I know its been awhile since I updated. Work has been keeping me busy and rewriting this chaper over and over again don't help, but hopeful the finished chapter will be worth the wait.

Disclaimer; I do not own Naruto or pokemon.

Chapter 3: Talent vs. Genius

He walked down the hallway leading to the battle arena, coming to the exit. He was hit by a light that faded into a large dirt field with lines painted into a rectangle that was split by a horizontal line cut though it. On the ends was small rectangular boxes that was meant for the trainer to stand in. Surrounding the field was bleachers that was made into two sections, an upper and lower decks.

After getting his feel of the place he will be battling. He soon join the other trainers at midfield. "Hey guys." Naruto said to the group of friends he met yesterday and today.

"Atleast your not late." Said Sakura.

"Who's all these people?" Said Naruto

"They're our judges" said Shikamaru

"Not all of them" said Choji

"Some are scouts for tournaments or contests." Said Sakura, "Ya know, for all other trainer events that will be televised. "

"Good, I can show off my perfectly groomed Mightyena." Said Kiba

"Mainly they're just Konoha citizens coming to see the exams, its one of the biggest event in the city." Said Ino

"I d-didn't think their was g-gonna be so many p-people here." Hinata stuttered

"It'll be ok Hinata." said Sakura, trying to calm the timid Hyuga girl.

"Just have confidence and believe in your Pokémon." Naruto said, as he came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder for reassurance. "Believe in the Pokémon that believes in you."

" Okay." she nodded

He gave her a cheeky smile " So no worries the-" he was interrupted when a certain jealous fox head butted him.

"What the hell Ninetales?"

"Nine."

"Stop being so jealous, I wasn't flirting." He said, while rubbing his forehead. then turned to Hinata. "Right Hinata?"

She tuned her head away blushing.

That look aint helping my case. "Well I wasn't! I was just trying to cheer her up." Said Naruto.

Sakura smirked. "By flirting with her, she's already nervous." Everyone else just nodded in agreement.

"Who's side are you guys on." he pouted

"Just keeping it real." She replied

He sighed and looked at Ninetales. "Well it wasn't and stop being soooo freaking jealous, when theirs nothing to be jealous about?"

Sakura cupped her chin in thought. "Well, you guys did have a late night chat in front of the Pokémon center."

" How did yo- " he was interrupted by a shouting Ninetales.

"Nine ni nine." She barked out, while stomping her right foot on the field.

"I told you that you must be hearing things." He waved off the fox Pokémon. "I didn't give Hinata a nickname."

"A cute nickname?" Sakura and Ino asked in unison.

" You gave me a n-nickname?" Hinata asked. Her eyes locked on the ground.

"She thought I called you Nata." He said, with a small blush as he was looking away from the group.

"Nine." she corrected, she was fuming with anger.

"Hina?" he asked, slowly backing away from the fox Pokémon with murderous eyes. "No you said Nata, right?"

Before anything could happen to the poor Uzumaki blonde. A voice came over the speaker in the stadium. "Naruto Uzumaki and Shikamaru Nara of block A, please remain on the field. All other trainers report to the trainer area in the stands and wait till the next match."

Naruto let out a shakey breath. "That was lucky." He whispered to himself. "Come on girl."

"Ni." she huffed, turning her head away from him. She then stopped walking, looked back to glare at him. She turned her head away again before heading to the trainer area on the field.

"Great." he groaned, while massaging his temples. I hope she never goes yandere for my attention. He shivered as a chill when up his spine from the thought.

After everyone left to find a seat for the upcoming battle. Only three people was left on the field. Two trainers and a referee.

Shikamaru stood in the trainer box. "This is gonna be such a drag." He was rubbing his forehead.

"You can back out if you want." Said Naruto, while he caught up to Ninetales on his side of the battlefield.

He replied with chuckle. "Dealing with my mother after quitting would be a bigger drag." he reachedinto his hoodie and pulled out a pokeball. "Go Krokorok."

The flash revealed a Pokémon standing on its hind legs. It was tan with black strips all down its body with a red underbelly, it had a long snout and black around its eyes like a black mask with spikes going down its back and tail. "Kroooooook." it yawned.

"Go Ninetales." Ninetales jumped out to the battlefield, staring down the opposing Pokémon.

"Uzumaki, are you ready? " asked the ref, he nodded.

"Nara, are you ready? " he gave him a lazy wave.

"Battle!"

They stared at each other waiting to see who made the first move. He's/ I got the type advantage. Then Shikamaru made the first move. "Krokorok use stone edge."

Krokorok opened its snout and sharp rocks shot towards Ninetales.

