Listening to Kushina's words, Ryoma suddenly felt that a woman's intuition could be far more terrifying than any sensory ability—even his own. Her reasoning this time was almost completely accurate.
Yet her attitude wasn't as fiery as he had imagined.
"Honestly, I always knew you'd end up with other women. I didn't overthink it."
Kushina grabbed the front of Ryoma's clothes and pulled him toward her until their breaths mingled.
"It's just one condition," she said softly, her eyes locked onto his. "No matter what happens, I'm always the first."
With that, she kissed him hard.
The next moment, their bodies intertwined fully, and the night dissolved around them.
—
By the next morning, Kushina lay curled in Ryoma's arms like a small, satisfied kitten.
In the days that followed, Ryoma barely trained or worked. Instead, he spent most of his time with Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto—eating out, shopping, watching movies, visiting exhibitions, and wandering through festivals.
Sometimes his real body accompanied Kushina while a clone accompanied Mikoto.
Sometimes it was reversed—his real body with Mikoto, and a clone with Kushina.
After a month, both Mikoto and Kushina could enter Sage Mode with ease.
Under Sage Mode, the strength of both women rose dramatically.
Soon, both Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto became pregnant with Ryoma's children at the same time.
Even though monogamy was the norm in the shinobi world, there were no explicit laws against multiple marriages—and with Ryoma's status, no one dared to object. No matter how many women he married, few would even whisper about it.
News of Ryoma and Uchiha Mikoto's upcoming marriage quickly spread throughout Konoha.
Countless men let out wails of heartbreak. After all, Uchiha Mikoto was one of Konoha's renowned beauties and had no shortage of admirers. But the moment they remembered who her fiancé was, they calmed down.
After all—who in this world could be stronger or more exceptional than Lord Ryoma?
Across the shinobi continent, major clans felt a wave of regret. Many elders lamented not sending their young, talented daughters to Konoha earlier.
If even one of them had caught Ryoma's eye, their clan could have risen overnight and become one of the world's premier powers.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan compound, particularly the estate of Uchiha Motoyanagi, was overflowing with guests from early morning.
Clan members, Konoha's prestigious families, and dignitaries from other regions all arrived bearing gifts and congratulations.
The gifts piled so high that they could practically fill the entire mansion.
Motoyanagi greeted guests with a beaming smile, though he couldn't help sighing inwardly:
That girl… she really succeeded.
Ryoma's status now surpassed anything he had when he was merely Hokage. He was effectively the ruler of the entire shinobi world—an existence whose personal strength and political authority were unrivaled.
By association, Kushina and Mikoto now held statuses equivalent to ancient princesses.
Across the continent, even daimyo and high-ranking officials immediately prepared gifts and rushed to Konoha upon receiving news of Ryoma's wedding. They all understood that their current positions—many of which Ryoma himself had elevated them into—were owed to him.
With the entire continent effectively resting in his palm, how could they afford to be careless?
Finally, on the day of Ryoma's wedding, all of Konoha erupted in celebration.
Every household draped red cloth over their doors. Some hotels even hung portraits of Ryoma and Uchiha Mikoto in their lobbies.
Everywhere one looked, the villagers' faces were lit with excitement and joy.
Rin, Terumi Mei, and the two young kunoichi beside them stood frozen as they stepped into the magnificent hall before them. Their eyes widened in awe, a faint trace of envy flickering across their faces.
The ceiling's refined lighting cast soft glimmers across the vast space, while the enormous murals adorning the walls seemed to glow with color. Even the floor—laid out like polished gold—reflected a brilliance that made the entire hall feel like it existed solely to define the word luxury.
Even the renowned dignitaries gathered here, men who normally carried themselves with unshakeable confidence, now appeared tense. Several daimyo, usually composed and aloof, quietly exhaled to steady themselves.
As she observed everything, Terumi Mei found her thoughts drifting back to what had been playing on the broadcast earlier that morning.
On the massive display screens in the hall, several hosts continued to comment on today's central event—Ryoma's wedding.
"The music in front of the Hokage Building today is performed by the famous conductor, Ms. Ari…"
"As you can see, the first flower procession has already departed from the village gates…"
Watching the broadcast side by side with the dazzling scene around them, the kunoichi felt a surreal sensation rising in their chests.
None of them could imagine any past wedding—of any kage, of any daimyo, of any clan head—that had ever stirred not only a village, but the entire world.
A sudden wave of excited exclamations erupted behind them.
Turning around, they saw a tall, striking man in a white formal suit, his black hair neatly tied and his dark eyes calm yet radiant under the lights. Beside him walked a beautiful woman in an elegant white off-shoulder wedding dress.
"Teacher, congratulations!"
"Lord Ryoma! Lord Ryoma!"
The man was Ryoma, and at his side was Uchiha Mikoto.
Mikoto moved gracefully, her wedding gown flowing like water. Her lower abdomen showed the faintest hint of pregnancy, and her fair face was tinged with a gentle blush. Her eyes, soft and luminous, reflected pure happiness as she walked forward with a sweet, serene smile.
...
TN:
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