Not receiving the reaction he had sought, Danzo rose abruptly from his seat, his movements stiff with barely concealed irritation. Without another word, he turned toward the door. His footsteps echoed dully against the floor as he approached the threshold, his hand already brushing against the frame. But before he could step out, Fugaku's voice rang out from behind, firm and deliberate.
"And one more thing," Fugaku said, his tone calm but edged with meaning. "There is a piece of information that might be of interest to you. Shanks has entrusted Mikoto with the same method that allows his brothers and sisters to summon him at will. Should she ever find herself in danger, she too can call upon him for protection."
Danzo froze for the briefest of moments, his back still turned. Though his expression was hidden, the tightening of his shoulders betrayed that he had understood the implication clearly. With a sharp exhale, he let out a dismissive hmph before striding out of the Uchiha residence without looking back.
The weight of Fugaku's words lingered in the air long after his departure. Danzo required no further explanation. Politically, the significance was obvious, and the threat unmistakable. A union between the Uchiha and the Uzumaki would be more than a marriage—it would be an alliance of bloodlines. The combination of their powerful legacies carried the potential to produce offspring of unprecedented talent, prodigies who could shift the balance of power.
For Konoha, already bound to the Uzumaki in name alone, such a development would be perilous. The alliance was fragile, maintained only until Shanks himself chose to declare its end. If the Uchiha and Uzumaki bloodlines truly merged, the future could hold consequences Konoha was not prepared to face.
It was highly likely that once Shanks concluded the grand celebration marking the re-establishment of the Uzumaki village, he would take the opportunity to make a far greater announcement—one that could shake the foundations of the shinobi world. He might declare to all nations that the alliance between the Uzumaki and Konoha was officially dissolved. Worse still, such a proclamation could easily shift the Uzumaki from allies in name to potential adversaries in the near future. Politically, such a turn of events would be nothing short of disastrous for Konoha.
That looming possibility bred darker thoughts within the minds of Konoha's higher-ups. To prevent such an outcome, they would no doubt consider eliminating Uchiha Mikoto, whose ties to Shanks threatened to strengthen the Uzumaki-Uchiha connection. If it had been any ordinary member of the Uchiha clan, that individual would likely have already been silenced, erased quietly in the shadows of Konoha's politics.
But Mikoto was no ordinary target. She was the granddaughter of one of the most respected elders of the Uchiha clan, a man whose influence within the clan was considerable and not to be ignored. That connection alone afforded her a level of protection that few could bypass. On top of that, Mikoto herself was a formidable kunoichi, a Jonin of notable skill and reputation. To attempt her assassination would not only be politically reckless but also dangerously difficult.
This was why Fugaku's words carried such weight. By telling Danzo that Mikoto possessed the ability to summon Shanks in times of danger, he had effectively delivered a warning to Konoha's leadership. The message was clear: if any harm were to befall Mikoto, Shanks Uzumaki himself would intervene. And if that happened, the consequences would be catastrophic—not just for a single clan, but for the entire village of Konoha.
As for Fugaku's earlier claim of not knowing the identity of the one who had delivered the invitation, that was nothing but a calculated falsehood. In truth, he knew perfectly well who had come to the Uchiha compound. The visitor had been none other than Guy Uzumaki, whom Fugaku had personally met with. It was to him, as the head of the Uchiha clan, that the invitation had been handed directly—for such formal matters were always addressed to the clan leader in person.
What Fugaku had stated about the marriage between Shanks and Mikoto, however, was not a lie. The union had not yet been formally decided or made official, for a storm of resistance lingered within the Uchiha clan. Many among its older, more orthodox members bristled at the very idea. To them, the thought of an Uchiha marrying outside the clan was already controversial—but marrying into the Uzumaki clan specifically was something even harder to accept. In the past, the Uzumaki had been steadfast allies of the Senju, which in turn had made them adversaries of the Uchiha. That old enmity, though dulled by time, had never entirely faded from the hearts of the more conservative elders. Their pride and their memories of past conflicts fuelled their opposition.
Yet Fugaku understood a truth that many of them refused to face. Mikoto's love for Shanks was unwavering, and her resolve unshakable. She would marry no one else but him. Furthermore, Shanks himself—strong, domineering, and unwilling to bend to anyone's will—would never tolerate interference from the Uchiha clan. To stand in their way would invite inevitable conflict.
For Fugaku, the outcome was already clear. Resistance or not, arguments or not, the course of events could no longer be altered. It was as though the future had already been etched into stone: Uchiha Mikoto would, without question, become the wife of Shanks Uzumaki.
----
The days slipped by in steady rhythm, and at last the long-awaited Day of Celebration dawned. The entire Uzumaki village had been transformed for the occasion. Bright banners fluttered in the wind, intricate streamers adorned the streets, and lanterns of every colour swayed gently from rooftops, casting a warm and festive glow. The air was alive with laughter, chatter, and the sound of bustling preparations as villagers moved about with joy and anticipation.
Though many of these people had only been living here for less than a year—two years at most—they already carried a deep affection for this land. The Uzumaki had welcomed them warmly, providing them with security, stability, and a sense of belonging they had not experienced elsewhere. Because of this treatment, gratitude and loyalty had taken root in their hearts.
It could not yet be said that they felt the full weight of patriotism for the Uzumaki homeland, for that level of devotion takes generations to form. Yet it was undeniable that the majority had grown genuinely loyal to the village. For them, leaving would only be an option under the most dire and extreme of circumstances. Until then, they stood with the Uzumaki, ready to celebrate the rebirth of a nation that was becoming their home.
Dignitaries from across the nations began to arrive, their entourages trailing behind them as they approached the gates of the Uzumaki village. The very first sight that greeted their eyes was the imposing front gate, upon which bold characters had been carved: Ashibi no Saisei.
The phrase meant "Rebirth from Ashes." It was not just a motto but the very theme of this celebration, chosen with care and accuracy. Only two years ago, this land had been nothing more than a scarred ruin, its remnants a grim reminder of past destruction. Yet now, as the dignitaries entered, they were greeted by the sight of a thriving village—rebuilt, alive, and filled with hope. Beyond the village walls, traces of devastation could still be seen: stretches of land left barren, remnants of shattered stone, and structures yet to be restored. But even those ruins spoke of promise, waiting to be rebuilt as the village grew and its population swelled. Truly, the Uzumaki were living their theme, rising steadily from the ashes of their downfall.
At the gates, the dignitaries were met not by Shanks himself, but by Erza, the second-in-command of the Uzumaki village. With her commanding presence and warm diplomacy, she served as the perfect representative to welcome them. None of the guests present were daimyo; each had been sent as an envoy or a high-ranking dignitary on behalf of their nation. For this reason, Shanks—both the leader of the Uzumaki clan and the recognized Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools—would not meet them directly. To do so would suggest that he viewed himself as their equal, or worse, as beneath them. And that was something the Uzumaki leader would never allow, for status and perception meant everything in the eyes of the world.
----
Want to get daily updates and read chapters on a daily basis? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Ab9HdNbK