After arriving in Violet City, Kai and Erika made a quick stop at the Pokémon Center to rest. Before sunset, Kai led Erika to the northern outskirts of the city. Crossing a peaceful lake, they once again reached the famous Sprout Tower.
It was Kai's second time visiting, and normally he wouldn't have returned so soon. But since this was Erika's first time in Johto and she'd never seen Sprout Tower before it only made sense to show her around one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
Standing at the temple entrance, Kai gazed at the familiar tower. Despite only a few days passing since his last visit, so much had already changed. The person walking beside him now was no longer Sabrina but Erika.
Bathed in golden sunlight, the tower glowed with a tranquil radiance as the evening bells from the temple echoed across the city.
The two made their way inside and climbed to the top. Kai originally planned to explain the tower's history to Erika, but halfway through, he was surprised to find that she already knew more than he did!
With a playful laugh, Erika covered her mouth and took out her travel guide.
"It's all written in here, just like how the guide detailed Greenfield. But seeing it in person? It's even more beautiful than I imagined!"
Kai raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.
To him, Sprout Tower was just another sightseeing spot. But Erika, raised in a traditional and affluent family, had always appreciated things rooted in nature and history. This place was practically made for someone like her.
Later that night, they enjoyed a humble vegetarian meal offered by the monks before returning to the Pokémon Center to rest.
As Kai lay in bed, scrolling through his phone, a headline caught his eye:
"Indigo Champion Eyes the Silver Conference!"
Curious, he tapped on it and was immediately met with a photo of his battle against the Weekday Siblings, taken just outside the city. The shot captured the exact moment his Larvitar defeated the Slugma.
The article was glowing, praising his strength and claiming that if he entered the Silver Conference, he was a shoo-in for the Top 4 if not the championship.
Kai set the phone aside and stared at the ceiling, moonlight spilling onto his face. His bright eyes reflected a rising ambition. Ever since he won the Performance Tournament, his confidence had skyrocketed.
He had only one goal for the Silver Conference—to become Champion.
The next morning, after breakfast, the two left Violet and walked westward. Within half an hour, the urban landscape faded behind them as they reached the edge of a sprawling forest.
At a fork in the road, Kai weighed his options.
Since they were traveling together, Kai turned to Erika.
She thought for a moment. "Why don't we head to Ecruteak city first? I've heard so much about it!"
"Ecruteak it is," Kai nodded. With their next destination decided, they headed into the forest.
The dirt trail was narrow, and they walked side by side. Wild Pokémon peeked from behind tree trunks, watching them curiously. But once noticed, the creatures ducked away shyly.
The forest was vast, though not particularly dense. Even after walking for quite some time, they still hadn't emerged from it. Luckily, the shade kept the rising sun from making the journey too hot.
Around noon, they paused by a large tree to rest and hydrate. Kai leaned against the trunk and pulled out his map.
As he scrolled on his phone, his eyes lit up.
"What is it?" Erika asked, intrigued by his reaction.
"There's… a school nearby."
"In a forest ?" Erika blinked. "That's unexpected."
Kai nodded, zooming in. "It's called the Pokémon Ninjutsu Academy."
"Want to check it out?"
"Sure," he said with a grin. "It's right on the way."
After a short break, they continued on. Ten minutes later, they rounded a large boulder and spotted a compound behind a wooden-and-stone wall. Several traditional-style buildings rose above it.
They followed the path to the front gate which was wide open and stepped inside.
Ahead was an open training field, where dozens of students in colorful shinobi gear were practicing with their Pokémon.
Before they could take it all in, a firm but calm voice sounded behind them.
"May I help you two?"
Startled, Kai turned around and came face to face with an elderly man dressed in deep blue ninja robes. With silver hair and sharp eyes, he stood tall, seemingly in his sixties or seventies.
When did he even get there? Kai hadn't heard a thing.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "We're just travelers. We saw the school and got curious."
"I see," the man chuckled. "Then welcome. I'm the head instructor here and a retired ninja myself. You're more than welcome to have a look around."
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