The long-anticipated wedding of Amegakure was held as scheduled—and it truly lived up to the name a wedding of the century.
Not only were all of Amegakure's prominent figures present, but influential nobles and wealthy merchants from the Land of Fire—and even across the shinobi world—had also been invited.
The Fire Daimyō gave Uchiha Makoto extraordinary face. He not only served as the official witness to the marriage, but even moonlighted as the master of ceremonies, personally presiding over the wedding.
After all, at present, there was no direct conflict of interest between the Fire Daimyō and Makoto.
Even though Makoto had crossed the line more than once in the past, the Daimyō had always come out of it with substantial gains. All things considered, Makoto was still the Fire Daimyō's trusted partner.
The streets surrounding the venue were packed with villagers who had come just to watch. They offered Makoto their most sincere blessings from the bottom of their hearts.
Without the great Kōei-sama, there would be no good life they enjoyed today.
Standing on the stage as the groom, Makoto calmly accepted the sea of congratulations. Beside him, Uzumaki Tsubaki-Shizuku wore a radiant smile. This wedding was even grander and more luxurious than the ones she had imagined while playing house as a child.
This life was worth it.
Below the stage, Uzumaki Shinji was smiling so hard that his face was a mass of wrinkles, blooming like a chrysanthemum. As Konoha's representative, Uzumaki Mito was also present at this historic wedding.
She stood among the guests, gazing at Tsubaki-Shizuku on the stage with unconcealed envy. The happiness on that young woman's face was unmistakably genuine.
What girl could remain unmoved by a wedding like this?
So much ceremony.
So much emotional value.
When she herself had married Hashirama Senju, the event hadn't been nearly this grand—not even half as impressive. There had been no gathering of Fire Country dignitaries, no wealthy merchants, and certainly no Daimyō presiding in person.
Makoto's regard for Tsubaki-Shizuku was obvious.
"Hashirama, you idiot…"
Comparison was the thief of joy.
Mito couldn't help but complain silently. But then she recalled Makoto's words from the previous day, and her resolve hardened.
If Hashirama refused to cherish her, then she would change the way she lived.
From now on—she would live for herself.
After a long series of elaborate wedding rituals, the ceremony finally came to an end.
Guests lined up to toast Makoto. He only took light sips—there was no way he was getting drunk on such an important night and being carried home.
After all,
Makoto still had important work to do that evening.
That Night
Uzumaki Tsubaki-Shizuku moved into Makoto's private estate.
That night, Makoto finally shed his virgin status.
"I'll take off the bridal outfit first—"
"No. Keep it on. That's exactly what I want."
"It's a supreme divine artifact that boosts attack speed!"
As he spoke, Makoto drew his "holy sword." At the moment it left its sheath, Tsubaki-Shizuku swore she heard a dragon's roar. Completely unprepared for such intensity, she was "shocked" several times throughout the night.
Time passed quietly.
Back in Konoha
Uzumaki Mito did not linger in Amegakure. After returning to Konoha from her journey, she did not head back to the Senju compound to rest.
Instead, she went straight to the Hokage's Office.
As expected, the one seated behind the Hokage's desk was still Tobirama Senju—the ever-present acting Hokage. The actual First Hokage, Hashirama, was still wandering the shinobi world with Uchiha Madara and had yet to return.
This was routine by now.
Mito didn't even bother asking whether Hashirama was back.
This was what it meant when one's heart had already gone numb.
"Elder Sister-in-law, when did you return?"
Seeing Mito, Tobirama immediately stood up and poured her a cup of tea.
"I just got back."
"If that's the case, you should have gone home to rest first. Reporting on Amegakure can wait until tomorrow."
Tobirama spoke sincerely. Sending Mito to the wedding had never been just about attending—it was also meant to gauge the Uzumaki clan's stance and gather intelligence on Amegakure.
But she had just returned. There was no need to rush.
"It's fine," Mito said calmly.
"After the report, there's something else I need to ask of you."
She made her intentions clear without preamble.
Tobirama, listen well. Your sister-in-law has come to ask you for something.
"Please don't be so formal," Tobirama replied at once.
He genuinely respected Mito. His own idiotic older brother had been neglecting home ever since Konoha's founding, spending night after night with that inherently troublesome Uchiha Madara.
Yet Mito never made a fuss. She quietly handled everything at home.
Too broad-minded, Tobirama thought.
If she were even slightly less tolerant, she would have already torn Madara apart and forced Hashirama to quit his "Madara addiction."
Frankly, Tobirama wished she would be less tolerant.
If Mito raised the banner, he would be the first to charge into battle for her.
The Report
Mito first conveyed the Uzumaki clan's position.
Konoha and the Uzumaki clan were still close enough to "share a sheath."
The only difference was that the Uzumaki clan had found another village they could also "share a sheath" with.
Konoha and Amegakure were allies.
So were Amegakure and the Uzumaki clan.
Since everyone was an ally, why not make it even closer?
There was no reason Konoha could light fires while denying the Uzumaki clan the right to light lamps.
