Eleven Years Ago
Eight-year-old Sasuke knew he wasn't supposed to be this far from the compound after dark. His mother had rules about the Tree of Beginning, look but don't touch, visit but don't linger, and absolutely never go alone after sunset when wild Pokemon emerged for their nightly activities.
He ignored all three rules as he pushed through the underbrush surrounding the tree's massive roots. His hands were scraped from climbing over fallen branches. Leaves stuck to his dark hair and the knees of his pants were grass-stained beyond any hope of his mother not noticing. But none of that mattered compared to what he'd seen earlier.
The injured Pokemon had been small and cream-colored, lying in a hollow between two roots when Sasuke had passed by during his afternoon exploration. It hadn't moved when he'd gotten close, just watched him with pain-clouded eyes that glowed faintly blue. He'd recognized it immediately from the books in his father's study, Victini, the Victory Pokemon, a Legendary so rare that most trainers went their entire lives without seeing one.
And it was hurt.
Sasuke had wanted to help immediately, but voices from the compound had sent him running before he could do anything. His parents had been calling him for dinner. He'd forced himself to sit through the meal, answering questions about his day while his mind raced with plans. Itachi had noticed something was wrong, his older brother always noticed, but hadn't said anything in front of their parents.
Now, hours past his bedtime, Sasuke crept through the darkness with a stolen first-aid kit and a bag of berries he'd taken from the kitchen. Moonlight filtered through the Tree's crystalline branches, providing just enough illumination to navigate by. The tree itself pulsed with soft blue-green light, its mystical energy always stronger at night.
He found the hollow again by memory. The Victini hadn't moved. Up close, Sasuke could see the injury clearly, a deep gash across its left side, like something had slashed it with claws. The wound wasn't bleeding anymore but looked infected, the surrounding fur matted and discolored.
"Hey," Sasuke whispered, kneeling beside the hollow. "I brought help."
The Victini's eyes focused on him with obvious effort. It made a small noise, not quite aggressive but definitely wary. Its body tensed despite the pain, preparing to flee or fight if necessary.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Sasuke said. He kept his voice quiet and calm, the way his father had taught him when approaching nervous Pokemon. "I just want to clean your wound. Then you can leave if you want."
He opened the first-aid kit slowly, showing the Victini each item before using it. Antiseptic spray. Cotton bandages. Medical tape. The Pokemon watched his hands with sharp intelligence, evaluating his intentions.
Sasuke reached out carefully. The Victini flinched but didn't pull away as his fingers barely touched the fur around the wound. He worked quickly, spraying antiseptic, which made the Victini squeak in pain, and then wrapping the injury with bandages. His hands shook slightly from nervousness, making him clumsy, but he managed to secure the bandage well enough.
"There." He sat back. "That should help it heal. I also brought berries, Oran and Sitrus. They're good for recovery."
He placed the berries within easy reach and then deliberately moved back, giving the Victini space. For a long moment, nothing happened. The small Legendary just stared at him, its v-shaped ears twitching.
Then it slowly reached out and took one of the Oran berries. It ate carefully, watching Sasuke the entire time.
"I'm Sasuke," he offered. "I live in the compound near here. The big building with the dragon carvings."
The Victini finished the first berry and took a second. Some color returned to its face. The glow in its eyes brightened slightly.
"I should go," Sasuke said reluctantly. "My parents will check my room soon and if they find me gone, I'll be in so much trouble." He stood, brushing dirt off his pants. "But I'll come back tomorrow. With more medicine and food. Okay?"
The Victini tilted its head, considering. Then it chirped once, a soft sound that might have been agreement or just acknowledgment.
Sasuke grinned. "I'll take that as a yes."
He made it back to his room through his window just minutes before his mother came to check on him. She'd looked suspicious at his disheveled state but had only reminded him to shower before bed and hadn't questioned further.
The next day, Sasuke returned to the hollow after his academy classes. The Victini was still there, looking slightly better. He changed its bandage and left more berries and a bowl of water. The Pokemon accepted his help with less wariness this time.
