At the same time, Might Guy and his companions were making their way through the back mountain. The forest canopy cast dappled light onto the moss-covered ground, and the quiet rustling of leaves underfoot was the only sound accompanying their search. As they walked, doubt began to grow on their faces.
"Teacher Guy, are there really the kind of Pokémon you said are here?" Tenten asked, her brow furrowed.
Lee nodded beside her, while Hyuga Neji glanced around in confusion. The three had already scouted nearly half the area, yet they hadn't seen a single Pokémon—or even any other creatures. The forest felt too quiet, unnaturally so.
Might Guy's normally spirited expression shifted into concern. He frowned slightly. "Search a bit longer."
If he didn't know Kakashi would never lie to him, he might have thought Renji Takahashi had misled them. The silence was eerie—no signs, no rustling, no movement. It wasn't that they hadn't found anything—it was as if nothing existed.
Tenten nodded silently and continued scanning the trees and bushes around them, pushing aside her doubts.
"Ha Cha Cha—"
A strange sound echoed from not far away.
"Huh? Did you hear that?" Tenten asked, stopping in her tracks.
The group looked at each other, nodding, eyes sharpening in an instant.
"Let's go check it out," Might Guy ordered. The group fell into formation, silently advancing toward the sound.
As they neared the source, the creature responsible for the noise finally came into view.
"This... Teacher Guy, Tenten, Neji, what is that?" Lee asked in awe, his eyes wide with surprise.
Before them was a round stone-like creature, its body shaped like a boulder, with arms, fists, and a face carved from the rock itself.
Tenten and Neji were just as astonished. Though they maintained some composure, it was clear this was unlike anything they had seen.
Might Guy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "This must be a Pokémon."
The others rolled their eyes subtly. That much was obvious.
Quick to react, Tenten took out the Pokédex she had purchased earlier and scanned the creature.
[Geodude]
Classification: Rock Pokémon
Attribute: Rock/Ground
Ability: Sturdy (Can endure a fatal blow once)
Level: 5 (Apprentice Ninja equivalent)
Skills: Tackle, Defense Curl, Mud-Slap
An electronic voice from the Pokédex echoed out. The group's attention was captured immediately.
"Geodude? This Pokémon really is strange..." Tenten murmured, her eyes studying the creature with newfound interest.
Until now, everything they knew about Pokémon came from Might Guy's tales, and those stories had come secondhand from Kakashi. Seeing one up close, with tangible stats and unfamiliar abilities, changed everything. The attributes, the level, the unfamiliar powers—it stirred something in her.
Lee and Neji were equally drawn in, watching Geodude with cautious curiosity.
"Hahaha, it is indeed a Pokémon," Might Guy grinned. "But it's definitely a strange one. It's just a rock with fists."
Geodude, meanwhile, had been observing them all this time. There was no fear or panic in its expression—just a blank, curious stare. It tilted its head slightly as if analyzing their presence.
Unbeknownst to them, Renji Takahashi had used the Pokémon Entrustment System to summon new Pokémon into the mountain over the past few days. Though the system itself remained locked, requiring the establishment of a shelter in Konoha to fully awaken, Renji could still draw Pokémon through his mental power. And this Geodude was one of those summoned.
Before the Pokémon were sent in, Renji had explained the situation to each of them. This was why Geodude appeared calm—aware that humans would be arriving and that cooperation might be requested.
"This Pokémon looks powerful. What do you think?" Might Guy turned to his students. "Do any of you want to choose it?"
"Teacher Guy, I want to be its partner!" Lee declared, stepping forward without hesitation. His gaze fixed on Geodude's rocky fists, a glint of admiration in his eyes.
As a taijutsu user, he knew the value of strong fists better than anyone.
Might Guy nodded, then looked at Neji and Tenten. "What about you two?"
Both shook their heads. "Let's keep looking," Tenten said. They appreciated the uniqueness of Geodude but weren't drawn to it like Lee was.
"Very well. Lee, go forge your bond with your partner! This is youth!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!"
Fueled by Guy's trademark energy, Lee wiped away his tears and snot and strode toward Geodude with a blazing spirit in his eyes.
Tenten and Neji both cringed, embarrassed. They knew this routine all too well, yet it never got easier to witness.
Geodude watched the human boy approach. It blinked, confused by the sudden rush of emotions, but did not move. It merely observed, head tilted.
"Geodude, be my partner! Let's burn our youth together!" Lee said passionately, hands clenched at his sides, eyes wide with sincerity.
Geodude stared back.
"…Geo? Geodude!" it exclaimed.
Tenten's jaw dropped. "What?! Did that actually work?!"
Neji's usually stoic face twitched, an almost comical disbelief flickering across it.
"Hahaha, well done, Lee!" Might Guy cried joyfully. "Now that you have your Pokémon, it's time—10,000 push-ups!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!"
Without delay, the two men in their identical green jumpsuits dropped to the ground and began their push-ups with explosive energy.
"Geodude!" Geodude shouted, dropping down and imitating them.
Might Guy and Lee were overjoyed by the sight and pushed themselves even harder, inspired by their new rocky comrade.
Tenten facepalmed. "Teacher Guy, Lee, let's go find more Pokémon... please."
No matter how often she saw it, this scene always left her speechless. The ability these two had to turn any moment into a training session was almost a sickness.
"Ahem—" Might Guy stood up, dusting himself off. "You're right. Let's move. Lee, we'll continue later!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!"
And with that, the group pushed deeper into the back mountain, their spirits high, the fire of youth burning stronger than ever.