Chapter 1: New Mission

Tsunade sat in her office looking at the mission scroll that this Professor Oak had sent to her village while her advisors sat along in contemplation. It was not known to many but all of the Kage's had access to the knowledge of the Otherlands. The Otherlands were several places that were marked off by gateways that lead to different worlds. There was one place that had actual soul reapers that helped put spirits to rest. There was another world that had magic of all things. Even one where demons existed, albeit hidden, amongst humans. Every so often a mission would come from the Otherlands to Elemental Nations and would be completed by the selected nation's ANBU. This, however, was outside the normal scope of ANBU's work and would be a complete waste of manpower to have them do. Yet the mission could not be ignored, especially as it would bring great income to her village.

Dear Hokage-sama,

I have thought long and hard about this for quite some time and in all my years of studying Pokemon I have come to a point where I have basically studied them all. There are of course new Pokemon being discovered all the time, but all of those new unidentified Pokemon aside I have grown bored of studying the same things again and again. As a Professor whose livelihood is based off of the study of Pokemon, it is something that I find unfathomable. I have searched and seeked answers from many on my conundrum and finally an idea arrived to me. What would happen to Pokemon when ninja training is applied to them? How would they develop and grow as Pokemon under these circumstances? As such, in order to rekindle my desire to study Pokemon again, I have sent you this mission request for a team of twelve to come and explore four regions for a time frame of a year and a half, amounting to a little over three months per region in order to gather data on how the training and the Pokemon turn out as a result of said training. I will of course pay the fee for a long term mission as well as the costs of the actual mission itself, rank of which would be the minimum rank level for long term missions to be accepted. Your selected team can bring back the Pokemon they captured during their journey here without any issues, with the request that they come back yearly for an annual check-up, should not take longer than a day to complete, until someone can get a Pokemon center up and running efficiently on your end of the gateway. In return the only thing I would require is the data. I am getting on up there in years and this data should sustain me for the rest of my days. If you accept this mission please send notice of when you can send a team at your earliest convenience and how much it would cost for an A rank, twelve team long term mission and I will transfer the half of the payment necessary for the mission to proceed.

Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter Lady Hokage!

Sincerely,

Professor Oak

Tsunade released a sigh as she set the letter back down on the table and looked at her unwanted advisors to get their opinion on the matter. "I think that this is something that needs to be seriously considered, Lady Tsunade." said Koharu Utatane. "This is something that would bring considerable income into our village as well as bring along an unknown source of power for our village that other villages will not have if the selected team can train them right." stated Homura Mitokado.

Tsunade looked at them in consideration while contemplating the positives and negatives that came with such a decision. "While I can see where you are coming from and acknowledge that it would be a great boon to our village to accept this mission, it could also put us at a disadvantage as we will be twelve shinobi short on the protection of our village for a long term mission. I know to you, twelve shinobi doesn't seem like a lot when we have over 100 others, but the fact of the matter is that we cannot just send anyone on this mission. We would need to send some of our best in order to get any great benefit from this mission overall, and that is where the issue lays."

Then like a thief in the night Shimura Danzo spoke from the corner, "I can see where your concern lies, Lady Tsunade but I believe that Konohagakure no Sato can spare a few good shinobi to this mission. Konoha's will of fire and unspoken strength will surely keep our enemies on their toes, and if necessary we can provide a clause that in the case of an emergency the selected team should return at their earliest convenience, if only to help ease your mind."

The implied insult was spoken loud and clear for Tsunade to hear and she grit her teeth and rained in her temper before she did something that would leave her with even more paperwork, 'Like chucking Danzo through a wall with my fist'. "I can see your point. It is duly noted and taken into consideration. Now all of you get out of my office while I consider who, if I do agree, will go on this mission." The elders got up in a huff and made their way angrily out of the office while Tsunade opened up her hidden drawer and pulled out a bottle of sake. She poured herself a cup while leaning back and looking out at the village she had sworn to protect and serve.

'This mission could leave us vulnerable to our enemies but it could also bring in just the unknown factor we need to keep our enemies on their toes. No one has been able to bring back these Pokemon species through the gate without express permission from the gatekeepers and no one would dare go against the gatekeepers in order to try and force the issue.' Turning around towards the desk Tsunade pulled out a piece of paper and proceeded to write out the mission request form as well as the names of the twelve shinobi she would send on this mission.

Holding the sheet out to the side she calls out to no one in particular, "Bring these twelve to my office at once!" The paper suddenly disappeared and a faint 'rikai shi masu' was heard, as the hidden ANBU agent made their way to grab the twelve mentioned individuals. 'For the benefit of the village, right? Hopefully, Jiraiya doesn't keep me waiting.' Tsunade thought as she turned to look out at the village.