Under Shanks' guidance, Erza began tying the ropes between the carriages. He carefully demonstrated how to secure the knots, making sure each one was fastened tightly and properly. With no room for error, every carriage needed to remain perfectly linked during the journey ahead.
Once the final rope was secured, Erza climbed into one of the carriages. As she settled in, Shanks turned to address the rest of the clan mbers.
"Alright, everyone," he called out, his voice carrying clearly through the afternoon. "I'm going to start pulling the carriages now. The speed will be fast—much faster than what you're used to. So hold on to sothing solid inside. Grab a horizontal beam or a seat that's anchored. I don't want anyone getting injured because they weren't paying attention. Understood?"
A chorus of voices responded in unison from within the carriages:
"Yes!"
Shanks gave a firm nod, then moved to the frontmost carriage. All the while, his Observation Haki remained fully active, casting his senses across the surrounding area. So far, there was no sign of incoming enemies. That ant they still had ti—the reinforcents from Root had yet to arrive. But they would, and soon.
Without wasting another second, Shanks took the thick rope that had once been tied to the lead horse and wrapped it tightly around his right arm—his only arm. Then, with a final glance down the path ahead, he began to move, pulling the first carriage forward. He shifted from the clearing and onto the road.
Pulling the weight of multiple carriages was no small feat—it demanded trendous strength. But Shanks managed it, drawing upon both his physical endurance and his chakra reserves. Every muscle in his body strained with effort, yet he remained steady, determined.
Once he reached the road, he inhaled deeply, bent forward slightly to shift his center of gravity, and began to run. With each step, his pace increased. The heavy creaking of the carriages behind him gave way to a smoother montum as his stride grew more powerful.
He eventually reached a speed that, while no one was present to asure it, would have easily clocked in at around 70 kiloters per hour.
Sweat beaded on Shanks' brow, streaming down his face. His skin flushed red from exertion, and the wind generated by his speed began to dry his soaked clothing. Despite the physical toll, he pushed forward, unrelenting.
Inside all the carriages, ten children clung tightly to the support beams and benches. Their thoughts were united by a single, resolute feeling:
"Onii-san is giving everything he has so we can survive. When we grow up, we'll make sure he can finally rest. We'll give him the life of peace and comfort he deserves."
In the sa carriages, the seven won—mothers, aunts, caretakers—sat silently, watching the children and listening to the rhythmic thrum of the wheels and Shanks' steps. Each of them felt a pang of guilt. They couldn't help him now, not in battle or in escape. But silently, they made a promise of their own:
When we reach safety, we'll do everything in our power to ease his burden. He won't have to carry the weight of this family alone. Not anymore.
Shanks ran for nearly twenty-five minutes without pause, pushing himself with unwavering focus. Finally, just a few hundred ters from Tonika Village, he made the decision to stop.
But he couldn't afford to halt abruptly.
He was moving at high speed, and if he ca to a sudden stop, the montum of the carriages would cause them to crash into one another—putting everyone inside at risk of serious injury. With that in mind, Shanks gradually began to decelerate, carefully managing the transition from a sprint to a jog, and finally to a walk. The carriages followed his lead, slowing down smoothly behind him.
When he finally ca to a full stop, his chest was heaving. His breathing was labored from the prolonged effort, and sweat dripped from his face. The run had taken a serious toll—just those twenty-five minutes had consud nearly forty percent of his chakra reserves. For an Uzumaki, whose chakra pool was vast, that was no small loss.
He untied the thick rope wrapped around his right hand. A deep red mark had ford across his forearm where the coarse fibers had dug into his skin. He glanced down at it briefly, then turned to the carriages.
"Alright, everyone," Shanks called out, his voice hoarse but steady. "You can co out now. From here on, we'll be walking."
One by one, the clan mbers stepped down from the carriages. The children ca first, carefully climbing out with the help of the older won. Despite the fatigue and tension, they assembled quietly and in order, forming a neat line alongside the road.
Shanks hadn't told them to co out of the carriages without caution. Before giving the signal, he had thoroughly scanned the surrounding area using his Observation Haki, extending his senses to detect even the slightest presence of life. Fortunately, there was no one nearby—no hidden observers, no chakra signatures watching from a distance. The path was clear, for now.
Once everyone had disembarked and assembled, Shanks addressed the group.
"From here on, we'll continue on foot," he said. "Our destination is about five kiloters deep into the forest."
The group nodded in silent understanding.
Shanks then turned to Erza. "Erza, seal the three carriages into a scroll. We'll move out right after."
Erza's expression tightened, knowing the chakra it would take, but she didn't hesitate. Shanks, aware of the strain it would cause her, continued, "I know it will cost you a lot of chakra, but it's necessary. This part of the road is paved with stone, so any pursuit team will assu we headed into Tonika Village. When they investigate and find no trace of us there, they may think we diverted to another village. Best case—they assu we took the branch road past Tonika that leads to the Land of Hot Water."
He paused, scanning the forest line once more. "Stopping here is our best chance to throw them off."
Everyone nodded again, agreeing without question. Even if there had been doubts, none voiced them—Shanks had earned their trust a hundred tis over. His judgnt was their lifeline now.
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