Kakashi thought that whether it's a Ninja Beast or a human, physical strength is a very important ability. Exercising the body might not be the best choice, but it's never wrong.
"Rockruff!"
Rockruff quickly wagged its head and rubbed against Kakashi's palm.
"Don't get lost." With a final reminder, Kakashi started running.
During the time they spent together, Kakashi found that Rockruff was quite smart. As long as it wasn't too complicated, it could understand and execute commands.
As Kakashi started running, Rockruff quickly caught up and ran alongside him.
Seeing this, Kakashi increased his speed until Rockruff could only run behind him.
It wasn't that Kakashi minded running side by side with his Summoning Beast, but he wanted to test Rockruff's maximum running speed.
"It's so cute how hard it works out." Said Nohara Rin, who was resting from her special training, watching Rockruff chase after Kakashi with full effort.
In order to keep up with the pace of the other disciples, Nohara Rin wanted to pass the Jonin exam in one go, and recently has been practicing until exhaustion, resting, and then practicing again.
"Rin, are you talking about Kakashi or that white-furred dog?" Obito couldn't help but ask.
This question was quite important to him.
"Don't you think it's cute how Rockruff's little legs try so hard to catch up to Kakashi, with its big white tail bouncing up and down?" Nohara Rin asked in confusion.
Of course, she wasn't complimenting Kakashi. Using "cute" to describe Kakashi was indeed a bit inappropriate; Rin preferred adjectives like calm and handsome.
"It's okay, not as good as the big yellow one in my clan." Obito felt relieved but still couldn't help but disparage Rockruff as well.
"Just practice with your Summoning Beast. I'll surely defeat you in the next spar!" Obito thought to himself.
Obito felt that he probably wouldn't need his Summoning Beast before the next spar since he got his Ninja Beast Egg later than Shisui, and Shisui's egg hasn't hatched yet. His can only hatch even later.
Even if it hatches before the spar, a newly born Ninja Beast wouldn't have combat power and couldn't be used in battle.
So although Obito was eager for his Ninja Beast Egg to hatch, he knew this wasn't the time to rush it.
Just then, Kakashi and Rockruff happened to be running nearby, overhearing someone speaking ill of them. Rockruff instantly got angry and charged at Obito with a headbutt.
Since he was talking with Nohara Rin and hadn't expected Rockruff to hear so well and be so vengeful, Obito didn't notice the charging Rockruff in time and was knocked to the ground.
"Rockruff!"
After knocking Obito down, Rockruff proudly raised its head and then sprinted back toward Kakashi.
"Kakashi, your dog is such a real dog." Obito said, his face flushed red, feeling a bit strained.
Obito nearly felt the urge to enter Breath of Flame Chakra Mode and fight Rockruff to the death.
Nohara Rin held her hand to her mouth, chuckling as she patted the dust off Obito and consoled him:
"Rockruff was just born not long ago and is still immature. Don't be angry, Obito."
Hearing Nohara Rin still speaking for Rockruff made Obito's face even redder, as if the air around them were emitting a warning.
It gave him the illusion that in Nohara Rin's heart, his status wasn't even higher than that of the white-furred dog.
"It is a dog, so of course it's dog-like." Kakashi's mouth curled into a slight smirk as he ran and replied.
"Rockruff!" Rockruff barked happily.
Watching the man and dog running farther away, Obito really felt a bitter hatred, wishing that both would step into a trap and fall into a big pit in the next moment.
"You born evil white-haired puppy, when my Ninja Beast Egg hatches, you'll get what's coming to you!" Obito couldn't help but touch his own unhatched Ninja Beast Egg.
Obito really couldn't wait another moment, wishing he could skip forward to the day the Ninja Beast Egg hatches.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, is there any way to make this egg hatch faster?" Eventually, Obito sought out Mokgetsu.
He believed the omnipotent Sage Mokgetsu would surely have a way, as Sage Mokgetsu is all-powerful!
"Carrying it around with you might speed it up a bit," Mokgetsu thought for a moment and answered.
The Pokemon Eggs Obito and the others had received were bound to them only, and only they could hatch them. Nothing would change if Mokgetsu held them.
"Will that really work? I see Guy carries his egg around for training every day, and it hasn't hatched yet," Obito said, looking at Might Guy, who was doing one-finger push-ups while holding the egg.
Just as Obito finished speaking, a fierce white light enveloped Might Guy.
Obito: ...
Watching an effect identical to when Rockruff was born, Obito was stunned.
"What's happening? Am I turning into Kakashi?" Obito felt very confused.
In his memory, only Kakashi could do this.
"It must be Kakashi rubbing off on me, damn Kakashi!" Obito made another mental note against Kakashi.
"But what will Guy's Ninja Beast be?"
Obito's eyes were fixed on the white light, but he couldn't see through the dense light to glimpse the Pokemon hatching inside.
This sudden change also made Might Guy stop his training, quietly holding his pose while waiting for the light to dissipate.
Noticing this anomaly during his run, Kakashi quickly sprinted over and quietly watched from the side.
"There's also white light. Could it be that the Ninja Beast Eggs prepared by Teacher Mokgetsu come from a certain group of Summoning Beasts?" Kakashi thought as he looked at the mysterious white light.
After returning to Konoha, Kakashi had visited the library and consulted many ancient texts, but found nothing.
Kakashi hadn't discovered any egg-laying dogs or Ninja Beasts similar to Rockruff.
However, Kakashi believed Mokgetsu would never harm them. These Summoning Beasts must be from some secret place, never before seen in the world, which would explain the lack of information.
Finally, the white light faded, revealing a small black and blue dog to everyone.
"Another egg-born dog. Are all Ninja Beast Eggs dog species?" Kakashi mused, seeing Riolu with a thoughtful expression.
He guessed that Mokgetsu might have inadvertently discovered a secret dwelling of a group of canine Summoning Beasts, thus obtaining these Ninja Beast Eggs.
"Seems weaker than Kakashi's dog," Obito thought, looking at the somewhat fragile, skinny black-and-blue pup.
Newly hatched Riolu was indeed small and skinny. Obito felt like a flick from his finger might make it faint.
"I hope my dog will be bigger and more imposing," Obito prayed, holding his Ninja Beast Egg close to his heart.
He didn't care much for a lean dog like Riolu. If he had a choice, he would prefer something stronger and more impressive-looking.
Perhaps a figment of his imagination, Obito felt like Riolu looked at him with dissatisfaction.
"Ha ha, seems like it has the potential to work hard," Might Guy said, grinning widely as he lifted Riolu, showing off his big white teeth with laughter.
Might Guy wasn't displeased with Riolu's skinniness since he himself wasn't strong initially and only became so through daily training.
No matter what Ninja Beast hatched, Might Guy would never dislike it because, no matter how weak a Ninja Beast starts, he'll always be there to train it and grow stronger together.
Riolu felt Might Guy's pure emotions, its red eyes sparkling.
"Riolu," it uttered happily.
It wanted to train and become stronger alongside Might Guy.
"Riolu really suits Guy," Mokgetsu thought, recalling Riolu and Lucario's abilities.
Lucario not only had the Aura Power that could serve as Perception Ninjutsu, but it also possessed various fairly powerful attack skills. Most importantly, Lucario had Healing Skills.
Healing Skills were important for Might Guy because he usually doesn't team up with Nohara Rin and the others. Usually, he trains with Ebisu and their team, which doesn't have a Medical Ninja.
PS: Another chapter will be up later, it will be a bit late. By the way, I'm looking for name suggestions for Riolu.