A year and a half drifts by in a current of peace and reconstruction.
Lately, an infectious energy buzzes through the streets of Konoha, a stark and welcome contrast to the solemn quiet that followed the war. Red and white lanterns hang from every eave, the scent of festival food wafts from street stalls, and the sounds of laughter echo through the village. The entire community is immersed in a joyful atmosphere, for tomorrow is a day of monumental celebration: the wedding of Namikaze Naruto and Hyuga Hinata.
This is no ordinary union. Naruto, the Hero of the Fourth Great Shinobi War and the son of the revered Fourth Hokage, is a figure of immense love and respect. Hinata, the gentle and noble heiress to the prestigious Hyuga clan, is held in equally high esteem. Their marriage is a symbol of the village's bright future, a testament to the peace they all fought so hard to protect.
At the village's main gate, the afternoon sun casts long shadows. Haruno Sakura, radiant in a simple but elegant red dress, stands watch. She clasps her hands together, her emerald eyes fixed on the road leading into Konoha, a nervous anticipation fluttering in her chest. The world is moving forward, and while she is overjoyed for her friends, a part of her feels the pull of her own uncertain future.
A soft whisper of displaced air, and suddenly, she is no longer alone.
Sakura turns, her gaze meeting the calm, onyx eyes of Uchiha Itachi. A respectful smile touches her lips. "Itachi-san," she greets with a nod.
Itachi inclines his head in return, his expression serene. "Sakura. Waiting for him?"
"I'm surprised you could get away to greet Sasuke-kun yourself," Sakura replies, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity. "Between your duties as the Uchiha clan head and Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, you must be incredibly busy."
A rare, soft chuckle escapes him. "Ah, but I haven't seen my foolish little brother in over a year. Some duties take precedence." A year ago, Minato had entrusted Sasuke with a series of clandestine, high-stakes missions vital to securing the fragile post-war peace, sending him far from the village.
"You two have always been so close," Sakura says, her smile a little softer now, a little more genuine. It's a bond she both admires and envies.
"He is here."
Itachi's quiet statement cuts through her thoughts. Sakura's head snaps up, her eyes widening as she follows his gaze. A lone figure, cloaked in a travel-worn black robe, materializes from the heat haze on the horizon. The silhouette grows sharper, the stride more distinct.
The figure notices them, and their steady pace accelerates in a blur of motion. With a series of near-silent flashes, Uchiha Sasuke appears before the Konoha gate, coming to a halt before his brother and his teammate. He looks different—older, leaner, the sharp edges of his youth softened by experience. His gaze is clear, filled with a quiet, world-weary confidence.
"Brother," Sasuke says, a flicker of genuine surprise and warmth crossing his features. "Long time no see."
Itachi's face breaks into a delighted smile. He steps forward and claps a firm, grounding hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Welcome home." His eyes then slide meaningfully toward Sakura. "Go on. Say hello."
Sasuke turns, his gaze meeting Sakura's. For a moment, the air stills. Then, he offers a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Sakura."
The single word, spoken with a softness she has never heard from him before, stuns her into silence. The Sasuke of old would have grunted, or perhaps ignored her entirely. This version of him… he sees her.
A blush creeps up her neck, warming her cheeks. She dips her head shyly. "Welcome back, Sasuke-kun."
"Hn. Thank you for coming to meet me," he responds, the faint smile lingering.
Observing the interaction, Itachi thinks to himself, The time away has done him good. He's finally stepping out of Father's shadow. Since childhood, Sasuke had been defined by his family, his growth inevitably shaped by Fugaku's strict expectations and the weight of the Uchiha name. This mission had forced him to define himself.
"It's nothing," Sakura manages, waving her hands dismissively, though her heart is racing.
"Where is the Dobe?" Sasuke asks, his eyes scanning the area behind them as if expecting his rival to burst out of the woods at any moment.
"Huh?" Sakura blinks, slow to catch the familiar nickname.
Itachi's smile widens. "He means Naruto, of course. Today, he and his parents are at the Hyuga compound, making the final arrangements for the wedding." He grew up watching the two of them, their relationship a constant storm of quarrels and unbreakable bonds. They were, without a doubt, the truest of friends.
A teasing glint enters Itachi's eyes as he looks between Sasuke and Sakura. "I must admit, I never thought Naruto would be the first among your generation to get married."
The implication hangs in the air, unspoken but perfectly clear. Sasuke's stoic expression remains unchanged, but Sakura's face flushes a brilliant crimson. Seeing her reaction, Sasuke's own composure cracks, a hint of awkwardness flitting across his face.
