Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing a big change in our heroes journey with May having now won her first Contest Ribbon and her and Naruto now being a couple. So, without further ado.
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After May had finally stopped chasing Max and Brendan, the group had continued on their way down Route 117 towards Mauville City. Before eventually deciding to take a break and stop for lunch, with the boys seeing that May still looked annoyed at Max and Brendan for their earlier teasing.
"Come on May, you aren't still upset, are you?" Max asked, a little nervous since his sister could be scary when she's angry.
"Yeah, we were just teasing, so it's nothing you need to attack us for." Added Brendan, also nervous about May possibly planning something to get back at them.
"Of course I'm still upset since it wasn't funny! I don't want Naruto-kun to feel obligated to return Roxanne's feelings." Retorted May as she looked at the two with narrowed eyes, still annoyed by their teasing.
Especially since she just entered her relationship with Naruto and didn't want them to mess it up with their big mouths. Given Naruto's current ignorance on romantic love, he may feel obligated to return Roxanne's feelings, now that he knew she liked him as well.
"Why would it be a problem if I liked Roxanne too?" Naruto asked, confused about why it'd be a problem if he was in a relationship with May and Roxanne, while the three looked at him with wide eyes that he'd actually ask that.
"Because…you're now in a relationship with May." Said Max slowly, wondering if Naruto was really that ignorant about romance and relationships to not see the problem.
"And? I'd still be with May-chan, but I could be with Roxanne too, if she wanted to be in a relationship with us. It was okay to have multiple girlfriends and wives back in my homeland." Revealed Naruto, which only made them look at him in shock to learn this.
"…Huh?" Brendan said in shock and disbelief to hear this, while Naruto simply nodded.
"Yeah, back where I'm from, it's legal to have multiple partners. Though it was more commonly practiced about…sixty or seventy years ago, and while it's still practiced today, it's not as common as it used to be." Naruto replied.
It was more common during the Warring States Era to have multiple partners or spouses, given how low the life expectancy was for Ninja back then. Even after the establishment of the Hidden Villages, along with life expectancy going up, it was still practiced. Naruto having even seen cases of it within Konoha, and even more after leaving and throughout the Elemental Nations as a whole. Though he kept his explanation discrete, given Brendan isn't really in on the secret yet, and the Uzumaki would prefer keeping it to as few people as possible.
So, he didn't see any problem if he was in a relationship with May and Roxanne, but only if the Gym Leader was alright with it. As while Naruto admits he wasn't that knowledgeable about romantic love and relationships, he wasn't going to force any girl to be with him, if they didn't want to.
While May, Max, and Brendan were shocked to hear this before May shook her head and looked at her boyfriend.
"Naruto-kun, while polygamy here isn't exactly illegal, since there are some cases of a couple getting a second girlfriend/wife or a boyfriend/husband. It's not as commonly practiced as it probably is in your homeland." May said, knowing that while polygamy wasn't seen as illegal, it also wasn't practiced a lot, except for a rare few that did it.
'But I can't deny that Naruto-kun bringing Roxanne into our relationship would be very…interesting.' Thought May, unable to deny the appeal of Naruto dating other girls along with her, since she liked girls as well as guys, and she couldn't deny that Roxanne was extremely beautiful, not to mention when they met Phoebe and even Ino as well.
Before she quickly shook her head, the Coordinator wanting to focus on her relationship with Naruto at the moment, since they only just got together. And she'd want them to at least be together longer before even thinking of things like that.
'But maybe when we've been together longer and advanced our relationship further, along with achieving a necessary amount of trust. Maybe then…and Roxanne is a teacher, and we'd be her students that need to be…disciplined~.' May thought, only to quickly shake her head again before her mind went further down that path.
"Come on Naruto-kun, let's go train our Pokémon!" May said quickly, now needing a distraction, as she grabbed the whiskered blonde and dragged him away, with Max and Brendan watching them leave.
"Hey Max, have there been times that were you just feel like a third or fourth wheel since we started traveling together? Even more so now that Naruto and May are dating?" Brendan asked, looking at the younger boy once Naruto and May were gone.
"Yeah, since they'd sometimes just get lost in their own little world. It's probably going to happen a lot more, now that they're dating." Replied Max, while unable to deny that he's felt like a third wheel at times, with how much time Naruto and May spend together.
And there'll likely be even more times like that, with the two now in a relationship.
*Later-With Naruto and May*
After finding a good spot to start training their Pokémon, including a pond to let Magikarp out in, Naruto and May had sent them all out, before they started their training. Both of them working on having their teams master the moves they knew, along with May also working on, and thinking of, new combos to use. While Naruto looked between his Pokémon, seeing that out of all of them, only Gallade and Grovyle really had a diverse amount of moves to use, while the others didn't.
