While Shanks was hugging Mikoto, he quietly activated his God's View ability. His perception expanded outward like an invisible tide, reaching gently toward the two faint yet vibrant life signatures inside Mikoto's belly.
Within that expanded awareness, he sensed the steady pulses of his children.
"Raphael," he asked inwardly, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable anticipation, "can you guess or calculate just how long it will be until my children are born?"
Almost instantly, Raphael replied, its tone precise and composed. "After analysing all the pulses of your children and all available data that you are receiving due to the use of your ability, God's View, I have reached a conclusion. Your children will be born in ten days from now."
Ten days.
As soon as Shanks heard this, his heart trembled—not with fear, but with overwhelming happiness. The knowledge struck him more deeply than any battlefield victory.
Ten days…
Mikoto gently pulled back from the embrace, noticing the subtle shift in his expression.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
Shanks shook his head and said, "Nothing."
"Then now," she said, composing herself slightly, "go and immediately get ready. You have to attend the banquet as well."
Shanks nodded. "Don't worry. I will be ready immediately."
After saying this, he turned and went to prepare for the banquet—his steps steady, yet lighter than before. Inside his heart, joy continued to bloom at the thought that both of his children would be born in just ten days.
—
Meanwhile, Guy and Benimaru appeared instantly at Kumogakure's battlefront against Iwagakure, where the Third Raikage's son was stationed.
Space twisted briefly, and the two materialized just outside Kumogakure's camp.
The moment they appeared, the ninjas of Kumogakure immediately grew alert. Weapons were drawn. Several shinobi positioned themselves defensively, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Before the tension could escalate further, Guy stepped slightly forward and spoke in a calm, firm voice.
"Go and tell the person in charge of this camp that I, Guy Uzumaki, have come here as the envoy of Uzushiogakure."
The Kumogakure ninjas hesitated. They observed carefully—Guy and Benimaru stood without hostility, their posture composed, no killing intent radiating from them.
After a brief exchange of glances, one ninja turned and swiftly headed deeper into the camp to inform the Raikage's son.
Within minutes, a strong presence approached.
The Third Raikage's son emerged from the camp, followed closely by Killer B and the assistant of the Third Raikage, Dodai. The air around them carried authority and restrained tension.
The Raikage's son stopped several steps away from Guy and Benimaru, his sharp gaze locking onto them.
"What is it that you want from us?" he asked bluntly. "What message do you want to convey?"
Guy met his gaze steadily.
"The whole army of the Kumogakure and Kirigakure alliance has been annihilated by us—Uzushiogakure," he stated without embellishment.
A faint stir passed through the surrounding Kumogakure shinobi.
"But due to the mercy of our Uzukage," Guy continued, "the dead bodies of the ninjas from Kumogakure and Kirigakure have been kept preserved. The bodies of the fallen Kages of both villages have also been kept preserved."
Silence thickened.
"I came here to inform you of two things," Guy said firmly. "First—within the next five days, collect all the bodies of your fallen ninjas. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to follow the rules of the battlefield and burn their bodies, bury them, or throw them into the sea."
His tone remained even, but resolute.
"Of course, we do not wish to do that. It would be disrespectful to the fallen ninjas… and also against the last wish of your Raikage. And…"
But before Guy could even finish what he was saying, the Raikage's son suddenly exploded forward.
Lightning Chakra Mode activated instantly, crackling wildly around his body. Blue arcs of electricity snapped through the air as he charged at Guy with terrifying speed, his fist cutting through the air between them in a blur.
He aimed straight for Guy's face.
Guy did not move in panic.
Casually, almost lazily, he raised one hand.
The Raikage's son's lightning-coated fist met Guy's open palm.
A sharp impact echoed across the camp—but Guy's arm did not budge.
The crackling lightning dispersed against his skin as though striking an immovable wall.
Without releasing the captured fist, Guy slightly pulled the Raikage's son forward, disrupting his balance. In the same fluid motion, he delivered a powerful kick to his stomach.
The impact thundered.
The Raikage's son was sent flying backward, crashing across the ground before skidding to a halt several meters away.
"Currently, I am talking," Guy said calmly, lowering his leg as if nothing had happened. "Let me finish before you decide what to do. Got that?"
Silence spread across the battlefield.
The Kumogakure ninjas stood frozen in shock—not only because their commander had just been overpowered so effortlessly, but also because they had just heard the claim that their Raikage was dead.
Murmurs rippled through their ranks. Faces paled. Hands trembled.
The Raikage's son pushed himself up, lightning still flickering faintly around his body. Rage twisted across his face.
"You bastard!" he roared at Guy. "You both have the guts to appear here with this false news that you killed my father? That is impossible! No one can break his defence! No one can withstand his strongest attack! He is known as the strongest spear and strongest shield of this world!"
His voice cracked with fury.
"Your Uzukage is nothing in front of my father, the Raikage!"
Despite the accusations and the insult, neither Guy nor Benimaru reacted with anger. Their expressions remained composed. They are not here to argue or start a fight; they are here just to deliver a message.
Guy spoke evenly, his tone almost indifferent.
"If you want to live in denial, then be my guest. I don't care."
A faint breeze passed through the camp, stirring cloaks and banners.
"My work here is to deliver a message. That is why I am here. As I said, I came here for two things. One, I have already stated: take back the bodies of all the fallen Kumogakure ninjas—along with the body of your Raikage."
The weight of those words pressed heavily on the gathered shinobi.
"Secondly," Guy continued, his gaze sharpening slightly, "with the slaughter in this battle from our side, we have killed all the Kumogakure and Kirigakure ninjas who invaded us."
He paused briefly.
"With this slaughter, we are willing to bury our revenge—for you all attacking Uzushiogakure years ago. For killing most of our Uzumaki clan members. For forcing the others to escape and live in hiding."
The memory of that past seemed to pass through his eyes like a distant storm.
"But now," he said firmly, "we have taken our revenge."
The Raikage's son clenched his fists, but he did not charge again.
"Even after this, if you still want to challenge us, then we will be ready," Guy said. "But remember this: yesterday's battle will mark the end of all battles."
His voice dropped slightly, cold and absolute.
"That end is total annihilation."
The surrounding Kumogakure ninjas felt a chill crawl down their spines.
"Whoever attacks Uzushiogakure will never return alive. They will be slaughtered to the last person."
The words were not shouted.
They were stated as fact.
"You have five days to collect the body of the Raikage and the others. If you do not wish to collect them, then we do not care."
After finishing his message, Guy stepped back.
Benimaru nodded once.
Space distorted around them again, bending inward like folding fabric. In the next instant, both of them vanished through spatial movement, leaving behind only faint ripples in the air.
...
They then went to Kirigakure and did the same—appearing before its elders and informing them of the annihilation of Kirigakure's army and the demise of the Mizukage. The news spread through Kirigakure like silent lightning, heavy and inescapable.
With their work done, Guy and Benimaru returned to Uzushiogakure.
By then, preparations for the banquet were already in full swing. Lanterns were being hung, tables were being arranged, and the sounds of cooking, chatter, and movement filled the village. They also learned that the banquet had been postponed until the evening.
And as evening settled and lights began to glow warmly against the darkening sky, the banquet began.
----
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