"A prophecy about me and Greninja? Can you explain it one more time?" Ash asked, confused. Saizo sighed. It was early in the morning and Ash's pokemon were still training hard, something that he admired. Though diligent, it was clear that their trainer was not so fast on the uptake. Then again, this was a prophecy from centuries ago. Anyone not in the know would likely have been confused. "The prophecy refers to a Greninja that will achieve a level of understanding with a partner such that it may take on a new form, greatly empowering the pokemon in question. The partner to this Greninja was said to be the chosen one of Arceus, the creator deity. Together, they will rise to put a stop to the calamity." Saizo intoned, looking between Ash and Greninja. "Which is why Ippei asked us to find you, so that you may be trained in the ways of the ninja." finished Kagetomo. "Trained? As a ninja? While I always welcome more training, I don't have time for that kind of thing. I'm on a mission from Arceus himself." Ash implored. "We are aware of your mission. We are not here to force you into training you don't want, but to offer you our assistance. Besides, I have always wanted to see the bond phenomenon for myself. Could you show us?" Saizo responded. Ash merely looked to Greninja, who nodded in response. "Ninja!", he cried.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Ash?" Brock asked. Ash nodded. All his pokemon had gathered, watching from the tree line. He and Greninja were about to face off with Kagetomo and his Weavile within the trees near the pond. "The backlash isn't as bad as it used to be, and Greninja has gotten a lot stronger since he returned to me." He responded, nodding to Greninja and then to Kagetomo. "We're ready when you are!" he exclaimed, feeling his blood rushing in excitement. "Don't hold back! We'll take on your entire team of pokemon!" Ash cried, flush with battle spirit. Greninja looked similarly pumped,crying out in anticipation before settling into a low crouch. "Very well then. Weavile, use foul play!" Kagetomo commanded. Weavile rushed forward, arms held at it's sides, intent on striking Greninja square in the chest. "Greninja, counter with ice punch!" Ash called. Greninja nodded, thrusting it's glowing white fists forward and intercepting it's opponent. Ice moves won't be very effective against Weavile, an ice type. Furthermore, Greninja isn't and ice type itself. What are they doing? Saizo thought to himself. "Now Greninja! Use double team, then water shuriken!" Greninja shimmered, copies appearing left and right, tens if not dozens of them. The copies leaped backwards, loosing countless water stars at Weavile. A number of the stars struck true, striking Weavile and knocking it back a few yards. "Weavile, dark pulse! Find the true Greninja!" Kagetomo cried. Weavile fired off a pulse of dark black energy, eliminating all but five of the clones. "Greninja, get into the trees. Use camouflage!" Ash grinned. If Greninja can hide among the shadows, then it's lights out! Three of the clones leaped into the tree tops, while two of them vanished into the shadows of the underbrush.
"A good tactic, but lacking in it's execution. Weavile, use dig, then aerial ace. Hit them repeatedly." Kagetomo commanded. Ash frowned. Surely they couldn;t find the real Greninja? He was so well hidden that even Ash couldn't tell where he was, and there were four clones in hiding as well. Leaping a few feet in the air, weavile burrowed it's way into the ground, vanishing momentarily. Then, he heard a cry, and Weavile leaped from the ground at the base of a tree and struck out at it's trunk. The ice type's claws stopped a foot away, and the air shimmered, before a mirage of Greninja vanished altogether. That's not good Ash realized. "Greninja, rock tomb!" he shouted. Instantly, boulders began to form in the air above Weavile. Weavile and Kagetomo looked up in shock. "Weavile, get out of there!" the ninja called, but it was too late. The rocks plummeted straight down, pelting Weavile and kicking up dust. " When the dust settled, Weavile was lying prone, out flat. "Weavile is unable to battle! Therefore, the winner is Greninja!" Brock cried. "Well done Weavile." Kagetomo said, recalling the dark type. He used swiftness and stealth to lay a trap. Very intriguing. "Gallade, you're up next." He cried, throwing up a pokeball. Gallade appeared with style, flourishing the blades on it's arms with skill and speed. "Lets start things right. Gallade, use flash! Look for anything unusual in your surroundings!" Kategomo cried. His pokemon cried out with a "Lade!", raising it's arms into the air. Suddenly, everyone was blinded by a fierce light. Then, Gallade moved. It fired off a psycho cut into a nearby tree, eliminating a clone, then sprinted towards the pond. Coming to a stop, Gallade slammed it's fist into the water's surface, crackling with electrical energy. Thunder punch! Ash realized, but it was too late. Greninja sprung from the pond, electricity shimmering in the air around him. There you are. "Gallade, leaf blade!" Kagetomo directed. Gallade dashed forward, the blades on it's elbows glowing green. "Greninja, stop it in it's tracks! Use acrobatics!"
Greninja leaped forward far faster than it's opponent could see, materializing repeatedly in various locations. Gallade frantically tried to keep up, slowing to a halt and swinging it's head back and forth. Then, it's opponent appeared behind it. "Gallade, behind you! Use low kick!" Sensing the coming blow, Gallade pivoted, sliding both sideways and backward at the same time, intent on bringing it's foot around and sliding into Greninja's shin. Greninja merely grinned, leaping forward and over Gallade's low kick, before slamming into it's opponent at breakneck speed. Gallade fell to the ground, groaning from the blow before rising shakily to it's feet. "Impressive indeed. But we're not done just yet. Gallade, leaf blade one more time!" Kagetomo called. Gallade nodded to it's trainer before turning and running directly at Greninja, arms glowing green once more. What's his angle? It didn't work last time, so he must have something in mind.