'I'll need to work on expanding Zorua, Zigzagoon, and Eevee's Move Pools, since while they have a decent amount, not enough to where they'd be able to hold their own against stronger opponents, especially against Pokémon that have the Type Advantage. I also need to help Gallade get used to his new body, since he still seems off balance from evolving. And then there's Magikarp, who I'll need to train up so he can evolve into a Gyarados.' Thought Naruto, knowing they had a lot of work to do.
As for Grovyle, he'll train him in his overall combat abilities, feeling that the Grass-type's Move Pool is large enough, along with having Grovyle gain good mastery over his moves. The same could be said for Gallade, who had the most moves out of all his Pokémon and the most diverse as well. So, Naruto will hold off on having them learn any new moves for the time being.
'Though I may still ask Brendan for some tips on teaching Grovyle Energy Ball since that would be a really useful move to know.' Naruto thought, before he began thinking of combos that his Pokémon could use, remembering the advice Robert gave to him and May.
One that Naruto had in mind would be Grovyle using Quick Attack, along with either Leaf Blade or Thunder Punch, which would be a serious blow to anyone hit with it at that speed.
"What're you thinking about Naruto-kun?" May asked while looking at him, seeing he was deep in thought, pulling Naruto out of his thinking.
"Oh, just what to have my team focus on, along with where to have them improve or what moves they should learn. And how I plan to expand on Zorua, Zigzagoon, and Eevee's Move Pools, since they don't have many moves to use or very diverse ones." Explained Naruto, with the brunette nodding at this.
"Yeah, that'd make sense. I'm actually thinking of doing the same for Beautifly, Skitty, and Eevee as well, since they don't have that many moves either. Not to mention helping Beautifly and Combusken get used to their new bodies, after evolving and mastering the moves they learned or unlocked afterwards." May said, knowing she'd need to do that, given how Combusken's Flame Burst exploded in her face, she'd need to learn to control her new power or it'd come back to bite them.
"I also checked Beautifly's Move Pool back in Verdanturf after she evolved, and she also learned Gust after evolving as well. Which will really help since I plan to teach her Silver Wind." Added May while smiling, happy for the Bug-type's new move and how it'll help in her training.
"Nice, and what about for Skitty and Eevee?" Naruto asked, wondering what she had in store for those two.
"For Skitty, I actually have an idea of how to train her, after I heard about a Top Coordinator during our time in Verdanturf, who also had a Skitty, named Abby Ayane." Replied May, intriguing Naruto to hear this.
"Huh, let's see if we can look up any past Contests she was in." Naruto said as they pulled out their respective PokéNav Pluses to look up the Contests that Abby was in.
Being able to find some of them, including when she entered the Grand Festival.
"Wow, her Skitty knows Blizzard, Solar Beam, Iron Tail, Safeguard, and Thunderbolt." Said Naruto, impressed at Abby's Skitty knowing such powerful moves.
"And she earned a perfect score in the Appeal Round and defeated all her opponents in the Battle Round. She must be an amazing Coordinator." May said, amazed at how skilled Abby must be, along with her Skitty.
"Well, I'm sure you know what to have Skitty start learning." Naruto stated, with the Coordinator smiling excitedly in agreement.
"Definitely, I'll also see about teaching Skitty to juggle with her tail by using Double Slap. Not to mention seeing if she can learn Sunny Day as well, to better help with Solar Beam. But first, I'm gonna see about working on Skitty unlocking her Egg Moves." Replied May, wanting Skitty to have access to all her current moves before working on learning any new ones.
"And for Eevee, I'm gonna have her learn Sunny Day, Charm, Attract, Hyper Voice, and Payday." May said, wanting Eevee to learn plenty of moves that'll be great in Contests.
"Cool, but don't forget to have your Pokémon learn combat moves as well, since you saw Ino's match against Timmy and that she only really used Status Effect moves, aside from Mega Drain and Solar Beam." Said Naruto, not wanting May to forget to have her team still be capable of battling.
"I won't. But what about you, what moves will you have Zorua, Zigzagoon, and Eevee learn?" Questioned May, also curious of what he'll teach his own Pokémon.
"For Eevee, I'm thinking Shadow Ball, Retaliate, and Dig; for Zigzagoon Pin Missile, Thief, Assurance, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt; and for Zorua Shadow Ball, Swords Dance, Aerial Ace, and Incinerate. Along with him working on unlocking Dark Pulse and Extrasensory. This way, all three of them will have a better variety of move types to use, while also taking advantage of Zigzagoon's Dark-type." Naruto replied, wanting to make sure his Pokémon all have diverse Move Pools to be able to go up against more opponents more easily.
