Whilst he was busy with all the notifications and their implications, he followed his little Scatteerbug buddy as she guided him to the far side of the cavern. ‘Ok so first off it's basically rewarded me for surviving a dangerous situation, hmm I wonder if there’s a way to utilise this for the other ninja tricks? Stuff for future Ishi to think about.’ He mentally chucked the issue up to the reliable future Ishi in his ever increasing wisdom. ‘Ah I’m glad I now know that the (???) reward was the ancient amber, huh so the system knew I was possibly going to be rewarded one of those but didn’t know which one. Interesting.’ And then of course after reading the final one and learning he was one step closer to unlocking mana, which had evaded him ever since getting the system, he quickly accepted.

The walk with the Scatterbug was rather uneventful and only took a minute or two. They were now in front of a small opening where the rock wall gave way to a narrow, almost hidden crawlspace. Ishi glanced at the small opening, then back at Scatterbug. "Are the Froakie this way?" he asked, pointing towards the hole. Scatterbug nodded vigorously, and Ishi smiled. "Thank you," he said sincerely, and then got down on his stomach to start crawling through the tight space.

The tunnel was narrow and the air grew damp as he moved forward. Sounds of running water and splashing began to echo around him, growing louder with each inch he progressed. Driven by the noises, Ishi quickened his pace, driven by both curiosity and a surge of hope.

Eventually, the crawlspace widened and opened into yet another vast, awe-inspiring cavern. ‘Jeez it feels like Every one of these caverns are a whole new ecosystem spending on the pokemon in them’ he mused as he took in his surroundings. The ceiling was adorned with glowing rocks, ‘no moss this time huh just glowing rocks, neet’ he thought, that cast a magical light across the cavern, illuminating a large pool of water in the centre.

Ishi paused just inside the entrance, taking in the scene before him. Froakie were hopping around playfully, splashing each other in the pool, their blue skin speckled with white like sea foam, exuding playfulness and intelligence. They were under the watchful eyes of a Frogadier, its form sleeker and its skin a darker blue, adorned with a foamy scarf that added to its distinguished appearance, conveying readiness and protectiveness. The atmosphere was lively and filled with cheerful croaks. ‘Huh they must be newborns, I wonder if there are any eggs left to hatch for me.’ that sent a bit of doubt into his resolve but he was still happy with his fossil so if it wasn’t to be it wasn’t to be.

His gaze then drifted to a pair of Greninja standing a bit apart from the rest, their presence commanding and their eyes sharp. ‘Wow those Vivillon lose out to these two for sure!’ Although he couldn't sense them at all even with his aura he, every one of his instincts told him to stay away.

They were the epitome of ninja grace and power, with slim, toned bodies ideal for stealth. Their deep, midnight blue skin blended into the shadows, and their pink tongues that they used as scarves covered their faces like ninja masks, the serene yet intense light in eyes seemed to be piercing through the dim light. Both of them seemed to be assessing him, gauging his intentions. He took in the scene, and was struck by the evolutionary beauty of these creatures, each stage perfectly adapted to their lives of aquatic agility and stealth. ‘Hah and then there’s the next stage of their evolution with the Bond-Phenomenon, oh I can’t wait! Ash may have his MCness but I have a system, my cheat hacks won’t lose out at all!’

Quelling his anticipation and remembering his training and the customs of respect among Pokémon, especially those as noble as Greninja, Ishi bowed his head deeply, showing deference.

"My name is Ishi," he introduced himself in a clear, respectful tone. "I came here hoping to find a Froakie to partner with. I mean no disturbance to your home.”

The Greninja regarded him silently for a moment longer, then the one that appeared to be the leader nodded slowly. "Gren... Ninja," it finally spoke, its voice low and contemplative. It then gestured towards the group of Froakie.

Ishi looked up, meeting the Greninja’s gaze, which had softened slightly. And with no feeling of hostility directed at him he bowed again and moved closer. Taking the invitation, he followed as the Greninja led him closer to the pool. The Froakie, now aware of his presence, paused their play to watch him curiously.

