Wedding

The Senju Clan's patrols spotted them early.

By the time they reached the entrance, many people had come out to greet them, including Tobirama and Hashirama's father—the current Senju Clan Head, Senju Butsuma.

"Father, we were attacked by the Uchiha Clan on the way here. Three uncles were injured. Fortunately, Second Grandfather Uzumaki Masahiko helped us drive the Uchiha back." Before Senju Butsuma could ask anything, Tobirama took the initiative to explain.

The gathered crowd erupted in an uproar. "The Uchiha Clan? How dare they!"

"Clan Head, give the order! We'll teach the Uchiha Clan a lesson!"

"Clan Head..."

"Enough!" Senju Butsuma cut them off. "Today is Hashirama and Mito's wedding day. As for the Uchiha Clan, we'll teach them a lesson sooner or later!"

"Send a few people to take the injured clan members away and care for them properly. Where's Hashirama? It's getting late. Go get him so we can hold the wedding ceremony!"

"This is rather rushed. I've wronged you, niece Mito. And this must be Masahiko... Second Uncle of the Uzumaki Clan. You've worked hard today."

"You need not be so polite, Senju Clan Head. Just call me Masahiko." Facing the head of the greatest clan in the Warring States, and sensing the enormous amount of Chakra within him—several times greater than his own—Masahiko did not dare presumptuously call himself an uncle.

With this amount of Chakra, he truly deserves to be called the Senju Clan Head. He is far stronger than the clan head and elders of my Uzumaki Clan. He is probably already at Peak Clan Head Level. In this Warring States era, only the future Hashirama and Madara could surely suppress him.

At that moment, two figures emerged from within the clan. One was the Senju Clan's Third Elder, Senju Unoma, while the other was Hashirama.

Masahiko watched the future God of Shinobi from afar. Seeing him sneak glances at Mito now and then, and recalling his scatterbrained personality, Masahiko suddenly found it rather amusing.

"Hashirama is here. Is the Main Hall ready?" Senju Butsuma asked.

"It's all ready, Clan Head." The one who answered was the Third Elder who had arrived alongside Hashirama, while Hashirama had already fallen into an inexplicable state of shyness...

"In that case, everyone, please proceed to the Main Hall," Butsuma said.

"Ahem..." Masahiko gave a light cough and signaled Tobirama with his eyes.

Tobirama immediately understood. "Father, the Uzumaki Clan hopes the wedding can be conducted according to their customs."

That was right—this was the "dirty deal" Masahiko and Tobirama had reached on the road through the Shuriken Substitution Technique.

However, Masahiko was not the only Uzumaki Clan member present. Mito cast a faint glance at her unreliable Second Grandfather and immediately understood what had happened.

"Yes, I also hope for an Uzumaki-style wedding." For some reason, Mito did not refuse. Instead, she took the initiative to support him.

"Since that is what you wish, Mito, then so be it. Tobirama, you know the procedure. You'll preside over your elder brother's wedding. No problem?" Senju Butsuma said.

"No problem, Father," Tobirama replied.

The group entered the Main Hall, and Tobirama spoke again. "Father, Second Grandfather, you will represent the two families. Please take the seats of honor."

"This way, the newlyweds." As he spoke, he led Hashirama and Mito to the center of the Main Hall.

Thinking of the script, Tobirama's mouth twitched slightly, but he continued nonetheless.

"First item of the wedding ceremony: the two of you will eat an apple together!" As he spoke, he hung an apple between them with a string.

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, it only counts if you eat it with your mouths. No hands allowed."

The details of how this part went were difficult to describe. In short, by the time it was over, Hashirama's entire face was bright red. Mito, on the other hand, was fine, merely smiling as she watched Hashirama.

Tobirama could not hide his amusement either. Opportunities to see his elder brother this flustered were rare. He finally understood why Masahiko had come up with this whole set of procedures...

"Second item of the wedding ceremony: the couple's vow of love!" By this point, Tobirama felt even more awkward.

"Uzumaki Mito, do you accept this man as your husband and enter into a marriage covenant with him? Whether in sickness or in health, or for any other reason, will you love him, care for him, respect him, accept him, and remain forever faithful to him until the end of your life?"

Mito could not help but freeze for a moment before answering, "I do."

Tobirama then asked Hashirama the same question. Before he had even finished reading the words, Hashirama rushed to answer, "I do." At once, everyone present burst into laughter.

Tobirama smiled as well and continued officiating. "Third item of the wedding ceremony: bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Turn around. First bow, to Heaven and Earth!"

The two froze for a moment before realizing what he meant, then hurriedly bowed toward the open space.

"Second bow, to the elders!"

The two turned and bowed to Butsuma and Masahiko.

"Spouses bow to each other!"

The two smiled at each other and bowed deeply.

"The ceremony is complete. Escort them to the bridal chamber!"

"All right, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, the wedding is over, and it's getting late. Go back and rest early," Tobirama teased.

This time, even Mito blushed. The two exchanged a glance, then turned around. "Father, Second Grandfather, elders, fellow clan members, we'll be leaving first."

"Go on," Butsuma said.

After the two left, the gathered clan members also departed amid laughter and conversation.

Only Masahiko, Senju Butsuma, Tobirama Senju, the Senju Clan's three elders stationed in the clan lands, and the two elders from the Eastern and Western Battlefields remained.

After thinking for a moment, Butsuma said to the Third Elder, "Masahiko has spent the whole day traveling. Tobirama, take him to the guest room to rest."

"I am indeed rather tired," Masahiko replied, following Tobirama out.

Once the two had gone far away, Butsuma's face instantly darkened. "What kind of damned wedding was that? Is that really an Uzumaki family ceremony?"

The First Elder said, "It was probably Uzumaki Masahiko's idea. I had heard he was rather unreliable, but I didn't expect him to be even more outrageous than the rumors claimed."

Butsuma continued, "Forget it. A wedding ceremony will not affect the bigger picture. Now that Hashirama and Mito are married, our relationship with the Uzumaki Clan has grown even closer."

The Eastern Elder added, "That's right. With the Uzumaki Clan's assistance, the pressure on our eastern front will be greatly reduced. Those damned Kaguya—we must teach them a lesson."

"We cannot rely entirely on the Uzumaki Clan either. They have always sought to protect themselves amid this war and may not be willing to help us with all their strength. How about this? Hashirama has just gotten married, so let him rest in the clan for half a month. After that, send him and Tobirama to support you," Butsuma continued.

"That would be even better. That bunch of taijutsu maniacs happens to be countered by Hashirama's Wood Style," the Northern Elder said.

While the meeting continued on this side, Masahiko had already arrived at the guest room. Today's mishmash of ancient and modern Eastern and Western wedding customs had satisfied a sentiment from his previous life. Of course, he would never admit that he had done it just to make Hashirama bow to him as one of the "elders."

After Tobirama left, Masahiko, exhausted from a day of travel, collapsed onto the bed—only to sit bolt upright again.

A familiar line of Chinese characters flashed through his mind:

Participated in and witnessed a major event in the Naruto World: Hashirama and Mito's wedding. Obtained 20 Witness Points.