Nawaki Senju walked along the forest path back toward the Hidden Leaf Village. The setting sun stretched his shadow across the ground, thin and long like a drawn line.
There were far more patrol shinobi near the village gates than usual. Every one of them wore a tense expression, shoulders tight, moods subdued. A faint wave of unease rippled through the air.
The closer he walked toward the central district, the heavier that invisible anxiety became.
The streets where villagers normally strolled at a relaxed pace were now filled with shinobi in vests moving briskly from place to place. Even more striking, several figures darted across the rooftops at high speed, heading straight toward the Hokage Building. They ignored the unspoken rule that shinobi should not leap across residential rooftops unless it was an emergency.
Nawaki felt a chill rise in his chest.
"Has the border friction already begun to disrupt daily life inside the village?"
Such hurried, openly urgent movement usually signaled high-priority missions or classified intelligence being delivered.
It felt like the calm before a storm. The dark clouds of the Second Great Ninja War seemed to be pressing heavily toward the Leaf.
Worse, there were subtle changes dangerous ones compared to the original series he remembered.
Even in canon, the timeline surrounding the Second Great Ninja War was debated.
Nawaki believed the war expanded into full conflict around Year 32 after the founding of the Hidden Leaf, lasting until Year 37. The economic inequalities worsened by the First Great Ninja War had already fueled the rise of militaristic factions across nations. Tensions had been simmering for years.
And the Rain Village, squeezed between the Land of Earth, Wind, and Fire, was at the center of it all.
If his memory was correct, minor skirmishes around the Rain Village had already begun this year, including border clashes between Stone and Leaf, though they had not yet escalated into true war.
But counting the years, only two remained until Hanzo of the Salamander would declare war on the great nations simultaneously.
Instead of returning to the Senju compound, Nawaki turned toward Training Ground Three on the eastern side of the village. It was relatively isolated, a place people used for private sparring or quiet conversation.
From a distance, he spotted three familiar figures.
Shikaku Nara – Genin
Choza Akimichi – Genin
Shibi Aburame – Genin
Shikaku lay flat on the grass, as lazy as always, staring blankly at the sky. It looked like he was contemplating some profound philosophy, but the glint in his eyes carried the sharpness of someone far more perceptive than his age suggested.
Choza sat beside him, broad-shouldered and cheerful, eating from a large bag of snacks. His cheeks were puffed out, and he radiated simple happiness.
Nawaki walked over with a smile.
"Shikaku, Choza."
"Yo, Nawaki. Done with training?" Shikaku lazily raised a hand in greeting, though his eyes had already drifted toward the ninja pouch at Nawaki's waist.
Choza mumbled a greeting between bites, swallowing quickly before smiling warmly at him.
Nawaki sat naturally beside them and took out a small sealing scroll from his pouch.
He formed a quick release seal. A soft puff of white smoke appeared, revealing a clean picnic blanket and several oiled paper food packets.
"I brought sandwiches. Don't be shy," Nawaki said as he spread them out.
One of them held a dark-red grilled meat patty with a smoky, unusual aroma. It was his slightly modified "Magma-Style Sandwich," crafted with the system's materials.
Choza's eyes sparkled instantly. He reached for one and took an enormous bite. His eyes narrowed with bliss.
"This is amazing! I've never tasted anything like this! Nawaki, where did you buy it?"
"I made it. If you like it, eat more."
Nawaki reached for a plain sandwich, but paused when something caught his attention.
"Wait. Why are there four hands?" He blinked and looked up. "Shibi? When did you get here?"
Shibi Aburame stood beside them, wearing his usual high-collared jacket and dark sunglasses, holding a sandwich in silence.
He did not respond immediately. The only sounds were the rustling leaves and Choza chewing happily. For a moment, time felt perfectly still.
Five seconds later, Shibi finally spoke in his calm, steady tone.
"We arrived together."
Nawaki said nothing, but his expression said everything.
Right. He vaguely remembered seeing Shibi earlier, walking with Shikaku and Choza. But Shibi's naturally silent presence made him blend into the background so smoothly that Nawaki had simply failed to notice him.
A true inheritor of the Aburame clan. Their low-profile aura was comparable to a clan secret technique.
Shikaku remained sprawled out and unfazed. Only the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth suggested amusement.
