Taoyuan Village Forever Solidified, Azure Dragon Marries! (Part 2) The Shadow of the Nine-Tails

The long-awaited wedding finally arrived on a sunny and breezy day. The entire Taoyuan Village was decorated like a dreamlike wonderland.

The streets were lined with garlands woven from fragrant vines and flowers cultivated by Wood Release. The central square had been transformed into a grand wedding hall, with a huge archway made of pure white flowers (cultivated by Wood Release) and a soft carpet of flower petals. The air was filled with happiness and sweetness.

The residents of Taoyuan Village, young and old, men and women, all wore their best clothes, their faces beaming with heartfelt joy. The members of the guard wore brand-new uniforms and maintained order with high spirits, their faces full of pride. From Konohagakure, Minato Namikaze came with his wife, Kushina Uzumaki (whose belly was already noticeably swollen), Jiraiya, and Utatane Koharu representing the Third Hokage (Sarutobi needed to be stationed in Konoha), and other important figures personally attended to offer their congratulations. Hyuga Hiashi also attended with Hizashi and Hinata, dressed up like a little princess. Sakura's family arrived early, and Sakura excitedly held Hinata's hand, chattering non-stop. Even some merchants who had trade relations with Taoyuan Village and representatives of nearby small ninja villages were invited to attend the ceremony, making the scene grand and solemn.

The wedding was hosted by Jiraiya. The unrestrained Sannin had also changed into formal attire for the occasion, his expression solemn.

When the solemn and festive music began, and Lord Tsunade appeared at the other end of the petal carpet in full dress, the entire venue fell silent. She wore a pure white wedding dress, carefully crafted by artisans at Duanmu Ci's request, incorporating traditional white kimono elements with a modern minimalist style. Her long golden hair was styled up, adorned with pearls and flowers, her exquisite face was faintly visible under the veil, and her golden eyes were filled with happiness and expectation, making her breathtakingly beautiful. Shizune, as the bridesmaid, supported her, her eyes filled with tears of emotion.

At the other end, Duanmu Ci wore a dark green Divine Robe with an Azure Dragon pattern, symbolizing his identity as the "Konoha Azure Dragon," his figure tall and upright, his bearing extraordinary. He wore a gentle and affectionate smile on his face, his gaze passing through the crowd, firmly fixed on the bride walking towards him.

In Jiraiya's melodious and emotional wedding vows, witnessed and blessed by everyone, Duanmu Ci and Lord Tsunade exchanged rings, vowing to protect each other in poverty and wealth, in health and sickness.

"Now, the groom may kiss your bride!" Jiraiya announced loudly.

Duanmu Ci gently lifted Lord Tsunade's veil, and in her shy yet infinitely happy gaze, he lowered his head and kissed her lips. This kiss was gentle and lingering, filled with all his love and promise.

"Wow--!!!"

"Congratulations, Lord Duanmu! Congratulations, Lord Tsunade!"

"May you grow old together! May your hearts be forever bound!"

Thunderous cheers, applause, and blessings erupted instantly! Petals fell like raindrops! The entire Taoyuan Village was immersed in boundless joy!

The wedding banquet was held in the newly built banquet hall, with fine wine and delicacies, toasts and laughter, and the atmosphere reached its peak. Minato and Kushina offered their blessings with smiling faces, and Kushina joked that Lord Tsunade had finally married herself off. Jiraiya, his face flushed with wine, even improvised a poem (a bad poem), causing everyone to burst into laughter. Hinata and Sakura, the two little girls, also huddled together, sharing delicious desserts, and looked at Duanmu Ci and Lord Tsunade, surrounded by the crowd, their eyes filled with pure longing.

Duanmu Ci and Lord Tsunade moved among the guests, receiving everyone's blessings. Lord Tsunade's face was filled with unprecedented happiness, and she snuggled beside Duanmu Ci. At this moment, she was no longer the formidable Sannin, but simply a bride immersed in happiness. Duanmu Ci held her hand, feeling this heavy happiness and responsibility, his heart filled with satisfaction. Taoyuan Village was his ideal country, and Lord Tsunade was the most important treasure in his ideal country.

However, in this extreme happiness and clamor, the unease that had always existed in Duanmu Ci's heart suddenly became extremely clear and strong!

Buzz--!!!