This routine continued for a week. Sasuke would visit twice daily, once after academy, once after his parents thought he'd gone to bed. He brought different foods to see what the Victini preferred. He cleaned the wound religiously and applied fresh bandages. He talked while he worked, rambling about his day, his classes, the Pokemon battles he'd watched his mother conduct at the gym.
The Victini never tried to communicate back beyond small chirps and trills, but it listened. And it stopped flinching when Sasuke approached.
On the eighth day, the wound had closed completely. The Victini moved without pain, its natural energy returning in full. Sasuke knew it could leave now if it wanted to. The thought made his chest feel tight.
"You're better," he said, perhaps more sadly than intended. "You can go back to wherever you came from."
The Victini looked at him for a long moment. Then it floated up from the hollow, the first time Sasuke had seen it move freely, and approached him directly. It hovered at eye level, studying his face.
Sasuke held very still. He'd read that Legendary Pokemon could sense a person's true nature, their intentions and character. Whatever the Victini saw in him must have been acceptable because it suddenly chirped happily and pressed its small head against his chest.
"You want to stay?" Sasuke asked, hardly daring to believe it.
The Victini pulled back and nodded. Then it did something that changed everything, it touched Sasuke's forehead with one small paw, and suddenly warmth flooded through him. Not physical heat but something deeper, a connection forming between their minds. Images flashed. The Victini had been fleeing from a wild Zangoose pack, had gotten injured during the chase, had been too weak to continue flying. It had expected to die in that hollow until a small human boy had found it.
And now it chose that boy as its trainer. Not because it was caught or forced, but because the boy had shown kindness without expecting anything in return.
The connection settled into something permanent. Sasuke gasped as victory energy pulsed through his entire body, making his crimson eyes glow brighter for a moment. The Victini's own glow intensified until they both radiated light that illuminated the surrounding forest.
When the glow faded, the Victini settled onto Sasuke's shoulder like it had always belonged there. It chirped contentedly.
Sasuke started laughing, pure joy bubbling up. "I have a Pokemon. A Legendary Pokemon. Wait until I tell Sayuri, she's going to be so jealous!"
The Victini trilled in agreement and nuzzled against his cheek.
Getting his parents to accept the situation had been harder. Mikoto had been furious about the sneaking out. Fugaku had been concerned about an eight-year-old bonding with a Legendary. But they couldn't deny the genuine connection between Sasuke and his Victini, and eventually they'd accepted it with strict conditions about responsibility and care.
Itachi had simply smiled and said, "Now you're a real trainer, little brother."
Nine Years Ago
Ten-year-old Sasuke followed Sayuri through the Tree of Beginning's lower branches, trying to keep up with his seven-year-old sister's reckless pace. She climbed like a Mankey, all enthusiasm and no concern for the forty-foot drop beneath them.
"Oi! Slow down!" Sasuke called. Victini clung to his shoulder, chittering nervously as a branch creaked under their combined weight. "Mother said to explore the lower sections only!"
"The upper sections are where the interesting Pokemon live," Sayuri shot back without stopping. She grabbed a crystalline growth and used it to pull herself onto a higher branch. "Don't be boring, Sasuke."
He muttered something unflattering about little sisters but continued climbing. Someone had to make sure Sayuri didn't get herself hurt.
They'd been coming to the Tree more frequently over the past year, whenever they could escape their studies and training. The ancient tree attracted rare Pokemon, and both siblings loved watching them. Sasuke had a particular interest in Dragon-types, he wanted to catch one eventually to honor his clan's specialty. Sayuri just wanted to meet anything that looked interesting.
"There!" Sayuri pointed ahead where the branches opened into a natural clearing. "I saw something blue fly through here earlier!"
Sasuke pulled himself up beside her and immediately understood why she'd been so excited. Two Pokemon floated in the clearing's center, playing some kind of aerial game that involved zipping around each other at incredible speeds. They were identical in size and shape, sleek, aerodynamic, with blue and white coloring that caught the light beautifully.
