Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

Xiaoxia was holding back her laughter, intending to watch the show, but she discovered that Luo Ke not only had no dissatisfaction with Xiao Gang's behavior, but also kept gazing at Xiao Gang's back with tender and extremely gratified eyes.

"How could this happen..."

"Don't be surprised, after all, it's a Pokémon from two hundred years ago... or you could say a human." Hearing Misty's regretful sigh, Blue knew what she was thinking.

Nine-Tailed Loke can actually be viewed as a person, and a woman who lived two hundred years ago and upheld old traditions.

Xiao Gang's relationship with it is not just that of companions, but also that of master and servant.

From the maid's perspective, she naturally didn't think there was anything wrong with her master going out to flirt with other women; on the contrary, she was happy to see Xiao Gang pursuing happiness.

Let's put it this way: if Xiao Gang really marries someone and has children in the future, Luo Ke will even take the initiative to serve his new wife during her postpartum period.

So, who would have thought that Ash would reject the five sisters' advances in Ecruteak City, while Brock would bring a maid home from Mt. Raibou?

While Brock's interlude was unfolding, Ash had already learned the general situation from Ayame.

Kaji Town, once known as the home of ninjas, has indeed declined. Even its former ninja training base was previously occupied by Team Rocket.

However, A-Jiu is currently active in Johto. As a former ninja, he hopes to revive the glory of this profession, so he applied for the League's support and moved the Pokémon Ninja Academy, which was originally located near Violet City, here.

Ayame, A-Ju's younger sister, also came here to train.

“The Crimson Gym is temporarily closed, and Ayane is currently challenging the Kanto League,” Ayame explained. “If she does well this year, she will become the Gym Leader after the tournament.”

"Then I must congratulate you in advance," Ash said with a smile. "With Miss A-Xing's abilities, the Fuchsia Gym will surely become famous."

"I appreciate your kind words," Ayame said with a smile, extending an invitation to the group, "Since you have such a rare opportunity, Mr. Ash and his companions, would you like to visit the Ninja Academy together?"

“Sure, we’ll trouble you, Miss Ayame.” Ash readily agreed.

Ash has always been very curious about the ninja community.

Throughout the history of the Pokémon world, there are only a few words about ninjas, but between the lines they reveal the strangeness and power of this group.

They may not be as destructive as those guys in the next shed, but they still possess a formidable power.

For example, Ash knows that the extremely poisonous move, which is incredibly popular in battles, was invented by a ninja four hundred years ago.

Ash also has a companion who fights in a ninja-like style... Ash is looking forward to seeing if this trip will bring any rewards.

As they headed towards the ninja academy separated by only a wall, Xiaoxia was plotting something in her mind.

The Scarlet Maiden has already participated in the League Tournament and is about to inherit the gym...

That's her choice.

As the daughter of Hua Lan, what choice will she make?

Chapter 541 Visiting the Ninja Academy, An Unexpected Encounter

"Mr. Ash, and everyone else, please come with me for a proper tour... And I'm truly sorry about what happened earlier."

Ayame introduced the basic situation of the academy to Satoshi and the others, and apologized for the shuriken blunder earlier.

"When the academy was still in Violet City, it originally only taught courses such as ninjutsu makeup and improving the control of special moves. Even if there was battle instruction, it was mostly Pokémon battles, so it wasn't too strenuous."

"But my brother was too eager to produce results in a short time, so he specially hired several skilled ninjas from other regions. They required the ninja trainees to also participate in practical combat exercises, which significantly increased the difficulty."

Ayame shrugged and sighed helplessly, "I originally came here just to learn, but now I've been given a mission and have to become someone's practical instructor. I've been overwhelmed with work lately."

"Is Miss Ayame in trouble? Why don't I lend a hand?" Uncle Gang perked up immediately. "For Miss Ayame, I will transform into a ninja of love and justice..."

"Alright, then thank you in advance." Ayame quickly stopped him upon seeing this. "Let me make this clear first, those shuriken just now were thrown by my student... Heaven knows why they curved and flew straight towards people's faces!"

"Uh..." Xiao Gang's face stiffened for a moment. The shuriken that had just shot straight at his face had clearly left him with lingering fear.

The group passed through the gate and arrived at the academy's playground. In a corner of the training field, a girl was eagerly waiting.

"Instructor Ayame, you're finally back!" Upon seeing Ayame, the girl immediately showed obvious joy and hurriedly came forward to greet her, her manners both eager and refined.

"I was worried the whole time that those shuriken might hurt... uh, who are they?"

The girl panicked a little. In her eyes, the way Ash and his group came over really looked like they were there to interrogate her.

Judging from their wide eyes, they seem to be quite angry...

The girl was imagining things with worry... Little did she know, the expressions on Ash and the others' faces were simply due to extreme surprise.

The girl in front of them looked a lot like someone they knew.

A chestnut-colored braid reaching her waist, a face that looked honest and pretty…

Aside from the different clothes, this girl looks exactly like Haru from Sakuragi Labs!

"Xiaochun, why are you here?" Lila clearly admitted her mistake. "Shouldn't you be at school at this time?"

"Uh... what are you talking about?" The girl, who looked very much like Xiaochun, asked, tilting her head.

