Taoyuan Forever Secure, the Konoha Azure Dragon Takes a Bride! (Part 2) The Nine-Tails' Shadow

The long-prepared wedding finally arrived on a bright, breezy day. The entire Taoyuan Village had been decorated like a dreamlike fairyland.

Both sides of the streets were draped with fragrant vines nurtured by Wood Release and ribbons woven from fresh flowers. The central square had been transformed into a grand wedding hall. Beneath a massive arch made of pure white flowers grown through Wood Release lay a soft carpet of petals. The air was filled with happiness and sweetness.

The residents of Taoyuan Village, young and old alike, had put on their finest clothes, their faces glowing with heartfelt joy. The guard members wore brand-new uniforms and maintained order with high spirits, their faces equally full of pride. From Konoha, Minato Namikaze arrived in person with his wife Kushina Uzumaki, whose belly was already visibly swollen, along with Jiraiya and Utatane Koharu, who represented the Third Hokage since Sarutobi needed to remain in Konoha. Hyuga Hiashi had also come with Hizashi and Hinata, who was dressed up like a little princess. Sakura's family had arrived early as well. Sakura excitedly held Hinata's hand, chattering nonstop. Even merchants who traded with Taoyuan Village and representatives from nearby small ninja villages had been invited to witness the ceremony, making the occasion grand and solemn.

Jiraiya presided over the wedding. The usually unrestrained Sannin had even changed into formal attire for the occasion, his expression solemn.

When the stately yet festive music began and Tsunade, dressed in full bridal splendor, appeared at the other end of the petal carpet, the entire venue instantly fell silent. She wore a pure white wedding dress that Duanmu Ci had commissioned skilled craftsmen to create, blending traditional white bridal robes with modern minimalist style. Her golden hair was pinned up and adorned with pearls and flowers. Her breathtaking face appeared faintly beneath the veil, while her golden eyes brimmed with happiness and anticipation. She was stunning beyond words. Shizune, serving as the bridesmaid, supported her, tears of emotion glistening in her eyes.

At the other end, Duanmu Ci wore a dark green Divine Robe embroidered with an azure dragon, symbolizing his identity as the Konoha Azure Dragon. He stood tall and imposing, his bearing distinguished. A gentle, affectionate smile rested on his face as his gaze crossed the crowd and fixed firmly upon the bride walking toward him.

Amid Jiraiya's impassioned and eloquent wedding address, before the witness and blessings of everyone present, Duanmu Ci and Tsunade exchanged rings and vowed to protect each other through poverty and wealth, health and illness.

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

Duanmu Ci gently lifted Tsunade's veil. Beneath her shy yet incomparably happy gaze, he lowered his head and kissed her lips. The kiss was tender and lingering, filled with all his love and promises.

"Wow!!!"

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

"May you grow old together and remain united forever!"

Deafening cheers, applause, and blessings erupted at once! Petals rained down like droplets! The entire Taoyuan Village was immersed in boundless joy!

The wedding banquet was held in the newly constructed banquet hall, where fine wine and exquisite dishes flowed freely and the atmosphere reached its peak. Minato and Kushina offered their blessings with beaming smiles, while Kushina teased Tsunade for finally managing to get herself married. Jiraiya drank until his face was flushed red, then improvised a poem—a terribly crooked one—that sent everyone into uproarious laughter. Hinata and Sakura huddled together, sharing delicious desserts. As they watched Duanmu Ci and Tsunade surrounded by the guests, their eyes were filled with innocent longing.

Duanmu Ci and Tsunade moved through the guests, accepting everyone's blessings. Tsunade's face shone with a happiness she had never known before. Leaning against Duanmu Ci, she was no longer the mighty Sannin who had once dominated the battlefield, but merely a bride immersed in bliss. Duanmu Ci held her hand, feeling the weight of this happiness and responsibility, his heart filled with satisfaction. Taoyuan Village was his ideal land, and Tsunade was the most precious treasure within it.

Yet amid the clamor of overwhelming happiness, the unease that had always lingered in Duanmu Ci's heart suddenly became incomparably clear and intense!

Bzzz—!!!

