The trap for Team Transcendent might have failed, but our heroes have decided to enter the Junior Champion Tournament. The winner of said tournament will earn the opportunity to battle Yamamoto.

Ichigo and the others arrived at the arena.

"We're here!" Ichigo said.

"To think one of us has the chance to face Yamamoto." Rukia said as she found it all hard to believe.

"I'm nervous. This will be my first tournament." Orihime said.

"You'll be fine." Ichigo said. "Just do your best. Although, I'm the one who is going to win." Ichigo said with full conviction in his voice. He's not going to let this opportunity pass.

Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm unbeatable
Walking down this endless highway
With nothing but my friends beside me
We'll never give in, we'll never rest
Advanced Battle is the ultimate test
From the earth, the land
The sea and sky
They can never win, but they sure can try
Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokémon
(Advanced Battle!)
Oh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm undefeatable
From the stars and the ancient past
They come to play, but they'll never last
Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokémon
(Advanced Battle!)
Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm undefeatable
Oh oh oh
(Advanced Battle!)
I'm unbeatable
Pokémon

(Ichigo's voice) To Be Junior Champ

"You seem really excited, Ichigo." Orihime said.

"Of course I am." Ichigo said. "I have the chance to battle the champion. There's no way I'm going to lose this tournament."

"Don't bet on it." All of them turned around to see a face they haven't seen in a while.

"Tatsuki!" Orihime said. The same girl that got Orihime battling.

"It's good to see you again. We haven't seen you in a long time." Rukia said.

"It's good to see you all too." Tatsuki said. "Orihime, I hope you've been doing some battling and got some experience."

"I have. I take it you're entering the tournament as well." Orihime said.

"That's right." Tatsuki said. "In fact, I'm the one who's going to win it."

"Not a chance." All of them looked to the side and saw someone else they haven't seen for a while.

"Ikkaku!" Ichigo said.

"Hey, Ichigo. I had a feeling I would run into you in a tournament like this one." Ikkaku said. "I've gotten a lot stronger since the last time we've met."

"So have I. Don't expect defeating me to be easy." Ichigo said.

"That's just the way I like it." All of them saw one more entering this tournament.

"Renji!" Ichigo said.

"What's up? I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten me." Renji said.

"What are the odds all of us would have ended up here?" Rukia said.

"I guess this means we're all rivals until the winner of this tournament has been decided." Ichigo said. "This is going to be awesome." All of them were heading to the entrance. When they got there, someone was coming out that Ichigo was pretty familiar with.

"Uryu!" Ichigo said.

"Ichigo? I'm a little surprised to see you here." Uryu said.

"Same here. It's been a long time." Ichigo said. "I'm actually glad because I get to show you how strong I've become."

"Please. An amateur like you can't beat me." Uryu stated and just walked passed him with Ichigo getting irritated.

"Who's four-eyes?" Renji asked.

"Uryu. He and Ichigo have a strong rivalry." Rukia said. "They see things differently. Ichigo claims you just need to connect with a pokemon's heart for a strong bond. Uryu thinks there has to be some common trait."

"Knowing he's here, there's no way I'm going to lose." Ichigo said.

"Absol."

…

The Arena

Everyone got registered and people were gathering for the tournament was about to begin and it was a great crowd.

"Welcome everyone. This is the Junior Champion Tournament. Trainers who have registered for this tournament will be given the chance to battle Yamamoto, but only the winner will have the honor. Sixteen trainers have come here to be the lucky winner. Now, please welcome our beloved champion!" A spotlight came down and everyone cheered as Yamamoto entered the battlefield. "For such a special event, we'll be having an exhibition match. Please welcome a member of the Elite Four: Mayuri Kurotsuchi." A spotlight came down and a strange looking man with a black and white face and a strange hat walked on the field.

"That guy is a member of the Elite Four?" Orihime said.

"Looks a little creepy." Ichigo said.

"I've heard about him. He's a brilliant scientist and his specialty is poison-types." Uryu said.

"I'm glad you could make it, Mayuri." Yamamoto said.

"Yes, yes. Now can we get this over with? I'm a very busy man." Mayuri said.

"The exhibition match will now begin." The referee said. "You will have five minutes and will only use one pokemon. You may begin!"

"Drapion, come out!" Mayuri said.

"Drapion!"

"Help me and defeat this enemy, Camerupt!" Yamamoto said.

"Camerupt!"

"Let's get this over with. Drapion use Toxic." Mayuri said and Drapion shot out a glop of poison with Camerupt getting hit and was poisoned. "Now use Venoshock." Drapion shot out more poison and Camerupt got hit.

"Venoshock is much more powerful when the opponent is poison!" Rukia said.

"Camerupt use Take Down." Yamamoto said. Camerupt charged and slammed right against Drapion, but Drapion used its tail to keep them from moving.

"I don't think that poison is even slowing Camerupt down!" Ichigo said.

"Now use Ice Fang." Mayuri said. Drapion had ice energy form around its teeth and bit down on Camerupt.

"Camerupt use Eruption." Yamamoto said. Camerupt aimed its craters right at Drapion. Camerupt unleashed a powerful blast of fire. The heat and the power was too much for Drapion to handle and dropped to the ground.

"Drapion is unable to battle. Camerupt is the winner." The referee said and everyone thought that was impressive.

"I can't believe he defeated a member of the Elite Four in less than five minutes!" Orihime said.

"Thank you for the battle, Mayuri." Yamamoto said.

"The outcome really didn't matter." Mayuri said as he brought back Drapion. "I said I'm a busy man and was hoping for a quick battle."

"With that exhibition match out of the way, we can move on to the main event. The matches have been chosen at random. Let's begin. Match one is Suzie vs Chad."

