The morning of registration arrived with mountain clarity, crisp air, sharp sunlight, the kind of weather that demanded action. Sasuke stood before Pewter Gym at exactly seven-thirty AM, Victini on his shoulder, studying the fortress that would test everything he'd learned in Crown Tundra.
The Gym dominated central Pewter like a natural formation that happened to have doors. Carved directly from the mountain, its walls showed tool marks from centuries of expansion and refinement. Fifty thousand seats ringed the central battlefield, currently empty, but Sasuke could imagine them filled, thousands watching as he faced Gaara.
The entrance doors opened at eight AM precisely. A line had already formed, challengers clutching their Trainer Licenses, most looking nervous. Sasuke joined the queue, noting his competition. Mostly young trainers, maybe a few veterans. One girl couldn't stop shaking. A boy kept muttering strategy to himself.
The line moved slowly. Each challenger received individual attention, the receptionist evaluating their credentials, checking team composition, determining readiness. Some were accepted immediately. Others received polite rejections: "Train more and return," or "Your team lacks necessary coverage."
Sasuke reached the desk after twenty minutes. The receptionist, different from Kankuro, a woman perhaps thirty years old, looked up with professional courtesy that shifted to recognition.
"Just wanted to confirm my gym appointment." Sasuke spoke.
"Sasuke Uchiha. We've been expecting you." She scanned his license, pulled up his file. "Team composition is listed as... extensive. Ten registered Pokemon, multiple Legendary species. Impressive for a rookie trainer."
"My father supervised my training for three years."
"Fugaku Uchiha. Yes, that's noted here." She typed rapidly. "Gaara reviewed your application personally. He's accepted your challenge for three days from now, morning slot, ten AM. That gives you adequate preparation time while maintaining schedule efficiency."
She handed him a printed document, several pages of rules and regulations. "Standard Gym Challenge format. You may use up to six Pokemon. Gaara will use one. Battlefield is Rocky Mountain Terrain, irregular ground, boulder placement, elevation changes. Dynamax is permitted for both sides. Mega Evolution allowed. No held items. Battle ends when Gaara's Pokemon is unable to continue or when all your Pokemon faint."
Sasuke scanned the document. Everything standard, nothing surprising.
"What Pokemon does Gaara usually use?"
"Tyranitar. Primal Mega form with Dynamax capability." The receptionist's expression turned serious. "Current record this season: fifty-two wins, zero losses. Average battle duration: five minutes, twelve seconds. Gaara is considered one of the strongest Gym Leaders in Kanto. Don't underestimate him."
"I won't."
"Good." She printed a second document, battle schedule with his name listed. "Report here at nine-thirty AM on battle day. You'll have thirty minutes for final preparation and equipment check. Media will be present, Gym battles of your caliber attract coverage. If you wish to decline interviews, inform security beforehand."
Media. Of course. The Four Supernovas were public figures now, whether they wanted to be or not. Sasuke accepted the documents, turned to leave, then paused.
"Has Gaara watched my training footage?"
The receptionist smiled slightly. "Gym Leaders prepare for notable challengers. Yes, he's familiar with your capabilities. But knowing your strength and countering it are different things."
Fair enough. Sasuke left the Gym, documents secure in his bag. Three days. Seventy-two hours to prepare for the most important battle of his journey so far.
Back at the Pokemon Center, he spread the documents across the suite's dining table. Miyuki, Kasumi, and Kiyomi gathered around as he explained the format and timeline.
"Three days," Miyuki said, reading the schedule. "That's tight but manageable. What's your strategy?"
"Mirror match. My Tyranitar versus his Tyranitar. I will enjoy the challenge." Sasuke smirked and pulled up his tablet, loaded battle footage he'd been studying. "Gaara specializes in defensive-aggressive style. Let opponents attack first, absorb damage, counter with overwhelming force. His Tyranitar is trained specifically for this, reinforced shell, incredible endurance, strategic patience."
He played a video, Gaara's most recent battle. A challenger with a full six-Pokemon team faced the Gym Leader's Tyranitar. The challenger opened aggressively, three Pokemon launching coordinated attacks. Tyranitar tanked everything, barely flinched, then responded with Earthquake that knocked out all three simultaneously.
"Five minutes, thirty-seven seconds," Kiyomi noted. "He's efficient."
"He's devastating." Sasuke played another clip, this one showing Tyranitar's full transformation sequence. Base form to Mega Evolution, seamless transition to Primal Reversion, then Dynamax. Each stage built on the previous, power compounding exponentially. The final form stood nearly a hundred feet tall, armor plates thick as battleship hull, every movement causing tremors.
