(A/N: I am very sorry, everyone. I made a mistake. Today, while going through the timeline, I realized that in recent chapters I might have mentioned Kushina as being 16 to 17 years old, but that is not correct. At that time, Kushina was actually around 14 years old. It was just a few months after she had been made the Jinchuriki and was kidnapped by the Kumogakure ninjas. So please keep in mind that when she barged into the Hokage's office demanding to meet Shanks and others, after hearing the news about Shanks defeating Hanzo, she was 14 years old.)
Shanks remained stationed at the rebuilding site of the Uzumaki Village, and his very presence served as a shield for the workers. Under his watchful eye, not a single laborer faced harm or interference. Day after day, as the foundations of the new village rose from the ruins, his presence instilled both confidence and security in those dedicating themselves to the reconstruction.
Time flowed steadily. A full year slipped by, during which the Second Shinobi World War finally drew to an end. Yet, for the Uzumaki clan, this great upheaval of the shinobi world brought little change. Their focus never wavered from the task before them—the restoration of their homeland. Another year followed in much the same way, and thus, two years in total had passed since the beginning of the village's revival.
During this span, Shanks and all of his siblings committed themselves not only to rebuilding but also to their own relentless training. The fruits of that effort were clear. Compared to two years prior, their strength had grown to a level that could no longer be ignored in the shinobi world.
Erza, through sheer determination and natural talent, had elevated her abilities until her base power alone was recognized at the level of a low Kage. Guy and Antares were no different, each achieving the same remarkable threshold. The remaining siblings, though not yet at Kage level, had advanced to the formidable rank of S-class shinobi. In fact, even those Uzumaki who stood at the high A-rank to S-rank spectrum could now contend with Kage-level opponents. Perhaps they might not always claim victory, but they possessed the skill, Chakra, and sealing arts to resist or even escape battles against the mightiest of leaders.
The once-scattered clan was no longer fragile. In just two years, they had become a force capable of standing against the strongest powers of the age.
During the two years of reconstruction, Shanks remained firmly stationed in the Land of Uzumaki, never once leaving the heart of his people. Yet, while he served as the unshakable pillar of their village, he entrusted his siblings with a mission that extended far beyond their borders. Under his direction, they journeyed across the shinobi world, traveling through countless regions, especially those scarred by the Second Shinobi World War. Their task was not one of conquest, but of compassion—to find the displaced, the families torn apart by conflict, the wanderers who had lost both home and hope.
To these people, the Uzumaki offered not merely shelter, but a chance at rebuilding their lives. The conditions set by Shanks were carefully designed, fair and generous compared to the harsh demands of other nations. Where most countries claimed as much as half the grain harvest in taxes, the Uzumaki asked for only thirty percent. In addition, each family was granted a plot of land sufficient to grow enough food to sustain three daily meals and maintain a modest, comfortable life.
Shanks's vision was deliberate. He did not intend to create a society of idle luxury, for he understood the danger of dependence. Instead, he sought to establish a foundation upon which individuals could stand securely, but from which they would need their own effort and ingenuity to rise higher. Every man, woman, and child brought into the Uzumaki Village was given the tools to survive with dignity, but whether they climbed the social ladder beyond that depended entirely on their will, discipline, and talent.
Through this balanced approach—compassion tempered by wisdom—the Uzumaki Village not only expanded in numbers but also cultivated resilience among its new people. In this way, the seeds of a stronger future were sown, one family at a time.
The second goal of Shanks's plan was self-sufficiency. It was not enough for the new Uzumaki Village to rely on trade or charity from outside; the people needed to be able to sustain themselves. Whether it was the cultivation of grain, the raising of livestock for meat, or the production of other essential goods, everything was designed with the principle of independence in mind. In truth, this goal was woven into his first one—providing land and opportunity to the displaced was not only an act of compassion but also a step toward ensuring the village would one day thrive without outside dependence.
The Uzumaki siblings carried out this vision with unwavering dedication. Following Shanks's orders, they continued to travel into war-torn regions, gathering those who had been left homeless by the Second Shinobi World War. For every family they guided to the Land of Whirlpools, the clan upheld its promises. The refugees received the land, fair taxes, and security that had been guaranteed to them. Seeing these promises fulfilled, word began to spread across borders.
The name of the Uzumaki clan, once spoken of only in whispers of the past, started to carry weight again. Rumors of reconstruction reached distant lands, and with them came stories of Shanks's growing reputation—both for his strength and his fairness. This recognition not only made it easier for his siblings to persuade displaced people from other nations to resettle in the Uzumaki Village, but it also drew back something even more precious.
Scattered survivors of the clan—those who had been forced to flee when the Land of Uzumaki was destroyed, or who had been stranded far from home when disaster struck—began to return. Nearly twenty such Uzumaki made their way back during this time, each reunion a cause for celebration. For Shanks and his siblings, the return of their kin was far more meaningful than welcoming strangers, no matter how loyal those strangers might become. After all, there is no bond stronger or more reliable than that of family, and the strengthening of their clan brought both comfort and renewed pride.
At last, after two long years of relentless effort, the vision of the Uzumaki revival had taken form. Thanks to the tireless labor of countless workers drawn from many lands, the new Uzumaki Village stood completed. No longer was it a place of empty foundations and half-built streets—it now pulsed with life. Markets were beginning to take shape, laughter echoed from courtyards, and families could be seen walking through the lanes. The people filling the streets were no longer merely laborers but the first generation of residents, the reborn heart of the Land of Whirlpools.
Within the newly finished Uzumaki clan compound, the meeting hall carried an air of solemn pride. At its center, Shanks sat upon a raised dais, his posture steady yet relaxed, a quiet authority radiating from him. Before him, arranged in two neat rows along the left and right, sat his ten siblings—five to each side—each embodying the strength and determination that had carried them through years of struggle.
It was Erza who broke the silence. With calm confidence, she addressed her elder brother.
"Onii-chan," she began, her voice carrying both relief and pride, "after bringing in so many displaced people from the war-torn regions, our village population has now reached nearly one thousand. Every one of them has been granted land, just as promised. The first families we settled here have already cultivated their fields and even harvested their very first crop. That alone is proof that our plan is succeeding. This is truly good news for all of us."
Shanks listened intently, his gaze steady as her words filled the hall. At the mention of the harvest, his expression softened, and a smile spread across his face. He gave a firm nod, pride flickering in his eyes. This was not merely good news—it was the beginning of proof that the Uzumaki clan's future was secure.
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