Shadow at the Doorstep

Outside the quiet wooden house nestled at the edge of the forest, a group of masked Root ninjas halted. Cloaked in the hush of dusk, their presence was barely noticeable—but their intent was deadly. One among them glanced ahead, nodded firmly, and whispered to his comrades, "This is it. The mission begins. Be careful." With silent coordination, they launched forward like phantoms, quickly surrounding the humble house.

The lead ninja reached the porch and pushed open the door. It creaked slightly, offering no resistance. His brows furrowed—was this a trap? Suddenly, a sharp swish split the air. Before he could react, a powerful creature with elegant wings and a piercing gaze rushed him with a burst of wind.

"Doragonite—!"

With a single mighty punch, Dragonite sent the ninja flying out the door and crashing into the ground with a resounding boom.

"Everyone, be careful, there are enemies!" another warned, but he too was immediately sent airborne by another crashing blow from Dragonite's claws.

Their leader, observing the chaos from outside, clenched his teeth, his expression shifting from confidence to shock. "Retreat!" he barked.

But before they could flee, a calm voice came from within the house. "Everyone, since you're already here, leaving like this wouldn't be very polite, would it?"

Renji Takahashi emerged from the shadows inside the house, holding Espeon gently in his arms. Dragonite stood beside him, wings spread, battle-ready. The moonlight bathed them, casting long silhouettes against the cracked ground where the Root ninjas fell.

The captain straightened, eyes locked on Renji. "Sir, we apologize for the intrusion. We'll leave at once."

Renji narrowed his eyes. Something didn't add up. These weren't the arrogant, blind followers of Danzo often depicted in fiction. These men were cautious, observant—and frightened. He realized then how misleading the stories had been. Sai's memories in the anime had revealed the truth: these Root operatives were carefully conditioned, molded by cruelty and necessity. They weren't fools—they were survivors.

Tch. "Damn novels," Renji muttered under his breath.

Out loud, he asked coldly, "Why did Danzo send you?"

He didn't need confirmation. Sarutobi Hiruzen lacked the will to move against him, especially without understanding the Pokémon or their role. Danzo, on the other hand, always struck first to control unknown variables.

The captain blinked and feigned confusion. "Danzo? I don't know who you're talking about."

Renji smiled coldly. "You don't have to admit it. Dragonite, give them a proper greeting."

"Doragonite!" Dragonite's voice thundered as it flapped its wings, launching forward with terrifying speed. In an instant, it appeared next to a Root ninja, slamming its claw into his chest with explosive force. The man collapsed, unconscious before he hit the ground.

The remaining Root ninjas went pale.

"Do you still want to pretend?" Renji asked.

The captain clenched his jaw. "You know who sent us. But do you really want to become enemies with Konoha?"

Renji shrugged. "Don't overestimate your worth. This is my territory. Even if I wiped you all out, Konoha wouldn't dare retaliate—not while they're still trying to figure out what Pokémon are."

"And even if I do become Konoha's enemy… I won't lose sleep over it."

Silence stretched, then the captain attempted diplomacy once more. "We've already suffered losses. Let this go, and we won't bother you again."

"No." Renji's voice was final. "Dragonite."

Dragonite obeyed without hesitation. With another burst of speed, it appeared before two more Root operatives. A claw slashed—crack! One ninja was launched into the trees, disappearing into the night. The second was struck by Dragonite's tail, his body flung across the clearing like a ragdoll.

The Root captain's composure finally cracked. Fury etched into his face, he turned to the two remaining members. "Hold that creature! I'll deal with the summoner myself!"

They split up—two towards Dragonite, the captain straight for Renji.

"Seriously?" Renji muttered. "Playing tricks like that?"

Dragonite's eyes burned with rage. "Doragonite! Doragon!"

Electric sparks danced around its claws. With a furious flap of its wings, it disappeared again. One Root ninja tried to react, but a thunder-charged punch met his chest with a deafening impact. The ninja's body crumpled, blood spurting from his mouth before he was flung through a line of trees. The crash echoed through the woods.

Dragonite didn't stop. A twist of its body, and its massive tail whipped around. CRACK! Another ninja was launched away like a broken doll, vanishing into the same forest.

Only the captain remained.

Renji stood his ground, expression calm but eyes sharp. Espeon in his arms looked up nervously, letting out a soft, "Espeon…espeon…"

The captain drew a kunai and closed in. But Dragonite was faster.

In a burst of radiant energy, Dragonite transformed into a streak of light and hurtled toward the captain like a meteor.

The sky above the clearing flashed blue-white as power crackled in the air.

The real battle was just beginning.