Chapter 666: Character Synergy

In a tunnel pitch-black as night.

Pixel Pokémon, larva-like in form, radiated astonishing light.

Moments later.

A golden cicada flapped its wings rapidly.

Before it, the ninja boy swiftly pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket, as if confirming something.

【Your Tomodachi Ninja evolved into Ironface Ninja and Shellcracker Ninja】

Just as described in the Ninja Scroll, he joyfully raised the Poké Ball and struck the classic pose of a gamer who just picked up a ground item.

"The fifth… only one left?"

Baimu nodded slightly.

From his observation, simulated subjects typically never raised more than six Pokémon.

Those who chose the Elite System talent would inevitably raise only six; only those with the Skilled Breeder talent might end up with a large number of Pokémon.

After all, to reach the Grand Conference stage within a year and achieve outstanding results, focusing energy on raising fewer Pokémon to enhance their levels and move pool depth was essential.

Regarding the cultivation of Ironface Ninja and Shellcracker Ninja.

【You pleasantly discovered that both Shellcracker Ninja and Ironface Ninja excel at ambushes and stealth, and quickly decided on the ninjutsu to teach them】

Through the narration, it was clear the ninja boy was indeed best at ambushes, having won most of his previous Gyms through stealth tactics.

The two new additions were undoubtedly more suitable than Gulpin.

However.

The ninja boy's main purpose in capturing Gulpin was still to use its bodily fluids.

【You used Wooper's toxic smoke and Gulpin's venom, following the recipe in the Ninja Scroll, to brew a new toxin that slightly enhanced the power of Poison-type moves】

Enhancing move power by increasing toxicity…

Baimu's only Poison-type Pokémon was Haunter, but he usually only used Ghost-type moves—he truly didn't know if this would work, yet the simulator had already demonstrated it; it must be feasible, right?

He couldn't help but think again of Aju, the ninja master renowned as an expert in medicines and poisons.

Besides poisoning, the famous Sinnoh magazine had published articles and photos of Aju using his own concoctions to heal his Pokémon.

A veritable alchemist.

The ninja boy had no such healing skill—he didn't even possess much ninja gear, like shurikens, kunai, or ninja staves; he had relied purely on ninjutsu to get this far.

After all, some things were beyond his current age to obtain, and he was merely a novice ninja who had gotten this far with nothing but a single scroll.

The scene shifted.

The ninja boy passed through the Green Tunnel.

【You arrived at Verdant Town】

Whether past or present, Verdant Town was always that strikingly charming little town.

Though the pixelated visuals, composed of large blocks, appeared crude, the visible breeze and swaying grasses and flowerbeds clearly revealed its beauty.

Unfortunately, the ninja boy had little appetite for admiring the scenery.

He was eager to gather information, challenge the Gym, and test the strength of his new partner and the results of his months of training.

【You began challenging the Verdant Gym】

The Verdant Gym Leader still bore the familiar model that made Baimu feel at ease—the visuals remained crude, yet brimmed with a strong sense of era's transformation.

From the young woman of the Perfume Sister era, to the middle-aged woman of the ninja boy era, to the present, where even the Gym's original site had been demolished.

They were merely a microcosm of Hoenn's changes over recent decades.

Yet as part of Pokémon world's cultural heritage, the Gym's historical weight made Baimu inexplicably tremble.

The story was not merely a story.

It was history.

Did Arceus give him the simulator merely to grant him a cheat, so he could grow quickly?

Baimu couldn't help but glance at the Thousand Cosmos Bracelet in his arms.

Since obtaining it, he had daily meditated to sense the presence behind it—yet received no response, and instead had grown increasingly obsessed and strange.

He often felt—"There must be Arceus's design in here!"

"It must carry special meaning!"

He shook his head, realizing such thoughts were unhealthy and offered little benefit to his future growth.

Fatalism was truly dull.

Baimu's attention returned to the simulation: the ninja boy was locked in fierce battle with the Verdant Gym Leader; Ironface Ninja darted across the battlefield, moving so fast it left only blurred afterimages.

The Gym Leader's Beautifly couldn't even touch its tail.

As the fastest Pokémon below the Legendary tier, even without specialized training, Ironface Ninja's speed was sufficient to tower over all other Pokémon.

The ninja boy's ninjutsu had effectively unlocked Ironface Ninja's potential.

Or perhaps—

They were inherently designed as a pair?

