The final day of the ten year peace agreement.
Today was the wedding day of Uchiha Ryun and Uzumaki Kushina.
Throughout Otogakure, lanterns and decorations were displayed everywhere. The symphony of firecrackers and drum music continued incessantly. Tables laden with sumptuous feasts were laid out around the Shadow's residence, spreading outward. All the villagers of the ninja village had gathered here, expressing their most sincere congratulations to their Shadow.
Ryun and Kushina were now dressed in bright red wedding robes. Under the witness of the officiant Orochimaru and the ceremonial Daimyo, they made their vows to spend their lives together. Subsequently, under countless astonished gazes, they completed the wedding steps: first bowing to heaven and earth, second bowing to their elders (their teacher), and finally bowing to each other as husband and wife.
This was the wedding ceremony specially decided by Ryun. He abandoned the traditional wedding customs of the ninja world, not only actively replacing the black and white formal wear with bright red robes, but also forcibly simplified the somewhat 'otherworldly' rituals.
In this place, Ryun had the final say. Whatever kind of wedding he wanted to hold, the ceremonial officials could only follow his wishes. Even if they were puzzled, it did not matter. As long as the couple themselves were happy, it was fine.
Night fell.
At the banquet in the garden of the Shadow's residence, the Daimyo of the Land of Rice and his wife, Orochimaru, and the couple Ryun were sitting together, drinking and chatting merrily.
"Bowing to heaven and earth, bowing to elders, and bowing to each other as husband and wife. This ritual seems simple, but it contains a certain logic," Orochimaru gave his evaluation of this wedding.
Orochimaru was an open and tolerant good teacher. He did not think Ryun would mess around at his own wedding. Instead, he was somewhat curious why this kid insisted on following these three step wedding process.
"Haha... originally, after completing the bow between husband and wife, it was time to escort them to the bridal chamber. Kushina was supposed to return to the wedding room and not come out again. I was afraid she would get hungry, so I agreed to let her come here to eat together," Ryun put down his wine cup and laughed.
"The wedding of you two has really broadened my horizons."
The Daimyo of the Land of Rice could not help but sigh after putting down his cup.
"These bright red robes paired with her stunning beauty without any makeup... just based on your appearances and temperaments, not to mention the young men and women watching the ceremony screaming and feeling their hearts flutter, even the older villagers were successively captivated... you two truly exemplify what it means to be a perfectly matched couple. The entire village of Otogakure and we, the Daimyo couple, have truly feasted our eyes today."
As soon as the Daimyo of the Land of Rice finished speaking, the Daimyo's wife immediately stood up to propose a toast and offer her blessings.
"Lord Ryun and Lady Kushina are a perfect match, talented and beautiful. Coming together is naturally a heaven made match. I hereby wish the new couple a harmonious union for a hundred years, and to have a child early..."
This blessing from the Daimyo's wife made Ryun laugh.
"Haha... Madam Daimyo, your perspective is too narrow. My wife is a descendant of the Uzumaki clan from the Land of Whirlpools, a clan famous in the ninja world for their longevity. It's common for clan members to live past a hundred years. Kushina and I have already promised to stay together until our hair turns white, how could a mere hundred years be enough for us to enjoy?"
Upon hearing this, Kushina immediately burst into laughter. She hadn't expected her man to care so much about this "hundred years of harmony" phrase. She loved hearing such sweet declarations of love; she adored Ryun's shamelessness.
"Hehe... after a hundred years, there can be another hundred years. Lord Ryun and Lady Kushina, destined lovers finally united, will naturally love each other for a lifetime and grow old together..."
The Daimyo's wife reacted quickly, easily defusing the awkwardness before the Daimyo of the Land of Rice could show any displeasure.
"Haha, I love hearing that. Thank you for your blessing, Madam Daimyo..."
The couple Ryun stood up and clinked glasses with the Daimyo's wife, sharing a cup of fine wine.
"Sh... Shadow Lord..."
