After feeling the increase in strength for a few moments, Shanks slowly calmed down, the surge of power settling like a quiet tide beneath his skin. He asked Raphael in his mind, "As you said, my use of Haki is technically the use of Yin Chakra Release. So, can you create proper hand seals for it so that I can teach it to my subordinates?"
"And also, the fact that someone has Yin Release chakra nature—identifying it is almost close to impossible. Using chakra paper, we can definitely test for the presence of the five basic chakra natures in someone, but it cannot tell about the presence of Yang Release or Yin Release. And it's not like some sort of sealing technique used to make chakra papers which I can modify, as chakra papers are made from a specialized tree that reacts with different chakra natures."
"But I am thinking of making a different kind of test paper using sealing technique. Using it, I can seal my Yin and Yang nature chakra into a paper, and if someone with either of them touches that paper, then it will react to whichever chakra they possess—either Yin Release, Yang Release, or both."
As soon as Raphael heard Shanks's statement, it responded calmly, its voice echoing within his consciousness. "Yes, it can definitely be done, and your thinking is quite good. I can create hand seals that can be used by anyone to master Armament Haki and other forms of Haki. Of course, Conqueror's Haki is something they are born with; it cannot be granted. But Observation Haki and Armament Haki can definitely be taught.
"As for your idea of making a paper capable of testing the presence of Yin Release and Yang Release, it can be done. Would you like me to start my analysis on it? It will take some time, but I should be able to give you a result soon."
Shanks nodded slightly, even though Raphael resided within him. "Yes, do that."
Immediately after receiving the command, Raphael began both tasks simultaneously. A sequence of intricate hand seals appeared within Shanks's mind—clear, structured, and perfectly ordered. In an instant, he understood all the hand seals required to use Armament Haki and Observation Haki. The knowledge settled into him naturally, as if it had always belonged there. He could now teach these to his siblings without flaw.
At the same time, another thought formed in his mind.
Shanks was planning to create a shadow force—just like how other villages had their respective ANBU. But he would not copy their name. He would create the ANBU of Uzushiogakure, called the Shadow Guards.
The name lingered in his thoughts with quiet authority.
In the Shadow Guards, all the ninjas present would be those who possessed Yin-type chakra. They would master both Observation Haki and Armament Haki, refining their perception and strengthening their bodies beyond normal limits. Alongside that, they would train in different combat styles—fighting with swords, with fists, or any weapon that suited their talents.
And even if someone did not possess any of the five elemental chakra natures, they could still master a combat style, as long as they had Yin chakra within them.
Shanks thought, "Uzushiogakure will have its own darkness… and its own unseen blade."
After achieving all the goals for which he had appeared there, Shanks immediately used his newly acquired Astral Imprint skill. Suddenly, in his room, a crown-like symbol manifested in midair—thin, luminous lines weaving into existence as if drawn by an invisible hand. The air shimmered faintly, and at that exact location, Shanks appeared.
(Image is in the comments)
The moment he materialized, the faint distortion in space fading around him, he saw Mikoto standing in his room, waiting.
Shanks had suddenly disappeared earlier, without warning, and she had been waiting ever since, questions building in her mind. But the instant her eyes fell on his left arm, all those questions froze in her throat.
Mikoto's eyes widened. She looked startled, shocked—and yet, unmistakably happy at the same time.
"Your left arm…" she breathed, taking an unconscious step closer. "How… I mean, how exactly did you regrow your arm?"
Shanks lifted his left hand slowly and clenched it into a firm fist. The muscles tightened naturally, veins shifting beneath healthy skin that had once been nothing more than a memory.
"I had been planning to create a technique to regrow my left hand," he said calmly, though there was a quiet satisfaction in his voice. "And I'm happy to say that I finally managed to do that. My left hand has now grown back."
He flexed it once more, as if reassuring both himself and her that it was real.
Just then, a knock echoed from outside.
"Onii-san, can we come in?"
The familiar voices made both Shanks and Mikoto turn toward the door. They walked out together and soon saw all the Uzumaki siblings gathered just outside the gate of the dining hall. Their expressions carried curiosity and lingering concern.