Choza continued eating, blissfully unaware of the awkwardness.
The tension quickly dissolved, replaced by an easy warmth among friends.
The four of them sat around the picnic blanket, sharing food under the fading light.
While eating, Shikaku commented casually, "Several older clan members have been sent to the border recently." His tone was mild, but the meaning behind it was clear. The situation was worsening.
He glanced at Nawaki. "Looks like we won't get to stay in the academy much longer."
Nawaki immediately responded, "I've been tired of staying there. It's a waste of time."
He wanted real missions, real enemies. He wanted opportunities where he could use the ability he had never dared touch: Energy Devour.
Shikaku raised a brow. "I can tell. So that's why your Shadow Clones go to class for you while the real you trains?"
His half-lidded eyes gleamed with quiet sharpness.
Nawaki only smiled.
With the Pokémon moves he had mastered, combined with Senju taijutsu and chakra, he was already beyond an average genin. Even against seasoned chunin, with Agility, Quick Attack, and Harden in play, he could hold his own.
And Energy Devour remained his secret trump card, urging him toward early graduation.
After the meal, Nawaki moved to the real topic.
He formed another set of seals and unsealed several small porcelain bottles and jars of spray.
"These are what we discussed before."
He handed bottles to Shikaku and Choza. "The potions. You know their effects. They work well on injuries and restoring stamina."
Then he passed a bundle of sprays and a box to Shibi. "This is Sweet Scent, upgraded. Stronger attraction, longer duration. Should work nicely with your hive insects."
He tapped the next item. "And this Sleep Powder can make insects drowsy. I adjusted the nozzle for controlled bursts. Good for driving or capturing bugs. Be careful not to inhale it."
Shikaku and Shibi packed the bottles away carefully.
Shikaku pointed with his chin toward a much larger package beside them.
"These are the herbs for this exchange. High-quality materials, including the rare ones on your list. The amount is... five times what we gave you before."
Nawaki raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
The Nara clan, sharp as ever, would never act without reason.
Shikaku met his gaze with his usual languid posture, though his voice was clear.
"My father's idea. He thinks these potions have extraordinary value. More effective than standard rations or herbs. Strategic value, even."
He paused.
"He wants the Nara clan to build a stable relationship with the Senju. Or more accurately, with you."
"If possible, a production partnership. If not, at least a reliable supply."
Nawaki understood immediately.
Shikaku's father, Shikaku Nara, was renowned for his foresight. He had quickly sensed the potential behind Nawaki's system-based potions.
Nawaki expected attention eventually, but not that the Ino-Shika-Cho clans would approach him in such a direct and pragmatic manner.
He collected his thoughts and responded with appropriate caution, allowing himself a trace of youthful sincerity.
"Please thank your father for me. But producing these potions involves more than a formula. There are complicated factors. I need to discuss it with my elders before giving an answer."
He deliberately left the identity of these elders vague. They might be Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade, or respected Senju elders.
The uncertainty itself was a layer of protection and a subtle assertion of his own value.
Then he added with genuine warmth, "But since your father showed such sincerity and provided these excellent herbs, I will increase your supply of potions."
Shikaku nodded once, a flash of understanding in his eyes.
"I'll deliver your message exactly as you said."
It was enough. Nawaki had not refused. He had left the door open.
For the Nara clan, the connection was now established, and the benefits were real.
Nawaki stored the large package of herbs. With these, he could craft more potions and even attempt high-grade items like Super Potions.
He could also expand into other types of restorative items. They would support his own growth, strengthen his social network, and help him gather essential resources for his future plans.
He looked at the three young men beside him.
The clever heir of the Nara.
The straightforward successor of the Akimichi.
The quiet, enigmatic prodigy of the Aburame.
Future pillars of the Leaf, sitting beside him now, sharing a simple yet meaningful moment.
The sun disappeared completely below the horizon. The village lights flickered on, illuminating the coming night.
One by one, the young shinobi of the training grounds headed home.
Nawaki knew a seed had been planted.
By using the resources of the Pokémon System, he had begun weaving a network of alliances and trust. In a world sliding toward chaos, these bonds, combined with the power from another world, would become the fulcrum that helped him break the chains of fate and reshape the future.