Normally, in such a crazy and chaotic situation, the entire ninja world should have fallen apart long ago.
But it didn't. At this moment, the ninja world was exploding with the power it had built up for thousands of years. And with Shanks' influence, even the will of the ninja world itself had gotten a lot stronger.
Although it seemed fine on the surface now, ever since Shanks broke it, the world's will had been sharpening and growing stronger.
As the will of a world, normally this kind of thing shouldn't happen, because a world's will usually has no strong bias.
But Shanks' arrival gave the ninja world's will a clear bias, and then it started to grow stronger under pressure.
The ninja world's will might look the same in size, but its strength had gone way up.
Put another way, a bigger era had arrived.
Just look at the current state of the ninja world. Forget about the whole mess with New World Shanks and the Sage of Six Paths for now.
Inside the World Government, the major ninja clans were already expanding and preparing to found nations. Countries built by ninja clans were becoming the foundation of the World Government. This process was the will being drawn together… and once these countries were established, the world's will would join in, marking the start of an age of national destiny.
Just this alone is already very different.
And besides this, White Zetsu has started to awaken. If it were just an ordinary White Zetsu awakening, that would be one thing. But before awakening, White Zetsu had already spent months getting to know this world.
And in this world, there just happens to be someone like Shanks. Because of Shanks, the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, the ninja villages, and all kinds of nations and forces have all gotten much stronger.
As a result, White Zetsu's side has also gotten a huge boost.
If nothing else, at this rate, as long as White Zetsu finds the right chance, there will definitely be someone who becomes a top-tier powerhouse of this era.
Aside from how complicated all these forces have become, there's also the battles between the strongest. On the East Blue battlefield, Master Genichi has already arrived.
Orochimaru is ready to use Master Genichi as a whetstone. And don't be fooled by Orochimaru not seeming overly aggressive—anyone who can push Shanks to that point clearly has plenty of dirty tricks up his sleeve.
And besides those two, even a split body of the Sage of Six Paths is on the East Blue battlefield.
And below these two top-class monsters, there are still other strong people from this era.
Normally, under these conditions, the ninja world would have already fallen apart. But right now, under this insane pressure, all the hidden forces and strong fighters are being completely held down.
It's not that they're weak—it's just that the top-level people are way too overwhelming. Their time to rise hasn't come yet.
And this crushing pressure doesn't just come from those strongest fighters, even the will of the whole ninja world is like this. Thousands of years of build-up is terrifying beyond words, something even Shanks can't fully understand.
But one thing Shanks knows for sure: in front of such a great era, he, Shanks, is nothing.
Without thousands of years of the ninja world's foundation, he couldn't have done any of this.
But since he did, he really wants to see how far this era can go.
After that battle with Genichi and Fukuda Kiyomu, Shanks returned to the Red Line to rest.
When Jiraiya and the others saw Shanks come back injured, they weren't surprised.
"How was it? Happy now?"
Jiraiya asked with a grin. He didn't pay too much attention to Shanks' wounds, but when he looked at them, something felt a bit off. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he felt like something might be wrong with Shanks' body…
"The other side is very strong, and very skilled. If they succeed, the World Government might really have what it takes to step into the New World.
That guy's use of Sage Arts and the world's will… it's incredible."
Shanks said with praise.
"But, it's a little too extreme. It might come at a huge price, and I really don't want to see that happen."
"Sometimes sacrifices are unavoidable. But more than that… I just hope you don't push too far, Captain."
Shisui said as he sat by the campfire, handing Shanks a bandage, with a bit of worry still on his face.
Shanks could see Shisui's worry. All this time…
As comrades, they haven't gone through much together. They haven't faced life-and-death moments. There haven't been any touching stories between them.
And yet, that doesn't stop them from being comrades—even willing to die for each other.
Just like how Jiraiya recognizes Shanks. In a way, they're almost like strangers who just happened to meet.
They didn't grow up in the same village, they have no shared memories, and they never fought side by side through life and death like Orochimaru and Tsunade did.
But still, they ended up sitting together like this.
This feeling… is something else.
"Feels like… we've grown up, huh?"
Shanks grinned and said with no mercy in his tone.
"Huh? Why are you saying that all of a sudden?"
"Isn't it true? If it were like in the past, the only way we could be sitting together like this would be if we grew up in the same village, went through many things together, and built that kind of special bond."