"Latios and Latias," Sasuke breathed. He'd seen pictures in his father's books but had never expected to encounter the Eon Pokemon here. "They're so rare..."
The twins noticed them immediately. They stopped their game and turned to study the two human children who'd invaded their space. Latios's eyes carried wariness and a protective edge. Latias looked more curious than concerned.
Sayuri waved enthusiastically. "Hi! We're not going to hurt you! We just wanted to see who lived up here!"
Latias tilted her head, considering. Then she projected a wave of emotion, curiosity mixed with playfulness. The sensation washed over both children, so intense that Sayuri giggled.
Latios remained skeptical. He floated in front of his sister, clearly protective despite her lack of concern.
Victini chirped from Sasuke's shoulder and floated forward, positioning itself between the children and the Eon twins. The Victory Pokemon puffed up slightly, trying to look intimidating despite being significantly smaller than the Dragons.
That seemed to amuse Latias. She trilled something that might have been laughter.
"Victini, stand down," Sasuke said gently. "They're not attacking."
But Victini's protective display had apparently impressed Latios. The blue Dragon's posture relaxed slightly. He projected his own emotional wave, a test, Sasuke realized. The sensation felt like being evaluated, measured against some internal standard.
Sasuke met the Dragon's gaze steadily, trying to project calm confidence. Beside him, Sayuri did the same, though her version included a healthy dose of excitement she couldn't quite suppress.
Finally, Latios backed down. He shared a glance with Latias that seemed to communicate entire conversations in a single look. Then Latias darted forward and circled Sayuri, examining her from every angle.
Sayuri laughed and tried to follow the Dragon's movement, spinning in place. "You're so fast!"
Latias responded by creating an illusion, suddenly there were three of her, all circling Sayuri from different directions. The little girl's eyes went wide with delight.
Meanwhile, Latios approached Sasuke more cautiously. He floated close enough for Sasuke to see the intelligence in his eyes, the sharp awareness that marked Legendary Pokemon. He projected another wave of emotion: this one felt like a question.
"I'm Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke said, understanding somehow that the Dragon wanted an introduction. "This is my sister Sayuri. We live in the compound below. The Uchiha Clan guards the Tree."
Latios's eyes narrowed slightly at the clan name, as if accessing memories. Then he projected recognition, yes, the Uchiha had protected the Tree for generations. They could be trusted. Mostly.
Victini chirped and flew a circle around Latios, apparently deciding the Dragon was acceptable now. The two Legendaries regarded each other, and some understanding passed between them that didn't include the humans.
"Want to race?" Sayuri asked Latias suddenly. "I bet I can climb faster than you can fly!"
That was objectively insane. Latias could move at jet speeds. But the Dragon seemed charmed by the challenge. She projected eager agreement.
"Sayuri, that's dangerous, " Sasuke started, but his sister had already begun scrambling up toward higher branches with Latias pacing her, deliberately flying slow enough to make the race interesting.
Latios watched them go, then turned back to Sasuke with what definitely felt like amusement. He projected an invitation. Would Sasuke like to fly?
"Fly?" Sasuke repeated. "You mean... ride on your back?"
Latios dipped his head in confirmation and lowered himself to branch-level, positioning so Sasuke could climb on. His body language made it clear this was a test as much as an offer.
Sasuke had ridden his father's Pokemon before, but never a Legendary he'd just met. He glanced at Victini, who chirped encouragement. Then he carefully climbed onto Latios's back, gripping the smooth blue surface as best he could.
The moment he was secure, Latios took off like a bullet.
Sasuke yelped and held on desperately as they shot through the Tree's branches at speeds that made everything blur. Wind roared in his ears. His heart hammered against his ribs. Latios performed a corkscrew maneuver around the trunk that made Sasuke's stomach flip.
But after the initial terror faded, exhilaration replaced it. This was flying, real flying, not the careful glides he'd experienced before. Latios moved with perfect control, each bank and turn executed with precision. The Dragon was showing off his abilities while simultaneously testing whether Sasuke could handle them.
