Watching Cynthia's dramatic entrance, Ryo stood with Konan and Nagato on the second floor, a few Pokémon quietly resting around them. He shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe Cynthia pulled that off. Didn't see that coming at all."
He was genuinely speechless. Why does that feel like she was showing off…?
Beside him, Konan chuckled, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. "Still, you can tell she's in a great mood."
Ryo nodded. "Probably the happiest I've ever seen her."
Even from a distance, Cynthia's glowing expression was clear. That joy couldn't be faked—it came straight from the heart.
"Ryo, Ryo! Cynthia was so cool just now!" Hoopa's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Hoopa wants to do that too! I wanna fly down and land like that!"
Ryo froze for a second, then quickly reached out and grabbed Hoopa's arm. "Absolutely not. Cynthia's got serious business right now, this isn't playtime."
He could already picture it—Hoopa soaring dramatically into the arena and slamming down like Cynthia. But while Cynthia and Garchomp looked majestic, Hoopa doing the same would just be... chaos.
"Hmph! Ryo's mean! You won't let Hoopa be cool!" Hoopa pouted, turning away with arms crossed, pretending to sulk.
Ryo sighed and rubbed his temple. Why is someone this powerful so childish? He gently patted Hoopa on the head. "Alright, alright, don't be mad. I'll take you flying later, but we've got work to do first."
"…Okay," Hoopa grumbled, but relented.
Meanwhile, inside the VIP box, the moment Cynthia and Garchomp landed, a wave of shock ran through the visiting village representatives. Mabui stood up and stared. "That's… that aura! Is that a shadow-level presence? Can Pokémon really reach that level?"
Garchomp's power had momentarily surpassed even what their own Raikage could muster. Maybe not Kage+ level yet—but definitely Kage level.
Kitsuchi and Ao exchanged looks, then turned their eyes to Tsunade, silently asking the same question.
"Eh, don't be so shocked," Tsunade said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It's just Kage level."
Inwardly, though, she was shaking her head. You small-minded fools… that Garchomp's already beyond Kage-level. But none of you even dare to imagine it.
The other three winced at her casual tone, their faces twitching. They felt a strange blend of embarrassment and caution.
Sure, there had been rumors that Pokémon could reach—or even surpass—Kage level, but none of them took it seriously. How could a non-human creature advance to such a level, when even human shinobi struggled to do so?
They had always assumed hitting Jonin level was already rare. Kage level? That was fantasy.
Yet now the proof stood before them.
Worse, Tsunade didn't even seem surprised. That meant Konoha had at least one Kage-level Pokémon—maybe more. That was a significant boost to the village's military strength, and that reality hit them like a punch to the gut.
Back on the arena floor, Cynthia raised a hand, quieting the crowd's murmurs.
"Hello everyone. I'm Cynthia, and I'll be explaining the rules for today's tournament, as well as the rewards for the top three."
The entire stadium held its breath. From regular spectators to elite ninja delegates, everyone locked eyes on her.
"This will be a one-on-one Pokémon battle. The match ends when one side's Pokémon can no longer fight or the trainer concedes."
"The rules are simple and familiar. However, there is one absolute: Trainers are not allowed to physically intervene in battles. You may not attack your opponent or their Pokémon directly."
Her expression hardened.
"Anyone who violates this rule will be immediately disqualified and permanently blacklisted by the Pokémon House. This means you'll no longer be able to purchase anything from us—ever."
Her stern tone silenced the crowd completely. The shift in atmosphere was palpable.
At first, disqualification sounded like the worst of it. But being blacklisted? That hit harder.
It was essentially a death sentence for a trainer's future. Without access to resources or supplies from the Pokémon House, they'd be unable to raise or even properly feed their Pokémon. Their entire path would be severed.
And yet, most found the rule perfectly reasonable. If ninja were allowed to act, it would be grossly unfair to civilian participants.
Preventing shinobi from using their own skills ensured a fair playing field.
Among the contestants seated nearby, many faces turned serious. A few even frowned slightly.
Many of them were shinobi. With their background in physical and chakra training, they had a clear edge in raising Pokémon. Some had even toyed with the idea of interfering in battle if things went south.
Now, that strategy was off the table.
Some were clearly frustrated. This rule meant they couldn't rely on their own strength to secure victory anymore.
But others looked relieved.
The civilian trainers among them silently breathed a sigh of relief. Before Cynthia's announcement, they had been bracing for the worst—ready to fight not just Pokémon but also their ninja opponents. Now, that fear was gone. A few even straightened up in their seats, a glimmer of newfound confidence in their eyes.
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