In Naruto, the System Asks Me to Entrust Pokémon

"Lord Hokage!"

The sudden call made Ryo and the others, who were about to explain things to Might Guy, turn around.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had arrived in the forest, giving a slight nod to the surrounding shinobi before walking toward Ryo.

"Lord Hokage," Might Guy and the others greeted him.

"You're all here as well, huh? Looks like this situation has really escalated."

His gaze swept over the injured Root shinobi before he sighed and looked at Ryo.

"Ryo, what exactly do you intend to do?"

Ryo's lips curled into a smirk. "Third Hokage, what else can I do? Haven't I already made my intentions clear?"

At this point, what more was there to discuss?

Hiruzen's expression turned serious. "Does it have to be this way? Do ordinary people really need to have Pokémon?"

Without hesitation, Ryo nodded. "Yes, they must."

"You understand the consequences of this."

Ryo chuckled nonchalantly. "I do, and I'll still go through with it."

Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "Even if it means standing against the entire Hidden Leaf?"

Before Ryo could respond, Dragonite stepped forward, letting out a fierce roar.

Gardevoir followed suit, her psychic energy surging, making it clear she was ready to attack at any moment.

Asuma and Kurenai both felt a headache coming on at this escalating confrontation.

Meanwhile, Might Guy stood there, still looking confused, unable to grasp the severity of the situation.

Ryo patted Dragonite and glanced at Gardevoir. "That's enough. The Third Hokage is just joking."

Hearing this, Dragonite and Gardevoir withdrew their energy, but their eyes remained locked on Hiruzen.

Ryo then turned back to Hiruzen. "Third Hokage, even if it means going against you, I will ensure ordinary people have access to Pokémon."

Hiruzen glanced at Gardevoir again, his eyes revealing a trace of shock.

He could feel a presence from Gardevoir that wasn't much weaker than his own. That realization made his headache even worse.

If it were only Dragonite, he might have gambled on a confrontation. But with Gardevoir present as well, he didn't dare.

"Sigh…"

Hiruzen let out a long sigh, his demeanor softening. "Ryo, you must understand… Shinobi won't accept ordinary people gaining power so easily."

"What?"

Before Ryo could respond, Might Guy interrupted in disbelief. "Lord Hokage, why wouldn't shinobi agree? Wouldn't it be great for Konoha if ordinary people could have Pokémon? It would make the village even stronger!"

Hiruzen was momentarily stunned. He turned to Might Guy, his expression twitching slightly.

Whose side are you even on?!

Of all times, why are you choosing to argue against me now?

Both Asuma and Kurenai felt secondhand embarrassment, turning away as if pretending not to know Might Guy.

Meanwhile, Ryo simply smiled and stared at Hiruzen as if to say, Go on, keep making excuses.

"Ahem…"

Hiruzen coughed awkwardly before regaining his composure. "Most shinobi will not agree to this."

Ryo nodded. "I understand. Some shinobi will be resistant, but I won't back down just because of their opposition."

Hiruzen furrowed his brows. "Is there no way to compromise?"

Ryo shook his head. "No. I will not allow Pokémon to be exclusive to shinobi."

Seeing Ryo's unwavering determination, Hiruzen's expression darkened.

Deep down, he didn't want ordinary people gaining Pokémon either. Otherwise, rumors about this issue wouldn't have spread in the first place.

"That said, I am willing to make some concessions to ease their acceptance," Ryo added.

After all, he couldn't push things too aggressively, or it would create even more division.

"Hmm?"

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "What kind of concessions?"

Ryo explained, "The main reason shinobi don't want ordinary people to gain power is because it threatens their livelihood. If civilians gain Pokémon, there will be fewer missions available for shinobi."

Hiruzen nodded. "That's true. But how do you plan to resolve this?"

Ryo laid out his plan.

"There are many ways to compensate for the loss of missions. Once more people acquire Pokémon, shinobi will actually have more opportunities to earn rewards—far more than they would from just completing missions. And there would be far less risk involved."

Hearing this, Asuma and the others couldn't help but nod.

But Hiruzen still had doubts. "Are you certain it will work as you say?"

Truth be told, even he was slightly tempted by the idea.

If it really worked, shinobi could earn much more than before—without the life-threatening dangers of missions.

Ryo felt a bit amused at his hesitation. With the way the economy works in this world, you're really doubting this?

He had modern business knowledge. Compared to the economic systems in this era, his knowledge was leagues ahead.

Unless this was the Boruto era, there was no comparison.

"Of course. I'm completely confident in this," Ryo declared.

As long as he had some time, ensuring shinobi's earnings didn't decline—even surpassing their previous gains—would be easy.

Even if he had to make some initial sacrifices, it would be worth it.

Yet Hiruzen still hesitated, his brows deeply furrowed. "Ryo… will this really work?"

Many shinobi wouldn't just oppose this due to money.

There was also the matter of status.

Becoming a shinobi meant rising above ordinary people.

If civilians could wield power as well, some shinobi might not be able to accept it.

Ryo met his gaze without flinching. "Yes, it will work."

"And if they still refuse?" Hiruzen pressed.

At this, Ryo's eyes sharpened as he stared directly at him.

"Then it's up to you, Third Hokage."

"If they don't agree… well, that's their problem."

"But I will ensure that ordinary people gain access to Pokémon. If anyone tries to stop me again, things won't end as peacefully as today."

Agree or not, this will happen.

Ryo had already given them an option that was beneficial to everyone.

If they still refused, then he had no obligation to compromise any further.

He could find ways to appease their status concerns, but he wouldn't.

Because if he conceded here, who knew what else they'd demand in the future?

Besides, even with civilians gaining Pokémon, the gap between them and shinobi would still exist.

Ryo wasn't looking for a fight. It wouldn't benefit him either.

But if necessary, he wasn't afraid of one.

Hiruzen's expression stiffened as he stared at Ryo, his brows tightly knit.

He hadn't expected Ryo to escalate this into a direct threat.

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