At the same time, in the Hokage Building of Konoha Village.
Kakashi stood quietly opposite Sarutobi Hiruzen with Pikachu at his side. The little Pokémon's tail flicked occasionally as its round black eyes scanned the office. Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his expression caught somewhere between curiosity and disbelief. After separating from Naruto and the others, Kakashi had come here without delay. The moment he entered, the presence of Pikachu had already seized the old Hokage's full attention.
"Is this the Pokémon obtained from Renji Takahashi?" Hiruzen asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
He looked down at Pikachu again. Small, yellow, undeniably adorable—on the surface, it didn't seem threatening at all. It looked more like a noble's exotic pet than a powerful creature with potential.
"So small and so cute… are you really sure this isn't just a pet?" he murmured, rubbing his chin. "Are you saying this creature can become very powerful in the future?"
Kakashi nodded, expression serious. "Yes. My Pokémon is called Pikachu. It's an Electric-type Pokémon."
Hiruzen stared at it again, the skepticism still lingering in his gaze. "Then show me. Let me see its strength."
Kakashi glanced around the Hokage's office with a conflicted look. "Here?"
While Pikachu wasn't overwhelmingly powerful yet, it wasn't without destructive capabilities either. Its Electric Shock attack already had the force of a C-rank ninjutsu—certainly not something he wanted to unleash in the Hokage's personal chambers.
"Yes," Hiruzen replied with a calm puff of smoke. "Right here."
Kakashi hesitated no longer. He turned to Pikachu and gave the command, "Pikachu, use Electric Shock!"
"Pika—Pika!" Pikachu chirped.
Sparks flickered from its red cheeks, and a sudden burst of electricity surged forward.
Zzzzztttt!
Bang!
A crackling current leapt across the wooden floor and exploded into it, instantly blowing open a charred hole. Smoke curled into the air. Kakashi stood still. Hiruzen blinked.
For a long second, neither said a word.
Hiruzen slowly turned toward Kakashi with a stupefied look and a furrowed brow. "…You said this was the early stage?"
He looked at the smoldering floor again. "This is the early stage?"
Even newly graduated Genin might not be capable of such destruction. And yet here it was—an adorable creature standing among blackened boards, acting as if nothing had happened.
Swoosh, swoosh—
Several Anbu appeared in the office, drawn by the sudden blast. They scanned the pit in the floor, then the stunned Hokage, and finally the unusually calm Kakashi and the small yellow Pokémon beside him.
"Hokage-sama…?"
Hiruzen waved them away. "It's fine. Leave us."
The Anbu exchanged confused glances but obeyed without delay, disappearing into shadows once more.
As the door shut, Hiruzen turned back to Kakashi, his voice more serious now. "Kakashi, are you certain that these Pokémon can grow to the heights you described?"
Before, he had half-dismissed Kakashi's claims as exaggeration. But now, he couldn't deny what he had just witnessed.
Kakashi's expression was grave. "I'm not sure if all Pokémon can do it. But the one Renji possesses… it has reached that level."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "How does it compare to you?"
Kakashi was silent for a moment. His fingers curled slightly at his side.
"That Pokémon… it gave me a powerful feeling. When it looked at me, I felt a genuine sense of danger. If I had to fight it, I don't think I'd survive for long."
Hiruzen's eyes widened. "Truly?"
He knew Kakashi's strength better than anyone. As an elite Jonin, Kakashi was not someone even a Kage from another village could easily defeat. Yet this was the evaluation he gave?
Kakashi nodded. "I meant it. That Pokémon felt stronger than you, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen fell into silent thought. Worry crept across his face. If even Renji's first Pokémon possessed this level of power, then what else could be waiting within that shelter? And how many Pokémon did he even have?
One? Konoha could handle it, though it might come at a heavy cost.
But if there were more?
They wouldn't even qualify to negotiate.
"Kakashi," he said after a pause, "did you sense any ill intent from Renji toward Konoha?"
Kakashi considered carefully before shaking his head. "No. Of course, that doesn't mean it's not there. I just didn't see it."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Then we won't provoke him for now. From this day forward, in the name of the Third Hokage, I am assigning Team 7 a long-term mission: focus on training your Pokémon."
If they could train their Pokémon to even a fraction of that level, Konoha's strength would rise dramatically.
Kakashi gave a firm nod and turned to leave without another word.
As he left, Hiruzen exhaled deeply and took another drag from his cigarette. The smoke danced lazily through the air.
"…It seems I should visit the Pokémon shelter myself soon."
Even as the leader of the village, his curiosity had now been piqued beyond restraint.
Bang—
The door slammed open again. A man covered in bandages and carrying a cane walked in with a cold air around him.
Danzo.
He glanced first at the hole in the floor, then at Hiruzen with narrowed eyes. "Hiruzen. I've learned that a creature called a Pokémon has appeared in Konoha. Its power and potential are immense."
Hiruzen didn't waste time. "Say what you came to say."
Danzo's tone sharpened. "If we control these creatures, Konoha will rise to an unprecedented level. We should act now."
Hiruzen exhaled smoke, shaking his head. "Forget it. Renji is not someone you can afford to provoke."
He knew Danzo well. Too well. He could guess what the man was planning even before the words left his lips.
Danzo's expression darkened. "This is Konoha. I will not allow a power we cannot control to grow unchecked."
Bang!
Hiruzen slammed his palm on the desk, standing up with fury in his eyes. "Danzo! I said no. And that's final."
Danzo gritted his teeth, eyes burning. "You'll regret this."
He turned and left, his footsteps heavy.
Watching him go, Hiruzen slumped back into his chair and sighed. "Danzo… don't stir up trouble."
He knew Danzo would act behind his back anyway. He always did. But this time, Hiruzen wasn't going to stop him.
After all, a test might not be such a bad thing.
Pokémon Shelter
In a small room inside the newly built Pokémon shelter, Renji Takahashi sat on the floor before three bronze treasure chests.
"System, combine the treasure chests for me now."
He hadn't opened them earlier. The presence of Anbu nearby made him cautious. With Dragonite always perceptive and Anbu capable of sensing chakra and mental fluctuations, he had waited until he was alone.
Now, finally, the moment had come.
As his voice fell, the bronze chests slowly began to shift and overlap. They glowed with ethereal light, humming softly as they merged into a single silver treasure chest.
A soft chime rang out.
"Synthesis successful. Obtained: Exclusive Silver Treasure Chest."
Excitement stirred in Renji's chest. His fingers twitched with anticipation.
"I don't know what I can get this time…" he murmured, rubbing his hands.
"System, open it."
"Obtained: Energy Block Making Machine."
"Obtained: Mysterious Fruit ×15."
"Obtained: Special Item - Lucky Egg."
"Obtained: Special Item - Learning Device."