Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one

To my great frustration, I still have not managed to finish Chapter Three of Hidden Claws.

However, recently read a fic by TheDemonKingNaruto which gave me an idea

So without further ado I present . . .

Hedging Your Bets

Shanks was quiet as he stood next to the rail of his ship, staring out at the waves. For those who knew him, heck even for those who had merely heard of him this tended to be a bad sign. Usually it meant someone was going to die. The fingers of his right arm clenched, the wood of the rail creaking in response to his unconscious strength.

Damn it. The redhead silently snarled to himself. Why hadn't Whitebeard just listened to him? The situation had devolved far faster than Shanks had ever anticipated. Ace was due to be executed in less than a week, and even though he didn't doubt the mera mera user's crew intended to rescue him, there was no guarantee they would succeed.

This troubled the Yonko for many reasons. First off there was Luffy. Yes, he had heard all about the younger pirate's assault on Impel Down. Something that made Shanks want to simultaneously beam with pride and beat his head against the wall. He still hadn't decided which was the stronger urge.

It was a true pity that the rookie pirate had been just a little too late. However, Shanks knew better than to think a little thing like invading Marine Headquarters was going to stop Anchor from trying to rescue his brother. Not that he could blame his little protégé. If it was one of his crew he would do the same thing.

Then of course there was the matter of Portgas D. Ace himself. Even though they had not spent that much time face to face, Shanks liked the younger man. He also knew damn well whose son the other was. Granted, it had taken him awhile to put the pieces together. Once he had though, like hell was he going to let those bastards kill his captain's only child!

All of this, plus a few other factors, was why the Red Force was sailing towards Marineford at top speed. The problem you ask? Shanks still wasn't sure if they were going to make it in time. They had tacked up every bit of sail they had, but the redhead was well aware the slightest delay could mean the difference between life and death for Fire-Fist.

This time Shanks did snarl, causing a few of the newer members of his crew to edge away from him. If only there was a way to get Ace out before the execution. Suddenly, the redhead stilled. Maybe there was a way. His hand drifted up to the necklace that had never, ever left his skin. It didn't look like much, just a crystal surrounded by some ornate designs. Only its owner knew what it truly was. A seal.

Abruptly the Yonko turned from the rail, approaching the center of the deck where a decorative metal plate was imbedded in the wood. Shanks had placed it there himself after removing it from his former ship. His crew had never pressed him on the reason why and he had never told.

"All of you stand back," he ordered. "I don't want there to be any misunderstandings."

The members of the Red Haired Pirates exchanged confused looks but did as commanded. They had been together too long to question their captain over something like this. Stepping closer to the plate Shanks removed his necklace, biting down hard on his thumb in order to smear a bit of chakra infused blood over the crystal.

The effect was immediate. There was a brilliant flash of yellow light in the center of the deck, temporarily blinding those members of the crew who had been unlucky enough to be staring right at it. When the spots cleared, those pirates old enough to know who they were looking at had to resist the urge to take a few more steps back.

All of them except one. Benn Beckman merely narrowed his eyes. It had been almost seven years ago that he had burst into his captain's cabin only to nearly suffer three simultaneous heart attacks finding Shanks calmly conversing with a man whose bounty would have rivaled Monkey D. Dragon's. Save for one thing. Uzumaki Naruto was supposed to be dead.

The first mate still hadn't figured out the relationship between his captain and the mysterious man. And Shanks had been annoyingly vague whenever he questioned his captain on the matter. Even worse, he was sure the man whom the World Government had once called Maelstrom had been on and off the ship multiple times over the years even though he couldn't prove it. To someone upon whom the safety of the crew depended upon, it was a constant source of frustration.

Sapphire eyes narrowed as they surveyed the crew. The thick aura covering the deck making it difficult for some of the pirates to breathe. Several of them flat out collapsing to the deck as though they had been hit by Conqueror's Haki. Then, the visitor paused, running a concerned look up and down Shanks once before rising out of a battle crouch.

In all the years Shanks had worn that necklace the redhead had never used it. Even during the times when Naruto argued he should have. So, when the blonde's matching necklace lit up the immortal felt he was well within his rights to panic. Over time, the demon vessel had learned to distance himself as to not suffer perpetual heartbreak. One thing however hadn't changed. No matter how many centuries, nay millennia passed, he would do anything for his precious people.

Quickly, the demon vessel covered the few steps to Shanks' side. Ignoring Kurama's queries about what was happening as he reassured himself the other was not hurt. "What is it?" he asked. His instincts screaming at him to tear apart whatever, or whoever, had caused the redhead distress.

Shanks took a deep breath. "I need your help." He had no worries the other would refuse him. That had never been the issue. Still, it was somewhat embarrassing. He was Red-Haired Shanks. One of the Four Pirate Emperors who ruled over the New World. His name feared all around Grand Line. A man, who when the chips were down had gone to the strongest man he had ever known, his Father.

HYBHYBHYB

I feel so bad; I've broken my own rules. But I have tried and tried and just cannot kick this case of writer's block. So, I have decided to give in and write this short story in the hopes my other muses return. It will only be six chapters at most and I plan on updating it once per day.

Hope you enjoy and please review

-peppymint