Kakashi and his team returned to the central area of Konoha after visiting Renji's secluded mountain cabin.
Naruto, practically bouncing with energy, turned to Sasuke. "Arrogant Sasuke, let's have a battle! My Bulbasaur is definitely better than your Charmander!"
Sasuke glanced at him with a calm, indifferent gaze. "You?"
The nonchalant response instantly sparked Naruto's temper. He stormed toward Sasuke, fists clenched, ready to fight.
Kakashi's eye twitched as he stepped in. "If you're going to fight, do it at the training ground. This isn't the place to make a scene."
"Hmph!" Naruto snorted but didn't argue. He turned sharply. "Come on, Sasuke! Let's go—duel time!"
Sasuke nodded and silently walked in the direction of the training ground. He was just as eager to understand the full potential of his Charmander—and battle was the quickest way.
"Sensei, are they really okay doing this on their own?" Sakura asked, looking slightly worried.
"Let them go, Sakura. Just keep an eye on them. I have something to take care of," Kakashi said before disappearing in a blur.
Sakura stood frozen for a moment, dumbfounded. Then she shook her head and quickly ran after Naruto and Sasuke.
The three arrived at the training ground shortly after. Naruto faced Sasuke, brimming with confidence. "This time, I'll show you what I can do!"
He pulled the Poké Ball from his waist, pressed the center button to enlarge it, and tossed it into the air. "Come out, Bulbasaur!"
Puff—
With a flash of light, Bulbasaur appeared, landing firmly in front of Naruto.
Sasuke silently took out his own Poké Ball and released Charmander, whose eyes immediately locked onto Bulbasaur's.
Sasuke didn't waste time. "Charmander, close the distance and use Scratch."
Charmander nodded and charged forward. Its claws shimmered faintly as it leaped at Bulbasaur.
Naruto shouted, "Bulbasaur, dodge it!"
Bulbasaur reacted swiftly, sidestepping the strike with practiced agility.
"Now! Tackle!" Naruto commanded.
Bulbasaur spun midair and rushed toward Charmander with impressive momentum.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Charmander, jump and use Growl midair—then Scratch!"
Charmander crouched, then launched upward, just barely evading the incoming Tackle. "Char—!"
Bulbasaur flinched at the cry, its charge faltering. Charmander used that opening to strike, landing a solid Scratch across Bulbasaur's shoulder.
"Bulba—!" Bulbasaur cried out in pain but didn't fall.
Naruto ran over in concern. "Bulbasaur, are you okay?!"
Bulbasaur shook its head and growled, still fired up to fight.
Sasuke scoffed. "Idiot."
He turned, walking away with Charmander at his side. "I have better things to do than waste time here."
Naruto stood up, fists clenched. "Arrogant jerk! Get back here! We're not done yet!"
Sakura let out a breath of relief but also couldn't help chuckling. "Naruto, do your best. I'm going to train my Chansey too."
Not far from the training ground, four people stood watching the scene unfold.
"Is this what you were talking about, Kiba?" asked Yuhi Kurenai, blinking in disbelief.
Kiba scratched the back of his head. "Y-yeah, that's them. I didn't expect to see a battle already though…"
After their mission earlier, Kiba had insisted they swing by the training grounds. Now, they stood watching Pokémon battles in disbelief.
"What even are these creatures?" Kurenai muttered.
She watched closely—Bulbasaur dodging, Charmander attacking—yet neither ninja threw a punch themselves. It was like they were controlling summoned beasts… but different.
And then there was the technique. That one used Wood Release? She had thought Kiba was joking. But no. It was real.
"And what about that one with the leaf on its back? Why is the orange lizard stronger?" she murmured.
"I don't get it either," Kiba admitted. "The green one—Bulbasaur—that's Naruto's. But I've never seen the orange one before… that must be Sasuke's."
Kurenai stopped questioning for now. Instead, she approached the group.
"Yo! Naruto!" Kiba called out.
Naruto turned around, blinking in surprise. "Kiba? What are you doing here? And you brought sensei, Hinata, and Shino too!"
Sasuke and Sakura looked over and nodded politely.
Kiba crossed his arms and stared at Naruto. "Don't tell me you forgot what you promised me yesterday."
Naruto froze. "Wait… You mean visiting Renji?"
Kiba's face twisted in disbelief. "You already went without me?!"
Everyone suddenly remembered the ramen from the night before. They had talked about going together.
Naruto scratched his head. "Yeah, Renji gave Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, and Sakura their partners too."
"What?!" Kiba exclaimed, almost collapsing in frustration. His eyes sparkled with regret.
So if I had gone, I might've gotten one too?
Kurenai's expression grew serious. "Naruto, is that creature beside you the one Renji gave you?"
"Yeah!" Naruto grinned. "He said it's a 'Pokemon'."
Kurenai frowned. "Not a summoning beast?"
"Nope," Naruto replied cheerfully. "He made that super clear."
Still unsure, Kurenai turned to Sakura for confirmation.
Sakura nodded. "It's not a summoned beast. It's something else entirely."
The weight of those words settled over the group like a blanket of silence.
Kurenai looked shaken, her mind racing. Whatever these creatures were, they weren't typical. They didn't follow summoning contracts. They weren't chakra beasts. They were something new… something unknown.
And something powerful.
As Naruto and the others began explaining more about the spirits, the Kurenai team listened intently—caught between curiosity and awe.
Little did they know, this was only the beginning of something far bigger than a simple sparring match.