The two stood firm in the outdoor survival training ground, with Kushina following behind, holding a bag of potato chips and watching.
He hadn't forgotten the mission he triggered yesterday.
[As a Pokémon Trainer, how can one not have a rival to spar and improve with? Defeat the opponent as a Ninja.]
[Reward: Rival obtains a Pokémon, Host learns a random skill.]
As someone with the Pokémon system, he had to be both a Trainer and act as the Professor who distributes the starter Pokémon.
"Minato, are you ready? I can start anytime, you know." Uchiha Hayato smiled confidently.
"I'm always ready. It's you who shouldn't underestimate me."
The two formed an opposing hand sign and faced each other.
"Kushina, the referee's job is yours!" Uchiha Hayato gave Kushina a thumbs up.
"Mmm... Good... Okay, leave it to me." Kushina swallowed the potato chips in her mouth. "Start!"
Passively taking hits was not Uchiha Hayato's style; he always preferred to attack first, especially when facing someone weaker than himself.
Minato Namikaze stood opposite him, body slightly leaning forward, knees bent, eyes firmly Lock-On Uchiha Hayato, his yellow hair gently fluttering in the breeze. His breathing was steady, and he held a Kunai, ready to counter Hayato's offensive.
"Here I come!"
Uchiha Hayato initiated the attack first, his toes lightly tapping the ground, sending sand and dust flying. His fist aimed directly at Minato's chest, with a force far exceeding any previous strike.
A flicker of surprise crossed Minato's eyes. He hadn't told anyone else that his dynamic vision was excellent, allowing him to clearly see the trajectories of fast-moving objects, and his vision had grown with him as he matured.
This was also why he had once been confident that he would become the Hokage.
However, Uchiha Hayato's movements almost made his eyes unable to keep up. Was this indeed the effect of activating the Sharingan?
He had no time to think, immediately sidestepping to narrowly dodge the heavy punch. Hayato's fist grazed his shoulder, and the oppressive force of that blow could be felt in the air. Minato was secretly startled; if that punch had landed, it would have been enough to push him back several meters.
"How is his strength so great...?" The thought flashed through Minato's mind as he pushed off the ground with both feet, quickly leaping back three meters to create distance.
However, Hayato gave him no chance to breathe, stomping his foot and closing in with Extreme Speed. The distance between them instantly narrowed to just one step. Hayato suddenly raised his leg, kicking fiercely at Minato's waist.
Can you react to my Extreme Speed, little brother? Uchiha Hayato mused to himself.
Minato reacted swiftly, crossing his arms to block the heavy blow, but the enormous impact still sent him staggering back five steps, leaving a deep drag mark on the ground. His arms felt slightly numb, and he was even more shocked; Hayato's strength was truly terrifying, each strike capable of shaking his defense.
Minato adjusted his breathing, his eyes narrowing slightly, revealing a cautious expression. It seemed he had to fight from a distance and use surprise tactics.
Kushina's eyes sparkled brightly. Were these the Ninja Academy students of Konoha Village? In her own Village, she could already be considered a Genin, yet she wouldn't dare say she could defeat them.
She held her breath, even forgetting to eat the potato chips in her hand.
Hayato suddenly retreated, quickly forming hand signs. Two clones identical to him appeared on his flanks. The three Uchiha youths enveloped Minato from the front and sides, forming a pincer attack.
Minato's pupils constricted slightly, realizing the danger. He decisively threw a Shuriken, dispelling one clone, while simultaneously leaping backward to quickly create distance. Hayato rapidly pursued, his Kunai pointed at Minato's weak spot.
"I win." Hayato smiled, his Kunai stopping just five centimeters from Minato's neck. However, Minato's figure dissipated with a 'bang,' turning into a wooden log that fell to the ground.
"Substitute Jutsu?" Hayato paused for a moment, quickly looking around.
"I'm over here!" Minato's voice came from behind.
"Did you think I'd say that?" Uchiha Hayato's lips curved upward, the tomoe in his eyes spinning continuously. "Minato, when did you become so confident that your Transformation Technique could fool the Sharingan?"
Uchiha Hayato Splash: "Minato, your performance was too obvious. You created distance, transformed into a Shuriken, and attacked me from behind."
"Let's end this with one move!"
Rat - Tiger - Dog - Ox - Rabbit - Tiger.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
He had learned it immediately after activating his Sharingan, thanks to the training experience from Uchiha Setsuna.
Fireballs shot out, falling from the sky, carrying scorching heat towards Minato.
"Stop, stop, stop, I surrender, I surrender."
Minato Namikaze rolled backward in a disheveled manner, raising his hands to signal surrender.
"I declare that Uchiha Hayato wins this duel!"
Kushina cheered loudly, so excited that many of the potato chips in her hand fell.
"Hayato, were you trying to kill me? You actually used Fire Release."
Uchiha Hayato pulled Minato Namikaze up from the ground, patted the dust off him, and grinned, "You told me to use my full strength."
"Besides, I don't think you'd die from that. You said you were going to become the Fourth Hokage."
Minato was somewhat moved: "Of course, how could I die so early?"
[Mission Complete: Birth of a Rival]
[Reward: Host learns Fake Out, Rival's Pokémon is being drawn...]
A massive wave of knowledge flooded Uchiha Hayato's mind, causing him a temporary sensation of dizziness.
Fake Out, in the Pokémon world, is a priority move that can prevent the opponent from acting for one turn.
In the infused skill, Fake Out was described as a palm strike that uses internal energy to disrupt the opponent, causing their internal energy to stagnate, allowing oneself to act first.
Isn't this another form of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist pressure point technique?
Uchiha Hayato was quite satisfied and smiled at Minato Namikaze: "Minato, I told you before that I would share Pokémon, so you'll be the first one."
"Kushina, don't worry, you'll get a Pokémon too."
Kushina's disappointment lessened slightly, but her resentment towards Minato Namikaze increased considerably. She had heard of girls fighting over their beloved boys, but why was a guy getting involved? If it weren't for Minato, she might have been the first to get a Pokémon with Hayato.
"Hayato, why are you so good to me?"
Minato Namikaze opened his mouth; he had wanted to ask this question for a long time. Uchiha Hayato seemed to have a strange fondness for him, ever since their first meeting, as if he had known him for a long time.
"Because we're friends." Uchiha Hayato used the Friend Technique.
"Friends, huh... That's right, we're friends." Minato Namikaze smiled. "I won't take back what I said earlier, Hayato, you really need to work hard, or I'll surpass you soon."
"Enough of that. Now, you're going to welcome your Pokémon." Uchiha Hayato said with a grin.
"Summoning Technique!"
He formed the hand sign for the Summoning Technique. The system's drawing pointer stopped at that moment. After the smoke and dust cleared, a yellow and black spherical creature appeared before the three of them.
"Pikachu ] ω ･ ` )?"