Sleep lasted twelve hours, deep, dreamless, the kind of rest that came after pushing body and mind to absolute limits. Sasuke woke to afternoon sunlight streaming through his window and the smell of cooking from the suite's kitchen.
He found Miyuki at the stove, preparing what looked like a recovery meal, high protein, complex carbohydrates, nutrient-dense vegetables. She glanced over as he emerged, still wearing yesterday's rumpled battle clothes.
"You missed breakfast and lunch. Don't even think about skipping dinner." She pointed at the table where a plate waited. "Eat first, then you can check on Tyranitar."
Sasuke sat without argument. The food was exactly what his body needed, grilled fish, brown rice, steamed vegetables with sesame oil. Simple, perfectly prepared, designed for optimal recovery.
"Where are the others?" he asked between bites.
"Kasumi's at the Practice Hall. She has that coaching session with Ayame this afternoon. Kiyomi went back to the museum for final documentation before we leave." Miyuki joined him with her own plate. "I've been monitoring Ryu's egg and checking Tyranitar's status remotely. Nurse Joy says he's responding well to treatment."
"How long until full recovery?"
"Two weeks for complete healing. But he can travel in three days with proper care." She consulted her tablet. "We should stay in Pewter until then. Gives everyone time to prepare for the next leg."
Sasuke nodded, grateful for her practical planning. His mind was still processing yesterday, the battle, the victory, the sheer exhaustion that had followed. Winning felt surreal, like something that had happened to someone else.
"You did well," Miyuki said quietly. "Not just the victory. The way you fought, with respect for Gaara and his Pokemon, using strategy over brute force, prioritizing Tyranitar's wellbeing afterward. That's the mark of a good trainer."
"I made mistakes. Gaara exploited several openings I left."
"And you'll learn from them. That's growth." She smiled slightly. "Stop analyzing everything to death. Just accept that you won, enjoy it for a moment, then move forward."
Sound advice. Sasuke finished eating, helped clean up, then headed to the Pokemon Center's intensive care unit. Nurse Joy led him to Tyranitar's recovery chamber, a specialized room with healing energy generators and vital sign monitors.
His Pokemon rested on a reinforced platform, armor plates wrapped in regenerative bandages. The cracks from yesterday's battle were visible but already beginning to close. Tyranitar's breathing was deep and steady, healing sleep that would continue for days.
"He pushed himself remarkably hard," Nurse Joy said, checking readouts. "The damage was significant, but nothing permanent. With proper rest and care, he'll be stronger than before. Battle stress can stimulate growth when managed correctly."
"Thank you for taking care of him."
"It's what we do." She handed Sasuke a care schedule. "You can visit twice daily, but keep it brief. He needs undisturbed rest. In three days, we'll transition to mobile care, specialized equipment for the RV so he can continue healing while you travel."
Sasuke spent ten minutes with his Pokemon, one hand resting on Tyranitar's arm. Through their bond, he felt peaceful contentment, satisfaction at victory, trust in his trainer's care, willingness to rest and recover. No resentment about injury, no fear about future battles. Just partnership.
"Thank you," Sasuke said quietly. "We won together."
Back in the suite, he found his phone flooded with messages. Congratulations from trainers he'd met on the road, former classmates from Blackthorn, even his clan elders acknowledging his victory. The battle footage had gone viral, millions of views across regional networks.
One message stood out: Dinner at The Boulder tonight. 7 PM. Gaara wants to meet properly. -Kankuro
Sasuke showed it to Miyuki when she returned from the breeding suite. "Gaara wants dinner?"
"That's significant," she said. "Gym Leaders rarely socialize with challengers. He must have been genuinely impressed."
"Should we go?"
"Absolutely. This is networking opportunity and cultural experience. Plus, The Boulder has excellent food." She checked the time. "Three hours. Gives you time to shower and change into something that doesn't smell like yesterday's battle."
Valid point. Sasuke retreated to his room, showered properly for the first time since the gym challenge, and dressed in clean clothes, casual but presentable. When he emerged, the others had returned. Kasumi bounced with energy from her coaching session, Kiyomi looked satisfied with completed research.
They walked to The Boulder as evening settled over Pewter City. The restaurant was busier than their first visit, filled with post-work crowds. But Kankuro met them at the door, led them to a private dining room in the back.
Gaara sat alone at a table meant for six, wearing civilian clothes instead of his Gym Leader uniform. He looked different without the official trappings, more human, less intimidating. He stood as they entered.
"Sasuke. And companions." He gestured at empty seats. "Join me. I took liberty of ordering for the table, chef's specialties. Hope that's acceptable."
They sat. Sasuke across from Gaara, the others filling remaining seats. Awkward silence settled until servers appeared with the first course, some kind of stone-fired appetizer that smelled incredible.
"Your battle yesterday," Gaara began once servers left. "I've replayed it seventeen times. The strategic deception in the final exchange, where did you learn that?"
"My father. He calls it 'controlled vulnerability.' Show weakness to invite aggression, exploit the opponent's assumption of advantage."
"Fugaku's technique. I remember it from watching his battles decades ago." Gaara sipped his drink. "But the execution was yours. Fugaku never combined it with pattern recognition the way you did. You studied my finishing sequence, predicted my response, prepared the specific counter. That's innovation."
