"Looks like you really like my Kurama."
Naruto's voice rang out just as Sasuke was completely absorbed in petting the fox.
He had no idea when Naruto had woken up.
Seeing the suspiciously blissful expression on Sasuke's face, Naruto grinned mischievously.
"Can't help it, right? My Kurama is ridiculously cute~"
"K-Kurama? That's what you named it?"
Sasuke immediately straightened up, his ears turning red. He coughed awkwardly and forced his expression back into something dignified.
"Hmph. I am no mage. I do not require a familiar."
Naruto crossed his arms and puffed out his chest like a senior giving advice.
"They're not familiars. They're called Pokémon. And having six tails isn't weird for a Pokémon."
Sasuke blinked.
"So there are… other Pokémon like this?"
"Of course!" Naruto perked up instantly. "If you want one, I'll take you to the Pokémon shop after school!"
His excitement was obvious.
"Boys."
A calm voice drifted down from behind them.
"What exactly are you so excited about?"
Aizen-sensei stood there smiling.
Sasuke nearly jumped.
Wasn't he just at the podium?
"An illusion? He was at the front a second ago!"
"When did I ever say I was still there?" Aizen replied mildly.
His gaze flicked toward the desk drawer.
"Both of you. Stand for the rest of class."
To keep Vulpix hidden, the two could only comply.
Even while standing, they continued whispering and arguing, drawing quiet laughter from the rest of the class.
---
After school, Naruto kept his promise and dragged Sasuke toward the Pokémon shop.
Just outside the gate, they ran into Naruto's older brother—
Uchiha Itachi.
Handsome and composed, Itachi naturally attracted plenty of attention from passing girls. Unfortunately for them, he was completely immune—his world revolved entirely around his little brother.
After hearing about the Pokémon shop, Itachi decided to tag along.
A store that sold a six-tailed fox?
He had to see it for himself.
---
"Welcome."
Jiang Shi was feeding macarons to Victini when the trio walked in.
"Boss! I brought you another customer!"
Naruto declared proudly, hands on hips.
Sasuke stepped forward dramatically, covering one eye.
"So this is the place where contracts with mystical beasts are formed. I am Uchiha Sasuke. Are you the keeper of familiars?"
Jiang Shi paused.
…So this world's version of Sasuke is full chuunibyo.
He smiled politely.
"You mean Pokémon. And before we begin—none of them are cheap."
He activated the gacha interface and explained the rules.
Sasuke listened with growing intensity.
"A random summoning ritual… Hmph. The being that resonates with me will surely be a demon-lord-class existence."
Without hesitation, he slammed the START button.
Shadows flashed rapidly across the screen—
—and stopped on a round silhouette with a lightning-bolt-shaped tail.
"A Pikachu," Jiang Shi said with a smile. "Excellent choice."
"Looks like a hamster," Itachi commented calmly.
Naruto snorted. "You're about to see a demon-lord-level hamster."
The brothers started bickering immediately.
Moments later, Jiang Shi returned holding a plump yellow Pokémon that resembled a cross between a squirrel and a mouse.
"Pika~"
Pikachu lifted its lightning-bolt tail and blinked curiously.
Sasuke froze.
Just seconds ago, he had thought the silhouette didn't look cool enough.
Now?
His heart took a direct hit.
Too cute.
This was fatal.
Jiang Shi handed Pikachu to him carefully.
Sasuke accepted it like it was something sacred, gently stroking its fur. The warmth and softness made his chest tighten.
"When petting Pikachu, avoid the red patches on its cheeks," Jiang Shi advised. "That's where it stores electricity."
"It produces electricity?" Itachi asked, surprised.
"Pokémon aren't ordinary pets," Jiang Shi explained. "Each has an elemental type. Types interact with each other through strengths and weaknesses."
He gestured toward Naruto.
"Vulpix is Fire-type. That's why it can produce embers."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"So Naruto's Vulpix can breathe fire… and my Pikachu can use lightning?"
"Correct. Thunder Shock is one of Pikachu's basic moves."
"That's incredible…"
Itachi's expression grew thoughtful. "Is it safe?"
"Every Pokémon I sell has its own personality," Jiang Shi said calmly. "But none of them harbor malice toward humans."
"Accidental discharges without hostile intent won't cause serious harm."
(At least not to people in this world. Physical durability varies by universe.)
Sasuke hugged Pikachu tighter and looked at Itachi with pleading eyes.
"Brother…"
Itachi sighed internally.
He never could refuse that look.
He pulled out his card. "How much?"
"210,000," Jiang Shi replied brightly.
"…210,000?"
Itachi hesitated.
Even as a vice-manager in the family company, spending that much on a pet would definitely invite lectures from the elders.
But Sasuke's hopeful gaze was lethal.
He swiped the card.
"Thank you for your purchase."
Jiang Shi handed them a box.
"These are energy cubes, formulated specifically for Pokémon. They're excellent for growth. This box is complimentary."
"Also, may I borrow your phones? There's an app you'll need."
Curious, Naruto and Sasuke handed them over.
Jiang Shi quickly installed the Pokédex app via data transfer.
"With this app, you can scan any Pokémon to register its data and view its species information instantly," he explained. "If you encounter an unfamiliar Pokémon, this will tell you everything you need to know."
Naruto immediately opened the app and scanned Pikachu.
Information popped up:
---
Name: Pikachu
Type: Electric
Gender: Male
Ability: Lightning Rod
Moves: Thunder Shock, Quick Attack, Tail Whip, Thunder Wave
Description: Lives in forests in groups. The electric sacs in its cheeks store electricity. When angered, it can release powerful bolts.
---
He scanned Vulpix next.
---
Name: Vulpix
Type: Fire
Gender: Female
Ability: Drought
Moves: Ember, Tail Whip, Quick Attack
Description: Beautiful fur and elegant tails. As it grows, the tip of its tail splits, increasing the number of tails.
---
"Increasing number of tails…?"
Naruto's eyes widened.
Does that mean it could become nine-tailed?
Unable to resist, he aimed the camera at Victini.
The screen updated.
---
Name: Victini
Type: Fire / Psychic
Gender: Unknown
Moves: Flame Charge, Focus Energy, Confusion, Incinerate, Iron Head, Endure, Flame Burst, Reversal, Inferno, Zen Headbutt, and more
Description: A Mythical Pokémon said to bring victory. A Trainer who befriends Victini will never lose.
---
Sasuke had scanned it at the same time.
The endless move list struck him like lightning.
His heart trembled.
This shopkeeper…
Could he actually be some hidden master?!