Pokénin 025 (Pokemon/Naruto)

The next morning, Tekai awoke to discover his clone had popped sometime during the night, as he was too bored to keep going on. 

Tekai couldn't blame the clone, because training was really boring. Especially in an era where music wasn't freely available on command. For example, back on Earth, Tekai just about refused to go to the gym if he had no music. 

But boring training aside, the shadow clone had done a pretty good job at studying. Although the memories felt like a fever dream, Tekai felt as if he had a decent grasp on the basics of the staff skill he had studied. Now all he needed to do was put it into practice. 

Additionally, thanks to his clone's efforts of spamming the Dragon Dance, he was wide awake, and full of energy. 

The fact that a popped shadow clone sent back a portion of its energy was so broken, it was ridiculous. Kishimoto really thought he was clever by nerfing the ability to require 50% of the casters chakra, then slipped in the chakra return, making it a low-key OP ability. 

After sorting through these memories, the first thing Tekai did upon waking up was to take a quick shower, and groom his magikarp. 

While he could easily leave his Pokémon in the pokeball, Tekai always thought that the storage system in the games was somewhat inhumane. 

Besides, forming close bonds with Pokémon was one of the ways to get them to evolve faster. 

Whilst there was ‘experience’ in the way of chakra orbs, that didn't mean that was the only method for a Pokémon to evolve. 

In fact, Tekai had a clear memory of watching the anime, and seeing a magikarp get punted into the ocean. Upon being called useless, the fish became enraged, and evolved into a gyarados on the spot! 

Tekai didn't plan on kicking his Pokémon or abusing it, but he figured that by becoming close with Gil now, while he was harmless, it would make working with him as a gyarados much easier. 

He certainly wouldn't want to end up in a situation like Ash, where his charizard only obeyed him half the time! 

Smiling to himself at the thought of getting a gyarados, Tekai increased his scrubbing, and played around with Gil as if he were his favorite cat or dog. 

“Karp, karp.” Gil splashed about in happiness as Tekai brushed underneath his belly. 

Tekai laughed as some water splashed him in the chin. 

After getting clean, it was 6:30am, leaving another hour and a half of free time before he had to meet at Cynthia's waterside mansion for the day's training at 8 o'clock. 

It took about 30 minutes to grab a carriage, get breakfast, and reach the front gates of Blackthorn from his apartment. Then about another 30 minutes to swim there. 

That left Tekai about a half hour of free time. 

He could make another clone for study purposes, but that would leave him dangerously low on chakra. He could even lounge and do nothing, or go on a walk, or- 

Tekai was thinking up things to do when a knock came on his door. 

“Hey shiny, it was fun last night, let's have more fun today!” Zinnia's cheerful voice reverberated. 

Tekai blinked his eyes. Well, he guessed he wouldn't mind hanging out with Zinnia for a bit. Last night was kind of eventful, but honestly, Tekai kind of forgot the emotional upheavals, and was just happy to be alive. 

Putting Gil back into his pokeball, Tekai opened the front door to his apartment, and was going to invite Zinnia to breakfast, when she suddenly grabbed him by the front of his cloak, and dragged him outside. 

Shivering in the early morning fog, Tekai saw that the sun was blocked by an endless sea of clouds, and a light drizzle was pouring down. 

“Yo.” Tekai greeted the tomboyish girl, and gently pried away her hand. 

But in doing so, Zinnia was quick to grab both his hands, and pull him closer. 

“Oi, we can spar later.” Tekai blocked a palm, and shoved her face away. 

“Oh. Grandma said that to get close to a man who interests me, I should rub my face against his, was she wrong?” Zinnia said aloud, and looked at Tekai in confusion as she tilted her head to the side. 

“W-well not necessarily.” Tekai scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. 

“Yay!” Zinnia cheered, and then sucker punched Tekai in the stomach, causing him to double over. 

“Zinnia. What the fuck.” Tekai wheezed as he took a knee. 

“Grandma said boys need to be taught a lesson when they can't catch a hint!” Zinnia beamed a bright smile. 

A second later, Zinnia jumped up to the underside of the open air roof, and stuck her feet to it. Her long black hair hung down as it was affected by gravity, and she stared at him with her crimson eyes. 

Tekais tsked, as her swift movement had been in reaction to his retaliatory leg sweep. 

“Tag, you're it! Last one to big sis's house has to do what the winner says for a day! And you're going to be my punching bag! Or maybe I'll force you out of those baggy robes, and see you run naked on the beach, get some tan on that pasty skin of yours!” Zinnia stuck out her tongue, then did a backflip down to the ground floor of the apartment. 

“Come and catch me!” Zinnia cupped her hands, and shouted up at Tekai, then ran away giggling into the mist. 