While the group was chatting, laughing, and exchanging toasts, Itō and Black Zetsu Raiga each holding a cup of wine, entered the garden. Behind them stood over thirty powerful Otogakure jonin.
"The brothers all want to share a drink with the Shadow Lord. We hope you will give us the opportunity..."
Black Zetsu Raiga spoke boldly. Whether it was from drinking too much or from shyness, his entire face looked red.
"Haha, you guys... I was planning to eat a bit more before making the rounds to your tables..."
Ryun laughed and waved at them. The tension in the hearts of the jonin was immediately replaced with joy, and they all voluntarily queued up to clink glasses with Ryun and offer their congratulations.
"Just in time, there are still some people in the village who don't know the Shadow. After drinking this cup today, everyone will know of your existence from now on..." Orochimaru's hoarse laughter sounded appropriately.
"Our Shadow Lord... truly is the legendary Illusory Sun Dragon God. I'm about to clink glasses and drink with a deity..." Many people were particularly excited when they saw Ryun's face.
Many households in Otogakure still had portraits of the Illusory Sun Dragon God hanging in their homes. The shock they felt today upon seeing the real person was imaginable.
With this great deity stationed in Otogakure, why would they need to fear the ninja of the Five Great Nations in the future?
"Congratulations to the Shadow Lord on his wedding, may you have a child soon..."
Each jonin would first clink glasses with Ryun to offer congratulations. After drinking the wine in their cup, they would immediately bow to Kushina, leaving behind a festive congratulatory message.
Kushina would politely bow in return. This repeated until Ryun had continuously drunk over thirty cups of strong liquor. Only then did the jonin, satisfied, withdraw from the garden.
"The Shadow Lord truly has a great capacity for liquor. After over thirty cups of strong wine, he shows not the slightest sign of drunkenness and remains as composed as ever..."
The Daimyo of the Land of Rice could not help but clap and praise.
"Hehe... Ryun can truly drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Even I, his teacher, cannot outdrink him..." Orochimaru could not help but laugh. Back in the day, the Sannin had often drunk with Ryun, so he naturally knew Ryun's true drinking capacity.
Ryun once said the alcohol in the ninja world was too weak. This sentence had been remembered by Orochimaru until now.
"Haha. Sensei, today's wedding wine is different from the usual alcohol. I really am feeling a bit dizzy and blurry eyed..." Ryun put down his cup and laughed heartily.
"Hehe, Lord Ryun should be drunk now. Lady Kushina, you should help your husband back to his room to rest soon..." The Daimyo's wife covered her mouth, laughing and teasing.
"Hahaha..."
The Daimyo and Orochimaru could not help but laugh heartily upon hearing this.
Kushina's face flushed red with embarrassment upon hearing this. But when she actually reached out to support Ryun, he grabbed her wrist. "You really think I'm drunk?"
Ryun looked at her with a mischievous smile. The next moment, amidst Kushina's surprised exclamation, he scooped her up into his arms horizontally.
"Everyone, let's continue this drinking another day. I have to complete the final step of the wedding..."
After throwing out these words, Ryun walked away without looking back, holding Kushina.
Watching the two leave so gracefully, the three at the table laughed even louder for a moment.
"The final step... is 'escort to the bridal chamber', right?"
Turning the corner of the garden, Kushina asked softly, her face red.
"Mmhmm, escort to the bridal chamber. It means we're going to be together making monkeys right away."
As Ryun's words fell, countless fireworks rose within Otogakure. The entire Shadow's residence was completely illuminated by the brilliant fireworks.
"So beautiful..." Kushina's attention was instantly captured by the gorgeous scene.
"These blooming fireworks aren't as beautiful as you."
Ryun only glanced at the sky once before focusing his gaze back on Kushina's face.
Kushina felt extremely shy under his gaze. Now she couldn't even care about watching the fireworks in the sky. She buried her entire face directly into Ryun's chest, a happy smile on her face, her heart filled with anticipation for the final step of this wedding.
These monkeys... she had wanted to make them for a long time.
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