"I need to report to the Hokage," he announces abruptly.
Before another word can be said, he vanishes in a swirl of leaves, the suddenness of his departure leaving a palpable void. Sakura's shoulders slump with a quiet sigh of disappointment.
"Don't mind him," Itachi says gently, his voice pulling her from her reverie. "That's just how Sasuke is. But he has changed, Sakura. I'm his brother; I can see that he cares for you more than he lets on." He offers her an encouraging look. "Just be patient."
Itachi's words are a balm to her spirits. Sakura's expression brightens with renewed determination, and she nods firmly.
"Un!"
The Hyuga clan compound, normally a place of stark, disciplined austerity, is utterly transformed. Vibrant banners bearing the Uzumaki swirl and the Hyuga's First Fist hang from the pristine white walls. The sprawling courtyards are alive with color and light, softening the estate's typically severe atmosphere into something far more cheerful and welcoming.
The wedding is imminent, and as the groom's parents, Minato and Kushina arrived early this morning to finalize the arrangements with the Hyuga.
Inside a spacious chamber, Kushina holds Hinata's hands in her own, her violet eyes brimming with maternal satisfaction. A mischievous grin spreads across her face as she glances at Hiashi, who sits stiffly across from them. "I still can't believe it," she declares loudly. "How could a stoic old grump like you raise such a wonderful, sweet daughter?"
"Kushina…" Minato chides gently from her side, offering Hiashi an apologetic look. The Hyuga patriarch simply closes his eyes, a faint, weary smile on his face, while beads of sweat form on Minato's brow. Some things, like his wife's complete lack of a filter, would never change.
Outside, beneath the cool shade of a sprawling cherry tree, Naruto waits. He was unceremoniously kicked out of the meeting, told that there are pre-wedding matters the groom is forbidden from hearing. He sighs, leaning back against the trunk, when a familiar chakra signature flares nearby. A slow grin spreads across his face as he opens his eyes.
"You're back."
Sasuke emerges from the shadows, nodding slightly. A genuine, if small, smile touches his lips. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," Naruto replies, his grin widening. "You're probably looking for my dad. He's inside with everyone."
"I can wait." Sasuke moves to lean against the opposite side of the tree, crossing his arms. A comfortable silence settles between them, thick with everything left unsaid over the past year.
"I heard Sakura went to the gate to meet you," Naruto says, breaking the quiet.
"Yeah," Sasuke confirms calmly.
"You know," Naruto begins, turning his head to fix his rival with a serious look, "Sakura's liked you since we were kids at the Academy. The least you could do is give her a straight answer. Don't keep her waiting forever."
Sasuke's eye twitches. "Mind your own business, Dobe."
"What's with the attitude?" Naruto bristles, his fists clenching. "I'm just trying to help!"
"You're a giant idiot," Sasuke retorts, his expression twisting into the familiar scowl of their childhood rivalry. "Don't think you can lecture me just because you're getting married."
"You—!" Just like old times, Naruto is instantly enraged, grinding his teeth.
Their eyes lock in a heated glare, electricity crackling in the air. Then, simultaneously, the tension breaks, and twin smiles bloom on their faces.
"Still as annoying as ever," Naruto says, shaking his head, all anger gone from his voice.
Sasuke smirks faintly. "You too."
At that moment, the shoji door slides open and Minato steps out, his gaze landing on the two young men. "Sasuke, you've returned."
In a flicker of movement, Sasuke is before him. "Hokage-sama."
"Thank you for your hard work," Minato says, reaching out to pat his shoulder. Sasuke stiffens slightly, unaccustomed to the casual gesture of affection.
"This is the intelligence you requested," Sasuke says, pulling a thick scroll from within his robe and handing it to Minato.
"I'll expect your full report later," Minato says, securing the scroll. "But as it happens, Naruto has a favor to ask of you."
"Hn? What is it? Why can't he ask me himself?" Sasuke glances back at Naruto, who pointedly whistles and avoids his gaze, suddenly fascinated by a passing cloud.
Just then, Kushina, Hinata, and Hiashi emerge from the house as well.
"Sasuke-kun," Hinata greets him with a polite, graceful bow.
Sasuke returns the gesture before offering respectful nods to Hiashi and Kushina.
Hinata steps forward, her voice soft but clear, saving her future husband from his own awkwardness. "Naruto-kun was hoping… he would like to ask you to be his best man at our wedding tomorrow. He was just too shy to ask you directly." She clasps her hands together in a hopeful plea. "Please, we would be so honored."
