Naruto: As Rasa

Chapter Title: The Future of the Pokémon Economy

Sunagakure, Year 26, July 17

Master Shaku, sporting deep dark circles from sleepless nights spent studying the Pokémon Dex, and young Rōsa were preparing to head into the habitat zone for a capture mission. Over the past few days, while Shaku handled his official duties by day, he had devoted countless nights to poring over the immense, intricate data—types, attributes, species, abilities, levels… so much so that it took him two grueling nights to barely finish.

"Rōsa, what kinds of Pokémon are in this habitat?" Shaku asked as he briskly carried Rōsa on his back toward Moses Habitat.

"Master, Moses Habitat is the very first habitat established in the Pokémon Realm, and thanks to my connections, it's been set up right here in the Land of Wind," Rōsa explained, his head peeking out as he spoke. "Since our land lies in the desert, only Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon can thrive here. That's why every Pokémon in Moses Habitat is either Rock or Ground type."

"Moses Habitat is a medium-sized zone, and its strongest resident is a Fire-type—we call it Camerupt," Rōsa continued confidently. "Wild Camerupt need constant feeding, so they naturally gather near oases. You've seen the Dex entries on Camerupt, haven't you?"

Shaku nodded. "Yes, you mentioned them before. You even suggested capturing the entire clan—Camerupt can both aid in battle and serve as reliable mounts."

"Exactly! But these Camerupt must be managed properly," Rōsa insisted. "They should be community-owned rather than assigned to one ninja. We need a sustainable plan that lets them reproduce and generate more Pokémon Eggs. Once their numbers are sufficient, we can distribute them to those in need."

On the digital map, Moses Habitat showed an oasis harboring a small clan of Camerupt—only 36 in all. Rōsa proposed that the village adopt communal ownership for them.

"That sounds feasible," Shaku agreed. "Thirty-six isn't too many for the village to support."

"And, Master," Rōsa continued eagerly, "we could even set up a Fire Pokémon Desert Shipping Company. Camerupt would protect merchants and transport cargo along our harsh desert routes. With many residents now preferring to take missions in Konoha, our village's income is dwindling. By increasing Camerupt numbers, travel to Sunagakure will be easier. We could set up more mission reception points in other cities and reclaim our share of assignments."

Shaku's eyes sparkled with approval as he ruffled Rōsa's hair. "Excellent idea, Rōsa. Capture every Camerupt we can—but remember, they must be managed sustainably."

As they trekked deeper into Moses Habitat, Rōsa's attention was caught by a small, animated rock Pokémon floating nearby.

"Master, do you see that little rock Pokémon over there?" Rōsa asked.

Shaku squinted. "Is that Geodude?"

"Yes," Rōsa replied with a grin. "Geodude evolves into Graveler, and then—via trade evolution—into Golem. We're near the edge of the habitat; if we head about 10 kilometers northwest, we'll reach Moses Oasis."

They pressed on, and soon the oasis teemed with Pokémon. In one secluded glen, Rōsa noticed a pair of Pokémon locked in a tender embrace—Nidorino and Nidorina, so absorbed in each other that they barely noticed the approaching ninjas. Notably, Nidorina boasted a 2 IV.

"Master, please knock Nidorina out," Rōsa instructed. With a swift, precise strike from Shaku, Nidorina was rendered unconscious, and Rōsa easily captured her in a Poké Ball. Nidorino, shocked by the disappearance of its mate, hesitated before charging at Shaku in anger.

Thud! Nidorino crashed into Shaku, only to be sent flying.

Thud! Again it charged, only to be repelled.

After several such attempts, a dejected Nidorino finally slumped, tears glistening in its eyes. Gathering its courage, it slowly approached Rōsa with a pleading look—as if asking, "Will you take me in?"

Rōsa's heart softened. "Alright, come with us," he murmured, capturing Nidorino as well. He considered this a bonus acquisition—a "buy one, get one free" deal to be assigned to a capable trainer later.

Continuing their journey through the oasis, they passed vibrant flora and fruit—nature's own sustenance for the habitat. Rōsa did not disturb these, knowing they were vital to the ecosystem. After about two hours of trekking, they reached the eastern edge where the lush oasis met the unforgiving desert. There, before them, appeared a trio: two Camerupt and one endearingly clumsy specimen—a member of the clan affectionately known as "Dopey Camerupt."