"Wow! You're going in the first match." Ichigo said.

"Good luck, Chad." Orihime said and Chad knew he was going to do well.

"Match two is Joeth vs Clark. Match three is Kerstin vs Julia. Match four is Tatsuki vs Ichigo."

"It's you and me." Ichigo said.

"Don't expect a win." Tatsuki said.

"Match five is Uryu vs Orihime."

"How can I already be facing Uryu?" Orihime said.

"This victory will be a bitter one since you seem like a nice person." Uryu said.

"Match six is Bowlen vs Ikkaku. Match seven is Renji vs Kent. Finally, match eight is Steve vs Rukia."

"We're in for some good matches." Rukia said.

"I'm all pumped now." Ichigo said.

"Absol!" Absol was pretty excited himself.

"Let the matches begin!" The tournament officially began with Yamamoto observing. Chad battled hard against Suzie with him using Hawlucha and she using a Pansear.

"Pansear use Flamethrower." Suzie said and Pansear shot the flames from its mouth.

"Hawlucha, dodge it and use Flying Press." Chad said. Hawlucha jumped over the attack. He came down and slammed right on top of Pansear and knocked it out.

"Pansear is unable to battle. Hawlucha is the winner. Victory goes to Chad." The referee said and declared the first winner. The other matches had battles just as fierce with Joeth using Watchhog and Clark using Snover.

"Snover use Energy Ball." Clark said. Snover formed a green energy ball and launched it with Watchhog getting blasted and defeated.

"Watchhog is unable to battle. Snover is the winner." The referee said. In the third battle, Kerstin was using Shuckle and Julia using Dugtrio.

"Now Dugtrio use Dig." Julia said. Dugtrio came out from right under Shuckle and Shuckle was defeated.

"Shuckle is unable to battle. Dugtrio is the winner." The referee said.

"Impressive battles so far. Now it's match four. We have Tatsuki against Ichigo."

"Don't expect me to go easy." Tatsuki said.

"I don't want you to." Ichigo said.

"Here's my choice. Sawk, let's go!" Tatsuki said.

"Sawk!"

"So she's using her fighting-type. I already know who I'm using. Golbat, you're up!" Ichigo said.

"Kwia!"

"Ichigo has the advantage with Golbat as a flying-type, but I have a feeling Tatsuki is prepared for that." Rukia said.

"We'll win. Golbat use Air Cutter." Ichigo said.

"Dodge it." Tatsuki said. Golbat unleashed the attack, but Sawk back flipped and avoided the attack with such speed. "Now use Thunder Punch." Sawk jumped up with electricity around his fist and gave Golbat a powerful hit and it went crashing in the ground.

"That was a super effective hit!" Renji said.

"One more hit like that and this battle will be over a lot sooner." Ikkaku said.

"Now use Low Sweep." Tatsuki said. Sawk came down and was about to strike at Golbat.

"Get out of there!" Ichigo said. Golbat heard Ichigo and was able to avoid the attack just in time. "Now use Wing Attack." Golbat flew down and was able to land a strong attack on Sawk. "Come back around with another Wing Attack."

"No you don't. Bulk Up." Tatsuki said. Sawk build up some energy and formed grew bigger muscles. With defensive power increased, Sawk was able to block the attack.

"Unreal! Sawk was able to hold off against two of those attacks."

"Let's give them a Throat Chop they won't forget." Tatsuki said. Sawk's hand glowed purple and he chopped at Golbat and Golbat slid against the ground.

"That has to hurt and the added effect of Throat Chop is that Golbat can't use sound moves for a little while."

"We've got plenty of other moves. Golbat use Poison Fang." Ichigo said.

"Another Throat Chop and make it a good one." Tatsuki said. The two of them charged at each other. Both of them collided and tried to hold off against the other, but they both ended up getting pushed back, yet it was Golbat who took the most damage.

"Golbat looks like it can't take much more."

"Let's finish this. Sawk use Thunder Punch." Tatsuki said. Sawk charged right at Golbat and all of them thought that this was going to be the end.

"Don't give up! I know you can do it!" Ichigo shouted and Golbat heard Ichigo's voice as it began to glow.

"Is that what I think it is?!" Orihime said.

"It is!" Rukia said as Ichigo's friends were happy and everyone was amazed. They watched as Golbat changed forms and became Crobat.

"Crobat!"

"Amazing! Golbat evolved into Crobat in the middle of the battle."

"A Golbat evolves into Crobat when it's at its happiest with its trainer." Yamamoto said. "Obviously, Ichigo cares an awfully a lot about his pokemon." Crobat flew up and got some distance from Sawk and unleashed an X-shaped attack and Sawk got hit hard by the attack.

"What was that?" Orihime asked.

"Cross Poison. It's a tough poison-type move." Uryu said.

"That's awesome. You learned a new move." Ichigo said. "Now let's use your new power and win this battle. Crobat use Cross Poison one more time."

"Crobat!" Crobat unleashed the attack and Sawk couldn't stop it as he took the attack directly.

"Sawk!" Tatsuki shouted and it was revealed that Sawk was beaten.

"Sawk is unable to battle. Crobat is the winner. Victory goes to Ichigo." The referee said.

"That's it. Ichigo is moving to the second round."

"Yeah!" Ichigo cheered as Crobat flew over to Ichigo and seemed pretty happy. "Thanks a lot, Crobat. You and the others continue to amaze me."

"He really is amazing." Orihime said.

"Don't get too amazed. It's our turn." Uryu said. Orihime almost forgot about her turn. She hopes she's ready for something like this.

The Junior Champion Tournament has just started and there is already some strong battling going on. Who will win and who will have the chance to face Yamamoto. You'll just have to wait and see as this tournament continues.

To Be Continued….