The day began like any other.
Keiji sat beneath the shadow of an ancient tree inside the Uchiha compound, a calm smile tugging at his lips as the cool breeze ruffled the leaves above. His Shiny Gengar floated lazily at his side, its violet body fading in and out of the branches. It let out a mischievous chuckle as it phased through a thick branch, startling a flock of sparrows.
Keiji laughed, shaking his head as he tossed a pebble into the pond in front of him. Ripples spread, distorting the reflection of the clear blue sky.
"Gengar, sometimes I forget we're living in a war era," he murmured.
"Gen…gar," the Pokémon replied knowingly, its grin wide as ever. It spun once before sinking into Keiji's shadow, vanishing from sight.
The moment was peaceful. Too peaceful.
A shadow suddenly stretched across Keiji's form. He glanced up to find a stern Uchiha ninja standing before him, posture rigid, eyes sharp.
"The Clan Head has summoned you," the man said firmly, bowing before disappearing as swiftly as he came.
Keiji blinked. "The Clan Head?"
From the darkness, Gengar re-emerged, floating just above his shoulder, snickering with a mischievous twinkle. Whatever awaited them—it wasn't ordinary.
---
The Gathering
The walk toward the Clan Head's chamber felt heavier than any sparring session. Keiji's sandals clicked softly against the stone pathway, but each step echoed like a drumbeat in his mind. His heart raced faster the closer he came, sensing a tension in the air that pressed against his chest.
By the time he slid open the door, his breath caught.
Inside sat not only his father, Madara Uchiha, but also his mother Unohana, her calm yet terrifying aura filling the chamber. To the right sat his uncle Izuna, sharp-eyed and ever watchful. At the far end, his grandfather Tajima Uchiha, radiating iron authority. Flanking them—the entire Uchiha Elders' Council.
The air was suffocating. Even Gengar's grin faltered, its eyes narrowing as it hovered protectively closer to Keiji.
Keiji swallowed hard, stepped inside, and bowed respectfully. "You summoned me, Father."
Madara's gaze pierced him, sharp as a blade, unwavering. For a long moment, silence reigned, until finally Madara spoke, his voice calm yet commanding.
"The reason I have called you is to discuss the upcoming Land of Fire Youth Ninja Competition, hosted by the Daimyō, the nobles, and the Merchant Association of the land of fire."
A ripple of murmurs spread among the elders. Keiji's heart skipped a beat. A competition?
---
The Explanation
Madara's voice cut through the whispers like steel.
"Every chosen clan by the Daimyō, nobles, and Merchant Association of the land of fire must send either their heir or the strongest of their younger generation to the Capital. The battles are one on one, elimination style. Each round, opponents are paired at random. Victory advances the fighter; defeat ends their participation."
Izuna leaned forward, his expression serious. "The rewards are far greater than pride. The winner's clan earns missions, funding, and direct political support from the Daimyō , his court, nobles and Merchant Association of the land of fire until the next competition. Furthermore, the champion's clan is allowed to send two participants in the next tournament, while all others may only send one."
Keiji's breath caught. This wasn't just a tournament—it was politics wearing the mask of sport.
Still, curiosity pricked at him. "Who won the last competition?"
Madara's gaze sharpened. "Third place was taken by the heir of the Kaguya Clan—who now leads them. Second was claimed by the heir of the Hagoromo Clan—he too became their leader. And first…" Madara's tone grew flat. "…was Hashirama Senju, now head of the Senju Clan."
The name struck Keiji like a kunai to the chest. His mind filled with images—the God of Shinobi, the man who would one day rival his father.
"You mean… Father, you didn't participate?"
Before Madara could answer, Tajima's harsh voice cracked the silence. "No. That year, the Uchiha were barred from competing. False allegations spread by the Senju, the Merchant Association of the land of fire, and the underworld boss of the Capital city. Our honor was stolen." His eyes burned with venom. "That same underworld boss was later reduced to ash by Madara himself."
Keiji shivered. The Sengoku era was crueler, sharper, more bloodstained than he had imagined.
---
The Decision
He forced himself to ask the inevitable. "So… who will represent the Uchiha this year?"
Silence fell like a blade. Then, slowly, every pair of eyes turned toward him.
Madara.
Unohana.
Izuna.
Tajima.
The Elders.
Even Gengar blinked, tilting its head as if realizing before Keiji did.
"…Me?" His voice cracked.
Unohana stepped forward, her presence soft yet commanding. "Yes. You have been chosen for three reasons. First—you are the heir of the clan. Second—you are the strongest of your generation. And third…" Her eyes softened, but her tone carried conviction. "…you and your Gengar share a bond unlike any shinobi and summon before. Together, you are something new. Something this world has never seen."
Keiji's throat tightened. He wanted to argue, to shout that he wasn't ready. But the unwavering confidence in his mother's eyes silenced him.
Unohana continued, "From tomorrow onward, your training begins. Each day, one of us will guide you. You will be trained in Ninjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, Fūinjutsu, Chakra Control, and Stamina. By the time of the competition, you will be ready."
The words settled heavily in the chamber.
---
The List
Madara gestured. An elder stepped forward, handing Keiji a tightly rolled scroll.
"Here are the clans chosen this year," Madara said.
Hands trembling, Keiji unrolled the parchment. His eyes scanned the names:
Senju Clan – 2 Ninja
Uchiha Clan – 1 Ninja
Uzumaki Clan – 1 Ninja
Kaguya Clan – 1 Ninja
Hagoromo Clan – 1 Ninja
Nara Clan – 1 Ninja
Yamanaka Clan – 1 Ninja
Akimichi Clan – 1 Ninja
Sarutobi Clan – 1 Ninja
Shimura Clan – 1 Ninja
Utatane Clan – 1 Ninja
Mitokado Clan – 1 Ninja
Aburame Clan – 1 Ninja
Hyūga Clan – 1 Ninja
Inuzuka Clan – 1 Ninja
Hatake Clan – 1 Ninja
Kurama Clan – 1 Ninja
Kohaku Clan – 1 Ninja
Namikaze Clan – 1 Ninja
At the bottom, a final note:
> During and before the two months leading to the competition, a ceasefire is enforced. No clan may attack another until the Daimyō declares the truce lifted.
Keiji's eyes widened. His breath hitched. A ceasefire… forced peace in the middle of endless war.
---
The Realization
He read the names again, the ink burning into his mind.
Senju. Uzumaki. Nara. Yamanaka. Akimichi. Sarutobi. Shimura. Hyūga. Aburame. Hatake. Namikaze…
His lips parted, a whisper escaping before he could stop it. "Except for Kaguya and Hagoromo… these are the clans that will one day form Konoha."
The scroll nearly slipped from his grasp.
Gengar leaned closer, its grin widening eerily, but even its presence couldn't soften the icy dread crawling through Keiji's chest.
This wasn't just a competition.
It was the beginning of history.
And he was being thrust into its center.
---
The Silent Oath
The chamber around him faded. He no longer heard the elders' murmurs or felt his father's piercing stare.
All he saw were the names, the destinies that awaited them.
The heirs of the Senju. The Uzumaki. The Hyūga. The Nara. The Yamanaka. The Akimichi. The Sarutobi.
Future comrades. Future rivals. Future pillars of the shinobi world.
And in their midst stood him—Keiji Uchiha.
He clenched the scroll tightly, his breath steadying. Fate had placed him here for a reason. He could not run. He would not.
"I accept," he whispered under his breath, though no one had asked. His oath was silent, but it rang louder than any shout.
For better or worse, the threads of destiny had begun to weave.
---
End of the Chapter
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