A sharp, icy tremor from deep within his Rinnegan erupted without warning! It was like an alarm bell ringing madly in the depths of his soul! Clearer than ever before! Closer than ever before! That distant source of malicious Chakra had become incomparably violent and... near!

His gaze shot toward Konoha! Through the banquet hall window, he seemed to see the bright moon hanging above Konoha... quietly stained by an ominous blood-red hue! An unbearably oppressive, terrifying presence filled with destruction and hatred surged across the distance like a tsunami, battering against his senses!

"Nine-Tails!!!" Duanmu Ci's heart sank to the depths! His expression changed drastically! The thing he feared most had happened after all! And on the night of his wedding! Obito... had made his move!

"What is it, Duanmu?" Tsunade, leaning against him, immediately noticed something was wrong. The happiness on her face froze at once, replaced by gravity and concern. She followed Duanmu Ci's gaze toward the window. Though her senses were not as sharp as his, as a top-tier powerhouse, she could still faintly feel a suffocating pressure coming from the direction of Konoha.

Duanmu Ci forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart and drew a deep breath. His gaze instantly sharpened like a blade. He could not panic! Every second mattered now!

He suddenly seized Tsunade's hand, his voice low and urgent, carrying unquestionable resolve. "Tsunade, something happened in Konoha! It's the Nine-Tails! Sister Kushina is in danger!"

"What?!" Tsunade's pupils contracted sharply! She instantly understood the severity of the situation! The Nine-Tails breaking free from its seal? At Kushina's weakest moment during childbirth? This was absolutely a premeditated attack!

"Shizune!" Duanmu Ci's voice boomed like thunder, instantly drowning out the banquet's clamor. The entire hall fell silent, and everyone turned toward him in shock.

"Here!" Shizune immediately stepped forward.

"Taoyuan Village is to enter maximum combat readiness immediately! Activate all defensive barriers! All guards, take your positions! Noncombatants are to enter the underground shelters at once! No one may enter or leave without my orders! Protect everyone!" Duanmu Ci's commands were clear and rapid.

"Yes!" Shizune accepted the order without the slightest hesitation and immediately rushed off. The guards sprang into action as well.

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

Minato's face instantly turned deathly pale! More than anyone, he understood what the Nine-Tails breaking free meant! Especially for Kushina, who was in labor! Unprecedented terror and rage swept through him! The Yellow Flash moved instantly!

"Kushina—!!!" Minato turned into a streak of golden light and vanished from the spot in an instant! He did not even have time to say goodbye!

"Damn it! Which bastard did this?!" Jiraiya's drunkenness vanished completely. His hair and beard bristled as a powerful aura erupted from him, and he immediately prepared the Toad Summoning Technique!

"Let's go!" Duanmu Ci grabbed Tsunade's hand, rapidly forming seals with his other hand.

"Flying Thunder God Technique!" he shouted. His target was a specially made Flying Thunder God Kunai he had left inside Konoha, near Minato's home!

Bzzz!

Space twisted! Duanmu Ci and Tsunade vanished instantly from the lively wedding banquet!

One moment, the Taoyuan wedding banquet had been filled with laughter and celebration; the next, it had become a scene of tense readiness. The bride and groom, along with the most important guests, had rushed toward an unknown battlefield! The enormous turn of events left the remaining guests dumbfounded before overwhelming panic and worry engulfed them. Utatane Koharu's face turned ashen as she immediately rose to her feet. "Quick! Contact the Hokage!" Hyuga Hiashi activated his Byakugan at once, trying to see into the distance toward Konoha.

Hinata and Sakura were frightened by the sudden change, clutching each other tightly, their little faces filled with worry and fear.

"Lord Duanmu... Lord Tsunade..." Hinata murmured. Her pure Byakugan was filled with prayer.

"They'll definitely be fine! Lord Duanmu is so strong!" Sakura clenched her tiny fists, as though comforting Hinata and encouraging herself at the same time.

The lights of Taoyuan Village remained warm, but the festive atmosphere had been replaced by grim war preparations. Everyone's hearts were tightly bound to Konoha, which was now being shrouded in blood-red terror.