Pokénin 024 (Pokemon/Naruto)

Nameless stood still, refusing to act, as if he were a statue. 

Feeling irked by the disrespect, Tekai once more got in the retainer's face. His blood was surging, and his draconic chakra began to flow in anticipation of a challenge. 

“Six months from now, when the Pokémon Stadium is complete, we will fight.” Tekai spoke with a quiet, calm surety that did not show the internal firestorm of adrenaline coursing through his veins. 

Nameless ignored Tekai once more, but this time, he did have something meaningful to say. 

“Your guest has arrived, master.” Nameless grated out. 

Tekai inhaled sharply as a spike of chakra let itself be known. He didn't have to be a specialized sensor to know that this energy carried a weight with it that he had only felt in Uncle Borah and his brother. 

The sound of a single spoon clanking on porcelain rang through the air, and the sliding door seemed to open of its own accord. 

Tekai stepped forward, and got a good look at Elder Ichi's office. 

He had only ever swept up to the door outfront, but had never entered inside. 

It was a wide and spacious room, one that occupied an entire floor on the tower, and was about the size of a basketball court. 

Along the walls and strung around the room were various instruments. Some Tekai recognized-like the guitar or piano-some looked foreign, and strange. 

As he stepped inside the room, his feet fell upon hardwood floor, and made loud, creaky noises. 

Sitting on said hardwood floor, without a cushion in sight was the first elder. 

Dubbed ‘Elder Ichi’ his name literally meant first elder. However, it was more accurate to describe that name as a title. 

Just like when a King ascends the throne, he takes on a new name, the position of Elder in the Ryu Clan constituted the removal of the old name, to be replaced with a new one. 

Closing his eyes, the wrinkly, balding old man held a cup of simmering tea in his hands, and whistle-blew a cool breath over the lid. As he did so, the front door closed itself. 

As much as Tekai wanted to roll his eyes at this silly old man, he recognized this act for the power play it was. 

There were no hand signs, or dragon roar used to mold his chakra. Furthermore, if this room was the size of a basketball court, then Elder Ichi was sitting roughly in the middle. To use just enough chakra to close a door, and not rip it off its hinges, or use too little, and not even budge the door spoke volumes as to his chakra control. 

It was such a simple, casual thing, closing a door. Yet this old monster had established dominance without saying a word, or lifting a finger. 

Tekai bowed at Elder Ichi, and chose to remain silent. 

Ordinarily he would've liked to have praised whoever showed such skill, but the way this old man had summoned him gave Tekai some bad vibes. 

Besides, this was the guy who-just two nights ago-called him a Black Mark, and argued against Uncle Borah to deny him the opportunity to hatch an egg. 

As the elder slowly opened his eyes to regard him, Tekai was struck by how blue they were. So familiar. 

‘So that must mean he's-’ 

“Hm. Tekai Tatsushiro, my granddaughter owes her life to you.” The old man said as he stared unblinkingly at Tekai. 

At the same time that Ichi hummed, a wooden panel in the ceiling opened up, and a thin scroll fell down right into Tekai's hand. 

“You may leave.” The old man said, closing his eyes, and went back to sipping on his beverage. 

Tekai rapidly blinked his eyes in confusion. 

‘That's it?! I thought I was going to get chewed out, or berated as the Black Mark. Where the hell was this calm, reserved fellow two nights ago?!’ Tekai raged to himself, yet made sure to keep his face placid, lest he leak his discontent. 

“Honored Elder.” Tekai bowed again, then turned to leave. 

However, something had been bothering him this entire time. Ichi had been using sound based jutsu this entire time, not wind. 

Turning to the Elder once again, Tekai felt as if he had been yanked around by the Elder enough, and figured he could ask at least one question. 

“Elder Ichi, does your signature Pokémon happen to be Noivern, the soundwave dragon?” Tekai asked. 

Creaking open his eyes once more, the wrinkly old man smiled at Tekai for the first time since their meeting. 

“Very astute of you, Rising Dragon. I look forward to the glory you shall bring the Ryu. A dragon grows fiercest when he has dominated his foes, and tasted the bitter struggles of life. We expect great things of you.” The old man spoke in a flat tone, but his brilliant blue eyes were vibrant, and gave Tekai a creepy feeling. 

“Yes, Elder Ichi.” Tekai was quick to reply. 

The feeling of being examined-as if he were some prized horse-was unpleasant to say the least. 

Hurrying to the exit, Tekai tried sliding the door open, but was surprised when it didn’t budge. 

‘This shit is seriously heavy!’ 

