261. Pokemon Battle

Konohagakure (Konoha).

In the center of the village, the once simple two-story temporary office building had been replaced by a brand-new Hokage Tower. Atop its bright red tiled roof was a round plaque adorned with a large kanji for "Fire." From the rooftop terrace, one could gaze out at the entire village with an unobstructed 360-degree view.

In the highest office, Senju Hashirama, his face somewhat pale, sat across from Uchiha Madara. Both held steaming cups of fragrant tea, the aroma calming everyone present.

Hashirama sipped the brown tea cautiously, his face showing immense enjoyment. His half-closed eyes radiated satisfaction as he glanced at Madara, who looked indifferent. Unable to hold back, he asked,
"Madara, why aren't you drinking? This is rare tea! I had to plead with Tobirama to get it."

Madara, with his usual cold expression, raised an eyebrow. Sniffing the familiar aroma, a playful glint flashed in his dark eyes.
Tobirama and my cousin are exchanging gifts now?

"Tch, it's okay, I guess," Madara replied after taking a small sip.

To Madara, this tea wasn’t anything special. His family had plenty of it, as it was a gift from his cousin to his father. However, Madara wasn’t a tea connoisseur, so his opinion was limited.

Glancing at the blazing sunlight pouring through the window, Madara couldn’t help but think how much more refreshing a homemade lemon tea by Uchiha Gin would be than the steaming tea in his hands.

"Hey, hey, hey! How long are you two going to slack off?"

Their tranquil tea time was interrupted by a slightly annoyed voice.

"Ah, Tobirama! This is your fault for bringing such fragrant tea. Got any more? Give me a few pounds," Hashirama said with a cheerful smile, completely ignoring his brother's complaints.

Tobirama, however, frowned. "No. That’s all I have."

"Come on, brother, you've had enough rest. It's time to get back to work!"

"What? Haven't the shadow clones sent back any updates yet?"

Hashirama, unwilling to return to work, quickly tried to change the subject.

"Work!"

"We’re brothers! Does it matter who does it? Fine, I’ll cover for you tomorrow and train your disciples instead," Hashirama said, walking over and patting his brother's shoulder in consolation. "Those kids have talent. They’ll be the future pillars of Konoha!"

Hashirama strained to recall the disciples Tobirama had taken under his wing. Apart from the curly-haired Uchiha Kagami, the only one he vaguely remembered was a black-haired boy with an unusually... noticeable figure.

"Especially that kid with an impressive... build. His future is limitless!"

"Hmph!" Tobirama didn’t believe a word. After all, this was the same elder brother who had sweet-talked Uchiha Madara into staying, built the new Hokage Tower with investment funds, and somehow convinced everyone it was a great idea.

Still, Madara remained because he had paid for his place—and Tobirama wasn’t about to provoke someone with such leverage.


---

Their banter was cut short when Hashirama suddenly froze, his pale face flushing slightly. A torrent of memories surged into his mind, and his expression became hard to read.

"What’s wrong?" Tobirama asked, noticing his brother's odd reaction.

"It’s... nothing. Madara, what do you know about Uchiha Hikari?" Hashirama asked instead, ignoring his brother.

"Hikari? Not much. Why do you ask?" Madara replied, curious.

"She’s the same age as Gin, right? Is it too much if I call her ‘big sis’?"

Madara’s expression turned mysterious as he gestured vaguely. "That’s... complicated."

"What?"

"She’s Gin’s childhood friend. That’s all I know."

"Then it’s fine if I call her big sis!" Hashirama declared confidently, not noticing Madara rolling his eyes.


---

Meanwhile, Tobirama’s shadow clone returned with memories of Uchiha Gin and Hikari effortlessly subduing tailed beasts like it was child’s play. His face darkened.

"Madara, you Uchihas sure keep your secrets well," Tobirama said coldly.

"What are you talking about?" Madara asked, bewildered.

"Come on, brother," Tobirama said, gesturing for Hashirama to follow. "Let’s inspect their ‘results.’"

"Results? Of what?"

"Tailed beasts." Tobirama’s frosty reply left no room for argument as he leapt out the window.

Hashirama quickly followed, while Madara, alarmed at the mention of tailed beasts, hurried after them.


---

In the forest, Uchiha Gin stretched contentedly after a hearty meal, ignoring the sulking Senju Itama nearby. Standing by the Amber Purifying Pot, Gin addressed Hikari and another girl, Uchiha Haruka.

"Alright, girls, I’ll release the tailed beasts. Make sure to handle them properly."

"Got it, Gin-san!"

With a serious expression, Gin placed his hand on the bottle.

"Let’s start with... the Eight-Tails!"

The enormous beast appeared, its intimidating presence subdued by exhaustion. It shrank back upon seeing the two women, who calmly stepped forward.

"I’ll handle this," Hikari said, her Sharingan glowing. In moments, the Eight-Tails submitted without resistance.

Gin nodded approvingly. "Next up... the Seven-Tails!"

