Hearing Naoki's words, Kubfu froze, a hint of embarrassment flashing across its sharp eyes.
After all, the training method it was using was something this human had just explained.
Originally, it had thought the human and his Pokémon had left, so it had secretly come to try out the technique on its own.
It never expected to be caught in the act.
Feeling flustered, Kubfu instinctively leapt out from beneath the waterfall, its small body moving with surprising agility.
It seemed as though it was about to flee.
Seeing the adorable Fighting-type Pokémon making a run for it, Naoki acted quickly and called out:
"Wait a moment!"
Kubfu paused mid-step, its little ears twitching as it turned its head back, looking at Naoki in confusion.
"Kub" "What?"
Naoki smiled gently, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible.
"You can stay here and continue training," he reassured. "We won't disturb you."
He had never encountered a wild Kubfu before, and this was an incredible opportunity to observe one up close.
Sure enough, after hearing Naoki's words, Kubfu hesitated, as if carefully considering his sincerity.
It shifted its gaze between Naoki and the waterfall behind it, lost in thought.
For a moment, neither side moved.
Then, as if coming to a decision, Kubfu turned around and silently walked back beneath the waterfall, resuming its meditation training.
Nearby, Ogerpon had been watching Kubfu intently. Seeing its determination, it let out an impressed exclamation.
"Pon!"
It admired the small bear's dedication to training.
"That's right," Naoki said, understanding Ogerpon's thoughts. "Pokémon like Kubfu train their bodies and minds relentlessly. They endure grueling challenges day after day, honing their techniques with unwavering determination."
Kubfu belonged to a rare class of Pokémon—one with an unyielding warrior's spirit.
They weren't just strong, but also mentally disciplined, willing to push their limits through sheer perseverance.
What made Kubfu even more fascinating was that its evolution could take two completely different paths.
One path led to Single Strike Style Urshifu, a fearless warrior who eliminated opponents with a single, devastating blow. The other led to Rapid Strike Style Urshifu, a fluid, relentless fighter who overwhelmed foes with an endless barrage of strikes.
Looking at Kubfu's unwavering focus, Cyclizar couldn't help but be inspired.
A newfound seriousness appeared in the Pokémon's gaze.
"Gaao!"
Without hesitation, Cyclizar dashed forward, moving beneath the waterfall to continue its own training.
Naoki watched with admiration.
"Cyclizar is pushing itself too!" he said, feeling genuinely impressed.
Watching its friend train, Pawmo and Dragonite also got fired up, enthusiastically cheering for Cyclizar from the sidelines.
"Bamo!"
"Awo!"
"Poni~"
Meanwhile, Koraidon simply gave an unimpressed look, then lazily stretched out on the soft grass and let out a big yawn.
Naoki turned to it, raising an eyebrow.
"You're not going to train?" he asked.
"Awo?" Dragonite shook its large head, looking utterly confused.
To it, standing under a waterfall just felt like being caught in the rain—nothing more, nothing less.
It didn't understand the purpose of all this intense training.
Naoki: "…"
His gaze flicked toward Cyclizar—who, despite standing under the waterfall, was just… standing there.
Not resisting. Not reacting. Just standing there.
It wasn't training—it was simply getting drenched.
Naoki sighed, then stepped forward to properly instruct Cyclizar.
"Cyclizar, waterfall training isn't just about standing there and letting the water hit you," he explained. "You need to actually feel it."
Under the rushing water, both Cyclizar and Kubfu opened their eyes at the same time, turning their attention toward Naoki.
He continued:
"Use your heart to sense the flow of the water. Sometimes it rushes down violently, other times it moves gently, like a mirror reflecting the sky."
"Gaao…" Koraidon nodded slightly, listening intently.
"Think of it like a battle. If you can remain unaffected by the force of the waterfall, then you'll gain the ability to withstand even stronger opponents in combat."
As Naoki finished speaking, he suddenly noticed something surprising—
On the other side, Kubfu was also listening intently, its sharp eyes locked onto him with interest.
Naoki paused, then smiled at the little Pokémon.
"That goes for you as well, Kubfu."
After all, this type of training was crucial for Kubfu's evolution.