Tekai's movements became awkward as he tried again, and failed just as fast. 

Embarrassment took hold of him. He was experiencing the feeling of going to pick up a shopping cart, only to have it remain stuck inside another shopping cart. Then not only was his stuck, but a woman came up to the side, and pulled hers out on the first try. 

Face burning with shame, Tekai converted those feelings into some petty anger, and activated both the Dragon Rage and the First Gate. 

“Hragh!” Tekai channeled all his strength, and forced the door open. 

Stepping out of the room covered in azure flames from head to toe, Tekai marched up to the squadron of retainers. 

“Six months.” Tekai growled, then weaved around them and disappeared out of the castle in a blur of speed. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entering Elder Ichi's room, the lead retainer stepped forward, and got on one knee. 

“I have shamed the Ryu, and committed the ultimate sin.” The man said in a grim tone whilst he stared at the ground. 

Slowly drawing his side arm-a large dagger known as a tanto-the man reversed the blade, and pointed it at his stomach. 

Blue chakra suffused the weapon, and the man shoved the tanto down with a grunt. 

Elder Ichi whistled, and the thrum of chakra sent the retainer's arms askew. 

The chakra blade scratched his samurai armor, and was wrenched from the retainer's hands. 

“You have done nothing wrong, Shinichi. The war is over, and the new generation requires strengthening. The cooled embers of war no longer provide that which is necessary for growth.” Elder Ichi spoke softly. 

“Then should I move on to the second phase?” The retainer-Shinichi-asked. 

“The Champion's spawn requires time to grow. Six months, was it? This arrangement shall do.” Ichi said in a dismissive tone. 

“I live to serve.” Shinichi stood, and bowed. 

As the retainer came to the door, Elder Ichi remained still. 

Straining his muscles, the retainer trembled as he pressed the door open. 

As soon as Shinichi left, Elder Ichi opened his eyes, and stared out a window. 

Looking at a white haired figure scurrying out, he allowed himself the briefest moment of satisfaction. 

The operation to weed out the hidden assassins vying for their apricorns had been a massive success. 

It was risky to use the influential children of the Ryu Clans largest internal factions as bait, but the result had spoken for itself. 

Over 50 dead shinobi, and the execution of 3 traitors. 

Taking out a brush and some paper, Ichi began to write out a series of invitations to various nations. 

The heading of the scroll said it all: 

[Regarding the Chunin Exams] 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After he had departed the castle, Tekai caught a carriage and returned to his apartment. 

The moon was high in the sky, and it was past midnight, yet despite all of the days’ bs, Tekai couldn't sleep just yet. 

He was really curious about what Elder Ichi had gifted him. Maybe it was a jutsu, or instructions to train his Pokémon!  

Unfurling the scroll with great anticipation, Tekai discovered it was a sealing scroll. 

When he injected his chakra into it, the scroll didn't open up. 

However, he noticed that half the ‘runes’ on the scroll shined a cyan-blue. When he tried putting in more of his chakra, about 60% of the runes lit up. When he tried to insert even more chakra into the scroll, the runes flashed red, and a smokey heat came from the paper as the edge started to catch fire. 

Eyes going wide, Tekai smothered the fire, and looked curiously at the scroll. 

It seemed that the gift Elder Ichi handed to him could only be opened if it had both the proper amount of chakra, as well as the proper intensity. 

Now Tekai was starting to get really curious about what was inside. Such a mechanism was practically unheard of, and got Tekai's imagination running wild. 

But besides what could be inside, Tekai actually highly valued this scroll as a training device. It seemed like an ultimate item to practice chakra control with! 

Elder Ichi may be a cryptic asshole, but at least he wasn't cheap with his gift. 

Satisfied with the day's results, and happy to be alive, Tekai took a quick shower with his magikarp, and went to bed. 

Before he went to sleep, he made a single shadow clone-not two or three so as to save his chakra-and sent the poor bastard to practice the rejuvenating effects of Dragon Dance, and to study the notes Tekai took in the library. 

One day, Tekai intended to carry with him shadow clones juiced up on a full load of chakra, and transformed into common everyday objects, like kunai.

They would act as mobile batteries, distractions, and weapons of war. 

But for such a future to transpire, he'd have to go through a lot of grueling training. 

Grinning to himself, Tekai waved at the sullen clone who was practicing in the living room, and closed the door to his bedroom. 

He was tired, and sore as all hell from the training and fighting he did earlier in the day/night. 

It was time for some blessed sleep. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: MC meeting the Elder be like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3iXHpiT6mM