"Besides Stone Edge, teaching it a wide-area attack like Earthquake or the Fighting-type move Aura Sphere later on would also be excellent choices."
"Tonight, after I finish my business in Viridian City, bring Pinsir to Pallet Town. I'll find a way to teach it Stone Edge."
"As for the other two ranged moves, come back and find me after Pinsir has fully mastered Stone Edge."
"As payment for teaching Pinsir these moves, just gather some Oran Berries for me from Viridian Forest."
Ash's voice called out toward Samurai's retreating figure.
"Fine, then."
Although he was deeply moved by Ash's valuable advice regarding Pinsir's training, Samurai still maintained his usual tsundere attitude, as if he were saying, 'Since you've sincerely begged and requested my assistance, I, the great Samurai, shall graciously grant your wish!'
By now, however, Ash had long since grown accustomed to Samurai's personality. Not only was he not annoyed by it, he rather admired Samurai's indomitable spirit, his desire to grow stronger, and his perseverance.
There was a reason why Ash was willing to spend a few minutes battling him every day, offering training advice afterward whenever weaknesses in his Pokémon's development became apparent.
There was also a reason why he freely helped Samurai's Pokémon learn moves and had arranged for the Viridian City Pokémon Center to purchase the medicinal herbs and berries Samurai gathered at market price.
Ash had practically been raising Samurai as his own little junior all this time.
Then why had he rejected Samurai's earlier requests to become his disciple or officially follow him?
The answer was simple.
Ash had no interest in accepting weaklings who lacked ambition and the drive to improve themselves.
At the same time, he had wanted to observe Samurai further. After all, considering Ash's talent, strength, resources, and connections, there were countless Trainers who would gladly become his followers. He wasn't willing to accept just anyone.
After more than half a year of observation, Ash had already acknowledged Samurai as one of his own. Neither of them had ever spoken of it openly—it was simply an unspoken understanding between them.
The reason Ash wanted capable subordinates was equally straightforward.
There would inevitably be matters in the future requiring trustworthy and talented Trainers to assist him.
For example, once he inherited the Viridian Gym from his bargain-priced teacher, Giovanni, although Ash had already considered asking Clemont to build an intelligent robot to help manage it, a Gym could never be operated solely by a machine.
At the very least, it couldn't remain that way forever.
Human assistance would always be necessary.
Thus, Ash had already begun quietly cultivating some of his own future forces.
After finishing his guidance regarding Pinsir's training, Ash mounted his bicycle once again and headed toward Viridian City alongside his Pokémon, Gary, and Green.
Most of the time, Ash preferred keeping his Pokémon outside their Poké Balls. Whenever he traveled to Viridian City, Pikachu, Greninja, Ivysaur—now Venusaur—and the others would simply run alongside him.
Spending as much time together as possible not only strengthened their bonds but also served as daily training.
However, things were somewhat different now.
Following its evolution into Venusaur, its height had doubled while its weight had increased nearly tenfold.
Among Ash's Pokémon, aside from Gyarados and Milotic, Venusaur had become yet another companion unsuitable for accompanying him everywhere on foot.
Fortunately, Ash had long anticipated this day and wasn't particularly disappointed.
Venusaur itself wasn't saddened either.
Its evolution had brought subtle changes not only to its body but also to its personality.
Where it had once been lively and energetic as Bulbasaur and Ivysaur, Venusaur had become somewhat more laid-back and reluctant to move about unnecessarily. It was almost as though it had suddenly matured overnight.
Thankfully, Ash had never restricted Bulbasaur's playful nature simply because he knew it would one day become a large and cumbersome Venusaur.
Although he had never deliberately trained Bulbasaur's speed, he had likewise never interfered with or prevented it from enjoying all the wonderful experiences that came with being nimble and agile throughout its daily life and battles.
Ash had never spoken so-called "words of wisdom from experience" to restrict it.
Instead, he had always given it the greatest possible respect and freedom.
Now, although Venusaur no longer possessed its former agility and swiftness, it felt not the slightest regret.
After all...
It had already experienced those joys once before.
Over the past six months, the flower shop jointly operated by Ash's mother, Delia, and Gary's mother, Miho, had become increasingly successful and stable.
Neither of them had ever considered opening additional branches. Whenever particularly large or troublesome orders became more pressure than they were worth, they simply declined them without hesitation.
After all, opening the flower shop had always been about pursuing their hobby and passion for flowers and floral arrangement rather than making money.
Nowadays, they sold a fixed batch of freshly cut flowers each day before spending their afternoons teaching floral arrangement classes to their regular members and customers.
Their schedules had become wonderfully stable, and their work no longer brought them unnecessary stress.
There were only the two of them working at the shop, with no additional employees. Their days were relaxed and pleasant.
In the past, Delia rarely even had time to eat breakfast alongside Ash, leaving for work early every morning and returning home only after darkness had fallen.
Now, however, they closed the shop during the early evening—just in time for Ash to finish his online Pokémon Clinic livestream consultations.
As a result, Delia and Miho could spend their evenings enjoying afternoon tea together at their favorite cafés or joining Ash, Gary, Green, and Clarissa for dinner.
Afterward, the two mothers could even visit the City Arena together to watch their sons battle.
Life had become far more relaxed and leisurely than before.
While both mother and son pursued their own careers and hobbies, they now had far more opportunities to spend time together.
It was the kind of life many people could only envy.
"Mom, Aunt Miho, I'm heading out!"
After arriving in Viridian City and visiting the flower shop, Ash picked out a bouquet for his girlfriend, Joy Clarissa, before mounting his bicycle once more and setting off toward the Viridian Gym.
"Ride carefully and stay safe!" Delia raised her head from the flowers she was preparing for today's floral arrangement class and gently reminded him.
"Got it!" Ash replied with a smile.
After allowing Pidgeot and Fearow to enjoy flying around Viridian City and Viridian Forest on their own, Ash continued toward the Viridian Gym with Pikachu and Greninja accompanying him.
At present, all of Ash's first-tier ace Pokémon had already reached the Gym-Class level and were steadily approaching the threshold of the Pseudo-Elite Four.
Likewise, the development and training of his Aura combat abilities had long since entered a period of stable progress.
Thus, Ash had finally begun making preparations for the next major project—unlocking and developing Greninja's Bond Evolution.
As a unique form of evolution achieved solely through the emotional bond between Trainer and Pokémon, Ash attached extraordinary importance to this power.
Not only did he wish for Greninja to master it completely, but he also hoped to conduct extensive research throughout the process of uncovering, developing, and refining this mysterious phenomenon.
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