"Ninetales defend with psychic." Her eyes glowed as a invisible force met the flying stone at the center of the battle field. I can still use psychic as a defensive move to counter his. "Follow up with flamethrower."

A large stream of fire shot towards Krokorok. The Pokémon took the fiery attack head on, finally the attack let up. Krokorok was unfazed by the attack, taking little to no damage at all. Krokorok just stood there and yawned.

"That was pointless." Naruto stated "Time to kick it up a notch!"

"Nine."

He should use a move that's strong against ground types. Shikamaru smirked. "Krokorok get ready"

"Kro."

"Ninetales use energy ball." Naruto commanded.

Ninetales opened her mouth and a green sphere grew and shot toward Krokorok. "Krokorok use sandstorm." Sand whirled around the pokemon and expaned, covering the whole battleground as Krokorok, Ninetales and the energy ball disappeared into the storm.

"Talee!" she hissed after the effects of the sandstorm hit her.

Their was an explosion heard."Wonder if we hit-"

" NINNNE!" The scream came from within the storm.

" Ninetales!" he yelled, worried about his partner. I can barely see them though the sand.

He peak though the storm and seen that Krokorok had clammed its jaws on the body of the fox Pokémon. That's either bite or the stronger version crunch attack. "Ninetales, energy ball at close range."

She turned to launch the attack. "Toss her at the wall Krokorok." Shikamaru commanded. Then Ninetales shot outta the sandstorm and into the wall. Ninetales rose to her feet slowly after taking damage from hitting the wall.

" Ninetales you ok?" Naruto asked.

she nodded.

Naruto and Ninetales watched as the sandstorm subsided. They searched for Krokorok, but the Pokémon was no where to be found. Until powerful force hit Ninetales from underground. "Damn it, should've known it could've use dig."

Meanwhile in the stands

"Blondie is getting his ass kicked." Said Kiba

"Shikamaru isn't called the lazy genius for nothing." Ino bragged.

"Yeah, but he won't even become a pro trainer if he keeps this up." said Choji. "He isn't even putting up much of a fight against Shika."

"Once Shikamaru has his strategy thought up." Shino said. "Fighting back is pretty much pointless."

"WHOA!" Ino shouted. "When did you get here Shino." He needs a bell or something.

"I've been here the whole time."

I didn't even notice his presence everone thought.

Hinata just watched on in worry. He can't lose, he's strong. I know it.

He's worst than I thought, and all that talk he was going on about yesterday. Sasuke just watched on.

Back in the arena

I cant let him use dig again, think Naruto. There's got to be a way to counter. "Be ready for another dig, Ninetales."

She was on guard, waiting for Krokorok pop out of the ground. The ground burst opened up to the left and Ninetales dodged to the right.

Ninetales back away from the dark/ground type. "Use double team." Naruto commanded.

Four Ninetales clones poofed into existence, meanwhile Shikamaru finished with his strategy. That's his fourth move, psychic and flamethrower is useless against Krokorok. Now I got it, I'll use sandstorm to blast away the clones and use it as a cover to attack. "Use sandstorm."

The storm blasted away the clones and buffing the original. "Shit!" Naruto cursed.

"Use crunch."

"Ninnnnnne." she yelped in pain.

I can barely see though the sand, I need to get her outta there. Then the storm faded and there stood Ninetales. She had small bruises and bite marks on her, while Krokorok was no where to be found again. He's attacking during sandstorm and using dig hide when it subsides.

"Use crunch again." The ground burst open and Krokorok latched its self onto Ninetales torso.

Seeing the pained look Ninetales had while Krokorok was latched on her really hit Naruto hard. I need to counter but I can't keep him above ground, I need him to stay still. He widen his eyes at the new idea that popped into his mind. "Ninetales use your tails to keep him still."

Krokorok released his jaws and tried the escape before it was to late, but she snaked her long tails around the ground type to hold him in place.

"Hmmm." Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at the strange command. "Use stone edge to break free."

"Wrap his Snout before he can attack." Naruto commanded, then one of her tails wrapped itself around the long snout of Krokorok. Krokorok stood in place and muzzled by all of her tails. Time for our counter attack. "Energy ball!" He ordered.

Ninetales then shot a glowing green sphere into the underbelly of Krokorok, blasting it into the wall of the arena.

"Ninetales use double team, then use energy ball again. "

Four clones puffed into existence, all with green orbs ready to fire at the dark/ground type.

"Dodge em." he yelled "Then use stone edge."

Krokorok moved left and right. Dodging the lesser powerful energy balls from the clones. "Korok." then countered with stone edge, Hitting the Ninetales.

