Shanks fixed his gaze on the envoy from the Land of Water, his eyes sharp and unyielding. His voice carried the weight of steel as he declared,
"We Uzumaki do not fear your Land of Water. Carry this message back to your Daimyo: his threats may sway weaker nations, but they will never bend me. As for the claim that this land belongs to the Land of Water—I reject it outright. I have taken this land, and by right of conquest, it now belongs to the Uzumaki clan. If your Daimyo wishes to dispute that, then let him come. Let him try with all his might to take it back from us."
The envoy, after hearing Shanks' response, was not nearly as taken aback as he might have expected. A faint sneer crossed his face as he regarded Shanks with thinly veiled disdain. "With merely a handful of your ten to twelve ninjas," he began, his voice sharp and cutting, "you dare to oppose the Daimyo of the Land of Water? The very ruler who commands the entire army of Kirigakure! With a single command from him, the Kirigakure forces would descend upon you, this land of Uzumaki, and your village. There would be nothing left—utter annihilation would follow."
As soon as the envoy's words faded into the tense silence of the room, every Uzumaki sibling present felt a surge of fury and lethal intent ignite within them, their bodies tensing, hands twitching instinctively toward attack. Yet before any of them could move, an immense, suffocating pressure emanated from Shanks, far greater than the force radiating from the siblings themselves. Their wrath and deadly resolve were instantly quelled, restrained under the sheer weight of his presence.
Shanks' voice cut through the thick tension, calm yet commanding: "No need to attack him. He is merely a messenger. Nothing more."
Shanks turned his gaze slowly toward the envoy of the Land of Water, his eyes sharp and unwavering. "This is the third time that an envoy from your Land has come here, demanding that we surrender this land—land that has always belonged to us, and continues to do so," he said, his voice steady but laced with unmistakable authority. "And, as with the previous occasions, my answer remains unchanged. We will not yield. If you truly believe that we are weak, then go ahead—inform your Daimyo. Let him attempt whatever he wishes. Employ any means, summon any force. Do whatever he deems necessary. But understand this: we will not relinquish this land. Not now, not ever."
The envoy, overwhelmed by the combined weight of Shanks' presence and the fierce, almost palpable aura of the Uzumaki siblings, sank to the ground, his composure shattered. Horror and disbelief contorted his features as he absorbed Shanks' words. His body, drenched in sweat from having endured such concentrated killing intent, trembled as he forced himself to rise. "I… I will deliver your message to the Daimyo exactly as you've said," he stammered, his voice quivering.
He had entered the room with a sense of authority and arrogance, carrying himself as if he were the one in control. Now, every step he took toward the exit was heavy with fear, his earlier confidence replaced entirely by utter dread and trembling submission.
---
The arrival of an envoy from the Land of Water had been nothing more than a minor distraction for the Uzumaki clan. Their focus was already consumed by preparations for the upcoming Day of Celebration. Slowly, the village was being adorned with colourful banners, intricate lanterns, and fragrant blossoms, all signalling the approach of the festive season. The air itself seemed charged with excitement, a tangible sense of anticipation that could be felt with every step. Yet, even amid the jubilation, not every corner of the land shared in the celebratory calm.
In contrast to the lively Uzumaki village, one place remained tense and restless: the compound of the Uchiha clan. Inside the stately residence of the clan head, a meeting of weighty importance was underway. The newly appointed clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, sat rigidly across from Danzo Shimura, who leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze fixed upon Fugaku.
"We have confirmed the presence of an unknown chakra signature," Danzo began, his voice measured but edged with concern. "To be precise, it appeared within your clan compound several days ago and then vanished without a trace. Explain this, Fugaku. Who was that individual, and what was he doing here?"
After hearing Danzo's pointed question, Fugaku remained completely composed. His posture did not waver, nor did his expression betray the slightest hint of surprise. He answered calmly, his voice steady and controlled. "It was someone from the Uzumaki clan—an individual I do not know very well. He came to meet with our clan elder, who is also the grandfather of Uchiha Mikoto. His purpose was simple: to extend an invitation for the celebration the Uzumaki village is holding for their reestablishment."
Danzo's dark eyes narrowed, a sharp edge of ridicule creeping into his tone. "So the rumours are true, then," he said, his words dripping with mockery. "Your former fiancée has taken a liking to the head of the Uzumaki clan. Are you truly going to stand by and watch her marry someone else—someone from the Uzumaki clan, no less?"
Fugaku did not flinch. His gaze remained steady, his expression unreadable. "That is Mikoto Uchiha's choice," he replied evenly. "She alone decides whom she wishes to marry and whom she does not. As for the matter of a marriage outside the clan, that is an entirely separate issue. At present, we are only in discussions. No decision has been made, and we have not approved any marriage between Mikoto Uchiha and Shanks Uzumaki."
The tension in the room thickened, the unspoken weight of Danzo's scrutiny pressing down on Fugaku. Yet despite the provocation, Fugaku's calm demeanour conveyed that he would not be easily swayed, not by threats, mockery, or whispered rumours.
Danzo's gaze sharpened, his tone laced with scrutiny as he asked, "So… is your Uchiha clan actually going to attend this celebration?"
Fugaku's reply was calm, measured, and precise, betraying no hint of hesitation. "According to the invitation we have received, the grandfather of Uchiha Mikoto has made it explicitly clear that they will be present on the day of the celebration," he said. "As for our clan, we will also be sending an envoy to meet with them. This ensures that the Uchiha clan maintains proper respect and protocol while acknowledging their invitation."
Even in this simple exchange, the weight of their positions was palpable. Every word carried an undercurrent of politics and alliances.
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