A month had passed since Ishi's first day at the academy, and the time had flown by in a whirlwind of training, studying, and bonding with his classmates and Perseus. Well some of his classmates at least, there were still a select few that either stuck to their own company or just continued to tick him off. Even so, the academy grounds had become a second home to him, and he relished every moment he had spent there.
His mornings were always filled with self-study sessions, where he diligently read through scrolls and texts, he’d also taken to asking a few of the other Sensei’s in the academy for tips and tricks for training both himself and Percy. His afternoons were dedicated to physical training, sparring, and honing his ninja skills. The weekly sparring sessions had become a highlight for him. He had remained undefeated, and he had gained a reputation among his peers as a formidable fighter, the one everyone wanted to beat. Including Ivy and Senpei.
Perseus had also grown significantly in both strength and skill, along with his physical body also growing. He used to barely reach halfway up his shin, but now he was almost reaching his kneecap. The bond between them had also deepened considerably, in his opinion, and their synchronised movements in battle were a testament to their partnership. They had faced off against a few of their classmates, including Senpei and Ivy, and emerged victorious each time. His streak had now grown to 5, so the rewards for his quest were also multiplying with each continued win.
His shuriken throwing had continued to improve considerably, and with the addition of the moving targets he could safely say he was one of if not the most accurate in the class. His accuracy wasn’t quite perfect yet, but he could hit targets from various distances with ease, it was just that they were not always bullseyes. The ninja tricks, too, had now become second nature to him. He had mastered most of the basics, it was just the Ninja Body Switch and Ninja Dust Storm he had yet to fully master. He was on the verge of obtaining his first Sub-Class, a milestone that filled him with anticipation, and he absolutely couldn’t wait.
The month had brought new friendships. He had grown closer to a few of his classmates, but it was mostly him following Senpei and Ivy as they made new friends, he just wasn’t all that invested in making more friends with eight year olds. However, not all interactions were positive. Midori, the spoiled brat with a constant sneer, that he and most of the class had affectionately nicknamed ‘Sneeradori’, seemed determined to make the class's life difficult. Midori's arrogance and disdain for others made her an enemy in his eyes. And not quite in contrast, but Shigeru had become a sort of constant rival. Despite losing to Ishi multiple times, Shigeru never gave up, always challenging him and pushing him to improve.
As Ishi reflected on the past month, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his progress. His stats had increased significantly, and his cultivation technique was advancing smoothly. One of the reasons for his rapid improvement was his personal adoption of weight seals on his wrist straps. He had finally gotten Mr. Suru’s assistance in reversing the weight reduction seal and he was now using the revered weight seals to make his training more intense. Which in turn had led to better results and rewards. This dedication to enhancing his physical capabilities had paid off, and he felt stronger and more agile than ever. The sealed straps were now worn in his day to day life as well, and were only taken off when he slept as his body did still need to heal.
His thoughts drifted to the battles he and Perseus had won. The memory of their first victory against Senpei was still vivid in his mind, and each subsequent battle had only strengthened their bond. Perseus had become a fierce fighter, and Ishi knew they had only scratched the surface of their potential. And the day Percy had finally used Counter against Kenta and his honedge to snatch an extremely close win still put a smile on his face.
However, not everything had gone smoothly. Ishi's attempts at upgrading his satchel with a subspace compartment had been frustratingly complex. Despite his extensive research and careful application of the techniques he had learned, success remained elusive. The intricate balance of aura and material required for subspace crafting was difficult to achieve, and each failed attempt left him feeling more annoyed. ‘It’s been over a month since I decided to upgrade my satchel and there has been no appreciable progress.’ He mulled in his head as he began to sulk.
He was now sitting at his desk, frowning at yet another satchel in front of him. Scrolls and notes were spread out around his room, detailing the steps and seals needed for the subspace upgrade. He had spent countless hours trying to perfect the process, but the results were always the same: failure.
"Why is this so difficult?" He muttered to himself, his frustration evident.
Perseus, sensing his irritation, hopped onto the desk and nudged him on the arm. "Froakie fro?"
He smiled down at Perseus's concern. "It's this subspace crafting, Percy. I just can't seem to get this right, it’s even more frustrating than when I couldn’t craft my first Pokeball and was just left with a shell. These literally blow up in my face."
"Kie kie fro," Perseus croaked sympathetically, his large eyes reflecting his own frustrations.
Ishi took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. He knew that frustration would only hinder his progress. "I guess I just need to keep trying huh. We'll figure it out eventually." and with a long sigh he let some of the tense emotion drain out of him.
