247. The First Pokémon Masters Tournament in Konoha

From the very beginning, Uchiha Gin felt that things wouldn’t go so smoothly.

Watching Senju Tobirama, who was basking in his temporary victory, Gin rubbed his bare chin thoughtfully.

Now the situation had turned into a 4v4 match, making the outcome unpredictable.

“Tsk. Compete for what? Who has more tails?”

Senju Itama, munching on sunflower seeds, looked back and forth between her elder brother and Uchiha Madara with a clueless expression. Not a trace of concern was visible on her face. Instead, she turned eagerly to Uchiha Gin.


“Hand it over! You don’t seem worried at all about your elder brother losing power, huh?”

Having finished his own sunflower seeds, Uchiha Gin shamelessly snatched the remaining seeds from Itama’s soft, white hands. Despite the slight shine of saliva on them, he popped the seeds straight into his mouth.

“Ah! Humph~ It doesn’t matter who becomes Hokage. I think your cousin, apart from his sour expression, is actually a decent person~”

Puffing up his cheeks like a steamed bun, Senju Itama glared fiercely at the thieving Gin before shrugging and answering casually,

“If only everyone could be as simple-minded as you~”

Uchiha Gin habitually patted Itama on the head. This gesture caused the girl, already close to 170 cm tall, to freeze. Her face twisted into a strange expression as if she wanted to protest but ultimately said nothing.

“Stop panicking; let’s watch what happens next.”

Sarutobi Sasuke remained calm and analyzed the situation. In his view, both Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, as the founders of Konoha, wouldn’t greatly affect the Sarutobi clan’s status regardless of who won.

“Gin, what do you think they’ll do next?”

The black-haired Uchiha Hikari asked with interest while gazing at the tailed beasts present. Her curiosity about these chakra-formed entities was evident—they seemed highly controllable.

Gin stretched his stiff body and replied offhandedly,
“They’ll probably fight. It’s been a while since those two had a proper duel. But if it’s a contest of tail numbers, who knows?”

Feeling the ache in his legs after standing for so long, Gin pulled out a few folding stools from his bag and handed them out to the girls nearby. Then, waving the remaining stools toward the alliance of ninja clans sitting nearby, he called out,
“Want one? 1,000 ryo each~”

“1,000 ryo? Why not just rob us?!”

Shimura Kenichi immediately jumped up, gritting his teeth in anger. For such shabby stools, even 100 ryo felt like a rip-off.

“No, thanks. We’re not tired.”

Sarutobi Sasuke gently tugged his agitated friend, smiling apologetically at Gin while declining the offer.

“Hmph, fine.”

Though Gin failed to sell his wooden stools, he wasn’t disheartened.

Gold always shines.

He firmly believed his meticulously crafted stools would one day be a global sensation.

On the wooden stage, Senju Hashirama, realizing he still had a chance to compete, beamed brightly, drawing a sidelong glance from Uchiha Madara.

“Hahaha, Madara, I’m back!”

“Hmph, whatever. I’ll defeat you again and make sure you admit defeat wholeheartedly.”

Madara crossed his arms and let out a proud hum, declaring his intent to the eager Hashirama.

Turning sharply, Madara coldly questioned Tobirama,
“Senju Tobirama, stop stalling. What’s the next challenge? Speak up!”

Instead of answering immediately, Tobirama scrutinized the tailed beasts present. His crimson eyes brimmed with schemes, and a sly smile played on his thin lips. Finally, he announced loudly,
“Since both of you have the same number of tailed beasts, let’s compare the number of tails—”

“Boo~~~”

Before Tobirama could finish, the crowd erupted with boos. Everyone wore an expression that screamed, figures.

The blatant disdain on their faces made even the typically stern Tobirama feel a sting of embarrassment.

But Tobirama didn’t care. For the sake of ensuring his brother’s victory, he was willing to forgo all dignity.

This battle had to be won—no matter what!

“Tobirama, have some shame! I’ve got an early class tomorrow!”

Madara’s younger brother, Izuna, trembled with rage, his Sharingan flaring red as he hurled insults at Tobirama.

“Can we not make this so boring? Add some entertainment value!”

Gin chimed in loudly, waving his hands in protest.

“Exactly, exactly!”

Itama quickly followed suit, shaking her little fists with a look that Tobirama clearly recognized as a threat.

Caught off guard, Tobirama felt a pang of regret. His earlier confidence wavered as he realized the crowd had seen through his plan.

Even his elder brother’s disapproving gaze made his heart sink.

“Fine, Tobirama, even I think this is unfair,” Hashirama said sternly, shaking his head.

“But, brother, I…”

Tobirama’s frustration was palpable. He had gone to great lengths to secure Hashirama’s position as Hokage, only to have things unravel like this.

As Tobirama pondered a solution, the Nine-Tails’ angry roar echoed from the wooden cage below. The sheer hostility in its voice caused the other tailed beasts to shrink back in fear, especially the giant beetle, which cowered in a corner, too scared to move.