"I..." The request catches Sasuke completely off guard. For a shinobi who has faced down gods and monsters, the prospect of standing in front of the entire village in a formal suit is somehow more terrifying. He hesitates, completely flustered.
Seeing his indecision, Kushina decides to intervene. She zips forward, slings an arm around Sasuke's neck in a friendly headlock, and grins with dazzling intensity. "Come on, Sasuke-chan! You and Naruto grew up together! You came all this way back just for the wedding, right 'dattebane?" Her smile is kind, but her eyes hold a familiar, fiery threat that promises swift retribution for a refusal. "You're going to be his best man, and you're going to like it."
A fresh wave of sweat breaks out on Sasuke's forehead. Trapped and outmaneuvered, he gives a short, helpless nod.
"That's my boy!" Kushina beams, ruffling his hair like he's still six years old. She, Minato, and Mikoto had practically raised the two boys together. No matter how powerful they became, Naruto and Sasuke shared a deep, instinctual fear of a truly motivated Kushina.
"We got the dress!"
Two figures appear at the compound entrance. Namikaze Chiharu, Naruto's younger sister, holds a large, ornate box, while Hyuga Hanabi bounces excitedly beside her.
"Sasuke-nii, long time no see!" the two girls chirp in unison before rushing to Hinata's side.
"Nee-san, let's go! You have to try it on and see if it fits!" Hanabi urges, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Hanabi, don't be so anxious," Hinata protests weakly, a blush coloring her cheeks.
"But I want to see you in your wedding dress!" Chiharu insists, grabbing Hinata's hand. "You're going to be the most beautiful bride ever!" Together, they pull the bride-to-be back inside the house.
A few moments later, cries of pure admiration echo from within.
"Wow!"
"So beautiful!"
"May we come in?" Hiashi asks, approaching the closed door.
The door cracks open, revealing Hanabi's sparkling Byakugan eyes. "Okay, but Naruto-nii-san is not allowed!"
"Why not?!" Naruto demands, feeling unjustly persecuted.
Beside him, Sasuke lets out a derisive sneer. "You really are an idiot. It's to preserve the suspense. It's tradition."
Kushina, who was about to enter, turns back with a sly wink. "My, my, Sasuke-kun, you seem to know a lot about these things. When are you and Sakura-chan planning your wedding? Mikoto and I will throw you the grandest celebration Konoha has ever seen!"
Sasuke's face immediately flushes a deep red. "I… have something else to attend to," he stammers, raising his eyebrows in alarm. "I'll be leaving now." And with another swirl of leaves, he flees for the second time that day.
Naruto watches him go, crossing his arms and huffing.
"Tch. Always calling me a fool, but he's not much better himself."
The next day dawns bright and clear, a perfect sky for a perfect day.
The wedding of Naruto and Hinata is held on Konoha's largest ceremonial lawn, the very same spot where Minato and Kushina exchanged their vows years ago. But the scale of today's gathering is far grander. The crowd is a sea of faces not just from Konoha, but from every corner of the shinobi world—a living symbol of the new era of unity.
The most honored guests are, of course, the other four Kage.
Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi stand together, dressed in exquisite formal attire, greeting the endless stream of well-wishers. Even in the distinguished crowd, the Namikaze couple shines with an unmatched charisma.
"Sorry, sorry, we're late!"
Just as the ceremony is about to begin, Jiraiya and Tsunade rush onto the lawn, looking flustered and still dressed in their travel clothes. Since the war's end, the two Sannin have spent their time traveling the world together, though they wouldn't miss this day for anything.
"Congratulations, Minato, Kushina," Tsunade says with a broad smile, before elbowing her companion sharply. "Jiraiya, the gift!"
"Right, right!" Jiraiya fumbles with his travel pack, pulling out several wrapped packages. He hands them to Minato, explaining, "This one is from me, that one is from Tsunade." He then leans in close, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And this is from Nagato and Konan. They couldn't attend because of their duties in Ame, but they send their best and say you are all welcome to visit anytime."
"Understood," Minato nods, his heart warmed by the gesture.
Kushina suddenly appears before her former sensei, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Jiraiya-sensei, today is my son's wedding. Your gift had better not be anything… inappropriate." She still vividly remembers the scandalous book he gave Kakashi for his eighteenth birthday.
"Of course not! Don't worry!" Jiraiya protests, waving his hands frantically.
But Kushina's skeptical gaze remains. Tsunade steps in, placing a reassuring hand on her student's shoulder. "Relax, Kushina. I checked his gifts personally. They're perfectly respectable."
