Chapter 449: Wedding
Konoha Central Shrine. Both sides of the stone steps leading to the solemn main hall had been decorated like a painting.
Ancient torii gates were entwined with fresh verdant vines and pure white ribbons. A long approach path was carpeted with brand-new red felt. Every few steps along both sides stood pairs of exquisite floor lanterns whose shades depicted intertwined designs of the Uzumaki and Uchiha family crests.
To one side of the shrine entrance stood a carefully crafted enormous signboard. Using dark solid wood as base, the center was written with flowing gilded script:
Respectfully Congratulating
Uzumaki Naruto-sama
Uchiha Satsuki-sama
Wedding Reception
To All Honored Guests:
As seating has been arranged in advance, please provide your name at the registration to facilitate guidance to seats.
Bride and Groom
Beside the signboard, several late-blooming cherry trees specially transplanted here were in full bloom. When breezes passed, pink-white petals rustled down, adorning the red carpet and guests' shoulders.
Several children wearing well-fitted small suits appearing barely over sixteen years old—led by Sarutobi Konohamaru, plus companions Udon and Moegi—were seriously busy at the temporarily established registration desk, helping guide early-arriving guests and organizing gift lists.
Though time was still early, quite a few people had already gathered inside and outside the shrine. Familiar and unfamiliar faces wearing formal attire or traditional kimono conversed quietly. The air was permeated with a celebratory yet solemn atmosphere.
"Yo, you're here, Jiraiya." An aged yet still vigorous voice sounded.
Jiraiya, wearing a well-tailored, straight dark gray formal suit, turned his head at the sound to see Sarutobi Hiruzen also dressed in traditional formal wear. The old man was leaning on a cane, smiling as he watched his grandson Konohamaru and companions busy assisting with collecting and registering monetary gifts not far away.
"You came quite early yourself, old man." Jiraiya walked over, adjusting his somewhat tight collar from unfamiliarity.
"Tsk, these clothes are really uncomfortable... But speaking of which, watching these past years, even though some villagers still have complaints about you, your life after stepping down has been quite good... Should it be my turn to completely retire too?"
"Why rush? Now the village has more than just one or two excellent juniors meeting Hokage requirements. Not like my time when finding a suitable successor required painstakingly dragging you back from outside. Enough complaining—how much did you prepare for the monetary gift?"
Jiraiya's face fell as he sighed.
"Well... I'm Naruto's master after all. The monetary gift naturally must be the highest tier... Sigh, you don't know—ever since becoming this Hokage, my Icha Icha series has been completely discontinued. Manuscript fee income directly dried up... Maintaining a master's dignity really isn't easy."
Though complaining verbally, his hand unhesitatingly produced a thick, specially-made monetary gift envelope bearing the Hokage emblem, handing it to the personnel responsible for registration.
In the courtyard before the shrine's main hall, the Namikaze couple and Uchiha couple responsible for reception as host families saw Jiraiya's figure from afar, preparing to approach for greetings.
On another side, Hyuga Neji and Tenten stood together, quietly conversing. Tenten wore a light pink modified furisode today. Looking at the not-small, extremely exquisitely packaged large gift box in Neji's hands, she curiously asked in a low voice.
"Neji, what gift did you prepare?"
"...At such occasions, what would be more appropriate? I'm not very clear if my prepared gift is suitable." Neji wore white formal kimono, making his temperament appear even more aloof and refined.
"...What would be more appropriate?... Probably giving what you yourself consider most precious, most representative of your sentiments."
Neji slightly furrowed his brows, instinctively thinking of that fox mask belonging to "that person" which he treasured at home.
That item held extraordinary meaning to him—valued more than his own life, absolutely impossible to give as a gift.
Tenten again pointed at the large gift box in Neji's hands. "What exactly is this...?"
"I'm giving custom kimono." Neji answered. "Double kimono custom-made by the Hyuga Clan's internal finest craftsmen, selecting premium silk using traditional techniques—one set each for male and female."
Looking at that gift box whose value was obviously considerable just from packaging, then imagining the fine quality of clothing inside, Tenten's expression immediately stiffened somewhat as she forced a laugh. "Heh, hehe... Looks like it required much more care than mine..."
Just then, a booming shout loud enough to nearly shake cherry blossoms loose attracted nearly the entire venue's attention.
"Lee! This blessed moment for others can equally temper our own body, mind, and will! This is precisely the youthful meaning of our presence at this wedding!"
"Guy-sensei! You mean even at such gatherings, we cannot forget passionate training?"
"Exactly! True youth knows no time or place! Come! With all our enthusiasm! Let us offer the most powerful blessing for the newlyweds' union through tossing specially-made dumbbells!"
Two figures wearing tight green bodysuits with astonishingly thick eyebrows—Might Guy and Rock Lee—had already assumed standard physical training postures. At their feet lay several giant dumbbells whose weight looked impressive at first glance. They were about to begin their unique "blessing ceremony."
Tenten and Neji simultaneously whipped their heads around in unison, faces writing the subtle expression "we don't know those two people."
At the main reception area, Uzumaki Kushina was carefully checking the just-delivered, mountain-high pile of gift lists. She wore a vivid red tomesode kimono today.
But her face carried confusion. She pointed at a line on the gift list, beckoning toward Minato who was conversing with Fugaku on the other side.
"Um... Minato, come look at this. Is this recorded incorrectly?"
Namikaze Minato approached at the sound. He also wore formal dark kimono today, temperament warm and refined. "Mm? Where's the problem?"
Kushina passed the gift list before him, pointing at the clearly marked source.
"Here, representing Sunagakure, Fifth Kazekage Gaara's sent congratulatory gifts..." She began reading the shockingly long list of items.
"One hundred pounds of gold dust, ten boxes of the Land of Wind's premium secret spices, fifty jars of century-old oasis ancient-method brewed wine, twenty boxes each of 'date honey preserves' and 'glass sugar crystals' made by noble pastry chefs, one hundred complete sets of ninja tools forged from rare metals by Sunagakure's top craftsmen with special ninja tool pouches, plus... permanent mining rights certificate for a small verified 'chakra-conducting metal' ore deposit in the southern Land of Wind..."
After finishing, Kushina raised her face, large eyes full of disbelief. "This is... too much, too precious, right? Feels almost national gift level. Did the child responsible for registration add extra zeros? Or mix up Sunagakure's 'village gift' with the Kazekage's personal congratulations?"
Minato accepted the gift list, then raised his eyes to look at the specially designated area nearby for temporarily storing congratulatory gifts—there indeed were several particularly enormous boxes with exceptionally luxurious packaging bearing Sunagakure-style markings stacked together, beside numerous not-small sealed jars and wooden crates.
He carefully verified the seal on the gift list and the attached bearing of the Fifth Kazekage's private seal, gently shaking his head.
"...Not recorded incorrectly. It's exactly these items." Minato confirmed, returning the gift list to Kushina. "That child Gaara... seems to have extraordinary friendship with Naruto."
"Eh? Really?..." Kushina still felt somewhat astounded, looking at that mountain-like pile of gifts, couldn't help muttering quietly, "This child Naruto... the friend he made is too... too generous. How can we possibly repay this favor..."
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