Wait!

This Nine-Tails, captured by his elder brother, commanded such respect among the other tailed beasts. Clearly, it was the king of the tailed beasts!

An idea sparked in Tobirama’s mind. Straightening his back, he scanned the crowd with a serious expression, raising one hand and declaring loudly:

“I, Senju Tobirama, stand for three things: fairness! Fairness! And fairness again!”

“Comparing tail numbers is too simplistic to determine the Hokage.”

The crowd was stunned by Tobirama’s sudden declaration.

“Is this going to be a 1v1 showdown?” Gin speculated, raising an eyebrow as she watched Tobirama speak.

“What? A fight? Isn’t that a bad precedent for deciding leadership?”

“Ugh, I thought this village would be different, but it’s still ‘might makes right.’”

The discussions below grew louder, darkening Hashirama’s mood. His temple veins bulged as he glared at Tobirama, clearly on the verge of snapping.

“Tobirama, you promised me no violence!”

Sensing the impending danger from his brother’s glare, Tobirama broke into a cold sweat and quickly denied the rumors.

“Cough, cough! Stop speculating! When did I ever say we’d settle this with a fight?”


"Really?"

The crowd's skepticism was palpable. Their doubtful gazes made Tobirama Senju sweat nervously.

"The upcoming battle won’t require direct participation from the two contestants," Tobirama announced, straightening his posture and looking toward the massive Tailed Beasts.

"What? What do you mean by that?"

This statement left everyone puzzled, prompting a series of bewildered questions.

"Tobirama, if we don't fight, then what? Skipping stones?"

"No way!"

Uchiha Madara, who had stood proudly his entire life, nearly bent under the sheer absurdity of the suggestion.

"No, the next round will be fought by the Tailed Beasts that the two contestants have captured," Tobirama clarified, pointing to the four beasts on either side of the competitors.

"Huh?" in unison

The crowd and beasts alike erupted in confusion.

"Roar!!! You despicable humans, we are not your playthings!"

The Nine-Tails, recovering first from its momentary confusion, opened its massive maw and bellowed furiously at Tobirama.

"Roar!"

"Hiss~"

The other Tailed Beasts, from Five-Tails to Seven-Tails, followed suit, standing tall and unleashing cries of anger. Steam, acidic mist, and glimmering scales filled the air, causing onlookers to grow uneasy.

The surge of fury from the Tailed Beasts sent a chill through Sarutobi Sasuke, who clutched his chest, his expression shifting from ease to serious contemplation.

"For a moment, I forgot. These creatures are known as calamities for a reason."

Watching Madara and Hashirama control the beasts so effortlessly had almost tricked everyone into viewing them as harmless pets.

"This... isn't this basically the first Pokémon Masters Tournament in Konoha?"

However, Uchiha Gin, unfazed by the terrifying display, found himself imagining a chaotic scene.

His mind conjured Madara shouting, "Go, Gyūki! Use Head Smash!" while Hashirama countered with, "Go, Chōmei! Fly and use Mega Cannon!"

The mere thought made his blood boil with excitement.

"Start already! I can’t wait to see this!"

Unable to contain his enthusiasm, Uchiha Gin leapt from his seat, brandishing a megaphone seemingly out of nowhere, loudly urging the battle to begin.

"This does seem fun," Senju Itama chimed in, her eyes darting among the beasts, brimming with excitement as she waved her fists in the air.

"Indeed, this type of match sounds far more entertaining than a traditional duel," remarked Uchiha Hikari, who was seated properly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Big Brother, you can do it!"

Uchiha Izuna produced a support flag that read "Uchiha Victory" and removed his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body as he enthusiastically waved the flag in front of the crowd.

"Hmph, I don’t mind this."

Though disappointed at missing a direct showdown with Hashirama, Madara nodded in agreement. Looking down at the imposing Gyūki at his feet, he felt an overwhelming surge of confidence. Such a powerful beast would undoubtedly crush the other side's so-called champions.

"I’ll agree too, but..."

Hashirama reluctantly conceded after seeing Madara's approval. However, glancing down at the four Tailed Beasts locked in his wooden cages—each radiating defiance—he felt troubled.

Unlike Madara, who could use the Sharingan to subjugate the Tailed Beasts mentally, Hashirama relied on his Wood Release to physically restrain them. Now that they were awake, they were unlikely to fight willingly on his behalf.



"Do you need my help?"

Sensing Hashirama Senju's current dilemma, Madara Uchiha "kindly" offered assistance.

Even though controlling eight Tailed Beasts at once would be exhausting, he was, after all, the future Hokage. A bit of extra effort was worth it.

"No need, just give me a moment. I'll 'negotiate' with these Tailed Beasts. You go ahead and warm up!"

If Madara really took control of his beasts too, what would be left of the competition? A one-versus-nine battle?

