Naruto: As Rasa

Chapter Title: The Pokémon Economy Awakens (Part IV)

Rōsa's original plan had been to steadily advance—waiting for Larvitar, Shuckle, and Roggenrola to mature so that Master Shaku could appreciate the value of Pokémon and help spread them throughout Sunagakure. But with Shuckle's hatching, Rōsa's vision shifted. Shuckle had revealed a golden opportunity: a full-fledged Pokémon economy. By leveraging Pokémon to amass wealth—and then converting that wealth into Poké Coins—Rōsa could accelerate his own growth. In short, the sooner Pokémon were popularized, the sooner he would become stronger. Thus, Rōsa chose to charge ahead, deceiving Master Shaku (and indeed, everyone else) with his bold claims. As long as he kept delivering Pokémon, no one would dare question him. Soon, the world would come to believe that the Pokémon Realm existed—it would simply be elusive and inaccessible.

That afternoon, Rōsa gathered his rambunctious trio and returned to his room. Logging into the system's shop, he purchased a bucket of Moo Moo Fresh Milk—enough to feed a hatchling for ten meals. Combined with the Pokédex he had bought earlier, his remaining balance stood at 8,068 Poké Coins.

He carefully poured the milk into three bottles and distributed them among his little charges according to his meticulously planned feeding schedule: three meals a day plus an extra bottle at night for the infants.

Larvitar, however, surprised him immediately. Instead of simply sucking on the bottle's nipple, it used its tiny paws to unscrew the cap. In one sudden burst, Larvitar gulped down the entire contents of its bottle. "Larvitar—another bottle!" it chirped, shoving the nearly empty bottle toward Rōsa. Rōsa glanced at Shuckle and Roggenrola, who had only taken a modest sip, and fell silent. Clearly, Larvitar was no ordinary hatchling.

Taking a fresh bottle, Rōsa refilled it and handed it to Larvitar again. But within seconds, Larvitar grabbed the entire milk bucket and, in a comical flurry, dashed to the bucket's edge. In its eagerness, it plunged headfirst into the bucket—half its body disappearing beneath the liquid while its stubby legs flailed helplessly. Shuckle and Roggenrola stared, dumbfounded, at Larvitar's antics. Rōsa quickly pulled it out, and with an expression of relieved mischief, Larvitar snuggled against him as if apologizing. Covered in milk, Rōsa could only sigh and remind himself not to be too hard on the little one. In the end, the entire bucket was consumed, leaving Larvitar's belly round and full—a sight that baffled Rōsa. How on earth could it drink that much? he wondered.

After a warm bath, Rōsa carefully cleaned his three Pokémon and then retired to bed. On his futon, Shuckle—quiet and reserved—tucked itself safely into its shell, while Roggenrola sat upright with dignified composure. Only Larvitar, ever the mischief-maker, clung to Rōsa's chest as he drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Master Shaku pored over the Pokémon Dex with furrowed brows. The more he studied, the more he marveled at the flawless structure of the Pokémon system. The Dex detailed how Pokémon could eventually surpass even the legendary power of our Shadow-tier ninjas. Shaku's thoughts raced—if such beings truly existed, then perhaps Sunagakure's future depended on harnessing their might. Though Sunagakure had grown strong under previous generations, its elite combat force had always been lacking. Now, with Pokémon on the horizon, the balance of power might shift dramatically.

Shaku's awe deepened as he read of tiers beyond Shadow—Super Shadow and even the exalted Six Paths. The implications were staggering. For years, he had believed the Shadow-tier to be the pinnacle of power—the true "nuclear weapons" of the ninja world. Now, the Pokémon Dex hinted that true supremacy might lie even further beyond. The realization forced him to question his own efforts and, silently, he resolved to support Rōsa's ambitious plans.

Early the next morning, as Rōsa sat at the dining table, he noticed the dark circles beneath Master Shaku's eyes—a sure sign that the master had spent a sleepless night studying the Dex. Meanwhile, the trio—Larvitar, Shuckle, and Roggenrola—ate their breakfast with varied enthusiasm: Larvitar devoured its meal with gusto, while Shuckle and Roggenrola maintained a more refined demeanor.

After breakfast, Rōsa tidied up and set off to pick up Karura. Her home lay conveniently between his and the Ninja Academy, so the two walked together each day. Along with Karura was Sōya, a year older and the son of the esteemed Sō clan leader, Sōyū. Though Sōya should have been in the second grade, his father arranged for him to study abroad for a year—ensuring he and Rōsa became classmates and forming a close-knit school team. Rōsa gladly accepted this arrangement, feeling that these companions might one day form his own ninja squad.

That day, Rōsa's exuberance spilled over as he approached Master Shaku with his carefully honed proposal. "Master, I'm absolutely certain—the innate talent of our Pokémon far exceeds that of their peers. The Pokémon Realm is immense, home to hundreds of spirit-beast tribes, including those that can reach Shadow-tier, and even beyond. In truth, the Pokémon Realm isn't merely a spirit sanctuary; it's an entire world reserved solely for Pokémon. It has been sealed for millennia, with no records or legends outside our few whispers. And today, I stand as the sole contract-holder of that realm."

Shaku listened intently as Rōsa continued, "So, in time, these three will grow to become true Shadow-tier warriors—and other ninjas, too, can form contracts with spirit beasts. While I'm the only one who can freely enter the Pokémon Realm right now, that doesn't mean others won't eventually have the chance. To form a contract, a medium is needed—a Pokémon Ball. These Balls, crafted from materials exclusive to the Pokémon Realm, will be my legacy to our world. They'll be the key to unleashing Pokémon power in Sunagakure, making our village unstoppable."

Shaku's eyes shone with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "So, for a ninja to contract a Pokémon, they must first obtain a Pokémon Ball from you?"

"Precisely! And that's why Sunagakure will be the first to harness this power. I currently have 50 Pokémon Balls at my disposal, which the village can distribute. But more than that, we need to build a comprehensive Pokémon industry—a dedicated Pokémon Store to provide food, medicine, and training methods. This is the pathway to our village's prosperity."

Shaku's expression softened as he recalled Rōsa's determined eyes. "Very well, Rōsa. I see your vision—and if it can strengthen Sunagakure, I'll support you. I'll even personally lead an expedition to capture the strongest Pokémon from the western wilds. Let's stage a public challenge, so all will witness the power of Pokémon."

Rōsa leaped into Shaku's arms, pouting playfully. "Master, I promise you—once we show the world what Pokémon can do, our future is assured!" His heart brimmed with determination as he thought, I may be only six, but for our destiny, I'll give it my all!

Later that day, after dinner—delivered by Rōsa himself as part of his daily duty to ensure Shaku never skipped a meal—Rōsa returned to his room with his Pokémon. He also handed Master Shaku 50 Pokémon Balls and a temporary Pokédex, explaining their usage before retiring for the night. In that moment, Rōsa's plan was clear: by popularizing Pokémon now, he could pave the way for an entire Pokémon economy in Sunagakure—a strategy that would secure both his own power and our village's dominance.

As Rōsa lay in bed that night, he reflected on his transformation from cautious progress to bold, audacious ambition. With each passing day, as he nurtured his Pokémon and expanded his influence, the dream of a thriving "Pokémon Economy" drew nearer—a dream that would soon revolutionize not only Sunagakure but the entire shinobi world.

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