Chapter Summaries

Sato’s Zoroark and Weavile overwhelmed Athena’s Alakazam and Espeon, and Zoroark’s Dark Burst Ball shattered Athena’s resolve. With the battle turning in the Pokémon League’s favor, Athena offered to surrender if Sato saved her Pokémon, but a sudden white flash interrupted her.

• Athena powered up Alakazam and Espeon and unleashed a triple Future Sight while Zoroark and Weavile kept attacking.
• Sato chose not to rely on Gardevoir and ordered Zoroark to use Dark Burst Ball while Weavile covered the attack with Blizzard.
• Zoroark’s Dark Burst Ball overwhelmed Alakazam and Espeon despite their Protect, leaving both Pokémon on the ground and terrifying Athena.
• Bassho announced Sato’s victory, raising the Pokémon League trainers’ morale and prompting Team Rocket members to flee.
• Sato told Athena she had lost and secretly had Gengar reinforce Mean Look; Athena recalled her Pokémon and offered to surrender if he saved them.
• A white flash suddenly passed around Athena and faded.

Sato and the Pokémon League defeated Team Rocket’s forces in Olivine City, captured Athena, and stopped Boa’s escape. After the battle, Sato spoke with President Damalanchi, who asked whether he had defeated Shaka.

• Athena hesitated when Sato revealed a second Mean Look, and Weavile captured her.
• Bassho rallied the Pokémon League Trainers, while Boa escaped in an explosion but George and Momo captured her and defeated Ninetales.
• Most Team Rocket members fell or surrendered, and the League confiscated their Poké Balls and secured the captured Pokémon.
• Ralts used the Nightmare Orb to put Athena to sleep, preventing her from escaping with Teleport.
• Sato and Bassho reported Olivine City’s situation to President Damalanchi, who asked Sato whether he had defeated Shaka.

Sato reported to Damalanchi that he had defeated Shaka through tricks, then secretly used Ralts and the Nightmare Orb to alter Shaka’s memories before returning with George to Dark Night Town. Shaka fled Olivine City believing he had escaped a masked expert, while Sato and George reached home at dawn.

• Sato told Damalanchi and Bassho how Gengar had ambushed Shaka, and Damalanchi said Shaka had taken the wrong path.
• Sato and George returned to the forest tree hole, where Ralts evolved into Kirlia and used the Nightmare Orb to overwrite Shaka’s memories with a realistic nightmare.
• Shaka woke in pain and fled past Olivine City, while Sato and George watched from hiding and confirmed that the plan had worked.
• Ralts woke and Sato explained that its nightmare had made Shaka believe a masked expert from Olivine City had attacked him.
• Sato and George crossed Dark Night Forest overnight and returned to Dark Night Town, where residents greeted them on their way back to the Gym.

After returning from Sinnoh, Sato decided to take a more active role in the Dark Night Gym and personally teach its apprentices. The apprentices gathered at the training ground to await his guidance, while friends and visitors came to watch.

• Sato brought his Pokémon to breakfast with the gym apprentices, who kept their distance until Mark arrived.
• Sato asked Mark about the apprentices’ teaching schedule and announced he would personally lead their afternoon training.
• The apprentices heard the news from Mark, grew distracted during their morning lessons, and rushed to prepare for Sato’s training.
• Ponyo, Sosuke, Uncle An, and Nicole came to watch the afternoon session, and the apprentices assembled as Sato arrived with George, Mark, and Little Ming.

Sato began overseeing the Dark Night Gym apprentices’ training, arranging practical battles and giving each apprentice personal feedback. The next day, after another round of matches, he asked George how long it would take to dismiss the apprentices and recruit replacements.

• Sato organized the apprentices into groups for one-on-one battles and recorded his observations as they fought.
• Zuote sent out his Nuzleaf to impress Sato, but Fujiwara Kai’s Sneasel defeated it.
• After all the apprentices had battled, Sato gave each one written analysis and advice, then announced that daily training would begin with actual combat.
• The apprentices returned for another round of matches the next afternoon, and Sato asked George how long it would take to dismiss them and recruit replacements.

Sato frightened the Dark Night Gym apprentices by warning that new recruits might replace them, then used daily goals and assessments to push them into training harder. The apprentices began making rapid progress, though two failed to meet their goals on the third day.

