JackSGreyson Says

(Based on all the DoSxPokemon brainstorms. So many.)

~

The day the Nara clan head’s twins turn six years old, they are presented to the herd to be chosen.

The Sawsbuck of the herd observe with keen eyes, as if to assess the worthiness of the children, but, ultimately, it’s not up to them.

It’s up to the Deerling.

—

When Sasuke is six years old, his parents give him an egg as per the Uchiha tradition.

The first few years of the Academy do not require a Pokemon just yet, and the egg is as much a promise of one as the Pokeballs on some of his classmates’ belts.

When Sasuke is seven years old, his Fletchling hatches into a world with a severely diminished Uchiha clan and a greatly reduced flock.

—

Naruto thinks he found his Poliwag–trapped in some trash in a sewer drain, alone but still fighting strong–and, in a way, he’s right.

Long ago, Poliwhirls were the clan Pokemon of the Uzumaki.

It could also be said that his Poliwag found him.

—

In the ghost town that is the Uchiha clan compound, Sasuke hears cries at night.

For one heart stopping moment he thinks it is himself or some awful product of his internal grief, but his Fletchling leads him to the source of the sound.

It’s not pity when Sasuke adds Cubone to their team.

—

The Land of Fire is well named, fire type Pokemon nearly as abundant as trees in the forest.

Objectively, Growlithe puppies are common, nothing special at all.

Subjectively, Shikako’s Growlithe is extraordinary.

—

Naruto is an unrepentant troublemaker: loud and unruly and mischievous. A hassle and a headache and a half.

It makes sense that his Scrafty is one, too.

—

When she graduates from the Academy, Shikako chooses an Onix for her third.

It’s a bold choice, incongruous with the shy, soft-spoken image most know her by, but she’s very much her mother’s daughter.

Yoshino Nara has a Steelix on her belt and the spine to match.

—

When he graduates from the Academy, Sasuke chooses a Pawniard for his third.

He’s an avenger–he wants a weapon, not a friend–and he thinks this is the right choice.

It takes a long time for Pawniard to choose him in return.

—

Naruto doesn’t graduate from the Academy–not via the normal route anyway.

Instead, he is manipulated into breaking into the Hokage’s Tower to steal a Pokeball, told that he himself is the vessel of a demonic, impossible creature, and nearly killed by one of his Academy teachers.

Of course, he’s saved by Iruka-sensei and meets Mimikyu that night, so it’s not all bad.

—

Their first day as a team, the three of them are nonchalantly run into the ground by Kakashi-sensei’s Stoutland, Pakkun.

It’s as much a rude, embarrassing awakening as it is a bonding experience.

In the following weeks, in that same training ground, they all catch their fourths: star, sun, moon.

—

Land of Waves is a strange place to get a rock type Pokemon that looks like a tree, but Naruto’s never been one for conforming to people’s expectations either.

Voltorb literally comes to Shikako during the Konoha Chuunin Exams–beaten up, concussed, and outnumbered in the Forest of Death–as willing to go out with a bang as any of its species.

Jokes of cats and dogs aside, Sasuke will grudgingly admit that he only has his Luxio because of Kakashi-sensei and, if further pressed, will express gratitude.

—

No one wants to talk about the time Shikako got her Sableye.

It’s not Sableye’s fault–if anything, it’s because of Sableye that Shikako is still alive–but it’s not a fond memory for anyone.

The two of them keep the Sablenite a secret.

—

Naruto leaves Konoha with retired Elite Four Jiraiya, heart heavy in his throat but smile on his face anyway, determined.

The Emolga that joins his team reminds him that traveling doesn’t necessarily mean saying goodbye.

Sometimes it’s just about flying free.

—

Sasuke chose to stay, chose loyalty, chose Konoha–he just hates how trapped it makes him feel.

Shackled to the village, border patrol and gate guard duty, and no more freedom.

So he takes control of his own destiny: Sasuke joins ANBU, gets a Hawlucha, and breathes.

~

A/N: I was tempted to put in snippets about when/how certain Pokemon on the teams evolve, but that seemed a little too much. And I couldn’t decide certain things…

Like, did Shikako’s Deerling evolve into a Sawsbuck early on or should I wait until the timeline for when she signs the deer summon contract? But wouldn’t that be a really long time?

Did Growlithe turn into Arcanine while she was making a name for herself as a bomber in the Academy or when Jiraiya helped her through the epiphany for Touch Blast?

Voltorb probably turns into Electrode during the Grass Chuunin Exams–the equivalent of blowing up her kidnapper’s head–but when does Onix evolve. Does it ever? When she becomes a special jounin? The equivalent of when she and Sasuke get kenjutsu training from Kakashi-sensei?

And don’t even get me started on the boys.