Later, Shellcracker Ninja similarly used its elusive stealth to overwhelm the Gym Leader's Electrike.

【You defeated the Verdant Gym Leader and earned the Verdant Badge】

The ninja boy's power seemed to have entered a surge phase; though this was his fourth Gym, the battle flowed more smoothly than any of the first three.

This gave him immense confidence.

He didn't linger long in Verdant Town; the ninja boy hurried straight toward Cinder Town, preparing to claim his fifth badge.

Getting cocky?

Baimu saw the ninja boy walking while musical notes floated above his head, and grew concerned for his state.

Fortunately, the worry was unnecessary.

【You arrived at Kanyan Town; the thick smell of sulfur and the hot spring inns visible everywhere made you stop in your tracks.】

As one of the main habits of Nihon people—bathing—this practice remains unchanged even in the Pokémon world.

From octogenarian elders to eight-year-old children.

Seeing hot water sparks desire.

In the scene.

The ninja boy is half-submerged in the hot spring; his joy is expressed through doubled musical notes, and the Pokémon accompanying him is a Shiftry.

This scene strangely makes one feel that, compared to the self-destructive Weezing, the ambush-specialist Shiftry is more likely his first Pokémon.

And where did the ninja boy get his travel funds?

Though lodging and meals mostly rely on Pokémon Centers, and Pokémon food comes with a year's supply of Poké Blocks… well, it seems there really isn't much to spend money on.

Baimu was astonished to find that, compared to the gambler's frugal journey, the ninja boy's "frugal journey" offered far superior living standards.

Is this also related to the era?

【You've had ample rest; your renewed determination drives you to gather information about Gyms.】

The narrator says.

The current Kanyan Gym Leader is neither Asha nor Asha's grandfather; the latter has become one of the Four Guardians.

So when the ninja boy arrived to challenge, the pixel model of the opponent felt unfamiliar to Baimu.

The type hadn't changed.

Facing a Fire-type Gym Leader, the ninja boy naturally wouldn't send out Bug-type Ninjask and Heracross, nor the triple therapy of Weepinbell, Shiftry, and Weezing.

Especially Weezing, which unhesitatingly released massive amounts of toxic gas, causing the opposing Torkoal to trigger devastating explosions every time it used a Fire-type move.

By the end, Weezing was unharmed, while Torkoal itself was knocked out by the blasts.

The next Pokémon, LavaLugia, directly faced Weezing's massive explosion; it barely emerged before losing most of its HP and struggled to withstand Weepinbell's Poison Powder.

The third Pokémon, Camerupt, was slightly stronger—but only slightly.

The Shiftry, growing increasingly proficient in the Concealment Ninja Art, became more skilled in Shadow Clone and Shadow Ambush tactics; even when Camerupt's smoke briefly troubled it, it ultimately couldn't withstand the relentless attacks from its own shadows.

【You defeated the Kanyan Gym Leader and received the Kanyan Badge.】

"The Concealment Ninja Art is quite powerful…"

Baimu reaffirmed the value of this ninja art; though the ninja boy's opponents were of low caliber, the technique held reference value.

Leave Kanyan Town.

The ninja boy decided to cross Chimney Mountain to reach Autumn Leaf Town at the far north, to obtain its sixth badge.

Along the way, he didn't forget to further train his Pokémon's strength.

【You learned that the following Gyms would grow steadily stronger, and you trained even harder.】

But what Baimu hadn't expected was.

In the forest, while chasing a suspected wild Butterfree, the ninja boy accidentally entered a garden he found profoundly familiar.

【You arrived at the Green House, and met its owner.】

"Aroma Sister!"

Baimu was stunned—he never imagined there could be a link between simulation targets, and that it would happen purely by chance.

On the screen.

Aroma Sister had entered middle age, yet her appearance model remained as familiar and warm as ever.

As a Pokémon doctor and perfumery alchemist, she naturally hosted the young ninja boy and showed him the perfumes she crafted.

【You couldn't believe that the raw materials you regarded as poisons could, in her hands, become beneficial perfumes with different effects; you couldn't help but wish to become her apprentice and learn toxicology.】

Baimu: "!?!"

No way—linking characters is one thing, but now they're bundling?

He stared intently at the screen.

Fortunately, upon learning the ninja boy's true goal, Aroma Sister kindly declined to take him as a student on her own initiative, yet taught him freely how to brew stronger poisons and medicines for Pokémon.

