"I will win!"- thinking

Flamethrower- technique

*I will win!*- Pokemon speech

-This is a lum berry.- - Pokedex

The Chosen Path

Chapter 1: The Legend Begins

"YOU FAIL!"

The words rang in Naruto's ears as he trudged home. For the third time in a row, he had failed the Pokemon graduation exams. It was almost like a curse. How was he going to ever accomplish his dream if he couldn't pass a stupid test.

He opened the door to his house and his mother walked into the room. Seeing the sad look on his face she sighed.

"Again?"

Naruto nodded and walked past her and out the back door. Kushina Uzumaki smiled sadly as she watched her son leave the house.

"No aptitude for written tests and a huge shadow covering him...how does he get up each year and register again?"

Naruto walked through the trees behind his house, kicking stones in his path.

"Why can't I remember the answers for the exams? I always kick ass at the practical sections..."

Naruto kicked another stone but this stone rebounded of a nearby tree and nailed him in the shin. Naruto yelped in pain and continued his walk, moping as he did.

"Maybe Sasuke was right...maybe they were all right...maybe I'm just a loser..."

Naruto's thoughts were cut off by a whimpering sound. Looking around, he saw that he was near the mountain range that was inhabited by a few Pokemon.

"Mom told me to stay away but..."

A second whimper cut off his thoughts and his hesitations. Naruto sprinted towards the mountain range.

When Naruto run out of the forest, he saw a Vulpix crawling towards the forest and whimpering weakly. Immediately, Naruto rushed towards it to pick it up but a roar from the Vulpix cut him off. It had noticed Naruto and was glaring at him. It shakily rose to its feet and took a step forward but fell down in a faint. Naruto walked towards it more cautiously, grumbling all the way.

"I'm just trying to help and i get a roar? Ungrateful..."

Naruto gingerly picked it up and headed home.

Kushina was puzzled as she looked at the Vulpix in Naruto's arms.

"There is something wrong with its colour."

"Huh?"

In his haste to save the Vulpix, Naruto never noticed its strange colouration. Most Vulpix were rusty red with orange locks, bangs and tails. This Vulpix was golden with orange tips at the ends of its tails. Naruto knew what this meant.

"Oh, its shiny."

Shiny Pokemon were rare and very valuable. They scored high in contests and some were more powerful than the average Pokemon.

"This would be a good Pokemon to start with..." Naruto sighed.

"You know, if you talk to Iruka, he could give you a probationary license."

"Huh? What's that?"

Leaf's Pokemon Lab

Iruka sighed as he looked into Naruto's angry face.

"Yes, I could have told you a long time ago. But I thought you wanted to earn it not just be given it."

"True, but you know that I'm the best battler and a better coordinator than most. Why should I be held back because of a stupid test."

Iruka sighed again.

"The tests are designed to ensure that you have adequate knowledge on things that trainers and coordinators know about the world of Pokemon."

"A world in which nobody knows everything about Pokemon?"

Iruka sighed once more.

"Okay, I'll issue you a probationary license. But from now on, you'll be learning through experience."

"That suits me just fine, dattebayo."

Iruka smiled this time.

"Come around tomorrow. That way, you'll leave with those who graduated too."

Suddenly, alarms blared in the lab and Iruka's eyes landed on his computer. It read 'Security Breach - Level Six'. Iruka frowned at that.

"Level Six has been empty...oh no. Professor Sarutobi's package!"

Iruka grabbed his Poke balls and rushed towards the door.

"Naruto, go home now!" he yelled as he ran out.

"Iruka-sensei?"

Naruto picked up a Poke ball and took off after Iruka.

Mizuki smirked as he finally opened the package. In it was a Pokedex with a see-through casing.

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama will be..."

"Hypno, use Confusion!"

Suddenly the Pokedex's container was surrounded by a purple light and flew out of his hands and behind Iruka who was glaring at him.

"Hello, Iruka. Fancy seeing you here."

"Mizuki! What were you trying to do?"

"I was trying to get that Pokedex for my master. You know...Orochimaru."

Iruka blanched when he heard Orochimaru's name.

"You work for Orochimaru?"

"Yes, and I was assigned to retrieve that item you hold now."

Mizuki took a Poke ball and released a Sneasel.

"Give it to me and I'll let you live for the few years of friendship we shared."

