The next day.
Aizen woke early and headed to school. Zorua rested obediently inside his uniform pocket, a small tuft of red fur peeking out and swaying in the chilly morning breeze.
After some discussion the previous day, he and Jiang Shi had finalized their plan.
Each semester, the school distributed a selection of extracurricular books to students for leisure reading. If Jiang Shi's materials were adapted into both a manga and a popular science guide and published through that channel, it would be the perfect first step in sparking students' interest.
Of course, while a manga would keep students happily flipping pages, a dry science book would likely end up gathering dust.
So they devised something better.
On the night of the New Year's Eve party, Naruto and Sasuke would hold a Pokémon battle in front of the entire student body.
When students saw scenes from the manga brought to life, their curiosity would explode. Once their interest was ignited, they would naturally pick up the science guide on their own—achieving the goal of popularizing Pokémon knowledge.
However, to get the school to approve printing the Pokémon manga and guidebooks, they first needed permission from the three school directors.
Senju Hashirama and Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni were no problem. They were both reasonable men; as long as the educational value was explained clearly, they would likely agree.
The real obstacle was Uchiha Madara.
Rumor had it he had once been Hashirama's comrade-in-arms. After retiring from the military, he frequented dance halls and had even opened a dance class of his own.
He was eccentric. Stubborn. Hard to approach.
Getting his approval wouldn't be easy. Even finding him could prove troublesome.
That was precisely why Aizen had arrived so early.
He made his way to the green belt near the teaching building and looked up.
A middle-aged man in a short gray-black robe was hanging upside down from a tree branch, eyes closed as if meditating.
"So the rumors about seeing 'Batman' in the green belt at five in the morning were about you."
Aizen looked up helplessly. "Director Uchiha Madara, would you mind coming down? I have something to discuss with you."
Madara's eyes snapped open. He flipped down from the branch with effortless grace.
"You're Aizen, right? The teacher who's been ranked number one in the city for five consecutive years."
He sized Aizen up. "Hashirama handles most school affairs. Why come to me?"
Aizen gently lifted Zorua from his pocket and explained the proposal.
Madara snorted at the sight of the fox-like Pokémon.
"Pokémon battles? Sounds no different from cricket fighting. Boring and pointless."
"It's not that simple," Aizen replied calmly.
"A Pokémon battle requires strategic command—considering types, Abilities, battle styles, strengths, and weaknesses."
"The Pokémon must execute commands precisely and adapt in real time before the Trainer can issue new instructions."
"It tests both the Pokémon and the human—their individual abilities and their mutual understanding. Victory depends heavily on training and daily discipline."
"To reduce all of that to 'cricket fighting' is inaccurate."
"Commanding?" Madara waved dismissively. "How exactly do you command a fox?"
"Rii!"
Zorua leapt down in protest, its flame-shaped tuft flickering faintly.
It understood?
Madara's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Seeing is better than hearing," Aizen said softly. "Why not let the director witness how a Trainer commands a Pokémon?"
He recalled the command techniques he had studied the previous night and narrowed his eyes.
"Fine," Madara said, crossing his arms. "Show me."
Zorua dashed forward at full speed, suddenly leaping with claws crossed, aiming at Madara's face.
Madara sidestepped effortlessly and reached to grab it—but Zorua twisted midair and slipped away.
"Create distance. Use Hone Claws!"
Zorua sprang backward several paces. Its claws scraped together, sparks flickering as a harsh metallic rasp echoed.
But Madara had already anticipated it.
He lunged forward, aiming to pin Zorua down.
"Fury Swipes!"
Zorua lashed out with sharp, slicing arcs. The air split with the sound of rushing claws.
"Too inexperienced."
Madara caught Zorua's foreleg barehanded and lifted it as easily as a rabbit.
"Perfect distance," Aizen said calmly. "Use Scary Face."
Zorua's expression twisted into something ferocious. Through eye contact, a surge of malicious aura shot straight into Madara's mind.
For a split second, Madara felt as though he had returned to a battlefield. His limbs grew heavy. His vision blurred.
When he blinked, Hashirama stood before him, face dark.
"Hashirama? What are you doing here… Another illusion?"
Hashirama said nothing—only approached slowly.
"No… that's not right."
Madara's eyes sharpened.
"You're not Hashirama!"
He lunged forward, pinning the figure down. The illusion shattered instantly, revealing Zorua again.
"That guy sleeps until three in the afternoon. There's no way he'd be here this early!"
Useless knowledge acquired, Aizen thought quietly.
"Rii! Rii!"
Zorua wriggled free and bounced around defiantly.
"The illusion just now… was this little one's doing?"
Madara studied Zorua again.
After a moment, he let out a low chuckle.
"It even gets angry on behalf of its master. Interesting."
He crossed his arms.
"I approve the printing. Proceed."
Aizen blinked. "I assumed you might refuse after seeing the potential danger."
"If humans avoided everything dangerous, they'd never have learned to use fire," Madara replied seriously.
"They would still be beasts living in the wild."
"Blind fear doesn't drive progress. Whether these Pokémon change the world for better or worse, the first step is understanding them."
Though eccentric, his perspective was unexpectedly broad.
Aizen smiled faintly. "Your words are enlightening, Director. I'll remember them."
"Mm."
Madara turned to leave, then paused.
"Send me a copy once it's printed."
He glanced at Zorua.
"And this Pokémon—you bought it? Where's the shop?"
—
"Achoo!"
Jiang Shi suddenly sneezed.
He blinked, then remembered something.
"System, I sold a Zorua yesterday. Is there no reward?"
"The Host's current mission does not include a Pokémon sales quota. However, sales during this period will be recorded."
"If a future mission requires selling a certain number of Pokémon—for example, ten—the previously sold Zorua will count toward that total. Please rest assured."
This system is surprisingly considerate.
Jiang Shi opened the mission panel.
Popularization Quota: 2000
Achieved: 4
Hopefully, Aizen's side of the plan goes smoothly.
Resting his chin on his hand, Jiang Shi stared at the colorful video platform on his screen.
A new plan for the next stage was already beginning to take shape in his mind.