Ash had already mastered the art of ninjutsu-style techniques with his Pokémon. When his Pokémon had offspring, they could inherit three to five of these skills, but it still took time for that power to grow.
In this world, no one but Ash could see into the cellular pathways and energy channels within Pokémon. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't teach others the way he did. Fortunately, he didn't need to worry—his Pokémon's descendants would always carry part of his teachings within them.
Although Pokémon could inherit genetic techniques, they often appeared as innate abilities rather than something that could be taught to others of the same species. Compared to the original strength of Ash's own partners, inherited skills lost much of their power. While still formidable, they could never match his own Pokémon. That fact reassured Ash.
(There's no need to worry about others mastering these skills. Ash and his Pokémon would always remain the strongest. Once his influence grew, Ash intended to be recognized as a true master of technique. He was certain of it.)
The path of learning required Ash's personal guidance, channeled through the power of Aura. Without him, others couldn't hope to understand—even with written instructions, it was useless.
In short, the inherited strength of his techniques was powerful but could never truly be learned by others. Ash had no reason to worry about his methods being exposed. With his strength, he had nothing to fear.
Unconsciously, Ash had been wandering the Wild Area for over forty minutes. He had just caught an Eevee, but nothing else worthwhile appeared, so he decided to return to the meeting point. The time was about right anyway.
After capturing Eevee, Ash was in high spirits. On top of that, Professor Oak was preparing to publish a paper in his name, which only fueled his motivation further.
"Ash, you're back! Did you find anything?" Cynthia asked as soon as he returned. She quickly put down the bag in her hands and brushed the dust from his clothes, fussing over him like a wife worried about her husband.
"I caught an Eevee, and I also discovered several of its evolutionary forms," Ash replied with a smile before pulling Cynthia into a kiss.
"H-hey, not here! What if someone sees us?" Cynthia's cheeks flushed bright red. After glancing around and finding no one nearby, she gave Ash's arm a light slap.
"What does it matter? My wife doesn't need anyone's approval," Ash said casually, grinning. "Besides, it's not like we're doing anything more."
"You never take things seriously," Cynthia muttered, glaring at him through her blush.
"Don't let us disturb your little moment." Sabrina and Suzie had just returned, but they hadn't managed to catch a single Pokémon. It seemed their standards were too high, and nothing they found had been worth it.
After Ash told them about his discovery of Eevee and its evolutions, both women were left in awe. In this world, researchers and professors were held in the highest regard—nearly equal to Pokémon trainers themselves.
Although Ash wasn't officially a professor yet, once Oak's paper was released, it would create a huge impact. His recognition as a prominent researcher was only a matter of time. In this field, sometimes a single groundbreaking paper could push someone to the forefront. After that, it was all about maintaining one's reputation—or fading into obscurity, much like singers or actors who vanished once they lost their momentum.
"Ash… could you show me your Eevee?" Suzie finally asked, looking a little shy. She rarely spoke directly to Ash, but when she heard he had caught an Eevee, her curiosity got the better of her.
"Of course," Ash said warmly. He pulled out the Poké Ball and released Eevee. Its glossy brown fur and adorable face immediately captured the girls' attention.
"Pika~Pika!" Pikachu chirped from Ash's shoulder, happily greeting the new addition. Eevee squinted its eyes and leapt onto Ash's other shoulder, affectionately rubbing against his cheek.
"It's so cute!" the three girls exclaimed almost in unison. All of them wanted to hold Eevee, but the little Pokémon was shy and clung tightly to Ash, still wary of anyone else.
At first, Eevee accepted Ash mainly because of his strength and the power of Aura. The bond formed quickly—Aura truly was a remarkable gift, allowing him to communicate simple feelings and intentions directly.
"You finally made it! I thought you'd get lost. I've prepared a barbecue to welcome you!" Caesar called cheerfully as Ash and the others returned to the cabin. The smell of grilled food filled the air, and Caesar was already busy with the cooking tools.
As for Ash's Dragonite, it still hadn't returned. After being alone for centuries, meeting another of its kind must have been an overwhelming joy. Ash guessed it probably wouldn't come back until tomorrow.
The rich aroma of barbecue lifted everyone's spirits. That night, Ash and his companions let their Pokémon roam freely—after all, they couldn't stay in their Poké Balls all the time.
Meanwhile, deep within a forested mountain range of Kanto, a massive Charizard was making its presence known. It rampaged through the wilderness, defeating wild Pokémon one after another, often with a single overwhelming move.
"ROAR!" it bellowed after felling another opponent, flames bursting from its jaws as an aura of sheer power radiated outward. If a Champion-level trainer were here, they would have recognized it instantly and cried out in shock:
"A Prospective Champion-level Charizard!"
Yes—this was the same Charmander Ash had once encountered, the one abandoned by a rookie trainer. Back then, Charmander hadn't chosen to follow Ash, but Ash had admired its determination.
Before leaving, Ash had secretly used his ninjutsu technique to place an illusionary seal in its mind, locking away powerful Fire-style skills. As Charmander's strength grew, the seal weakened, allowing it to awaken those techniques.
Disheartened by its neglectful trainer, Charmander eventually broke away for good. With the strange knowledge sealed in its mind, it threw itself into relentless training.
Step by step, it forged itself into the mighty Charizard that now roared its dominance across the mountains.
...
TN:
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