With a dramatic flair, he summoned the second beast. However, before it could react, Hikari’s partner took charge, proving just as capable.

The forest echoed with their decisive victories as the trio prepared for what lay ahead.



The moment Chomei was released, it instinctively wanted to roar twice to assert its dominance. However, upon seeing the subdued Three-Tails and Eight-Tails, it immediately flapped its tail and prepared to escape.

"Did I say you could leave, big bug?"

Uchiha Haruka made her move. A finely honed, sakura-pink giant hand extended from behind the girl and grabbed Chomei, who hadn't flown very far. Under its terrified gaze, a strange and enchanting symbol reflected in its consciousness.


Seeing their second companion easily subdued by the girl, Uchiha Gin was horrified. From his previously blank eyes, an intense, blazing determination erupted.

Clutching the Amber Purifying Pot, he looked so resolute that it baffled the nearby women.

"Are you okay?"

Though accustomed to Gin’s occasional dramatic outbursts, Senju Itama, while cleaning the pot's bottom, couldn’t resist throwing out a sarcastic remark.

"Hah! Don’t underestimate the bond between me and my companions!"

As Gin's emotions intensified, the Amber Purifying Pot seemed to respond to his intent. Its previously massive structure shrank instantly to fit perfectly in his hand.

"Come out! My ace, Master Brother, Son Goku!"

"Roar!!"

With a flash of red light, a colossal red ape appeared dramatically.

"Go, Master Brother!"

"???"

Who are you? Are we even acquainted?

Four-Tails looked utterly baffled. The curly-haired human below acted as if they were old friends.

"I'll handle it!"

The deep bond between me and Gin is unmatched!

Blushing slightly, Uchiha Hikari narrowed her eyes, and before Four-Tails could react, it was subdued.

"Huff... Huff... Is my journey ending here?"

Clutching the now miniaturized Amber Purifying Pot, Uchiha Gin slumped in mock despair, spouting melodramatic lines that earned him collective eye rolls from the women around him.

"Tone it down. Too much drama," Itama critiqued, waving her chopsticks after finishing the last slice of mutton.

“Impossible! My goal is to become the master of all tailed beasts. I can’t falter here!”

Ignoring the ridicule, Gin seemed reinvigorated. Lowering his head, he gazed passionately at the shrunken Amber Pot, then stood upright with renewed determination.

“Come out, my companions!”

"Meow?"

"Roar?"

"Hiss?"

The Two-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails, now released, exchanged confused glances. Before they could react, darkness overtook their vision once more as they fell unconscious.

This is so annoying~

“Gin, your emotional performance was spot on. Maybe skip the acting next time,” Hikari and Haruka teased as they approached, having subdued the remaining beasts.

"Hey, I only have this hobby left. Let me enjoy it a little!"

Watching his dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master crumble, Gin pouted and stored the mini Amber Pot containing the beasts’ tails into his backpack, looking thoroughly wronged.

Just as he was about to deliver another theatrical monologue, he sensed three familiar presences approaching rapidly. Raising an eyebrow, he halted mid-action.

"Alright, that’s enough for today. They’re here."

As soon as he finished speaking, three figures landed nearby.

“Brother Gin, are you all okay?”

Leading the group, Senju Hashirama asked anxiously, his gaze fixated on the subdued tailed beasts behind them, his expression flickering with complex emotions.

“Thanks to Hikari and Haruka, we barely managed to complete the mission.”

“You didn’t even fight, did you?” Senju Tobirama asked, frowning as he glanced at the clean and tidy Gin, then at the subdued beasts under Sharingan control.

“Me? I’m just an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan user. How could I possibly join such high-level battles?” Gin retorted, refusing to take the blame.

“Cousin, have you eaten yet?” Uchiha Madara interjected awkwardly after Tobirama and Hashirama finished their interrogation.

“Uh, just finished.”

Ah, at least cousin cares. You cold-hearted Senjus never think about my life or death.

“Wait, why are these tailed beasts’ tails shorter?”

While Gin and Madara exchanged pleasantries, Tobirama, examining the beasts closely, suddenly shouted in surprise.

“Gin, what happened here?”

Cornered by Tobirama's aggressive questioning, Gin feigned composure.

“Wear and tear. Intense fighting can cause some damage.”

Caught red-handed trimming a little, Gin tried to play it cool.

“But don’t worry. Tailed beasts aren’t real creatures. Their missing parts will regenerate in a few days.” Gin thumped his chest in reassurance, hoping to avoid Tobirama digging further into his pockets.

"Really? Promise?"

“Absolutely!”

After verifying the beasts, Hashirama, uncharacteristically serious, entrusted their custody to Gin and the others.

“They’re in good hands,” Gin assured, glancing at Hikari and Haruka confidently.

As the group bantered and settled down, Madara’s gaze flickered with hidden intent, his thoughts turning to Hashirama’s exaggerated tales of Nine-Tails' strength.

Meanwhile, Gin, sensing the absurdity, sighed inwardly at his cousin's gullibility, wondering whether to enlighten him or not.