Summoning Pokémon in Naruto

Hayato felt a flicker of annoyance. Even though Uchiha Setsuna had stopped giving him trouble and was now extending goodwill, Hayato couldn't forget the elder's past actions.

Arriving unannounced with someone in tow only confirmed that Setsuna still embodied the forceful, traditional Uchiha warrior spirit. The only reason for this apparent shift was Hayato's growing value to the clan, and Setsuna's attempt to bring him into the fold.

Setsuna, however, remained composed, his smile unwavering. "Hayato-kun, how is your training coming along? If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

"Everything's fine," Hayato replied evenly, neither warm nor cold, while inwardly on high alert, wondering what the elder's true intentions were.

From the moment they entered, Chimchar had assumed a battle-ready stance. Its fur bristled, tail flame burning brightly, and eyes locked onto Setsuna as though ready to pounce at any second.

It holds grudges, Hayato thought with a wry smile.

"Haha, this little one seems to have grown stronger," Setsuna commented without a hint of offense. His voice carried a calm amusement as he continued, "I came today to introduce my niece to you."

"Micchan, come and say hello to Hayato."

Hayato blinked in surprise. Mikoto? Is this the same Mikoto who would one day give birth to Itachi and Sasuke?

"I'll leave you young people to chat," Setsuna said casually as he rose to leave, wasting no time in his exit.

What is this? Did he switch careers to become the Uchiha matchmaker? Hayato mused, bewildered.

The whole situation reeked of a setup. Bringing Mikoto to his home unannounced and leaving so abruptly made it clear that Setsuna intended to foster a closer relationship between them, strengthening Hayato's ties to the Uchiha clan.

Hayato could understand the logic, but he didn't feel comfortable accepting it.

His heart was already conflicted over Kushina. If he were to accept Setsuna's arrangement, how would he face her? Not to mention, Mikoto's own feelings were unknown. What if she was here as a "spy" for the clan?

Rejecting Setsuna outright might tear the fragile relationship apart. For now, I'll take it as it comes. As long as I stay neutral, everything should be fine, Hayato resolved.

He turned his attention to the girl sitting across from him. Mikoto appeared a few years older than Hayato—likely in her early teens.

She sat quietly, her long black hair cascading smoothly down her back. Her delicate features exuded a calm elegance, and her dark blue Uchiha attire added to her noble and composed demeanor.

The Uchiha Clan sure knows how to produce stunning people, Hayato thought, impressed.

Sensing his gaze, Mikoto offered a small smile and bowed slightly. Her voice was soft but apologetic. "Hayato-kun, I'm sorry for coming here without any notice. My uncle's decision was sudden."

"It's fine. Make yourself comfortable. My place is simple—don't mind the lack of amenities," Hayato replied.

Mikoto's lips curved slightly. "The clan has been talking about you a lot recently. After all, you possess a unique ability."

She glanced at Chimchar, who had relaxed slightly but was still clearly wary. Her curiosity was evident. "I've been wanting to see it for myself."

"Chimchar has a mind of its own. If it doesn't want to come near you, there's nothing I can do," Hayato said with a chuckle. The little Pokémon, having lumped Mikoto in with Setsuna, seemed to dislike her already. "Besides, Pokémon will probably become common in the village eventually. There's no rush."

Mikoto nodded, seeming to accept his explanation. "Hayato, I'm four years older than you. If you don't mind, you can call me Mikoto-nee."

She smiled gently and added, "I'll graduate next year and join Konoha's police force. What about you? Have you thought about your future?"

Call her "Mikoto-nee"? As a grown man in my previous life, I can't bring myself to call a teenager "big sister," Hayato thought, stifling a groan as he mulled over how to respond.

Just then, the instant messenger device on the table buzzed to life.

"Hayato? Where are you?"

The screen lit up with Kushina's cheerful face. Her expression brightened when she recognized Hayato's background, but her smile faltered slightly when Mikoto inadvertently came into view.

"Who's that?" Kushina's voice held a sharp edge, though she quickly masked it with a lighter tone. "Hayato, who's the girl behind you?"

Hayato sighed inwardly, suspecting Mikoto had deliberately moved into view.

"She's… kind of my elder sister," Hayato replied, trying to keep it vague.

"Your sister? But you never mentioned having one!" Kushina's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I'm coming over right now."

This is odd, Kushina thought. Hayato's talked about his past before. If he really had a sister, he wouldn't have hidden it. And they don't act like they know each other well.

"Where are you going, Kushina? Aren't we going shopping?" called Nono, still nibbling on a dango skewer as she watched Kushina dash off.

"Nono, stop eating and hurry up!" Ruri snapped, snatching the skewer. "That's Hayato's house she's heading to. She's definitely up to something!"

Dragging a stumbling Nono behind her, Ruri followed Kushina. When they arrived, the scene before them was unexpected.

Kushina sat primly next to Hayato, her posture unusually composed. Across from her was the unfamiliar Mikoto. Ruri instinctively slowed her steps, sensing an innate grace in Mikoto that even her own noble Hyuga upbringing found intimidating.

Hayato glanced up, noticing the newcomers. "Oh, you're here too. Find a seat."

He gestured to Mikoto. "This is Uchiha Mikoto from my clan. She's four years older than us, so I said she's sort of like an older sister."

Mikoto smiled gracefully, her expression flawless. "Hello, Kushina. You're such a lovely girl."

Kushina blushed at the compliment. Being praised for her looks by another girl was rare, and she relaxed slightly. "Thank you. You're beautiful too."

But then the realization hit her: She's not his real sister… which means she could be a threat!

Clan marriages weren't uncommon, especially with someone as poised and stunning as Mikoto. Kushina felt her confidence waver. If I were a boy, I'd probably like someone like her too…

She glanced at Ruri, then at Nono, and her sense of unease deepened. Am I surrounded by love rivals?

Mikoto, meanwhile, maintained her serene smile. She had assumed meeting Hayato would be boring, but now she realized it might actually be quite amusing.