The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly turned solemn.
Nawaki and Tsunade faced each other, standing several feet apart. Sunlight filtered through the ancient tree's branches, casting dappled patterns across the ground.
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Mira Uzumaki watched silently from the hallway, observing the impending clash.
"Kid, let's see how much you've improved!" Tsunade's words barely left her lips before her body surged forward.
[Tsunade Challenges You!]
She didn't unleash her full legendary strength, but her speed was astonishing. Like a streak of golden lightning, she charged straight at Nawaki.
Nawaki's pupils contracted. He knew that a head-on confrontation would be as futile as throwing an egg at a boulder.
Thoughts raced through his mind as chakra surged through his body.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! In a cloud of white smoke, four clones, identical to Nawaki, appeared instantly.
Together with his main body, they scattered, each performing different maneuvers: some feigned a charge forward, others leapt back, while a few circled to flank Tsunade, aiming to confuse her judgment.
"Oh? Impressive cloning technique," Tsunade remarked with a slight smile, her assault unrelenting. A single punch sent the first two clones dissipating into white smoke.
But in the brief moment when her previous chakra had faded and the next surge had yet to manifest, the remaining two clones and Nawaki himself advanced from unexpected angles.
"Annoying little tricks!"
Tsunade spun, sweeping a leg at the two clones while locking her gaze on what she perceived as the most dangerous target: Nawaki, silently approaching, his hands gathering chakra.
Yet, just as she was about to strike, the "target" vanished with a soft pop before her attack landed.
"What?" Tsunade paused in surprise.
They were all clones! All five of them! Nawaki had used the confusion and visual disruption to silently maneuver behind her.
"Now! Supersonic!" Nawaki's real body appeared, opening his mouth to release an invisible shockwave.
This was no ordinary sound blast. It was a destructive force, silently assaulting the senses.
Though Tsunade heard nothing, her eardrums tingled, followed by a brief dizziness that made the surroundings appear to sway.
She hummed, using her chakra control to dispel the discomfort, but her movements lagged just slightly.
"Fast strike!"
Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Nawaki transformed into a blur, darting toward Tsunade's side. The tip of his kunai aimed for her belt.
Of course, he wouldn't attack a vital point. Just brushing her clothing would count as a hit.
"You little brat!" Tsunade's surprise showed briefly, but she remained composed. As Nawaki approached, she swiftly struck his wrist with her palm, her speed exceeding his expectation.
"Hardening!" Nawaki whispered internally, chakra enveloping his arm. Muscles tensed like steel.
Bang! The strike landed with a dull thud, sending a shock through his arm, nearly dropping the kunai.
But thanks to the defensive power of "Hardening," he endured, sliding back with the force, narrowly avoiding Tsunade's follow-up.
The courtyard fell silent.
Nawaki breathed heavily, standing a few meters away. His wrist throbbed, but his eyes shone brightly.
He had done it. Through multiple rounds of combat, deception with clones, and supersonic interference, he had actually touched her clothing, even if only partially.
From the hallway, Jiraiya stroked his chin, nodding with rare seriousness. "Not bad. Clone feints, sonic disruption, clear tactics, and skilled execution."
Orochimaru's golden eyes reflected admiration. "His timing and the integration of his abilities surpass the standard for a Genin."
Mira Uzumaki smiled, relief washing over her face.
Tsunade stood before Nawaki, watching his steady gaze. Her stern expression softened, replaced by a complex sigh of pride and resignation.
She approached, gently rubbing his struck wrist. A soft flow of chakra eased the discomfort.
"Does it hurt?"
"I'm fine," Nawaki grinned.
"Seems I've always treated you like a child."
Her gaze softened further. "Your strength is enough to make you a true ninja."
Joy swelled in Nawaki's heart. Before he could reply, Tsunade removed a necklace from around her neck.
The pendant was a deep green gemstone, polished into a teardrop shape, strung on a sturdy cord, gleaming softly in the sunlight.
"This… this belonged to Grandpa?"
Nawaki recognized it immediately. It was a relic of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, once worn by Tsunade herself.
Tsunade held it in her palm, memories and complex emotions shining in her eyes.
"Yes, this belonged to Grandpa. You've always loved it, always staring at it. I planned to give it to you when you were older…"
She paused, her gaze now filled with determination and anticipation.
"Today, seeing your growth and resolve, I believe it's time."
She handed the necklace to him. "Nawaki, take this. I hope you inherit Grandpa's will and become a great Hokage, protecting the village."
A warm current filled Nawaki's chest. This was genuine emotion, not a mere gesture.
He carefully accepted the necklace, feeling Tsunade's warmth lingering on it.
