When Nawaki Senju stepped through the swirling portal of light, it felt as if he had fallen into a tunnel woven from countless stars.
Vivid colors rushed past him at blinding speed, blurring the lines between time and space.
He had no sense of how long he had traveled, but when his feet finally touched solid ground, a wave of unprecedented weakness immediately overwhelmed him.
Where was he?
Nawaki dropped to one knee, barely able to support his own body.
To his horror, the chakra that had once flowed like a raging river within him was now completely depleted, leaving only a deep, dry riverbed.
The power he had once wielded effortlessly now lay dormant deep inside, making even the most basic chakra refinement excruciatingly difficult, as if some supreme law of this new world was suppressing him.
"The cost of crossing worlds is this severe!" he muttered, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
The air carried a scent completely unlike the ninja world.
It was fresher and purer, tinged with exotic fragrances, and an indescribable vitality seemed to pulse through it.
This must be the Pokémon world.
Nawaki quickly assessed his condition; his chakra was almost entirely gone.
Fortunately, the natural strength of the Senju lineage, his years of rigorous physical training, and his precise shuriken skills remained intact.
That gave him some comfort. At least he still had the ability to protect himself.
Just as he began adapting to his surroundings, the system interface in his mind flickered violently.
The next moment, a warm white light erupted from his chest, like the first rays of dawn spilling across the ground.
As the light dimmed, a Pokémon appeared before him, its back adorned with a still-unopened flower bud.
It was his Ivysaur.
"Bulba!"
Ivysaur nudged Nawaki's pants affectionately with its head, its bright eyes brimming with the joy of reunion and unreserved trust.
"Ding! Host detected in the Pokémon world. Mysterious mark 'Ivysaur' has been materialized."
"In this world, all Pokémon marks possessed by the host can materialize into real Pokémon, growing and battling alongside the host."
A warm rush of emotion surged through Nawaki's chest.
He crouched, gently stroking Ivysaur's smooth head, feeling the vibrant life energy radiating from it.
"In this new world, we are each other's most reliable partners. We must fight side by side, Bulbasaur ah, I mean, Ivysaur!"
"Ivysaur! Ivysaur!" Ivysaur nodded vigorously, the flower bud on its back trembling slightly as its vines swung joyfully in the air.
Nawaki quickly scanned his surroundings. He was in a wide, brightly lit corridor with sleek metallic walls that gave off a futuristic feel.
People bustled past, all wearing identical black uniforms with a prominent red "R" emblazoned on their chests.
"Newcomer! Don't block the way! Selection starts soon!"
A rough-voiced Team Rocket grunt strode past, shouting impatiently.
Nawaki noticed that while most were in uniform, a few, like him, wore casual clothes.
It seemed that only those who had passed preliminary screening could enter, and his civilian appearance did not draw special attention.
"Hey, are you here for the selection too?" a voice asked.
Nawaki turned to see a boy with a mushroom haircut, nervously staring at him.
His large eyes were wide and innocent.
"Yes, it's my first time. I'm a little lost," Nawaki replied.
"I'm Kinjiro!" the boy said excitedly.
"This is my first selection too! My dream is to become as strong as Boss Sakaki and eventually lead Team Rocket!"
Kinjiro's eyes seemed to sparkle with ambition.
"Kinjiro?" Nawaki asked instinctively. "Do you know someone named Kojiro?"
"Kojiro? Never heard of him," Kinjiro said, scratching his mushroom head. "Is he from another branch?"
Nawaki shook his head and changed the topic. "By the way, what do I need to prepare before the selection?"
"I know!" Kinjiro's excitement returned, and he rattled off instructions.
"First, you register at the logistics department to record your personal information and receive a beginner's kit, which includes five Poké Balls, five potions, a backpack, and a map! Then you can choose your starter Pokémon. Oh, and…"
He leaned in, lowering his voice mysteriously. "After passing the assessment, do you want to form a team?"
Only then did Nawaki realize Team Rocket had a system similar to ninja squads.
He politely declined, "I plan to join the Science Research Division, so forming a team might not suit me."
"Science Research Division…" Kinjiro's excitement faltered, but he quickly perked up. "No worries! No matter the division, we must all work hard for Team Rocket's glory!"
With Kinjiro's guidance, Nawaki successfully located the logistics department.
By simply inputting his temporary information into a glowing blue device, he immediately received his beginner's kit a black backpack with the red "R" emblem, neatly packed with five red-and-white Poké Balls, five potions, and a map of the Kanto region.
Nawaki recalled Ivysaur into its Poké Ball and proceeded to the resource distribution area.
Pushing open heavy metal doors, he entered a spacious, bright room with rows of neatly arranged Poké Ball racks.
Labels indicated the available Pokémon: Koffing spewing murky bubbles, Arbok flicking its tongue with a cold, cunning stare, the sly Rattata, and Magikarp, colorful but only capable of Splash.
Several Gastly floated with mischievous grins.
Nawaki's gaze wandered until it settled on a Gastly.
Unlike its playful or lazy companions, this Gastly's smoky form seemed restrained.
Its large white eyes observed him quietly, curious and cunning.
A strange sense of kinship rose in Nawaki's chest. Ghost-type Pokémon had unusual abilities that could produce unexpected effects.
