The next morning, Shanks awoke feeling well-rested after a full night of deep sleep. However, he hadn't been completely relaxed. Throughout the night, he had kept his Observation Haki active, maintaining a wide perimeter of awareness. Had any hostile presence come within a hundred meters of his location, he would have awakened instantly.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim morning light, he noticed Erza sitting at the entrance of his cave. She was seated calmly on the ground, deeply engrossed in a book, the pages softly rustling with the breeze.
"Erza," Shanks said, his voice low but clear. "Is there something you need?"
Startled, Erza looked up. She blinked in surprise to see Shanks already awake, though just moments ago he'd been fast asleep. Closing the book gently, she rose to her feet.
"Yes, Onii-chan," she said respectfully. "I came to let you know that the aunts are getting ready. That's why I've been waiting here."
Shanks nodded, unsurprised. He had already sensed the presence of the women near the stream thanks to his Haki. It was a constant layer of awareness that never truly left him.
"Alright," he replied. "You should go get ready too. I have something important to discuss with all of you kids—about your future training. So, let everyone know to be prepared. I'll be outside doing my morning exercises."
Erza gave a small bow of acknowledgment. "Okay, Onii-chan. I'll tell everyone right away."
With that, she turned and hurried off, leaving Shanks to step out into the morning light, the first rays of sun catching the hilt of his sword as he prepared for another day of growth and responsibility.
Shanks stepped out of his cave. Without hesitation, he took off running—heading in the opposite direction of the stream where the aunts were getting ready.
He pushed himself hard, running at full speed across uneven terrain. For nearly an hour, he maintained the pace, relying solely on his physical strength. He deliberately avoided using chakra, knowing he needed to build his raw stamina and endurance.
Although his body had already been enhanced through the integration of the Red-Haired Emperor Shanks' character template, it wasn't enough. Not yet. His physical foundation still needed serious work if he wanted to reach the true heights of his potential.
When he finally slowed, chest heaving and muscles aching, he didn't stop. Instead, he moved on to strength training. Using heavy wooden logs he had previously cut down with his sword, he began lifting, pushing, and carrying them in a variety of drills—improvising what he could in the absence of proper equipment.
As he worked, a thought formed in his mind.
"I need to build a proper training ground—not just for myself, but for all the children. If we're going to survive and grow stronger, we need structure… and discipline."
By the time Shanks completed his routine, nearly three hours had passed. The sun was climbing higher in the sky as he made his way back toward the valley.
As he arrived, he found everyone gathered and waiting. The women and children sat across the valley, waiting for Shanks to arrive. The food was already prepared, but no one ate, as Shanks had not yet arrived.
Shanks looked around and asked, "Have you all eaten yet?"
Miki shook her head and replied, "No, we were waiting for you to come."
Shanks let out a small sigh and shook his head. "There's no need to wait for me. Everyone, go ahead and eat. I'll join you after I've gotten ready. And don't argue—consider this an order. Just make sure to leave my food in the cave. Also, have all the children gather there once they're done."
Several of the women and children opened their mouths to protest—they clearly preferred to eat together—but seeing the firm expression on Shanks's face, they said nothing. Instead, they nodded silently and followed his instructions.
With that settled, Shanks turned and headed to his cave. He gathered a fresh set of clothes and took his time washing up and preparing himself. Roughly half an hour later, clean and composed, he returned to the cave.
As he entered, he found all ten children standing just inside, waiting quietly for him.
"Go ahead and find a place to sit," Shanks said, his voice calm but serious. "Get comfortable. I have a few important things to discuss with you."
The children exchanged glances, then nodded. One by one, they sat down in a semicircle, eyes fixed on him with curiosity and anticipation.
Before speaking, Shanks sat opposite them and began to eat the meal that had been left for him.
Once he finished, he set the plate aside, straightened his back, and met each child's gaze in turn.
Shanks stood before the children, his expression firm, voice steady.
"I don't need to repeat what we've all been through," he began. "You already know the pain, the loss, the fear we've faced in these past days. You've seen it with your own eyes, lived it with your own hearts. And because of that, I know many of you carry hatred—an overwhelming desire for revenge against the great villages that attacked us."
He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in.
"And that feeling," he continued, "is not wrong. It's natural. I feel it too. I carry that same fury, that same ache for justice. But listen to me carefully—revenge alone cannot be our purpose. Our lives can't revolve around vengeance. We cannot let ourselves become defined by hatred alone. That's not the future I want for you… or for any of us."
He began pacing slowly before them, his hand behind his back.
"Yes, we will take our revenge—but that will only be one part of our journey. After that, we rebuild. We reclaim what was lost. And more importantly, we create something greater: a home, a sanctuary so strong and secure that not even the Kage of any village would dare to threaten it. A place where our people can live without fear, without being hunted or betrayed."
He turned to face them again, his voice rising slightly with passion.
"All of this—what we lost, and what we dream to build—comes down to one thing: strength."
He looked each child in the eye, one by one, letting his gaze settle meaningfully on each of them.
"Tell me—do you think the great villages would have dared to attack us if even ten of our clan were as strong as a Kage?"
The cave remained silent.
"No," Shanks said, answering his own question. "They wouldn't have. We were vulnerable—and yes, we made a fatal mistake. We placed too much faith in Konoha, assuming that their strength would shield us. But in the end, even the strongest village cannot be our crutch. Our true allies, the Senju Clan, were our only real connection—and when they were absorbed into the general population of Konoha, our support vanished."
He stepped closer, his voice low but resolute.
"We cannot depend on outsiders for protection ever again. From now on, our survival, our future, and our legacy will depend on our own strength. That is what we must focus on. That is what I will teach you."
Everyone in the cave nodded silently, their eyes burning with determination and resolve.
Seeing their readiness, Shanks continued, "You all already know that I awakened a strange ability a few days ago—right after I watched my father die during the chase."
He paused, his gaze briefly darkening with the memory, before continuing.
"But what I've never explained… is what exactly that ability is."
He looked around the room, making sure he had everyone's attention.
"Today, I'll tell you. This Kekkei Genkai—this bloodline ability I awakened—is unlike anything I've ever heard of. You could think of it as the best possible version of myself… the version I might become one day. Every choice we make in life leads to a different path. For example, let's say someone is given two options: one is to risk everything, train hard, fight battles, and strive for greatness. The other is to play it safe, live quietly, and avoid conflict. Both choices lead to very different futures. One path could lead to becoming the strongest warrior in the world… the other, to a life of mediocrity."
He raised his hand and clenched it into a fist.
"My Kekkei Genkai allows me to tap into the strength I would have gained in one of those futures—the best future I could have had. The powers I now wield… they come from the version of me that made all the right choices, trained relentlessly, and became a warrior of unimaginable power."
Some of the children looked awestruck. Others blinked, trying to wrap their heads around the concept.
Shanks smiled gently. "I know this might sound confusing—especially to some of you younger ones—and that's okay. You don't need to understand it all right now. In time, as you grow, you'll come to understand what I mean. What matters most is that you remember this: our choices shape our future. And I've seen what I can become… and what we can become."
He looked at them, eyes blazing with purpose.
"I will help you all reach the strongest versions of yourselves."
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