They caught up with Sayuri and Latias, who'd moved to playing an aerial tag game that involved his sister trying to touch the Dragon while climbing between branches. Sayuri shrieked with laughter each time Latias dodged.
Latios projected a wordless challenge to his sister. She responded immediately, and suddenly both Dragons were racing through the Tree at full speed with two human children barely hanging on.
The chase lasted maybe five minutes before Latios and Latias finally slowed down, coming to rest on the Tree's highest safe branch. Sasuke dismounted on shaky legs, his hair completely destroyed by wind. Sayuri looked similarly disheveled but absolutely thrilled.
"That was amazing!" she proclaimed, bouncing in place. "Can we do it again?"
Latias trilled agreement, clearly having enjoyed herself. She nuzzled Sayuri's cheek with obvious affection.
Latios watched Sasuke carefully, still evaluating. Then he projected another emotion, this one was harder to interpret. It felt like recognition, like the Dragon saw something in Sasuke that mattered. A shared quality.
"You're protective of your sister," Sasuke said, understanding suddenly. "Just like I am with Sayuri."
Latios's eyes brightened. Yes. That was exactly it. They both understood the weight of protecting someone younger and more vulnerable, someone who threw themselves into situations without thinking because they trusted their older sibling to keep them safe.
The Dragon moved closer and pressed his head gently against Sasuke's chest, the same gesture Victini had made two years ago. Connection sparked between them, not as deep as the bond with Victini but real nonetheless. Latios was choosing him, deciding that this human boy was worthy of partnership.
Sayuri gasped. "Latias is doing it too!"
Indeed, the red Dragon had mirrored her brother's action, bonding with Sayuri in the same moment. The two sisters, human and Pokemon, glowed with pink light that matched Latias's coloring.
When the light faded, both Eon Pokemon remained close to their chosen humans. Latios projected contentment, satisfaction with his decision. Latias vibrated with joy that made Sayuri giggle again.
"We have to tell Mother and Father," Sayuri said. "They're going to be so surprised!"
Sasuke agreed, though he suspected their parents would be more resigned than surprised. The Uchiha children had a habit of bonding with Legendary Pokemon apparently.
The four of them, two humans, two Dragons, and one very smug Victini, made their way down from the Tree as the sun began setting. Latios and Latias followed the siblings all the way to the compound, already comfortable in their presence.
Fugaku had taken one look at the situation and sighed deeply. "First Victini, now the Eon twins. Should I expect you to bring home Rayquaza next?"
But he'd helped both children obtain the proper Pokeballs for their new partners, and Mikoto had just smiled and said destiny had strange ways of working.
Present Day
Sasuke woke early out of long habit from the Crown Tundra, where sleeping past dawn meant losing valuable training time. Pale morning light filtered through his bedroom window. Victini still snored softly beside him, curled into a ball that would have been adorable if Sasuke had been the type to use that word.
He dressed quietly and made his way outside before the rest of the compound woke. The path to the Tree of Beginning was familiar despite three years away, his feet remembered every step, every turn, every root that jutted across the trail.
The Tree came into view as he cleared the last section of forest. It looked exactly as he remembered: impossibly massive, ancient beyond any human measurement, its crystalline branches catching the early light and scattering rainbows across the clearing. The blue-green aura pulsed gently, like a heartbeat visible to those who knew how to look.
Victini stirred on his shoulder as they approached, waking fully and perking up. The little Pokemon chirped a greeting to the Tree, which responded with a subtle brightening of its glow.
Sasuke stopped at the base and placed his palm against the rough bark. The connection was immediate, energy flowed from the Tree into him, ancient and patient. It recognized him, acknowledged his return, registered all the changes three years had wrought.
"I'm back," Sasuke said quietly. "Stronger than when I left."
The Tree's energy pulsed in what felt like approval. Images flickered through Sasuke's mind. Himself as a child, climbing these roots with reckless abandon; himself at ten, watching Latios race through the branches; himself at thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, slowly growing into the person he'd become. The Tree had watched over all of it.
