Bellflower Mountain was enveloped in an unprecedented tranquility.
Amid the emerald mountain ranges lay a vast lake, its surface as smooth as a mirror, seemingly polished free of all ripples.
At the center of the lake stood a pristine, pale blue, crystal-like structure quietly anchored to the water's surface.
This building, as if from another world, was the World Tree's newly constructed second Gym: the Water Gym.
It was too quiet—so quiet it made one's heart tighten.
Not long after, Iemitsu's wife arrived with the Sand Hidden Squad.
As Iemitsu's wife led the Sand Hidden Squad over the Bellflower Mountain range and caught sight of the lake and the Water Gym, all the Sand Ninjas halted in their tracks.
They hailed from a desert nation, yet they had never seen such eerily still waters.
"...Here?"
"This lake... it's too unnatural."
Iemitsu's wife's expression was equally grave.
The fact that Bellflower Mountain had become so lush and vibrant was in itself a bizarre occurrence.
This wasn't the first time she had sensed danger, but this time, the threat was veiled in an almost divine serenity.
Under this strange pressure, ripples suddenly appeared on the lake's surface.
Inside the Water Gym, White Zetsu was enveloped in a blue light.
The consciousness of the World Tree was channeling through him, and a personality overlay was taking place.
White Zetsu's skin began turning translucent, with blue flowing patterns moving within his body,
as if the veins of a water spirit were gradually reshaping him.
"Personality overlay complete."
A mechanical voice resonated from the depths of the lake.
The blue light dissipated.
White Zetsu lowered his head and opened his eyes.
Moments later, as his consciousness fully awakened, White Zetsu's form transformed into that of a human, while the Ninja Beast Eggs morphed into three glowing orbs resembling Elf Balls.
The doors of the Water Gym opened.
The lake breeze stilled.
With a soft click, the doors of the Water Gym swung open.
A clear, watery light spilled from the entrance, like some form of welcoming ceremony.
Then, a figure stepped out, treading on the shimmering light.
With a smile as bright and innocent as a young girl's, she gazed at the Sand Ninjas: "Welcome to the Water Gym~♪"
Her short hair swayed gently, and her swimsuit-style jacket gleamed dazzlingly.
She hopped cheerfully to the shore, waving her hand lightly.
"Who are you?"
The girl revealed a starry smile:
"My name is Misty, and I'm the Gym Leader of the Water Gym."
She pointed toward the lake behind her: "If you're here to challenge the Gym, then I welcome you~ But if you're here to fight... that won't do."
"You... what are you?"
Misty blinked:
"I'm not a Ninja Beast; I'm a Pokemon Trainer.
Are you here for the Water Gym Assessment?"
Her smile was like a spring breeze.
In the main city of the Land of Rain.
The once-industrialized city was gradually transforming.
Amid the perpetually rainy land, a vividly colored building had appeared.
Bright red and pure white, it stood in stark contrast to any architectural style in the Shinobi World.
Written in large letters was: Pokemon Center.
The door slowly opened, and three young women with identical pink short hair stepped out.
They shared the same appearance and the same smile.
The three Nurse Joys spoke in unison:
"Welcome to the Pokemon Center~"
Their elegant smiles, like a spring breeze, eased some of the fear in the Land of Rain.
Nurse Joy tidied the counter while gesturing toward the doorway.
Soon, numerous Ninja Beast Eggs were arranged at the entrance.
Nurse Joy smiled sweetly: "All ninjas of the Land of Rain, please come here to receive your first Pokémon Egg."
"Children who have reached ten years of age may also come here to choose their Pokémon."
The Rain Ninjas stood frozen.
"This... giving away Ninja Beast Eggs for free...?"
"Children... children can receive them too?!"
Nurse Joy gave a gentle smile: "They are Pokémon Eggs."
"Starting today."
She lifted her skirt slightly and bowed formally.
"This is the Pokémon League."
Three synchronized voices echoed throughout the nation:
"Your future will be decided by yourselves and your Pokémon together."
At the border between the Land of Earth and Land of Rain, in the barren fault zone.
Exposed rock walls, gravel slopes devoid of vegetation, perpetually eroded by wind and sand - even ninjas avoided staying here long.
Yet now, a completely new structure stood firmly in this wasteland.
The Rock Gym.
The entire gym resembled a massive boulder carved out from the mountains, with natural, heavy rock textures as if the mountain itself had been moved here by the World Tree.
The ground before the gym entrance was hard as iron, with bluish-brown rocks arranged in a checkerboard pattern, and stepping on them one could feel a certain vibration of life.
That was the trace of ley lines merging with Pokémon energy.
When the nearby Earth Ninja garrison first saw it, they were all stunned.
"Is this... a fortress?"
They never expected anyone to build such a large structure in this frontline wasteland.
Just as they were gathering warily, the Rock Gym's door opened with a heavy thud.
A figure stepped out.
His skin was dark as iron, shoulders broad enough to carry an entire mountain,
the entire person radiating a pressure as steady as the earth itself.
He wasn't wearing ninja armor, but a simple tank top and travel jacket, with three glowing Elf Balls appearing behind him, just like Misty.
Whether it was the original number 001 Red, number 002 Misty, or number 003 Brock, they were all Gym Leaders formed by the combination of White Zetsu and Ditto.
White Zetsu transformed into the Gym Leaders, while the Ditto within them transformed into their three exclusive partner Pokémon.
This was the characteristic of the Gym Leaders created by Shiroishi.
Now Brock stood at the gym entrance, announcing in a steady yet friendly tone:
"Welcome to the Rock Gym."
"I am Gym Leader Brock."
Then he raised his hand, and the rock walls trembled.
A massive Onix burst forth from behind the gym,
its scales hard as steel, cracking the earth upon landing.
Brock smiled: "If you're here to challenge, you may do so anytime."
"As long as you can withstand the Rock Gym Trial."
Within the Land of Rain.
The entire nation seemed reborn.
The originally gloomy streets were now filled with excited chatter.
Outside the Pokémon Center, hundreds of Pokémon Eggs were neatly arranged on steps reinforced by World Tree Root Veins.
Nurse Joy guided with a smile:
"Everyone line up, no pushing～
Everyone will get their own Pokémon."
Children tightly clutched their parents' clothes, both nervous and excited.
A ten-year-old boy finally reached the front counter, his hands trembling uncontrollably: "Can... can I really hatch a Pokémon?"
Nurse Joy gently handed him an egg.
"Little one, this is your first partner.
Say good morning to it properly, it will hear you."
The boy hugged the egg and whispered softly:
"Goo...d morning."
Buzz—
The eggshell glowed softly.
"It moved! It moved!!"
The boy jumped up excitedly.
Cracks spread across the eggshell,
and a round little creature peeked out from inside the egg.
"This is Pichu."
"Hello, Pichu~"
The child burst into tears directly, hugging Pichu while continuously wiping his eyes.
Nearby, a young girl held an egg.
When it cracked open, a Slowpoke stretched out its tongue to look at her,
while on the other side, a cold former Anbu Ninja picked up an angular egg,
and after the shell shattered, another Pichu appeared.
He froze.
Pichu froze too.
The next second, he raised his hand and picked up Pichu:
"From now on... let's walk together."
At that moment,
in the eyes of the Rain Ninja who hadn't shown any expression for years,
a soft light appeared for the first time.
Hatching lights lit up one after another, filling the entire street with the cries of Pokémon, children's laughter, and ninjas' exclamations.
Rattata, Spearow, Pidgey, Caterpie, Weedle, and Eevee, among others, appeared throughout the streets and alleys of the Land of Rain.
It became extremely lively.