Naruto × Pokémon: Flames of Harmony

Chapter 13: Echoes of the Past – The Tournament's Secret

Green Hill City Plaza – Tournament Registration Booth

The next morning, the usually calm city square had transformed into a buzzing hub of trainers, spectators, and vendors. A long line snaked down the terraced plaza, made up of kids, adults, and even foreign travelers, all gathered under the canopy of flowering trees.

In the center stood the registration booth, staffed by League officials and decked out with banners reading:

> GREEN HILL CITY TOURNAMENT

Celebrate Friendship and Battle in the Blooming City!

Naruto groaned, leaning on a fence post. "Ughhh… This line is never-ending! My legs are gonna fall off!"

Sasuke crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Stop whining. You'll survive."

The line crept forward slowly, trainers chatting around them, many openly bragging about their teams or the strategies they'd use to win.

"Did you hear the first prize includes a rare Pokémon egg?"

"Yeah! Word is it's something super hard to find in this region."

Naruto's ears perked up. "Wait… RARE Pokémon egg?!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Now you're paying attention."

Just ahead of them stood a boy a little older than them—tall, calm, wearing rectangular glasses and a long green coat embroidered with a leafy emblem. His gray hair fell slightly over his face. Beside him sat a hulking Pokémon: Lycanroc, but not like the common Dusk or Midday forms.

This one was massive, with blood-red fur and glowing eyes.

Lycanroc (Midnight Form).

Naruto's jaw dropped.

"WHOA!!" He yanked out his Pokédex.

[> Lycanroc (Midnight Form) – The Wolf Pokémon.

This aggressive Pokémon revels in battle under the cover of night. Its reckless attacks intimidate foes, but its fierce loyalty to its trainer is unmatched.]

Sasuke, intrigued, pulled out his own Pokédex too. "That's not common here…"

The older boy noticed them. "Ah, new trainers?" he said with a soft smile.

Naruto nodded excitedly. "That Pokémon's awesome! Is it yours?"

"Yes," the boy replied. "His name is Granitic. Don't let his look scare you. He's incredibly well-mannered. Unless provoked."

Lycanroc gave a low grunt, then sat calmly, crossing its claws like a bouncer on break.

"I'm Kabuto," the boy continued. "I work as a research assistant at the Green Hill Botanical Lab. Part-time researcher, full-time Pokémon enthusiast."

"Whoa… fancy," Naruto said.

Kabuto chuckled. "I've actually registered for the tournament too. That egg caught my attention."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "You know what it is?"

Kabuto nodded. "The League hasn't officially revealed it, but we at the lab got a sneak peek when it was delivered. It's a Riolu Egg."

Both boys froze.

"WHAT?!" Naruto exploded. "A freaking Riolu?!"

"Those are incredibly rare in Shinova," Kabuto said, adjusting his glasses. "Only a handful are recorded in this region. Some say they only appear to those with strong inner resolve."

Sasuke's eyes sharpened. "A Lucario would be a huge asset in the League…"

Naruto's hands clenched. "I need that egg."

Kabuto smirked. "Then you'll have to earn it."

They all took a step forward as the line moved.

"By the way," Sasuke asked, curious now, "why is a tournament like this being held here? And with prizes that valuable?"

Kabuto turned his gaze toward the nearby river that shimmered beneath the midday sun, its waters reflecting the flower-lined bridges and gondolas drifting past.

"It's a tradition," he said softly. "Green Hill City has a deep, painful past. Long before it became this beautiful sanctuary... it was a kingdom. A powerful one. But it was ruled by a cruel king."

Naruto blinked. "Cruel?"

"He hated Pokémon," Kabuto explained. "Used them as tools. Hunted them for sport. Forced them to fight endlessly. The people feared him, but were too loyal to rebel. He pushed the land and the Pokémon to the edge."

He paused.

"But then came the Rain. For two whole months, the skies poured. The entire valley flooded. People and Pokémon alike were swept away. The king watched as his empire drowned in water, his power meaningless. They say he died of grief… or guilt."

Naruto fell silent, eyes wide.

Sasuke muttered, "So… the whole city was underwater?"

Kabuto nodded. "All hope seemed lost. But then, from the heart of the storm, a Legendary Pokémon emerged."

He raised his hand toward the mountains in the distance.

"Volcanion. The Steam Pokémon. It absorbed all the floodwaters, evaporating them and saving the city. Then, without a word, it vanished. No one knows where it came from or where it went. But the survivors never forgot."

Naruto whispered, "That's amazing…"

Kabuto continued, "The new king—son of the tyrant—changed everything. Built a temple to Volcanion. Declared Pokémon as sacred companions. That's how Green Hill was reborn. And the tournament? It's held every few years to honor that history… and to show the bond between people and Pokémon."

Sasuke stared at the horizon, visibly moved though he'd never say it aloud.

Even Naruto was quiet for a while. Then he looked up at Kabuto.

"…That egg. I'm gonna win it. I'll raise it into the strongest Lucario ever."

Kabuto smiled. "Then I'll see you in the tournament."

---

By mid-afternoon, Naruto and Sasuke made it to the booth. With a bit of paperwork and ID confirmation, they were officially entered into the Green Hill City Tournament.

Both were given a wristband with their match numbers, a welcome kit with potions and snacks, and a digital schedule with brackets.

Naruto stared at the glowing screen.

"Let's do this," he whispered to himself.

Just behind them, Kabuto registered next. His Lycanroc's red eyes glowed beneath the sunlight.

And in the shadows beneath the rising tournament stage, a cloaked figure in a maintenance uniform adjusted the wires.

Zabuza's eye glinted beneath his cap.

---

To Be Continued…