the hospital, and someone swore the dance machine still had a dent shaped like Ukita's shoulder.
Everyone on the block knew the Berserker.
Tall, ripped, wild-eyed, with an unnatural love for chaos and fights. If he walked into a room, you either prayed you weren't his target or offered him snacks.
Kisara's emerald eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" she asked, planting one boot with a heavy thud on the dance platform.
Clearly, she thought Shogo was leading this little squad of destruction.
Shogo casually blew a pink bubble and popped it with a smirk. "Me? Nah. I'm just here for the show." He tilted his head toward the real star.
Issei.
Now that made the gang stare.
"Wait... you're following him?" Takeda asked, eyes squinting as if Issei was a hidden final boss in disguise.
"Seriously?" Ukita muttered. "Is this guy secretly the Emperor of Street Fighter or something?"
Koga just stared. "He's handsome. That's suspicious."
Kisara studied the stranger carefully. And yeah—Issei was good-looking. But more than that, there was a dangerous spark in his eyes. That same battle-hungry gleam she'd seen in the Berserker before. Except this one smiled while carrying it, which somehow made it worse.
He looked... seasoned. Like he'd been training for years. Not a single wasted movement in his stance. Confidence practically dripped from him.
What Kisara didn't know—what no one knew—was that this body had only been trained for a month.
But hey, when you're Naruto in a teen body, a month was practically a shonen anime timeskip.
Still, Kisara wasn't about to be impressed by just swagger and muscles.
She crossed her arms. "Alright, hotshot. Why do you want to fight?"
Issei smiled. "Because I want to challenge the top fighters in the region. And after I beat them, I plan to absorb their gangs into mine."
There was a pause. A heavy one.
Then Kisara burst out laughing.
"Oh wow. You think you're in Dragon Ball Z or something?" she said between chuckles. "Do you think you're gonna beat up everyone and suddenly become king of the school? What, you gonna go Super Saiyan next?"
Issei shrugged. "Not yet. Maybe next arc."
That made Shogo snort. Kenichi facepalmed.
Kisara grinned, not unkindly. "You're confident. I'll give you that. But let's see how you handle my guys first." She gestured at her musketeers, who looked much less enthusiastic about the idea.
"They're my sub-leaders. If you want to challenge me, you go through them."
Issei nodded. "Sounds fair."
"You're seriously okay with fighting all three?" she asked, raising a brow. "Outside. Now."
He rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. "I want to convince them of my strength. What better way than a friendly brawl?"
Kisara smirked. "Alright then, battle maniac. Let's go see if your confidence has fists to back it up."
As they all started walking toward the exit, Shogo popped another bubble and grinned at Kenichi.
"Told you this'd be fun."
Kenichi groaned. "I should've stayed in the bath."
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The arcade doors swung shut behind them with a soft click, the neon glow giving way to the dim, flickering streetlamp at the mouth of the alleyway. The quiet hum of the city surrounded them, just enough to mask the storm that was about to erupt. This wasn't a battle for glory or fame—it was a statement.
Kisara crossed her arms and leaned against the graffiti-tagged wall, her eyes sharp and focused. Shogo stood beside her, chewing bubblegum like he was watching a movie trailer. Kenichi lingered near the entrance, hands stuffed into his pockets, nervously scanning the area for any unwanted onlookers or the dreaded wail of a police siren.
In the center of the alley, Naruto—wearing Issei's body like a well-fit cloak—stood face-to-face with Kisara's trio.
Ukita the Judo master.
Ikki the boxer—fastest of the three.
Koga the capoeirista, fluid and tricky.
They weren't just Kisara's lieutenants—they were the kind of fighters who could win regional tournaments if they felt like signing up. Their teamwork was honed through dozens of street fights, and they'd long since stopped underestimating challengers. Especially after what happened with Shogo.
But Naruto wasn't like Shogo. He didn't radiate menace. He radiated confidence—the kind that made you question if you were the fool for doubting him.
And then the fight began.
Ukita surged forward first, like a tank in motion. His goal was simple: grab, slam, and end it quick.
But Naruto met him halfway.
A rising knee—fast and sharp—forced Ukita to cross his arms in a block, absorbing the blow with a grunt. It wasn't enough to stop him, but it stalled him, and that was all Naruto needed.
Ikki was already there, throwing a textbook straight punch meant to knock a head back. Koga followed with a high kick, the heel of his foot arcing downward with the grace of a guillotine.
But Naruto moved like water. Like fire. Like everything at once.
He headbutted Ukita without warning. There was a sharp crack—forehead to chin—and Ukita stumbled. Naruto dropped to his back, using Ukita's thigh as a brace. His legs coiled like springs.