Latios emerged from his Pokeball without being summoned, drawn by proximity to the place he'd once called home. The Dragon floated up to the Tree's lower branches and pressed his head against a crystal formation, his own way of greeting an old friend.
Victini flew from Sasuke's shoulder to join Latios, the two Legendaries communicating in their wordless way. After a moment, Latias appeared as well, Sayuri must have released her, knowing her twin would want to visit. The red Dragon trilled happily and immediately began flying loops around the Tree's trunk, as exuberant as ever.
Sasuke watched his Pokemon interact with their former home and felt something settle in his chest. This was where it had all started. Two bonds formed in this place that had shaped his entire path forward.
"You've grown strong," a voice said.
Sasuke spun, hand going instinctively to his Pokeballs. But no one stood behind him. The clearing remained empty except for his Pokemon.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
"You need not fear. I am the Tree, given voice through the energy you call mystical."
The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, resonating in the air itself. Sasuke had heard stories about the Tree speaking to certain people, but had always assumed they were legends or exaggerations.
"The Tree can talk?" he asked carefully.
"When necessary. And you are necessary, Sasuke Uchiha." The voice carried weight, ancient authority that made even Victini go quiet. "You embark on a journey that will test more than your strength."
"The Indigo League challenge."
"That is merely the framework. The true test lies in the bonds you will form and the choices you will make when those bonds are threatened." The Tree's energy pulsed stronger. "Darkness gathers. An old enemy resurfaces, seeking power they do not understand. They will come for what you protect."
"What do I protect?"
"Those who travel with you. Those who trust you. The victory itself." The Tree's presence seemed to focus on Victini specifically. "The Victory Pokemon chose you because it sensed your potential. That potential will be tested."
Sasuke processed that. "You're talking about the Aether Foundation."
"I speak of what they serve, what they seek to awaken. Forces older than human civilization, sealed for good reason." The voice began fading. "Guard well, young Uchiha. The strength of your bonds will determine more than your fate alone."
The presence withdrew, leaving only normal mystical energy. The Tree returned to its usual passive state, no longer communicating.
Latios descended and projected concern through their bond. Had Sasuke just spoken with the Tree?
"Yeah," Sasuke confirmed, still processing. "It warned me about future threats. Said my journey would test my bonds, not just my strength."
Victini chirped and headbutted his chest gently, its way of saying it didn't care about prophecies or warnings. It had chosen Sasuke and that was enough.
Sasuke smiled and scratched behind the Victory Pokemon's ears. "Thanks, partner."
They stayed at the Tree for another hour, simply existing in its presence. Latios and Latias played in the branches like they'd never left. Victini napped in a sunny spot between the roots. Sasuke sat with his back against the trunk and watched his Pokemon, thinking about everything the Tree had said.
Bonds. Choices. Darkness gathering. It sounded like something from one of the adventure novels he'd started reading during training, overly dramatic and vague. But the Tree had been serious, and Legendaries didn't waste time on meaningless warnings.
His journey to the Indigo League was going to be more complicated than just collecting badges. Somehow, Sasuke already knew that.
When the sun had fully risen, he recalled Latios and made his way back to the compound. Victini remained on his shoulder, unusually quiet. The little Pokemon had also been affected by the Tree's words.
"Whatever comes," Sasuke said to it, "we'll handle it together. Like always."
Victini chirped agreement and nuzzled his neck. Victory Pokemon and victory trainer, it had been true for eight years, and three more years of growth had only strengthened that bond.
The compound was fully awake by the time Sasuke returned. He could smell breakfast cooking, his mother's work, judging by the complexity of the scents. The rest of the clan would be gathering soon for another shared meal.
But first, he had a battle to prepare for. Itachi had challenged him to a match, and the Champion didn't believe in holding back.
Sasuke found himself grinning. Let the Tree's warnings wait. Today was for proving himself against the brother who'd always stood as the bar he needed to reach.
And maybe, just maybe, today he'd actually reach it.