Pokénin 016 (Pokemon/Naruto)

Whilst Tekai was chasing after the rest of his team, he made sure to keep an eye out for any Pokémon that might ambush him. 

However, he didn't spot much of anything, and saw nothing but a few stray zigzagoon, and a flock of pidgey. It would seem that this route was well patrolled, and the more powerful wild Pokémon knew to steer clear of a place that frequented human activities. 

As if to confirm that theory, Tekai came across a tree fort that was just a few feet away from the main road. Sitting atop it was a Third Grade, masked Ohrot clan member, and a pair of unranked retainers. 

The retainers wore the emblem of the Ryu Clan on the back of their clothes-much like how Konoha shinobi had the Uzumaki swirl on theirs-and as they were both male, had a poliwrath emblazoned on the front of their vests. As the poliwag line of Pokémon was the default starter for all unranked chakra warriors within the Ryu Clans service. 

One man had a bow in hand, whilst the other had a pair of binoculars and was looking off into the distance. 

Tekai waved up at them, and received a nod from the Ohrot lady. There was no challenge to his token, and the guards seemed uninterested in engaging in conversation. 

Without pausing in his step, Tekai continued after Cynthia. 

Along the way, the road eventually ran parallel with the lake, and Tekai got a breathtaking view of nature. Tons of different bird-adjacent Pokémon flapped in the sky, and the early morning sun burnt away the fog on the water. 

As far as Tekai could see, there was an endless pool of water, as if it were an ocean. 

Countless boats, comprised of mostly merchants, and fishermen were going about their business. Lumber was being transported downstream too, and a thriving community of dozens of villages dotted the edges of the water. 

There were easily ten thousand people or more living in this small stretch of 10 miles that Tekai was jogging beside. 

A dragonite patrolled overhead, and a Ryu clansman oversaw the hub of commerce down below. 

Smiling to himself, Tekai felt a cool breeze, and the wind ripple through his hair. He had seen this huge body of water from atop the mountain that he called home for the last 12 years. He had longed for the day that he might swim in it. 

It was the kind of longing one might have to visit a local amusement park, but being too poor as a child to visit it. But now as an adult, he could finally see what everyone had raved about when he was younger. 

For the first time in a long time, he finally felt a bit of freedom. He wasn't being tasked with cleaning, and he was out in nature. 

“So this is the Lake of Rage.” Tekai muttered in awe. 

‘Out. Swim. Together!’ Gil all but demanded of Tekai. 

Tekai paused to consider this request. He didn't know how dangerous the water was, but if the games were anything to go by, it should be primarily inhabited by magikarp. 

Deciding he had kept Gil trapped inside the pokeball long enough, and there were the twin facts that Dragon Dance was more effective in water, and the Swift Swim ability that he got from Gil transformed him into an effortless speedster swimmer. 

It was a no brainer, really. 

“Go, Gil, I choose you!” Tekai said in a cheerful mood, and released his magikarp. 

“Karp, karp!” Gil flopped into the water, and cheered. 

Tekai laughed at his friend, and was quick to jump in after him. 

Swimming beside the magikarp, Tekai whooped with laughter as Gil splashed him. 

Bumping into Gil's side, Tekai pushed him along, and swam in a few circles. 

“Alright Gil, let’s catch up to them!” Tekai called out to his mon, and started to swim alongside the path. 

“Karp!” Gil mimicked Tekai's enthusiasm, and followed along. 

Swimming at speeds that mimicked an Olympic gymnasts max output, Tekai moved at a rate that to him, was no more difficult than a light jog. If he really pushed himself, he felt as if he might be capable of competing with a motor boat. 

Along the way, he spotted a few magikarp, and other water critters, like staryu, and poliwag. The Pokémon, much like most animals back on Earth, would avoid him when he drew near. 

It seemed to Tekai that the majority of wild Pokémon weren't inherently aggressive unless they were carnivorous, someone threatened their young, or someone intruded upon their territory. 

The zubats from the Dragons Den, for example, weren't inherently violent. But they had attacked Zinnia and him when they tried to enter the Valley of Bones. They must have perceived them as intruders…that or Zinnia had initiated the fight. 

‘Hungry. Battle. Consume!’ Gil gestured towards one of the wild magikarps that were swimming close to them. 

Tekai raised a brow at the blatant cannibalistic hunger, but wasn't entirely surprised. Nature, for all its beauty, was scary too. He had seen documentaries of baby birds eating their siblings, of Killer Whales mutilating Seals to teach their young how to hunt then leaving the Seals behind to bleed out and die. Nature was more than bright colors, and head pats. 

That being said, Gil was definitely built different. Being all golden and shiny must have instilled some arrogance in him, because all Tekai was receiving from Gil was a thirst for battle. 

Which was funny considering every other magikarp seemed to be a pacifist, content to live life going through the motions. 

At the end of the day, his attitude was a good thing. Magikarp were an easy source of Speed EV's, and if there were any type of chakra orb he would want to farm, it was speed and attack. 

When he had more time, Tekai could 100% see himself farming magikarp. 

But for now, they had to catch up to Cynthia, they could always farm exp later. 

Turning to respond to Gil, Varrus chuckled at his hungry, golden friend. 

“Not now, Gil, if we fall behind, it would be no good.” Tekai explained and shook his head at the disappointed fish. 

Gil paused for a second to register Tekai's words, and while for a moment he had become depressed that he didn't get to eat, Gil was quick to bounce back. 

‘Battle! Fight! Mate!’ Gil transmitted once he knew they would be reunited with Team Cynthia. 

Tekai chuckled and patted Gil on the fin. What was he going to do with this horny magikarp? 

Softly laughing to himself, Tekai's nose twitched as he recognized a familiar scent was nearby. 

Had he caught up already? 