"Greninja, be on guard. Let's counter with double team, then use water shuriken!" Ash instructed. Greninja leaped into action, vanishing and then appearing in multiple locations around the battlefield. Just as expected. Kagetomo grinned, calling out " Use teleport and thunder punch. Find him!" Gallade came to an immediate halt, vanishing on the spot. Ash frowned. That can't be good. Suddenly, Gallade appeared behind one of the clones, striking it in the back of the head. The clone vanished, and before Greninja had a chance to retaliate, Gallade was gone too. Ash did a quick count. There were nine remaining Greninja on the field, all on the ground. Greninja's ability to clone itself certainly seems to vary. We need to work on making it more consistent. As he thought to himself, the clones continued to dwindle. He shook his head. This wasn't going to work. If they couldn't use stealth, they would have to use speed. "Alright Greninja, you ready for this?" Ash cried, preparing himself. The Greninja turned to him, making a fist and nodding. "Let's do it! We'll grow even stronger together!" Ash cried. Greninja copied Ash's movements, and soon a vortex of water surrounded him. Gallade reappeared a few yards before Kagetomo, taking an on guard stance. Then, the water surrounding Greninja flew outward before vanishing altogether. There stood Greninja, only now it looked different, with a large shuriken on it's back and red markings on it's head. "Let's do this, Greninja! Get in close with quick attack!" Greninja dashed forward, clipping Gallade's side. "Now use dig." Ash called. Greninja leaped into the air, diving down and burrowing into the earth. "Be on guard Gallade! Use detect!" Gallade closed it's eyes. Moments later, it stepped forward. Greninja leaped from the earth, just barely missing Gallade. "Use feint, Greninja!" Ash shouted.
Greninja landed, before striking Gallade squared in the chest, mere inches away from the red protrusion. Gallade appeared unphased, however. "I commend your quick thinking, Ash. Gallade's ability, however, is justified, raising it's attack if hit by even the smallest dark type attack." Kagetomo intoned, smiling slightly. "Gallade, close combat." Gallade grinned, throwing it's fists forward in a flurry of blows. "Greninja, use protect and get out of there with acrobatics!" The air in front of Greninja shimmered before seemingly solidifying. Gallade's fists stopped mid air, and Greninja vanished. Then, something slammed into Gallade's back, and all it saw was darkness.
"Impressive, very impressive." Kagetomo praised, returning Gallade. "You're use of stealth and speed is already in line with the tactics of a ninja, and your execution is efficient, if I had to choose a word. It is my belief that the two of you could still do better. Let's finish this battle another time. I believe I have an accurate understanding of how the bond works now" he finished. "Another time? We were just getting fired up!" Ash grumbled, agitated by the sudden disturbance. "How's about this. If you beat the two of us, we'll go through your training, at least for the next day or two." Ash proclaimed. "And if you win? Kagetomo asked, raising an eyebrow. "If we win, your Gallade teleports us to Celadon City." Ash replied, grinning. "I accept your conditions. I would ask that your other pokemon join in the training as well, however. There are many pokemon species that are capable of adapting to the ninja way within your ranks.' Kagetomo said. "Now then. Let's finish this, Scizor!" he cried, summoning his red pokemon. "Begin with swords dance!" kagetomo said. Scizor moved side to side, amping itself up in a frenzied dance. "Greninja, use scald!" Ash cried. We need to try to burn it. We're at a major type disadvantage. Greninja reared back, letting off a blast of steaming water straight at it's opponent. "Counter with bug buzz." Scizor released a beam of lime green energy, which slammed into the blast of water, dissipating it. Steam rose up around the battle field, turning into a dense fog. "Find it with laser focus." Kagetomo called. Scizor's head swiveled back and forth before locking onto it's opponent. "Stay on your toes Greninja! It'll attack soon!" Ash called into the fog. "Scizor, get in there with x scissor!" Scizor rushed forward, holding it's claws up in front of itself. It leaped into the fog, disappearing from view. "Confuse it with echoed voice, Greninja!" Greninja's voice echoed withing the fog, followed by the sound of something slamming ito something else.
"Scizor, use defog." Kagetomo said calmly. Rapid wing beats could be heard, and the fog cleared up in no time at all. Greninja was sprawled out on the ground, knocked out cold. Scizor hoverer nearby, grinning in victory. "Greninja is unable to battle. The winner is Scizor, and so the victory goes to Scizor and Kagetomo.
Quick post word to answer your questions. Yes, pokemon are capable of using more than four moves in this story. It makes no sense that they should only be limited to four. No, I will not be having Ash end up with Cynthia. I have a pole on my page for who Ash should end up with. May and Dawn were originally among the choices, and I will put them back if enough people want them to be in the running. Finally, my updating schedule is going to fluctuate from here on out, but I will be posting every other sunday at the very minimum. Also, I originally said that Ash was only going to get five new pokemon. Upon rewatching the complete series, I decided that a few more wont hurt. Don't worry, the same rules apply. These will be pokemon that have helped or been helped by Ash in the main series or movies and that Ash should have caught imo. There will be less than ten.