Chapter 665

Road 110.

The ninja boy walked slowly through the lush forest, where the dense canopy blocked out the sunlight, casting the simulator's screen in a slightly dim tone.

【You realize you are lost.】

The narrator revealed the ninja boy's predicament—he held a map but couldn't tell east from west.

In his era, elevated roads facilitating travel between two places had not yet been built.

Even the condition of the roads was poor.

This was the main reason the ninja boy became lost in the forest shortly after leaving New Zi Jin City.

Meanwhile.

Perhaps due to his emotions being affected by being lost, his Concealment Ninja Art became unstable, causing wild Pokémon to frequently burst out from the underbrush to attack.

The ninja boy had to flee quickly or send out Vanillish and Weezing to counterattack.

Occasionally, when faced with relentless tough opponents, he would have Weezing use smoke screen or self-destruct to further boost his chances of escape.

【You successfully escaped.】

The familiar prompt made Baimu's expression slightly odd.

Among so many Blue-Talent simulation subjects, only the ninja boy was a complete newbie who struggled even against wild Pokémon, while others—even calligraphers and musicians—could walk freely through the wilderness without care.

Like Scent Sister and the Magician, they even treated wild Pokémon as experience babies to grind.

Under these circumstances.

How did the ninja boy achieve anything at all?

Baimu was curious.

But as he ran, Vanillish and Weezing's strength improved significantly.

Could they break through the second Gym?

Maybe.

Fortunately, the ninja boy possessed a highly refined tree-climbing skill; after multiple long-distance scans, he spotted signs of human activity and traveled for a long time before reaching a bustling town.

He immediately went to the Pokémon Center to rest well for the night.

The scene shifted.

When the ninja boy prepared to set out again, he was drawn to the chatter of passersby.

【You learn from locals that the annual Trick House competition is about to begin—the winner receives a year's supply of Pokémon Cubes, and you are very interested.】

Trick House competition…

Baimu vaguely remembered Ash's group having participated; later, Team Rocket interfered and prevented them from advancing past subsequent rounds. He hadn't expected the ninja boy to already have this?

Was it organized by a young Trick Master or his ancestors?

He blinked, already guessing the scene that would follow.

Indeed.

The ninja boy entered the Trick House challenge, equivalent to a special forces soldier joining "Boys and Girls, Charge Forward"—purely to break records or because his home appliances were broken and he didn't want to pay for repairs.

The Trick Master's traps were child's play.

Aside from the initial maze, which took a bit of time, the ninja boy dropped the act on the narrow bridge—he sprinted across the decades-old wooden bridge in one swift dash.

The bridge didn't even react; it collapsed only after several full seconds.

During the rope-swinging segment, when the rope was deliberately lengthened and he nearly fell into the water, he stepped on Weezing and performed a perfect aerial flip to cross.

When the rope ladder was cut, he sent out Vanillish to connect the two ends, embodying the principle of taking an unconventional path.

The Trick Master, serving as commentator, was stunned—exclamation marks erupted wildly across his forehead.

In the end, the year's supply of Pokémon Cubes fell into the ninja boy's hands without surprise; when he stepped onto the stage to claim his prize, a brilliant smile lit up above his head.

【You sincerely rejoice over your decision to venture out and challenge the contest.】

Though the ninja boy had clear goals, he was still young and lacked experience, so he remained fascinated by all new things in the outside world.

The Trick House competition allowed him to fully unleash his ninja abilities, and the amazed expressions of other contestants satisfied his vanity.

【You again realize that becoming a ninja not only helps your grandfather's condition improve but also brings you other rewards.】

In the scene.

The ninja boy lying in bed, staring blankly, made Baimu curious—was he having an epiphany?

Not at all.

The narrator revealed that the Trick House competition had ignited the ninja boy's enthusiasm for travel and using ninja arts; before this, he had viewed his ninja identity solely as a tool to cure his grandfather's illness.

Only after these two days of travel did he truly understand what becoming a ninja could bring him.

In other words, a gradual acceptance of his ninja identity.

Realizing this, the ninja boy began attempting to apply ninja arts to every possible situation—

For example, Pokémon battles.

His earlier training for the second New Zi Jin Gym challenge had set a good precedent.

【You taught Vanillish various Concealment Ninja Art techniques and began crafting poisons according to recipes from the Ninja Book, to enhance the toxicity of Weezing's toxic smoke.】

As is well known.

A proper ninja's skills primarily consist of stealth, ambush, and poisoning, supplemented by scattered minor techniques, with subtle differences between schools.

