Chapter 48: The Shadow of a Godfather
Three years had passed since the night of the Nine-Tails' attack. Konoha had healed — its walls rebuilt, its people standing tall once more. The scars of loss ran deep, but so did resilience. The village looked alive again, children laughing, shinobi training, and hope flickering once more.
Yet unseen, behind the mirror's veil, one man had quietly ensured that hope would never fade.
Ren stood in the Mirror Realm, arms folded as he overlooked the ever-evolving world he had created. Pokémon of all kinds roamed freely — from the playful Eevee hopping through crystalline meadows to the mighty Garchomp soaring above mountains of glittering quartz. The orphans had grown too, now strong young shinobi in training — each mastering techniques inspired by both chakra and Ren's unique energy manipulation.
His world was alive. And it was still growing.
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"Sensei!"
Ren turned as a small girl ran toward him. Her hair was pinkish-white, her eyes an iridescent blue. She was one of his brightest — Suki, the first orphan he ever rescued.
"Ah, Suki," Ren said with a faint smile. "How's the new fusion training?"
"Watch this!" she chirped. She pressed her palms together, summoning a glowing creature from pure light — half Vulpix, half Ninetales, both elegant and wild.
Ren's eyes gleamed in approval. "Excellent. You've learned to stabilize hybrid essence. That's something even advanced summoners struggle with."
Suki grinned proudly. "I learned from the best!"
Behind her, three