"She's not Xiaochun," Xiaozhi corrected at this moment.

"You're kidding, they look exactly alike!" Xiaoxia exclaimed.

Actually, it wasn't just her; Lila and Xiaogang also found it incredible.

They've seen people who look alike before, but those are reincarnations separated by two hundred years.

“You may have mistaken me for someone else. Let me formally introduce you… This is the princess of the nearby Eclipse Castle, and also the heir to the castle lord, Kasuga.” Ayame quickly clarified, “Eclipse Castle has a long tradition of employing and training ninjas. Every one of their castle lords receives ninja training. Since the academy moved to this area, they sent Kasuga here.”

“This little spring... no, spring is…” “A princess?!”

When Ash's companions heard that the 'Little Spring' in front of them was actually a princess, they were all amazed.

"Greetings, everyone. I am Kasuga from Eclipse City. It's a pleasure to meet you all." Kasuga gave a very proper bow and looked at Ash in particular. "You must be Mr. Ash. I'm sorry I only just recognized you... I've heard many of your heroic deeds before."

"Princess Kasuga, it's a pleasure to meet you." Ash nodded politely.

Eclipse City, like Ordron City in Kanto or Miraju Kingdom in Hoenn, is a small power that is affiliated with the alliance but maintains a high degree of autonomy.

These city lords and kings may not have as much actual authority in the league as the gym leaders of the first team... but they are still very popular within their own territories.

Therefore, the alliance adopted a strategy of peaceful coexistence with them, giving these leaders a certain degree of respect while also cooperating with them as necessary.

Ash had heard of Eclipse Castle, where Spring lived, and thought it was quite powerful.

They maintain a reserve of ninjas as an army, making them the only respectable ninja organization in the entire Kanto region since the decline of Kaji Town.

"Haruhi, I'm going to show Mr. Satoshi and his group around the academy. Your ninja tool training will end here," Ayame said to Haruhi. "You can finish your remaining classes first, and then come find me."

"Understood, then I'll take my leave." Haruhi nodded to everyone and then hurried to the other classrooms.

...

"Wait... what are you filming?" Ash asked Blue, puzzled, as the others walked away.

He had just noticed that Xiao Lan seemed to have been secretly taking pictures of Chun Ri with her phone, and he wondered what she was trying to do.

“She looks just like Xiaochun, isn’t that interesting?” Xiaolan moved her fingers and sent Chunri’s photo to someone.

She actually kept the contact information of a girl from the Sakuragi Research Institute. After all, she had once played the role of a caring older sister, and that girl was still happy to be close to Xiaolan.

Now that she's encountered such an amusing case of looking like someone else, Xiao Lan naturally wants to share it with the other person remotely!

"But I'm curious, how did you tell at a glance that she wasn't Xiaochun?" Xiaolan asked with a smile after putting away her phone.

"Have you forgotten that I have a waveguide? They are completely different people, and I can easily tell the difference," Xiaozhi said seriously.

"Do you think I believe that?" Xiao Lan asked with a mischievous grin. "You're not a scanner, you're not going to keep the waveguide on every second, are you?"

“Okay, I figured it out from the details.” Ash rolled his eyes. “Although Princess Kasuga is just as cautious and polite as Haru, her eyes are sharper; and then there’s her hair. Haru has a light-colored cherry blossom mark on the left side of her hair, while this princess has a sun ring mark.”

"Heh, that's really meticulous." Xiao Lan winked. "Are you sure that Dr. Sakuragi and his wife could see this difference?"

"Honey, can't we just have a proper tour?" Xiao Zhi asked helplessly, rolling his dead fish eyes.

I told you I wouldn't say it, but you insisted I say it, and then you mocked me after I did.

Am I not naturally gifted at seeing the smallest details?

Besides, didn't I see you more clearly when you were dancing at night?

...

While inwardly grumbling, Ash and the others, led by Ayame, began to tour the entire academy.

There are indeed many interesting things here. Apart from the thread-spinning disguise technique that makes Xiaoxia feel physically uncomfortable, the practical training and special skill training are all taught with real substance.

On a certain playground, Ash even saw a ninja actually using the Substitution Jutsu!

They throw small smoke bombs, which can not only instantly swap bodies with a wooden stake, but also leave their coats on the stake!

"It's actually real ninjutsu! How amazing!" Lila exclaimed in amazement.

Ash, however, became curious about something else: "Miss Ayame, can the Pokémon used by ninjas also learn this Substitute technique?"

“Actually, it’s possible.” Ayame nodded. “Neither my brother nor I are very good at this kind of ninjutsu, but the instructors my brother invited are all very skilled ninjas. Their Pokémon can really use the Substitute Technique in battle!”

It's the Substitute Technique from ninjutsu, not the Substitute move from Pokémon. That's the key point that Ash is concerned about!

"This is the training ground. I'll go find the two instructors." Ayame led the group to the innermost area of ​​the academy, and then ran to the adjacent student lounge.

After a while, she brought back two young men dressed as ninjas.

One of them was very tall and wore armor made of light metal, which made him look quite imposing.

The other person has similar facial features to him and seems to be his younger brother. Perhaps because he is young, he appears to be more lively overall.