"I see," Tobirama said, nodding.
This confirmed his suspicions. The Uzumaki clan wanted benefits from both sides. Still, since they didn't know that Konoha and Amegakure were only surface-level allies, it was understandable.
And with Mito as the link between them, Tobirama decided to let it slide.
If the Uzumaki clan wasn't righteous, the Senju couldn't afford to be unjust.
"And Amegakure?" Tobirama asked.
"What about their situation?"
This was what he truly cared about.
"Konoha's ally, the Uzumaki clan, simply wants more options. But Amegakure…"
"That village is dangerous."
"Amegakure is economically developed and extremely wealthy. Its population is growing by the day. Their Ninja Academy alone enrolled three thousand students in one intake."
"And Uchiha Makoto himself—his methods are exceptional. He's intelligent, decisive, and commands extraordinary authority in the village. With a single order, countless shinobi would gladly die for him."
"Truly, each new generation surpasses the last."
Mito spoke earnestly about what she had seen.
At first, everything sounded reasonable.
Amegakure's wealth.
Three thousand academy students.
Those numbers were astonishing—but Tobirama knew the inside story.
Makoto dared to spend so freely because he had swallowed the fifty billion ryō that once belonged to Konoha—nearly half of Konoha's reserves.
If I had that money, Tobirama thought confidently,
Konoha wouldn't be any worse.
But as he continued listening, something felt wrong.
Elder Sister-in-law—
Why are you praising that inherently troublesome Uchiha brat?!
"Intelligent and decisive?"
Were those words meant for the Uchiha?
"And 'each generation surpasses the last'—"
Who was the previous generation?
Who was the next?
Was he, Tobirama Senju, inferior to that brat in governance?
Or had Makoto already surpassed Hashirama himself?
Displeasure surged within Tobirama.
Yet out of respect for Mito, he didn't interrupt—though deep down he regretted sending her to Amegakure at all.
"That's about it," Mito concluded.
"Tobirama, do you have any questions?"
"…Elder Sister-in-law," Tobirama said carefully,
"isn't your evaluation of Uchiha Makoto a bit exaggerated? I admit he has some tricks, but surely he's not as remarkable as you make him sound."
"Exaggerated?" Mito replied calmly.
"I think it's quite accurate. Uchiha Makoto is a young man with vision and insight."
Someone who could declare 'kunoichi can hold up half the sky'—such praise was well deserved.
Tobirama was speechless.
He had no idea what kind of bewitching potion that Uchiha brat had fed his sister-in-law.
She wasn't under genjutsu.
So why did she hold Makoto in such high regard?
"Then… what was the matter you wanted my help with?" Tobirama said quickly, changing the subject.
Uchiha Makoto—just you wait.
"Oh, Tobirama, take a look at these articles first."
Mito took out the latest issue of The New Shinobi and handed it to him.
"The New Shinobi?"
"You read this too?"
"…Occasionally."
A sense of foreboding rose instantly in Tobirama's chest.
He opened the magazine and skimmed through the featured essays.
Female independence.
Female awakening.
Bride price as attitude.
Emotional value.
Strange, unsettling terms filled the pages.
These words were dangerously persuasive—especially to Konoha's kunoichi.
"Tobirama," Mito asked eagerly,
"what do you think of these?"
"…They're… acceptable," Tobirama said cautiously.
"Just somewhat… unconventional."
He watched her expression from the corner of his eye. He wanted to say it was utter nonsense—but seeing her anticipation, he swallowed those words.
"Exactly!" Mito said firmly.
"That's why I've returned—to do something important."
"The notion that kunoichi are inferior is a relic of the Warring States Era. It belongs in the trash."
"In this era of shinobi villages, capable and progressive kunoichi must break free from domestic constraints, devote themselves to their careers, and dedicate their lives to the prosperity of the village."
"Female independence. Female awakening."
She spoke at length, quoting Makoto's words as if they were scripture.
Tobirama was utterly shaken. As a man shaped by the Warring States, these ideas were far beyond his comfort zone—so much so that he felt his brain folds smoothing out.
"…Elder Sister-in-law," he said hoarsely,
"who taught you all this?"
"…It wasn't Uchiha Makoto, was it?"
His internal Uchiha-detector screamed.
"Tobirama," Mito snapped,
"how can you speak of Uchiha Makoto like that?"
"By rights, you're only the Hokage's aide. Someone of your rank has no qualification to address him by name."
"You should call him Light Shadow-sama(Lord Makoto)."
Silence.
"…Elder Sister-in-law…?"
Tobirama stared at her, dumbfounded.
Words like that—coming from her mouth?
His thoughts froze for several seconds before he forcibly abandoned the topic.
If he kept arguing, he feared she might say something truly earth-shattering.
"Elder Sister-in-law," he said stiffly,
"just tell me—what do you need?"
"I need funding."
"...???"
Tobirama's headache instantly returned.
He thought of his idiot brother.
Elder Sister-in-law… you too?
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