With renewed resolve, he began reviewing his notes once again. The complexity of the subspace crafting techniques was a challenge, but he was determined to overcome it. He had come a long way in the past month, and he knew that perseverance and hard work were the keys to success. ‘They worked out for me last time, why not this time to.’ he thought to himself as he reread his notes for what felt like the thousandth time.
The month had been transformative, he mused, and he was still ever more excited for what the future held. The path to becoming a true ninja was long and arduous, but with Perseus by his side and the support of his friends, family and sensei’s, he knew he could achieve anything. The next step was mastering subspace crafting and continuing to grow stronger, one challenge at a time.
***
His mind began to drift back to the first time he had attempted to upgrade a satchel to have a subspace compartment. The memory was vivid. He had gathered the necessary materials carefully, knowing that each component was crucial to the success of the project. On his desk, he had laid out everything. From the iron and copper chunks to the smooth Tumblestone next to the dried Caster fern leaves and a Pop pod and finally the strands of Iron Barktongue. Alongside these were three small shards: one red, one blue, and one green. These shards were believed to stabilise the aura flow within the subspace compartment. He had been so prepared.
With everything in place, he had taken a deep breath, feeling both excitement and trepidation. He knew this wouldn't be easy, but the potential rewards were too great to ignore. He had purchased several satchels from the market that day, anticipating that his first attempts were certain to be unsuccessful. So he’d set out to perfect the method before upgrading his own personal satchel.
He’d begun by carefully measuring and cutting the Iron Barktongue into thin strips, which he then wove into the fabric of the first spare satchel to provide structural integrity. Next, he embedded the, sanded and smoothed down, iron and copper chunks into the sides of the satchel, creating what he thought was a sturdy frame. The Tumblestone was then placed in the centre, acting as the core of the subspace compartment.
The Caster fern and Pop pod were ground into a fine powder and mixed with the shards. He hadn’t yet figured out the exact quantities needed of both and for each shard, but he had used a rough guesstimate. This mixture was then infused with a small amount of his aura, creating a glowing paste that he carefully applied to the interior of the satchel. The paste was designed to stabilise the subspace energy and allow for the expansion of the compartment.
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Ishi worked slowly and methodically, ensuring each step was done to the best of his current abilities. He’d muttered instructions to himself as he went along, occasionally glancing at his notes to make sure he wasn't missing anything. Perseus had also been there and had watched intently from the side, his large eyes following his every movement.
"Alright, Percy, this is the moment of truth," He had said, taking a deep breath. "Let's see if it works."
With a final application of aura, he’d activated the subspace compartment. For a brief moment, it worked perfectly. The interior of the satchel expanded, creating a larger space that defied its external dimensions. His heart leaped with excitement. ‘Take that Issac, you ain’t got nothing on ME!’ he’d thought to himself as he stared at the finished product of his efforts.
But then, just as quickly, the satchel began to shimmer and shake. The aura flow destabilised, and the satchel imploded, bursting at the seams. The materials scattered across the desk, and He had to throw up his hands as the remnants of the satchel were sent towards his face. Then all that could be heard was a long sigh of disappointment.
"It worked... for a few seconds," He’d muttered, trying to stay optimistic. "That's something, at least."
He had taken a break to recharge his stamina, eating a quick meal and talking to Perseus about what might have gone wrong. The Froakie listened attentively, croaking in encouragement, even if it was clear all this went over his adorable little head, it had still managed to raise his mood a few notches.
For the rest of the month, He had continued to practise subspace crafting. Each attempt brought him a little closer to success, but the process was slow and frustrating. The balance of materials and aura control and output required a level of precision that was difficult for the past him to achieve. There were days when he made significant progress, and others when he felt like he was basically starting from scratch.
His training and Perseus's training had also taken up a considerable amount of time. The sparring sessions, shuriken throwing practice, and ninja tricks classes were demanding, leaving him with limited time to devote to subspace crafting. There were also days when he spent time with his friends and family, taking breaks to recharge and gather new insights.
So as He finished reflecting on his first attempt at subspace crafting, he felt a mix of frustration and hope. He felt that he had come a long way in the past month, and he was confident that with continued effort, he would eventually master the technique.
Ishi picked up his tools and materials once more.
***
He took out the last spare satchel he had been able to buy from the market the weekend before, laying it out on his desk carefully. Perseus hopped up beside him, watching intently with his wide, ridiculously cute, curious eyes.
"Alright, Percy," He said, taking a deep breath. "Let's give this another try."
Ishi began by gathering the materials once more: iron and copper chunks, a smooth Tumblestone, dried Caster fern leaves, a Pop pod, strands of Iron Barktongue, and the three small shards - red, blue, and green. He laid them out in an organised manner, his hands moving with practised familiarity.
