Eight years later, Ash was now fifteen.
Tomorrow, he would officially embark on his journey as a Pokémon Trainer.
In these past years, he'd fought countless battles—large and small—in the forests behind Pallet Town. The experience he'd accumulated was nothing short of extensive. And thanks to the killer instincts carried over from his previous life, Ash had complete confidence in his skills.
Even the recovery potions he'd created had garnered widespread acclaim after being released. Their success brought immense wealth to the Oak family; the pharmacy profits alone had pushed their finances into a state of absolute abundance.
The profits were split as follows: 30% to the Pokémon League, 50% to the Oak family, and the remaining 20% divided evenly between the Joy and Jenny families.
For any major trade involving top-tier goods, League approval was mandatory. That 30% wasn't just a cut—they were also offering full support and giving Ash the green light to distribute. That kind of backing was invaluable.
The sale of potions relied on industry networks. The Joy family, being the medical backbone of the Pokémon world, took charge of retail distribution. Naturally, they earned a 10% share. As for the Jenny family, their jurisdiction covered law enforcement across every region. Keeping good relations with them was both strategic and cost-effective—10% well spent.
Over the years, the battles Ash endured didn't just hone his Pokémon's combat ability. They also allowed him to accumulate five precious attribute points—a rare and valuable gain.
Before sleeping, Ash summoned the system interface.
"System, show me my current stats and Pokémon data."
A clear Ding~ sounded in response.
Trainer Info
Name: Ash Oak
Level: Late-stage Quasi-Elite
Age: 15
Strength: 98
Speed: 92
Mental Fortitude: 90
Innate Skills:
Psychic (Awakened)
Bird Affinity (Locked)
Acquired Skills: None
Attribute Points: 5
Draw Attempts: 0
Pokémon Team: Pikachu, Onix, Pidgeotto, Growlithe
Pokémon Info
Name: Pikachu
Level: Mid Quasi-Elite
Abilities: Lightning Rod, Static
Type: Electric
Potential: 100% (47% Developed)
Name: Onix
Level: Early Quasi-Elite
Abilities: Rock Head, Weak Armor
Type: Rock/Ground
Potential: 100% (43% Developed)
Name: Growlithe
Level: Early Quasi-Elite
Abilities: Flame Body, Blaze
Type: Fire
Potential: 100% (44% Developed)
Name: Pidgeotto
Level: Early Quasi-Elite
Abilities: Speed Boost
Type: Flying
Potential: 100% (42% Developed)
"Quasi-Elite, huh?" Ash murmured, eyes scanning the stats. "Still a long way to go before the top, but I've got time on my side."
He was satisfied with what he'd achieved over these eight years. Advancing to Quasi-Elite at this age was no small feat—it was considered the realm of prodigies.
After all, even Lance Draconis—Skye Draconis' son and the youngest champion of the Dragon Clan—had only reached Quasi-Elite at twenty-three.
Cynthia, the reigning Champion of the Sinnoh Region, had achieved that rank at twenty-five.
As for Pikachu, Ash's main partner, his progress was proof that their training methods were working. Their system wasn't just based on raw power—it incorporated unique techniques inspired by Ash's previous life, including secret arts from a pirated version of Naruto. Yes, even moves like Chidori had been adapted, making Pikachu's close-combat attacks unnaturally fierce.
Ash's potion-making abilities were no longer a secret in the market. Yet very few knew the identity of the genius behind the medicine.
That was intentional.
Under the quiet guidance of the Oak family, Ash's public image remained hidden from the world. For now, he trained in peace, preparing for the day he'd step into the spotlight.
And that day… was coming soon.
Despite efforts to keep things quiet, news of Ash's accomplishments couldn't stay hidden from the major families for long. Among the inner circles of power, especially within the Dragon Clan, his name had already become widely known.
Some of the older elders in the Dragon Clan, who had once opposed any cooperation, now deeply regretted their stance. When they learned that Ash had been the one behind the successful development of those revolutionary potions, their regret was bitter enough to turn their guts inside out.
It was said that Skye Draconis—the retired patriarch of the clan—personally reprimanded those elders, especially Lance. In fact, Lance had nearly been beaten to death by the old man after Skye learned just how coldly Ash had been treated by the clan. Skye was furious. He never imagined that while he was in seclusion, such a rare, god-level talent had slipped right through their fingers.
Unlike the Dragon Clan, the Oak family had not only embraced Ash but also reaped the benefits of his pharmaceutical success. With such a strong economic foundation, their development was stable and thriving. As long as their resources were managed wisely, money would never be a concern.
...
The next morning, Ash woke up late. The official time to receive a starter Pokémon was 7 a.m., but Ash didn't bother getting up until 8.
After all, he already had his Pokémon.
He didn't need one of the league-issued beginner Pokémon.
As he sat on the edge of his bed, Ash's gaze drifted to the clothes neatly folded beside him. He was silent for a moment before dressing slowly. Delia had sewn those clothes herself—every stitch filled with love and care.
When fully dressed, Ash looked striking. His features were sharp, and his deep crimson eyes sparkled like rubies, giving him a charm that was impossible to ignore.
"PikaPika!" Pikachu, who had already started eating downstairs, looked up with a cheerful greeting as Ash descended the stairs. Unlike the rest of Ash's Pokémon, Pikachu refused to stay inside a Poké Ball. He much preferred being by Ash's side.
"Morning, Pikachu!" Ash replied with a small smile, grabbing a sandwich from the table and taking a bite.
"Ash, you're up late today. Are you sure that's okay?" Delia asked, clearly worried.
Ash waved it off. "It's fine, Mom. I already have my team. I don't need to pick a starter."
What Ash didn't say out loud—but had already realized through years of training—was a major secret:
The time it took a Pokémon to break through to the Elite level varied drastically based on talent. A gifted Pokémon could reach Elite status in just a year, but after that, progression slowed dramatically. For average Pokémon, it could take three to four years just to reach Elite—and like the gifted ones, they'd also hit a wall soon after.
Ash discovered that breaking through to the Quasi-Champion tier wasn't about time alone—it required power. Specifically, mastery of skills.
Custom skills.
The more powerful and unique the moves a Pokémon could master, the higher the chance it had to break through.
That's why Ash had begun creating original techniques for his Pokémon—many of them adapted from ninjutsu in the Naruto world. Moves like Chidori gave Pikachu and the others terrifying offensive power—and more importantly, gave them the edge they needed to reach the next level.
You could say Ash's "cheat" wasn't some artifact or secret code—it was a forbidden skillbook, a plug-in-level advantage. And for that reason, he guarded it closely and managed it strictly.
After breakfast, with Pikachu riding on his shoulder, Ash made his way to Professor Oak's lab.
By the time he arrived, the entrance was already crowded. Most of the town had gathered to witness the new batch of Trainers receive their starter Pokémon.
"Hey, Ash! Sleeping in today, huh? That's not like you!"
"Feeling confident about winning the Indigo League?"
The townsfolk greeted Ash warmly. He'd grown up here in Pallet Town, and nearly everyone knew him. Their smiles were genuine, their tone friendly. Despite all that he'd accomplished, to them—he was still the same kid they'd watched grow up.
...
TN:
For Advance Chapters: Patreon(.)com/LordMerlin