Blessings are like wildflowers blooming all over the mountains in spring, layer upon layer, endless.
Uchiha Satsuki experienced the most perfect and grandest wedding he had ever imagined.
From the initial " Betrothal Exchange Ceremony," where close relatives of both sides solemnly exchanged betrothal and return gifts symbolizing the contract and sincerity, to the solemn " Shinto Wedding Ceremony," she and Naruto stood side by side before the gods, listening to the shrine maiden chant blessings.
The Purification Ritual water, brushing against the fingertips, brings coolness and purity, signifying the washing away of all past anxieties and dust, leaving only a pure initial heart, ready to welcome a brand new beginning.
As the Vow Recitation, Naruto gripped her hand tightly, his voice clear, each word a promise to weather any storm or sunshine together in the future.
And she, in her clearest and most resolute voice, made the same promise. The two vows intertwined and bound together in the air.
The " Sankukudo Cup Ceremony " ceremony involved passing small lacquered cups between the couple and their parents, the clear, cool liquor carrying a slightly intoxicating warmth as it slid down their throats.
The wedding banquet following the ceremony was equally magical. Standing side by side with Naruto, amidst the applause and cheers of all the guests, they cut the exquisite wedding cake, which was more than ten stories high.
During the entertainment segment, her friends' good-natured jokes and carefully prepared performances made her smile. When " Wedding Favor Distribution," small wedding candies and auspicious items rained down on the crowd like drops of happiness. Seeing everyone's smiling faces eager to catch them, the feeling of sharing joy was so wonderful.
Finally, under the watchful eyes of everyone filled with blessings, they left hand in hand, embarking on a brand new chapter in their lives that belongs only to each other.
She is the most beautiful bride today, and the groom who holds her hand and leads her to the future is none other than Uzumaki Naruto, the deepest obsession and most ardent desire of her long years, the one she has loved and waited for with her whole soul, and who ultimately belongs to her completely.
Now, all the noise and brilliance of the day have settled into warm and fulfilling memories in their hearts. The lively part is over, Naruto and Satsuki have finally returned to their own quiet space.
This is a new house located in a bustling area of Konoha, yet it offers a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle.
The three-story villa, with its simple and elegant exterior and small courtyard, was a "wedding gift" that Kushina Uzumaki had carefully purchased for her son and daughter-in-law.
The interior decoration and furniture are all brand new, with a warm and bright style that combines modern convenience and comfort with many elegant traditional Japanese elements.
It was late at night. Only a few warm yellow wall lamps were lit inside the villa, and the faint, fresh scent of new furniture wood and fabrics still lingered in the air.
Naruto and Satsuki changed out of their heavy formal attire and into comfortable loungewear. Hand in hand, they walked up the softly carpeted stairs to the third floor.
Finally, they stopped in front of a slightly ajar door. Naruto gently Gate of Opening, and warm light flowed out.
This is their wedding room.
The room is spacious and bright, with a warm color scheme. The floor-to-ceiling windows open onto a small balcony, offering views of the tranquil nightscape of Konoha and the scattered lights in the distance.
Against the wall, a huge, incredibly soft and comfortable bed takes center stage. The bed frame is made of natural wood, and it is covered with a brand-new, fluffy down comforter and bedding in the same color scheme.
The other furnishings in the room are simple yet cozy: a small dressing table, a two-seater sofa, a few potted green plants, and a light-colored landscape painting with a profound artistic conception hanging on the wall.
The two stood at the doorway, neither speaking for a moment. The daytime hustle and bustle and excitement receded like the tide, leaving behind a quiet solitude, tinged with tension, and a deeper, more private sense of happiness quietly growing within them.
They could clearly hear each other's breathing, which was slightly more rapid than usual.
The two slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, their bodies pressed together through the thin fabric of their loungewear. They could clearly feel the warmth of each other's skin and the undulations beneath the fabric.