The male Camerupt, a robust specimen, was an elite wild Pokémon at level 67 with an IV of 2. Its moves included Roar, Flame Burst, Charge, Stomp, Burn Out, Amnesia, Earth Power, and Earthquake—formidable for a desert beast. The female, at level 49 with Special Elite potential but a 0 IV, lagged slightly behind. Yet it was Dopey Camerupt—displaying max IVs (31 in both Attack and Special Attack) on its offensive stats—that truly captured Rōsa's imagination. Even at a base stat total of 460 (with 100 Attack and 105 Special Attack for the clan), Dopey Camerupt had no shortcomings on the offensive side. Against high-Defense opponents, it would use its Special Attack; against foes with high Special Defense, it would rely on its physical Attack. And crucially, because Dopey Camerupt was still small, it was easier to form a bond. In Rōsa's ideal world, the entire Camerupt clan would come together and flourish in Sunagakure.

Rōsa's strategic mind raced. His earlier cautious approach had shifted radically with these discoveries. Where he once planned to wait patiently until his Pokémon matured and Master Shaku recognized their value, he now saw an immediate opportunity. The arrival of these Pokémon signaled the dawn of a full-fledged Pokémon economy. By popularizing Pokémon immediately, he could generate enormous wealth, convert that wealth into Poké Coins, and thereby accelerate his own growth. In short, the sooner Pokémon spread throughout Sunagakure, the sooner he would become unstoppable.

Later that day, Rōsa returned to his room with his unruly trio. Logging into the system, he purchased a bucket of Moo Moo Fresh Milk—enough for ten meals for a hatchling—and a set of Pokémon Breeding Guides. After these transactions, his balance stood at 8,068 Poké Coins.

He carefully divided the milk into three bottles and distributed them among his charges according to his meticulously planned schedule: three meals a day plus an extra bottle at night. Larvitar, ever the glutton, surprised him by unscrewing the bottle's cap with its tiny paws and gulping down the entire contents in one go. "Larvitar—another bottle!" it chirped, shoving the nearly empty bottle toward Rōsa. Shuckle and Geodude (whom Rōsa later renamed Roggenrola) had only taken modest sips. Rōsa refilled another bottle for Larvitar, but within seconds, Larvitar grabbed the entire milk bucket and, in a comical frenzy, dashed to its edge—plunging headfirst so that half its body was submerged while its stubby legs flailed helplessly. Rōsa quickly rescued it, and though covered in milk, Larvitar snuggled against him as if apologizing. In the end, the entire bucket was consumed, leaving Larvitar's belly round and full—a sight that both amused and astonished Rōsa. How can a hatchling drink that much? he wondered.

After a warm bath, Rōsa carefully cleaned his three Pokémon and then retired for the night. On his futon, Shuckle—quiet and reserved—tucked itself safely into its shell, Roggenrola sat with dignified composure, and mischievous Larvitar clung to Rōsa's chest as sleep overtook him.

The Magnetic Challenge

The next day, Sunagakure's skies were clear as Master Shaku and Rōsa prepared for a new challenge at Moses Habitat. Today, they would demonstrate the power of Magnetic Release. As they neared the gathering area, Rōsa's eyes widened when he heard a deep, resonant voice: "Hmph…"

A towering Fire Camel—Camerupt's patriarch—spoke in a calm, measured tone, while the matron, accompanied by Dopey Camerupt, sprinted toward the desert's edge.

In that instant, an ANBU operative emerged from the shadows and guided Rōsa safely to the rear. "Rōsa, watch closely—this is Magnetic Release!" Master Shaku declared, raising his hand. At his command, the sand at his feet began to swirl, expanding outward as countless flecks of "sand-iron" erupted, forming shimmering projectiles. Some transformed into a suit of armor that enveloped Shaku, while the rest became shuriken, launched from all directions toward the Fire Camels.