With the two now having plans for how to train their teams, they went over to their Pokémon, telling them all the new training schedule and what they'll be working. All of them nodding at hearing their new training, determined to grow stronger to better help their Trainers and defeat tougher opponents.
Naruto and May also got some practice battles in as well, mostly with Combusken, Beautifly, and Gallade to better help them get used to their new forms. Along with Beautifly against the others, so they'll have some experience against Flying-type Pokémon. With the training paying off, as soon Skitty was able to use both Fake Tears and Wish.
While Naruto's Eevee was getting a good grasp on Dig, Zigzagoon with Thief, with Naruto and May having also given some of their Pokémon items to hold so he could get used to stealing them, along with Pin Missile, and Zorua on Shadow Ball. While May's Eevee was making good progress on learning Attract and Charm, the former especially with Combusken's help from already knowing the move, and Charm being similar enough to Attract.
And Beautifly was starting to get a good handle on Silver Wind, but still needed time and work to master it.
All the while, Naruto's Magikarp was working on mastering Bounce and Hydro Pump, along with mastering Tackle as well until he was able to break through rocks with the attack. Wishing to do his best after seeing the faith his new Trainer had in him to be strong, where others would only see a useless Pokémon. Magikarp was determined to show it could be strong even when it hasn't evolved yet and do all it can to prove it.
After a few hours though, Naruto and May decided to give them all a break, with the couple sitting down beside each other.
"No matter how many times I see you training your Pokémon Naruto-kun, it's always amazing to see how hard they work to grow stronger." May said while smiling at the Uzumaki, who returned the smile.
"I just do what I can to help them be the best they can be. And you're just as amazing May-chan, even before you decided to become a Coordinator you still trained Torchic, even more so when you caught your other Pokémon. And I know you'll be just as amazing in all the other Contests you enter." Replied Naruto, making the brunette's smile widen at his words before it turned teasing.
"So, you really think I'm amazing in Contests and training my team? Do you like that along with my smile?" May asked teasingly.
"Of course I do, I like a lot of things about you May-chan. I like your determination, your kindness, that you don't back down from a challenge, you aren't afraid to say what you're thinking, your kindness and helping others, and-" Naruto said, only to be cutoff when May kissed him, surprising the Jinchūriki before he began returning the kiss.
The two soon separating after a few moments, with May smiling brightly at him.
"Sorry, but if you kept talking, then I probably would have done more than just kiss you." Said May, happy and touched to see how much Naruto cared about her.
"I'm not complaining. Though I just have one other thing to say…I um, I also…liked it when…" Naruto said, only to trail off and blush while muttering under his breath.
"What was that?" Questioned May, not hearing what he said.
"I said that I…also like it when...we went…shopping together and…what you picked out." Admitted Naruto, not able to deny he really enjoyed when May took him shopping with her and the bikini's she tried on, along with her Contest outfit.
With his words causing May to gain a sly smile and lean in close to him.
"Oh really? Well, now that we're dating, I wouldn't mind wearing my new bikini's more often. Would you like that Naruto-kun?" May said, causing Naruto's blush to intensify at the images of May wearing her bikinis all the time.
"I-I-I…I um, I think…you'd look really…great. But I think you look amazing and beautiful, no matter what, May-chan." Replied Naruto while smiling at her, which she returned before lightly pecking him on the lips.
"You're sweet Naruto-kun. But the offers always there~" May said while winking at him, before resting her head on his shoulder while Naruto wrapped an arm around her, the two now simply enjoying the scenery.
*With Max and Brendan*
Meanwhile, back with Max and Brendan, the younger boy was training and tending to his Shroomish while the Trainer was training his Grovyle, Taillow, Poochyena, and Whismur. Along with integrating some of the advice and tips Naruto gave him to better his team's training, wanting them to be at their best for when they challenged the Mauville Gym.
"Wow Brendan, you're training your team almost as intensely as Naruto does." Max stated, seeing his friend was training his team similar to Naruto's own.
"Yeah, after seeing how effective his own training is, I asked for some advice to improve my own Pokémon's training. Though it's not as intense as Naruto's, since they're not used to training this hard, so I'm building them up to that level first." Replied Brendan, feeling thankful for the help, since he can already see his Pokémon improving much faster than they were before.
Though suddenly, their attention turned to Brendan's team, when Poochyena and Taillow suddenly began glowing with a blue light, much to Max's amazement and Brendan's excitement.
"Woah! Poochyena and Taillow are…" Said Max, not believing what he was seeing.
