Time flew, and soon more than a week had passed.
Nothing particularly strange had happened over the past few days, but as time went on, the pressure at the borders grew, and clashes had already begun breaking out in many places.
Although there had been no casualties yet, many ninja had already been dispatched to the front lines to stand guard.
For a time, the whole of Konoha seemed shrouded in a terrifying atmosphere, and everyone wore a grave expression as they walked around.
Some villagers had even begun to panic.
At a time like this, the Konoha Military Police Force came under considerable pressure.
Many people with no outlet for their feelings began causing trouble. It was not just the villagers; even disputes between ninja had increased considerably.
"This really is an unpleasant state of affairs," Sōkyū Hatake said as he sipped his tea.
"Little Sōkyū, why are you acting like an adult? You seem even more mature than Kakashi," Obito Uchiha said from beside him, pouting.
"Shut up," Kakashi said bluntly, staring at Obito Uchiha with his exposed, dead-fish eye.
"My big brother is such a handful. As his little brother, don't I have to grow up sooner?" Sōkyū Hatake said bluntly.
Team Minato had no mission that day, so Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara had come over to visit Kakashi's house.
Ever since tasting Sōkyū Hatake's cooking once, they had tacitly made this their place to relax and have fun.
"Oh, little Sōkyū really does have it rough," Rin Nohara said with a gentle smile as she sat on the tatami.
The moment he saw Rin Nohara's smile, Obito Uchiha's face flushed bright red, as though something had set him off.
"Things at the border seem to have been unsettled all this time. Maybe we'll be heading to the battlefield on missions before long." Obito Uchiha leaned back, no one knowing what was on his mind.
"Just don't drag us down when the time comes," Kakashi said acidly.
"What did you say?! You stuck-up Kakashi!!!" Once again enraged by Kakashi, Obito Uchiha wanted to rush over and hit him.
"Stop fighting, you two!" Rin Nohara began trying to break it up.
This happened practically every day.
Watching the three of them, Sōkyū Hatake could not help sighing.
They're practically three little kids.
No, wait, I'm the actual little kid here...
Sōkyū Hatake grumbled inwardly.
[Ding!] [Traveling Frog has sent back a postcard! Host, please check it!] [Traveling Frog has no uses remaining!]
The system suddenly delivered these messages to Sōkyū Hatake.
Traveling Frog is back?
At that thought, Sōkyū Hatake immediately stood and headed toward his room.
"Sōkyū, where are you going?" Obito Uchiha looked at Sōkyū Hatake in confusion. Why did he seem to be in such a hurry?
"To hide in my room. I really can't stand watching you three little kids fool around anymore," Sōkyū Hatake said without looking back, utterly unaware of what psychological scars his words might leave on the three of them.
Three little kids fooling around???
Sure enough, after Sōkyū Hatake left, Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara all froze, then looked at one another.
Then...
"Damn it! Sōkyū, open this door!!!"
"What do you mean, little kids fooling around???"
"Sōkyū's the little kid here!"
Meanwhile, Sōkyū Hatake paid no attention whatsoever to the three raging outside and simply made his way into the bedroom.
The Traveling Frog from before was now sitting quietly on the bedside table, its large, emotionless eyes staring straight at Sōkyū Hatake.
"Thanks for the effort. What did you bring back?" Sōkyū Hatake walked straight up to Traveling Frog and looked at the little frog with some curiosity.
"Ribbit!" Upon hearing Sōkyū Hatake's words, Traveling Frog obligingly croaked, and a small bundle appeared before Sōkyū Hatake.
[Ding!] [Traveling Frog has used up all its uses!]
The instant the small bundle appeared, Traveling Frog opened a dimensional portal, then pushed off with its frog legs and vanished straight into it.
Sōkyū Hatake did not pay Traveling Frog much attention, instead picking up the small bundle.
He quickly opened the bundle, and a round object appeared in Sōkyū Hatake's hand.
The small ball's upper half was red and its lower half white, with something protruding from the middle.
[Ding!] [Congratulations, host, on obtaining one Poké Ball!] [The Pokémon captured inside is random. The host will only learn which Pokémon it is after opening it!]
As he read the system's notifications, Sōkyū Hatake's breathing began to quicken.
Pokémon!
This was something quite good, especially the unknown Pokémon inside, which was also very appealing to Sōkyū Hatake.
"Heh, Schrödinger's Pokémon?" Sōkyū Hatake casually toyed with the Poké Ball in his hand. This was quite a good opportunity.
As long as I get a legendary Pokémon... uh... something on Mewtwo's level, wouldn't I be guaranteed to sweep through everything?
At that thought, Sōkyū Hatake impatiently pressed the protrusion on the Poké Ball, then threw it straight out.
With a burst of sound effects, the Poké Ball released a beam of red light in midair, which finally converged on Sōkyū Hatake's bed.
"Pika pika?" As the light flashed, a Pokémon appeared, its fur yellow all over, with two brown stripes on its back and a jagged, lightning bolt-shaped tail, as well as a patch of brown fur where the tail joined its body.
It had a tiny mouth and black eyes, red electricity sacs on its cheeks, and long ears tipped with black. Its forepaws were short and thick, with five toes, while its hind paws had only three toes.
"Pikachu?" At the sight of that familiar figure, Sōkyū Hatake's eyes lit up. This was the mighty Pikachu!
After all, Ash had now won his first championship under the mighty Pikachu's lead, and Pikachu's contribution had been far from small!
"Pika?" Pikachu looked at Sōkyū Hatake with some curiosity, a trace of confusion flashing through its eyes.
But soon, a beam of light emerged from Sōkyū Hatake and shot straight into Pikachu's body.
[Ding!] [A suitable Pokémon has been detected in the host's possession. Binding will now begin!] [After binding, the host and Pokémon will be able to understand each other's thoughts, and adjustments will also be made!] [The Pokémon can be summoned using the Summoning Technique!]
Before you continue