Looking out onto the route, Tekai didn't catch sight of Cynthia, but he did see that Clair was quite tired. Her horsea was put away, and the chibi light-blue haired girl was huffing and puffing trying to maintain a jog. 

They must've been 20-30 miles out from Blackthorn by now, and Clair had been running at a full sprint trying to match Cynthia's tempo, only now she had fallen into a state of disrepair, and her speed had drastically decreased. It was no wonder the ‘princess’ had become so haggard. 

However, one thing stood out to Tekai. 

‘How come she isn't doing the Dragon Dance?’ Tekai thought in curiosity. 

As he drew near, his keen ears picked up the tail end of Clair's mumbling words to herself.

“Stupid Zinnia with all that positive energy, always shouting about getting the dragon seed and having fun. I can breathe Dragon Flames, but can't keep up with her? Tch. What an embarrassment. At least I'm ahead of stinky Tekai. Who asked him to give me such delicious food anyway? Handsome prick.” Clair deliriously complained out loud to herself in a fatigue fueled tirade. 

Scratching his head in embarrassment, Tekai determined he couldn't let this go on any longer. 

Cupping his hands, Tekai raised his voice, and said one word: 

“Oi!” 

Clair, unexpecting such a loud noise, turned on a dime, and struck towards Tekai's position. 

A whip unfurled from her side, and extended to more than 20ft long, and struck the water just up to where he was at. 

The water parted in a straight line due to the power of that whip, and Tekai felt that if he had been struck, he might lose a layer of flesh, or even worse. 

“Woah, easy there blue! Easy!” Tekai laughed, and held up his hands in the universal ‘don't shoot’ pose. 

“Tekai? Hmph!” Clair glared at him, then withdrew her whip, and kept going. 

Leisurely swimming alongside her, Tekai struck up a conversation. 

“I didn't know you could use a whip, how come you didn't wield it against the ancestor?” Tekai questioned. 

Clair ignored him, and picked up the pace. Yet based upon her ragged breaths, it was doing her no favors. 

“You know you would save more energy if you did the Dragon Dance, right?” Tekai persisted in his questioning. 

“Just leave me alone! I have to complete this challenge on my own! A dragon never asks for help when she can do it on her own!” Clair hotly demanded. 

Tekai raised an eyebrow. This spoiled girl had some gumption all right, but perhaps the pressure was getting to her? 

“Sure, sure, Miss Completes it on her own. But that's a lie. You have horsea by your side. Why don't you let her out, and take a swim?” Tekai then finished his statement by thrusting into the water. 

A large wave came out of the lake, and splashed Clair from head to toe. 

“Tekai.” Clair stopped to glare at him, and whipped at him. 

Tekai swam just outside of her range, and boredly yawned. 

“What's the matter, afraid to get wet?” 

“Karp, karp!” Gil laughed in a mocking tone. 

“I'll show you! Horsea, go!” Clair released her Pokémon, and jumped in without a second thought. 

“Sea, sea!” The horsea chirped happily, and swam behind Clair. 

Tekai maneuvered ahead of Clair, and flared his nostrils to pick up Zinnia's scent. He then took off. 

“Hey, where are you going, I'm not done with you!” Clair raged as she chased after him. 

Tekai watched, and continued to remain surprised by Clair's lack of Dragon Dance. It was the only technique Lance had imparted to him, and was something Uncle Borah repeatedly spoke about. 

It seemed like the cornerstone technique for the Ryu Clan from what Tekai was taught, and served as an excellent ability when fighting, or moving long distances. 

So why wasn't Clair using it right now? Was she perhaps not as skilled in its use, or maybe her grandpa, the Elder, focused her education towards other things. She could already use a jutsu, and was seemingly proficient with a weapon, maybe Tekai was unique, in that he was the one who overly emphasized the use of Dragon Dance? 

Whatever the case was, he recognized that Clair was flagging, and he would have to set the pace so she didn't collapse. He knew someone as proud as her wouldn't accept free help, but if he coated it as a challenge, then he could covertly help her without her realizing it. 

“Ahhwww, man~ I didn't know you were so fragile. If only you knew the mnemonic for Dragon Dance, then you might be able to keep up with me.” Tekai taunted as he swam just outside of her range of attack. 

Swimming in a backstroke position, Tekai made sure to flash a grin at her, and let Clair know he wasn't taking her seriously whatsoever. 

“You idiot, initiating Dragon Dance takes chakra! If I used it now, sure I might swim faster, but I'll waste all my energy.” Clair gave him a disdainful stink eye. 

Tekai chuckled. He forgot about that. Since he had been doing the Dragon Dance since young, it almost seemed like the draw on his chakra was negligible. As his body matured, and grew along with the constant use of this technique, it felt as if it didn't take any chakra at all to initiate. And in fact, it was only recently after really pushing himself, that he realized in the long term, Dragon Dance recovered more chakra then it used. It wasn't surprising that this type of knowledge was unknown to a little girl. 

Grinning at Clair, Tekai realized explaining all this would be too difficult. To deal with her, it would be better to act childish. 

“Sounds like you can't do it. I guess you'll just have to be last then. But don't worry, I am a gentleman. If you should happen to fall over, I can always carry you on my shoulders.” Tekai spoke to Clair in a sarcastically polite, yet very clearly not-so subtle manner. 

Needless to say, this formal passive-aggressive diss produced the desired result. 

Glaring at Tekai, Clair was worked up into a frenzy, and initiated the Dragon Dance. 

Picking up speed, the chibi blue haired girl swam after him as if her life depended on it. 

“Ha ha ha! Come catch me if you can!” Tekai laughed at her, and made sure to swim just outside of her range. 

Grinning to himself, Tekai admired his reflection in the water, and his Pokémon swimming next to him. 

Now this was what living in a Pokémon world was all about!