Naruto was scared as he watched his teachers battle. He had heard everything but did not understand.

"Who is this Orochimaru guy and why does he want a Pokedex?"

Naruto moved as stealthily as he could to where the Pokedex had landed. He peeked out from behind a tree and when he was sure he wasn't being watched he darted out, grabbed the Pokedex and hid behind the tree.

"Whew, what's all the fuss...hey, its the old man's Pokedex!"

Flashback

"Naruto, this is Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"Hello, Naruto."

"Hiya, old man."

"Naruto! Show some respect!"

"Its all right Kushina, its refreshing to hear someone his age speak to me freely. I don't come here for business alone you know."

As the grownups spoke, Naruto saw a brown box sitting on a nearby table. He sauntered to it and opened it. In it was a Pokedex in a see-through casing.

"Cool, I've never seen a Pokedex like this before."

He picked it up and blinked as it came on.

-beginning biometric scan- came a computerized voice.

"Huh?"

A progress meter appeared on the screen and slowly began filling up. As it did so the Pokedex's casing began turning an oblique orange.

"Cool!"

Suddenly it was snatched from his hands.

-biometric scan canceled-

"Hey!"

"Naruto Uzumaki! What have I told you about taking what does not belong to you?"

Sarutobi chuckled as he put the Pokedex back in its box.

"No harm, Kushina. But sorry Naruto, I can't give it to you."

"Why not?"

"First off, you are not a trainer."

Naruto pouted at that.

"Secondly, this Pokedex is very special."

"How special?"

The old man's grin widened.

"Very."

-beginning biometric scan-

Naruto stared at it as the Pokedex started to repeat what it had done a year ago. This time, the progress bar filled up completely and the casing was now a bright orange instead of colourless and see-through.

-biometric scan complete-

-Trainer: Uzumaki Naruto-

-Age: 13-

-Hometown: Leaf Village-

-Pokemon: 1-

-Badges: None-

-Ribbons: None-

"Naruto!"

Naruto looked up to see Iruka staring down at him, shocked. He quickly got to his feet, grinning all the while.

"Hey Iruka-sensei, look at this cool Pokedex.

Iruka sighed, there was nothing he could do now.

"Hey, where is Mizuki-sensei?"

"Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto winced as his mother walked into view, her Venusaur behind her and dragging a tied-up Mizuki.

"What have I told you about taking what isn't yours?"

Naruto adjusted his goggles and made sure his backpack was secure. His Pokemon journey was finally beginning and he could barely contain his excitement. Yesterday, Kushina had explained why the Pokedex was so valuable.

Flashback

"This Pokedex is capable of more than just basic information. A normal Pokedex will show you the name, type and some basic info on wild Pokemon. This Pokedex can show you the level, special and hidden abilities and even the moves known of a wild Pokemon. And this can also be done for another trainer's Pokemon."

"...Oh."

"This Pokedex is a powerful tool, don't misuse it."

Naruto reached into his pocket and too out his orange fingerless gloves and put them on. Then, he reached into a pocket of his orange vest and took out a Poke ball, sighing as he did so.

His Vulpix had turned out to be as stubborn and vicious as a rampaging Tauros. It had been docile when Naruto took it to Iruka but as soon as the young researcher had begun examining, it quickly turned nasty. It begun to roar and bite and when its health was restored it spat embers at them. Iruka's Hypno subdued it with hypnosis and when he showed to his mother at home, her Gyarados had to intimidate it before it accepted confinement again. He had named it Kitsune, after the mythological demon foxes.

Naruto squared his shoulders and strode out the gates of Leaf Village. He had his supplies, his Pokemon and his license. He had one year to upgrade it from probationary to full status but he was very confident that he could get the three required badges in time.

"Here I come dad, I hope Kitsune doesn't burn my face off first."

Next time on The Chosen Path

After leaving Leaf Village, Naruto runs into his old classmates who tease him about failing the exam. A few heated arguments ensue but sparks fly when Sasuke arrives and pokes fun at him and Kitsune. The lines have been drawn and the race is on for even Naruto can not turn down...

The Rival's Challenge

A/N: My computer crashed and this was the only story I could salvage off it. The rest have not been abandoned, they are just on hold till I can fix my computer. Anyway, my first crossover fic, R&R and tell me if this has promise or if I should trash it.