• English / United States: Samurai
• Japanese / Japan: サムライ
• Japanese (Romanized) / Japan: Samurai
• Japanese (TL) / Japan: Samurai
• French / France: Samurai

While traveling through Viridian Forest, Ash was approached by Samurai, who was looking for the next trainer from Pallet Town. Samurai challenged Ash to a Pokémon battle, causing Ash Ketchum to forget about the wild Weedle he was trying to capture, which then escaped. The battle started off with Samurai's Pinsir going up against Ash's Pidgeotto, who was already tired from the battle it just had with the wild Weedle. Samurai's Pinsir quickly defeated Ash's Pidgeotto, forcing Ash Ketchum to call on Ash's Metapod. Ash's Metapod's Harden raised its defense enough so that Samurai's Pinsir's horns had no effect on it. Samurai then recalled Samurai's Pinsir and sent out Samurai's Metapod. The two Pokémon were locked in a stalemate using the same Harden attack over and over again. However, the battle was forced into a draw when a swarm of wild Beedrill approached and flew off with Ash's Metapod.

In hot pursuit by the Beedrill, the group ran off and headed for Samurai's cabin. Once there, Samurai revealed that he had previously battled and lost to Gary Oak and the other two trainers from Pallet Town. Samurai told Ash Ketchum that he was a joke of a trainer compared to the previous trainers that had come from Pallet. He then called Ash Ketchum a bad trainer for leaving Ash's Metapod outside with the Beedrill. The next day, Ash Ketchum was able to retrieve Ash's Metapod, which evolved into Ash's Butterfree. Ash Ketchum was then able to earn the respect of Samurai after he defeated the swarm of Beedrill with his new Pokémon.