Although Shanks bore no real injuries aside from a few scattered bruises, Mikoto still stepped toward him with worry etched across her face. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Are you all right? Were you injured anywhere?"
She gently ran her hands over his right arm and sides, checking for wounds he might have hidden. Only when Shanks pulled her into a firm embrace did she finally pause.
"No need to worry," he murmured, his voice calm and reassuring. "I'm absolutely fine. And we Uzumaki have been victorious—we've repelled the Kirigakure forces. You don't have to worry anymore."
Mikoto exhaled softly in his arms, the relief washing over her like a warm wave. For a moment, the two simply held each other, sharing a quiet, intimate stillness after the chaos of the day.
…
Outside, however, the Uzumaki Village was already coming alive. The curfew established during the battle was lifted, and people began moving through the streets once more. Notices were posted from one end of the village to the other, announcing the double celebration: the Uzukage's marriage to Uchiha Mikoto, and the grand victory over Kirigakure.
Villagers who read the message lit up with joy, pride swelling in their chests. Their faith in the Uzumaki Clan felt stronger than ever.
And all of this unfolded under the watchful eyes of the Uzumaki siblings, who observed the lively preparations and the villagers' excitement with quiet satisfaction.
After seeing the Uzumaki Village residents celebrating with genuine happiness, the trust they placed in the Uzumaki clan deepened even further. Every sibling felt it—the short but decisive war they had just fought had been worth it. In a way, it had even been good for the village. Their prestige, their authority, their strength… all of it had now taken root in the hearts of every villager. This brief conflict had helped carve that prestige into stone.
Time moved steadily, and soon dusk approached. The sun dipped low, its warm orange glow spreading across the rooftops. Lanterns began to appear around the village, one after another, as preparations for the double celebration—the victory over Kirigakure and Shanks's marriage—went into full swing. The soft lights flickered to life, bringing a festive warmth to the streets.
Uncle Shota had already been brought back safely by Guy, who returned using teleportation to ensure no danger intercepted them. By noon, the grim work had also been completed: every Kirigakure corpse had been recovered, burned, and buried through the combined efforts of Todoroki, Yoko, Makima, and the entire Uzumaki Police Force. They could not allow bodies to rot in their territory, and in war, this was the only correct way to handle fallen enemies. Besides, they had no idea whether Kirigakure would ever demand the remains of their dead—but regardless, the Uzumaki had finished their duty thoroughly.
As evening settled in, the village stood clean, secure, and glowing with anticipation for the night to come.
…
At dusk, the Uzumaki Clan compound was quiet, its lanterns casting a warm glow through the corridors. Inside the meeting hall, all the Uzumaki siblings were seated. Shanks sat at the head position, his posture calm but commanding. Uncle Shota was present as well, sitting thoughtfully among them.
Every sibling's gaze was fixed on Shanks. They were waiting—waiting for the explanation he had promised, waiting to understand why he had stopped them from pursuing the fleeing Kirigakure ninjas, and why his tone had carried a strange caution despite their overwhelming strength.
Shanks could feel their questions in the air, thick and heavy. So he finally spoke.
"I know very well what all of you are thinking," he began, his voice steady. "And your doubts are completely valid."
He paused for a moment, letting his words settle before continuing.
"The reason I didn't let you chase after the fleeing Kirigakure ninjas is simple. The Tailed Beast that fought me today was technically under Kirigakure's jurisdiction… but in its eyes, I saw something that changed everything."
His expression hardened slightly.
"I saw the shadow of a Sharingan inside its gaze. And from the records we've studied, you all know exactly what that means."
After hearing Shanks's words, nearly all the Uzumaki siblings stiffened in shock. Every one of them who had studied the ancient records—the long history of the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha rivalries—understood the implication immediately. If a Tailed Beast bore the reflection of a Sharingan, then there was only one conclusion:
That Tailed Beast was being controlled by an Uchiha.
A few siblings who were less familiar with the deeper historical texts still looked confused, so Uncle Shota stepped in. In a calm, grave tone, he explained the meaning behind the Sharingan's presence in a Tailed Beast's eyes—the legendary ability to dominate even a Bijuu's will. By the time he finished, every remaining Uzumaki sibling was nodding, their expressions turning solemn.
Mareoleona was the first to speak. "Then… is it the Uchiha clan who allied with Kirigakure to attack us?"
Shanks slowly shook his head. "I don't know who exactly is behind this. But the last known person capable of such control was Uchiha Madara. Aside from him, no one in recorded history possessed that level of power."
He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he recalled the moment on the battlefield.
"To be honest, the reason I stopped you from chasing the fleeing Kirigakure ninjas is because, when I saw the Sharingan's reflection in the Three-Tails' eyes… the Mizukage smiled at me. That smile told me everything. He was either cooperating with the person controlling the Three-Tails… or he was already under that person's control."
A brief silence fell over the hall.
"So if any of you had chased after those fleeing Kirigakure forces," Shanks continued, "I feared there would be an ambush waiting on one of those paths."
His voice dropped, carrying the weight of the danger he had sensed.
"If that person really is Uchiha Madara—even in our wildest possibilities—or someone close to his level… then none of you would be capable of defeating him. Not yet. Not even together."
The siblings felt a cold heaviness settle in their chests, the reality of the threat finally sinking in.
After hearing Shanks's words, not a single Uzumaki sibling spoke back—not even Mareoleona. Normally, she was the fiery one, never hesitating to challenge an opponent, no matter how powerful or overwhelmingly superior they seemed. But even she did not raise her voice this time.
Because the name Uchiha Madara carried a weight that none of them could ignore.
They all understood what that meant. The Uchiha clan, once capable of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan—the pinnacle of their visual prowess—stood on a level of power far beyond ordinary shinobi. Even among monsters, Madara was a legend. So when Shanks expressed caution, they finally understood why.
Shanks continued, his tone steady but serious.
"Maybe nothing would happen to Guy, Gildarts, Erza, or Antares. They're strong enough to escape or fight back in some way. But the others—those who aren't yet strong enough—would definitely suffer. They could be killed instantly in an ambush like that."
A faint, tense silence settled over the room. The siblings lowered their heads slightly, acknowledging the harsh truth in his words. Shanks wasn't doubting their potential—he was protecting them from a threat none of them were ready to face.
----
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