Yamashita Youhei cast a worried glance at Uchiha Hayato. From what he knew, Uchiha Setsuna, in his youth, had once attempted to assassinate the Second Hokage. Now, this same figure was summoning Hayato. What kind of storm might this stir up?
"Sensei Yamashita, I'll take my leave now," Hayato said with a smile before following the Uchiha police officer.
"Chii?" Monferno tilted its head, sensing the tense atmosphere. Hayato patted its head to calm it, though his own mood was far from light. All he wanted was to live peacefully with Monferno, but as an Uchiha, he could not avoid the inevitable tug-of-war between the clan and the village.
The militant faction of the Uchiha had become increasingly extreme. While the Senju Clan had faded into history, and even the Hyuga Clan showed no interest in the Hokage position, certain members of the Uchiha were fixated on power. Perhaps, Hayato mused bitterly, it was the lingering will of Madara that haunted the clan.
"Why does Elder Setsuna want to see me?" Hayato asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed. He disliked heading into a situation blind.
"Perhaps it's about what happened at the academy today," the officer replied with a touch of pride. "Word of how you handled those boys spread through the clan. You've made us proud, Hayato. Truly, you're a child of the Uchiha."
Then, leaning closer, the officer added in a hushed tone, "But remember, to truly be an Uchiha, you need to awaken the Sharingan."
His gaze fell on Monferno, and he looked intrigued. "That summoning beast… it's quite rare, isn't it?"
Soon, they arrived at a small, humble wooden house. One would never guess this unassuming structure was the residence of the Uchiha clan's elder.
"Here we are you may enter too meet the elder."
Hayato nodded and stepped forward. The house opened into a serene courtyard, where an elderly man sat cross-legged on the veranda, his hands resting on his knees. Despite the intimidating stories surrounding him, Uchiha Setsuna appeared calm, even ordinary.
"You've arrived," Setsuna said, his deep voice steady. He lifted his head slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Hayato's.
"Hayato greets Elder Setsuna," Hayato replied, his tone neither overly reverent nor disrespectful.
Setsuna studied him for a moment before letting out a satisfied chuckle. "Good. You carry yourself like a true Uchiha. I heard about your actions at the academy today. You handled yourself well."
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Setsuna continued, "As a reward, I will teach you a Fire Release technique."
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Setsuna formed hand signs at a speed so fast that Hayato couldn't follow. A volley of fiery orbs erupted from his mouth, their heat blanketing the courtyard. The sheer intensity forced Hayato to leap backward.
On Hayato's back, Monferno peeked out, chirping in amazement. The display of fire left both trainer and Pokémon in awe.
Setsuna, his expression inscrutable, retrieved a scroll from his wide sleeve. "This contains my notes on Fire Release techniques, including the Great Fireball and Phoenix Sage Fire. Study it well."
Hayato hesitated. "Elder Setsuna, what happened at the academy was nothing worth mentioning. I cannot accept such a generous gift."
For a moment, Setsuna's smile faltered, though he quickly recovered. "Take it. The stronger our clan's children become, the prouder I am."
Hayato's instincts screamed at him: Accepting this gift would come with strings attached.
As if confirming his fears, Setsuna's tone shifted. His gaze settled on Monferno. "I heard your summoning beast played a significant role in today's events. Why not entrust it to the clan?"
[Ding! New Mission: The Pokémon Hunter's Demand]
Option 1: Hand over Monferno.
Reward: Exp. Candy M ×5, Move Tutor—Frustration ×1, and no further Pokémon acquisitions.Option 2: Refuse to hand over Monferno.
Reward: Soothe Bell, Fire-Type Energy Cube (Low).
Hayato's expression darkened. Was there even a choice here?
Refuse!
His parents had died on missions, leaving him owing nothing to the clan or the village. Monferno, though new to his life, was already family. Handing it over was unthinkable.
"Elder Setsuna, Monferno is my summoning beast. I cannot give it up," Hayato said firmly.
Setsuna's eyes narrowed slightly, his calm demeanor finally showing cracks. "Giving your summoning beast to the clan would ensure you receive better training. Isn't that a fair trade?"
Hayato's response was cold and calculated. "If Elder Setsuna can defeat me using only a genin's chakra reserves, I'll agree."
Setsuna chuckled. "You have courage, young one. Very well, I'll humor you."
Hayato patted Monferno on the head. "Don't worry. We won't lose."
Monferno's eyes blazed with determination. It let out a spirited cry, the fire on its tail surging higher.
"Both of you, come at me," Setsuna said.
Hayato quickly formed hand signs, creating two shadow clones. Together with Monferno, they launched a coordinated assault.
Monferno leapt forward, fists ignited, aiming a fiery punch at Setsuna. The elder sidestepped effortlessly, his speed and precision unparalleled. His counterattack dispersed the clones in a flash, leaving Hayato exposed.
Monferno refused to give up. It somersaulted mid-air, attempting a double kick aimed at Setsuna's head.
With a flick of his wrist, Setsuna caught Monferno's ankle mid-attack, stopping it cold. Using the momentum, he swung Monferno toward Hayato, forcing the boy to catch his partner as they tumbled backward.
"Combat isn't just about brute strength," Setsuna remarked.
As the battle raged on, Monferno was struck down, its fire flickering weakly. Hayato felt a surge of anger and sadness. In that moment, his emotions triggered a shift—the Sharingan awakened, its black tomoe spinning against crimson irises.
Monferno, sensing Hayato's resolve, stood once more. Its fire reignited with ferocity. The Blaze ability had activated.
"Monferno, use Fire Punch at full power!" Hayato shouted.
The air distorted around Monferno's fists as it charged.
For a moment, Setsuna hesitated. The intense heat and Hayato's newly awakened Sharingan forced him to take the fight seriously.
Before Setsuna could act, Hayato recalled Monferno into its ball and leapt out of the courtyard.
"Ha!" Setsuna laughed. "Did that boy just outsmart me?"
He shook his head, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "That summoning beast… it doesn't use chakra. Interesting. Let's see how far this boy and his strange creature can go."