The streets of Konoha bustled with life. It was a stark contrast to the quiet, windswept mountain where Renji Takahashi and the Pokémon Entrustment System had first begun their journey. Here, in the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village, the cobblestone paths were lined with vibrant stalls, colorful banners fluttered in the wind, and the air was filled with laughter, chatter, and the occasional clatter of ninja gear. Chunin and Genin in flak jackets strolled by, some headed toward missions, others simply enjoying the fading warmth of the day.
But something unusual hung in the air—a quiet curiosity that spread from stall to stall, from window to window, like a ripple across a pond. People kept glancing in the same direction, their eyes drawn not by a merchant's call or a jutsu demonstration, but by a familiar mop of blond hair and a small, unfamiliar creature walking beside him.
"Bulbasaur, we must work hard together in the future. My dream is to become Hokage, and then you will be the partner of the Hokage." Naruto Uzumaki's voice rang with conviction as he marched proudly through the village center, beaming with enthusiasm.
Bulbasaur, trailing calmly beside him, paid no attention to the speech. Its gaze wandered over the buildings, the faces of passersby, the smells drifting from dumpling stands. Curiosity danced in its eyes, unbothered by Naruto's proclamations. It was new to this world, but not overwhelmed—merely observant.
"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing?"
A voice interrupted the moment. A boy the same age, with unruly hair and a small white dog on his head, stepped into view. Kiba Inuzuka, with Akamaru perched between his ears, wore a look of confusion as he stared at the strange green creature beside Naruto.
"Ah, it's Kiba and Akamaru!" Naruto waved enthusiastically.
Kiba tilted his head, eyes fixed on Bulbasaur. "Naruto, what is this green turtle? Is it your summoning beast or something?"
Before Naruto could answer, Bulbasaur's expression changed. It stepped forward, vines twitching ever so slightly. Being mistaken for a turtle again was apparently a grave offense.
Naruto noticed the change in posture and quickly scooped Bulbasaur off the ground. "Calm down, Bulbasaur, calm down!"
Bulbasaur didn't respond kindly. It squirmed wildly in Naruto's arms, vines flailing as it tried to break free.
"Gan—Gan—!" Naruto could barely hold on. "Kiba, go! It's mad! Don't make it worse!"
Kiba raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased. "Naruto, put it down. I'm not here to bully your little pet. Let Akamaru play with it."
Naruto looked wary. "It's strong, Kiba. You might not want that."
The words hit Kiba wrong. His pride, already bruised from being dismissed, flared. "Put it down, Naruto. I want to see what this green thing can do. Akamaru's not scared of anything."
Naruto hesitated, but then nodded. He gently set Bulbasaur down and patted its head. "Be gentle. Don't beat Akamaru too badly, okay?"
Bulbasaur's eyes narrowed. It glanced at Akamaru, then nodded. The message was clear—even if it wanted to hit hard, the opponent looked too small to go all out.
Kiba bristled. Don't beat it too badly? Was that supposed to be encouragement or an insult?
Akamaru growled lowly, then leapt down from Kiba's head, landing nimbly. The two creatures faced each other in the middle of the street as a few nearby villagers paused to watch.
Bulbasaur gave Akamaru a small nod, signaling the first move was his.
Without waiting, Akamaru charged forward, a blur of fur and motion. But before the dog could land a hit, two vines whipped out from Bulbasaur's back and coiled around him mid-air.
The onlookers gasped as Akamaru was suspended, twisting in the air. Bulbasaur dashed forward and, with surprising force, slammed its head directly into Akamaru's side.
The impact sent Akamaru hurtling through the air. He hit the ground and tumbled, kicking up dust. The vines released instantly.
Silence fell.
Kiba's confident expression collapsed into disbelief. He took a step forward, eyes darting from Akamaru to Bulbasaur, who was now walking casually back to Naruto's side.
It looked over its shoulder at Kiba—disdain clear in its gaze—then shook its head once.
Despite its chubby frame, that move, that precision… there was an undeniable presence to it. If not for its appearance, one might mistake it for a seasoned fighter.
"How... how is it possible?" Kiba muttered. He rushed to Akamaru, who was dazed but unhurt. His mind reeled. "Akamaru's been training with me for years… and it lost in one hit?"
Then something else clicked. "Wait… the vines… That wasn't chakra thread. Was that... Wood Style?"
The realization struck hard. Wood Style wasn't just rare—it was legendary.
Naruto blinked. "Wood Style? Is it stronger than Sasuke's Fire Style? And what's a summoning beast? Are these things important? Did they teach that in class?"
Kiba stared at him in disbelief. "You… you don't know?"
Naruto nodded earnestly. "Nope! What's Wood Style? And why are you acting like it's such a big deal?"
Kiba looked away, muttering under his breath. He couldn't believe Naruto had no clue what kind of power he was holding onto. And yet, he still somehow had a creature that could perform a jutsu people would kill for.
Kiba's curiosity overtook his pride. "Where did you get this green—uh, Bulbasaur?"
Naruto grinned. "Brother Renji gave it to me. Isn't it amazing? Hahaha, I bet even Sasuke doesn't have something like this."
Kiba's heart skipped. "Brother Renji? Can… can you introduce me to him?"
"Sure." Naruto didn't hesitate.
Kiba's eyes lit up. If this man could give something that strong to Naruto, who didn't even know what it was, what could he do for someone like Kiba who actually understood its value?
"Let's go now!" Kiba grabbed Naruto's hand.
"Now? It's almost dark," Naruto said, blinking.
"…Tomorrow, then. I'll treat you to dinner."
"Really? I want Ichiraku Ramen!"
"Deal!"
They turned to walk off together, chatting animatedly—until Kiba suddenly froze. "Wait… something feels off…"
Naruto tilted his head. "Huh? What?"
"Akamaru!" they shouted in unison.
Far behind them, a dusty and defeated Akamaru slowly dragged himself back to his feet, only to see the duo already vanishing into the crowd.
Bulbasaur followed along, unfazed, its head held high like a warrior returning from battle.