**Pokémon Center, the small town.**
Officer Jenny stood in front of Natsume, looking regretful.
"Sigh, today a witness said three fools were jumping around on the traps set by Squirtle. By the time I arrived, they were gone. Mr. Natsume, you really didn't see anything?"
"I don't know. I didn't."
Natsume answered with practiced ease.
"Well, alright then."
Officer Jenny shook her head and left the Pokémon Center.
"Mr. Natsume, Officer Jenny said those Squirtle are all trouble Pokémon. Are you sure this is okay?"
Beside Natsume, Giselle spoke with obvious worry.
"Trouble Pokémon? If it's Ash, it'll be fine."
Natsume thought for a moment and spoke seriously.
"Why do you trust Ash so much, Mr. Natsume…" Giselle pouted, clearly unhappy.
After all, she was supposed to be the teacher's only disciple!
Why trust Ash so much? Natsume scratched his head.
Well, aside from the bias from knowing the original story…
Here was a kid who, from the age of six, understood loyalty and was even willing to take the blame for a researcher.
Even if something impossible for a six-year-old happened—like *ten tons of berries* disappearing overnight from the lab—Ash would declare loudly:
"It was me! I ate them!"
And even after being tag-teamed by Aunt Delia and Professor Oak, he would never expose the Natsume behind it all.
There was no way Natsume couldn't trust him.
Pointing toward the Pokémon Center's entrance, Natsume told Giselle:
"Mark my words, Ash will turn that group of Squirtle around. By tomorrow evening at the latest, they'll be here."
Giselle tilted her head. She knew most trouble Pokémon were abandoned by Trainers.
Forget reform—sometimes they wouldn't even trust humans again.
"I believe you." Giselle pursed her lips, though she still felt unconvinced inside.
Seeing her mood, Natsume yawned, patted her head, and said earnestly:
"Giselle, you have to trust your own knowledge. Many of your judgments already help me eliminate wrong options."
Giselle's head began steaming faintly.
*Yep… triggered again.*
...
The next day, at noon—
Just as Natsume said, Ash and the others appeared at the Pokémon Center entrance.
Behind them came Officer Jenny, and behind her, a massive group of Squirtle marching in formation.
"Incredible—you actually convinced these Squirtle."
Officer Jenny gave them a big thumbs-up.
"It was nothing, just what a gentleman should do!"
Brock immediately dropped to one knee and grabbed Jenny's hand.
"Ahahaha…"
"Natsume!"
Ash spotted him and ran over, eyes shining.
*Pika—*
Midchu looked like a refugee after days of hardship, face smudged with dirt.
But he didn't care—dragging his little blanket, he climbed onto the table before Natsume.
After kneading Giselle's backpack a bit, Midchu flopped down and fell asleep.
*Pikaaa…* Compared to hard cave rocks, this soft backpack was far more comfortable.
"Natsume, I caught a Squirtle!"
Ash said excitedly, as a Squirtle wearing triangular sunglasses hopped onto the table.
At the same time, Ash's Pokédex began to cheer:
**Squirtle, my favorite Pokémon, Squirtle, my favorite Pokémon**
On the other side, Giselle stared blankly at Midchu lying on her backpack.
Come to think of it, she had always assumed this Pikachu belonged to Ash.
Only later did she realize Pikachu was Natsume's Pokémon.
But Ash could also command Midchu. And strangely enough, Ash's Pikachu seemed to obey Natsume as well.
Unfair—she was his assistant, yet she didn't get that kind of treatment.
Giselle rubbed her chin, her delicate face showing hesitation.
She wondered if she should gift Natsume a Pokémon to *co-raise*, to deepen their bond.
As she thought about it, steam began rising from her head.
"What's wrong with you?"
Natsume, who had been talking with Ash, noticed her condition.
"Huh? N-no, nothing!" Giselle shook her head, her flushed face quickly fading back to normal.
The Squirtle Squad's leader was caught by Ash, while the rest stayed in the town to serve as firefighters.
"Don't worry, Squirtle. Natsume said that in the Orange Islands there's going to be a Pokémon Firefighter Competition. We'll see them again!"
Ash comforted the Squirtle perched on his head as they walked along the beach.
"Squirtle, squirt!"
Squirtle removed his sunglasses and nodded firmly.
"Hey, you… can't you be a little less flashy?"
Misty looked at Ash helplessly.
After catching Squirtle, Ash had completely lost all restraint.
The moment they set off today, he let out all his Pokémon—
Bulbasaur on the left, Charmander on the right, Squirtle on his head, with Pidgeotto and Butterfree flying overhead.
"Hahaha, I feel like I can already compete in the League!"
Riding his high, Ash even walked with extra swagger.
"Natsume, he's getting way too full of himself. Aren't you going to say something?"
Misty turned to him, exasperated.
Natsume lifted his head from tinkering with the Great Ball, glanced at Ash, then lowered it again without a word.
*No need—Gary would take care of it.*
*At Gary's pace, he should already have four or five badges.*
And knowing Gary, he'd mock Ash mercilessly when they met.
Ash would be crushed, then reignite his fighting spirit, falling right back into the cycle.
"Hmph, don't try to drive a wedge between me and Natsume!"
Ash suddenly came over, and after a moment, as if remembering something, he asked Natsume:
"Natsume, come to think of it, you've never caught a Pokémon, have you?"
"Why would I need to catch Pokémon?"
Natsume turned his head, looking at Ash with confusion.
Ash was struck speechless.
"I get it! What Natsume means is, he wants to focus on raising just a few to elite levels, right?"
Brock leaned over.
"That's not what I meant." Natsume said casually, swiping a Pokéball from Brock's belt.
"Go, Onix! Use Stone Edge on the ocean!"
*ONIX!* Onix erupted from its ball, launching Stone Edge toward the sea.
Brock: ???
"Whoa! Why is Brock's Pokémon obeying you?!"
Misty, startled, instinctively covered the Pokéballs at her waist.
After recalling Onix and handing the Pokéball back, Natsume just shrugged.
He had noticed that every Pokémon in their group seemed to harbor a mix of fear and reverence toward him.
As expected—he was naturally born with the sacred bond of Pokémon affinity.
Natsume thought this over, nodding to himself with satisfaction.
"But Natsume, you can't borrow other people's Pokémon in the League, right?" Ash asked.
"I'll lend mine to Mr. Natsume!"
Giselle suddenly popped up in front of Natsume, raising a Pokéball high with one hand.
"In principle, that's not allowed." Natsume brushed her hand aside, then added:
"Don't worry, Ash. When the time is right, I'll catch one."
"Let's stay overnight at that lighthouse." Natsume pointed toward the distant coastline.
Everyone looked over and finally noticed a massive lighthouse standing tall on a cliff.
You can read more (around 50+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.