"They're evolving!" Brendan said in excitement at seeing two of his Pokémon evolving, with the glow soon fading and revealing both the newly evolved Pokémon.
The first was a quadrupedal Pokémon. Its fur is mostly short and gray, but there is shaggy black fur on its lower legs, tail, and in two thick strips starting behind its eyes and running the length of its body. It has dark, triangular streak patterns below its eyes, which are red with yellow sclerae. Its ears are rhombus-shaped with dark insides, its nose is red, and it has gray paw pads.
And the second is a large, dark-blue bird Pokémon with a red breast and face. A crest of feathers sweeps back from the top of its head. A blue stripe separates the red markings on its head and chest, and it has a white underside. It has small, narrow eyes, a pointed, yellow beak, and red feet with black talons. Each foot has three forward-facing toes and one pointed backward. Two long, pointed feathers with red tips form its tail and are an indication of good health when standing up straight.
"Awesome, they finally evolved into Mightyena and Swellow!" Said Brendan, happy to see they've evolved before pulling out his Pokédex and scanning them.
"Swellow, the Swallow Pokémon. Swellow uses its impressive divebomber speed and its large talons to capture its prey."
"Mightyena, the Bite Pokémon. Mightyena is the evolved form of Poochyena. They move primarily in packs, working together to capture their prey."
"Wow, I didn't expect them to evolve at the same time." Max stated in surprise, not expecting two of Brendan's Pokémon to just suddenly evolve like that.
"I did, I've actually been wondering if they'd be evolving any day now with all the training they've been through and the battles they've won. It's why I was surprised when Naruto's team was able to beat them back in the tournament." Said Brendan, having expected them to evolve soon, just not the exact time they would.
"Huh, too bad they didn't evolve back then, you might have won instead of Naruto." Said Max, with the Trainer shrugging, since while he might have won the tournament if Poochyena and/or Taillow evolved, something told him Naruto might still have won in the end.
"By the way Brendan, what're you going to do once we reach Mauville and you challenge the Gym there?" Max asked, wondering if he planned to keep traveling with them or go his own way.
"I'm thinking of actually going to visit dad after challenging the Mauville Gym. Before heading down Route 110 and 103 to Oldale Town, before heading back to Littleroot Town." Replied Brendan, wanting to see his father again and show him the progress he's made on his journey.
With Max nodding at hearing this, before thinking over what Brendan plans to do once they reach Mauville City.
"Do…do you think I'd be able to go with you?" Max asked, causing Brendan to look at him in shock that he'd ask to go with him.
"Why would you want to go with me, Max?" Questioned Brendan, having figured he'd want to keep traveling with Naruto and May.
"Well, with Naruto and May in a relationship now, I'll kind of be the third wheel once you leave, and it was awkward enough when they were only friends. But now that they're together, I don't think there's much I can really do besides being a tagalong for them. Besides, I'm hoping that I may be able to become Professor Birch's assistant, along with heading back to Petalburg City to study under my dad. That way, I'll have even more knowledge and experience before I go on my own Pokémon Journey, when I'm old enough." Max explained, knowing that with Naruto and May in a relationship, he'd just be a third wheel in their own journey, so it'd be better if he went with Brendan.
Plus, Max had no desire to accidently walk in on either of them doing something, he really didn't want to see.
While Brendan nodded in understanding at his reasoning, since that's actually another reason he's splitting off from them.
"Well, I'd be more than willing to take you with me to Littleroot Town, but you'll have to tell May, Naruto, and your parents where you're going, so they don't freak out at you going missing or anything. Then I'll see about running it by my dad and if he'd be fine with taking you on an assistant." Replied Brendan, willing to let Max come with him, as it would be awkward for him traveling with his sister and her new boyfriend.
"Thanks Brendan, and yeah I'll be sure to tell them." Max said, smiling in thanks to his older brother-figure, who nodded in response, glad to help his friend, before they both resumed training their Pokémon.
*Later*
It wasn't long until Naruto and May returned after finishing up their training for the day, before meeting up with Max and Brendan. Only to be surprised to hear that Brendan planned on heading back to Littleroot Town after challenging the Mauville Gym. Even more so, when Max revealed his own plan to leave with Brendan to go to Littleroot, before going back to Petalburg.
"Max, we really don't mind if you travel with us." Naruto said, not minding if Max still traveled with them, with May nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, if you don't really want to go back home, you don't have to. Besides, didn't you want to see more Pokémon and more of the Hoenn Region?" Asked May, only for Max to shake his head.