The ninja boy's school is unknown.

But clearly, he excels at stealth and ambush; his poison-making skill is somewhat weaker.

From the ellipsis floating above his head after crafting the poison, it was obvious the ninja boy was dissatisfied with his creation.

Therefore.

【You decide to find a way to capture a Pokémon capable of producing potent poison, to assist you in crafting toxins.】

The ninja kid's action power was strong; once he made up his mind, he began gathering intel from the Pokémon Center, and as one of the essential small skills of a ninja, he quickly obtained the information he wanted.

【You continue forward toward Kauna City, searching for your target Pokémon along the way】

Compared to last time getting lost and being relentlessly chased and beaten by wild Pokémon.

This time, with the Breath-Concealing Art working without issue, the ninja kid became invisible in the eyes of the wild Pokémon, darting through the forest together with Kecleon.

The footage sped up.

Only when the target's traces appeared did it return to its original speed.

【You discovered traces of a Gulpin passing through; the highly toxic slime it left behind pleased you greatly】

"Gulpin, huh…"

All Baimu nodded silently.

Among the Poison-type Pokémon in Hoenn, Gulpin's poison should count as one of the fiercer varieties, and it also possesses powerful corrosive stomach acid, qualifying as another kind of toxin.

The ninja kid tracked it all the way and quickly spotted the Gulpin currently devouring an entire fruit tree.

【You have discovered the target】

But he didn't charge straight at the Gulpin; instead, he very cautiously set up a trap using Pokéblocks.

The Gulpin, catching the scent, took the bait quickly, fell into the pit the ninja kid had dug, and then got hit by Koffing and Kecleon's 【Poison Gas】 plus 【Flamethrower】 combo.

That combo was no joke—it triggered a special KO mechanic on the spot, giving the Gulpin an earth-shattering big explosion.

All Baimu was simply stunned at the sight.

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation?

Not bad!

He actually knows how to use the traits of moves to coordinate!

As expected of a genius who could self-study ninjutsu from a single ninja manual at eight years old—far stronger than the hotheaded battlers he'd run into before.

All Baimu recalled certain blockheads who only knew how to charge in blindly, looked again at the ninja kid who knew how to adapt flexibly, and once more realized that sometimes age simply isn't the necessary condition limiting a person's achievements.

It's IQ.

There was just no helping it—too many blockheads among Trainers, which made the ninja kid stand out especially.

【You have caught Gulpin; your ninja companion has increased】

With Gulpin joining the team, the ninja kid quickly used the toxin secreted from its body surface to make a batch of poison.

【You attempted to integrate the poison into Koffing's body using the method mentioned in the ninja manual, and you succeeded】

Good grief.

All Baimu didn't know whether to be glad for him that Poison-type Pokémon were immune to the Poisoned and Badly Poisoned statuses—young people really had guts, casually using their own Pokémon as test subjects.

…Perhaps the ninja kid knew this too?

Very likely.

The footage sped up once more.

Now possessing three Pokémon, the ninja kid arrived at Kauna City smoothly.

【You have arrived at Kauna City; you decide to gather intel on the Kauna Gym first】

The ninja kid once again put his ninja intelligence-gathering skills to use, collecting intel from places like the Pokémon Center where Trainers frequently gathered.

During this time, it wasn't that he wasn't suspected of being too young because of his overly short stature, but he talked his way through every time.

Once intel gathering was complete.

The ninja kid formally issued a challenge to the Kauna Gym.

A somewhat familiar pixelated little figure appeared.

"Hm?"

All Baimu suddenly recalled that the simulated "Aroma姐姐" from before had once challenged this gym, and when he looked it up online, he found that this gym had already gone bankrupt over twenty years ago.

The ninja kid's era was actually so far back.

No wonder they were still using paper files.

Inside the light screen.

The Kauna Gym Leader's Pokémon were Fighting-type; as an attribute leaning toward close combat, the ninja kid easily used the Breath-Concealing Art he'd taught Kecleon to run circles around his opponents.

It was clear the Gym Leader actually did have countermeasures, but the Pokémon he sent out simply couldn't execute them.

Afterward, Koffing's upgraded Poison Gas was also very successful.

The enhanced toxicity noticeably raised the poison damage the opponent took every moment, and incidentally, Gulpin's supple body was also very effective at countering Fighting-type Pokémon's fists and kicks.

In no time at all.

The second Gym was successfully taken.

【You have defeated the Kauna Gym Leader and obtained the Kauna Badge】

The "enlightened" ninja kid was gradually starting to look a bit like a Dual Blue talent simulator; having proven his theory correct through the Gym battle, he wandered around Kauna City for a bit.