The moment he touched the emerald, the system chimed in loudly in his mind:
[Ding! High-density, unclaimed life energy detected. Perfect match with 'Grass Plate'. Initiate energy absorption?]
His heart raced violently. This was it! The energy he could absorb was finally within reach. And it came from a relic of the First Hokage!
Suppressing his urge to act immediately, he maintained his excitement and gratitude toward Tsunade, Mira, and the others. "Sister, Grandma, Jiraiya, Master Orochimaru… I'm going to train now!"
He needed absolute solitude, uninterrupted.
Seeing his elation, everyone smiled knowingly. Tsunade waved. "Go ahead."
Nawaki dashed from Mira's courtyard, almost at the speed of his previous attack, racing to his room.
With a slam, he shut the door, immediately sitting cross-legged.
"System, absorb! Absorb now!" he commanded mentally.
[Command confirmed. Energy absorption initiated…]
Immediately, a strange pull emanated from the necklace.
The emerald seemed alive. The immense life energy inside it found an outlet, flowing into Nawaki as a warm, potent current.
The energy was pure, gentle, and without violence. Instead, it enveloped him like sunlight on a spring day, every cell rejoicing.
He saw the system interface's Grass Plate energy bar surge rapidly: 76%… 80%… 95%… 99%… When the last fraction was absorbed, the emerald's deep green faded to near transparency. Its mystical power remained, now transferred.
[Absorption complete! Massive life energy acquired!]
[Grass Plate fully charged 100%! First charge complete!]
[Congratulations! Attribute reward acquired: 'Grass-type Sacred Mark']
[Trial Mission Module activated! Countdown: 30 days!]
A flood of system prompts surged into Nawaki's mind.
Unexpectedly, the Grass Plate surpassed the previously expected physical plate. The necklace's energy perfectly matched the Grass Plate's attribute, and combined with his 75% base, created a last-moment miracle.
"If only I had known sooner…" he thought.
But he laughed softly. Without first earning Tsunade's approval, he wouldn't have received the necklace. Perhaps this was fate.
His attention shifted to the newly activated Trial Mission.
"30-day countdown? Is this really a cross-world mission? Could it be the Pokémon world? What kind of world will it be?"
Questions surged, but he knew now was not the time for curiosity. First, he needed to claim the reward.
"Claim reward!" he confirmed without hesitation.
A strange sensation enveloped him.
Though not physical pain, it affected his mind, or more precisely, his soul.
He felt drawn into a mysterious space, not a physical cage like a tailed beast, but a luminous, vibrant green zone brimming with life energy.
At the center, a clear sacred mark slowly formed.
It was the emblem of Bulbasaur!
At the same time, all information about this mark flooded his mind.
It didn't summon a living Bulbasaur, but transformed him into a unique existence, carrying all the data and power of Bulbasaur itself!
Similar to a jinchuriki, but instead of a tailed beast, he carried a Pokémon template.
He could inherit and learn all moves and abilities of Bulbasaur, and its Grass and Poison attributes would overlay with his own.
[Choose Bulbasaur's Ability:]
[Overgrow: Grass moves gain power when HP falls below one-third.]
[Chlorophyll: Speed doubles under intense sunlight.]
Without hesitation, Nawaki whispered in his heart: "Chlorophyll."
Speed was paramount for him. Quick strikes and agility relied on it. Doubling speed in sunlight would drastically enhance his combat ability.
At the moment the ability was confirmed, he felt a deep, instinctive change, akin to a Bloodline Limit awakening a power sourced from his heritage, or more precisely, from the system.
Checking Bulbasaur's status, he saw its level was 13. The moves it could learn at level 13 appeared instantly: Vine Whip, Growl, Leech Seed, Tackle!
These abilities felt innate; he immediately understood their effects and execution.
Now, moves no longer consumed PP but chakra, eliminating usage restrictions.
"Vine Whip… Leech Seed." Nawaki felt the new power and thought instinctively:
"System, can my Bulbasaur mark undergo Mega Evolution, Dynamax, or Gigantamax?!"
[Yes, if conditions are met.]
Overjoyed, Nawaki checked the exchange list. Indeed, Key Stone, Dynamax Band, and rare orbs were available!
He laughed aloud, exhilarated.
Konoha… Wood, the life and power of his grandfather's Wood Release.
Now, he had Grass power from the Pokémon world.
Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, even potential future moves like Petal Dance or Grass Knot… weren't these a different form of Wood Release?
Or perhaps it was a Grass Release unique to him, distinct from his grandfather's.
His heart burned with unprecedented ambition and infinite anticipation.
The path ahead seemed broader, clearer, and full of promise.