Shanks raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Since when do you all need permission to enter my house? Come in."
As the Uzumaki siblings stepped inside, their eyes immediately landed on Shanks' left arm.
For a brief second, silence.
Then realization dawned.
His left hand was completely healed.
Joy erupted almost instantly.
"Congratulations, Onii-san!"
"Congratulations, Onii-chan!"
They surrounded him, voices overlapping in excitement. Some stared openly at his arm, others grinned widely, and a few even looked as if they were holding back tears. Their happiness was genuine, unrestrained.
Shanks felt it—felt their relief, their pride, their affection—and it resonated deeply within him.
"I am also happy," he said with a small smile, looking at all of them. "Finally, I was able to regrow my left arm."
He let the moment settle before his expression grew steadier, more resolute.
"But let's leave everything in the past," Shanks continued, his voice firm yet calm. "My pain of losing my left hand… and our other pains. With the end of the war yesterday, let's bury our past along with the enemies we buried on the battlefield."
A faint breeze passed through the open corridor.
"And now," he said, looking at each of them one by one, "we begin our happy, easygoing life."
His tone sharpened slightly, not with anger—but with conviction.
"We don't want trouble, but we don't fear trouble. We want to live a happy life. If you let us live in peace, you will have our peace. But if you dare to interrupt our happiness…"
His newly restored fist tightened quietly at his side.
"You will be destroyed."
The air grew still for a brief moment.
"This," Shanks declared, "will be the motto of Uzushiogakure and the Uzumaki clan."
And in the eyes of the Uzumaki siblings, there was no doubt—only unwavering belief.
"And just like how my left arm grew back, our Uzumaki clan, which was almost extinguished, will now start to regrow. Not only will we regrow, but we will regrow with stronger quality."
(A/N: Till now no new Uzumaki have been born.)
His words hung firmly in the air. All the Uzumaki siblings nodded in unison, their expressions resolute. They resonated deeply with his motive, agreeing wholeheartedly with what Shanks had said. There was no hesitation in their eyes—only determination.
Shanks then continued, his tone easing slightly, "Well then, let's have a feast. Not only in celebration of our victory, but also for the fact that I got my left hand back."
A ripple of approval passed through the group.
"This should be done, Onii-chan," Erza said, stepping forward with a confident smile. "We will celebrate with all the other Ninja academy graduates who participated yesterday in the war and gave their all."
Shanks nodded after hearing Erza's words. "Then do this."
At that moment, Guy and Benimaru stepped forward together, their presence steady and composed.
"While the preparations for the feast are going on," Benimaru said calmly, "we will go to Kirigakure and Kumogakure to inform them about their defeat and also to tell them to take back the bodies of their ninjas. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to collect the bodies of Kirigakure and Kumogakure ninjas ourselves and burn them."
The atmosphere grew slightly colder at the reminder of the battlefield.
Shanks gave a firm nod. "Very well. You both go. With your spatial movement, it will be more than enough to return within less than an hour."
Both Guy and Benimaru nodded. In the next instant, space distorted subtly around them, and using space movement, they disappeared through teleportation, leaving behind only a faint ripple in the air.
The other Uzumaki siblings soon began leaving Shanks' house as well, their voices overlapping as they discussed preparations, decorations, and invitations. The house gradually quieted as they dispersed to arrange the feast.
When they were finally alone, Mikoto stepped closer.
She gently held Shanks' left hand, her fingers wrapping around it as if confirming once more that it was truly there. The warmth of his skin, the solid grip—it was real.
"I am happy that you got your left arm back," she said softly. "Although you never expressed it openly, I, being your wife, definitely felt your emptiness—the fact that you felt incomplete without your left arm."
Her thumb brushed lightly over his knuckles.
Shanks looked at her for a moment before nodding. Without another word, he pulled her into his embrace, his newly restored arm wrapping around her naturally, firmly.
"Now," he said quietly near her ear, "I feel complete and absolutely perfect."
Mikoto nodded within his arms, resting against him, a faint smile forming as she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
----
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