Though Shanks would absolutely prefer to end Danzo for good right here, he knew he couldn't. Hiruzen would never allow it; the act would push the Hokage past the point of no return. Killing Danzo now means fighting a war.
Shanks carefully considered the broader situation. Most of Konoha's forces weren't even concentrated at this location; they were busy evacuating the area surrounding the Hokage building, a necessary precaution against the potential fallout of a major clash between Shanks and Hiruzen. If all those ninja began to gather here, the situation would become impossibly difficult to navigate.
The largest and most immediate threat, however, remained Hiruzen himself. The Third Hokage hadn't gone all-out yet. If he unleashed his full power—if the battle escalated—Shanks might not be able to fully protect his siblings. Even though Guy was present, possessing incredible strength and the critical ability to teleport, ensuring the safe escape of Benimaru and Mereoleona would require Shanks's complete focus.
He didn't want to risk everything on a single, short-sighted kill. Shanks had a village of his own to consider, a place that depended on his survival and strength. I can't gamble the clan's future for a single rat. With all these factors weighing on him, Shanks maintained his restraint, keeping the powerful impulse to finish Danzo firmly in check.
Hiruzen took a long, slow breath, his chest rising and falling heavily beneath his armour. The tension of the last few minutes seemed to pull the very air out of the clearing.
"Keeping in mind the fact that Konoha and the Uzumaki had very good relations in the past," he began, his voice strained but authoritative, "I genuinely did not want to sever these ties of alliance." He let his gaze fall upon Shanks, the disappointment palpable. "But today, you have forced my hand. You have forced me to sever this tie with you."
Hiruzen straightened, drawing on the immense dignity of his title. He did not shout; the finality of his promise was more damning than any roar. "I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, promise you this: From today forward, we, Konoha, and you, the Uzumaki, are no longer allies." He paused, letting the bitter truth settle. "Our relationship, moving forward, can even be defined as hostile."
The word "hostile" hung in the air, a declaration of war unspoken.
Hearing this devastating, official pronouncement, Kushina was immediately overcome. She gasped, her throat constricting, and managed a weak, strangled cry: "No..."
She wanted to say more—to plead, to negotiate, to somehow claw back the alliance that was now shattered—but the words died in her mouth. What could I possibly say? Shanks and her clan members had acted with brutal efficiency, pushing the Uzumaki and Konoha to complete opposition. There was simply nothing left she could say right now to mend the damage. She could only watch, tears stinging her eyes, as decades of peace dissolved into hatred.
Shanks turned his attention entirely to Kushina, his fiery gaze softening slightly. "I know that you must be feeling incredibly conflicted right now—about how you feel toward your clan, or perhaps about who is right and who is wrong in this conflict." He took a slow, deliberate step toward her. "You don't need to worry yourself so much about that."
A genuine, warm expression settled on his face. "I'm happy that you were able to find the love of your life in this village," he stated. "Even though they essentially treat you as a tool for keeping the Nine-Tails contained inside of you, the fact that you still managed to find love here is something I'm very happy about for you."
His tone became protective, easing the burden of choice from her shoulders. "So, you do not have to antagonize your village simply to maintain good relations with us. Please, don't worry about that particular conflict."
He reaffirmed the unbreakable bond. "You are our sister, and that fact will never change. Even if we are now hostile with Konoha, that state does not extend to you. If you ever need our help, we are there for you, without question. You don't need to fret over anything."
A gesture of open invitation followed. "If you ever need anything from us, you only have to ask. If you wish to visit us, you are welcome to come." He paused, a hint of steel returning to his eyes. "The only constraint, of course, is if they allow you to leave."
"So don't worry, and don't overthink things." Shanks offered a cryptic, protective thought. "Some truths are very hard for someone who is not in power to know," he said softly, "and frankly, some truths are better left unknown."
He concluded with an almost paternal warning. "If you haven't seen the darkness that operates within this village, then it is a good thing. You are better off not seeing it; live a happy life instead." A rare, proud smile curved his lips as he spoke of their future. "We have also established a village. We have successfully re-established our Uzumaki village, and it is growing slowly but surely. With me and your other clan brothers and sisters there, it will flourish again."
While saying this, Shanks was already standing directly in front of Kushina, moving with a gentle swiftness that belied his earlier ferocity. He rested his right hand on her head, softly patting her hair. Overwhelmed by the conflicting emotions and the sheer weight of her brother's support, Kushina found herself speechless. Instead of words, she simply surged forward, wrapping her arms around Shanks and burying her face in his chest, the tears she had been fighting finally escaping.
…
Shanks then allowed his siblings—Benimaru, Guy, and Mereoleona—a moment to speak with Kushina, offering their own silent comfort and reunion. Then, he turned back to face Hiruzen, his expression instantly hardening.
"I hope that you never mistreat Kushina," Shanks stated, the quiet tone more menacing than any shout. "Or else I assure you, Hokage, that I will bring hell upon Konoha."
Hiruzen simply absorbed the threat, offering no verbal reply. He watched the Uzumaki siblings, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Tsunade, who stood side by side, had already anticipated this outcome. They had been observers for a reason: they already knew, thanks to talk with Orochimaru and Shanks almost two years ago, that Shanks's accusations—that Konoha had attempted to assassinate the remaining Uzumaki—were indeed true. The aggressive actions of the Root ninjas toward the Uzumaki clan members, going for the kill after the Uzumaki fled their land, provided stark evidence.
This damning knowledge was precisely why they hadn't immediately intervened in the fighting. Jiraiya was prepared to act only if the destruction and casualties had threatened to spiral out of control into the village proper, but fortunately, Shanks had called the halt at the perfect moment. Although Jiraiya felt a deep, uncomfortable pang of loss watching Konoha's ninja die, he held his position. It was the right thing to do, given what we know. This reluctance to engage was perhaps fuelled, subtly, by the barely contained anger that Tsunade felt toward both Danzo and their own teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, for allowing such treachery to fester in the village's shadows.
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