Dawn crept through the Viridian canopy like golden mist, gently parting the night's shadows with rays that shimmered on dew-slick leaves. The forest stirred with the soft rustle of awakening Pokémon and the distant, melodic call of a Pidgey. The air smelled of moss and sap, clean and ancient.
In the clearing near the tent, Ash yawned wide enough to startle a passing Ledyba, rubbing his eyes as he emerged from the warmth of his sleeping bag. His spiky hair was even messier than usual, sticking out in odd angles like he'd been struck by lightning in his dreams. Misty, already up and stretching, handed him a tin plate with some reheated trail stew and a berry bun.
"Morning," she said, calm and casual as ever. "You drooled in your sleep again."
Ash blinked blearily. "Did not."
"You did."
They shared a soft chuckle before sitting down on the fold-out mats for breakfast. Ash looked around.
"Where's Pikachu?" he asked, glancing toward the forest.
"He's nearby," Misty replied, sipping from her canteen. "He was with Caterpie earlier. Probably training again."
"Oh." Ash paused. "He's been serious lately."
Misty raised an eyebrow. "He's your partner. Maybe he's trying to carry more of the weight now that you've caught more Pokémon."
Ash blinked, thoughtful. "Yeah…"
A sudden gust rustled the leaves overhead, and with it came a sharp cry as Pidgeotto descended from the treetops. He landed a few feet away, his eyes scanning them—not hostile, but distant. Regal.
Ash lit up. "Pidgeotto! Morning! Did you sleep well?"
The bird blinked once. Then turned away, preening his wing disinterestedly.
Ash's enthusiasm didn't falter. "You're really cool, you know that? Strong, fast… You were amazing when we caught you. I'm glad you're on the team!"
Still no reaction. If anything, Pidgeotto seemed mildly offended by the attention.
Misty smirked behind her canteen. "Doesn't look like he's interested in compliments."
Ash scratched his head. "Guess not… Still, I wanna be friends."
The bird flapped his wings suddenly, rising up, then circled lazily above them before landing again—on a tree branch far from reach. Watching. Detached.
Ash sighed, then stood with a determined smile. "Okay, buddy," he said as Pikachu returned to the clearing with a bright cry. "Let's go find more Pokémon!"
Pikachu responded with a high-pitched "Pika!", tail quivering with energy. His eyes flicked toward Caterpie, who trailed behind nervously. This was the moment he'd been preparing for. The little bug looked hesitant, but Pikachu gave him a tiny nod.
It's your time.
Ash slung his backpack over his shoulder and followed Pikachu through the forest, Misty close behind. The grass thickened the deeper they went, tall ferns brushing their legs, the light dimming beneath the canopy's embrace.
For a while, they passed signs of life—scattered footprints, faint chittering, the blur of wild shapes vanishing into the trees. Pikachu ignored them all. No Weedles. No Spearows. Nothing that could kill Caterpie with a single hit.
Then—he felt it.
A hum in the ground. A rustling that was slow and even. Not danger. Not predator.
Pikachu's ears perked as they reached a sun-dappled patch of grass nestled between the roots of a great oak. A small shape swayed in the underbrush.
"Pika!" Pikachu chirped excitedly, paw pointing ahead.
Ash stepped forward and parted the grass.
Nestled in the greenery, half-asleep and glowing faintly with absorbed moonlight, was a small, blue Pokémon with a round body and oversized green leaves sprouting from its head.
Ash pulled out his Pokédex.
"Oddish. The Weed Pokémon. Oddish absorbs moonlight through the leaves on its head and buries itself in the ground during the day to avoid predators."
Ash's eyes lit up. "An Oddish! Wow! I've never seen one before."
Misty leaned over his shoulder. "It's kind of cute…"
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Ash clenched his fists with determination, excitement buzzing in his chest like a spark from Pikachu's cheeks.
"Now Ash, this is the chance for your bug to actually fight," Misty said coolly, her arms crossed as she leaned against a tree.
Ash blinked in surprise and glanced at her. "Thanks, Misty. I didn't think you'd help."
She shrugged with a small smirk. "We're traveling together, and you're the one charging head-first into every battle, so I figured I might as well help before your team burns out."
Ash pouted. "That's kind of lazy, don't you think? What if my Pokémon get too tired?"
"I'll push you into the battle," Misty said with a teasing grin. "Might knock some sense into your excitement-fried brain."
"Hey!" Ash laughed. "Fair enough."