While he approached, his heart was full of excitement and a deep sense of honour. The prospect of having his own Froakie partner was a childhood dream of his, even including his past life. To start his journey as a Pokémon trainer with such a spirited and beloved creature, felt like the fulfilment of a dream and all the effort he had been putting in all these years since coming here. Each step he took towards the pool, watched over by the protective Greninja, felt significant - like walking into a new chapter of his life, one that promised adventures and bonds that would define his future.

Greninja had led Ishi toward the pool where the younger Froakie frolicked under the watchful eyes of their evolutionary kin. The cavern, bathed in the soft glow from the luminescent rocks above, felt like a hidden sanctuary, a secret world of water and shadow.

Ishi introduced himself to the assembly of Pokémon, barely containing his excitement. His eyes sparkled with the kind of enthusiasm that only a true Pokémon enthusiast could muster. Observing Ishi’s glee, the Greninja couldn't help but let out a soft, amused chuckle. Seeing the genuine joy in the young ninja's eyes, Greninja gave a gracious wave of its webbed hand, granting Ishi permission to join the Froakie in their aquatic playground.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ishi dove into the water, splashing into the midst of the playful Froakie. The initial shock of the splash was met with laughter, in the form of happy croaks from the little Pokémon, who quickly retaliated, diving after Ishi and splashing him back. The Frogadier, who had been closely monitoring the interactions, glanced at the Greninja, who simply watched the scene unfold. With a shrug, Frogadier moved away from the pool’s edge, leaving Ishi to immerse himself fully in the joy of the moment.

For the next quarter of an hour, Ishi was in his element, laughing and playing with the Froakie as if he were one of them, sharing in their joyful antics and boundless energy. He had always thought he had an affinity for water and he felt that just being around this lot was definitely proof in the affirmative. When he finally climbed out of the water, the Froakie followed, clustering around him as he made his way back to where the Greninja stood observing.

With a bashful smile and a rub of the back of his head, Ishi bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you for letting me play with the Froakie," he said sincerely.

The trail of playful Froakie that had followed him, still bubbling with energy gathered around him, their small bodies bouncing with excitement. Ishi, dripping and breathless from the fun, crouched down to their level, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"Hey, you guys are amazing swimmers, you keep at it and soon you’ll be stronger than the Greninja over there!" he exclaimed, chuckling as one particularly bold Froakie hopped closer, splashing him lightly with a small wave.

"Froakie fro!" The Froakie responded in unison, which Ishi took as a sign of pride.

"You think you could teach me some of those cool jumps you do?" Ishi asked, his eyes twinkling with playful curiosity.

The Froakie seemed to confer among themselves for a moment before nodding enthusiastically, eager to share their skills with this friendly human.

***

Meanwhile, at the edge of the pool, Frogadier watched the interaction with a protective eye. It turned to Greninja, its expression a mix of amusement and concern. "Froga dier dier?" Frogadier asked, nodding subtly towards Ishi.

Greninja watched silently for a moment longer before replying. "Greninja gren ninja"

Frogadier hummed in agreement, its gaze softening as it watched the Froakie teach Ishi how to mimic their agile leaps. "Frogadier froga.”

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***

Back with the Froakie, Ishi attempted a leap, mimicking their movements. His attempt was clumsy in comparison, and he landed with a splash that sent ripples across the pool. The Froakie laughed in their croaky voices, but there was no mockery in their tone - only affection and encouragement.

"Okay, let's try that again," Ishi laughed, wiping water from his face. "Show me one more time?"

As this playful lesson continued, Greninja returned to the pair, watching Ishi’s perseverance and the Froakie’s delight. After a moment, Greninja signalled to Frogadier, who nodded and moved closer to the water’s edge.

Greninja acknowledged his thanks with a small nod, then turned and paced away, leaving Ishi with a raised webbed hand signalling him to wait. Ishi paused, respecting the Greninja’s gesture, and stood patiently, surrounded by the curious Froakie who had definitely taken a liking to him like he was one of them. ‘This must be one of the benefits that come with aura, I remember there were a few episodes when ash was swarmed with pokemon, heh I’m definitely lucky.’

