"Who'd want to be your assistant, owth!"
"H-How did you get here?!"
"Don't shine that light around, it's blinding!"
"Oh." From the Pokéball Rotom, Natsu put away the flashlight, then swiftly snatched a Pokéball from Jessie's belt.
"Hey, hey, what do you think you're doing?!"
"Ekans, use Tackle on the branch!"
Natsu released the Pokémon with practiced ease.
*Ekans—??*
Ekans looked at Natsu, then at Jessie and the others dangling from the branch nearby.
After three seconds of silence, it finally used Tackle, snapping the branch and rescuing them.
The three crashed to the ground, quickly scrambling up and glaring warily at Natsu.
"Hey! Give back Ekans's Pokéball!" Jessie shouted angrily.
"Here." Natsu tossed it back to her, then looked at them and continued:
"So, what do you think about what I said earlier?"
"Hmph, impossible, owth! We'll never betray Boss Giovanni!"
"That's right! Following Boss Giovanni is the only way forward!"
Natsu raised one finger. "A monthly salary of one million."
"What, owth?!"
"You an it?!"
owth and Jessie's eyes turned into glittering money signs.
"Co on, have so backbone, you two!"
Only Jas resisted, angrily pulling them back.
"Have you forgotten why we joined Team Rocket in the first place?!"
owth and Jessie sobered slightly. Though still tempted, they shook their heads firmly:
"We won't betray Boss Giovanni!"
*Giovanni's authority is that strong?*
Natsu raised an eyebrow. If so, maybe negotiating with Giovanni directly was the best option.
But with his current status, that didn't seem possible—and as for his *god-making* plan, there was no way he could reveal that to Giovanni.
"Speaking of which, Natsu, you'd actually fit right in with Team Rocket, owth."
owth eyed him, trying to sway him over.
Seriously, the way he casually swiped Pokéballs—they had never seen skill like that before.
"I'm not interested." Natsu brushed it off and walked toward them.
"What are you planning?!" Jas quickly pulled out a Pokéball, on guard.
"*Young Master Jas*, if your father's interested, he can invest in ." Natsu handed him a business card.
"Rotom, let's go!"
Rotom rged into the phone—Teleport activated!
Natsu vanished. Jessie and owth froze for a mont, then turned suspiciously toward Jas.
"Jas?" Jessie leaned in—then her voice shot up. "—Young Master?!"
"Uh… well, I can explain."
...
**Cerulean City, Pokémon Center.**
"Natsu, I want to challenge you!"
Ash stood at one end of the battlefield, issuing his challenge as Natsu had just returned.
*Pika!*
Pikachu, brimming with fighting spirit, fixed his eyes on Natsu.
"Alright." Natsu gave Midchu a look, and it eagerly hopped over to face Ash.
Natsu himself didn't move, still fiddling with his Great Ball.
"Natsu, aren't you battling yourself?" Ash asked in confusion.
"Of course. Just help command Midchu—let it battle your Pikachu." Natsu raised his head, giving Ash an odd look.
Why was this kid so stubborn, so unwilling to think around corners?
Ash: ???
"That's not true, Natsu! You're the one who defeated four of Lance's Pokémon—and one of them was his ace!"
As he spoke, Ash couldn't help but glance at the Rotom Phone floating beside Natsu.
"I have no real strength. It was all luck," Natsu said flatly.
Ash: "…"
He wasn't lying—luck had played a huge part.
His Pokéball Rotom was best suited for Double Battles. In Singles, it had no initiative at all.
Last ti, Lance had even let him take the first move, and coupled with Lance's unfamiliarity with Pokéball Rotom's abilities, it had set off a chain of events that led to victory.
Of course, without a huge level gap, Pokéball Rotom was still very strong in Singles.
"Natsu…"
Seeing Ash's determination, Natsu looked at him, his expression suddenly turning serious.
"Ash, do you know who's the hardest for a Pokémon Trainer to surpass?"
"The Champion?" Ash asked nervously, caught off guard by Natsu's tone, his own face instinctively growing solemn.
"No. Even Champions have soone they struggle to surpass." Natsu shook his head.
"Then who is it?" Ash's curiosity was piqued.
"It's the Trainer themselves, Ash!" Natsu placed a hand on his shoulder, his face lit with almost holy solemnity.
"The gap isn't between you and —it's between yesterday and today."
"Ash, try challenging yourself!"
Natsu's impassioned voice rang out. Ash was struck deeply, battle spirit blazing wildly in his eyes.
"You're right! I'll challenge myself!"
"Go, Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"
"Midchu, dodge quickly!"
"He's dood." Misty facepald.
"Mm, agreed," Brock added.
...
The next day, on the outskirts of Cerulean City.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to block Sandshrew's Rollout!"
Inside a battle tent, Pikachu lifted his tail like a giant cleaver, bracing it in front of itself.
"What?!"
Across from him, the tent's owner—a green-haired boy—stared in shock.
"Alright! Quick Attack, spin, and side slash!"
At Ash's command, Pikachu planted one paw on the ground and swung his glowing, steel-like tail like a powerful weapon.
*Whoosh!*
In a flash, Pikachu appeared beside Sandshrew, bringing the heavy tail down with brutal force.
*Boom!*
"Hang in there, Sandshrew! Use Fissure—!"
The boy tried to command, but Sandshrew collapsed, unable to battle.
"Ah—amazing!"
Recalling Sandshrew, the boy ran excitedly toward Ash.
"How can Iron Tail be used like that—and stay that way?! How did you raise this Pikachu? Please, you have to tell !"
"Uh…" Ash scratched his head awkwardly.
His Pikachu's training plan had been made by Natsu, who was still waiting outside.
Outside the tent, Natsu and the others quietly waited for Ash.
"Honestly, the mont he saw soone with a 99-win streak, he rushed right in."
Misty, as always, complained.
"Still, that energy isn't a bad thing. Perfect chance for to make lunch."
Brock didn't mind at all. The area around the tent was clean and flat—perfect for eating.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone."
Before long, Ash and Pikachu appeared at the entrance of the tent.
"How about it? That Pikachu Iron Tail combo is pretty amazing, right?"
Natsu glanced at Pikachu's tail, his eyebrow arching slightly.
Unlike the original, Pikachu's tail now naturally gave off a tallic sheen.
Ever since Pikachu learned Iron Tail, Natsu had set up a whole plan for him—
He personally injected a specially formulated steel solution into Pikachu's tail, suited to Pikachu's body.
He also customized a move sequence for Pikachu, making Iron Tail smoother and more effective in battle.
"Yeah… thank you, Natsu. Pikachu can now keep Iron Tail active throughout the entire battle!"
Ash gave Natsu a serious look and bowed his head in gratitude.
"By the way, Natsu, those solutions must be expensive, right? Once I start making money, I'll pay you back."
"It's nothing. Just think of it as paynt for helping take care of Midchu." Natsu patted Ash on the head.
You can read more (around 50 free chapters) of Natsu's adventure ad-free here[sravenarchives/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a ss here, so updates here might be irregular.
Reviews
All reviews (0)