Shanks looked toward Mikoto, who was holding a tray with tea. Just like Shanks, she had matured even further since the time of their marriage—and not to mention, her belly was now quite large. It was clear she was pregnant.
Shanks immediately released Todoroki from the headlock and let him go. He then walked up to Mikoto, gently taking the tea tray from her hands.
"Why did you come all the way with tea?" he said, his tone firm yet concerned. "Let the maids handle such work. Why are you carrying things around? You should be resting properly."
He set the tray aside on the table and pulled out a chair for Mikoto. As she sat down, she looked at him and said calmly, "I'm fine. It's not like I can't even walk. And you shouldn't scold Todoroki like that."
Shanks shook his head with a faint sigh. "It's because of you that they're getting bolder and bolder."
Then, lowering himself, Shanks knelt in front of her and gently placed his hand on her belly. His expression softened as he asked, "Leave him be for now. Anyway… how are you feeling? These two inside aren't causing you any trouble, are they?"
Mikoto shook her head with a warm smile. "No. They're quite obedient."
Shanks could feel movement beneath his palm. Mikoto was carrying twins, not just one child, and the realization filled him with happiness. Of course, at first, he had been worried—concerned about whether it would be safe for Mikoto to give birth to twins. But everything would be fine. Erza, who excelled in medical Ninjutsu, had assured him of that, and she kept a close watch on Mikoto, regularly checking on her condition.
The reassurance, combined with the gentle life stirring beneath his hand, eased Shanks's heart completely.
…
While Shanks was sharing a moment of happiness with his family, far away on another front of the war, the battlefield against Iwagakure raged on.
Within one of Kumogakure's military camps, the Raikage sat at the centre, flanked by his two sons—the future Fourth Raikage, A, and Killer B. Before them stood an Anbu ninja, delivering a detailed intelligence report.
As the Anbu finished speaking, the Raikage's hand tightened around the armrest of his chair. With a sharp crack, the solid material shattered under his immense grip.
"These Uzumaki…" he growled. "They are nothing short of troublemakers. They've been interfering with us for far too long. Time and again, they've ruined our plans—so much so that we were forced to focus entirely on a single battlefront against Iwagakure."
His voice grew colder as he continued. "I dispatched another unit to the Land of Rain to severely disrupt Iwagakure's supply lines. But once again, that team fell into the hands of those Uzumaki siblings. At this rate, nothing can be accomplished unless the Uzumaki are dealt with first. Otherwise, our losses will only continue to pile up."
The Raikage's eyes narrowed, sharp with anger and calculation. "Iwagakure is exploiting this hostility between Uzumaki and Kumogakure—paying them generously to eliminate our ninja squads. It has become a constant headache."
He rose slightly from his seat, his presence pressing down on the tent.
"We will completely destroy the Uzumaki village—Uzushiogakure. And this time, we will do it properly. No survivors."
This decision was not made by the Raikage out of desperation or anything like that. He had been considering it for a long time. The continuous disruption caused by the Uzumaki had been a headache for him. Never in his life had he been on the back foot, but now he was forced to be on the defensive due to the actions of the Uzumaki siblings. And also it is harming the interest of their Kumogakure.
At this moment, Dodai, the assistant of the Third Raikage, stepped forward and spoke, his tone measured.
"Lord Raikage, you are correct. If we wish to achieve meaningful results for our village and protect our interests, then the Uzumaki must indeed be dealt with first. However, we must also acknowledge that their strength is no longer what it once was. This makes them dangerous in a different way. We should proceed with caution."
He paused briefly before continuing, choosing his words carefully. "It would be in our best interest to align ourselves with Kirigakure. We are not the only ones being hindered and restrained by the Uzumaki. Kirigakure is suffering the same fate. Clearly, the Uzumaki are targeting both our villages, as we were the primary participants in the previous attack on Uzushiogakure. What we are witnessing now is nothing short of retaliation."
The Third Raikage nodded slowly as he listened, his expression thoughtful. Dodai's reasoning aligned with his own conclusions.
"You're right," the Raikage said at last. "Immediately send a message to the Mizukage. Inform him that I wish to meet and discuss cooperation between our villages against Uzushiogakure."
Dodai inclined his head in acknowledgment. Without another word, he turned and exited the tent, moving at once to make the necessary arrangements.
While Dodai was making the arrangements, the Raikage's son, A, could not help but ask, "But then, Father, what are we going to do about the battlefield on the Iwagakure front?"
The Raikage answered without hesitation. "We will retreat from the front and shift to a defensive stance. The command here will be entrusted to you and Killer Bee. I have faith in the strength of both of you."
A was neither a coward nor someone prone to hesitation, yet the weight of such responsibility settling onto his shoulders was something entirely new. Even so, he accepted it calmly and replied, "I will do as you ask, Father."
…
Days continued to pass.
Nearly a week later, Shanks was working in his study when Todoroki entered and said, "Onii-san, there are a few people who wish to meet you."
Shanks looked up at him, a hint of confusion crossing his face. "Who?"
"They are the leaders of Akatsuki," Todoroki replied. "I told you about them—the ones who tried to interfere with us when we were eliminating the Kumogakure ninjas."
Shanks nodded slowly as he listened.
He already knew the fate that awaited Akatsuki in the future—what the organization would eventually become, and how far its motives would stray from what they were now. Because of that, Shanks felt a genuine interest in meeting the current Akatsuki, or more precisely, their true founder, Yahiko.
"Go," Shanks said after a moment. "Bring them to the meeting hall. I'll be there shortly."
Todoroki nodded and left the study. After finishing the paperwork he had been attending to, Shanks stood up and made his way toward the meeting room, his expression calm but thoughtful as he walked.
----
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