He has even mastered Haki, and you say this is Naruto?

Zabuza was once a high-ranking member of Kirigakure and knew well how terrifying Konoha was.

Konoha might not seem strong on the surface, but in every war, Konoha never truly lost. Because it had the capital to afford losses. So many powerful clans resided in Konoha — even if they lost once, they could bounce back.That was the true foundation of Konoha.

Konoha's strength didn't rely on just one or two heroes.

And now, for Konoha's shinobi to appear in the Land of Waves, there were only two possibilities:

One, it's related to the affairs of the Land of Water, and Kirigakure requested Konoha to investigate.

Two, it's about Shanks. Maybe Konoha caught wind of something and sent people to investigate.

As for them coming for him, Zabuza didn't really think he was worth that kind of attention.

Meanwhile, Kakashi found things even more troublesome.

Firstly, this situation with Shanks—he was involved with the Uzumaki clan. The entire matter had basically spiraled out from him, yet the key player never even showed up.

This made the whole thing look like a deliberate trap, as if Shanks had lured them here. Or… did Shanks know Naruto's true identity?

And then there were the clues they found—clearly Jiraiya also knew about Shanks. Yet Jiraiya never appeared. What did that mean? Kakashi had no idea.

The more information they uncovered, the more complex the situation became. Kakashi had to be extra cautious.

And the same applied to Zabuza.

There were too many tangled threads in this matter. As they say: "Those who understand, understand. Those who don't—go sleep under the moon."

"It's all because of that Shanks bastard."

This was the one thought shared between Zabuza and Kakashi at that moment.

The Four Emperors of the New World… hadn't even set sail, and already had schemes in motion. Terrifying indeed.

"This won't be easy to solve."

Zabuza and Kakashi, in different locations, echoed this thought in unison. And then, awkward silence.

They didn't speak in sync again.

Instead, they began to enact their own separate plans.

Elsewhere, Shanks couldn't sleep either.

He sat up from bed. In the darkness, he sensed something—perhaps fate?

"Has the plot reached the point where I set sail?""Maybe not. It seems to involve someone connected to me…"

He walked outside and found Madara sitting beside the lake, his cracked katana stabbed into the ground next to him, keeping him company as he gazed at the still surface of the water.

"Did you sense something?" Madara asked.His life force had been leaking uncontrollably. Sleep came less and less. But oddly enough, his spirit was more vibrant.

A final burst of energy before death — except Madara's sheer willpower stretched that moment out.

"Someone connected to me is in trouble. But I can't see who. Even my Observation Haki can't peer into the future right now."

Shanks sat beside him. Madara looked desolate, like he was waiting for something beside the lake.

"As kids, my brother and I used to come out here at night just to look at the lake. Its calm surface always soothed him."

"He was so different from me. I knew that all his pride and arrogance came from not wanting to embarrass his older brother… or our clan."

"He was gentle. Sacrificed so much for others."

Madara tossed a stone across the lake, skipping it. A game from his childhood—with his brother, with Hashirama.

"Peace is like the surface of the lake — calm and still. But the surface can't stay undisturbed forever. War falls from the sky. Why? When did it even start?"

"Soon after, my brother died."

"And not long after he died, the war ended. But he never got to see the peace he'd waited for."

Madara's deepest bond was with his younger brother, Izuna. He never cared for the Uchiha clan as a whole—only for Izuna.

But at some point, the figure that had always chased after him vanished. Leaving him alone.

"I don't have much time left. I probably won't live to see the truth revealed. So I have one last request: if you can, find out the real reason for my brother's death."

"As for the God Tree I promised you, I've already sent it to your friend."

"He was spotted recently near Water Capital. When you set sail, your ship should be ready."

"Captain of the Blade-less Pirates, huh?" Shanks asked.

Madara nodded.

"I figured as much. I sensed something off with my Observation Haki… That guy hasn't been captured, has he?"

If he had been caught, Shanks' whole crew would probably be in trouble. Peace would become a fantasy.

"You're overthinking it. That guy's a big-time pirate now. Pulled something huge."

"The authorities have kept it all under wraps. If my people hadn't found out, even I'd still be in the dark."

Madara wasn't talking about Zabuza—he didn't even consider him worth his attention.

What he admired was Shanks' mind.

He realized something: Shanks didn't lack intelligence. He just didn't bother wasting it on minor things.

Even if Madara hadn't hidden his identity, he was confident Shanks wouldn't have figured it out. Because to Shanks, one person wasn't important.

Anyone could've pulled off what Zabuza did—Shanks had the methods.

And Madara also confirmed one thing: Shanks was going after Black Zetsu.

The Fourth Mizukage had long been under Obito's control. But the real mastermind wasn't Madara. It was Black Zetsu.

Zabuza had shown up too coincidentally—just when Mei Terumi was preparing her coup. Disrupting everything.

That move? A classic "cut off the fuel supply."He didn't need to know your plans—he just needed to stop you.

Now the Mizukage was useless. Mei could only stabilize things temporarily. Zabuza's move? Made everything spiral.

Now Akatsuki had to act. The more they did, the more exposed Black Zetsu became.

That was what Madara admired most: Shanks' strategic brilliance as a future Yonko.

"It's only natural for the government to cover it up," Shanks nodded. He knew their style well.

"If something major really happened in the Water Capital, they'd block all information. Otherwise, the seas would descend into chaos."

He hadn't seen a single News Coo in days.

Their conversation seemed disjointed, but by now, Madara and Shanks had developed a strange harmony. They understood each other perfectly.

"So don't worry about that guy.""Worry about this old man instead."

As the sun rose…

Crack.

The katana beside Madara shattered completely under the morning light.

Madara had passed.

Shanks stood beside the body—white hair withered, old samurai robes fluttering in the breeze.

And as dawn broke, Shanks felt the solemn ending of an era.

Maybe… it was time to set sail.

The end of the old age wasn't a conclusion.And the new era didn't begin when Roger was executed.It began now—with Shanks, the youngest Yonko.

With his left hand, he would crown the new Pirate King.

"Let's see if this new era can sever my left hand!"

Madara's death marked the end of an era.

From that day onward, Shanks began waiting by the sea daily, wearing his straw hat.

His Observation Haki covered the entire sea. The moment a ship appeared, he would leave.

"I've trained enough. I am the youngest Yonko after all. Can't just sit here forever."

"With my current level of Conqueror's and Armament Haki, as long as I'm cautious, I should be fine."

He drew his katana—it turned jet-black.

"So this is Armament Haki, huh? It's built purely for battle, unlike the other types."

Shanks could only manage this much for now. His talent with Armament Haki was weak—progress was painfully slow.

"But whatever. My starting point is way beyond Luffy's."

"And this isn't even Luffy's arc yet. I'm clearly the protagonist of this version."

His eyes were resolute. Even if he had to bet an arm in the future—it would be worth it.

To be a Yonko meant gripping your weapon tightly. As for the other hand? Use it as a poker chip if you have to.

One hand on the sword.One hand ready to flip the table.That's just how it should be.

The outside world might change, but the World Government?The Navy?The Celestial Dragons?

They never change.

To trade one arm for revolution across the seas?

A fair bet.

Others had paid far more.