Chapter 191:Froakie's Dream! Captured Poachers
Added 2025-01-21 06:49:06 +0000 UTC“Hey, it's dangerous! Don’t enter the Froakie's training area.”
The venue manager shouted at Natsume, “If you want to challenge, pay up first.”
Natsume asked the manager, “Can I choose which Froakie to battle?”
The manager looked at the venue and chuckled, “Of course you can.”
“But I advise you not to choose that one.”
“Why?”
“This Froakie is difficult even for our village ninjas to handle, let alone ordinary people like you who haven’t studied ninjutsu.”
Natsume shook his head slightly, “It's alright, I’ll go with that one.”
Natsume then scanned 299 with his phone.
The manager immediately became much more enthusiastic. “Do you want to change into ninja attire now?”
“No need.”
Natsume patted Onami beside him. “Just take a picture for her.”
Onami waved her hand. “I don’t need it either.”
“Alright then.”
The manager was naturally pleased to save the hassle.
“Froakie, it’s showtime!”
“Froakie~”
Froakie bounced over excitedly.
Onami looked at Natsume and said, “Good luck~”
“Manaphy~”
Natsume smiled, “Don’t worry.”
On the battle arena.
Natsume and Froakie took their positions on opposite sides of the venue.
The referee stood in the center and stated, “The battle rules are 1v1, and the challenger can forfeit the challenge at any time.”
“If either party is at risk of significant harm, the referee has the authority to end the match.”
“Now, let the battle begin!”
Natsume remained motionless, watching the Froakie.
“Froakie!”
This Froakie was quick. As soon as the battle started, it sprinted towards Natsume.
Froakie used Quick Attack!
Outside the battle arena, a few villagers were watching the scene with amusement, teasing each other, “Looks like another tourist picked the Froakie, huh?”
“How long do you think he’ll last?”
“That depends on Froakie’s mood, doesn’t it?”
“Haha, true enough.”
“Such a shame, though, such a handsome face is about to get swollen.”
Listening to them, Manaphy, along with Squirtle and Mudkip, angrily marched over.
“Manaphy!”
Squirtle and Mudkip took a deep breath together.
Spray~
Water Gun to the face!
“Hey, what are you doing!”
The soaked group fell to the ground in a less than graceful state.
They looked angrily at Squirtle and the others.
“Squirtle!”
Squirtle stood with its hands on its hips.
“Mudkip~”
Mudkip lunged again.
This village had quite the fierce spirit.
The villagers didn’t even release their Pokémon; they just directly started a tussle with Squirtle and the others.
Gardevoir took a glance at Squirtle and the others and decided it was no different from kids scrapping, so it let them be.
Meanwhile, in the battle arena—
Froakie quickly reached Natsume.
Pound!
Froakie swung its paw at Natsume.
Natsume subtly sidestepped, evading Froakie's Pound.
“Froakie.”
Froakie landed and quickly retreated to put distance between itself and Natsume.
“Froakie.”
Froakie looked at Natsume in surprise.
“Not bad speed.”
Natsume smiled at Froakie, “Your reactions are quick too.”
“Froakie~!”
The air rippled with sound waves.
That was Froakie's Growl.
Amidst the waves, Froakie lunged at Natsume again.
Natsume, possessing near-Champion-level battle strength, wasn’t fazed by Froakie's growl.
He easily dodged Froakie's attack again. “Froakie, you should be capable of evolving by now, right?”
“Is it being deliberately suppressed?”
“Froakie.”
Froakie responded that it wasn’t time yet.
“Not time yet?”
Natsume looked puzzled.
Bam~
Smoke filled the battle arena.
Froakie used Smoke to obscure both its and Natsume's vision.
Natsume's Inner Focus swept through the area, detecting that Froakie had circled behind him.
This Froakie's battle talent was quite high.
Whoosh~
A white foam shot out of the smoke toward Natsume.
Natsume easily evaded it.
In the smoke, Froakie relentlessly launched attacks, but none of them hit.
Gradually, the smoke began to disperse.
“Froakie.”
Froakie was panting heavily, looking at Natsume with exhaustion.
Outside the battle arena,
One villager, who had Squirtle riding on his head, looked at Natsume and Froakie in shock. “What’s going on? It’s still not over?”
Another person next to him hesitated and said, “It looks like Froakie hasn’t hit him at all.”
“Squirtle~”
Squirtle jumped down from his head, looking quite proud.
Natsume stood relaxed, watching Froakie and asked, “Froakie, when you said it’s not time yet, what did you mean?”
“Froakie!”
Froakie said that it would tell him once it wins.
Froakie took a deep breath.
Concentrating fully, it used Mind Reader!