Only then does Kushina's tense posture relax.
The sight of the Sannin draws over the rest of their generation. The Third Hokage Hiruzen and his wife Biwako, along with Hatake Sakumo and his wife Suzuka, gather around to reminisce.
In another part of the crowd, Shisui nudges Itachi. "So it's true? Sasuke really agreed to be Naruto's best man?"
"He did," Itachi confirms with a slight smile.
Shisui scans the crowd. "I don't see Sakura. So, whose brilliant idea was this matchmaking scheme?" he asks, fixing Itachi with a knowing stare.
Itachi shakes his head. "It was Mother and Father's idea. They are both very fond of her." He glances over to where his parents, Mikoto and Fugaku, are conversing with Minato and Kushina. The group is laughing, lost in shared memories. Kushina, showing none of the composure of a mother-in-law-to-be, has her arms slung over Mikoto and Suzuka's shoulders, her laughter booming and carefree.
Minato watches her, his blue eyes filled with an all-encompassing adoration. This—this vibrant, peaceful life—is everything he ever fought for. A shadow of memory passes over his face. If only you could see this, Obito… Rin. The fate of his two lost students remains the single deepest regret of his life. But even as the thought brings a pang of sorrow, he holds onto a sliver of hope. Perhaps, in another time, another world, Obito succeeded in saving the girl he loved.
At that moment, a hush falls over the buzzing crowd.
All eyes turn as the wedding procession begins. The crowd parts like the sea, creating a path for the young couple.
"Jiraiya-sensei, Sandaime-sama, let's go," Minato says, then gives Kushina a meaningful look.
Kushina understands immediately. She grabs Tsunade's arm, pulling her along. "Tsunade-sama, you watched these children grow up too. You must come with us."
As parents, Minato, Kushina, and Hiashi will receive the couple's first ceremonial bow. But for Minato, who grew up an orphan, Jiraiya was the closest thing he ever had to a father. And Tsunade, for all their bickering, is Jiraiya's partner for life. It is only right that they stand with the family.
Under the collective gaze of the entire shinobi world, Naruto and Hinata walk slowly down the aisle.
Naruto, dressed in a sharp, formal black suit, looks uncharacteristically bashful, but the joy radiating from his face is brighter than the sun. He may lack his father's refined elegance, but he possesses a unique, magnetic warmth that draws people to him.
Beside him, Hinata is the picture of absolute beauty. Her head is lowered in a gesture of gentle shyness, but her poise is undeniable. Exquisite, subtle makeup highlights her fair features, and her long, dark hair is swept up in an elegant style that makes her look both regal and ethereal in her traditional white kimono.
Following closely behind are their best man and maid of honor. Sasuke, looking impeccably handsome and only slightly uncomfortable in his formal wear, and Sakura, a vision of grace at his side. A step behind them walk Chiharu and Hanabi, two beautiful, vibrant young women brimming with youthful energy.
"Nee-san, you're the star today," Chiharu whispers to Hinata. "You can't keep your head down."
Hinata is still overwhelmed, but then she feels Naruto's hand tighten around hers. The warmth from his palm is a steady, reassuring anchor. She lifts her gaze to meet his.
He offers her a dazzling smile. "Hinata, you're so beautiful today."
Those simple words are all the encouragement she needs. Her shyness melts away, replaced by a radiant happiness. She lifts her head high, her eyes, full of love, locked with his.
Together, they approach the line of their elders: Minato and Kushina, Hiashi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hiruzen.
Watching her son, so grown and so happy, leaning on the woman he loves, Kushina is overcome. Tears of pure joy stream down her cheeks. She leans her head against Minato's shoulder, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Minato… thank you. Thank you for everything you've given me."
To the onlookers, it is the emotional cry of a proud mother. But Minato hears the true meaning in her words—a thank you for a life she never thought she'd have, for a family that survived against all odds, for a future he promised her so long ago.
He reaches up, gently stroking her cheek. "I always keep my promises." His thumb tenderly wipes away her tears. "Now, now, stop crying. Our son and our new daughter are almost here."
"Yeah," Kushina nods, her tears giving way to a soft, watery smile.
They turn back, their hands clasped tightly together, and look forward.
Before them stand Naruto and Hinata. Nearby, Mikoto and Fugaku watch their sons. And just beyond, Sasuke and Sakura stand side-by-side. On this perfect day, under the warm Konoha sun, every face in the crowd holds a smile born of peace, hope, and boundless joy.