"Alright, let me know when you're ready."

Since Tobirama wasn't accepting his goodwill, Madara, already considering himself the First Hokage, could only shake his head with disappointment. He then led the four obedient Tailed Beasts into the forest.

Watching Madara leave, Hashirama frowned at the caged and snarling Nine-Tails below him, trying to initiate a conversation.

"Hello, I'm Hashirama Senju. I know this might be sudden, but would you be willing to help me in this fight?"

Hashirama humbled himself, using a tone of negotiation as he addressed the Tailed Beasts about the competition.

"Never! You damned humans, we Tailed Beasts would rather die than be used by you!"

Kurama, having been betrayed by humans countless times, bared his fangs. He was adamant—he was the embodiment of pride, refusing to compromise an inch.

"Exactly!"

"We'd rather die!"

"Ugh, I just finished shedding and haven't even flown yet, and now I need to reincarnate again?"

The other Tailed Beasts joined the protest, full of defiance, as if unbothered by impending death. Knowing they would eventually resurrect, they awaited their end with confidence.

"This is tough..."

Hashirama was at a loss at their firm stance and turned to his thinking brother, Tobirama, for help.

"Is your strength among Tailed Beasts measured by the number of tails?" Tobirama, who had been strategizing for Hashirama, asked coldly.

"Hmph! Of course! The more tails we have, the stronger we are!"

Kurama's ego swelled, his massive mouth curling in a smirk as he proudly lifted his head.

"Uh, probably," muttered Chōmei, looking at his seven tails with a hint of doubt. In past fights, he hadn’t always emerged victorious...

"That's right! Fewer tails mean weaker power!"

The Six-Tails, Saiken, chimed in eagerly. He always considered those with fewer tails inferior.

Cough

The Four-Tails, Son Gokū, didn't want any part of the conversation.

"Hey, Five-Tails, got a sore throat or what? Stop coughing!"

Kurama glared at Kokuō when it didn’t affirm his statement, eyes full of menace.

"Chōmei’s scale powder is choking me!" Kokuō excused himself, knowing it was better to pick fights with the weaker.

"If you have so many tails, are you scared of losing to those other beasts?" Tobirama, the cunning white-haired one, used reverse psychology on the naïve Tailed Beasts.

"Roar! Impossible! Those weaklings combined are no match for me!"

The provocation was remarkably effective.

"Then why won’t you fight?" Tobirama pressed, trying to break down their pride and hesitation.

"Hmph! We Tailed Beasts won't be controlled by mere humans. We would rather die, and when we come back, you will face our wrath!" Kurama's pride had never allowed submission outside of Hagoromo’s family. His fierce eyes locked onto the Senju brothers, memorizing their faces for future vengeance.

"Try me! I'll strike you down every time!"

Worried about the threat to Konoha, Hashirama's face darkened as he spoke, his icy glare intimidating enough to make the Tailed Beasts falter.

Kurama suddenly felt a familiar shiver; he instinctively tucked his tails between his legs. A millennium ago, after slaughtering humans trying to control him, Asura had given him the same look before a colossal Buddha figure pulled out his fur. The humiliation of that moment was one he never wanted to repeat.

"Uh, if you let us go, we promise not to step foot in the Land of Fire ever again..." Kurama, fearing a repeat of history, lowered his head, trying to bargain.

"No way! If we let you go, my brother’s Hokage title would be handed over to someone else!" Tobirama immediately opposed, sharing a knowing glance with Hashirama.

To free them without compensation? Ridiculous!

"Then keep us imprisoned. We won't starve." Kurama chose apathy. Immortal as long as chakra existed, he only needed to outlast the current human generation.

"Think I'd let you rest easy here?"

Tobirama's eyes narrowed, schemes brewing. The Tailed Beasts were valuable test subjects for forbidden jutsu—too rare to waste.

"You have one last chance: compete in the match or become my experiment," Tobirama threatened, arms crossed and eyes red, exuding an aura that reminded the beasts of Indra.

Cough "Maybe we can talk this over..."

After a fierce internal struggle, Kurama conceded. The white-haired human was too sinister, and falling into his hands promised unspeakable torment.

"Great, let’s be reasonable, Tobirama, don’t scare them," Hashirama said, stepping in with a smile.

"How about this? If you win, I promise to set you free. Deal?" Hashirama offered confidently, counting on his “strong hand” of five, six, seven, and nine-tailed beasts to overpower Madara's team.

"Really?"

Kurama's eyes gleamed with hope, fixated on Hashirama for confirmation. The fear of this man, carved into his soul a millennium ago, still lingered.

"I swear," Hashirama assured.

If they won, he'd release them. If not, no promise held. The Tailed Beasts didn't suspect a thing, their pride dismissing any possibility of losing.

With renewed determination, they raised their heads and fixed their gaze on the opposing four figures. Battle instincts roared to life.

“Tatakae—let’s get this show on the road!”