Chapter 41: Team 7 Encounters an Enemy

"Shikamaru, what are you thinking?"

Asuma ignored Ino's comment and turned to look at Shikamaru.

"Hokage-sama wouldn't send us here without reason. That must mean there are shadow-level Pokémon here, right, boss?" Shikamaru asked, looking at Ryo.

Everyone around him turned their eyes to Ryo as well.

Ryo smiled. "You guessed right. I do have shadow-level Pokémon here."

"There really are such Pokémon?"

Ino's eyes widened with disbelief. Even Shikamaru, who had just made the assumption, was momentarily stunned.

Ryo nodded again. "That's right. But I'm curious—why are you all so skeptical? Do you really think only humans can reach the shadow level?"

Kakashi's group, Kurenai's team, even Guy's team—every ninja who had visited expressed the same doubt.

"Is it really that hard to accept the idea of a shadow-level creature?"

Asuma's squad collectively rolled their eyes.

Ino couldn't hold back. "Boss, do you even understand how rare shadow-level strength is? Out of all the ninja in the Hidden Leaf, only a handful are at that level. Within the village, only Hokage-sama has truly reached that rank."

Ryo didn't know how to respond at first. What Ino said was true.

"You're right. But do you really believe only humans can break through to the shadow level?"

"Of course! What else could it be?" Ino replied, clearly exasperated.

"But I've seen many summoning beasts that have already reached the shadow level," Ryo said calmly.

"Impossible!"

Ino's expression changed again. "Even summoning beasts that reach the elite jonin level are considered impressive. How could they break through to shadow level?"

"No, some can."

This time, it was Asuma who spoke up.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio turned their curious gazes toward him.

Asuma didn't leave them hanging. "In the Three Great Summoning Lands, many of their creatures are at the elite jonin level. The stronger ones can even rival shadow-level ninja with their sheer size and power."

"But that's still not truly shadow-level, right? That just means they're powerful elite jonin," Ino argued, rolling her eyes again.

Asuma shook his head. "The sages of the Three Great Summoning Lands are all at shadow-level strength, and they're even stronger than ordinary shadow-level ninja."

Being the son of the Hokage, Asuma knew these things well.

Hearing this, Ryo nodded in agreement. Indeed, the three sages had reached the shadow level and were even more formidable due to their ability to use natural chakra.

Meanwhile, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was once again taken aback. They had never imagined such powerful summoning beasts existed.

"Alright, enough about that," Asuma said, changing the subject. "Boss, how do we obtain Pokémon?"

"Just head to the back mountain. Any Pokémon you capture there will be yours," Ryo explained, then proceeded to lay out the rules and requirements for capturing Pokémon.

Asuma's team listened attentively. When Ryo mentioned they needed to purchase some items first, none of them hesitated.

It was clear that there was a stark difference between those with family backing and those without.

Ryo silently noted that nearly every family-backed ninja who came to capture a Pokémon was generous with their money.

He began contemplating whether he should actively invite more clan-affiliated ninja to capture Pokémon.

"Thanks, boss. We'll head in now," Asuma said, holding the Poké Balls, Pokédex, and energy cubes they had just purchased.

Ryo waved his hand. "Go ahead. I hope you find a Pokémon you like."

"We will, boss," Asuma replied before leading the Ino-Shika-Cho trio toward the back door of the cabin.

Meanwhile, on a path not far from the Hidden Leaf Village...

Five figures were walking briskly along the road.

"Wow!"

Naruto looked around at the scenery with wide-eyed curiosity. "So this is the world outside the Hidden Leaf!"

Beside him, Sakura nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, this is my first time leaving the village, too!"

Sasuke, however, remained expressionless, showing no excitement at all.

Their client, Tazuna, glanced at Naruto and Sakura with some concern.

What Tazuna didn't realize was that his worried expression had caught the attention of Kakashi.

Kakashi's brow furrowed slightly before he turned to Naruto and Sakura. "Alright, calm down. Remember, we're on a mission."

Hearing this, Naruto and Sakura toned down their excitement and quietly continued on.

After walking for a while, they passed a section of the road where two puddles had formed on the ground.

Kakashi's brow furrowed again briefly but quickly returned to normal as he continued walking.

Swish—

As Kakashi approached the two puddles, two ninjas suddenly leaped out from the water, brandishing their blades and slashing at Kakashi.

With a slash, Kakashi's entire body was cut in half, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

The sudden scene caused Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's expressions to change drastically.

Behind them, Tazuna trembled in fear, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"How dare you kill Kakashi-sensei! This is unforgivable!"

Naruto initially shuddered in fear, but his eyes soon turned red with rage.

"Hahaha, little brats, not just your teacher—you all will die here as well!"

The two ninjas exchanged glances and laughed maliciously. One of them even looked at Naruto with murderous intent.

Feeling the overwhelming killing intent, Naruto and his companions turned pale, terror rising in their hearts.

"Damn it!"

Sasuke clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as he struggled to suppress his fear.

"Why am I scared? I can't afford to be afraid! If I fear this, how can I face that man in the future? How can I defeat him?"

With those thoughts in mind, Sasuke slowly moved, reaching for the Poké Ball on his waist and hurling it forward.

The next second, a small Charmander appeared. Sasuke gritted his teeth and said, "Charmander, I need your help. Please fight alongside me to take down these enemies!"

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