: Building Memories, Naruto's Starter Pokémon!

Chapter 22 Building Memories, Naruto's Starter Pokémon!

"What's wrong?"

Noticing Ponpo's expression, Mingyou asked with concern, but Ponpo shook her head, indicating that it was nothing, and then took her hand and walked over.

Arriving in front of the fruit trees, Ponpo looked at the fruits with curiosity, which smelled just like her. She stood on tiptoe, instinctively wanting to pick them.

She paused for a moment, then looked at Mingyou, her expression seemingly asking if she could take it off.

"Haha, let me pick them for you."

Mingyou smiled and rubbed its head, then reached out and picked a few fruits, leaving three of each kind and removing the rest.

After all, he hadn't tried any of the other flavors yet. If the green tangerine tastes so good, the other varieties must be just as good!

"Mmm~"

"Take it."

Mingyou handed it a green tangerine. Ponpo reached out and took it, then tilted its head and looked at it curiously. It felt that the green tangerine looked a bit like its lost mask.

"Mmm~"

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?"

Seeing it look up at her, Mingyou asked curiously, but Ponpo shook its head, indicating that it wanted to see other colors of tangerines.

"Okay, you can have them all."

Since Ponpo wanted it, Mingyou naturally wouldn't refuse. Without Ponpo, there would be no Ghost Ponpo, so she only kept one red and one blue one, giving the rest to the other person and reminding them of the differences between the fruits.

"Mmm~"

Ponpo reached out and caught it, then followed Mingyou into the living room. The restless Snorlax, who had rolled off the sofa onto the floor, woke up immediately after smelling the scent and ran over.

"Gambit~"

"Mmm~"

Upon seeing the little Munchlax, Ponpo smiled and said that she had also brought some berries today. Then, Mingyou placed the berries on the wooden coffee table in front of the sofa.

Eat whatever you like, just to fill your stomach first.

"Gambit..."

Seeing Ponpo holding four tangerines, Snorlax turned its head slightly, its gaze fixed on them, and finally looked down at the berries in front of it... It suddenly felt like it had lost its appetite.

Why can I only eat tree fruits while it can eat so many tangerines? Is it because I'm not trying hard enough?

I'm so envious...

After sending Munchlax away, Ponpo continued to examine the tangerine in her hand. The more she looked at it, the more she felt that these fruits were very similar to her lost mask... She knew it wasn't, but she still felt a sense of familiarity.

"Mmm!"

It took a liking to the red tangerine, and without even peeling it, it took a bite. Feeling the juice burst in its mouth, Ponpo couldn't help but widen its eyes, open its mouth slightly, and exclaim in amazement, "It's sweet and spicy!"

But the next second, it seemed to remember something, and a surge of anger welled up inside it, about to erupt. Instinctively, it reached for its thorny vine club...

Seeing its expression, Mingyou smiled and asked, "How does it taste? Is it delicious?"

"Mmm~"

Delicious! Ponpon loves this flavor!

A smile instantly appeared on Ponpo's face. Upon seeing Mingyou, the anger in its heart vanished. It didn't want to hurt anyone...

Mingyou, unaware of its inner emotional change, continued, "Then let's eat the rest. They'll taste bad if left out too long."

"Mmm~"

Ponpo nodded slightly, filled with curiosity about the sensation she had just experienced, and put the blue tangerine into her mouth, savoring its unique and distinctive flavor.

But from these smells, it vaguely recalled something, the smile on its face gradually disappeared, and two lines of tears involuntarily slid down from the corners of its eyes... Then it subconsciously hugged Mingyou.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing it suddenly cry, Mingyou looked puzzled and quickly squatted down to hug it and comfort it.

Ponpo didn't know why, but suddenly felt like crying. Having lived alone in Beishang Township for hundreds of years, it seemed to have forgotten many things from the past; time had taken so much away… Ponpo was so scared…

"It's okay, I'm here for you. Don't cry, I'll always be with you."

Mingyou gently comforted it, feeling a pang of sympathy for the child. It was so pitiful. Could it be that the tangerine had stirred up some memories for it?

After comforting it for a while, Ponpo finally calmed down. Mingyou wiped away its tears, stroked its head, and said with a smile, "Don't cry anymore. If you're ever unhappy, just come to me anytime."

"Mmm~"

Ponpo nodded gently. Mingyou could sense that the favorability rating seemed to have increased significantly, indicating that Ponpo truly believed in and liked her.

He stood up, looked at the two strange tangerines in his hand, stared for a moment, and murmured, "A fruit that can evoke memories?"

As he spoke, he peeled the red tangerine. The peel was of normal thickness, but the juice that splattered out when he peeled it gave him the strange feeling of having applied scalding hot chili oil to his fingers.

Mingyou didn't pay much attention, since the message mentioned a slight spiciness, so he was curious about what a tangerine with a spicy flavor would taste like.

He looked at the peeled, bright red fruit, resisted his drooling, broke off a piece, and put it in his mouth.

But the moment he bit into the fruit, his wide eyes instantly became bloodshot, the remaining fruit fell to the ground, and his body was immediately stained red, even emitting white steam.

"It's so spicy!!!"

Mingyou instinctively tried to vomit, but it was too late. The bursting juice felt like it was burning his mouth; it was beyond just a stinging pain. It felt like...