"Thanks guys, but it's fine, really. This is a choice I made, as yeah, I don't want to just be the third wheel with you two, I also want to do this to learn more about Pokémon from Professor Birch and dad. Besides, this journey's already been more exciting than I thought it was going to be." Replied Max, given how he was able to catch his own Pokémon, meet a member of the Elite Four, seeing so many different kinds of Pokémon, participate in a Pokémon Battle, learning about Naruto's abilities and where he comes from.
It's definitely not what Max was expecting, but he didn't have any complaints, aside from when he and May got kidnapped. But other than that, everything that he's seen and experienced was way more than he was expecting from this journey.
"And I thought you guys would have been happy for the chance for it to just be the two of you?" Max added teasingly, making the two roll their eyes before May sighed.
"If you're really sure about this." Said May, understanding why her brother wanted to go with Brendan.
"I am." Replied Max.
"Then all we can say is take care of yourself, Max. And good luck when you start your own journey." Naruto said, while smiling at the boy.
"And be careful too as Professor Birch's assistant, he can get into trouble." Added May, remembering how she encountered Birch before meeting Naruto, and needed to save him from those Poochyena, before looking at Brendan.
"Brendan, please look after Max and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble." May said, with the Trainer nodding in response.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of Max and make sure nothing happens to him." Brendan said, knowing he'll look after Max as best as he can, and make sure nothing happens to him on the way back to Littleroot Town.
Nodding in thanks, the four then turned in for the day, knowing when they reached Mauville City, they'll going their separate ways.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see May is still annoyed at Max and Brendan's teasing, along with revealing Roxanne's own feelings for Naruto, leading to him revealing polygamy is legal in the Elemental Nations, and even in the Server Regions though not as much as the former, while May isn't entirely opposed to Naruto dating other girls, but far later on. Then we see how the two will be training their Pokémon and what moves they'll be working on, before getting some light teasing and flirting between them. While with Max and Brendan, the latter's Poochyena and Taillow evolve into Mightyena and Swellow, along with revealing he plans to break off from the group after they reach Mauville City to visit his father. With Max asking if he could join him, seeing that he would only be a third wheel now that Naruto and May are together, and wishing to become Birch's assistant and train under Norma, to prepare for his own journey, which Brendan agrees to, while Naruto and May understand his decision to leave. Now onto the Omake!
Omake: Destruction of the Desert
Danzō surveyed what was left of Sunagakure, allowing himself to feel a measure of satisfaction at seeing the village completely destroyed. Now only serving as a reminder to the other Hidden Villages of what happens to those that dare challenge Konoha's might.
'And with all the new recruits in The Foundation, soon the rest of the Elemental Nations will learn this as well.' Thought Danzō with a small smirk, since after he was able to instate himself as the new Godaime Hokage, he was able to officially reinstate his ROOT Anbu and begin recruiting the rest of Konoha's, now his, forces into it.
Along with expressing his annoyance to the Ninja Clans for sending their heirs away in secret, since that meant less potential recruits. Though he planned to deal with his runaway subordinates soon enough, instead focusing his attention on the Elemental Nations for now and securing his control over it first.
With his first move, after training up his forces and growing their numbers enough, to turn Suna into a message and a warning. That anyone who challenges Konoha would be met with total annihilation, while those that survived would be forced to bow before Konoha. And the Ninja that survived would be forcibly indoctrinated into The Foundation as well, after being properly conditioned of course.
While fully knowing that with this attack, the Fourth Shinobi World War will officially begin, and he'll make sure that in the end only Konoha will be standing at the top. With all their enemies lying dead at his feet and him ruling over the entire world.
'Once I have that, then I'll drag you back to where you belong and a put collar on you, like I should have years ago, Kyūbi.' Danzō thought, fully planning to hunt the Jinchūriki down and turn it into the weapon it was supposed to be, not believing Hiruzen was foolish enough to give it that much freedom and let it escape from the village.
But it'll be reminded of its place soon enough, though for now, Danzō would have all his forces focused on the Elemental Nations. After all, there were still several other Jinchūriki to capture and have as Konoha's new weapons.
"This is where it all begins." Stated Danzō, before walking away to see what his Anbu have located that could be of use for Konoha.
The old warhawk not knowing how wrong he is but will eventually that learn this attack has officially marked the beginning of the end for all of the Elemental Nations.
And with the twentieth chapter, we get a look back in the Elemental Nations and see the official start of the Fourth War, with Danzō having Suna destroyed (given how Gaara's dead, their Kage is dead, and Kankuro and Temari both left, they lost some of their strongest Ninja and are practically defenseless). While the warhawk believes he'll be controlling all of the Elemental Nations in the end, having no idea just how wrong he is, but will soon learn. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out