• Sato announced that the gym would select new apprentices in a month and warned the current apprentices they could be replaced, causing them to panic.
• Sato trained Skorupi and Ariados while the apprentices sought guidance from senior students instead of approaching him.
• The apprentices trained late into the night and fought fiercely during the third day's combat session.
• Sato gave most apprentices notes with feedback and new goals, but two received none because they had not completed their assignments.
• The apprentices spent their days working toward Sato's goals and began noticing clear progress.

Zuote celebrated the Gym Leader’s departure from the Gym, while Sato traveled to Saffron City and met White and Tsubaki. Sato arrived at White’s grand estate, where a reception awaited them.

• Fujiwara Kai told Zuote that the Gym Leader was leaving, and Zuote hurried to see him off while secretly celebrating his freedom.
• Sato left the apprentices’ training in Little Ming’s hands and warned Mark to train Arbok to Elite Level before he returned.
• Three days later, Sato flew to Saffron City, where White and Tsubaki picked him up and helped him evade reporters.
• White teased Tsubaki while Sato asked after her brother, Itsuki, and Sister Lixiang, prompting Tsubaki to insist that everyone was fine.
• White, Tsubaki, and Sato arrived at White’s estate, where a butler welcomed them to a reception.

Sato and White reunited and caught up before Sato agreed to a 2V2 sparring match with Tsubaki. Tsubaki’s Dratini knocked Skorupi down with a well-timed Aqua Tail, leaving the match unresolved.

• Sato and White shared stories about Sato’s travels and White’s difficult years working as a Breeder before his family’s situation changed.
• Tsubaki challenged Sato to a Pokémon battle, and they agreed to a 2V2 rotation-style match in the garden.
• Tsubaki sent out Dratini while Sato chose Skorupi, and both Pokémon began by using Agility and Acupressure.
• Skorupi used its boosted evasion to dodge Dratini’s Dragon Tail, then struck it with Poison Fang before Tsubaki protected Dratini with Safeguard.
• Skorupi used Acupressure again and evaded Thunder Wave with Dig, but Dratini hit it with Aqua Tail as it surfaced and knocked it down.

Sato’s Skorupi defeated Tsubaki’s Dratini, and Tsubaki sent out her powerful Kingdra to face Sato’s Zweilous. Kingdra’s Hydro Pump struck Zweilous after breaking through its Dragon Pulse, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Skorupi used Acupressure-boosted Pin Missile to tear apart Dratini’s Twister, and Dratini lost its combat capability.
• Tsubaki sent out her Elite Peak Kingdra, while Sato recalled Skorupi and chose Zweilous.
• Zweilous’s two heads attacked separately with Dark Pulse and Dragon Pulse, keeping Kingdra from using Rain Dance at first.
• Kingdra concealed itself with Water Pulse and began Rain Dance, but Zweilous countered with Sunny Day and fired Dragon Pulse.
• Kingdra dodged Zweilous’s Dragon Pulse with Agility and hit Zweilous with a full-powered Hydro Pump.

Sato defeated Tsubaki in a Pokémon battle, then traveled with Tsubaki and White to Pallet Town for the Oak Research Institute’s founding ceremony. On the way, they spotted young Shigeru and Satoshi arguing over a Poké Ball, and Shigeru answered their call at the institute’s entrance.

• Tsubaki realized Zweilous’s attacks were not very powerful, but Zweilous’s combined Dark Pulse overcame Kingdra’s maximum-power Hydro Pump and defeated it after a prolonged battle.
• White checked Kingdra and found it exhausted but unharmed, while Tsubaki accepted her loss and insisted Sato still could not beat her brother.
• Sato stayed for another night at White’s home, then traveled with Tsubaki and White by private jet to Pallet Town for the Oak Research Institute’s founding ceremony.
• The trio walked through Pallet Town and saw young Shigeru and Satoshi arguing over a Poké Ball caught on both of their fishing lines.
• Sato recognized the children as future trainers and continued with Tsubaki and White to the Oak Research Institute, where Shigeru answered them through the entrance speaker.

Sato and his friends helped prepare the Oak Research Institute’s opening ceremony by inflating balloons and ran into old acquaintances and prominent Trainers. As more guests arrived, the institute filled with friends and regional Gym Leaders gathering for the event.