In Froakie’s hands, a swirling water ball began to rapidly condense.
Water Pulse!
“Froakie!”
Natsume nodded. “Alright.”
“Go back.”
Natsume flicked his hand.
The Water Pulse shot toward Froakie at a faster speed.
Bam~
The water ball exploded on Froakie, and the tremendous impact sent Froakie flying, knocking it to the ground.
“Froakie~”
The surroundings erupted with the sounds of cheering.
“Squirtle~”
“Manaphy~”
Squirtle and Manaphy cheered from outside the venue.
The referee exclaimed in astonishment, “You’re Psychic?”
Natsume nodded slightly.
“Yes, and I’d like to purchase this Froakie.”
“How do I go about arranging that?”
Both the manager and the referee showed expressions of difficulty upon hearing Natsume’s request.
“Is there a problem?”
The manager spoke up. “This Froakie is not for sale.”
“It is specially reserved for the ninjas in our village.”
Natsume turned his gaze toward Froakie.
“Squirtle~”
At this moment, Squirtle and the others had helped Froakie back up.
“Squirtle~”
Squirtle patted Froakie on the shoulder and said, “You lost the battle, so you'll have to come with us now.”
“Froakie.”
Froakie did not refuse.
It simply looked at Squirtle, asking Natsume why he was so powerful.
“Squirtle~”
Squirtle and Froakie began to converse in the language of Pokémon.
“Natsume is our farm owner, so of course he’s strong.”
“Farm?”
Froakie looked at Squirtle in confusion.
“A farm is just a farm.”
Squirtle made gestures. “Everyone in the farm is really strong.”
“For example, there’s big brother Sirfetch'd.”
While saying this, Squirtle started to mimic Sirfetch'd walking around with a sword and shield.
“And then there's older sister Serperior.”
Squirtle widened its eyes, imitating Serperior’s haughty gaze.
“It’s scary. When older sister Serperior looks at you, you can’t even move.”
“And there’s a very fierce monkey too.”
Squirtle then mimicked Annihilape's appearance.
“It’s strong as well, but I don’t like to play with it.”
“It always feels like it’s about to punch you at any moment.”
“Mudkip~”
Mudkip nodded in agreement.
Natsume watched them chatting together and asked, “What if Froakie is willing?”
The person in charge of the venue was momentarily stunned and quickly ran aside to make a phone call.
Selling Pokémon and dealing with poachers is completely different.
Because, in a proper Pokémon Breeding Center, there is a focus on mutual selection.
Moreover, the fees included in the contract when you pay are not solely based on the Pokémon's market price.
Most of the costs actually refer to the Pokémon’s feeding and cultivation expenses.
Thus, many professional breeder's slogans essentially mean: “We’ll take great care of your Pokémon; please take it home soon.”
Therefore, if Froakie willingly chooses to leave with Natsume, they indeed have no grounds to refuse.
Onami walked up to Natsume and asked, “Is there a problem?”
Natsume sighed and replied, “They don’t want to sell this Froakie.”
Onami looked at Froakie as well. “I completely understand.”
“This child has high talent and strong strength; they surely want to keep it for their own use.”
It was obvious that Froakie's performance was significantly superior to the other Froakie around.
“It’s easy to see.”
“Squirtle~”
At this moment, Squirtle and the others began to jog playfully with Froakie.
Natsume squatted down, looking at Froakie with a smile. “Froakie, you still haven’t told me why you don’t want to evolve.”
“Froakie~”
Froakie provided its answer.
Because it yearned for the story of ninja Hanzō and Greninja.
The story was something that all Froakie in the village knew from a young age.
In the legends, that Greninja began following ninja Hanzō from the Froakie stage.
They trained, battled, traveled, grew, evolved, and ultimately became heroes who protect the world.
Froakie dreamed of meeting such a Trainer of its own.
Thus, the first evolution had to be reserved for its own Trainer.
Natsume chuckled at Froakie’s response. “So that’s how it is; you’re quite the romantic, Froakie.”
While Natsume was chatting with Froakie, a middle-aged man accompanied by a Greninja approached.
“The village chief is here.”
The surrounding villagers hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
The village chief, amid the crowd, came to stand before Natsume and said, “Young man, this Froakie is indeed not for sale.”
“If you really like Froakie, I can take you to the Breeding Center inside.”
“Froakie!”
Froakie called out to the village chief.
Froakie thought that the new ninja in the village were too weak.
So, Froakie wanted to leave with Natsume and Squirtle.
Natsume said, “Village Chief, it seems Froakie wants to come with me.”
The village chief looked around.
There were quite a few people gathered to watch.
He turned to Froakie and asked, “Froakie, do you think his strength is strong enough for you to want to follow him?”