Their playful banter was cut short when Oddish twitched—its leafy head starting to retreat into the grass.
"Right—before it runs!" Misty urged.
Ash snapped into focus. "Alright! Caterpie, I choose you!"
The Pokéball snapped open with a bright flash, and Caterpie appeared, eyes sharp and posture tense. The little bug had been waiting for this.
Ash pointed. "Use your String Shot! Capture it!"
With a focused hum, Caterpie launched a thin, gleaming line of silk toward the grass where Oddish was still half-buried. But this time, it wasn't just a single strand. Caterpie wove the string rapidly, looping it around nearby branches and anchoring it into a net that clamped down over the patch of grass like a snare trap.
The Oddish squeaked as it found itself entangled, the web tightening as it tried to squirm away.
"Whoa…" Ash whispered.
Even Misty leaned forward, impressed. "That's… actually clever."
Ash grinned. "Alright Caterpie, Tackle—use the string to swing in!"
Caterpie responded instantly, firing another thread to the nearest branch and pulling himself into the air. He swung like a pendulum, picking up speed as the line shortened—
WHAM!
The bug's tiny body slammed into Oddish with surprising force, boosted by the momentum of the swing. The Oddish bounced once against the grass and lay stunned.
Ash didn't waste a second. "Pokéball, go!"
He hurled the Pokéball, and it struck Oddish with a flash of red light. The ball shook once… twice… ding!
Caught.
Ash's eyes lit up as he ran forward and picked up the Pokéball. "We did it! Caterpie, you did it!"
But Caterpie didn't respond. Instead, the bug Pokémon turned in place and began spinning string around himself.
"Huh?" Ash blinked.
Misty stepped closer. "Wait… is he…?"
The threads shimmered as they wrapped tighter and tighter. Caterpie's body pulsed with energy—soft golden light seeping through the string as it thickened. And then—
Fwhoooom!
A burst of light shot outward, and when it faded, a new form stood in Caterpie's place.
Rounder. Sturdier. With a hardened, shining green shell. A Metapod.
Ash's jaw dropped. "He evolved…"
Even Misty couldn't hide her grin. "That little guy really wanted it."
Pikachu, watching from the shadows, gave a small nod of approval. His eyes turned skyward where Pidgeotto rested on a branch, silent and brooding. The bird fluffed his wings and turned away, unimpressed—or so it seemed.
But Pikachu saw the faint tilt of his head.
Interest. Curiosity. And maybe… a little less mockery.
The tides were shifting. Slowly.
And Metapod's shell gleamed in the morning sun.
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Metapod blinked slowly as the final strands of silk hardened around his body, sealing in his transformation. The light from his evolution faded, and a strange stillness settled over him.
He… couldn't move.
Not like before, anyway. His legs were gone, his body was stiff and heavy, and even blinking took more effort than it used to. But deep inside, Metapod didn't feel weak.
He felt… strong.
Not in the way Pidgeotto was—swift and savage—or like Pikachu, who sparkled with power even when standing still. But this strength was his own. It was quiet. Calm. A promise rather than a roar.
He remembered the fear. The constant fear of predators. Of sharp beaks and poison stingers. He remembered being picked up by claws—mocked, hunted, nearly eaten.
He remembered Pidgeotto.
And yet, now… he didn't shake.
Instead, Metapod sat proudly in the grass where his evolution had ended. He couldn't smile, but if he could, he would've been beaming.
Ash knelt beside him, eyes shining. "You were amazing, Caterpie—Metapod. That was such a smart move! I didn't even teach you that!"
Metapod blinked slowly at him, the warmth in Ash's voice soaking into his shell like sunlight.
He wasn't just a weak little bug anymore. He had fought. He had won. And now, he was one step closer to the sky.
A soft buzz broke the silence—Pikachu padded over, his expression unreadable.
Metapod braced himself, expecting perhaps some judgment or another harsh push to train harder.
Instead, Pikachu placed a paw gently on the edge of his shell and gave a single nod.
Metapod's heart swelled.
He wasn't the same Caterpie anymore, and he wouldn't be going back.
No longer prey.
Now… he was preparing for wings.
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Ash crouched beside Metapod, admiring the smooth, gleaming shell that glinted faintly in the morning sun. His eyes sparkled with pride and curiosity. "Wow… Metapod, you really did it."
Not far off, Misty had knelt in the tall grass, inspecting the now-snoozing Oddish with a thoughtful gaze. "I'll give it to you, Ash. That bug of yours might actually become something impressive."