"How do you even beat that?" Kasumi asked quietly.
"Easy. By being better." Sasuke closed the tablet. "My Tyranitar has similar training, Dad supervised his development personally. We can match Gaara's transformations. The difference will be tactics and synchronization. I need to be faster than Gaara's defensive setup allows."
"Aggressive offense," Miyuki said. "Don't give him time to establish defensive position."
"Exactly. Transform immediately, apply pressure constantly, force him to react instead of controlling pace." Sasuke stood. "Which means I need three days of intensive training. Mega Evolution synchronization, Primal Reversion energy control, Dynamax timing. Everything has to be perfect."
"We'll help," Kiyomi said. "Whatever you need."
"Food and water during training. I'll be at the Center's battlefields all day." Sasuke grabbed Tyranitar's Pokeball. "Victini will help coordinate, its victory aura can assist other team members in learning from Tyranitar's techniques."
The training grounds behind Pewter Pokemon Center offered multiple battlefield types. Sasuke reserved the Rocky Terrain field, identical setup to the Gym's battlefield. Irregular ground, scattered boulders, elevation changes creating tactical complexity.
He released Tyranitar in the center. The Rock/Dark type materialized with its characteristic roar, immediately assessing the terrain. Years of training had made Tyranitar tactically sophisticated, it understood battlefield advantage instinctively.
"Three days," Sasuke told his Pokemon. "We're going to perfect everything. No shortcuts, no assuming we're ready. We drill until the transformations are reflexive."
Tyranitar rumbled agreement.
They started with basics, Mega Evolution synchronization. Sasuke activated the Mega Stone embedded in Tyranitar's armor, felt the energy connection form between them. Tyranitar's body glowed, began transforming. Spikes extended from its armor plates. Muscle mass increased. Power signature surged.
But the transition took four seconds. Too long. Gaara's battle footage showed his Tyranitar transforming in under two seconds, practiced efficiency that left opponents no opening.
"Again," Sasuke said.
They repeated the transformation fifty times that morning. Each repetition shaved milliseconds. Sasuke learned to trigger the Mega Stone faster. Tyranitar learned to channel the energy more efficiently. By noon, they'd reduced the transition to three seconds.
Better, but not enough.
Miyuki appeared with lunch, rice balls and protein drinks. She set them on a nearby bench, watched the latest transformation attempt.
"You're forcing it," she observed. "Trying to speed through the transformation instead of flowing with it."
Sasuke accepted a rice ball, considered her words. "How do I flow faster?"
"Stop thinking of Mega Evolution as a process with steps. Think of it as a state change, ice to water, water to steam. It happens all at once when conditions are right." She gestured at Tyranitar. "You and your Pokemon are fighting the transformation's natural pace. Work with it instead."
Sasuke tried her approach. Instead of pushing for speed, he focused on complete synchronization. Feeling Tyranitar's energy, matching it, becoming one system instead of two beings coordinating. The next transformation felt different, smoother, more natural.
Two point three seconds.
"There," Miyuki said, satisfied. "That's proper technique."
She left him food and returned to the Center. Sasuke continued training, incorporating her advice. Each transformation became smoother. The connection between him and Tyranitar deepened until he could feel his Pokemon's state as clearly as his own.
Afternoon brought Primal Reversion practice. Harder than Mega Evolution, required tapping into ancient energy, channeling power that had existed before modern training methods. Tyranitar's body shifted, scales taking on prehistoric patterns, size increasing beyond Mega form. Pure ancient power, barely contained.
But the energy control was rough. Power leaked, creating environmental damage, cracks in the ground, rocks shattering from pressure waves. Wasteful and dangerous.
Victini joined the training, lending its victory aura to stabilize the energy flow. The Fire/Psychic type's presence helped Tyranitar contain the Primal power, channel it internally rather than radiating it destructively. Hours of practice taught Tyranitar to maintain Primal form without environmental damage.
Kasumi brought dinner around six PM, Sasuke's own cooking, which she'd heated up. "You've been out here nine hours. Take a break."
"Can't. Need to refine Dynamax timing."
"You can refine it after eating." She physically pushed him to the bench, thrust food at him. "Collapsing from exhaustion before the gym battle is counterproductive."
She was right. Sasuke ate mechanically, watching Tyranitar practice maintaining Primal form. The Pokemon had incredible endurance, nine hours of training and it still looked ready to fight.
"Gaara's battle footage," Sasuke said between bites. "His Tyranitar can maintain Primal Dynamax form for the full three minutes Dynamax allows. Most Pokemon can barely hold it for two minutes before exhaustion forces reversion."
