Shadow

"11Listen, I'm not going to start a fight with you, not yet!" Ryokugyu, knowing he couldn't take on all the pirates together, raised his hands in surrender.

Ignoring everyone present, he left with all eyes on his back.

"Did we win?" someone asked.

Momonosuke, still in his dragon form, watched the man's retreat in astonishment for a moment before bursting into joyous leaps.

"Victory! Even a Marine admiral has been repelled by us!"

"Hahaha..."

The tense bodies of the Red Scabbards unconsciously relaxed. They looked at each other and could see relieved smiles in their eyes.

'Sigh… 'Yamato let out a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground from the pressure she had felt moments ago.

 That monstrous Conqueror's Haki had scared her, even though she wasn't the target of the attack. Just that simple impulse had left her shaken; this Haki was on par with her father's or even superior.

—-

Onboard the Red Force, waves furiously lashed against the hull as the crew stumbled with each sudden movement.

 Suddenly, a wave of Haki erupted from the imposing figure of Shanks, permeating the air with a palpable force that made even the strongest members tremble.

"Ogashira, be careful when you release your Haki without warning!" Hongo exclaimed with a shaky voice, seeing the foam bubbling from the mouths of the new crew members.

"The rookies are foaming at the mouth!" Yasopp shouted mockingly, trying to ease the tension with some humor.

Shanks, oblivious to the complaints, directed his gaze towards the imposing island of Wano, his eyes darkened with a mix of fury and determination. "Despicable," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice rough with rage. "A Marine admiral targeting these youngsters... I should have attacked him!"

At that moment, a torrent of memories flooded his mind. Images of young Luffy, sweet Uta, and their adventures together filled his vision. But among these joyful memories, a dark shadow crept in, a distant and terrifying memory that shook him to his core.

A colossal giant Buddha, towering among the clouds, with multiple hands extended towards the sky, emanating an aura of sanctity that consumed everything.

A shiver ran down Shanks' spine as a sharp pain seized his head. He clasped his temples tightly, trying to silence the demons tormenting his mind.

"Damn it!" he roared, hitting his head in fury. His face, once serene and confident, contorted in a grimace of agony and despair. The nightmare had left him scarred, weakened by the burden of a past he couldn't remember.

Sitting on the floor of the ship, leaning against the edge, Shanks ignored the help offered by his crewmates. His mind was elsewhere, trapped in a maze of fragmented memories and unanswered questions.

This nightmare wasn't just an occasional bad dream, but a constant presence in his life. The images of the giant Buddha and the sharp pain pursued him even when he was awake, surfacing in his mind like sudden flashes that destabilized him.

"Ninja god…" he murmured softly. The more he learned about the "blank year" in his memory, the more intense the headache became. It was as if his own mind was preventing him from remembering what happened during that time.

In the past, Shanks had shared his nightmares with his captain, Roger, and with Rayleigh. He had told them about the strange ability he had developed in his Conqueror's Haki, an ability that seemed to have an inexplicable connection with the "blank year."

Rayleigh's reaction had puzzled him. His mentor had shown an expression of amazement and concern. He had told Shanks that this ability was unique and had a direct connection to the man in his memories, to the battle of God Valley.

Shanks clenched his fists in frustration. The information was scarce, fragmented, as if someone was trying to hide the truth from him. He needed answers, he needed to know what happened on that fateful day, what connection he had with that event, and why no one remembered anything.

 Suddenly, a decision took hold of him. He stood up with renewed determination in his gaze. "It's time to seek out Rayleigh," he murmured through clenched teeth. "It's time for him to tell me everything he knows."

Benn Beckman, his first officer, approached him with a bottle of sake in hand, worried about his state of mind. Shanks gave him a fleeting, sad smile and told him not to worry. He took a swig of sake and, in a more animated tone, announced: "Prepare yourselves! We're visiting our friends in Elbaf!"

"What?!" Lucky Roux, chewing his meat, exclaimed in amazement. "Ogashira, let's go see Luffy!"

Bonk Punch, with a rare smile on his face, shouted: "Yes! Look how much he's grown, it's impressive!"

Yasopp, hysterical and sweating, shouted: "Wait, we can't land! I'm still not ready to see Usopp…"

Limejuice, arms crossed, complained: "Kid is also in Wano… We should make him pay for fighting us!"

"I have no interest in seeing Luffy…" Shanks said with a smile on his face, oblivious to their concerns. His mind was set on a bigger goal. With one last look at the horizon, Shanks raised his sake cup and toasted: "Don't you think it's about time?"

An expectant silence fell over the deck. The crew looked at each other, intrigued by their captain's words

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