• Professor Oak briefly greeted Sato and asked Shigeru to show him and his companions inside.
• Shigeru put Sato, White, and Tsubaki to work inflating balloons, and Ryoko stopped by while helping prepare the venue.
• Norman, Phoebe, Winona, Steven Stone, and Wallace joined Sato, and Tsubaki’s burst balloon brought the group to a pause before they resumed inflating balloons together.
• After finishing several hundred balloons, the guests helped around the institute and chatted while Shigeru went to answer the door.
• Cynthia, Flint, Volkner, and several Johto Gym Leaders or their juniors arrived, and the doorbell rang again.

Sato reunited with familiar Trainers at Professor Oak’s opening ceremony, but Giovanni’s unexpected presence left him on edge. Oak criticized the control of resources by a privileged few before Nagamura and Akane arrived late, and the guests moved on to the banquet.

• Lance greeted Sato and joked with him, while Itsuki noticed that Sato seemed distracted.
• Sato spotted Giovanni at the ceremony, exchanged polite nods with him, and worried that his Dark Power might reveal his connection to Giovanni if George appeared.
• Professor Oak began the casual opening ceremony and spoke about leaving his Champion days behind to focus on research and spreading Pokémon knowledge.
• Oak criticized how a small minority controlled most resources, prompting quiet reactions from young Trainers and restrained smiles from the older guests.
• Nagamura and Akane arrived late after getting lost in Pallet Town, and their banter amused the crowd and improved Oak’s mood.
• Oak ended his speech and directed the guests to the prepared banquet.

At Professor Oak’s banquet, Sato watched Giovanni for signs that he knew about Viridian Power before Oak publicly offered to take him as a disciple. Sato declined tactfully, but Oak kept pressing until Lance and Yasumura intervened, and Shigeru renewed the offer as the chapter ended.

• Sato observed Giovanni at the banquet and inferred that Shaka had probably not revealed George’s secret about Viridian Power.
• Oak brought Shigeru over and told the gathered leaders that he wished he had taken Sato as his disciple before Drake did.
• Sato politely refused, saying that he would remain loyal to his master, Drake.
• Oak offered to arrange for Sato to study under him as well, drawing the attention of the banquet guests.
• Lance and Yasumura urged Oak to speak with Drake instead, and Oak backed down.
• Shigeru asked Sato to reconsider his grandfather’s offer.

After the Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament reignited Sato’s desire to win, he took his Pokémon into Dark Night Forest for a month of closed-door training with the Honchkrow flock. He began assigning battles and drills to strengthen their weaknesses.

• Sato and the other Trainers agreed to settle their rivalry at the Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament at Indigo Plateau, while the Johto Gym Ranking Match faced postponement or cancellation.
• Sato returned to his Gym, announced he would train in Dark Night Forest for at least a month, and left with all his Pokémon.
• Sato reached the Honchkrow flock’s base, and the giant Honchkrow leader agreed to help train his team.
• Sato assigned Skorupi and Zweilous increasingly difficult battles against the flock’s Honchkrow.
• Sato identified speed as a weakness for Cacturne, Tyranitar, Umbreon, Krookodile, and Ariados, then encouraged Umbreon to compensate with agility and physical strength.

Sato assigned training goals to his Pokémon, focusing on Umbreon’s agility, Cacturne’s Cotton Spore, Krookodile’s offense, Tyranitar’s mobility and move coverage, Ariados’s Poison Dragon Heart, and Gengar’s search for a decisive attack. He then called Sharpedo forward to hear its plan, leaving that instruction unrevealed.

• Sato told Umbreon to dodge attacks from many Murkrow until its body reacted instinctively, warning that the training would hurt.
• Sato directed Cacturne to practice Cotton Spore until it could slow opponents instinctively, and urged Krookodile to develop its speed and offensive power.
• Sato asked Tyranitar to use its rock-riding movement to catch up to Houndoom and begin learning Blast Burn, Hydro Pump, Thunder, and Blizzard.
• Sato gave Ariados the Poison Dragon Heart and told it to absorb the hardened treasure cautiously, starting with small licks.
• Sato asked Gengar to combine Spatial Power into a decisive move of its own, and Gengar withdrew into its Shadow Space to think.
• Sato called Sharpedo forward, and Sharpedo hurried over eagerly.

