The night was still.
No wind stirred through the pine trees outside the Uchiha compound, but the faint scent of ash—ever-present in a land torn by war—lingered in the air. Keiji lay on his futon, staring at the ceiling beams. Dinner with his family had been warm, almost too warm for him, like a dream he was afraid to lose if he blinked. For someone who had lived a whole life before this one, it was strange how much a single evening around a table could mean.
And yet… something inside him was restless. A pulse beneath the surface, a stirring in his chest.
It came suddenly.
A voice—not human, not divine, but something in between.
Cold. Mechanical. Familiar.
>[Time Lock released.]
[System initializing…]
[Trainer's Path: Activated.]
Keiji shot upright, his heart pounding. "It's happening…" he whispered to the empty room.
---
The System Awakens
The voice continued, calm and unwavering, cutting through the silence like a blade.
> [Congratulations, Keiji Uchiha. Access to the Pokémon System has been unlocked.]
[Starter Pokémon: Shiny Gengar.]
The floorboards shivered. Shadows seeped from the corners, coiling like living smoke. Darkness pooled in the center of the room, rising, shaping, forming a figure.
And then it stood there.
Tall. Grinning. Eyes glowing like burning rubies. Its body shimmered with a sheen darker than indigo, deeper than violet—a form that seemed to absorb the moonlight itself.
A Shiny Gengar.
The grin was jagged, the eyes intense, but the malice so often depicted in stories was absent. Instead, its aura radiated something entirely different. A shield. A guardian.
Keiji's throat tightened. He had dreamed of this moment in both his lives, but seeing it here, now, in the flesh—or shadow—was overwhelming. "You're… really here."
The Gengar tilted its head, eyes narrowing mischievously. Its voice rang out in a hollow, playful lilt.
"Gar… gengar…"
But Keiji didn't just hear sound. He felt meaning. The words weren't words, but intent.
You are mine friend. I am yours friend.
His breath caught. Their connection was undeniable.
---
The Ghostly Gift
The voice of the system returned.
> [Special Ability unlocked: Ghost Pokémon Power – The Spirit Power (Eidolon).]
A flood of knowledge surged through Keiji's mind. Intangibility. Spirit-sight. Whispered curses. The ability to brush the veil between life and death itself.
His chakra flared, twisting, fusing with something other. Ghostly energy seeped into his core, threading through his veins like liquid ice. His body thrummed with power, equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.
He staggered, clutching his chest. "This is—too much…"
> [Note: Ordinary users suffer spiritual backlash and loss of humanity.]
[Exception granted to host.]
Keiji gasped, sweat beading his forehead. The risk was real, but he was different. Protected. Chosen.
He wasn't just Uchiha blood now. He was a bridge between shinobi and spirits.
---
The First Bond
Gengar drifted forward, its clawed hand reaching out. Slowly, deliberately, it pressed against Keiji's chest.
Warmth—not cold, not dread, but warmth—rushed through him. A tether of loyalty and trust snapped into place, stronger than any chain of steel.
"Gengar…" Keiji whispered, his voice trembling.
The grin stretched wider, and then, like mist dispersing, Gengar sank into the shadows, vanishing from sight. But Keiji could still feel it. The presence never left.
They were bound. Forever.
---
The Clan Awakens
But the surge of chakra had not gone unnoticed.
Heavy footsteps thundered down the corridor. The sliding door burst open.
Madara stormed in first, Sharingan spinning, kunai flashing. Izuna and Tajima followed, sharp-eyed and tense. Behind them, Unohana's gaze cut through the room like a blade.
"What happened?!" Madara demanded, scanning wildly. His eyes locked on the towering shadowy figure that lingered protectively near Keiji.
Gengar materialized again, crimson eyes blazing, grin widening as it placed itself squarely between Keiji and the Uchiha warriors. Its aura chilled the air.
Izuna froze mid-step, jaw slack. "What in the hells is that?!"
---
A Summon Unlike Any Other
To their eyes, it wasn't a partner. It was a monster. An unholy summon.
Keiji stumbled forward, raising his hands desperately. "Wait! Don't attack—he's not the enemy!"
Gengar growled low, its laugh-tinged voice carrying the weight of a graveyard's whisper. Shadows curled protectively around Keiji.
Madara's Sharingan locked onto the creature, his stance unflinching. Slowly, he lowered his kunai. "Keiji… what have you summoned?"
The system pulsed in Keiji's mind, cold and firm.
> [Warning: Do not reveal system.]
Keiji swallowed. "He's… my protector. A spirit. One that answers only to me."
Tajima's brows rose, eyes gleaming. "A summoning contract? At your age?"
Unohana, silent until now, stepped closer. Her gaze swept over Gengar, sharp and calculating. "No," she said at last. "Not a contract. Something deeper."
---
Awe and Acceptance
By now, more Uchiha had gathered outside, peering into the room. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is it a demon?"
"No… it shields him."
"Look at it. It stands guard—like a guardian."
Gengar puffed its form larger, glowing eyes daring anyone to challenge its place at Keiji's side.
Madara's eyes narrowed, suspicion warring with intrigue. "Whatever it is, it is tied to you, Keiji. And now… it is tied to this clan."
Izuna let out a low whistle. "Our enemies will talk when they see this. Perhaps they'll even learn to fear us more."
Tajima's lips curled into a proud smile. "To command such a being… You are truly my grandson."
---
The First Test
Unohana's hand settled gently on Keiji's shoulder. "Can it understand us?"
Keiji hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I can… understand it too. Its thoughts, its voice."
A ripple of shock passed through the room. Even Madara faltered, if only slightly. "You can speak to it directly?"
"Yes."
Madara turned, addressing the shadow. "Then hear me, spirit. Protect this boy. Betray him, and you will face the wrath of the Uchiha."
Gengar's grin widened, its eyes gleaming. A voice echoed in Keiji's mind, calm and resolute. I live only for him. His blood is my oath.
Keiji relayed softly, "He says… he'll never betray me."
The murmurs in the hall grew louder—half awe, half fear.
---
A New Bond with the Clan
From that night, the clan began to see the creature differently.
Children whispered about the Shadow Guardian. Warriors regarded it with wary respect. Elders argued in hushed tones whether this was a blessing or a curse.
But one truth was undeniable—Keiji had something no Uchiha before him ever possessed.
A partner.
---
The Ghost's Embrace
Later, when the clan had dispersed, only his family remained.
Unohana approached first, reaching out carefully. Her hand sank slightly into Gengar's intangible form. She did not recoil. "Strange… yet it accepts me."
Keiji smiled faintly. "He sees you as family too."
Madara's gaze lingered on Gengar, arms crossed. "If it strengthens you, then master it. Power without control is nothing."
Izuna smirked, shaking his head. "Control? Look at it. It already adores him. This isn't control, brother. This is devotion."
Tajima chuckled. "Then forge this bond strong enough to withstand any storm. Spirit or not… he is still Uchiha blood. And now, perhaps something greater."
---
Keiji's Reflection
Hours later, in the moonlit courtyard, Keiji sat alone.
Gengar hovered behind him, shadow stretching across the stones. The night was cool, but Keiji felt only warmth.
"I guess it's real now," he whispered.
The Pokémon chuckled softly, its voice like a playful echo in the dark.
Keiji smiled. "From here on… we fight together."
And for the first time since awakening in this world, he felt ready.
But far above, unseen by him, a pair of crimson eyes watched from the treeline. Enemy shinobi—silent, patient—taking note of the Uchiha heir and the shadow that guarded him.
War never slept. And neither would whispers of the boy who commanded a demon of shadows.
---
End of the Chapter
---