To evolve into Rapid Strike Style Urshifu, Kubfu had to fully comprehend the rhythm of water—learning how to move seamlessly like a flowing stream, striking continuously without interruption.
Hearing Naoki directly addressing it, Kubfu panicked slightly.
The small Fighting-type Pokémon quickly squeezed its eyes shut, pretending to meditate seriously—as if it hadn't been eavesdropping the entire time.
But despite its act, Kubfu was clearly deep in thought.
It replayed Naoki's words in its mind, then focused harder, allowing itself to truly sense the waterfall's energy.
Slowly, the young martial artist Pokémon began to enter a state of enlightenment.
Naoki smiled, sensing the importance of this moment, and didn't disturb it.
Instead, he quietly took out his Rotom Phone and began recording—capturing a rare, precious video of a wild Kubfu undergoing training in its natural habitat.
Just then, the Pokémon Naoki had sent out to search for the Fire Shrine and the stakes returned.
Leaving Dragonite and the others behind to guard Cyclizar, Naoki and Koraidon set off to retrieve the missing stake.
Time ticked by.
Hour after hour, Naoki searched the mountains, gradually removing each stake sealing Chi-Yu—the ancient ruinous fish.
By midday, he had successfully pulled out the seventh stake.
Thanks to Gastly's guidance, Naoki was finally able to locate the Fire Shrine, hidden behind a waterfall.
Now, only one final stake remained before the seal on Chi-Yu, the ancient ruinous fish, would be completely broken.
At noon, as a token of appreciation for the wild Pokémon who had helped him, Naoki prepared a lavish meal of Poffins and Poké Blocks.
The clearing by the waterfall quickly became lively—Pokémon of all shapes and sizes gathered together, eagerly enjoying the feast laid out before them.
Not far from the group, Naoki grabbed a dry towel and began wiping off the excess water from Cyclizar's scales.
Cyclizar stretched out its arms obediently, tilting its head up as Naoki patted it dry.
Its eyes drooped in comfort, enjoying the soothing sensation.
Just a short distance away, Kubfu emerged from the water, shaking its drenched fur with one strong motion—
Splash!
Water flew everywhere, including right onto Naoki.
Kubfu: Σ(⊙_⊙)
The small Fighting-type froze in place, its ears twitching in nervousness.
Naoki blinked, then chuckled, brushing the water off his face.
"No need to be nervous," he reassured gently. "It's fine. Would you like to join me for lunch?"
Kubfu blinked up at him, caught off guard.
For a moment, Naoki thought it would eagerly accept—
But instead, Kubfu hesitated, suddenly seeming a little shy.
Its small paws fidgeted, unsure where to place them.
Then, just as Naoki was about to say something, Kubfu suddenly turned away and sprinted toward the bamboo forest.
Naoki watched curiously as the little Pokémon dug into the earth, using its small but strong paws to carefully pull out fresh bamboo shoots.
Holding them in its tiny arms, Kubfu quickly rushed back, stopping right in front of Naoki.
Then, with wide eyes and a slightly nervous expression, it extended the bamboo shoots toward him.
[Kubfu's Gratitude Bamboo Shoots]
A special ingredient, a gift from Kubfu as a token of gratitude. Cooking with it may bring unexpected effects.
Naoki blinked in surprise, glancing between Kubfu and the bamboo shoots in his hands.
"You're giving these to me?" he asked.
"Fuu" "Yeah!" Kubfu nodded, its expression a little sheepish.
In an instant, Naoki understood.
This was Kubfu's way of saying thank you—for his guidance, his kindness, and his words of encouragement.
Naoki smiled warmly, kneeling down to meet its gaze.
"I understand. And I really appreciate your gift."
Kubfu's ears twitched, and it rubbed the back of its head, looking embarrassed but pleased.
"Mmm~"
Naoki let out a soft chuckle, then gestured toward the picnic area.
"Come on, let's eat together."
...
60 chapters👉👉patreon.com/Keepsmiling818
Bonus @1.6K
And, I don't know why some people are giving me the full-on surprised Pikachu look when I have uploaded the old chapters. I'm just reuploading! It literally says so right next to the chapter title.