"Sorry, you just remind me of someone I know," Uchiha Hayato apologized, his tone light.
Minato Namikaze couldn't help but roll his eyes. Buddy, this sounds just like the oldest pick-up line in the book. He glanced at Kushina Uzumaki, whose sharp glare could cut through steel, and wisely took a step back. Better him than me, he thought, already bracing for the fallout.
Minato gave Pikachu a quick squeeze, marveling at how its soft, round cheeks were far safer than navigating Kushina's fiery temper. The slight static shock was nothing compared to the storm brewing in Kushina's mind.
Kushina stared at Hayato's retreating back with a mix of frustration and longing. It's my fault, she thought bitterly. If only I'd confessed earlier, this wouldn't be happening. Her thoughts spiraled, caught between regret and doubt. But would Hayato even accept something like love at first sight?
"Who are you, and why are you interrupting our training?"
Hyūga Ruri stiffened at Kushina's pointed question, though she didn't understand why she was the target. A spark of irritation flickered in her chest, though she held her composure.
The blonde girl beside her stepped forward. "I'm Yakushi Nono, and this is my friend, Hyūga Ruri," she introduced, her tone polite.
Hayato tilted his head, curious. "Nice to meet you, Nono. I'm Uchiha Hayato. This is Kushina Uzumaki, and the one with the same hair color as you is Minato Namikaze. What brings you here?"
"Ruri was curious, so we followed you," Nono explained with a smile. "I wanted to see what kind of person you are, too."
"Who's curious about him!" Ruri snapped, her cheeks flushed. She quickly turned her attention to Little Blaze, perched on a training post. "I just wanted to see the summon beast, that's all."
Little Blaze tilted its head in confusion. "Grr?"
"We were discussing our training plans," Hayato offered, gesturing to the ground where he'd been sketching. "You're welcome to join us if you're interested."
He then turned to Dekai. "Whether Kushina forgives you is her choice, but if you're serious about changing, your actions will prove it over time."
Kushina glanced between Hayato and Ruri, her gaze softening. "I forgive you," she finally said. "But if you or your friends ever call me a rotten tomato again, you'll regret it."
Her chakra flared dramatically as she struck a training post, shattering it in half.
Dekai broke out in a cold sweat. Even without Hayato's help, we wouldn't have stood a chance against her.
"Hayato summoned this Pokémon for Minato," Kushina boasted, as if she'd played a part in it herself.
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with you?" Ruri retorted, crossing her arms.
Hayato stepped in before the argument escalated. "That's enough. Let's focus on the training plans."
He crouched and drew a diagram in the dirt. "The Third Hokage has brought prosperity to Konoha, but the ninja world is far from peaceful. Minato, you've heard about the tension on the borders of the Land of Fire, right?"
Minato nodded grimly. "There have been skirmishes with Sand Village, and the borders with the Land of Rain are unstable."
Hayato continued, his tone serious. "If these conflicts escalate, it could lead to the Second Shinobi World War. As academy students, we might be forced to graduate early and go to the front lines. We need to prepare."
He sketched a list of priorities in the dirt. "A ninja's strength comes from several factors: chakra reserves, jutsu, intelligence, tools, and summon beasts. While we can't quickly increase chakra reserves, we can improve chakra control to minimize waste."
He looked at Ruri, then explained further. "Jutsu is where Pokémon come in. Training with them strengthens both them and us. We can even learn their moves and adapt them into our own ninja techniques."
Hayato stood and turned to Kushina. "Would you spar with me? I want to test a technique I learned from Little Blaze."
Kushina blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Alright, bring it on!"
"Fake Out!"
A faint blue light coated Hayato's palm as he pressed it lightly to Kushina's abdomen.
"Why can't I move?" Kushina exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic.
"This is a technique I learned from Little Blaze," Hayato explained, a hint of pride in his tone. "It paralyzes the opponent temporarily by disrupting their chakra flow."
He added, "Of course, it has two weaknesses. First, it requires physical contact—"
"Stop talking and fix this already!" Kushina yelled, her chakra surging to break free.
Hayato chuckled, steadying her as she regained control. "And that's the second weakness—it can be broken by strong chakra."
"Gentle Fist?" Ruri gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment.