"Now I need to push Ralts' mental strength training and Eevee's physical conditioning to the absolute limit."
Ash muttered to himself while eating fried rice, mind already running through possible training regimens.
"You two—stop right there! Don't run!"
The sudden shout snapped Ash out of his thoughts. He turned instinctively toward the street outside the restaurant.
"Hm?"
Crowds on the roadside had gathered, watching Officer Jenny chasing down two men wearing black uniforms emblazoned with a large red R—Jessie and James' fellow Rocket captains, Lamport and Tobi.
Rare Pokémon were constantly hunted across regions, some even taken for experiments or used as rewards for lower-ranking Rocket members. The presence of Rockets here meant trouble.
"Well now… I didn't expect to meet you here. Quite surprising."
Ash set down his spoon, stood up, and stepped outside.
Above, descending through the air via psychic levitation, were Sabrina, Blitz, and Shiro following behind him.
"So the Rockets really are operating in Johto now… If that's the case, then Giovanni hasn't lost his mind after all." Ash's eyes narrowed. "Since they can't move freely in Kanto anymore, they'd never be accepted openly in another region. But lurking in Johto—right next door—makes their chances of being discovered far lower."
The proximity between Kanto and Johto made it the last place the Kanto Pokémon Alliance would suspect. A bold, calculated move.
Ash looked up at Lamport and Tobi fleeing into the sky.
"As expected… Giovanni still has a few brain cells left."
"Damn it—Officer Jenny just won't quit!"
"Stop complaining. We already shook her off." Tobi punched a tree in frustration. "Operations across the regions are being suppressed. It's nearly impossible to capture Pokémon right now."
Lamport, calmer, crossed his arms. The two had been partners for years; their teamwork needed no explanation.
"I still don't get it," Tobi muttered. "The boss doesn't want the Rockets showing themselves, yet he sends us out here to cause trouble? What's the point?"
As small-time captains, they had authority—and a small platoon of grunts under them, even if most were disposable.
"I don't know the full plan," Lamport replied, "but according to Commander Ariana, the boss is preparing something big. We're supposed to draw attention away from whatever he's planning. Sounds like Giovanni is about ready to make his counterattack."
They weren't high-ranking, but both served directly under Ariana, one of the Rockets' four Executives—trusted and firmly placed.
The four Executives of Team Rocket were: Archer, Ariana, Proton, and Petrel.
Archer was the strongest, followed by Proton, then Ariana, and lastly Petrel—though Petrel was undeniably the most cunning.
Just as Lamport and Tobi were discussing classified information—
"Oh? So you're Ariana's men. Seems I've picked up something interesting."
A calm voice drifted down from above.
The two froze.
"Who's there!?"
"You… you're that brat from Kanto!"
They turned to see Ash standing atop a tree branch, watching them with a faint smile. Recognition hit instantly. After all, it was because of him that the Rockets had been forced to flee Kanto in the first place.
"How rude," Ash said lightly. "I was enjoying your little conversation. Don't stop on my account."
His smile widened.
The scarlet glow of his Sharingan—three tomoe spinning slowly—filled Lamport and Tobi's vision.
Cold dread crawled up their spines.
Behind Ash…
it felt as if a demon was staring straight into their souls.
"Surskit, Hypnosis! Tobi—move!"
Despite the crushing pressure radiating from Ash, Lamport gritted his teeth, pulled out a Poké Ball, and released his Pokémon.
Surskit darted forward, skating rapidly across the ground as the ring on its tiny body shimmered.
A blue ripple of psychic energy spread from it—the unmistakable wave of Hypnosis, pulsing toward Ash atop the tree.
"Using Hypnosis on me?"
Ash's expression didn't change. "You two must be either brave… or stupid."
His Sharingan snapped open—three tomoe spinning sharply.
The blue hypnotic aperture froze mid-air—
then instantly rebounded.
Surskit was struck by its own attack.
The little Pokémon collapsed on the spot, fast asleep.
"Shave."
In a blur of motion—
Bang! Bang!
"Ah!!!" ×2
Ash appeared before Lamport and Tobi in the blink of an eye. His kick landed squarely in both their stomachs, sending them crashing back with simultaneous screams.
Smack.
Ash seized Tobi by the throat, lifting him clean off the ground.
Tobi's feet kicked helplessly as his airway constricted, his face rapidly turning pale.
"Talk," Ash said coldly. "Where is Giovanni hiding?"
Tobi choked, gasping out broken fragments of words.
"Urgh… damn it… I won't tell you…"
Ash's eyes narrowed.
Anyone looking closely could see it—the unmistakable, chilling killing intent burning in those scarlet Sharingan.
"I planned to let you live," Ash said, voice dropping to a freezing whisper.
"But it seems… you don't value that chance."
Lamport, pinned weakly against a tree, felt a shiver run through him as he saw Ash tighten his grip around Tobi's throat.
For the first time that day—he understood why the Rockets feared this boy.
(End of Chapter)
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