A sweep.
Naruto's foot slammed into Ikki's left leg, the angle perfect. Ikki staggered, footing thrown off as his punch went wide. Koga's axe kick came down like a hammer, but Naruto wasn't there anymore.
He pushed up with both hands, muscles rippling from the sudden motion, and tackled Koga mid-air. The momentum was too much for the capoeirista to control.
They hit the ground. Hard.
Koga let out a wheeze as Naruto landed atop him, pinning him briefly before rolling off and springing to his feet like a gymnast.
It had been less than ten seconds.
Kisara blinked. Shogo grinned.
Kenichi's mouth fell open. "…He tackled Koga out of the air."
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The alley buzzed with tension—half shadows, half sweat. Kisara had stopped leaning against the wall. Kenichi's breath caught in his throat. Shogo's gum popped, a wide grin spreading across his face.
The first round was over.
Now came the real fight.
The moment Naruto stood tall again, the energy shifted. He cracked his knuckles—not for intimidation, but to wake up. If these guys were going to take him seriously, then fine. No more warm-up. No more holding back. This wasn't sparring.
This was a statement.
Ikki and Ukita flanked him from both sides, fast and heavy. Koga, as expected, kept distance like a hyena circling a lion, waiting for scraps or a clean shot. But even a coward had claws when the fight dragged on long enough.
Ukita roared and charged like a freight train, arms ready to snatch Naruto and suplex him into the pavement. Ikki weaved in at the same time, fists flickering like twin pistons aimed at Naruto's ribs and jaw.
Naruto didn't retreat.
He stepped into Ukita's charge, twisting his body and planting his foot hard. The judo fighter reached for his shoulder—but Naruto rotated, grabbing Ukita's wrist mid-motion and swinging him over with raw strength.
Ukita's body slammed into Ikki, and both stumbled back.
"Don't move like you're in a schoolyard," Naruto said, voice calm, eyes gleaming. "This is a battlefield."
They didn't respond. Ukita lunged again, and Ikki darted around the left, fists snapping out like fireworks. Naruto dodged left, ducked a hook, raised his elbow just as Ukita closed in—
CRACK!
Ukita caught an elbow to the chin and reeled.
Ikki managed to land a punch to Naruto's side, but the instant contact was made—
BOOM.
Naruto twisted into the blow, using his full momentum, and drove his palm into Ikki's stomach. The boxer bent double, spittle flying, eyes wide.
Naruto didn't stop there.
He spun, grabbing Ikki's wrist mid-fall and kicking out with his heel—a punishing sweep that smashed into Ikki's ankle and sent him crashing into Ukita's knees. The two tumbled in a heap.
Koga tried to sneak in with a spinning kick while Naruto was focused—classic backstab coward tactic. But Naruto heard him before he saw him.
He dropped low.
Koga's leg sailed overhead—and Naruto's elbow smashed into his inner thigh as he passed.
Koga screamed. His balance collapsed. Naruto stood, pivoted, and thrust his knee into Koga's stomach so hard the guy left the ground.
And then—with an explosion of motion—Naruto spun and hammerfisted Koga mid-air, sending him crashing into a trash can.
The alley fell silent for a beat. The only sound was the rustle of distant traffic and Koga coughing in a metal bin.
Naruto's chest rose and fell steadily.
Three elite-level student fighters—down, bruised, dazed.
But they weren't unconscious.
Ikki staggered up, bleeding from the lip, eyes focused now—furious and respectful. Ukita's stance was shaky but upright. Koga… stayed down. As expected.
Ikki growled, spit blood, and raised his fists again. "You… you're a monster."
Naruto grinned, brushing dirt off his shoulder. "Nah. I'm just hungry."
He darted forward again, this time a blur of motion.
He blocked a jab with his forearm, countered with a strike to Ikki's collarbone. Ducking under a desperate swing from Ukita, he hooked his arm around the judo fighter's neck and used him as a shield, forcing Ikki to hesitate.
Then, with precision, he hip-tossed Ukita into Ikki, and the two collapsed once more.
Dust filled the alley.
And when it cleared—
Naruto stood in the center. Alone.
The trio were groaning, trying to sit up. Not unconscious. Not out of commission forever. But finished for today. Bruised. Probably fractured. Humbled.
Naruto turned to Kisara and grinned. "Still think I need DBZ powers?"
Kisara stared, lips slightly parted. That same glint—Shogo's glint—burned in his eyes.
She didn't answer.
Shogo? He just chuckled and blew a bubble with his gum. Pop.