I don't see why anyone needs a story to play through Kanto.
With the exception of the obligatory legendary battle, Kanto was just the same as the Johto version.
Johto - Beat 8 gyms, challenge Champion.
Kanto - Beat 8 more gyms, challenge True Champion.
That, and all Hoenn (or more specifically, Emerald) got was a crappy Battle Frontier, Sinnoh got that tiny island, and Johto gets a whole other region added to it. Why ask for more when HG/SS already give you the most things to do after beating the E4?