Something in the words made Sasuke reconsider his assumptions. He'd researched Sakumo Hatake thoroughly before arriving. Former Championship candidate. Elite Four level. Declined advancement to stay with his family. Raised the Elite Four Kakashi Hatake while maintaining one of the strongest gym records in Kanto history.
But the man's current team was a mystery. The League database listed only his primary battle Pokémon: a Pikachu.
"You're using Pikachu against me," Sasuke said. "Not a fully evolved Electric-type. Not a Legendary. A Pikachu."
"That bothers you?"
"It surprises me. Pikachu is powerful for its species, but against Landorus or Raikou..."
"You think size and typing determine victory." Sakumo's tone wasn't condescending, merely observational. "Understandable. Most trainers think the same way. They see my Pikachu and assume easy victory. Then they lose."
"What am I missing?"
"My Pikachu has trained with me for forty years." Sakumo let the statement hang in the air. "Forty years of continuous battle experience. Forty years of refining techniques, building strength, perfecting timing. Every movement optimized. Every attack honed to absolute precision."
Sasuke did the math. A forty-year-old Pikachu would be ancient by normal standards, most Pokémon of that species lived perhaps fifteen to twenty years in the wild. Even trained Pokémon rarely exceeded thirty.
"It's survived that long?"
"Thrived." Sakumo's pride was evident. "Pika, that's what I call her, simple and direct, has been with me since I was your age. She's seen every major battle I've fought, learned from every victory and defeat. She's not just a Pikachu anymore. She's become something else entirely."
"A Legendary in all but name."
"Something like that." Sakumo's smile carried an edge now. "Your Raikou is powerful, born powerful, trained to become more so. But it's young by Legendary standards. Forty years is nothing to a being like Raikou. My Pikachu, though... forty years is her entire existence. Every moment of that time has been devoted to becoming stronger. Faster. Better."
Victini chirped something from Sasuke's shoulder. The small Pokémon's usual playful energy had shifted to something more serious, recognition of a genuine threat being described.
"What are you preparing me for?" Sasuke asked directly.
"Reality." Sakumo leaned back in his chair. "You've faced strong opponents, but you've never faced someone who completely outclasses you in a specific dimension. Speed, in my case. Pika is the fastest Pokémon I've ever encountered, faster than many Legendaries, faster than anything your team has likely experienced. When the battle begins, you won't be able to track her movements with your eyes. You won't have time to issue commands. You'll be reacting to attacks that have already landed."
"And you're telling me this why? Isn't surprise an advantage?"
"I don't need surprise." No arrogance in the statement, just certainty. "I'm telling you because you're Itachi's brother, and he asked me to treat you seriously. That means giving you the opportunity to prepare properly, rather than simply crushing you and calling it a lesson."
Sasuke absorbed this. The information was valuable, invaluable, really. Speed he couldn't track. Attacks he couldn't see coming. A Pokémon that had spent four decades becoming perfect at one specific thing.
"Three days," Sakumo said. "That's when your challenge is scheduled. Standard gym rules: one Pokémon each, no substitutions, battle continues until one side is unable to continue."
"Any restrictions on my choice?"
"None. Bring your strongest. Bring your fastest. Bring whatever you think gives you the best chance." Sakumo rose, signaling the meeting's end. "But know this: speed isn't just about physical movement. It's about reaction time. Decision-making. The gap between thought and action. If you spend three days trying to find a Pokémon faster than Pika, you'll fail. Find a different solution."
Sasuke stood as well, Victini hopping back to his shoulder with renewed energy. "And if I can't find one?"
"Then you'll lose." Sakumo's expression softened slightly. "There's no shame in that. Many trainers lose their first challenge here. They come back stronger. The badge will wait for you."
"I don't intend to need a second attempt."
"No one ever does." Sakumo extended his hand, and Sasuke shook it, the grip firm, professional, carrying respect despite the age difference. "Three days, Sasuke Uchiha. Show me what the brother of our Champion can do."
The others were waiting in the visitor lounge, surrounded by empty tea cups and the remains of complimentary snacks. Kasumi looked up first as Sasuke emerged from the elevator, her expression immediately shifting to concern at whatever she saw on his face.
"That bad?"
"That informative." Sasuke settled into a chair across from them, Victini immediately hopping down to claim a spot on the table. "Sakumo Hatake is not what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Kiyomi asked.
"Another strong gym leader. Powerful Pokémon, traditional battle style, predictable challenge." Sasuke shook his head. "This is different. He's using a Pikachu, one that's been training for forty years. He says it's faster than anything I've faced. Faster than I can track."
Miyuki's eyebrows rose. "A forty-year-old Pikachu? The species longevity..."
"Has apparently been exceeded significantly. Sakumo calls it something other than a normal Pikachu at this point. A Pokémon that's devoted its entire existence to becoming faster and stronger."
"What's the counter?" Kasumi asked. "If you can't outspeed it, you need to... what? Predict its movements? Set traps?"
"That's what I need to figure out." Sasuke's crimson eyes were distant, already processing possibilities. "He said speed isn't just physical movement. It's reaction time. Decision-making. The gap between thought and action."
"So the battle isn't really about Pokémon," Kiyomi said slowly. "It's about trainers. Who can think faster, adapt faster, make decisions faster."
"The Pokémon execute, but the trainers direct." Sasuke nodded. "Sakumo's had forty years to perfect his coordination with Pika. I have three days to find an answer."
"Which Pokémon will you use?" Miyuki asked.
Sasuke was quiet for a long moment. His team flashed through his mind, Latios's psychic power, Raikou's electrical might, Zekrom's overwhelming force, Landorus's ground control, Groudon's earth dominance, Tyranitar's brutal strength. Venusaur and Blastoise with their type advantages. Galarian Moltres with its dark fury.
And Victini. Small, seemingly unimpressive, but carrying power that had nothing to do with size.
"I don't know yet," he admitted. "But I have three days to decide."
"We'll help," Kasumi said immediately. "Training, strategy, whatever you need."
"All of us," Miyuki agreed.
Kiyomi nodded. "Though I suspect the answer isn't about finding the right Pokémon. It's about finding the right approach."
Sasuke looked at his friends, his team, and felt the familiar warmth of their support settling around him. Sakumo Hatake was a legendary trainer with decades of experience. His Pikachu was apparently a force of nature in its own right.
But Sasuke wasn't facing them alone.
"Three days," he said. "Let's make them count."