Unable to dodge, the Fire Camels resorted to a defensive stance. Shaku then invoked "Magnetic Release: Sand-Iron Cage." In an instant, the scattered sand-iron coalesced into a formidable cage that ensnared the fleeing matron and Dopey Camerupt. Desperate, the matron fired a searing beam of flame—but the moment the beam struck the cage, it dissipated into nothingness. The power gap was stark: even though Shaku's magnetic technique was deployed casually, not even an elite-level Fire Camel could break free.

Seeing his mate and offspring trapped, the patriarch roared in anguish, and a warm, earthen glow—the power of "Earth Power"—burst forth from beneath him, surging toward Shaku. Without hesitation, Shaku formed a "Magnetic Release: Sand Shield," an impenetrable barrier of sand-iron that encircled him in a multi-sided shield. The Earth Power raged for over twenty seconds before finally subsiding. The patriarch, drained and defeated, let out a mournful cry, understanding that he could not prevail—he could not abandon his family, yet he could do nothing further.

"Master, the Fire Camel is telling me that it wants to come with you," Rōsa shouted. "May we spare its family?"

Rōsa, gifted with an uncanny ability to understand Pokémon, explained that while he had always communicated with his own Pokémon in a special way—much like a true bond between a trainer and partner—it was now clear that even wild Pokémon could convey their feelings. He recalled the tender exchanges between Nidorino and Nidorina and realized that deep bonds could form naturally.

Master Shaku's stern face softened as he absorbed Rōsa's words. "So, you propose that we take the entire Camerupt clan to Sunagakure?" he asked.

"Exactly," Rōsa replied, his voice earnest. "Sunagakure is one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—indeed, the strongest among them. I guarantee that if you bring them here, their lives will be much better, and their offspring will receive the best training possible. If they come together as one family, we can ensure that every Fire Camel in our clan lives in prosperity."

After a moment of contemplation, Shaku's gaze hardened with resolve. "You leave them no choice—either you're defeated, or you're convinced to join us. I assure you, Sunagakure will treat you kindly," he said, his voice firm yet compassionate.

The patriarch, realizing the inevitability of their fate, hesitated only briefly before nodding to his mate. One by one, the Fire Camels—both patriarch and matron, along with the young Dopey Camerupt—were herded into Pokémon Balls by Shaku's precise commands. Shaku then released them from the Balls, allowing them to lead the way back to their habitat. In that operation, they captured 22 Camerupt and 14 Dopey Camerupt. With 14 empty Pokémon Balls remaining, Rōsa and Shaku spent another six hours in the oasis, carefully selecting Pokémon with outstanding individual values until every ball was filled.

Sunagakure, Year 26, July 18

Later, news arrived that the Wind Shadow would convene a high-level meeting in two days. All unassigned elite ninjas, along with those on non-urgent missions in the field, were to return. The summit was set for July 20—a gathering so rare that the last such meeting had been called only during the First Shinobi World War.

At the meeting hall, 84 ninjas assembled—elders like Chiyodai and Ebi-zō, clan heads such as Gadessa of the Sa clan, Sōyū of the Sō clan, and leaders like Reppū from the Retsu clan, alongside top-ranking civilian ninjas. Only three ninjas who couldn't return remained absent. The entire assembly buzzed with curiosity: why had the Wind Shadow summoned a meeting of such unprecedented scale? Meetings of this caliber were convened only in times of dire crisis—like during the First Shinobi World War. With Sunagakure seemingly at peace and no major events shaking the shinobi world, no one could foresee that this meeting would spark a revolutionary transformation, heralding a golden age for Sunagakure.

Epilogue: A New Dawn

After the meeting, life in Sunagakure slowly began to change. Master Shaku's support for Rōsa's Pokémon initiative provided the village with new hope. In subsequent days, as Rōsa diligently supervised the delivery of dinner and observed his Pokémon grow stronger, the seeds of the Pokémon economy took root.

In the bustling oasis, amid vibrant greenery and rare fruits, the community started to see that a future where ninjas and Pokémon coexisted wasn't just a fantasy. The promise of improved transportation via Fire Camels, enhanced combat power through Pokémon training, and even lucrative ventures such as Pokémon-based commerce soon became a tangible vision.

Rōsa, though only six years old, exuded a determination far beyond his age. With every captured Pokémon, every innovative strategy, and every bold proclamation made before Master Shaku, he edged closer to reshaping not only Sunagakure but the entire shinobi world.