Pokémon: Who told him to come out of Pallet Town!

Chapter 5: Is there any other way to fight like this?

[Ding! Level B Project Released—The Talking Meow Meow.]

Natsume ignored the system's voice; after all, he'd have plenty of opportunities to meet Team Rocket in the future.

He made a hanging-down gesture towards the three Rockets players, looking all honest and unassuming.

"Ah, how did you get up here? You just got up like this."

"I don't care who you are, don't ruin our plans, get down here right now!"

"Go, Arboss!"

Without uttering a single word, Musashi threw out the Poké Ball.

In an instant, accompanied by a flash of red light, a long purple snake appeared inside the hot air balloon, making the already cramped space even more crowded.

"Uncle!"

Abercob warily eyed the man shrouded in shadow before him.

"Arbore, use Entangling Roots!"

With Musashi's command, the Arbok hissed and prepared to coil around Natsume.

Just then, Natsume lost a ball.

"Huh!? You guys shouldn't fight here, meow! The hot air balloon will explode, meow!"

Upon seeing this, Meow Meow cried out in fear.

However, contrary to expectations, the Poké Ball that Natsume threw did not release a Pokémon; instead, it hit Arbok's head directly.

"Sizzle—"

A flash of red light, and the Arbok was captured by the Poké Ball.

Musashi: "???????"

"Hey, who do you think you are? Don't you know you can't capture other people's Pokémon?!"

Musashi roared angrily at Natsume, and sure enough, within five seconds, the Arbok struggled out of the Poké Ball and stood in front of Natsume again.

The cold, serpentine eyes stared intently at Natsume, only to be met by a second Poké Ball.

"Clatter!"

Seamlessly, the Serpent was pulled back in, and was locked in a five-second stun.

Natsume knew, of course, that he couldn't catch other people's Pokémon, but that didn't mean the Poké Ball was useless.

Five seconds of hard control, just five seconds!

Musashi: "???????"

"Is there really such a shameless way to fight? I've learned something new, meow!"

"Meow, what are you praising? This is our enemy!"

Musashi was getting a little frustrated. She only had one Pokémon, Arbok, and if Natsume kept being so shameless, she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

"Kojiro, what are you standing there for? Get him!"

Musashi yelled at Kojiro, who was staring in disbelief.

"Ah, ooh ooh."

Kojiro realized what was happening and immediately reached for his waist, but Natsume was one step ahead of him.

"Ah, my Poké Ball!"

Natsume took Kojiro's Poké Ball.

"Uncle!"

"Clatter!"

Then, it threw an empty ball at the struggling Arbos.

At this moment, Natsume also stepped out of the shadows. Under the moonlight, the Team Rocket trio stared blankly at his blue and white striped pajamas.

"Is that... is that a mental hospital uniform?"

Musashi uttered a stunned sound.

"That's a mental hospital gown, isn't it, meow?"

Meow Meow made a summary.

The discussion among the Rockets trio reached Natsume's ears, but he acted as if he hadn't heard it at all.

This set of pajamas was indeed custom-made for him, the same style worn in mental hospitals.

There was no other way; although the world was peaceful, there were just too many evil organizations. Natsume thought he had to prepare more "intimidating" things.

For example, the clothes he's wearing now, and the brick he carried with him earlier, and things like that.

The mental hospital uniform was incredibly powerful, and the Rocket Team trio hesitated for a moment upon seeing it.

They're in the sky right now, in mid-air. If this person suddenly starts acting crazy, that would be terrible.

Ignoring the startled Team Rocket trio, Natsume threw another red and white ball at Arbok beside him, then activated Kojiro's Poké Ball.

"Come out, gas bomb!"

"Gas! Gas...!!??"

The gas bomb floated in the air, looking at its "master" before it, lost in thought.

"Yes, that's right, your master abandoned you."

Natsume's face turned serious.

"gas!?"

Just as the gas bomb was about to fall silent, a restrained voice came from behind:

"Kid, don't go too far!"

Kojiro lowered his voice, trying his best to control his emotions and not provoke the person in front of him.

Upon hearing Kojiro's voice, Gas Tank immediately turned around, all traces of disappointment vanishing from its eyes.

Just as it was about to float towards Kojiro, the gas bomb felt someone holding it down.

It was Natsume; he was holding a can and had blocked one of the gas bomb's vents.

Soon, the canister began to fill with grayish-black gas.

The gas canister tried to struggle, but Kojiro gave it a restrained look...

Soon, Natsume had filled a canister with gas.

Excellent, perfect!

Natsume reached into the night and grabbed the Rotom phone, which was in airplane mode.

Soon, to the astonishment of the Team Rocket trio, Natsume "floated" up, quickly leaving the hot air balloon and disappearing from the spot.

"Uncle—"

The sound of the snake came, but the ball that had been aimed at him was gone.

"Come back, Abercob."

Musashi frowned and recalled the Arbok.

"Could that person really be a ghost, meow?"

Beside her, Meow Meow said with some fear.

Under the cover of night, they couldn't see the Rotom phone; they assumed Natsume had simply raised his hand and then it floated away.

"Damn it, I've never seen such a shameless ghost before."

Musashi stared at the empty red and white ball shells scattered on the ground, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

No, I don't think so.

Beside him, Kojiro's gaze darkened, and he spoke thoughtfully:

"He actually knew that my Poké Ball contained a Koffing!"

Upon hearing this, both Musashi and Meow Meow were taken aback.

"No way!"

"Meow, could it be!"

"Could he be sent by Boss Banqi to inspect our work?"

The three voices rang out in unison.

"Yes, that explains it! He mentioned Boss Ban Kijima earlier, too!"

Meow Meow put its two paws together and made a conclusion.

"Yeah, he might be watching us from somewhere!"

Kojiro guessed so.

"Maybe, maybe, they're even broadcasting it live for Boss Banmu!"

Musashi's excited voice rang out.

"In that case, we'd better put on an even better performance tonight, meow!"

Meow Meow made the final conclusion.

What are they cheering for?

Below, he could faintly hear a sound coming from above. Natsume looked up at the cat-headed balloon in the sky.

Shrugging, Natsume ignored him.

He had no idea what the Rockets were so happy about.

But he knew that he would soon be able to bathe, change clothes, burn incense, and enjoy ten consecutive nights of pleasure.

Happy and excited, Natsume returned to the Pokémon Center in Viridian City.

As soon as they stepped through the door, they saw Ash and Misty anxiously huddled around a stretcher, on which lay a Pikachu sprawled out.

Seeing this, Natsume raised an eyebrow slightly.

It seems that Ash and Misty have explained the whole story, and Pikachu has been discharged from the hospital.

"Don't worry, your Pikachu is out of danger, it's just a little disoriented right now."

As Natsume drew closer, he heard Miss Joy's comforting voice.

Ash noticed Natsume's arrival and couldn't help but speak up:

"Natsume-nii, what...what were you doing just now?!"

Natsume pried open the mouth of the delirious Pikachu and then pulled out its tongue.

Yes, now it looks more like a neutered kitten.

"Click!"

After taking a few photos to remember the occasion, Natsume turned and went upstairs to her room.