“....” 

‘That fucking girl.’ Tekai thought to himself. 

‘Chase. Win. Mate!’ Gil “helpfully” provided. 

Growling to himself in annoyance, Tekai decided he'd win in this little competition, and make Zinnia do something embarrassing! 

Nose twitching, Tekai picked up her scent, and dashed off. 

Pushing Dragon Dance to full tilt, a spark of purple lightning surrounded Tekai, and disappeared in a burst of speed. 

Following his nose, Tekai caught up to Zinnia at the gatehouse between the noble quarter and the merchant quarter. 

Bouncing forward, he jumped over her head, and tapped her as he passed by. 

“You're it.” Tekai jeered as he moved forward, disappearing in the mist. 

“Hahaha, that's the spirit, shiny!” Zinnia laughed, and chased after him. 

Tekai figuratively felt her blazing spirit, and couldn't help but grin. 

Here he was, running through the city, through cold banks of mist, and dodging pedestrians/buildings/carriages just as they ‘spawned’ in from the edges of his awareness. 

This extreme speed and the bend of the road, along with multiple objects required of him an insane level of focus. 

While he chased after Zinnia, he just had to follow her scent, and her path. But now that he was in the lead, the difficulty of navigating this fog had increased several fold! 

Adrenaline pumping, Tekai jumped between two carriages, landed heavily in a puddle, and slid underneath four laborers carrying something heavy. 

Inhaling a fresh breath of cool air, Tekai felt like whooping, he was having so much fun! 

As he ran closer and closer to the main gate leaving the city, Tekai was about to make his escape from Blackthorn, when he ran into the brick wall known as Lance. 

His older brother was standing at the entrance to the gates with his arms crossed, and an unamused look on his face. 

“So you are the one causing a ruckus in the city.” Lance stated, the disapproval of an older sibling was clear in his voice. 

“Ah, big brother, it wasn't my-” 

“Gotcha now, Tekai, tag, you're it!” Zinnia pushed Tekai on the shoulder, shoving him into his older brother. 

The tan, tomboyish girl was going to run past him too, but Lance caught her, and lifted her off the ground. 

“Hah? Who are you?” Zinnia squinted her eyes, and gave Lance an unfriendly look. 

“Pffft.” Tekai couldn't help himself, and chuckled. 

Lance didn't seem bothered by this lack of acknowledgement, and answered her in a calm, measured tone. 

“Blackthorn's Gym Leader, Lance. You must be my little brother's friend, Zinnia.” Lance smiled. 

“You have an older brother?!” Zinnia ignored Lance, and stared at Tekai with a face full of astonishment. 

Tekai blinked his eyes in confusion. This girl really was the smartest airhead he had ever come across. One who's full potential was only unlocked when hammered on alcohol… 

“Yes, it is nice to see you two are getting along.” Lance complimented in a serious tone. 

“Well then, let us go! We have a race to finish, and can't be late to big sis Cynthia's training!” Zinnia loudly complained. 

“How audacious. It seems the apple does not fall far from the tree. Unfortunately for you two, the ninja attack the other night has made your reckless actions suspect. As punishment, you two are to spar with me, 2v1. Now come.” Lance dropped both of them, then with a twirl of his cape, marched out through the city gates. 

“A spar?! Tekai, is your brother strong?!” Zinnia grabbed onto Tekai's arm, and had stars in her eyes as she started to drag him towards the front gates. 

“....you really don't know who Lance is? Or what being a Gym Leader signifies?” Tekai questioned, and scrutinized Zinnia’s face for any falsehoods. 

“Gym Leaders are the people who sit on those cushions in the grand hall, duh. People say they're the strongest, but Grandma passes out on the floor, and she can take any one of them in a fight!” 

Tekai could only shake his head in disbelief. 

“Your Grandma must be a powerful fighter.” 

“Already told you she is when we entered the Dragons Den. You know Tekai, you're kind of slow, huh?” Zinnia stopped in her step, and looked up at him in pity. 

“Just keep moving ya brat.” Tekai swiped at the back of her head, and lightly cuffed her. 

“Eee hee, you can't tag me so easily~.” Zinnia giggled, and ducked low. 

“Ah, but you're still holding onto my arm, I've already tagged you.” Tekai reasoned. 

“Nuh uh. I grabbed you, you haven't touched me.” Zinnia responded with infallible logic. 

Tekai could only shake his head as the ‘genius’ worked this one out. 

‘Whatever, I'll still win this competition. Maybe when I win, I'll make you wear shoes, or a dress. Or maybe order you to be quiet for a day!’ Tekai thought to himself, and imagined all sorts of petty ‘punishments.’