[Naruto] Pokénin

Looking at his other two shadow clones who had yet to pop, and were hard at work taking notes, Tekai decided to walk up on them and see how they were doing. 

"Yo, #2, how's the Eight Gates studying going?" Tekai asked with a grin. 

"Ugh, I hate reading technical jargon." #2 slammed his head into the desk. 

"Oi, oi, don't go popping yourself now, you still have enough chakra to keep reading." Tekai caught the clone, and wiped his shoulders clean of some imaginary dust. 

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, the first three levels of the Eight Gates seem easy to unlock-" 

"Cool, and the other levels?" Tekai interrupted. 

"Man, I really sound like that, huh? Crazy. Anyway, as I was saying. The first three gates shouldn't be too difficult to learn. It's getting started that's the hard part. Basically you're going to have to push yourself down to 10% chakra, and perform some stupid crazy physical feat while pressing your chakra onto the first gate." #2 lazily explained. 

"I see, I see. So basically like when Kakashi climbed that mountain one handed, and unlocked the first Gate then, right?" Tekai questioned. 

"...you know I know this, yet you're still asking the question. Haaah…yes. Just like Kakashi." #2 rolled his eyes at Tekai. 

"Whatever dude, well, that's all I needed to know, I guess. It was probably a little stupid of me to ask about the Gates beyond the first few anyway. Hm, well since you've got some chakra left, how about we spar for a few minutes, I really want to get the hang of this staf-" Tekai got out, but his clone popped himself mid conversation. 

Upon doing so, 80% of the chakra used to make the Shadow Clone was refunded, and returned to fill Tekai's chakra reserves. In short, his clone was made with 25% of Tekkai's total chakra, and returned 20%~. 

Clone #2 was mostly idling for about 45-60 minutes. This chakra refund rate was kind of bananas. Tekai could see why this technique was so popular as a scouting tool. If you knew the Transformation technique, you could even apply it to the clone, and make it wild Pokemon, bush, or everyday object! 

What also excited Tekai was the chakra return. If he had his clone perform the basic Dragon Dance, could he theoretically have it recoup more chakra than it was made with? Then, when Tekai needed chakra, he could just pop it for a refund? If he recalled, Naruto did something similar, right? 

It was a crazy thought, and one once again, worth experimenting when he had more time! 

For now, he had to focus on the thoughts that he received when Clone #2 popped himself. 

A stream of knowledge poured into Tekai's mind, and he harnessed that info, then reviewed the notes his clone had taken. 

Apparently unlocking the first Gate wasn't high level knowledge, and Clone #2 had boredly doodled on the margins to appear hard at work. 

"Ah, that prick. I could have sent him out to experiment with the Dragon Dance until he popped!" Tekai snapped his fingers at the lost opportunity. 

Shaking his head in disappointment, Tekai resolved he'd have to push himself to the limit to unlock the First Gate. 

More likely than not, he could probably just make three Shadow Clones again, then have them put him through a sparring session of the lifetime dropping him down to 10%~. That way, he could push himself to go beyond his current limit, and refund his chakra if he ever became dangerously low and close to death. 

'Damn, Shadow Clones are fucking busted! I'll likely never use them like Naruto did, but that doesn't mean I can't be creative about using them within my means.' Tekai thought to himself, and had a big grin on his face as the amount of training he was about to do would increase exponentially. 

"Oi, dude, hello~ you just going to stand there giggling to yourself as you creepily look off into nothing?" Clone #3 waved a hand in front of Tekai's face. 

"Eh heh, sorry, I just figured out some busted ways to use Shadow Clones, and I'm kind of giddy." Tekai grinned wider, unashamed of the weirdness that was on display. 

"Riiiight, just don't do that shit in front of Cynthia. She's one cold queen, if you know what I mean." #3 winked. 

"Whatever, just tell me what you learned." Tekai slid his palm down his face, and deadpanned his clone. 

"Behold, the magic glowy green thing!" The clone held up his palm, but nothing happened. 

"Ahem. Behold!" #3 said again, but this time, he started to Dragon Dance first. After half a minute, a mint green chakra began to form on the tip of his hand. 

"Fuck. It's genius, why didn't I think of that?" Tekai slapped a hand into his open palm. 

"Uncle really is a mad genius. We weren't even allowed to throw a kunai! It's a miracle we persisted with the Dragon Dance for so long." #3 laughed. 

"It really is. Anyway, good shit, #3. All that chakra control training that I did for the last six years paid off. You can go now." Tekai waved his hand. 