"You pushed me to it. Your experience forced adaptation."
"Fifteen years together, my Tyranitar and I. We've developed comfortable patterns. Effective, but predictable to someone watching closely enough." Gaara's expression turned thoughtful. "You taught me something yesterday, comfort breeds exploitable weakness. I need to vary my strategies."
The conversation flowed more easily after that. Gaara shared stories of his career, victories and defeats, lessons learned, the evolution of his training philosophy. He talked about Itachi's challenge three years ago with particular detail.
"Your brother arrived with six Pokemon, all perfectly trained. I expected overwhelming offense, everyone knew Itachi's reputation for aggressive tactics. But he fought defensively, mirroring my own style. The battle lasted forty-three minutes, longest I'd had in years. He won by exhausting my Tyranitar through sustained pressure."
"Different strategy than mine," Sasuke observed.
"Completely opposite. Itachi matched my strength directly. You exploited my weakness through misdirection." Gaara leaned back. "Both effective. Both requiring deep understanding of opponent. Shows the Uchiha family produces strategic thinkers, not just powerful trainers."
Dinner arrived, multiple courses showcasing Pewter's unique cuisine. Rock-type themed dishes executed with culinary excellence. Sasuke found himself in animated discussion with the chef who visited their table, comparing techniques and ingredients. Kasumi joined in, discussing berry applications in cooking.
"You should open a restaurant," Gaara said, watching their enthusiasm. "Trainers with your skill are rare. Trainers who can also cook at professional level? Almost nonexistent."
"Maybe after the journey," Kasumi said before Sasuke could deflect. "We've talked about it. The Berry Grove, berry-focused cuisine with Pokemon-friendly options."
"Good name. If you're serious, contact me. Pewter has thriving restaurant scene, and I have connections with investors." Gaara pulled out a business card, handed it to Kasumi. "After you've collected your ribbons and he's won his Championship, consider opening here."
The conversation shifted to upcoming gym challenges. Gaara offered tactical advice about each remaining Kanto Leader, their styles, Pokemon, preferred strategies. Zabuza in Cerulean: water-type specialist who used mist and mobility. Sakumo in Vermillion: lightning-fast electric attacks requiring perfect timing. Tsunade in Celadon: Miyuki's grandmother, defensive Grass-type master.
"Tsunade's the toughest," Gaara warned. "She's been Gym Leader for forty years. Knows every strategy, seen every tactic. And she's ruthlessly analytical, will exploit any weakness in your team composition or personal fighting style."
"She's my grandmother," Miyuki said quietly. "Will that make it harder or easier?"
"Harder. Family doesn't receive mercy in her gym." Gaara's expression softened slightly. "But she'll also be proudest when you succeed. Tsunade values strength earned through adversity."
They talked late into evening, long after dessert had been cleared. Gaara shared training tips specific to Rock-type matchups, suggestions for team composition against upcoming challenges, even philosophical discussions about the nature of Pokemon partnership.
"Your Tyranitar trusts you completely," Gaara said at one point. "That's rare. Most trainers command their Pokemon. You coordinate with yours. That bond is your greatest strength."
"Partnership over dominance," Sasuke replied. "Learned that from ancient ruins beneath this city."
"The Rock-type temple. I've seen it." Gaara nodded. "Pre-modern bonding methods. We've lost much of that wisdom in favor of technological convenience. Good that our generation is rediscovering it."
They departed around eleven PM, Gaara walking them to the restaurant's entrance. He shook Sasuke's hand one final time.
"Next time we battle, I won't make the same mistakes. Study different strategies, vary my patterns. You've made me better through defeat."
"Then the victory was mutual," Sasuke said.
Back at the Pokemon Center, Sasuke retreated to his room. The Boulder Badge sat on his desk where he'd left it that morning, octagonal stone emblem, engraved with Pewter Gym's symbol. He picked it up, weight insignificant in his palm but enormous in meaning.
First badge. First major victory. First proof that his journey was valid.
He opened the badge case his mother had given him before departure, velvet-lined interior with spaces for sixteen badges. The Boulder Badge fit perfectly in the first slot, held secure by custom mounting.
Fifteen empty spaces remained.
Victini chirped from the bed, already settled for sleep. Sasuke set the badge case on the desk, positioned so morning sunlight would catch it. Visual reminder of progress, motivation for challenges ahead.
Tyranitar's Pokeball sat beside the case. The Rock/Dark type was still at the Pokemon Center, recovering in intensive care. But soon they'd travel together again, ready for the next battle.
"Fifteen more," Sasuke said quietly. "Cerulean, Vermillion, Celadon, Fuchsia, Saffron, Cinnabar, Viridian, then Johto's eight. Fifteen more gyms, fifteen more tests."
The journey stretched ahead, months of travel, dozens of battles, countless challenges. But yesterday had proven something crucial: he could win through his own merit, his own strategy, his own partnership.
Not as Itachi's shadow. As Sasuke Uchiha.
He turned off the light, let darkness fill the room. But the Boulder Badge caught ambient glow from the window, glinting like promise.
Tomorrow they'd plan the route to Cerulean City. Kasumi needed Contest Hall access, Miyuki wanted to research Water-type breeding, Kiyomi was already planning archaeological surveys of the coastal regions.
But tonight, he could rest with the Boulder Badge secured.
First of sixteen.