Makima, Erza, and Antares were not surprised. After witnessing Shanks effortlessly subdue all those ninjas, they had no reason to be. After all, their Onii-chan possessed that kind of overwhelming strength. With his Conqueror's Haki alone, he could easily dominate weaker minds like those of these four Kirigakure ninjas.
Shanks turned toward Makima and instructed calmly, "Check whether the Daimyo of the Land of Sea and the dignitaries who came here were involved in this plot to harm our Uzumaki temple."
Makima silently nodded in acknowledgment.
After issuing his command, Shanks withdrew his Conqueror's Haki, releasing its oppressive grip on the four captured Kirigakure ninjas. The moment they regained control over their own bodies, all four instinctively prepared to end their lives by biting into the poison sacs hidden in their mouths—ready to die rather than reveal any information.
(Ai generated image in Comments area.)
However, before they could even act, four radiant adamantine chains shot out from behind Makima. They streaked through the air like bolts of lightning, striking and coiling around the backs of all four ninjas in an instant. Immediately, their eyes turned blank, their expressions frozen in a dazed stupor.
Though the adamantine chains looked deadly, they were not meant to kill. Instead, they served as conduits for Makima's power—chains of domination through which she could seize complete control over another's mind. Whether directly or through these chains, Makima had the ability to command anyone's will as if it were her own.
If Makima had chosen to control the four Kirigakure ninjas directly, she could have easily done so even without relying on the extensions of her will—the adamantine chains. However, doing it that way might have taken more time, and there was also a chance that the ninjas could resist her influence. To avoid unnecessary delays or potential complications, she instead used the adamantine chains, embedding them into the backs of the Kirigakure ninjas. Through them, she could seize their minds instantly, ensuring complete obedience without wasting a moment of anyone's time present there.
Once all four Kirigakure ninjas had fallen fully under Makima's control, her eyes turned sharp and focused. She asked in a calm yet commanding tone, "Was the Daimyo of the Land of Sea aware that you intended to harm the Uzumaki village?"
The leader of the group, now speaking in a hollow, emotionless voice under her control, replied, "Yes, he was completely aware."
He continued, his tone unwavering, "In a sense, the Land of Sea is a subordinate nation to our Land of Water. Therefore, it must follow all orders and wishes issued by the Daimyo of the Land of Water. And it was that Daimyo who wanted to punish the Land of Uzumaki—for disobeying his commands and defying his authority."
"For that reason, we came here under the guise of guards for the dignitaries from the Land of Sea. Our true mission was to sow chaos within the Uzumaki village—to destroy any important structure we could. After our investigation, we discovered that the Uzumaki Clan Temple was the easiest target to strike, so we decided to proceed with it."
Upon hearing the Kirigakure ninja's confession, everyone present was overcome with anger. Today marked one of the most important days for the Uzumaki clan—the celebration of the reestablishment of their village. Such an attempt to ruin this sacred day was unforgivable. If these Kirigakure ninjas had succeeded, it would have been a humiliating insult—a direct slap in the face to every Uzumaki who had worked tirelessly to rebuild their home and breathe life back into this land, once devastated by the combined might of the Lands of Water and Thunder.
Amid the heavy silence, Antares spoke in an eerily calm tone, "Onii-chan, just give me permission… and I will bring you the heads of both the Daimyo of the Land of Water and the Land of Sea."
Although his words were spoken softly, the killing intent radiating from him was overwhelming. The air itself seemed to tighten under its pressure. His calm expression only made that fury more terrifying, clearly revealing the depth of his anger—and the certainty that, if Shanks granted him permission, he would carry out his words without hesitation.
Shanks looked toward Antares and said firmly, "I feel the same anger you're feeling right now. But we cannot simply kill the Daimyo of the Land of Water—or even the one from the Land of Sea. If we do that, we'll be making enemies of the entire world—or, to put it more precisely, defying the established order that governs it."
He paused for a moment, his voice calm but resolute. "We could certainly have them silently assassinated, but even if we succeeded, the blame would still fall upon us. That kind of stain on our name would harm the development of our village, especially during its early rebuilding stage. However, if the Land of Sea wishes to act as someone else's pawn, then they must be prepared to face the consequences of failure."
Shanks's expression hardened as he continued, "For now, let's hear what more these Kirigakure ninjas have to say. There might still be hidden information we haven't uncovered."
Everyone present nodded silently in agreement, and Makima resumed her interrogation. She asked several more questions, but the answers offered nothing of importance.
Finally, Shanks raised his hand slightly and said coldly, "Kill them. They don't need to live."
The moment his words fell, the adamantine chains latched onto the backs of the Kirigakure ninjas shifted form. Their smooth, glowing surfaces sharpened into deadly blades that pierced forward through the ninjas' chests. With a swift and brutal motion, Makima ended all four of their lives instantly—no struggle, no sound, only silence and the faint gleam of the blood-stained chains.
As soon as Makima finished executing the four Kirigakure ninjas, she turned toward Shanks. Erza and Antares also shifted their gaze to him, already anticipating that he was about to issue important instructions. After all, their big brother was not the kind of man who would simply overlook an attack on his people.
Shanks looked at his clan brothers and sisters and spoke in a steady, commanding tone. "As I said before, if the current regime of the Land of Sea wishes to act as nothing more than a pawn for the Daimyo of the Land of Water, then so be it. But they will have to pay the price for that choice."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Makima, Antares—I have an important mission for both of you. Tomorrow morning, you will depart for the Land of Sea. Once there, find a suitable noble or relative—someone who can take the position of Daimyo after the current one falls. As soon as you find such a person, ensure that he ascends to that throne."
He leaned back slightly, his tone turning thoughtful but sharp. "The most favorable situation would be if that noble or family already bears resentment toward the Land of Water—or, at the very least, is not aligned with them. Such a person could be of great use to us."
After hearing their Onii-chan's command, both Makima and Antares nodded without hesitation. They immediately understood what Shanks intended. This was not merely a plan for revenge—it was strategy. By doing this, they would not only gain a subordinate nation under their influence but also strengthen the foundation and power of their own Uzumaki village.
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