The Greatest Rescue Team Ever
Summary: AU Naruto woke up as a vulpix? With no memory of who he is, he was taken in by Sasuke, a riolu whose goal is to surpass his brother's rescue team. When Naruto was banished for something he didn't do, Sasuke vowed to help clear his name. Along the way, both would explore their growing feelings for each other. What happens when it's time for Naruto to leave this world? SasuNaru. Inspired by Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team
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A/N: Err… I recently just marathoned Blue Rescue Team and I can't get over the ending. So this is the result of that sleepless week. (This was also the reason why updates have been scant on my side. I've been playing it non-stop haha.) Sorry if this is not your cup of tea, I know PMD is not as popular as the main games. I just had to get this out of my system. By the way, this will have a happy ending, so despite the summary being sad, do give this one a chance.
Note: And yeah I know you can't get these two in PMD 1 haha but vulpix is a fox and riolu is a canine-like pokemon. Plus I always found Lucario's story in the Movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew tragic and he remained my favorite pokemon ever since. So I thought these pokemon fits them well. Anyway this won't be a straight up cross-over. We're still writing Naruto after all, anyway on with the story :)
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Chapter 1: Welcome to My Rescue Team
The world is hazy…. A simulacrum of shapes… unknown to him. Colors… or he presumed to be colors danced in front of his vision. The world is senseless.
Shapeless.
Everything is a shadow.
It felt dark…cold…freezing embers licking at his soul.
His body felt like it went through a battle… a long, tough and arduous one. There's a creeping gnawing at the edges of his mind, his soul being torn asunder. He reeled, he writhed. Unmade…
He clawed his way from this hazy darkness.
Remade… Joined… Whole once more.
Until finally… Vindication. His efforts were rewarded with a bright light… the end of the tunnel, a reprieve from his long torment. He rubbed his eyes as he adjusted to his surroundings and in an instant, he was nearly blinded by the brightness of this world.
"Hey! Wake up… stupid!"
The voice is clearer now. It's deep. Yet soft. Gravely, but not irritating. It's like a music lulling him from his sleep. But there's warmth in it, too, drawing him from nothingness, from the void of his own soul.
Then warmth filled his body, energizing his soul, his mind… his body awake and alive once more.
And he finally returned to the land of the living.
"Huh?" He voiced out, his voice still hoarse as he tried to focus on the figure before him.
"Tsk. What are you doing in this neck of the woods? This is Uchiha territory."
Naruto thought about the question. But his mind was blank. What was he doing? How did he end up here?
"I…. I don't know."
The other sighed, obvious annoyance on his… face… Wait… this is… this is a riolu. Is a riolu talking to him right now? Naruto's eyes widened. He jumped to his feet as he exclaimed, surprised that he's even talking to a pokemon.
"Hey! You're a riolu! You're… you're a pokemon?"
The riolu cocked his head to the side. "Yeah. And I have a name, doofus. It's Sasuke. And you?"
"Scratch that… You're a pokemon! A talking pokemon!'
"So what? So are you. Now will you tell me your name? Or are you too stupid to even have one?"
"Hey! I so have a name. I'm Naruto! And What do you mean by that?"
"Whatever. A vulpix like you should really be careful. Don't want that pretty fur of yours torn to shred when I'm through with you!" Sasuke's red eyes glared, annoyed at the insufferable pokemon in front of him.
"Huh? Wait… What? Vu-vu-vulpix?"
Naruto jumped, stammered and looked at his hands…err paws. And his eyes widened at what he saw. He ran to a nearby stream and looked at his appearance. And true enough. What stared at him was a pokemon. No, it can't be! He's a… he's a pokemon?
"You're pretty strange for a vulpix aren't you? I haven't seen a vulpix with eyes so blue before." Sasuke approached him from behind, azure tail swishing lazily behind him.
"Will you at least tell me how you got here?" He asked gently this time, sensing the other's distress.
"I already told you, I don't know. I'm not even a pokemon! I'm human!" Naruto all but yelled, earning him a rich laughter from his biped companion.
"Oh my god. That's rich. You're a human? Since when?" Naruto groaned, sensing the other's disbelief.
"Since I was born, bastard. You have to believe me. I'm a HUMAN!"
"Tsk. Whatever you say, dobe."
Naruto stopped.
"What did you just call me?"
"Dooobee. You're a dobe who don't even know how he got here. A deadlast suits you just right."
"You take that back, teme!"
"Make me." Sasuke smirked, a solitary fang shining brightly. Somehow, teasing Naruto is bringing out his mischievous side. There's something about this vulpix that's setting his soul on fire. Whenever he's around Naruto, he feels warm for some reason. And while Sasuke still doesn't know whether to believe this vulpix or not, he's certain of one thing. He wants to be around Naruto. It confuses him really. Because Naruto's Aura is unlike he'd ever seen before. The aura within him has a strange color… very peculiar.
"Ohhh I will." Naruto retorted, preparing to attack. But just as he was about to attack pounce, a rabbit dashed to their location.
"Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun!"
"What is it, Sakura?" Sasuke groaned, turning to the buneary that interrupted his fun. He had wanted to tease Naruto more. Somehow, the sight of the vulpix's eyes dancing with flame intrigued him, drawing him in like moth to a flame.
