The next morning.
Kiyosuke woke up to see Mei Terumī sitting at her vanity, carefully applying makeup. Normally, she would only bother with a little lipstick, but today, she seemed especially radiant—perhaps because, after thirty years, she was finally getting married.
"You're awake? Not going to sleep a little longer?"
Mei turned around, her long hair cascading down her shoulders. Her beautiful face was flushed with a natural glow, brimming with vitality. Bathed in the warmth of love, she looked even more stunning than ever.
Kiyosuke got up and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Her abdomen was smooth and flat. He leaned close to her ear and whispered playfully,
"You should give me two kids later. I've already picked out their names."
"What names?" Mei asked softly, her breath a little unsteady, her eyes hazy with emotion.
"The boy will be named Shinichi, and the girl Yuka. They're both very cute in another world," Kiyosuke said with a grin, telling her about what he saw in the Limited Tsukuyomi world.
"You really... If you'd had that kind of courage back then, maybe our kids really would've become ninja by now," Mei said, a hint of envy flickering in her tone—envy for the version of herself in that illusionary world who got married early.
Still, she thought, the current her wasn't doing too badly either.
She smiled gently and kissed him.
"Well, I couldn't help it," Kiyosuke sighed helplessly after they parted. "I had a lot of trouble back then. I wanted to, but there were too many things holding me back. And honestly, would you really have left with me at that time?"
"I…" Mei shook her head. "You're right. I probably wouldn't have had the courage to leave with you either."
She nestled against him like a lazy cat and murmured, "Looks like the two of us are just a pair of cowards."
"Coward and coward together—sounds perfect to me," Kiyosuke said, lifting her into his arms. "We match perfectly. And this coward has come to marry you."
"Yeah."
They embraced again, until the voice of a maid came from outside the door, reminding Mei to eat breakfast. She still had work to attend to later.
Kiyosuke said, "I'll stay here for now. Your parents don't know I'm here yet. If they find out, I'm afraid your father might kill me."
He had kept their daughter waiting so many years—it was only natural to feel guilty now that they were finally getting married.
"So you do have something you're afraid of," Mei teased. "Just use the Transformation Technique and stroll around the village if you like—but don't go near any clan grounds or restricted Mist Village facilities."
That was already a huge concession. After all, no hidden village would normally allow an outsider ninja to wander freely on their territory.
But for Kiyosuke, there were no secrets left in Kirigakure anyway. He already knew the place inside out.
Kiyosuke nodded. "Got it."
Then he flopped back onto the bed. "I'll take another nap. Aren't you tired? You went to bed really late last night."
He winked mischievously at her, making Mei's face flush bright red.
"You... just sleep already!"
After ordering her subordinates not to disturb her room, she went off to eat breakfast and then headed to the Mizukage Building to deal with her work.
...
That evening, when she returned, Kiyosuke was frowning over a half-finished puzzle, clearly stuck.
"Bored already?" Mei asked with a smile. "Did you eat?"
"Oh, yeah. I snuck into your kitchen and stole some food," Kiyosuke replied, not even looking up as he continued puzzling.
Mei lit the lamp and sat at her desk nearby, going through a stack of documents she had brought back.
Neither of them disturbed the other. Each focused quietly on their own work until around nine o'clock, when Kiyosuke finally finished his puzzle, and Mei completed her paperwork.
After bathing, they lay down together. Kiyosuke held her close and murmured, "Good night."
"Good night."
...
The next day, Obito came to pick Kiyosuke up and brought him back to Konoha.
As soon as they arrived, Kiyosuke said, "Obito, I'm getting married!"
"Oh? Congratulations—wait, what?!" Obito stared at his old friend in shock. "You're getting married?! When?"
"In a few days. I'll ask Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama to go propose for me."
Orochimaru wasn't around anymore, but with those two big names, it was more than enough.
"Oh, I'm definitely being your best man!" Obito said enthusiastically, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Of course. You, Kakashi, Asuma, and Guy. I'm counting on you guys."
"No problem! Leave it to us!" Obito slapped his chest confidently. "We'll make sure your wedding is absolutely perfect."
"Just don't cause trouble," Kiyosuke warned.
"Of course not," Obito said—though obviously, there was no way he wouldn't.
"I believe you," Kiyosuke said with a grin that clearly meant, If you mess around, I'll kill you.
They exchanged bright, knowing smiles.
Naturally, Obito's big mouth couldn't keep a secret. Before long, all of Konoha's jōnin knew that Kiyosuke was getting married.
...
The next morning, as Kiyosuke was changing into new clothes, Karin, Haku, and Naruto came by with gifts to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Kiyosuke-sama," Haku said with a warm smile as he handed over his present.
"Yeah, yeah! I heard it's the Fifth Mizukage!" Karin added excitedly.
Naruto grinned and said, "I've met her before. She's a total beauty. You've got great taste!"
"That's right. I'm going to see the Hokage now to arrange the engagement. We'll have the wedding after that. In the meantime, we'll need to find a new place to live—this house is going up for sale. We'll buy a new one."
It wouldn't do to use this old house for newlyweds, even if it had been renovated once.
Haku chuckled. "Then I should start looking for my own place too. Since you're getting married, it's not really appropriate for us to live together anymore."
"Yeah, I'll stay in the hospital dorms for now," Karin said. "I've been so busy that I spend more time there than at home anyway."
"Same here," Naruto admitted, scratching his head awkwardly. "I got engaged to Hinata, so I'll be staying at her place for a while."
He was the first among them to get engaged.
"Then go ahead—but don't hide those magazines at the Hyūga place. Someone might find them."
"I—!" Naruto's face turned bright red. So Kiyosuke knew about that?!
Haku and Karin exchanged knowing looks, grinning.
"Don't laugh! Stop laughing already!"
"Hahahaha!"
They burst out laughing even louder, the room filled with cheerful voices.
After saying goodbye to the three, Kiyosuke headed straight for the Hokage's office to see Tsunade.
Today, Tsunade was dressed especially formally—she was even wearing the ceremonial Hokage robes she'd never put on before.
"I heard you're getting engaged," she said. "You want me and Jiraiya to go with you for the proposal, right? I've already made some preparations. Are you leaving now?"
"Of course. Where's Jiraiya-sama?"
"He's getting changed."
Speak of the devil—Jiraiya appeared just then, wearing the same outfit he'd worn when they visited the Hyūga household.
"Kiyosuke, I'm here! Leave this whole thing to me!"
Kiyosuke gave him a quick look, then turned to Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama, I'm counting on you."
"No problem!"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? You don't trust this sage here?"