Shanks, after checking his character panel, slowly opened his eyes. A faint gleam lingered in them for a moment. At the same time, the other Uzumaki siblings also opened their eyes one after another, each of them having finished checking their own character panels. Uncle Shota, sitting among them, blinked in confusion. Watching all the Uzumaki siblings—including the clan head himself—close their eyes at the exact same moment was definitely unusual. But after a brief pause, he simply chalked it up to coincidence and chose not to pry any further.
Shanks was the first to speak. "The preparations are going on in full force and in a properly planned manner, so there is no need to concern ourselves with the remaining details." His calm voice carried a quiet authority. "As for the matter of the Land of Sea, we will soon enough hold a proper ceremony where we will declare the alliance between the Land of Uzumaki and the Land of Sea. How about this…"
His gaze shifted. "Antares."
Hearing his name, Antares immediately stood up. "Yes, Onii-san."
Shanks continued, "You mentioned that you have invited the acting Daimyo of the Land of Sea—who will, by that time, officially become the Daimyo—to attend the reception of my marriage with Mikoto. So we will announce it then. That time and place will be perfect. After all, during the reception, envoys from multiple villages and countries will be present. We can declare our alliance before all of them, ensuring the entire world hears of the alliance between the Uzumaki and the Land of Sea."
Antares nodded immediately, his expression bright with approval. "Yes, Onii-san, that will be best."
Then, later on, they continued discussing the recent developments and the clan's administrative policies—what needed modification, what required a complete overhaul, and which plans should remain untouched. Their voices rose and fell in steady rhythm, echoing softly within the hall. Finally, after everything had been reviewed, the monthly meeting of the Uzumaki clan came to an end.
In the days that followed, not much changed in the daily functioning of the Land of Uzumaki. However, the preparations for Shanks's marriage created a lively, almost festive atmosphere throughout the village. Decorations were being set up, houses were being cleaned, and the scent of fresh food drifted from one street to another. It felt as if the entire village was holding its breath in anticipation.
Three days before Shanks's marriage—scheduled for the 16th of October—a long line of carriages stood assembled just outside the main gates of the Uzumaki clan compound. At the very center of this procession was the most luxurious carriage of them all, its frame reinforced with lacquered wood and decorated with subtle crimson patterns. Pulling it was a majestic white tiger. This tiger was none other than Frosty, the summon shared by Shanks and Makima. Frosty's paws pressed firmly into the earth, his fur gleaming softly under the sunlight as vapor escaped from his breath.
Shanks boarded this central carriage. As the clan head and the Kage of the Uzumaki village, he sat alone inside, befitting his status. In the other carriages, Uzumaki siblings grouped together according to their duties or relationships, their chatter drifting lightly into the air.
Soon, all the luggage was loaded—the marriage gifts, ceremonial items, and other miscellaneous necessities carefully secured. The moment everything was ready, the entire train of carriages began to move. Their pace was rhythmic yet swift, for none of them were pulled by ordinary creatures. All were drawn by Makima's powerful summoning beasts—creatures capable of traveling long distances without fatigue thanks to their chakra.
Leopards with sleek muscles, towering reindeer nearly twice the size of normal ones, and massive bulls with steady, thunderous steps—all of them moved with disciplined coordination, forming a proud procession that reflected the Uzumaki clan's might.
At the main gate, only Todoroki and Guy remained behind. They stood side by side, watching the long line of carriages stretch farther and farther until they became small silhouettes against the horizon. The dust on the road settled behind them as Shanks made his journey toward Konoha, where his marriage awaited.
…
The same day Shanks left for Konoha, inside the Mizukage office in Kirigakure, a man who appeared to be in his forties sat in the main seat. His expression was calm yet unreadable, shadows cast by the dim light falling sharply across his face. In front of him, an Anbu of Kirigakure knelt respectfully.
"Lord Mizukage," the Anbu reported, voice steady despite the heavy air in the room, "we have confirmed that Shanks Uzumaki, along with eight of his siblings, has left the Uzumaki village for his marriage. Only two Uzumaki siblings remain behind—Guy Uzumaki and Todoroki Uzumaki."
The Mizukage nodded slowly. "Then proceed with the plan. We will move accordingly."
"Yes, Lord Mizukage." The Anbu bowed once more before disappearing in a swirl of smoke, clearly having used the Body Flicker Technique.
Moments after his departure, an unmistakable tension spread across Kirigakure. Something significant was being prepared. Whispers drifted through the village streets, shinobi moved with hurried purpose, and the entire village seemed to shift into a state of quiet readiness.
…
Three days passed.
On the morning of the 16th of October, the long procession of carriages from the Land of Uzumaki finally reached the main gates of Konoha. The air was clear, with a faint chill brushing against the skin—an early sign of the approaching colder months.
Following proper etiquette, they stopped at the entrance and requested permission from the gate guards. Since the matter had already been arranged beforehand, the permission was granted immediately and without question.
The entire procession entered Konoha, the line of carriages moving steadily toward the Uchiha clan compound. The sight immediately drew the attention of the villagers. People along the streets paused, whispering among themselves as the massive, chakra-imbued beasts pulled the carriages forward. Their steps were heavy and rhythmic, the ground almost subtly vibrating beneath them.
At first, many of the civilians were struck with awe. The animals were majestic—towering reindeer, sleek leopards, powerful bulls—all moving in synchronized precision. But the moment their eyes caught the emblem carved into each carriage, their expressions shifted instantly.
The Uzumaki clan crest.
The awe vanished. What replaced it was anger, disdain, and a bitterness that had been festering ever since Shanks's actions in Konoha a few weeks earlier. Murmurs filled the air, some sharp, some barely concealed. Faces twisted with resentment as the caravan rolled past.
Inside their carriages, the Uzumaki siblings—those with heightened sensory abilities and awakened Kagura Heart Eye—felt every ounce of that malice clearly. The negativity washed over them like a cold wave, yet none of them flinched. In fact, they barely reacted at all.
They didn't mind it. Or more accurately—they didn't care.
This was the path they had chosen. They had no desire to befriend hypocrites or pretend to share warm relations with those who had never truly valued them. Not a single one of them regretted it. This is exactly what we expected, several of them thought silently. And this is exactly what we are getting.
So the carriages continued moving forward, untouched by resentment, untouched by malice—unmoved by the hostile gazes watching them pass.
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