More importantly, he saw a spark of intelligence in this Gastly's eyes.
"It's you." Nawaki picked up the corresponding Poké Ball, smiling sincerely at the Gastly.
Gastly let out a soft "Gass~," its eyes curving into crescents, showing satisfaction, and willingly turned into red light, returning to its ball.
With Gastly in hand, Nawaki approached the selection test area.
The atmosphere was tense but orderly, multiple exams running simultaneously.
He was directed to the Science Research Division testing station.
"Theoretical knowledge: qualified."
"Practical ability: excellent."
"Logical reasoning: strong."
The examiner checked the instant test results and nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Your talents are well-suited for the Science Research Division. Report to Channel 3; a ship will transport you to the New Island Research Base in ten minutes."
Nawaki silently praised Team Rocket's efficiency.
No tedious procedures, no long wait passing the exam immediately led to assignment. A truly efficient organization.
On the way to the strait, Nawaki encountered Kinjiro again.
The mushroom-haired boy waved his pass excitedly. "I passed the Combat Division assessment! Looks like we'll be separated for now!"
"Good luck, future commander," Nawaki said with a smile.
"You too! Work hard in Research!" Kinjiro waved energetically. "Hope to see you again!"
Nawaki, along with other newly approved recruits, was guided to a dedicated passage and boarded a sleek white yacht.
"Whooosh~"
The horn sounded as the yacht slowly cut through the blue sea, heading toward the horizon.
Nawaki stood on deck, leaning against the cold railing, letting the salty wind brush his face and hair.
It was his first time seeing such a vast, vibrant ocean.
"Look! A flock of seagulls!" another new researcher shouted, pointing skyward.
Nawaki looked up to see gulls flying over the bow, their white wings glinting in the sunlight.
Not far away, Lapras swam gracefully in formation, as if carrying trainers on their backs.
Occasionally, a red-and-gold Magikarp leapt from the water, its scales shining metallic in the sun.
Farther still, he glimpsed the towering spout of a Wailord.
"It's beautiful," Nawaki whispered. The vibrant scene filled his heart, soothing the weariness of a life marred by war.
During the voyage, he listened carefully to other researchers and guides.
He confirmed the destination: Team Rocket's research base, New Island. A name kept recurring: Professor Fuji.
"I heard Dr. Fuji hasn't been well lately…"
"Yeah, that project has been too stressful for him."
These scattered remarks clarified his mission objectives.
Professor Fuji seemed responsible for an important project on the island, but his situation appeared dire.
"Professor Fuji…" Nawaki repeated silently; the system task Rescue Professor Fuji became more concrete.
Another task, Defeat Mewtwo, sent shivers down his spine.
"Defeat Mewtwo? Are you kidding me?"
Nawaki raged silently. "In the original story, was this thing ever truly defeated? No! Whether in massive battles with trainers or one-on-one against Mew, it held its ground, often ending in a stalemate."
He tried estimating Mewtwo's strength using the ninja world's combat metrics: it could summon storms with a gesture, read and control minds, possibly manipulate time and space, and had nearly infinite energy.
"This is undeniably top-tier, Shadow-level strength! How am I supposed to challenge it?"
He knew that even if Mewtwo had weaknesses like massive stamina consumption or emotional instability its raw destructive power could obliterate him in his current state.
The only possible way to "defeat" it was to leverage the narrative itself.
In the final confrontation, he would need to fight alongside the protagonists, maximizing the legendary Pokémon's assistance.
Otherwise, there seemed no feasible solution. This mission was far more difficult and unpredictable than rescuing Professor Fuji.
He gazed at the island shrouded in mist, its outline at the horizon, his eyes sharpening.
It was time to formulate a concrete action plan.
These two missions, especially Defeat Mewtwo, were daunting.
Yet, the system's rewards made his heart race uncontrollably.
"Second Pokémon Miracle Mark!"
He felt a surge of excitement. One Ivysaur mark had already given him Grass/Poison type abilities and unique moves like Vine Whip and Leech Seed.
This was like gaining a brand-new "bloodline limit" with limitless potential in the ninja world!
If he could acquire another… it would stack another complete Pokémon template, granting mastery over a new element.
The complementary abilities and tactical diversity would be revolutionary.
It was not just a power boost, but a leap in his very life essence and potential.
Another reward was Maximum Defense Individual Value (V).
Only after questioning the system repeatedly did he truly understand its significance.
"System, what's the use of these 31 individual values in the ninja world? This isn't a Pokémon battle," he had wondered.
The system's response was cold and factual: "Individual Value parameters are synchronized with the current world's rules. The standard growth coefficient for ordinary humans is 10. With a 'Defense V,' the corresponding growth coefficient is permanently locked at 31."
Thirty-one, compared to the average 10.
This meant his growth potential was more than three times that of an ordinary human.
Such a fundamental increase, once converted into real-world performance, would amplify exponentially as he gained experience and strength.
Initially, it meant stronger physical abilities and more powerful chakra.
But later, while others struggled for years to break their limits, he could advance at an astonishing pace, driven by innate talent.
It was like the tale of the Three Sannin and Hiruko some gaps in talent are impossible to bridge even in a lifetime, and simply witnessing them could crush hope.