Might Guy looked at Lucario.
Given Might Guy's personality, of course he agreed. He could familiarize himself with his new power and grow stronger through battle.
But theirs was a contractual relationship, and Might Guy respected Lucario's choice.
"Lucario!" Lucario looked at Lycanroc with eyes full of fighting spirit.
His narrow loss back when he was a Riolu still rankled. Now that he had evolved and grown stronger, he wanted to erase that humiliation and bring victory to Might Guy.
Although Kakashi and the others could not understand Pokémon language, they could tell that Lucario had accepted Kakashi's challenge.
"Go for it. The body you've trained day and night will answer you," Might Guy encouraged Lucario.
Might Guy was exceedingly satisfied with Lucario. That diligent, unyielding spirit reminded him of his younger self.
"Mane Rock, you haven't forgotten how to fight an enemy whose abilities you don't know, have you?" Kakashi gave Lycanroc one final reminder as he stroked its head.
Although Summoning Beasts usually fought alongside their contractors, Kakashi had taught Lycanroc a great deal of combat knowledge in consideration of possible special circumstances.
"Awoo!" Lycanroc let out a confident howl.
It had defeated Riolu before, and it could defeat Lucario this time too.
There was no way it could lose after Kakashi had taught it so carefully!
After speaking with their respective contractors for a while, Lycanroc and Lucario walked over to an open patch of ground and waited for the battle to begin.
"Shisui, who do you think will win?" Obito casually asked Shisui beside him.
"Hard to say. We know Lycanroc's strength, but Guy's Summoning Beast only just evolved," Shisui replied, shaking his head.
Evolution was a huge unknown.
Before Milotic appeared, none of them could have imagined that the utterly non-combative Feebas would possess the