He started by cutting the Iron Barktongue into thin strips, weaving them into the fabric of the satchel. The iron and copper chunks were embedded into the sides, forming a sturdy frame. The Tumblestone was placed in the centre, the core of the subspace compartment. As he worked, Ishi felt something different, a new and subtle shift in the air and Aura around him.
"This feels... different," Ishi murmured, pausing for a moment to locate the sensation. There was a faint hum of energy, a resonance that seemed to align with his aura.
"Fro?" Perseus tilted his head, as if sensing the change as well.
He decided to trust his instincts. He mixed the ground Caster fern and Pop pod with the shards, creating the glowing paste. Infusing it with his aura, and once again he noticed that the energy seemed to flow more smoothly, as if the materials were more fully responding to his intent.
"This might be a good sign," He said aloud, his excitement tempered with cautious optimism. "Let's amplify this feeling."
He applied the paste to the interior of the satchel, his hands still steady. The aura flowed seamlessly, integrating with the materials in a way that felt almost natural. He could feel the balance of energies, the delicate interplay between the components and his own power.
The task was gruelling and required intense concentration. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked, but he somehow maintained his focus, manipulating the crafting process to enhance the resonance had he felt. Time seemed to blur, and the world narrowed to just him, Perseus, and the satchel.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he completed the task. He sat back, observing the satchel with a mix of hope and trepidation. The interior had expanded into a subspace compartment, just like all the others before it, and the aura flow felt stable.
"Alright, Percy," He said, setting up a timer beside the satchel. "Let's see how long it takes before it implodes."
Leaving the timer running, Ishi and Perseus headed downstairs to refuel with some food and water. They played with the family Pokémon, enjoying a brief respite from the intense focus of crafting. The laughter and playful antics helped him relax, momentarily pushing aside his worries and hopes.
After about an hour had passed, his nerves got the better of him. He excused himself and rushed back upstairs, his heart beginning to pound in his chest. He approached the desk cautiously, expecting to find the satchel in pieces or about to be pieces.
But to his astonishment, the satchel showed no signs of imploding. The aura flow was stable, and the subspace compartment remained intact.
"It hasn't collapsed," He whispered, hardly daring to believe it. "It worked, Percy! It actually worked!"
"Froakie!" Perseus croaked excitedly, jumping up and down.
He decided to wait for another hour, just to be sure. He spent the time practising some light exercises with Perseus and checking on the other Pokémon. The minutes ticked by slowly, but finally, the next hour was up. He rushed back to the desk and found the satchel still perfectly intact.
His heart swelled with pride and joy. He picked up Perseus and swung him around, both of them laughing in sheer delight.
"We did it, Percy!" He exclaimed. "We actually did it! Suck on that any inventor who's ever invented anythig! I'm so gonna put Devon Corp and Silph Co out of business." 'Hehehehehe, thats a fun image to think about!' he thought while laughing somewhat diabolically inside.
"Froakie!" Perseus croaked yet again, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
He placed the spare satchel on one of his shelves, leaving the timer running just in case. But deep down, he knew he had succeeded. The next step was to replicate the results with his own personal satchel, the one that had been by his side through all of his adventures.
He gathered the remaining materials once more, his hands trembling slightly with excitement and nerves. This satchel meant a lot to him, and the thought of upgrading it filled him with both awe and anxiety. It was also still safely storing one of his future partners, so yeah, he felt it deserved the best treatment.
"Alright, let's do this," He muttered, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
He began the process again, this time with even greater care. The feeling of resonance was there, and he focused on amplifying it, letting his instincts guide him. The crafting took a long time, each step requiring meticulous attention.
As he worked, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The weight of his dedication, the hours of practice, and the desire to succeed all fueled his determination.
Perseus stayed close, offering silent support with his presence.
Finally, he completed it. He sat back, his breath coming in short gasps. The satchel looked the same, but he could feel the difference. The subspace compartment was there, stable and ready.
"I can't believe it," He whispered, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. "We did it, Percy. We really did it."
"Froakie fro fro kie!!" Perseus cried in joy, nuzzling his cheek.
At that moment, he heard his parents calling him for dinner. So he quickly grabbed both upgraded satchels and rushed downstairs, Perseus hopping alongside him.
"Mom, Dad, look!" He exclaimed as he burst into the kitchen. "I did it! I upgraded the satchels with subspace compartments!"
His parents turned to him, their eyes widening in surprise. "That's amazing, Ishi!" his mother said, her voice filled with emotion. "We're so proud of you!"
His father nodded, a broad smile on his face. "You've worked so hard for this. Congratulations, son."
The family gathered around the table, the atmosphere filled with celebration and joy. He felt a deep sense of fulfilment, knowing that his efforts had paid off. The future sure looked bright, in front of his beaming expression.