He recalled that in his past life, he lost a game of Truth or Dare and tasted a spoonful of extra spicy No. 5. As a result, his whole body turned red, and he felt like he was on fire. He almost had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

It did evoke memories, but not pleasant ones. And the feeling now is similar to that back then... no, it even seems worse!

Damn... it's about to ignite!

"Gambit?"

The little Snorlax had been secretly observing the area, and seeing the fruit fall, it rushed forward and picked it up without caring about the mess.

Then it swallowed it whole, afraid of having it stolen, but the next second it unleashed a Flamethrower. The spiciness was so intense that even a small Snorlax couldn't handle it...

Ponpo had just eaten the gray tangerine and was reminiscing about a happy time when she smiled. Then she saw Naruto, who had transformed into a "Charizard," and Munchlax running around the living room looking for water.

The two of them bumped into each other in the middle of the living room. The Snorlax, having taken too much, couldn't take it anymore and fainted on the spot. Mingyou lay on top of it, also looking half-dead.

"I'm going to die..."

"Mmm!"

Upon hearing this, Ponpo froze, as if the beautiful memories she had just recalled shattered in an instant.

Its expression turned completely panicked. It rushed forward anxiously, and the ghost mask fell out of its cloak. It hugged Mingyou and shook her incessantly, then began to cry loudly.

Don't go! Don't leave Ponpo behind!

It had just promised not to cry, but Ponpo couldn't help it. It didn't want to lose anyone else, nor did it want to continue living alone in Beishang Township.

As it shook, Mingyou barely regained some consciousness and struggled to reach out, pointing to the blue tangerine that had fallen not far away.

"water……"

"Hmm?"

Ponpo snapped out of her daze and quickly ran over to pick up the blue tangerine, handing it to Mingyou's mouth. Mingyou ate it whole, peel and all. Fortunately, the peel was thin and only slightly astringent, so it didn't bother her.

The juice of the blue tangerine bursts in your mouth instantly, sending a refreshing sensation, like the coolness of summer well water, through your body and directly dispelling the burning heat.

Mingyou was covered in sweat. After catching her breath, she realized she had almost been tricked. You call this "somewhat spicy"? What kind of spiciness is this?

I used to really like spicy food, but now...

He coughed twice, sat down against the fallen Snorlax, then looked at Ponpo and said apologetically, "I'm sorry to have worried you."

"Mmm~"

As long as you're okay~

"I didn't expect it to taste so addictive. You seemed perfectly fine eating it. Maybe it's just a different taste, but I can't eat this anymore."

Upon hearing this, Ponpo immediately took out the last green tangerine in her hand, then forcefully broke it in half and handed one over.

"Um?"

"Mmm~"

You taught me to share.

"Ha ha."

Mingyou smiled calmly and reached out to take it.

Each person sat beside a Snorlax in a cozy and reassuring atmosphere, enjoying the delicious fruit.

Perhaps because it was only half the original, the effect was weakened. This time, Ponpo didn't feel the memory, but it was still very happy.

Seeing its happy expression, Mingyou calmed down and thought about what she had been thinking about all this time: finding her starter Pokémon, but for various reasons, she still couldn't find it.

He was taking this matter very seriously. Although his requirements weren't particularly high, it was, after all, his first Pokémon. It wasn't enough for him to just like it or find it suitable; the other person also had to genuinely approve of him.

So now he wants to give it a try... Although they've only spent a short time together, he really likes and wants to take care of Ponpo.

Taking a deep breath, Mingyou looked at Pengpeng beside her and asked earnestly, "Um... can you be my companion?"

"Hmm?"

Ponpon tilted her head, looking puzzled. Her companion... wasn't she already one?

"No, I mean a partner who can fight alongside me, that is... a Pokémon that becomes my Pokémon!"

Mingyou explained the meaning to it very seriously, while also being a little worried that it would refuse. After all, Ponpo is a legendary Pokémon, different from ordinary Pokémon, and it wouldn't work if it didn't acknowledge it.

But his worries were completely unnecessary. Ponpo agreed without even thinking. How could it refuse to fight alongside Mingyou and stay by his side all the time?

"Mmm!"

"You agreed?"

"Mmm~"

Ponpo stood up, swaying her body with a very happy expression. Only then did Mingyou finally understand how much trust the other party had in him, and he would also shoulder this responsibility!

He took a Poké Ball out of his pocket. He had bought it at Momozawa's shop last time and had been carrying it with him ever since he was looking for his starter Pokémon.

Looking at the Poké Ball, Ponpo actually reached out and gently touched it. Instantly, its body turned into red light and disappeared from the spot. With a "thud," the Poké Ball was successfully captured without any shaking.

"..."

Looking at the Poké Ball in her hand, Mingyou was filled with many emotions and recalled many things. In the end, all her thoughts boiled down to one sentence...

"I will take good care of you!"

As he spoke, he noticed the ghost mask lying to the side, so he bent down and picked it up.

Just then, a red light flashed, and Ponpo came out of the Poké Ball on its own. The place was too small, and it was a little uncomfortable.

But none of that mattered. It looked at Mingyou, wanting to express its joy at becoming a companion, but before it could speak, Mingyou suddenly handed over the demon mask and smiled at it.

"Don't drop this important mask."

"Mmm~"

Ponpo reached out and caught the mask, put it on her face, and happily started dancing. If there are no memories, then let's start creating new ones from now on!

Let's start with this important demon mask!

……

(End of this chapter)