“Froakie~”
Froakie nodded.
“You think he’s stronger than me?”
Froakie suddenly showed a hesitant expression.
The people of Ninja Village had lived alongside Froakie for generations, so the village chief understood Froakie's thoughts.
“Froakie, how about this?”
“I’ll battle him. If I win, you stay.”
Froakie looked at Natsume.
Natsume smiled and said, “Sure, you can set the rules.”
“1v1 is fine.”
The village chief took out his Poké Ball. “Come forth, Greninja!”
This was a Level 66 Greninja.
“Greninja!”
Greninja crossed its arms, calmly watching Natsume.
“Froakie~”
Froakie looked up at the Greninja with admiration.
For Froakie, this Greninja was the strongest Pokémon it had ever seen!
The village chief then said, “My apologies; I still don’t know your name, young man.”
“Natsume.”
Before the village chief could respond, the crowd of onlookers erupted in murmurs upon hearing Natsume’s name.
“It’s really Natsume, the gym leader!”
“I knew he looked familiar; I can’t believe I’m running into Natsume here!”
“By the way, didn’t Natsume bring Dragonite with him today?”
Indeed, Dragonite was more famous than Natsume.
People curiously asked, “Do you know him?”
“Of course we do! Most people in the Japan league have heard rumors about Natsume, the gym leader.”
Natsume glanced at the crowd and thought to himself, there are certainly always Japan people wherever you go.
Hearing the chatter around him, the village chief’s expression suddenly turned sour.
Uh-oh, it sounded like this challenger’s strength might be greater than he initially thought.
Natsume then said, “Let’s just start the battle.”
“Come on out, Dragonite.”
“Dragonite~”
Dragonite rubbed its eyes.
It looked as if it hadn’t fully woken up yet.
Natsume chuckled at Dragonite. “Dragonite, your nap is over now.”
“Let’s have a battle to wake up your body.”
“Dragonite~”
Dragonite yawned.
“It’s Dragonite! It looks like this battle will be over quickly.”
“I bet it will be done in a minute.”
“Haha, you really underestimate the Farm’s Dragonite. I think it will be done in two seconds!”
The villagers, overhearing the tourists' discussion, chimed in, “Who are you looking down on? While Dragonite may be strong,”
“the village chief's Greninja has never lost before.”
The tourists teased, “Uh-oh, it looks like it’s going to lose today.”
“Hey, are you asking for trouble?!”
At this moment, in the battle arena,
the referee called out, “Match, start!”
“Greninja, use Water Shuriken!”
“Greninja!”
As Greninja reached for the throwing motion, Dragonite, who had been standing on the opposite side of the arena, suddenly appeared in front of Greninja.
Whoosh~
A strong gust of wind swept through.
Dragonite used Extreme Speed.
Greninja froze for a moment, caught off guard.
“Dragonite~”
Dragonite waved at Greninja with a smile, ready to greet it when Greninja, sensing danger, quickly retreated and launched its shuriken toward Dragonite.
“Dragonite.”
Dragonite sighed.
What an impolite little guy.
Dragonite swung its fist, delivering a powerful punch.
Ice Punch!
A snowy storm surged forward.
The air was instantly frozen.
In the battle arena, with one punch, Dragonite conjured an ice mountain!
Inside the ice mountain were Greninja’s Water Shuriken and the silhouette of Greninja making the throwing motion.
“Froakie.”
Froakie’s eyes widened in disbelief as it stared at Dragonite.
Natsume smiled at Froakie. “Froakie, this is what true power looks like.”
The previously arguing crowd fell silent.
Natsume looked at the stunned village chief. “Village Chief, can we continue our discussion now?”
The village chief stared blankly at Natsume.
“Uh, of course, I mean, my Greninja—”
“Dragonite~”
Dragonite knocked on the ice mountain it created.
Crack~
The ice mountain began to crumble, breaking apart into countless ice shards, sending a chilly mist swirling around.
Ding dong~
At that moment, Natsume's phone rang.
It was Natsumi calling.
“Natsume, the Lapras group has been found.”
Meanwhile, in a suburban warehouse,
a few tied-up poachers looked terrified as they stared at their Froslass.
Natsume replied, “Alright, I’ll be back too.”
Natsumi asked, “What do you want to do with those poachers?”
Natsume casually said, “This is your territory; you can deal with it as you see fit.”
“Understood.”
Natsumi hung up the phone and looked at Froslass. “It’s up to you now.”
Froslass immediately showed an expression of delight.
“No, please, no!”
Suddenly, the poachers' bodies began to freeze.
Crack~ Crack~
If there were a vote for the scariest Pokémon, Froslass would certainly be a top contender.