They nudged and croaked around him, seeking his attention, which he gave willingly, his heart full of hope and anticipation. Still though, he watched Greninja’s retreating figure, wondering about the significance of this moment, about the choice that might soon be made, and about the partner he might soon call his own.

The anticipation was palpable, and when Greninja returned, the air seemed to thicken with expectation. In its hands, Greninja cradled a small, delicate Froakie egg. The egg’s subtle glow illuminated the faces of those gathered around, casting light on their awed expressions.

Ishi’s eyes lit up with a brilliant shine, reflecting his excitement and wonder at the sight of the egg. It was a tangible symbol of the future, a potential partnership that could shape his path as a Pokémon trainer. Just as he stepped forward, eager to draw closer to his possible future partner, Frogadier interjected sharply.

With a stern croak and an animated wave of its webbed hands, Frogadier made its objection clear, stepping protectively in front of the egg. ‘Interesting, it seems there is something special about this egg if Frogadier is reacting so strongly!’ He continued to watch as It shook its head emphatically, sending a clear message of disapproval towards Ishi.

Greninja raised a hand calmly and uttered a firm, “Gren ninja.” The authority in its voice was enough to quiet Frogadier, but the Water-type Pokémon still sent a lingering glare in Ishi’s direction, its protective instincts plainly visible.

Confused by the sudden tension, Ishi looked from Frogadier to Greninja, seeking clarification. Greninja’s gestures were deliberate; it pointed at the egg, then at Ishi, and finally at Frogadier, adding, “Gren gren ninja.” ‘Ah I get it, so that egg is one of the Greninjas direct offspring so it’ll be kinda like royalty when it hatches I suppose. Oh that is so going to be my partner, ain’t nothing this Frogadeir can do about it!’

The final message was clear, even through the language barrier with his aura ability he was able to follow along mostly. The gist was that he’d have to prove his worth to Frogadier to earn the right to take the Froakie egg. Understanding dawned on Ishi, and a resolve hardened within him. He knew what he had to do and was ready to meet the challenge head-on.

And with that understanding came a notification from the system.

Confirmed. Quest Created:

An Inconsiderate Frogadier, That Clearly Doesn’t Know Its Place, Has Gotten In The Way Of You And Your Partner! Teach This Guy A Lesson!

Reward: + 2 Levels

Accepting the quest while nodding firmly, Ishi faced Frogadier with a respectful yet determined expression. “I understand,” he said, even though he knew Frogadier might not comprehend his words. “I’m ready to prove myself.” ‘I’m so gonna mess you up for getting in the way of my partner! Oh Imma get me these levels.’ He thought sadistically to himself. He also then believed it’d be as good a time as any to use his available points, thinking ‘Status’ he quickly used eight of the available points on his dexterity and strength and relished the sudden boost in strength. He didn’t input ant into constitution or aura as it would have too much of an effect and would weaken him in the short run with there being no time to get used to them, but strength and dexterity were under his grasp in a split second after raising them.

Frogadier, recognizing the resolve in Ishi’s stance and not noticing the immediate change in his opponent, responded with a nod of its own, its earlier hostility giving way to a reluctant respect.

The challenge was set, and the terms were understood by all. The cavern, once filled with playful noises, now brimmed with the intensity of an impending trial. Ishi prepared himself, knowing that the outcome of this challenge could define his journey with the Froakie that might soon hatch from the egg still cradled in Greninjas arms.

He faced Frogadier, understanding the gravity of the challenge before him. In this world, humans, despite their ingenuity and spirit, were physically outmatched by Pokémon in nearly every aspect - from strength and speed to elemental powers. Ishi knew that overcoming Frogadier in a direct contest of strength was impossible; instead, he needed to win its respect through cleverness and strategy. ‘It's most likely underestimated me, good that’ll work to my advantage.’ He thought with a smirk.

Surveying the cavern, Ishi noted the natural resources at his disposal. Scattered rocks and boulders could provide cover or be used to create diversions. The pool of water from earlier playtime shimmered invitingly, a potential ally in his tactics. Unfortunately, the smoke bombs he’d packed for emergencies were likely ruined by his earlier unplanned swim, leaving him to rely purely on his environment and wits.