Once again setting out on the journey to challenge the next Gym.

【You have boarded the ship heading to Kanaz City】

On the ship.

The ninja kid ran into quite a few Trainers who wanted to battle him; naturally, he accepted them all one by one, resulting in both wins and losses, but his battle experience improved noticeably.

From a clueless newbie to now gradually looking like an excellent Trainer.

His talent in battling was very evident.

Someone like this ought to be quite famous, and besides, even Wattson hadn't passed away yet—the ninja kid should still be alive, right?

All Baimu felt a bit like searching.

Suddenly.

In the footage, the Weezing had evolved.

【Your Weezing has evolved into Doublade Weezing】

The toxic gas within its body grew stronger once more, and it learned the more powerful 【Self-Destruct】; upon noticing this, Ninja Boy had a smile pop up over his head.

All Baimu felt that smile of his was dangerous.

And when the scene shifted to a steamship sailing across the sea, like a cutscene animation, after a dozen or so seconds the ship arrived at a bustling city.

【You have arrived at Kananaz City】

In Perfume Sister's era, Kananaz City was already as bustling as a metropolis.

By Ninja Boy's time, it had further developed countless modern-style skyscrapers, and every pedestrian in the scene was dressed in sharp suits, looking sleek and well-dressed.

The fearless Ninja Boy showed a hint of being at a loss for the first time.

Fortunately, he still remembered his purpose for coming to Kananaz City, and hurried off to the Pokémon Center to gather information. But the public order in Kananaz City was simply too good, so the unfamiliar-looking him was caught and questioned by Officer Jenny.

【You calmly stated to her that you were already over ten years old, though your heart was uneasy】

Fortunately, the two badges carried a certain persuasiveness, and verifying a person's exact age in Ninja Boy's era was not easy, so he escaped that ordeal.

The flustered Ninja Boy immediately ran off to the Gym.

【You have officially challenged the Kananaz Gym】

Du Juan's previous Gym Leader was also a woman, and likewise used Rock-type Pokémon as the Gym's specialty; the Poison-type and Normal-type resistances they possessed made Ninja Boy's fight a bit difficult—

At first, that was the case.

As a trainee ninja, Ninja Boy was especially skilled at stealth, and the move Hidden Power undoubtedly counted as a form of "stealth."

When that Gym Leader thought he was about to lose, Kecleon unleashed Ice Beam, taking out two opponents in a row, and then Doublade Weezing used Self-Destruct to nuke the Leader's last Pokémon.

Ninja Boy, with Kecleon and Gulpin still standing, successfully won the victory.

【You have defeated the Kananaz Gym Leader and obtained the Kananaz Badge】

Obtaining the third badge swept away the foul mood brought on by being questioned by Officer Jenny, and upon learning that the next Gym Leader would send out more Pokémon, he began searching for new companions.

【You have arrived at Route 116】

Route 116.

Bordering the Kananaz Tunnel to the left, and with Greenfield Town — Ninja Boy's next destination — just past it, he decided to search for his next companion here.

This search, and he actually found a suitable Pokémon.

【You have discovered Nincada, a Pokémon recorded in the Ninja Scroll, which states that its evolved forms are very suitable as companions for ninjas】

"Indeed, both Shedinja and Ninjask have ninja elements to them."

All Baimu nodded.

Following the usual trap-plus-bomb routine, Ninja Boy seemed to treat Pokéblocks as an exclusive bait for catching wild Pokémon.

But a year's worth of Pokéblocks probably wouldn't miss a few pieces.

【You have caught Nincada; your ninja companion has increased】

Ninja Boy once again successfully obtained a new companion — or rather, the juvenile form of a new companion.

To make it evolve sooner, he began special training to boost the combat power of all the Pokémon on his team, after consecutively obtaining three badges.

Ninja Boy also understood that special training wasn't only about preparing for Gym challenges, but also included improving the Pokémon' basic abilities to handle unknown situations.

So he set different directions for several of the Pokémon.

【You have designated Kecleon's focus as stealth ambush, Doublade Weezing's as line-of-sight obstruction and explosions, Gulpin's as tankiness, and Nincada's as evolution priority】

"A genius!"

All Baimu, seeing this, couldn't help but raise a toast to Ninja Boy.

When he himself was eight, he absolutely didn't have the latter's clear goals and logic — no wonder he was a holder of the double-blue talent.

Actually, orange talent wouldn't feel strange either.

A full-fledged ninja should be orange talent, right?