Naruto: As Rasa

Rasa's mind buzzed with visions of the future. He mused that Ground/Poison types like Nido King and Nido Queen—ideal for the puppet masters, whose fragile physiques and penchant for poison techniques demanded extra protection—would serve as both robust shields and potent enhancers for their venomous arts. Moreover, these Pokémon required proper sustenance; they couldn't survive on mere dirt, and the wealthy puppet masters would gladly pay for quality food. In contrast, rugged Pokémon like Rhyhorn, with their low upkeep, suited the everyday ninja. And then there were Fire Camels—powerful combatants that doubled as sturdy transport along trade routes—whose impressive load capacities could significantly boost Sunagakure's economy. With such strategic planning in mind, Rasa reluctantly disengaged from his system.

He strode over to his desk and pulled open the bottom drawer. With a soft creak, the drawer revealed a small box containing his parents' legacy along with the savings he'd painstakingly accumulated. Both Gadessa and Shagu had always spoiled him with generous allowances. Inside the box, neatly stacked were a bundle of banknotes and two deeds—one for his family home and the other for a storefront that, under Gadessa's management, was now leased out. Rasa retrieved the stack; it amounted to 1.21 million ryos.

"Yumi, recharge," he instructed.

"Ding, congratulations, host—you've received additional Poké Coins," replied Yumi.

A satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he observed his updated balance.

Next, Rasa navigated to the Pokémon Shop within the system. He spent 120 Poké Coins to purchase 10 servings of Moo Moo Fresh Milk—enough for a month's supply for his two young Pokémon, since both Larvitar and Roggenrola were still in their infancy, and fresh milk would accelerate their growth. In addition, he expended 2,000 Poké Coins on two hefty volumes of the Pokémon Breeding Guide, detailing the rearing methods for Larvitar and Roggenrola. After these transactions, his balance settled at 9,080 Poké Coins.

Finally, Rasa reached into his backpack and withdrew the Shuckle Egg. Five minutes later, the egg began to tremble and, with a gentle crack, hatched. Out emerged Shuckle—a Pokémon whose body was rounded and reminiscent of a teapot. Its primary color was a striking red adorned with white speckles. The surface of its body looked as if it were made of rock or compacted earth, giving an impression of rugged durability. Shuckle's head was slender, sporting two small black eyes and a tiny mouth.

Rasa promptly consulted Shuckle's data on his system:

Name: Shuckle

Gender: Female

Type: Rock / Bug

Ability: Sturdy

Level: LV1

IV: 3 (HP 31, Atk 17, Def 31, Sp. Atk 7, Sp. Def 31, Speed 24)

Moves: Withdraw, Sweet Aroma (inherited), Helping Hand (inherited)

This perfectly matched Rasa's plan for a support Pokémon—Helping Hand would boost allies' attack, and as Shuckle leveled up, it could learn moves like Power Split, Guard Split, and Gastric Juice to become an indispensable asset. Once Shuckle finished nibbling on its eggshell, Rasa tenderly cradled it for a moment before stowing it safely inside a Luxury Ball.

After securing Shuckle, Rasa shifted his focus to his training. He then dedicated two hours to chakra refinement—a practice he had maintained for a year. Still young, he limited his daily chakra sessions to two hours, devoting the remainder of his time to mastering hand seals and various ninjutsu. Rasa had already tapped into all four elements—wind, earth, water, and yin—but, true to Sunagakure's strengths, he primarily honed his wind and earth techniques. By now, he possessed the chakra reserves of a Genin and had learned several C-rank techniques such as Earth Flow Wall, Earth Dragon Bullet, and Wind Blade; D-rank techniques like Body Flicker; and E-rank jutsus including Substitution, Clone, and Transformation.

After his training, a soft "clack" signaled the door's opening. A tall man entered the room.

"Master, you're back," the man greeted.

Rasa ceased his practice and eagerly met Shagu's gaze. Today, buoyed by Shuckle's successful hatching, Rasa was bursting with ideas—even dreaming of launching his own Shuckle Juice business to generate revenue. However, he knew that such plans required his master Shagu's support—a matter not suited for a six-year-old to handle directly. Instead, Rasa had prepared a careful explanation to justify the burgeoning presence of Pokémon in Sunagakure.

"Master, are you familiar with the Spirit Sanctuaries?" Rasa ventured.

"Spirit Sanctuaries? Yes, the village archives mention them. My own spirit beast Xin Ya hails from the Dragon Cavern. There are also legends of Mount Myōki and Shigu Forest. Why do you ask?" Shagu inquired. (Xin Ya had been captured after Shagu ascended to the pinnacle of ninja power, though he never practiced the ethereal arts of the Dragon Cavern—lest the risks of such forbidden techniques plunge Sunagakure into darkness.)

"Well," Rasa continued, laying out his carefully rehearsed thoughts, "a few days ago I rescued an injured spirit beast. It willingly formed a contract with me and led me to a hidden Spirit Sanctuary—the Pokémon Realm. This Pokémon Realm, a vast and secret haven, is home to countless spirit beast tribes. Though I've not visited the Dragon Cavern myself, I believe the Pokémon Realm is many times larger—and infinitely more prosperous—than any known sanctuary."

Shagu's eyes lit up with astonishment. "Really? That sounds remarkable. Show me these spirit beasts, then."

In that moment, Rasa saw an opportunity. Although Sunagakure's current spirit beast tribe was limited to the Kama-weasel type, if the Pokémon Realm teemed with diverse tribes, then—with him as the connecting bridge—more ninjas might be inspired to form contracts with spirit beasts.

"Come out, Larvitar, Roggenrola, and Shuckle," Rasa commanded, retrieving the Pokémon Balls hanging at his waist. One by one, his three young Pokémon emerged:

Larvitar bounded straight into Rasa's embrace with youthful exuberance. Roggenrola stood quietly, its single hexagonal eye fixed curiously on Rasa. Shuckle, still shy from its recent hatching, peeked around cautiously; upon spotting Shagu, it crept closer to Rasa's feet before retreating slightly into its shell.

Rasa cradled Larvitar in his left arm and carefully scooped up Shuckle. He then arranged all three on the sofa and announced, "Please sit tight and let me introduce you to my master, Shagu. Once you meet him, we become one big family. Shuckle, why don't you poke your head out?"

Obediently, Shuckle extended its head from its shell and timidly greeted Shagu.

"Master, on the left is Shuckle, in the middle is Larvitar, and on the right is Roggenrola," Rasa explained proudly.

Shagu examined the three with a critical eye. "Their spirit is high, but they seem rather weak… they're so small."

"Master, don't underestimate them—they're only infants. In time, they can grow to become true powerhouses, even reaching the highest tiers of ninja strength," Rasa assured, his eyes shining with conviction.

"High-tier? You think all three can achieve that?" Shagu asked in astonishment.

At that, Larvitar puffed up slightly in pride, Roggenrola maintained its stoic gaze, and Shuckle shyly retracted its head further.

Rasa's heart swelled with determination. With his innovative ideas and the promise of a thriving Pokémon economy, he was ready to lead Sunagakure into a bold new era—even if it meant challenging the old order from behind the scenes.

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