"You tell me, isn't this just asking for a beating?"
Ao pointed at the group of troublemakers and sighed, shaking his head as he ordered some people to send them to the hospital.
Still, he could understand their feelings. Their goddess was being taken away by an outsider—who wouldn't feel upset? Opposition to Kiyosuke and Mei Terumī's marriage in Kirigakure was loud enough, but all those voices had been silenced.
Mei Terumī was getting married. No one could stop that.
He needed to hurry to the Terumī clan estate—it was lively as ever over there.
"Please wait a moment, Kiyosuke-sama."
At the gates of the Terumī clan, Kisame Hoshigaki stood in the way, Samehada in hand.
"Sorry about this," he said with a grin. "The Mizukage-sama's father ordered me to block the road."
"Tch." Kiyosuke clicked his tongue. "My father-in-law's really pulling this kind of stunt right before the wedding, huh?"
Since his return to Kirigakure, Kisame had been highly valued by Mei Terumī. He still acted as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and even served as a small squad leader in the ANBU. Unless something unexpected happened, he was all but guaranteed to become the next ANBU commander.
Kiyosuke gathered chakra in his throat and shouted loudly,
"It's my wedding day! Aside from my mother-in-law, no one's stopping me today! Move out!"
"Ohhh!!!"
The four men carrying the palanquin roared in unison.
Kisame laughed. "Mizukage-sama's father sure put me in a tough spot. None of the guys who come to marry someone in this village are ever easy to deal with."
He hefted Samehada onto his shoulder and said, "Formalities are formalities, Kiyosuke-sama. Forgive me!"
The moment he finished speaking, the massive blade came crashing down.
Kiyosuke leapt back, and the spot where he had just stood exploded into a crater.
"You serious right now?"
"Of course. Please take this seriously," Kisame replied, attacking again.
"What a bizarre way to welcome a groom," Kakashi murmured.
"The customs in Kirigakure sure are wild," Obito said, wide-eyed. Ever since the effects of Kotoamatsukami had worn off, his IQ had plummeted, and he'd gone back to being the goofy idiot of old.
"I mean, isn't it obvious?" Asuma sighed. "Looks to me like the old man just wants to rough up his son-in-law a bit."
"Should we help him?" Guy asked.
"No need," Asuma waved it off. "Let him handle it. What kind of groom needs backup at his own wedding?"
Right after he said that, Kiyosuke landed smoothly atop Samehada, looking perfectly composed.
"So?" he smirked. "Still wanna keep going?"
Samehada suddenly sprouted sharp spikes that pierced through Kiyosuke's body—but the next instant, it screamed in pain, its whole form twisting as steam rose off its scales.
Kiyosuke chuckled from where he stood. "You really don't learn, huh? I beat you the same way more than ten years ago, and you've already forgotten?"
Kisame sighed helplessly. It wasn't like Samehada had a brain, and back then it hadn't even been his sword yet. How was he supposed to know?
"There's an opening!"
Kiyosuke seized the moment, pressing a kunai against Kisame's throat.
"I lose," Kisame admitted with a wry smile. "The difference in strength is too big."
He slung Samehada back over his shoulder and said,
"Please proceed. Mizukage-sama is waiting for you."
"Thanks. You've done well."
Kiyosuke slipped a red envelope into Kisame's hand with a grin.
"A red envelope, huh?" Kisame chuckled, pocketing it without hesitation.
After having Kakashi and the others set the palanquin down, Kiyosuke entered the Terumī clan estate alongside them.
The place was beautifully decorated—cheerful and festive.
When they reached the building where Mei lived, her father was waiting downstairs, face dark and gloomy. His daughter was getting married—of course he was happy—but the moment he saw Kiyosuke, his good mood evaporated.
"Father."
Since they were officially married now, Kiyosuke couldn't call him "Uncle" anymore.
"Hmph. Mei's waiting upstairs for you," the man said curtly.
"Understood."
The two of them walked up the stairs, one behind the other. Then, Mei's father spoke quietly.
"Take care of Mei for me."
"I will."
"If you ever make her suffer," the older man growled, "I'll never forgive you!"
"She's the treasure of my life!" Kiyosuke answered without hesitation.
Her father didn't reply. He simply nodded and led him to Mei's room.
Her mother was dressed beautifully for the occasion. When she saw Kiyosuke, she smiled warmly.
"You're here at last. We've been waiting for you."
Kiyosuke looked toward the dressing table, where a woman in a white wedding gown sat before the mirror. Her reflection glowed softly in the light.
He smiled. "I've come to take you with me."
Mei turned around. That perfect face of hers was filled with tenderness, her red lips slightly parted, her eyes brimming with affection.
She nodded lightly. "Mm."
With her mother's gentle help, she rose from her seat. Mei's mother took her daughter's hand and placed it into Kiyosuke's. Her eyes turned red as tears welled up—after all, her daughter was leaving home. How could a mother not feel sorrow, especially when her child was marrying far away?
"Please take good care of her," she said softly.
"I will, Mother."
She nodded heavily, wiping her eyes.
Then, with their hands joined, Kiyosuke and Mei knelt before her parents.
The maids brought tea, and the couple respectfully served it to the elders.
"Father, Mother," Kiyosuke said solemnly. "Please don't worry. I'll be by Mei's side for the rest of my life. We'll never be apart."
"Father, Mother," Mei said tearfully. "Your daughter may be marrying far away today, but please don't be sad. The man I chose is the best in the shinobi world."
They kowtowed three times, then were helped back up.
The two elders' eyes were misty with tears. Their daughter was finally leaving home.
It was supposed to be a joyful day, yet somehow their hearts felt unbearably heavy.
Mei tried to comfort them, but before long, her own tears began to fall as well.
"The time's almost up," the officiant whispered quietly.
The couple wiped their eyes, composed themselves, and walked hand in hand out of the small building—out of the home Mei had lived in for thirty years.
"They're coming!"
Obito's eyesight was the sharpest. He spotted the couple immediately and ran up to open the palanquin door himself.
"So beautiful!"
"Mizukage-sama looks stunning!"
"Seriously, though—should she really be marrying that guy?"
"You're right! Let's crash the wedding!"
The crowd started shouting playfully. No one actually meant it—they all knew how terrifying Kiyosuke was. None of them dared to take it too far.
After saying their goodbyes to her parents, Mei stepped into the palanquin, the door closing behind her.
Kakashi and the others lifted it together when Mei's father suddenly called out, "Wait."
All five men turned back.
"Father, is there something else?" Kiyosuke asked.
"You're forgetting something," the older man said.
"Huh? What could that be?" Kiyosuke blinked. He thought they'd already brought everything important.
Mei's father clapped his hands.
A long procession came out through the gate, carrying a large number of items.
"This," he said with a faint smile, "is Mei's dowry."