A sharp and cold tremor originating from the depths of the Rinnegan erupted without warning! Like a warning bell ringing wildly in the depths of his soul! Clearer and closer than ever before! That distant and malicious source of Chakra had become extremely violent and... close!

His gaze suddenly turned towards Konohagakure! Through the windows of the banquet hall, he seemed to see the bright moon above Konohagakure... being quietly stained with an ominous blood color! A terrifying aura, suppressed to the extreme and filled with destruction and hatred, crashed against his senses like a tsunami, crossing the distance of space!

"Nine-Tails!!!" Duanmu Ci's heart sank to the bottom! His face changed drastically! The thing he was most worried about had still happened! And on the very night of his wedding! Obito... had made his move!

"What's wrong? Duanmu?" Lord Tsunade, who was nestled beside him, noticed his abnormality immediately, the happiness on her face instantly solidified, replaced by solemnity and concern. She followed Duanmu Ci's gaze to look out the window. Although her senses were not as sharp as Duanmu Ci's, as a top powerhouse, she also vaguely felt a sense of oppressive palpitation from the direction of Konoha.

Duanmu Ci forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart, took a deep breath, and his eyes instantly became as sharp as knives. He couldn't panic! Every second was crucial now!

He grabbed Lord Tsunade's hand, his voice low and urgent, with an undeniable determination: "Lord Tsunade, something's happened in Konoha! It's the Nine-Tails! Kushina is in danger!"

"What?!" Lord Tsunade's pupils shrank! She instantly understood the seriousness of the matter! The Nine-Tails had broken free? At Kushina's weakest moment during childbirth? This was definitely a premeditated attack!

"Shizune!" Duanmu Ci's voice was like thunder, instantly suppressing the clamor of the banquet. The entire hall fell silent instantly, and everyone looked at him in astonishment.

"Yes!" Shizune immediately stepped forward.

"Taoyuan Village is now in the highest state of combat readiness! All defensive barriers are fully activated! All members of the guard are in position! Non-combatants immediately enter the underground shelter! No one is allowed to enter or leave without my order! Protect everyone!" Duanmu Ci's orders were clear and rapid.

"Yes!" Shizune didn't hesitate at all, and immediately took the order and left, and the members of the guard also acted instantly.

"Senior Minato! Lord Jiraiya!" Duanmu Ci's gaze turned to Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya, whose faces had also changed drastically. "The Nine-Tails has broken free! The target is likely to be Sister Kushina! We must return to Konoha immediately!"

Minato's face turned pale instantly! He knew better than anyone what the Nine-Tails breaking free meant! Especially for Kushina, who was in labor! An unprecedented fear and anger swept over him! The Flying Thunder God Technique activated instantly!

"Kushina--!!!" Minato's figure turned into a golden light and disappeared in place instantly! He didn't even have time to say goodbye!

"Bastard! Which son of a bitch did this!" Jiraiya's drunkenness completely disappeared, his hair and beard bristling, and his powerful aura erupted, the Toad Summoning Technique ready in an instant!

"Let's go!" Duanmu Ci grabbed Lord Tsunade's hand, and quickly formed hand seals with the other.

"Flying Thunder God Technique!" he shouted in a low voice! His target was a special Flying Thunder God Kunai that he had left in Konohagakure, near Minato's house!

Buzz!

The space twisted for a moment! Duanmu Ci and Lord Tsunade's figures disappeared from the lively wedding banquet scene in an instant!

One second it was a joyful Taoyuan wedding banquet, the next second it was a tense situation, and the bride and groom, along with the most important guests, had rushed to an unknown battlefield! The huge turn of events left the guests on the scene dumbfounded, and then enveloped by huge panic and worry. Utatane Koharu's face was ashen, and she immediately stood up: "Quick! Contact the Naruto!" Hyuga Hiashi also immediately activated his Byakugan, trying to look towards Konoha from afar.

Hinata and Sakura, the two little girls, were frightened by this sudden change, hugging each other tightly, their little faces full of worry and fear.

"Lord Duanmu... Lord Tsunade..." Hinata muttered to herself, her pure Byakugan filled with prayer.

"They will be fine! Lord Duanmu is so powerful!" Sakura clenched her small fists, as if comforting Hinata, and also cheering herself up.

The lights of Taoyuan Village were still warm, but the festive atmosphere had been replaced by a solemn state of combat readiness. Everyone's hearts were tightly tied to that Konohagakure, which was being enveloped by blood and terror.