"Stamina training," Kasumi observed. "That takes years to develop."
"Yeah." Sasuke finished eating, stood. "Which means I need every advantage. Can't out-stamina him, so I have to out-maneuver him."
Evening training focused on Dynamax. The transformation made Pokemon gigantic, nearly a hundred feet tall, power increased exponentially, access to Max Moves that dwarfed normal attacks. But the size created problems. Slower movement, easier target, inability to dodge.
Tyranitar practiced moving efficiently in Dynamax form. Utilizing the three-minute time limit for maximum pressure without wasting energy. Launching Max Moves with precision instead of brute force.
Kiyomi appeared at sunset with her camera, documenting the training. "This is remarkable. Watching you coordinate with Tyranitar, the synchronization is perfect. You're not commanding it, you're moving together."
"Partnership," Sasuke said, echoing the temple's lesson. "Ancient way. Works better than dominance."
"Gaara uses the same philosophy. That's why he's so strong, his Tyranitar trusts him completely." Kiyomi lowered her camera. "This battle won't just be about power. It'll be about whose partnership is stronger."
Night fell. Sasuke finally recalled Tyranitar, both of them exhausted. Day one complete. Two more days of training ahead.
The second day focused on combination techniques, chaining transformations seamlessly, optimizing energy use, maximizing impact. Mega Evolution into Primal Reversion into Dynamax, all within seconds. Each transition smooth, no wasted motion.
Victini worked with other team members too, Landorus, Zekrom, even Mega Venusaur learned from Tyranitar's techniques. The victory aura helped them understand optimal energy flow, efficient power channeling. Strengthening the entire team through focused training.
Miyuki brought meals at regular intervals, ensuring Sasuke actually ate. Kasumi delivered water and sports drinks, monitoring for dehydration. Kiyomi documented everything, creating a training record that might inform future preparation.
Day three arrived. The final day before battle.
Sasuke ran complete simulation matches, Tyranitar against his other team members, full power, testing strategies under battle conditions. Landorus provided Ground-type resistance training. Zekrom created Electric-type pressure. Each match pushed Tyranitar to its limits.
By evening, Sasuke was satisfied. Tyranitar could Mega Evolve in under two seconds. Maintain Primal form indefinitely. Use Dynamax efficiently for the full three-minute duration. The partnership between them had deepened to the point where verbal commands were unnecessary, Tyranitar anticipated his intentions, moved before he spoke.
Dinner that night was special. Sasuke cooked despite his exhaustion, elaborate meal showcasing each person's favorites. They gathered in the suite's dining area, tension mixing with anticipation.
"Tomorrow," Miyuki said quietly. "Your first gym battle."
Sasuke nodded, serving plates. "Fifty thousand people watching. Media coverage. Gaara's fifty-two-win streak on the line. No pressure."
"You've got this," Kasumi said firmly. "We've watched you train. Tyranitar is ready. You're ready."
"The synchronization you've achieved is remarkable," Kiyomi added. "Gaara is strong, but you've matched his training level in three days. That's impressive."
Sasuke sat with his own plate, looked at the three of them. His companions. His friends. His support system that had made this journey possible.
"I'm nervous," he admitted. "Not about losing, about not living up to expectations. Everyone knows I'm Itachi's brother. If I fail, it reflects on him."
"Screw that," Kasumi said bluntly. "You're Sasuke Uchiha, not Itachi's shadow. You've earned your place through your own effort. Tomorrow, you prove that."
"We believe in you," Miyuki said, golden eyes intense. "Not because of your family name. Because we've traveled with you, trained with you, seen your dedication. You're ready."
"Make it epic," Kiyomi added with a slight smile. "Give them a battle worth witnessing. Show everyone what real partnership looks like."
Sasuke felt something loosen in his chest, the anxiety he'd been carrying since Crown Tundra, the pressure of family legacy, the fear of inadequacy. These three saw him, not his name or his brother's accomplishments. Just him.
"I'll make you proud," he said quietly.
"You already do," Miyuki said.
They finished dinner in comfortable silence. Afterward, Sasuke checked equipment, Pokeballs fully charged, Mega Stone properly secured, trainer card updated. Everything prepared.
He went to bed early, knowing sleep would be difficult. But exhaustion from three days of intensive training won out. He drifted off with Victini curled beside him, the Fire-type's warmth steady and reassuring.
Tomorrow morning, the Boulder Badge.
Tomorrow, he'd prove himself.
Not as Itachi's brother. Not as an Uchiha heir.
Just as Sasuke, trainer, partner, someone who'd earned his strength through dedication and respect.
The gym battle awaited.
He was ready.