Suburban Konoha – An Isolated Hill
A serene landscape stretched across the outskirts of Konoha, untouched by the chaos of the village. A lush forest crowned the hillside, where towering trees stood like ancient sentinels, their emerald leaves whispering with the wind. A crystal-clear stream wound its way through the land, shimmering under the afternoon sun, like a ribbon cast from the heavens. It was a beautiful, almost dreamlike place, but one devoid of warmth—no bustling villagers, no laughter, no signs of life beyond the rustling leaves and chirping birds.
At the foot of the hill stood a modest wooden house, its structure plain and unremarkable. Though it lacked grandeur, it symbolized something far greater—struggle, perseverance, and the hope of a new beginning.
"Brother Renji, I'm here!"
A cheerful voice echoed across the quiet landscape as a boy with wild blond hair and whisker-like marks on his cheeks came running toward the wooden house. His clothes were slightly tattered, but his blue eyes shone with unyielding spirit. This was Naruto Uzumaki.
Standing at the doorstep was a young man, his features well-defined, his dark hair neatly arranged. He exuded a warm, inviting presence, yet deep within his gaze lay a hint of unspoken bitterness.
"Slow down, Naruto," Renji Takahashi said with a small smile. "No need to rush."
Naruto grinned, slowing his pace only slightly as he approached.
Renji, however, barely noticed. His mind drifted back to the past—back to the moment that changed his life forever.
Three Months Ago – The Awakening
Renji had once been an ordinary young man, living in a world where ninjas existed only in fiction. He had been watching Pokémon on his phone when, out of nowhere, his screen twisted into a swirling black void. Before he could react, it consumed him, dragging him into darkness.
When he awoke, he was here.
At first, excitement flooded his veins. He was in the Naruto world—a realm of shinobi, chakra, and legendary figures. Like any reader of isekai stories, he had dreamed of such a thing. This was a chance at a new life, a fresh start.
But reality was cruel.
His body was indeed Renji Takahashi's, and he still looked the same, but he soon discovered a harsh truth: he had no talent for chakra. He couldn't mold it, couldn't even feel it. In this world, where power dictated survival, he was nothing more than a regular civilian.
He was twenty years old—far too late to start from scratch. If he had arrived as a child, perhaps he could have trained in taijutsu, carving a path through sheer will and hard work. But now? The window had long since closed.
Fear settled deep in his bones.
Konoha, though beautiful, was a place of constant peril. The Third Hokage's reign was nearing its end. The village had suffered the Nine-Tails attack years ago and would soon face the invasion of Orochimaru. War, conspiracies, and death loomed just beyond the horizon.
Even knowing the future didn't guarantee his survival.
Then, just as despair threatened to crush him, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Binding to Host... Pokémon Entrustment System detected.]
Relief surged through him. A system! His lifeline in this dangerous world!
But hope turned to frustration when he learned the system's restriction.
[Shelter Requirement: The system remains locked until the host successfully establishes a Pokémon shelter in Konoha.]
At that moment, Renji nearly lost his mind.
A store? How was he supposed to open a business when he could barely afford food? He had nothing—no wealth, no connections, not even ninja skills to earn a living.
To make matters worse, the system's voice vanished after delivering its demand, refusing to respond no matter how desperately he called for it.
That was when he remembered something—this land.
The Inherited Hill
Renji's grandfather had been a merchant, one of the many who followed Hashirama Senju's dream of a united village. When Konoha was first established, he saw its potential and, believing in the village's future, poured everything he had into purchasing a hill on its outskirts.
He was convinced that as Konoha expanded, this land would become valuable.
But time proved him wrong.
Konoha's growth took a different direction, focusing more on the inner districts and leaving this hill untouched. Frustrated and heartbroken, his grandfather had passed away, leaving the land to his son, who later perished during the Nine-Tails attack.
Now, the hill belonged to Renji.
It was a useless piece of land in the eyes of Konoha, but to him, it was salvation. It was the key to activating his system.
And so, for three long months, he toiled endlessly—taking every odd job he could find, working himself to exhaustion. The ryo he earned was never enough, but he persevered. Piece by piece, he gathered materials and constructed this wooden house.
Now, finally, it stood completed.
Would the system finally activate?
A Shelter's First Guest
"Brother Renji, what's wrong?" Naruto asked, tilting his head. "And you said you had a strong partner for me! Where is it?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Renji smiled. "Come inside. Your partner is waiting."
He stepped aside, pushing the wooden door open.
The interior was bare—just four walls and a floor, devoid of even the most basic furnishings. It was a pitiful sight. Even a thief wouldn't find anything worth stealing here.
Naruto blinked. "Huh? Where's my partner?"
Renji chuckled. "Wait here. I'll bring them over."
He stepped outside, walking toward the back of the shelter. The moment he crossed the threshold, a strange warmth spread through his body. A notification flashed in his mind.
[Shelter requirement met. Pokémon Entrustment System fully activated.]
A wave of energy surged through him. His vision blurred momentarily, then sharpened as though a hidden layer of the world had peeled away. The empty space before him shimmered, and three figures materialized.
Renji's breath hitched.
Standing before him were three creatures, each one unmistakably familiar yet utterly out of place in this world.
A red-skinned lizard with a flame burning at the tip of its tail.A small toad-like creature with a budding flower on its back.A turtle standing upright, its shell gleaming in the sunlight.
Charmander. Bulbasaur. Squirtle.
Renji's lips parted in awe. The system… it was real. These weren't mere illusions. They were living, breathing Pokémon.
With his heart racing, he turned back toward the wooden house, stepping inside once more.
Naruto's eyes widened as Renji moved aside, revealing the three creatures standing behind him.
"Look, Naruto," Renji said with a knowing smile. "One of these three… might just be your future partner."
The blond-haired boy stared at them, his mouth falling open in pure shock.
"What… what are they?"
Renji chuckled.
"They're Pokémon. And they're going to change everything."