Erza spoke up then, her tone steady but edged with concern. "Onii-chan… but we can't rule out the possibility that the Uchiha clan was behind this."
Shanks turned his gaze toward her, meeting her eyes calmly. "I'm not ruling the Uchiha clan out as completely innocent," he said. "You're right—someone might have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after Madara Uchiha and his younger brother. Someone who chose to hide their power from the world, possibly to avoid scrutiny from Konoha's higher-ups… or because they hold some rebellious intent. We can't say for sure."
He leaned backwards, thinking back through every detail he had observed.
"But with my Observation Haki, I've sensed the emotional signatures of the Uchiha clan members many times. Even when I extend my perception over their compound, I've never felt a presence that matches the kind of overwhelming dominance needed to control a Tailed Beast. That's why I doubt the culprit is an Uchiha currently living within the village."
His voice lowered slightly, becoming more analytical.
"The only person who could potentially reach that level would be Uchiha Fugaku. But his emotions have never been false. He completely let go of Mikoto as his fiancée. And Mikoto made her stance clear from the very beginning—that she is in love with me. I've never sensed any resentment or hidden grudge in Fugaku, not even the faintest negative emotion."
Shanks leaned back, exhaling softly.
"Even so, it's better to remain cautious around the Uchiha clan. Power like theirs… can never be taken lightly."
He added one final line, his expression turning gentle yet firm.
"But this discussion must never reach Mikoto's ears. If she hears this, she'll feel disheartened… and guilty. I don't want her to feel that way. Not over speculation, and not over something she had no control over."
All the Uzumaki siblings nodded firmly, their voices overlapping as they said, "Don't worry, Onii-sa. Nothing like that will happen. This news will never reach Sister-in-law."
Uncle Shota, too, gave a solemn nod, making it clear he would not speak a word outside this room.
With that assurance, the meeting finally drew to a close. By now, night had already settled over the village, lanternlight flickering through the open windows.
Shanks rose to his feet and said with a small smile, "Let's go. Today is our day of celebration. Let's enjoy it."
The siblings stood and followed him out of the meeting hall. Shanks returned to his room, where Mikoto was already preparing herself. Her elegance, lit softly by lantern glow, made Shanks pause for a heartbeat before he, too, dressed for the celebration.
Soon after, Shanks and Mikoto walked together at the front, side by side. Behind them followed all the Uzumaki siblings, dressed in informal yet traditional attire—kimonos and clan-styled garments that flowed lightly with each step.
A large raised platform had been prepared for them at the centre of the village's celebration grounds. Shanks and Mikoto took their seats at the top, sharing a ceremonial cup of sake. On either side of them, the Uzumaki siblings sat proudly, completing the honoured arrangement.
Below, the villagers erupted into celebration. Sporting competitions, performances, and festivities filled the area. Children ran with sparklers, adults shared drinks and laughter, and joy radiated through every corner of the village.
The entire Uzumaki homeland was wrapped in a warm, vibrant mood—one of pride, unity, and triumph.
…
Somewhere at the edge of all the festivity, a silent presence emerged. A humanoid shadow—pure black, featureless except for two faintly glowing eyes—materialized atop the roof of a distant house. It stood still, almost blending into the night, watching the celebration below.
Its gaze settled on Shanks.
"I never expected such an anomaly to appear… totally outside my calculations," the shadow murmured, its voice low and distorted, as if spoken through layers of darkness.
It observed Shanks and Mikoto smiling together, sharing sake, surrounded by the laughter of the Uzumaki siblings. For a moment, the creature remained motionless.
Then Shanks suddenly felt it—a sharp, cold sensation of being watched. His eyes narrowed, and he turned toward the rooftop where the shadow lurked.
But there was nothing. The presence had vanished without a trace.
Seeing Shanks glance sharply to the side, Mikoto leaned closer. "Did something happen?"
Shanks shook his head lightly. "Nothing. Let's focus ahead."
The celebration carried on long into the night—music, cheers, and warm lanternlight filling the air—until it finally came to an end. Shanks and Mikoto departed together afterward, heading toward their chamber for their first night as husband and wife.
Meanwhile, the Uzumaki siblings remained in the festival grounds a little longer. Even as the joy lingered, a few of them quietly took up patrol positions. They refused to let their guard drop completely—not after being attacked by Kirigakure so recently. Vigilance was still necessary, and tonight, the Uzumaki would protect their village from the shadows as well as the light.
…
In the days that followed, news of Kirigakure's failed assault on the Land of Uzumaki spread like wildfire across the shinobi world. Word traveled fast: an army of nearly five thousand Kirigakure shinobi had marched to wipe out the Uzumaki… only to be stopped by ten siblings alone.
The tale grew with every retelling. How the Uzumaki siblings not only fought the elite Seven Ninja Swordsmen and Jonins of Kirigakure but also held back the massive forces trailing behind them. How their coordination, power, and overwhelming presence had shattered the enemy's morale.
Their reputation—already soaring after the clash with Hanzo the Salamander—now rose even higher. Villages whispered their names with awe, and shinobi began treating the Uzumaki siblings as a force on par with small hidden villages themselves.
And then came the separate, even more astonishing rumour: Shanks's battle with the Mizukage.
People spoke of how he defeated the Mizukage in direct combat… how he slew the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails… and most unbelievable of all, how he had taken not one but two Tailed Beast Bombs head-on. He didn't just survive—he destroyed them completely, walking away without so much as a serious injury.
Each detail only cemented the image of Shanks and his siblings as living legends, reshaping the world's understanding of what the Uzumaki Clan was capable of.
The Uzumaki clan's prestige soared sky-high after the battle. In the eyes of the world, they had become untouchable. No major village or nation would dare to provoke Uzushiogakure now—not after witnessing ten siblings repel an entire Kirigakure army and their Mizukage.
Even the smaller nations, the ones that had once feared the Land of Water or the Land of Lightning and hesitated to align with the Land of Uzumaki, now began reconsidering their stance. Many had already received invitations to Shanks's wedding reception, and they understood that an opportunity was approaching—an opportunity to build ties with the rising power that even the great nations were now cautious of.
The happiest among them was Sachinobu, the new Daimyo of the Land of Sea. He had followed Makima and Antares's plan flawlessly—slowly poisoning his elder brother over a month and presenting the death as natural. With that, he rose from acting Daimyo to the official Daimyo. He was relieved that he had aligned with the Uzumaki before their monumental victory. The small lingering fear he once held toward Kirigakure had now completely vanished. With the Uzumaki clan as allies, he felt more confident and secure than ever.
Shanks's reception was held grandly in Uzushiogakure, deep within the Land of Uzumaki. Many high-ranking officials from various nations attended, offering congratulations and gifts for Shanks's wedding. Lanterns lit up the entire village, and the atmosphere brimmed with both celebration and political significance.
During the reception, the Daimyo of the Land of Sea stepped forward ceremoniously and bestowed upon Shanks a noble title:
Kohatsu no Mikado — The Red Haired Emperor.
A title that resonated through the hall… and one that would soon echo across the entire shinobi world.
----
Want to get daily updates and read 20+ chapters? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/MXPrVTBM