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An odd Naruto-inspired ninja village story arc in Pokemon XYZ introduces a coup plot, showcasing ninja tricks and power struggles. Ash and friends aid in battling against a rogue ninja trying to overthrow the village leader, leading to Frogadier's evolution. Unusual for Pokémon, this storyline has a different tone, akin to a classic shonen series, providing an entertaining Naruto vibe.

The Pokémon anime has had some odd story arcs over the years, but one ninja-based storyline feels so out of place that it's almost as if it came straight out of Naruto. While some of the ninja characters had been introduced in the past, the ninja village story arc featured a coup plot that's unlike anything else in Pokémon.

In the Pokémon XYZ episodes "The Legend of the Ninja Hero!" and "A Festival of Decisions," Ash and his friends make contact with a friend they've met before, a ninja...

In Pokémon, Ash's Greninja is one of the strongest companions he's ever had, but Greninja partially owes its strength to a period of special training with an actual ninja who looks right out of Naruto. Given Greninja's obvious inspirations, the training session is not only appropriate but actually essential to the role that Ash's Froakie would play as it evolved further.

In the episode "A Rush of Ninja Wisdom!", Ash and his friends encounter a boy dressed as a ninja named Sanpei, who happens to have a Frogadier, Froakie's middle evolution. Ash and Sanpei battle, but Froakie ends up losing, which prompts Ash to ask Sanpei for help training his Froakie to be like Frogadier. Sanpei agrees and begins to teach Froakie some essential ninja tricks, like running across the surface of the water and flying through the treetops, just like in Naruto. While it takes Froakie a little time,...