【Your newly acquired poisons made Weezing's and Weepinbell's toxins stronger.】

No wonder she's Aroma Sister.

Baimu pulled out the thick formula book from his pack, his face filled with respect.

Though many of the perfumes inside had no chance to be used, he regularly used them in daily life to relax his Pokémon's spirits.

Otherwise, with so many battles day after day, even if the Pokémon's bodies held up, their spirits wouldn't.

Perfumes relax their spirits.

One could say his strength partly rested on Aroma Sister and her granddaughter's generosity.

And the ninja boy's gains weren't limited to toxicology and pharmacology—he also stole a wounded Golbat from Aroma Sister's garden.

【You obtained Golbat; the ninja's companion increased.】

This Golbat had come to the Green House injured; it just so happened that the ninja boy, under Aroma Sister's guidance, had just brewed medicine, which he applied to it.

The ninja boy gained Golbat's gratitude, discovered it was a Pokémon skilled in ambush and poison, and simply took it with him.

Aroma Sister was pleased and personally escorted him to Autumn Leaf Town, sharing Gym information along the way.

【You parted reluctantly from your master and headed for the Autumn Leaf Gym.】

It was clear the ninja boy had developed some dependence on Aroma Sister—she had cared for him so thoroughly—but to become a true ninja, he had to continue his journey.

Autumn Leaf Gym.

In Aroma Sister's tournament era, the type was Flying; now the Gym Leader is her son, changed to Dark type.

The ninja boy's Ninjask was in its element here; relying on its extreme speed and type advantage, it defeated two opponents before being knocked out by the opponent's Absol.

When only one opponent remained, the Ninja Kid's choice was decisive.

Weezing—Poison Gas plus Explosion.

The suicide combo left no doubt; it exploded alongside Absol, this guy had already mastered the ability to reliably eliminate one opponent.

But the negative effects were too severe—it too would fall.

Baimu stared at the Weezing in the screen, its smile still eerie, wondering if there were other Pokémon besides Pachirisu and Thunderbolt that loved self-destruction.

How strange.

【You defeated the Cinnabar Gym Leader and received the Cinnabar Badge】

The Ninja Kid obtained his sixth badge.

Two gyms remained; he knew he could not go to the Violet Gym, so he chose the Cerulean Gym and the Lapis Gym.

Traveling from Cinnabar Town to Cerulean City required a boat; before leaving, the Ninja Kid made a special trip back to the Green House.

【You bid your master a proper farewell before departing】

The voyage went smoothly.

The Ninja Kid arrived at his destination after just a few battles; the bustling scene, similar to Kanae City, stirred memories of being interrogated by Jynx—terrifying recollections that made him dare not stay long in Cerulean City.

【You gathered all the intelligence and urgently went to challenge the Cerulean Gym】

The Cerulean Gym's leader had also changed; the specialty type shifted from Fighting to Poison.

Thus, this gym became the second, after the Violet Gym, that the Ninja Kid found unusually easy to challenge.

The Poison-type Pokémon the opponent sent out were utterly outmatched by the Ninja Kid's Pokémon in terms of toxicity.

Weezing's powerful stomach acid could even swallow the Sludge Bomb spat by the opponent's Weezing—but not the other way around.

The toxicity levels between both sides were worlds apart.

However.

【You realized the toxicity displayed by the opponent was not his true strength; you decided to ask him about poison theory】

Having benefited from the Perfume Sister, the Ninja Kid began actively seeking knowledge from others—but he never expected the opponent was also a student of the Perfume Sister.

Years ago, the Perfume Sister had stayed in Cerulean City for a long time to promote aromatherapy.

This Gym Leader was the poison theory prodigy she had trained.

【You never expected to meet a "senior brother"】

The Gym Leader was clearly delighted as well; after exchanging words, he warmly escorted the Ninja Kid to the location of the final gym—Lapis City.

Here.

Baimu saw Adam's younger self.

"Even in pixel form, he was still that handsome." He etched Adam's pixelated figure deeply into his mind, then suddenly felt the urge to create a miniature figure of his own.

As expected.

The Ninja Kid struggled fiercely against Adam.

At this time, Adam was thriving in both Gyms and Super Contests, blending Super Contest techniques into Pokémon battles—no less skilled than the Ninja Kid's ninja Pokémon.

As a result, his first challenge ended in failure.