"Sharing so many stories, having the same memories, holding trust and feelings for each other in our hearts."
Hearing Shanks' voice with a smile, Shisui and Jiraiya were stunned for a moment.
Then they both smiled too.
Shisui thought back to his past, and by the campfire it felt as if he could see Itachi's figure, with Sasuke now grown up beside him, and next to Shisui was Uchiha Kagami, the senior who had placed so much hope on him since he was a child.
Those memories and those good times were truly worth remembering, and they touched the heart deeply.
It was the same for Jiraiya. Only after hearing Shanks' words did he drift into that daze, with a smile appearing on his face as well.
Shisui, Yahiko, Konan—those three disciples appeared in his mind. They had already become remarkable people.
And not only Nagato and the others, but also Orochimaru, Tsunade…
Minato, who had already passed away, and Naruto, who was just starting to shine.
All these people had always been on Jiraiya's mind, always living in his memories.
But when he looked at Shanks in front of him, he realized that he couldn't recall any past shared with this man.
Even though Jiraiya had been through a lot with Shanks—their first battle against each other, the first time he played dirty and left a scar on Shanks' face, the first time he saw him and recognized the belief that this man carried.
The same went for Shisui.
The first time he heard of Shanks, the first time he learned about the change in this world, when even after dying, this man reignited his hope to live on.
Brought out by Shanks, standing with him to witness this great era.
Fighting Danzo in the Land of Waves and taking back his eyes.
Facing Orochimaru alone in the Land of Wind to buy Shanks time.
And here, also joining another battle.
In this new era, becoming Shanks' right hand.
But now, as they thought back, neither of them could truly recall Shanks in those memories.
"Must be lonely, huh, Shanks!"
The carefree Jiraiya showed his feelings in front of Shanks for the first time.
They suddenly realized they had always overlooked that loneliness in Shanks.
Shanks was indeed powerful, the strongest man in the world, but he was also very lonely.
That had always been Shanks' problem—he was too lonely.
If everyone had their own story, then Shanks' story was surely the most boring one.
Because in his story, not even he himself was the main character.
He had great strength, strong belief, countless followers… everything about him shone so brightly, catching everyone's eyes.
And yet, Shanks—who should have been the main character of this world—was like his image in a tavern, sitting quietly, drawing no attention at all.
"Lonely?"
"Not really, at least I still have you guys, haha!"
"My spirit isn't that small.
Compared to those touching stories of friendship in novels, companions who gather together because of belief are just as precious. And I trust you all completely, without any doubt!"
Shanks was carefree.
Loneliness was real, but he was never the main character, so there was no need for all that.
Compared to those things, Shanks felt it was better to have "companions" who came together because of the same belief.
"Hah? As expected, someone like you could never show up in a novel."
"Shisui is more fitting."
Jiraiya looked at Shisui. Shisui's gentle face instantly turned awkward, and he quickly shook his head.
"Jiraiya-sama!!"
"Alright, alright, I won't write you in."
Jiraiya waved his hand, no longer putting pressure on Shisui.
"So what exactly is your new book about?"
Shanks asked curiously. Though Jiraiya was a ninja, he was also a writer, and had published "Tough Ninja Legends," the "Icha Icha Paradise" series…
Either way, this guy was very passionate about writing.
And lately, he had been preparing a new book.
"I originally planned to use you as the model, Shanks, but a guy like you can't be a main character. Even if I write it, it won't sell well."
Jiraiya was also torn.
Writing about Shanks' story was possible, but no one would read it, because it was too plain. Shanks didn't have the traits of a main character.
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Shanks looked helpless, especially when he saw the strange title of Jiraiya's new book, "One Piece Ninja Tales."
"Why not just use Naruto's name as the main character then?"
"One Piece, Uzumaki Naruto—what do you guys think?"
Jiraiya thought about it and circled back to the name of the main character from his first novel.
"If you write it like that, won't Naruto get killed?"
Shisui's eyelids twitched. Because of his blond hair, Naruto was already being targeted by pirates. If Jiraiya really did that, wouldn't he just be pushing Naruto to his death?
"I think it works."
Shanks immediately agreed. Die? Impossible.
As the main character, how could he die?
Hearing Shanks' agreement, Jiraiya was a little surprised. He didn't expect Shanks to also recognize Naruto like that.
"That kid Naruto definitely has what it takes to become the Pirate King."
Shanks said firmly.
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