Sato assigned training to his Pokémon, and Pichu evolved into Pikachu and showed its determination to battle. After a month of training, Sato prepared to leave for another competition, leaving George and Mark to watch the house.

• Sato planned for Sharpedo to develop a new Super Move and taught Weavile to study Pokémon body structures to improve its One Hit Kill attacks.
• Sato advised Honchkrow on flight training, while Zoroark began practicing Illusion with Ralts and the Nightmare Orb.
• Pichu asked to join training, evolved into Pikachu, and demonstrated that it had learned Thunder.
• After a month of forest training, Sato noted that Weavile had gained a new understanding of Vital Point Attack.
• Sato teased George and Mark before leaving for another competition, and they told him to bring back a trophy.

Sato arrived at Indigo Plateau for the Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament and studied its demanding format as contestants from five regions gathered. After arranging medical support and learning that 176 Trainers had entered, he joined the other participants at the tournament’s opening ceremony.

• Sato toured the busy hotel district with Pikachu, sharing snacks with it before returning to study the tournament guide.
• Sato learned that Trainers from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova would compete in a group round-robin doubles preliminary followed by ranking matches and a final round-robin among the top four.
• Over the next three days, Sato met friends from other regions and asked Nurse Joy Lixiang to serve as his medical staff instead of bringing George.
• Organizers confirmed 176 participants, meaning Sato would need to play ten preliminary matches, and he resolved to compete with the Pokemon he had available.
• Sato entered the main stadium with the other contestants as President Damalanchi addressed them from the podium.

Sato and Pikachu arrived at Sub-venue 3 for the Group E preliminary round, where Sato faced Ganhe in the first match. Sato won the 2V2 battle with Krookodile and Cacturne, defeating Ganhe’s Charizard and Pidgeot.

• Sato spotted Caitlin among the Group E participants, but she reacted with disgust and ignored him.
• The referee called Sato and Ganhe to the field, where two other trainers dismissed Sato as an easy opponent.
• Sato and Ganhe sent out two Pokémon each, and the referee began their double battle.
• Krookodile and Cacturne used Sandstorm to obscure the field and Rock Slide to badly injure Charizard.
• Cacturne and Krookodile brought down Charizard and then defeated Pidgeot, giving Sato the match victory.

Sato watched Group E’s morning matches, observed Caitlin’s unusual command style, and prepared for his afternoon battle. He began that match against En Niu with Cacturne and Ariados, whose opening attacks countered En Niu’s Surf and Power Gem.

• Sato recalled Cacturne and Krookodile after defeating Ganhe, then stayed in the stands to study the other contestants.
• Caitlin defeated her opponent with Gothitelle and Sigilyph, and Sato suspected she commanded them telepathically through her Psychic abilities.
• After the morning matches ended, Sato visited Nurse Joy Lixiang, and Cacturne and Krookodile recovered during the lunch break.
• Sato learned that En Niu was a Vermilion City League Army major who specialized in Electric- and Water-type Pokémon.
• Sato and En Niu began their match with Cacturne and Ariados facing Poliwrath and Ampharos; Cacturne broke through Power Gem while Ariados split Surf with Poison Jab.

Sato defeated En Niu in the round-robin Points Match and kept an undefeated record through the fourth day, earning a reputation for his coordinated battles. On the fifth day, he faced the other undefeated trainer in his group, Caitlin, whose Gothitelle and Sigilyph entered the field against Sato’s Umbreon and Sharpedo.

• Sato used Cultivate Land to absorb the combined Hydro Pump and Thunder attack, while Ariados covered the field with Sticky Web.
• Sato’s Toxic and Seed Bomb struck Ampharos and Poliwrath as the falling Sticky Webs pinned them down, securing his second match victory.
• Sato watched the remaining matches, then left the venue to rest while carrying the sleeping Pikachu.
• Sato won his matches through the fourth day using Ariados, Cacturne, Weavile, and Krookodile, drawing more spectators to Sub-venue 3.
• Sato met Caitlin on the fifth day as the only other undefeated trainer in Group E and sent out Umbreon and Sharpedo against her Gothitelle and Sigilyph.
• Caitlin declared that the power of Psychic Type was beyond Sato’s imagination.