Then the smoke from the clones cleared, leaving a empty field. Ninetales nowhere in sight.

"W-where the hell is Ninetales?" The Nara asked.

Naruto just smirked at him. "Now girl, Energy Ball Barrage!"

All of a sudden the ground exploded randomly across the battlefield as eleven Ninetales came out of the dust clouds firing energy balls at Krokorok.

The dark/ground type didn't have the time to dodge the barrage. "Krooo!"

"No Krokorok!" Shikamaru yelled. Damn, he used that last double team attack as cover to hide in the tunnels. "Get away." Even if the clones attacks don't cause as much damage as the original, he can't take much more damage.

"Not done yet!" Naruto yelled out "Grab him Ninetales, then finish this with energy ball."

Krokorok tried to escape from the squad of Ninetales but found himself wrapped up by tails again, with a fake Ninetales on each side of him. The original Ninetales jumped out of a hole and fired the green sphere at the tied down Pokémon, hitting Krokorok causing the clones and the attack to explode.

Ninetales landed gracefully as the dust clear, showing a unconscious Krokorok.

"The winner Naruto Uzumaki and Ninetales." Declared the ref

A loud cheer echoed across the stadium causing a eerie silence afterwards, followed by cheers and applause.

Naruto was tackled by a excited Ninetales. "You was amazing girl." he said with a cheeky smile, as the Pokémon nuzzled into his cheek from the praise.

Back in the stands

The rookies stood there shocked at what they just witnessed. First was the complete turnaround in the battle resulting in a win by Ninetales and Naruto, second was the loud outburst from their shy and quiet little Hinata.

She sit there with her hands over her mouth and her face so red that it could rival a Magikarp's scales. I got to carried away from watching the battle. Kiba was the first to break the silence.

"That just happened." Describing the two shocking events.

" Naruto just...won." said Sakura, still shocked at the results.

" Wait….. does his Ninetales know dig too?" said Ino

"No way, that would be five moves. Pokémon can only use up to four moves at a time." Replied Sakura. "Even if you use a technical machine. The learning move can only replace a old move, not add on."

"Always the bookworm." Said ino

"How did his Pokémon burst outta the ground then?" Asked Choji. "Did he cheat or s-"

"NO!" Hinata scream, she then calmed herself. "H-he didn't c-cheat, he j-just hide in the underground tunnels that Krokorok dug out."

"Well she does have the best eyes outta all of us." Kiba said, everyone nodded in agreement.

"He used Shikamaru Strategy against him." Said Shino. "And did it without calling a command, it was like he and Ninetales was on the same wavelength in battle."

"So your saying that Naruto and Ninetales are so insync, that they can possibly defend, attack and counter without uttering a single word?" asked Kiba.

They all looked at the duo on the field after that thought.

"But more importantly." said ino, breaking the silence. "Hinata? Did the new boy light a spark in your soul? Cause I've never seen you so outspoken before."

"W-w-what!" she yelped. "No- I- umm-" She had a ever glowing blush on her cheeks.

"Now he has her tripping up her words." Said ino, she then turned Sakura. "I wonder what happened at their late night meeting?" She asked and Sakura just shrugged. Which caused Hinata to become more of a blushing mess.

Back at the Arena

"You did great Krokorok, have a nice long rest." Shikamaru said, he returned him to his Pokéball to rest. He placed it back into his hoodie and walked over to Naruto. "Really didn't count on you to use my dig against me."

"We had to do something against you." He smiled

"Something troublesome."

Naruto scratched the back of his head. Then notice Shikamaru extending his hand.

"Come on, let me help ya up."

"Thanks." He took the Nara's help up. He looked down at his tired and bruised Pokémon.

"Come on girl." He bent down and picked up the fox Pokémon.

"Nine-ni-Ninetales." She huffed. Naruto just sighed.

"What did she say?"

"Just cause your princess carrying me, doesn't mean I'm gonna forgive you for giving that floosy a cute pet name." He repeated the Pokémon's words.

Shikamaru sweatdropped. "Troublesome blondes and troublesome foxes." He said, while shaking his head. In the stands, a certain blonde haired girl suddenly sneezed.

"You have no idea." Suddenly a tail smacked his head "Hey!"

Ninetales turned her head and huffed in annoyance.

"I hope your in a better mood after you've healed." Naruto looked over his shoulder at the group in the stands. "I hope we don't miss to much of other's battles." He said, walking back to the tunnel towards the Pokécenter.

Chapter:end

Just incase your wondering or have questions about it. The double team clone's attacks don't cause as much damage as the original attacks does. Its causes about one fourth or one third of damage the original attack causes.