In the training grounds of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Tsunade stood quietly, her gaze shifting between Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
Although she had taken them as disciples under her name, the old man Hiruzen wasn't available to come every day, so most of the daily guidance fell to her. Unexpectedly, however,
Minato Namikaze's foundation was exceptionally solid.
His talent even surpassed that of his peers.
Steady, wise, calm, gifted, and hardworking—there were almost no flaws to be found in him.
Unfortunately, his combat style was completely different from the monstrous strength and medical systems she had inherited.
He needed a path of his own, especially for a nimble ninja like Minato who had awakened spatial perception.
Within the Senju clan, there was one technique that suited him best—the Flying Thunder God Technique invented by her second grandfather.
This technique was extremely difficult, and currently, no one in the entire Hidden Leaf Village was using it.
And yet, this blond boy before her...
Had already grasped the basics of spatial perception and teleportation due to the power of his Ninja Beast.
She took out a long-sealed scroll and tossed it directly to Minato:
"The Flying Thunder God Technique."
Minato caught it, momentarily stunned. "This... for me?"
Tsunade nodded, her tone unusually serious. "Because of your Ninja Beast, you already have the foundational basics to begin learning Space-Time Ninjutsu."
The moment Minato unrolled the scroll, his eyes instantly burned with fervor.
Kushina watched him, a proud yet slightly jealous smile appearing on her face.
Just as Tsunade was about to continue speaking, she suddenly noticed a yellow, tiger-like creature resembling an electric ball standing beside Minato.
Its body was black and yellow, with a prominent black lightning symbol on its abdomen.
Two metal-like conductive horns on its head crackled with electric sparks.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Your Elekid... evolved?"
Minato nodded. "Yes, it completed its evolution a few days ago. It's an Electabuzz now."
Tsunade stepped forward to observe. The Electabuzz stared back at her, the static electricity around it causing the air to tremble slightly.
"How did you make it evolve?"
Minato was taken aback by the question, then gave a somewhat embarrassed smile.
"I took it to the village's power plant."
Tsunade: "The power plant?"
Minato nodded, explaining earnestly, "I discovered that Elekid's Chakra structure is very similar to Lightning Release, but it lacked a core energy source.
So I tried taking it to a high-voltage environment. As a result, it directly... devoured the electricity and evolved smoothly."
Tsunade: "..."
For a moment, she didn't know whether to praise or scold him.
She had never seen such a bold action.
But she had to admit, this kid's observational skills regarding Ninja Beasts had achieved remarkable results.
She nodded. "And after evolving? What changes occurred?"
Generally, when a Ninja Beast evolves, it develops some special abilities—something she could already observe from Jiraiya.
Minato took a light breath.
He stepped back, allowing the Electabuzz to stand behind him.
Crackle!!
Tiny electric sparks flashed in the air.
The flow of Chakra around Minato instantly transformed,
as Lightning Release began circulating throughout his body in a manner resembling automatic control.
Golden static electricity emerged from the skin, spreading along nerves, electrical currents, muscles, and pathways.
"What is this?" Tsunade asked in surprise.
Minato looked up, his eyes shimmering with dazzling electric light.
"This should be a type of... Static Mode that combines Chakra with lightning."
Boom!!
The air exploded around him, dust lifted by electromagnetic force,
Leaves were drawn to his body as if captured by magnetism.
She asked in a low voice, "Is your Electabuzz still undergoing changes?"
Minato nodded.
"Yes. I can feel it nurturing even stronger lightning. It's like... a completely new transformation."
He paused for a moment, gently stroking Electabuzz's head.
"The static ability it gives me is still mutating too. With every breath, my nerves and Chakra pathways become faster and more precise."
Elekid evolves into Electabuzz.
The Static ability transforms into Power Engine...
The mountains of the Earth Country stretched to the horizon, with exposed rock layers and winds carrying the scent of sand.
In the center of this desolate yet substantial land.
The Pewter Gym stood like a massive rock risen from the earth's core, unmoving.
Gym Leader Brock sat cross-legged with closed eyes before the gym, behind him an entire rock ecological zone that appeared quiet yet brimmed with powerful vitality.
When he opened his eyes, the mountain before him seemed to breathe.
A thick Onix slithered out from the mountain wall, its rocky surface scraping with a harsh sound;
Swarms of Sandshrew moved rapidly through the sand, raising clouds of dust.
Geodude rolled and collided with each other, as if practicing taijutsu; Graveler hovered above the ground, occasionally vibrating the air; Rhyhorn ran through the mountains, each step causing minor earthquakes.
All of this.
Made the rock ninja who came to investigate initially think they had entered another world.
At first, the rock ninja were very cautious, but when they tried to approach, Geodude would actively come up to fist bump; Sandshrew would dig tunnels with them; Rhyhorn even let them ride on their backs to charge.
Thus, some rock ninja naturally became partners with these Pokémon.
These events made the Third Tsuchikage who came to investigate wear a complicated expression.
"Brat..."
Ōnoki spoke, his voice hoarse yet full of pressure, "Are you still avoiding battle today?"
Brock opened his eyes, revealing a bright and fearless smile: "I can't defeat you, Tsuchikage-sama. But you're not a Trainer, and according to league rules, I can indeed avoid fighting you."
This was stated like a harmless observation, but it made Ōnoki's eyebrows practically explode with anger.
"Hmph!" Ōnoki snorted coldly, "Don't play word games with me."
His gaze turned to the active Pokémon in the mountains, "What exactly are these things? Ninja Beasts? Or some kind of Bloodline Ability mutation?"
Brock shrugged: "Probably Chakra infection spreading."
Ōnoki was slightly taken aback.
As Ninja Beasts spread, the concept of Chakra infection had invisibly gained acceptance among many people.
When Ninja Beast power became too special, it could indeed affect the environment, causing changes in plants and animals.
Ōnoki frowned, picking up a Geodude before him for closer inspection.
The eyes clearly contained will - not controlled, but genuine life.
"These creatures... what are they made of? Their life structure... is too abnormal, it's like giving souls to stones?"
Brock merely shook his head lightly, his attitude calm.
His eyes held a depth even the Tsuchikage couldn't fathom:
"Lord Tsuchikage, they are Pokémon."
Pokémon?
What is that!?
Brock stood up, brushing rock dust from his clothes.
"Lord Tsuchikage."
"Pewter Gym will not actively attack the Land of Earth, but now that the Ecological Zone has formed, we won't retreat either."
Gazing at Pewter Gym blocking the path ahead, Ōnoki observed the various Pokémon and began calculating his own plans.
"Could you properly explain to me what Pokémon are?"