Pokemon: Equivalent Exchange

Reincarnated as an orphan in Pallet Town, with a half-dead System that can only appraise potential.

Watching Professor Oak become increasingly gaunt from his obsession with research, while Giovanni is still doing charity work with Oddish, the protagonist quietly pulls out his Trainer Card.

The legends have yet to begin, so I'll claim the title of World Champion first!

Years later, when a reporter from the Indigo League asks him the secret to his success, the protagonist puts an arm around the stiff-shouldered chairman of Team Rocket and the Professor Oak, whose smile is strained, and earnestly tells the cameras, “It was all thanks to a little help from my friends early on.”

Leaving behind one future ten-year-old rookie from Pallet Town, completely dumbfounded and still unable to collect all eight badges.