Taking a deep breath, Ishi adopted a fighting stance, he’d spared many a time with his classmates and held an impressive undefeated record with only his senseis really giving him a challenge, a grin spreading across his face. This was his first real test of skill against a Pokémon, and despite the stakes, he couldn't help but feel exhilarated. "Let's make this a good one," he muttered to himself, then louder to Frogadier, "I'm ready!”

Frogadier responded with a low croak and a nod, its eyes narrowing as it prepared for the first move. It leaped swiftly, utilising its powerful legs to launch a rapid attack. Ishi knew it was two fast to be dodged so decided to absorb the blow and roll to the side with the impact, then sprung up and used a nearby boulder for cover. Quickly assessing Frogadier's fighting style, he realised he needed to turn this challenge into a dance of counters by using the pokemons strength against it, and foresight rather than a head-on confrontation.

As Frogadier approached again sensing there Ishi had hidden, Ishi darted towards the pool. He scooped up a handful of water, using his Ninja water spout to propel him faster and to manipulate it into a small, distracting spray aimed towards Frogadier. The Frogadier paused, momentarily caught off guard, allowing Ishi to manoeuvre to another cover.

The battle progressed, with Ishi relying on his wit and surroundings to keep Frogadier on its toes, he had been able to catch the Frogadier a couple of times by catching its punch and using his centre of gravity to judo throw him into the ground, but he knew it was only negligible damage. He still didn't aim to hit but to outmanoeuvre, showing respect for Frogadier's prowess while also demonstrating his own competence and resilience. After several exchanges, Ishi took a calculated risk and paused, standing openly, showing he wasn't going to retreat further.

Breathing heavily, Ishi addressed Frogadier directly, "Thank you for this lesson, Frogadier. I hope I've earned your respect, as you have mine.” He intensified his otherworldly aura cultivation technique and balled both of his fists. “Let’s finish this with the next strike!” ‘Come on, rush in ya dumb frog.’

Frogadier studied Ishi for a tense moment, then slowly, it croaked affirmatively and nodded, a sign of respect earned. It got into a stance that Ishi immediately recognised as its blitz frontal attack and grinned at the pokemon in front of him.

They both nodded at one another and Ishi quickly lowered himself with bent knees and spread legs to lower his centre of gravity as Frogadeir burst forward. And suddenly the Frog pokemon slipped and went tumbling toward Ishi, the Evil smile playing across his face as his plan came to fruition. Frogadeir had quick reflexes and tried to regain its composure, but unfortunately it was to late and, due to its initial speed, reached the crouching Ishi only to get throw over his shoulder straight into a boulder that was directly behind Ishi causing a loud crash to ring out in the cavern. Frogadier spit out a bit of saliva as its body took the heavy hit, and capitalising on this Ishi darted forward with his fist now glowing slightly due to the condensed aura from his technique and just stopped an inch away from Frogadeirs face with the wind from the blow flowing over the shocked Frogadier.

Ishi stepped back with a smirk and bowed slightly to the Frogadier and began grinning as the notifications came pouring in from the system. Frogadier extracted itself from the boulder still a bit bewildered at the circumstances, but when it looked at where it had slipped it noticed all the mud that had been created due to Ishi using his Ninja water spout to make the field more advantageous to himself, it had to admit its defeat. And with a reluctant grunt of acceptance it moved back towards the group of Froakie that had watched in awe at the spectacle.

At this signal, Greninja stepped forward, holding the Froakie egg. With a dignified nod, Greninja handed the egg to Ishi, acknowledging his successful completion of the trial.

With a series of swift hand signs, Greninja then cast a Smokescreen. As the smoke cleared, Ishi found himself standing at the entrance of the catacombs. Night had fallen, and the stars twinkled in a clear sky above him.

Holding the Froakie egg close, Ishi felt a profound sense of accomplishment and anticipation for his future journey. He had not only earned the respect of Frogadier and the trust of Greninja but also gained a potential lifelong partner in the Froakie that would soon hatch. With a heart full of anticipation and a renewed sense of purpose, Ishi stepped out of the catacombs, ready to face whatever adventures lay ahead.