This touch and warmth, after the grand daytime hustle and bustle that always felt tinged with a sense of ritual, felt so real and intimate.
Only a bedside lamp was on in the room, casting dim shadows of the two figures huddled together on the wall.
"...We're married." Naruto spoke first, turning his head to look at Satsuki beside him. She lowered her head slightly, her long, black hair falling from her shoulders, shimmering like silk in the warm light, her profile incredibly soft.
"Mmm," Satsuki responded softly, her voice equally gentle, carrying a sense of satisfaction and certainty that everything had finally settled. She raised her eyelids, her dark eyes shimmering with tender light, meeting Naruto's gaze without flinching. "From today onwards, I am Naruto's wife."
"Hmm...we're husband and wife now..." Naruto repeated, his lips curving upwards involuntarily. However, deep within that smile, a complex mix of affection and guilt quietly surfaced.
His gaze meticulously traced Satsuki's face. She was the daughter of the Uchiha Clan Head, a true lady of a prestigious family, with strict family rules, and the education she received from childhood must have been extremely traditional and restrained.
For such families, a girl's chastity and reputation are of paramount importance. Intimacy with her beloved should only occur after a sacred wedding, in a solemn and holy ceremony with the blessings and approval of everyone.
But...
Naruto's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Memories surged uncontrollably back: the night of his coming-of-age birthday, the moonlight as clear as water, Satsuki trembling yet with unwavering resolve, came before him, personally removing her clothes and offering herself to him without reservation.
Their first time wasn't today, on their blessed wedding bed, but on that night known only to the moonlight, a night filled with awkwardness, pain, joy, and boundless love.
He received her most precious and unreserved devotion, but only before all titles and ceremonies were in place.
This extraordinary affection and courage, in retrospect, weighs heavily on Naruto's heart, filling him with tenderness and... guilt.
" Satsuki..." Naruto reached out and gently stroked Satsuki's smooth cheek. "Am I... a little sorry for you?"
Satsuki paused slightly, "I'm sorry? Why?"
"You are the daughter of the Uchiha... You should have waited until after the most perfect ceremony... But I... on the day I came of age, I... Was I... too hasty? Did I... make you suffer something you shouldn't have to bear..."
Satsuki understood his unfinished words and his clumsy yet sincere guilt.
She raised her hand and placed it on the back of Naruto's hand that was stroking her cheek.
"Those rules... are for those who need rules. For me, what matters is never 'when', but 'with whom'. It's you, whether it's your birthday, today, or earlier or later... as long as it's you, any time is fine, it's the best time."
She leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his lips, her voice alluringly husky, her words bold and direct, "And... it was me who initiated it, Naruto. Don't you think... I wasn't good enough that night? Didn't you like it?"
These words stirred ripples in Naruto's heart. The memories of that night became incredibly vivid with her words—her awkward response, her suppressed breaths, her clinging tightly to his arm, and finally, her completely relaxed and falling into a deep sleep in his arms, her look of dependence...
"No... it's not that it's bad..." Naruto denied somewhat flusteredly, "I... I just feel like I've wronged you..."
"I'm not wronged at all." Satsuki interrupted him, raising her other hand to gently encircle his neck, pulling herself closer to him. "It was my own choice. It was me... who couldn't wait to become 'your'. Rituals are important, but more important than rituals is being with you in the moment."
Her dark eyes burned with undisguised love. "Or... does Naruto think that with the wedding ceremony, he doesn't have to take responsibility tonight? Or... does he think tonight will be different from that night?"
The flirtatious words made Naruto's breathing quicken. He looked at the face so close to him, so beautifully outlined by the light, and saw the familiar obsession in her eyes, now radiating a charm that bloomed only for him. The last bit of guilt in his heart was completely overwhelmed by an even stronger surge of love.
"How could I not take responsibility..." He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her soft body closer into his embrace. "Tonight, tomorrow, every day after... I will take full responsibility for you."
(After I finished writing it, I was surprised at my own state of mind...)