"Kushina-san," Uchiha Hayato said with a squint and a smile.
"Just call me Kushina," she replied with a grin. "And your summoning beast—I need to thank it too!"
Her curious gaze swept toward the interior of the house, prompting Minato to recall a question that had been on his mind.
"Hayato, when did you get a summoning beast?" Namikaze Minato asked, puzzled.
"Blaze? It's resting now," Hayato replied. "Isn't it adorable? Once it evolves, it'll become even stronger."
Minato perked up at the mention of "evolution." To his knowledge, summoning beasts didn't evolve—was it like the tales of Lord Jiraiya's toads, growing from tadpoles into full-grown amphibians?
Hayato led the two into his room, where Chimchar was perched on a small table, clutching a bottle of Moo Moo Milk. Its large eyes blinked curiously at the visitors.
"Wow, it's so cute!" Kushina exclaimed, rushing forward to take a closer look. Startled, Chimchar leapt onto Hayato's shoulder and hid behind him.
"Sorry," Kushina said sheepishly, sticking out her tongue.
The three sat down on the tatami mats. With his Sharingan now awakened, Hayato's sensory abilities were heightened. He sensed an ANBU operative perched on a tree 40 meters away, keeping watch—likely because of Kushina. Though she wasn't yet the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, her Uzumaki chakra reserves and powerful sealing techniques made her the ideal candidate.
But Hayato wasn't concerned about being watched. He had no intention of hiding.
Closing his eyes briefly, he reopened them to reveal the Sharingan's crimson, tomoe-patterned glow.
"Sharingan!" Kushina and Minato gasped simultaneously. The Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai was infamous, and its appearance unmistakable.
Outside, the ANBU operative stiffened. Witnessing a seven-year-old Uchiha awaken the Sharingan and display power akin to a genin was alarming. This would need to be reported to Lord Third immediately.
"Yes, this is the Sharingan," Hayato said calmly. "What I'm about to share will eventually be known to the world, but for now, I need you both to keep it a secret."
Even Minato, with his usually calm demeanor, grew serious. Hayato's tone was grave—it must involve something significant. Could it be related to the Uchiha clan? Minato wondered.
"I understand," Kushina said earnestly. Though they'd only recently met, Hayato was already confiding his secrets in her. The thought made her heart flutter.
"What I want to talk about is related to Pokémon," Hayato explained. With the Sharingan's enhanced vision, he had already confirmed that Chimchar wasn't using chakra. The difference was too apparent to remain hidden for long, so honesty seemed the best approach.
"While experimenting with summoning techniques, I discovered an anomaly—my jutsu allowed me to summon creatures from another world."
[T/N: Again why he's telling them I have no clue.]
Hayato spoke in terms they could understand. "In the world they come from, there are no great wars. Humans and Pokémon live together in harmony. Instead of shinobi, the people there become Pokémon Trainers, and they battle for sport."
He continued, "According to legend, before the world's creation, a Pokémon named Arceus emerged from an egg and formed the entire universe..."
"Wait, the god of creation is a summoning beast?" Kushina asked, her mind reeling. She had been taught that the Sage of Six Paths established order and was the ancestor of all ninjas. How could another world have its own god?
Hayato shook his head. "Kushina, don't be disrespectful. Arceus is omnipresent and transcendent. This knowledge appeared in my mind the moment I summoned Chimchar."
Minato's jaw dropped slightly. It wasn't that he doubted Hayato, but the information was almost too much to take in.
"I can prove it," Hayato said, producing the Premier Ball. He pressed the button, and Chimchar, still sipping milk, transformed into light and returned to the ball.
"Chii! (°〆°:)"
Kushina rubbed her eyes in disbelief as her mouth fell open.
"Alright, no need to be so surprised," Hayato chuckled. "Pokémon are humanity's friends. I'm wondering if we can use summoning techniques to bring more Pokémon into our world as allies."
He turned to Kushina. "Your beautiful red hair makes you perfect for Fire-type Pokémon. With their company, you'll never feel lonely again."
Then to Minato: "As for you, I think Electric-type Pokémon would suit you well. You're fast, after all."
Hayato thought of a certain Electric-type Gym Leader named Volkner, whose appearance bore some resemblance to Minato's.
"Electric-type? Does he mean similar to Lightning Release?" Minato mused, marveling at Hayato's unusual insight.
Suddenly, a loud "thud" came from outside. Minato glanced toward the window and saw nothing but a broken tree branch.
"Who's there?" he called.
Hayato patted Minato's shoulder. "Relax. It's probably just a squirrel falling out of the trees. Konoha has so many of them."
"Is that so?" Minato murmured, still suspicious. But if Hayato said so, he must be right.
The "squirrel" was actually the ANBU operative, rushing to the Hokage's office to report this game-changing revelation.
"Sharingan isn't the real issue here," the ANBU thought. "Uchiha Hayato himself is Konoha's greatest enigma."
Back inside, Hayato continued, "In that world, nearly everyone has a Pokémon. If Konoha could replicate this, future wars would be unnecessary."
"Villages could bond through Pokémon battles instead of fighting wars," he added.
Minato felt a wave of defeat. If Hayato's vision became reality, how could he surpass him to become the Fourth Hokage?
Sensing Minato's discouragement, Hayato challenged him with a smirk. "Minato, are you giving up on becoming Hokage? Or do you already think I'll surpass you someday?"
Minato's competitive spirit reignited. "I'm not that easy to beat!"
[Ding! New Mission: The Birth of a Rival]
[As a Pokémon Trainer, how can you not have a rival to grow stronger with? Defeat your rival as a ninja.]