Chapter 133: The Saffron Dojo

Chapter 133: The Saffron Dojo

After spending the night at Naru's, Giovanni prepared to depart the next morning.

Naru watched him with clear reluctance. "Are you sure you don't want me to see you off?"

Giovanni stopped him before he could take a step. "No. I will go alone. Your presence would only complicate matters, would it not?"

"I could teleport the person you need to meet directly out of the dojo," Naru offered, his enthusiasm bordering on desperation. "That way, you wouldn't have to take any risks."

Giovanni found the boy's earnestness tiresome. "It is not so dramatic. I am not planning to eliminate a sect, merely to issue a Gym challenge."

Naru's expression fell. "Alright."

Giovanni stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "I will likely not return. I will leave Saffron City directly after my business is concluded."

Seeing that Naru was about to protest again, Giovanni cut him off. "Do not worry. We will meet again. For now, focus your energy on contacting our compatriots— build your foundation."

Naru had no choice but to relent. Though he had only known Giovanni for a day, he already felt a profound bond. Still, he could not restrict him. "I understand."

Giovanni released his shoulder, a faint smile on his lips. "And if the opportunity arises, you should try to become a Gym Leader yourself. It would grant you the influence and resources you need."

Naru raised a clenched fist, his eyes burning with newfound conviction. "I will. I'll grow stronger as quickly as possible, then I will challenge the Saffron Gym and drive all these muscle-bound mundanes from this city!"

"Then, goodbye, Naru." Giovanni turned and began walking toward the Fighting Dojo.

From behind, Naru watched his retreating figure. "Goodbye, Giovanni."

Meeting Naru had been an unexpected boon. Giovanni had all but given up on finding a Psychic, yet fate had intervened. He felt a strange sense of familiarity with the boy but couldn't place it. The only Saffron native he could recall from the future was the powerful psychic, Sabrina.

Naru? Could he be Sabrina's father?

Giovanni raised an eyebrow, glancing back at Naru, who had once again pulled his baseball cap low over his eyes. The resemblance... it's there. Could this encounter be the catalyst that eventually drove Sabrina into the arms of Team Rocket?

He pushed the thought aside. If Naru could truly spread his name among the psychic community, he could one day have an army of Psychic trainers at his command.

Giovanni stroked his chin, a predatory smile playing on his lips. "It seems a further investment of funds and resources is in order."

Outside the Saffron City Fighting Dojo.

Before Giovanni even stepped through the entrance, he was met with a wall of sound—deafening shouts from within, carried on a pungent wave of sweat. The moment he crossed the threshold, a thin, dark-skinned youth in a white gi, a Tyrogue at his heels, leaped in front of him.

"Who are you? State your purpose."

Giovanni produced his Trainer ID. "I am a registered Trainer from Viridian City, here to challenge the Gym."

The youth looked Giovanni up and down, his eyes lingering on his young face with clear disdain. "A challenger? Another one who doesn't understand his own limits, dreaming of glory."

"Glory?" Giovanni questioned, a flicker of interest in his eyes. He was aware of the current Alliance tournament structure, but the youth's tone implied something more.

The youth sneered. "That's right. At your age, you shouldn't be so delusional. Come back in ten years, after you've actually reached a Gym-Leader level of strength."

It seemed the rules had changed. It used to be that becoming a Gym Leader was a position of immense prestige, often hereditary and nearly impossible for an ordinary trainer to obtain. Unless one possessed overwhelming power, the path was closed.

Now, it appeared the Alliance had instituted some kind of reform, opening the position up as a prize— an interesting, if desperate, move on their part to cultivate talent.

Sensing he was being underestimated, but knowing he did not yet possess that level of power, Giovanni didn't rise to the bait. "You're thinking too far ahead. I am simply here for a standard Gym match. I wish to gain experience for the Indigo League tournament."

The youth looked at him suspiciously, then grunted. "Wait here. I will ask the Master." He ordered his Tyrogue to watch Giovanni before disappearing deeper into the dojo.

He returned a few minutes later, panting. "Fine. The Master has agreed. Follow me."

Giovanni had expected as much. He followed the youth into a courtyard cluttered with sandbags, training dummies, and enormous boulders the size of grown men. Deep grooves in the dirt behind the rocks showed they were used for pushing drills.

Whether by Pokémon or human was unclear. If it was the latter, their physical strength was astonishing.

He was led through a door into the main training hall. The vast room, floored with worn wood, was filled with dozens of students in gis, all seated in silent meditation. At their head sat a mountain of a man, his muscles straining against the fabric of his linen uniform.

Giovanni's entrance drew dozens of hostile glares. He frowned. This wasn't a standard battlefield. Something else was happening here.

The muscular Gym Leader, Kaito, slowly rose to his feet, a smile spreading across his fleshy face that didn't reach his eyes. "Welcome, traveler. I am Kaito, Master of the Saffron Fighting Dojo."

Though Kaito was an intimidating presence, Giovanni remained utterly unfazed. "A pleasure. I am Giovanni, from Viridian City."

Kaito's eyes narrowed, a hint of surprise in them as he assessed Giovanni's calm demeanor and wiry frame. "The rules have changed, boy," he rumbled. "If you wish to challenge me, you must first pass my tests."

Giovanni's frown deepened. "State your terms."