Shanks, accompanied by Mereoleona, Benimaru, Guy, and Mikoto, returned to Mikoto's house, where Kushina was waiting for them. When she saw Shanks step inside, Kushina immediately asked, "Onii-san, how did things go? Did the Uchiha clan agree to your marriage with Mikoto or not?"
Shanks replied that many among the clan were not willing, but he had made his stance clear: if the Uchiha want an alliance with the Uzumaki, then it would be in their best interest to agree to the marriage. And if not, so be it—he didn't care much for their permission and would marry Mikoto regardless.
Kushina nodded, taking that in. At the same time, she couldn't help recalling that while Shanks had always been confident, he had never shown such stark arrogance before—an edge likely forged through years of struggle and the weight of his growing strength. He's changed… but maybe he had to.
After Shanks' words, everyone settled inside Mikoto's house, the air quiet and heavy as they waited for the Uchiha clan's final verdict.
…
They waited at Mikoto's house for almost an hour when Shanks, using his Observation Haki, sensed the presence of Uchiha Fugaku, Mikoto's parents, her grandfather, and several other Uchiha elders approaching. A few minutes later, their footsteps gathered just outside the house.
As they drew near, Shanks took the initiative to step out, meeting Fugaku and the others directly at the entrance. Mikoto followed just behind him, with Kushina standing close by. Shanks looked toward Uchiha Fugaku and asked, "So, Uchiha clan head, what conclusion has your clan reached?"
Fugaku answered without hesitation. "After a majority vote and a proper discussion of an hour, we of the Uchiha clan have determined that marrying into the Uzumaki clan will be beneficial and not harmful in any way. Therefore, the Uchiha clan supports your marriage with Uchiha Mikoto."
Shanks nodded at Fugaku's words. A faint breeze brushed past, stirring the quiet tension in the air. "My word stands where it was," he said. "After my marriage with Mikoto, the Uzumaki and Uchiha will be allies. And if the Uchiha clan ever needs any kind of help from the Uzumaki, we will definitely try to give you that help."
Fugaku, after hearing Shanks' assurance, gave a firm nod. This was exactly what he had aimed for and needed—and it was the very reason many Uchiha members and the elders accompanying him had supported the marriage in the first place.
After a brief pause, Fugaku said to Shanks, "Then we will take our leave, as you would likely want some time alone with your family."
Shanks nodded, and Fugaku departed with the other elders.
Once they were gone, everyone returned inside the house and took their seats. A quiet moment passed before Mikoto's grandfather finally spoke. "They agreed to this marriage for one reason," he said, his voice steady. "The strength and potential shown by you and the Uzumaki siblings. And when you continue to grow, your strength will grow even further. That is exactly what they're betting on. In the future, they want someone outside Konoha they can rely on, should unknown circumstances ever arise."
His words hung in the room, heavy yet honest, the kind that made even the faint creak of the wooden floor seem louder.
Shanks nodded at Mikoto's grandfather's words, unsurprised by the reasoning. To him, this decision only confirmed something deeper: the Uchiha's thoughts of a coup weren't born solely after the Nine Tails attack or their later marginalization. The very fact that they were willing to allow this marriage—seeking support from outside the village—spoke volumes. The seed of rebellion is already there, he thought. It just hasn't sprouted yet. And when the Nine Tails incident happens, that will be the catalyst… the spark that brings those buried thoughts to the surface and turns them into the main path the clan follows.
As the memory of that future event brushed his mind, Shanks couldn't help but glance toward Kushina. He knew what fate awaited her… and his future nephew, Naruto Uzumaki. Kushina, who had been quietly listening to the discussion, caught the sudden look of pity and unwavering resolve in Shanks's eyes. She blinked, startled, and her expression wordlessly asked him what was wrong.
Shanks gave a small shake of his head. "Nothing," he murmured.
Then he turned back toward Mikoto's grandfather and said, "Alright. What do you think will be the best date for the marriage? I'll leave that to you."
Mikoto's grandfather spoke as if he had anticipated the moment. "Last time when I met you, you promised you would come to Konoha within a month to propose marriage to Mikoto. I was already prepared for this. Three weeks from now—on 16th October—will be the best date for your marriage."
Shanks froze for a heartbeat. 16th October… that's my birthday. His gaze shifted toward Mikoto, silently asking, Did you plan this? Mikoto immediately turned her face away, cheeks warming in shy embarrassment. That reaction alone was enough—of course she had been involved.
Mereoleona caught Mikoto's flustered movement and, already knowing Shanks's birthday, couldn't hold back. Being the bold one, she blurted out, "It seems our sister-in-law is planning to give herself as a birthday gift to our Onii-san."
The moment her words landed, laughter erupted throughout the room. Mikoto's face turned crimson as she lowered her head, looking so mortified it seemed she might try to vanish into the floorboards. Shanks couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips as he listened to Mereoleona's teasing.
Shanks stretched slightly, glancing toward the window. "Well, it's starting to get dark outside. It's best for us to leave now. We've achieved both objectives for which we came to Konoha—severing our ties with the village, and finalizing my marriage with Mikoto. And both went quite smoothly for us."
Mikoto's grandfather nodded, satisfied.
Shanks then turned toward his clan brothers and sisters, rising to his feet. Kushina stood as well, though reluctance softened her expression. Shanks chuckled lightly. "Don't be like that. It's not as if we're never going to meet again. We'll be back in three weeks anyway—that's my marriage date. And when it's your turn to marry that yellow-haired boy… what was his name, Namikaze Minato, right?" He looked at Kushina with a teasing grin. "Make sure to invite us. We'll definitely attend your wedding, okay?"
Kushina's face flushed instantly. Embarrassment and happiness tangled together, leaving her unsure whether to glare at Shanks or hide her smile.
Shanks formed a hand seal. Mereoleona followed, then Benimaru and Guy mirrored the motion. They had arrived in Konoha on foot with deliberate purpose—a show of force, a declaration to the entire world that the Uzumaki clan head had entered Konoha, demanded a severance of the alliance, and succeeded. But now that their work was done, there was no need for a dramatic exit. Reverse summoning was more than enough.
A moment later, all four of them were engulfed in clouds of white smoke. Four sharp boom sounds echoed through the room as Shanks, Guy, Benimaru, and Mereoleona vanished from Mikoto's house—vanished from all of Konoha.
Almost immediately, Hiruzen noticed their departure through his Telescope Technique. Seeing Shanks and the other three siblings disappear, he merely exhaled and nodded to himself. Knowing that Shanks possessed reverse summoning, he wasn't surprised in the least.
----
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