Three days later, Ash bid farewell to Nagato, Konan, and White Zetsu. After confirming that no one was nearby, his figure dissolved into a pillar of white light, vanishing from the ninja world.
"So… this is where I left off?"
When Ash reappeared in the Pokémon world, he found himself standing in the exact same place as before. The night sky remained unchanged, as if no time had passed at all.
"Hm?"
Ash suddenly sensed a powerful presence approaching him. His body instinctively tensed, but the moment he identified the aura, a smile appeared on his face.
"Ash? Why are you here?"
A familiar voice echoed from above. Mewtwo descended from the sky, his expression filled with surprise. "Didn't you leave for another dimension? In my perception, you only left not long ago."
"I did go to another world," Ash replied calmly, nodding. "So tell me—how long have I been gone?"
"You already finished?" Mewtwo's eyes widened. "You disappeared for only three days. I even told your family you were going into seclusion to break through your limits."
"Only three days…" Ash exhaled softly. "In that other world, I spent more than ten years. Since that world didn't acknowledge my existence, my age was frozen there. Only after returning here does time start affecting me again."
Only three days had passed. That was far better than he had feared.
Mewtwo narrowed his eyes. "You're different now. Just now… I couldn't even properly sense your spiritual presence."
"That's because I'm much stronger," Ash replied honestly. "By this world's standards, I'm at the peak of a top-tier Legendary Pokémon. And my true combat power far surpasses that level."
After awakening Mokuton, his strength had increased exponentially. Now stabilized at the pinnacle of Legendary-level power, he only needed the right trigger to awaken his eyes. Once that happened, he would truly step into super-legendary territory.
"I never imagined you'd reach this level so quickly," Mewtwo admitted. "I've only just brushed the threshold of Legendary-tier myself."
To Mewtwo, Ash had merely been gone for three days—yet the growth he sensed was nothing short of terrifying.
Pallet Town
"Ash? You're back already?"
The moment he stepped inside the house, Cynthia, who had been watching television on the couch, threw herself into his arms. "Didn't you say you were going into seclusion?"
"I broke through earlier than expected," Ash said with a chuckle. "So I hurried back."
Breathing in her familiar scent, he allowed himself to relax. For everyone else, it had been only three days—but for him, more than a decade had passed.
Cynthia noticed that Ash felt different, but she didn't question it. Ash was still Ash—that was enough for her.
Delia, on the other hand, didn't think much of it either. Ash had once traveled for nearly a year without returning; three days was nothing worth worrying about.
"Where are Sabrina and Suzie?" Ash asked, noticing only Delia and Cynthia in the living room.
"They've already gone to sleep," Cynthia replied. "I was bored, so I stayed up watching TV."
She turned it off and began helping Ash prepare fresh clothes.
"Mewtwo," Ash said, turning his head, "you should rest too. Tomorrow, we'll head to the island. I've already gained the power I wanted—construction can begin immediately."
Mewtwo nodded in response.
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, when Sabrina and Suzie saw Ash standing there as if he'd never left, both of them froze in shock. They had expected him to be gone for weeks.
"You're back already?!"
Ash smiled.
When they arrived at the island shortly afterward, Ash's gaze fell upon a massive figure within the growing forest.
"So you've been busy," he said with amusement.
In the distance, Venusaur was using Mokuton-enhanced growth to rapidly expand the island's forest, roots spreading like living veins across the land.
"It's been a long time," Ash murmured.
And this time—he wasn't leaving again anytime soon.
"Huh?"
After hearing Ash's words, Venusaur was clearly delighted—but confusion still flickered in its eyes. It didn't understand why Ash sounded as if they had been separated for a very long time.
"It's nothing—really," Ash said, shaking his head with a wry smile when he noticed Venusaur's puzzled expression.
Even though he had returned to this world, the vast difference in time made his emotions feel slightly out of sync.
"You'll need some time to adjust," Mewtwo remarked calmly, a rare hint of amusement in his tone. It wasn't often that Mewtwo teased anyone.
"You've changed quite a bit these past few days," Ash said in surprise.
"Yes," Mewtwo replied, nodding. "Your family is… wonderful. Living with them these past three days, I experienced a completely different kind of life. I like it very much."
Mewtwo had been deeply influenced by Delia and the warmth of everyday life in the Ketchum household.
"In most cases, people grow up carefree first," Ash continued thoughtfully, "and only after forming their own beliefs do they come into contact with the darker side of the world."
"But you were the opposite," Mewtwo said. "You saw darkness first and lost the happiest period of your life. Still—fortunately, it's not too late now."
Ash nodded in agreement.
"Venusaur, return. Leave the rest to me."
After recalling Venusaur, Ash signaled Mewtwo to rise into the air. He stepped into the very center of the island, clasped his hands together, and released the immense chakra surging within his body.
"Mokuton: Continuous Pillar Technique."
The moment his words fell, massive tree roots burst forth from beneath the island's surface. Each root was perfectly shaped and precisely controlled. Under Ash's will, wood rapidly formed and assembled—houses, halls, and infrastructure rising one after another.
In just moments, half the island was transformed into a fully structured settlement, crafted entirely from living wood.
Power, control, and creation—all unified under Ash's hands.
(End of Chapter)
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