Summoning Pokémon in Naruto

Uchiha Hayato and Namikaze Minato stood in the survival training field, with Kushina Uzumaki trailing behind, munching on a bag of chips as she eagerly watched.

Hayato hadn't forgotten the mission he triggered the previous day:

[As a Pokémon Trainer, how can you not have a rival to help you grow? Defeat your rival as a ninja.]

[Rewards: Your rival gains a Pokémon, and you acquire a random skill.]

As someone with a Pokémon system, Hayato wasn't just a trainer—he was practically acting as the professor handing out starter Pokémon.

"Minato, are you ready? I can start anytime," Hayato said with a confident smile.

"I've been ready. Just don't underestimate me," Minato replied, his tone steady.

The two performed the traditional seal of confrontation and faced each other.

"Kushina, you're the referee," Hayato said with a thumbs-up toward her.

"Um… okay! Leave it to me!" Kushina said, hastily swallowing her chips. "Begin!"

Hayato wasn't one to wait passively. His philosophy was always to strike first, especially against a weaker opponent.

Across from him, Minato crouched slightly, kunai in hand, his golden hair lifting gently in the breeze. His sharp eyes locked onto Hayato, ready for any sudden moves.

"Here I come!"

Hayato darted forward, his fist aimed directly at Minato's chest. The force behind it was far greater than anything he'd demonstrated before.

Minato's eyes widened briefly. Unbeknownst to others, his dynamic vision was highly developed, allowing him to track fast-moving objects. This ability had always fueled his confidence in becoming Hokage one day.

But Hayato's speed was on a different level, nearly outpacing Minato's vision. Was this the effect of the Sharingan?

Reacting instinctively, Minato twisted his body to narrowly dodge the punch, feeling the air pressure from the blow as it grazed his shoulder. His heart raced—it was clear that if that hit had landed, it would have sent him flying several meters.

"How is he so strong…?" Minato thought, pushing off the ground to leap three meters back and create distance.

Hayato didn't let up, instantly closing the gap with incredible speed. Within a single step, he was within striking range, launching a powerful kick toward Minato's waist.

Can you keep up with my speed? Hayato wondered to himself.

Minato crossed his arms to block the attack, but the sheer force pushed him back five steps, leaving deep marks in the ground. His arms tingled from the impact.

"This is insane," Minato thought. "Every strike feels like it could break through my defense."

Realizing that close combat wasn't an option, Minato adjusted his stance, narrowing his eyes. He needed a strategy that utilized distance and surprise.

Meanwhile, Kushina watched with wide eyes, the chips in her hand forgotten. Are these really just students from the ninja academy? she marveled. Back in her village, she was already considered a competent genin, yet she doubted she could defeat either of them.

Hayato suddenly stepped back and formed hand seals. Two identical clones appeared beside him, surrounding Minato in a pincer formation.

Minato's pupils contracted. He quickly threw a shuriken, dispelling one clone, and leapt backward to maintain distance. Hayato closed the gap instantly, his kunai aimed at Minato's exposed side.

"I've got you," Hayato said, stopping his kunai just five centimeters from Minato's neck. But before he could celebrate, Minato's body disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a wooden log.

"Substitution Jutsu?" Hayato murmured, scanning his surroundings.

"Over here!" Minato's voice called from behind.

"Do you really think I'd fall for that?" Hayato smirked. The tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly. "Minato, when did you start thinking your Transformation Jutsu could fool the Sharingan?"

Leaping into the air, Hayato shouted, "You were too obvious. Creating distance to transform into a shuriken and attack from behind? Let's end this!"

Performing a series of hand seals, Hayato declared, "Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

A barrage of fiery projectiles rained down toward Minato, the intense heat distorting the air around them.

"Stop! I surrender!" Minato rolled backward, raising his hands in defeat.

"I declare Hayato the winner!" Kushina shouted, her excitement causing her to spill her chips.

"Hayato, were you trying to kill me? Using Fire Style like that?" Minato groaned as Hayato helped him up, dusting him off with a grin.

"You told me to go all out, didn't you?" Hayato replied cheekily. "Besides, I don't think you're the type to die so easily—you're the one who said you'd become the Fourth Hokage."

Minato's expression softened. "You're right. I won't die so early."

[Mission Complete: The Birth of a Rival]

[Rewards: User gains Fake Out skill. Rival receives a randomly selected Pokémon.]

A wave of knowledge surged into Hayato's mind, momentarily dizzying him.

The Fake Out skill, a priority move in the Pokémon world, temporarily stunned the opponent, allowing the user to act first. In Hayato's context, it translated to a chakra-infused palm strike that disrupted the target's energy flow, a technique akin to the Hyūga Clan's Gentle Fist.

Satisfied, Hayato turned to Minato with a smile. "Minato, I promised to share Pokémon, so you'll be the first to get one."

"And don't worry, Kushina. You'll get yours soon," he added.

Kushina's initial disappointment faded slightly, though her resentment toward Minato grew. She thought, Girls compete for boys, but why is Minato getting in the way? If it weren't for him, I might've been the first to receive a Pokémon!

"Why are you so nice to me?" Minato asked suddenly, voicing a question he'd had for a long time. Hayato seemed unusually fond of him, as if they'd known each other forever.

"Because we're friends," Hayato said, smiling.

"Friends… You're right, we are," Minato said, his competitive spirit reigniting. "But don't think I'll back down. You better keep getting stronger, or I'll surpass you in no time."

Hayato grinned. "Enough talk. It's time to meet your Pokémon."

He formed the summoning seal. As the system's selection pointer stopped, a puff of smoke cleared to reveal a small, yellow-and-black figure.

"Pikachu!"