"Yeah, yeah. Oh, by the way, I noticed a note had been left for you under Uncle's package. Have fun now!" #3 waved at Tekai with a big troll grin. 

"That fucker." Tekai growled to himself, and clenched his fists in minor anger. 

Then that minor, playful rage turned into real annoyance. That asshole clone had drunk half of his milk tea supply! 

Blowing a loose strand of hair off his face, Tekai decided to take a look at the letter. 

Opening it up, he saw that there were very few words written down. 

Congratulations on your graduation. I would like to commend you personally for this monumental accomplishment. Meet me at the Shuckle Bucket at sunset for dinner. 

-Lance

Reading the letter several times, Tekai rapidly blinked his eyes. 

"I know this handwriting." Tekai whispered to himself. 

Running to collect one of the secret scrolls that he had been gifted throughout the years, Tekai went and compared the handwriting of the scroll and the letter. 

"No way, my secret supporter in the clan was my cold, aloof, distant older brother all along?!" Tekai scratched his chin in surprise. 

Ever since Lance had taught him to read, they rarely if ever spoke again. 

From Tekai's perspective, his older half-brother was being groomed to become the next Clan Lord. So while it kind of hurt to be sidelined like that, he understood that there was likely more to his infrequent visits than Tekai could see on the surface. He just assumed that Lance had moved on to other things. As someone with siblings, and a huge extended family back on Earth, he had seen family members go radio silent all the time. So he wasn't entirely shocked believing Lance had followed a similar path. 

However, the fact that all of the scrolls he had read up to this point came from his older brother had him once more feeling all sorts of complex emotions. 

Although he seemed distant, Tekai realized it was Lance who encouraged him to push through when he couldn't hatch the egg. It was Lance who urged him to chase after Clair, and Lance who was the only person to be waiting for them once they exited the Dragons Den. 

In fact, besides Dragon Dancing, Tekai's #1 hobby was to read. Had Lance noticed this fact, and although he couldn't see him regularly, provided a means for Tekai to pursue his hobby? 

"Damn." Tekai held onto the note, and ink smeared the edges of his hands as it hit him. 

Distant didn't mean there wasn't any love involved. Sometimes life simply got in the way. 

"Perhaps I've been too harsh judging my brother. Ever since he was little, he's had such heavy responsibilities heaped onto his plate. Is this a situation like Itachi and Sasuke all over again? Where the big brother sacrifices so the younger brother can be happy? Fuck." 

Well, he had to go to that dinner now! 

"What time is it even?" Tekai shaded his eyes, and looked out the window to see that dusk was swiftly approaching. 

"Shit, I'm going to be late! C'mon Gil, we're going!" Tekai said, and hurriedly put Gil back in his pokeball. 

Throwing on a clean hooded robe, Tekai bolted from his residence, and ran down towards a street in the noble quarter where most restaurants could be found. 

Running past many well dressed people, carriages, and warmly lit businesses, Tekai finally found the place he was looking for. 

Built in the shape of a bucket, the 3-story building housed one of the more premier restaurants in Blackthorn, the Shuckle Bucket. 

Adjusting his collar, Tekai walked in, and looked all around, as this was his first time entering a restaurant in this second life. 

Many ninja, merchants, and other foreigners made up the majority of the clientele. Banners hung all over the shop, and had a smiling shuckle plastered all over them. 

It was kind of macabre knowing that shuckle was the specialty dish of this place, and it was still weird to him that Pokémon had replaced most if not all animals. But to the best of his knowledge, regular animals didn't exist in this world. 

Shaking his head to ignore this odd fact, Tekai was about to address the concierge, and ask him about Lance, when the man bowed, and asked Tekai to follow him. 

Climbing up some stairs, Tekai came to the 3rd floor, and was led into a private room. 

Inside, he saw Lance looking down at a band performing live interest down below with disinterest. 

When the door closed, and the concierge left, Lance looked up, and gave him an intense, appraising look. 

Tekai felt as if he could be seen through, and almost wanted to instinctively bow his head from the pressure. To address Lance by some official title, like Young Clan Head, or Gym Leader. Yet at the end of that intense pressure, was a small, almost imperceptible smile. It was something Tekai hadn't seen in many a year, and conjured up memories of when he first started to read. 

"Big brother." Tekai smiled sheepishly. 

"Tekai, my little brother. It is good to see you. Please. Have a seat." Lance gestured toward an empty chair, and nodded in a serious manner. 

Taking a seat, Tekai let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. 

Whatever came of this dinner, he hoped Lance didn't have any ulterior motives for this seemingly impromptu meeting.