"It's urgent! An emergency mission has been sent to our mailbox just now."
Sasuke perked. It had always been his goal to advance his rescue team. To surpass his brother's team and be recognized by his father. But something in else in Sakura's eyes told him of the urgency of the situation.
"Alright, let's go. You there" He turned to Naruto. "Come with us." Sasuke bellowed. He'd be damned if he let this intriguing pokemon out of his sight. Something within him is telling him that Naruto's special.
"Ehhh? Why do I have to go?"
"Because you trespassed here. And you have a debt to me and my clan. Or should I turn you over for your crimes? Hmm?"
"That's not fair. I didn't even know how I got here."
"Still the same. You trespassed. And I didn't do anything to you. So now you owe me. Now come one!"
Naruto debated internally. On one hand, he really doesn't want to get involved in whatever this mess is. But it's also true that he has no idea about this world, the only thing he even knows about himself is his name. With a sigh he relented.
"Tsk. Pushy, bastard. Fine fine. I'll go."
And while he may have hated the idea in the first place, the small genuine smile on Sasuke's face somehow made him feel… tingly, as if butterflies were dancing in his stomach. He ignored the feeling and followed the riolu and bunneary.
"Alright it says here that we have to rescue a metapod from a pack of poochyenas. Remind me again how this is an emergency, Sakura?"
"Hey!" Naruto butted in this time. "You heartless bastard. How could you say that when someone's in trouble?" Instead of being annoyed, Sasuke's smile turned to a smirk.
"Oh? If it's that important to you, then why not come and do something about it?"
"I will! And don't you try to stop me."
Sasuke smirked in return. This could prove interesting.
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They later found metapod trapped atop a cliff. The poochyenas tried to claw through his hardened shell.
"Hey!" Naruto yelled, grabbing the pack's attention. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size, you dumb mutts!" Sasuke glanced at his companion. The vulpix sure has gots. He watched as Naruto charged onwards. And he studied to fox from behind. Naruto's movements were clumsy, yes. But there's grace to them as well. He watched as Naruto dodged a claw before ducking, dashing to his side and breathed a small ember to their opponents.
The first seemed to have scared the pack and they quickly run away. Sasuke was mesmerized for a bit, entranced by how Naruto's aura danced in combat. It's just so hypnotic. As a riolu he can see everyone's aura. And Naruto's aura is definitely a fascinating one. Maybe the vulpix wasn't lying when he said he's a human after all.
After the metapod thanked them for his rescue, Sasuke slowly edged his way to Naruto.
"Say Naruto…"
"What is it, bastard?"
"You said you were human, right?"
Naruto's eyes shone. Finally!
"Yeah. What made you come around, Sasuke?"
"I'm an emanation pokemon, Naruto. I can see that there's something unique about your aura."
"Ehh? What does that even mean?"
"It means that I'm choosing to believe you. Now you said something about not knowing how you got here correct?"
"Yeah… So?"
"Why don't you stick around with us? As you can see, we're a rescue team. We help pokemon from all over the world. Who knows, we might find a clue as to how you got here."
Naruto was stunned. Sasuke was saying that he's going to help him? Seriously?
"I don't know. I mean yeah, I'd appreciate the help. But I'm not sure if I'll be a good fit for your team."
"Come on. I've seen you fight. You'll fit right in. Please? I know that with you onboard we can help more pokemon." If Naruto was stunned before, he's definitely floored by now. He always viewed the riolu as a spoiled arrogant brat. But did Sasuke just say please?
"Oh alright. It's not like I have a choice anyway. Plus I trust you. So… how do we do this?"
Sasuke's gaze softened as he extended his hand, cupping the vulpix's lower jaw and petting it lovingly. Naruto wanted to look away, but there's something in Sasuke's eyes that pooling him in and those red crimson pools are definitely hypnotic.
"Come… I'll introduce you to the team. They can be a handful. But I know they'll love you."
"Ehh? How can you say that?"
"First of all, my team appreciates strength. And I already told you before, you've proven that aspect. Besides, Suigetsu and Karin will throw a fit when they'll hear you drove off a pack of poochyenas by yourself."
"You're with me, asshole. I didn't do it by myself."
"If I recall, I was just watching you, dobe." Naruto groaned, and there goes the nickname again. Will Sasuke start calling him that from now on? "I was simply observing. I was waiting til they maul you to death before I swoop in to your rescue."
"Asshole." Naruto breathed out, causing Sasuke to smirk.
"How original, usoratonkachi! Can you come up with better insults?"
"Why you- say that again teme!"
Sasuke just laughed as Naruto ran after him. As the two raced back to Sasuke's team's base, only fate knows just how their chance meeting would affect the whole of the pokemon world. Whether they were two souls united by chance, or one drawn by fate in its scripted destiny, only time will really tell.
But for now, Naruto became the newest addition to Sasuke's Rescue Team. Their journey has only just begun.
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A/N: Thus a new story was started. So what do you think? Like it? Hate it? As always, feel free to tell me what you think about it. And see you next update. Have a nice weekend. :)