Ash grinned, but before he could respond, Pikachu had already padded a few paces away, his mind occupied by something deeper than human eyes could see.
He closed his eyes.
And just like that—Naruto's voice found him again, clear and familiar as though the blonde shinobi stood right behind him.
"Good work, Pikachu."
The praise sank deep. Pikachu's ears perked and his little heart, still racing from the battle's excitement, beat a little faster. He didn't reply with words—not right away. He just let the feeling of pride and relief wash over him. His first mission as a leader… was a success.
"That was just the beginning," Naruto said warmly, his tone carrying that confident edge it always did. "And for that, here's your reward."
Pikachu blinked. His body tingled, and suddenly—metallic shimmer coiled over his tiny limbs.
Out of thin air, a pair of sleek metal claws slipped into place around his forepaws, molding themselves to his structure like they had always belonged. Light, but solid. Sharper than bone. His tail glimmered for a heartbeat, then reshaped—a spear tip forged from the same material, now resting at the tip of his lightning bolt-shaped tail.
They felt alive.
"You can summon or dismiss the armor with a thought," Naruto explained. "It's forged from chakra-tempered mythril—durable enough to carve through steel. Consider it your first step into something greater."
Pikachu stood stunned, flexing his claws slowly. His ears twitched in disbelief. He hadn't expected a reward. He would've done it anyway—for Ash, for himself, for the right to never feel weak again. But this…
"You'll get more," Naruto added with a chuckle, sensing the mouse's awe. "Much more. Because this was nothing compared to what's ahead."
Pikachu's eyes narrowed slightly in quiet determination. Then I'll keep earning it.
"Now," Naruto continued, his voice tinged with excitement, "you're allowed into the VR world. A simulation chamber where you can train against real shinobi. Beat a genin, and you'll earn chakra."
Pikachu's breath caught. Chakra. The very essence that had turned Naruto into a legend. A path to ascension, to unlocking something beyond what his species had ever touched.
He looked down at his little claws, then over at Metapod—his first student. Then up at Ash, laughing and talking excitedly to Misty. He wasn't just a partner now.
He was becoming a guardian. A teacher. A warrior.
Pikachu's claws shimmered once before vanishing, absorbed into his form like a secret only he could call upon. He sat quietly in the grass, his golden cheeks sparking faintly.
Next time… Pidgeotto.
He didn't need to rush it. His path was long, but he had taken the first step.
And the storm would only grow from here.
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[Heroes Chat Group – Active Thread: "Bug vs Salad"]
Dragon King (Issei):
GUYS GUYS GUYS
Ash's Caterpie just web-slinged like Spider-Man and tackled an Oddish.
I'm not even joking. This bug thinks it's in an action movie.
Hybrid (Ichigo):
Wait. The green worm thing?
Didn't that thing almost cry when I sneezed near it last time?
Holy Grail (Illya):
Awwwwww that's so cute! 🥺💖
Caterpie: With the power of string and dreams… I shall FLY.
One For All (Izuku):
That was actually really smart. Using momentum to amplify Tackle like a swing shot? That's basic combat physics!
Dragon King (Issei):
Yeah, yeah, nerd flex later.
Right now I'm just imagining Oddish waking up buried in web going, "I just wanted to photosynthesize, man." 😂
Emperor of Mankind (Naruto):
Pikachu's training it well.
Told him not to spoil Caterpie. Good to see he listened.
He even earned his first reward.
Grand Scholar (Wang Lin):
Pikachu taught it trap warfare... I expected "String Shot and cry," not "Home Alone: Forest Edition."
Golden Fox (Yasaka):
Just saw the replay. That Caterpie is literally swinging off trees like it's in Ninja Warrior: Bug Edition.
Ruin Princess (Rias):
Ash looked so proud too! Meanwhile Misty's face was like, "Did I just get out-strategized by a larva?" 😭
Holy Grail (Illya):
What if we gave the Caterpie a little mask and cape?
Captain Webs: Defender of Leafkind.
Emperor of Mankind (Naruto):
...Do it. I'll have one of my clone smiths forge a mini-cape. 😂
Hybrid (Ichigo):
Next thing you know, this Caterpie evolves, learns Bug Buzz early, and starts punking Beedrills out of their honey.
Dragon King (Issei):
I'm telling you, this bug is different.
By the end of the week, he'll be soloing a Charizard with nothing but STRING.
One For All (Izuku):
That's not physically—
Wait… nevermind. Naruto's here. Physics has already left the chat.