Hana Inuzuka

"I'm back!" Minato Namikaze's voice rang out the moment he stepped through the entryway.

"Minato!" Like a swallow flying into its nest—or rather, a savage collision—Kushina threw herself straight into Minato Namikaze's arms.

"Kushina~" Minato immediately wrapped his arms around her as well.

They truly were deep in the honeymoon phase. Good thing all the guests had left today, or they would have been force-fed who knew how much of their lovey-dovey display!

"Dinner's ready. Do you want to eat first? Or take a bath first? Or...?" Kushina asked tenderly.

"Mmh~" Without question, their mouths got to work!

The two of them started getting all lovey-dovey right there in the entryway. Fortunately, Minato Namikaze was a proper man, or the infamous battle of the entryway might have begun!

At the dinner table~

With a gentle expression, Kushina filled Minato Namikaze's bowl with rice and said happily, "Bai Yue came by today."

"Bai Yue? It's really been a long time since I last saw him..." Minato Namikaze felt a little awkward at that. He had accepted the boy's gift for becoming his disciple, yet had not taught him anything to this day.

"He came today on behalf of the Hyuga Clan to deliver a gift!"

"What a headache!" Minato Namikaze wore an agonized expression. "Why does everyone have to give gifts?!"

"That brat said..." Seeing her beloved looking so troubled, Kushina chuckled and carefully relayed everything Bai Yue had said before. "In short~ if everyone keeps in touch, your work will go more smoothly in the future."

"This... all right." Minato Namikaze still found it a little difficult. He understood the reasoning, but it still felt strange. "Everyone already gets along so well. Why do we have to do this?"

"You're asking me? How would I know?!" Compared to her Little Sun of a man, the perfect Ninja who warmly illuminated everyone around him, she, Kushina Uzumaki, knew even less about social dealings!

"Compared to that, I want to know what kind of surprise little Bai Yue sent us. I've been looking forward to it for ages!" Kushina was extremely curious about what Bai Yue had sent. His mysterious manner had successfully piqued her interest.

"Then let's take a look!" Seeing Kushina's eager expression, Minato Namikaze could not help having his curiosity stirred by his precocious disciple as well.

And now~ they had just finished eating.

Compared to washing dishes, satisfying his beloved's curiosity was obviously more important.

When they opened the gift box, another, even more exquisite box came into view. This one was entirely red, adorned with white ribbons, and its overall style looked exceptionally solemn.

"This is?!" Minato's hands and feet instantly went cold! He recognized what it was!

But he had not prepared anything at all!

Then he looked at the even more expectant Kushina beside him. Minato Namikaze could only force himself to open it.

The pure white ribbon was untied, and Kushina lifted away the bright, festive box.

The first things they saw were a pair of Love Knots, woven with the names Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki respectively.

Kushina's eyes immediately lit up with anticipation as she looked at Minato Namikaze.

"Honestly! My own disciple is actually pressuring me to get married!" Minato Namikaze felt utterly miserable!

"Minato, Minato!" Kushina picked up the two Love Knots, unable to contain her joy!

Even though it was that little brat Bai Yue's doing, Kushina did not mind. She had been looking forward to this for a long time!

As a girl, even though they were already living together, she could not possibly be the one to propose, could she?!

More importantly~ Minato Namikaze was too busy! Even if he had thought about it, he had never put it into action!

And now that kid Bai Yue was actually playing support! And he had laid all his cards on the table!

He had backed Minato Namikaze straight into a corner!

Kushina was absolutely delighted! She had not spoiled the little guy for nothing!

"Kushina, I'm truly sorry! I should have formally proposed to you long ago!" Minato Namikaze no longer hesitated and immediately gazed at Kushina with deep affection.

"And I wasn't even the one to take the initiative! I'm truly, deeply sorry, but I can promise you..."

What followed was the kind of saccharine display everyone hated.

Fortunately, this old hand Hyuga Jinren had not merely placed a pair of Love Knots inside. He had also included a proposal ring and flowers in this marriage-pushing gift box, giving this sudden push toward marriage a perfect ending.

The next morning~

Before Bai Yue could enter the Research Lab, Old Master had someone summon him to the Central Hall.

"Good morning, Grandpa! Good morning, Teacher Minato!" Bai Yue greeted them with a smile.

"Good morning~ little Bai Yue!" Minato's smile was... how should he put it? A little too sweet!

Although Bai Yue had taken matters into his own hands last night and used those marriage-pushing gifts to corner him, Minato Namikaze was not particularly bothered by it.

He even felt a little grateful inside.

After all, he had neglected Kushina for far too long!

Actually, when Kushina had ignored all the gossip and insisted on moving into his home, he should have taken the initiative to propose to her.

But during the war, he had been so busy that he neglected Kushina.

Now~ although he had been very passive about it, he had not only fulfilled Kushina's wish but also made up for this long-overdue proposal.

"Bai Yue~ I'd like to ask you for a favor." Minato Namikaze stated his purpose directly, without any beating around the bush.

"Please tell me, Teacher Minato!"

"I hope Bai Yue can be the Flower Child at Kushina's and my Wedding!" Minato Namikaze invited him solemnly.

A Flower Child? Wasn't that something only found in Western weddings? Why did they have it here too? Forget it, forget it. There was no need to worry about such a trivial matter.

After a moment of confusion, Bai Yue decisively nodded. "Of course! It would be my honor!"

"But Teacher Minato, I'm a little curious. Who is the other Flower Child?"

"She's the daughter of a senior. Her name is Hana Inuzuka!"

"From the Inuzuka Clan?" Bai Yue feigned realization.

Hana Inuzuka~ Kiba Inuzuka's older sister among the Konoha 12. In the future, she would be an undeniably stunning beauty, but her features were too sharp, making her look very forceful rather than traditionally beautiful.

But Bai Yue could accept that! After all, no matter what, she was still a great beauty!

"Fourth Hokage~ I told you Bai Yue would definitely agree." Hyuga Jinren said with a chuckle from the side.

"Not at all, not at all. I'm not one yet." Minato Namikaze immediately replied modestly, then turned his gaze back to Bai Yue. "In any case, Bai Yue had to agree himself~ Then Kushina's and my Wedding is in your hands! Bai Yue!"

"I'll definitely do my best." Bai Yue was also a little excited.

He had never been a Flower Child before. It would probably be quite interesting.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer. The Wedding is set for the sixteenth of next month, so time is tight. I still need to invite the others."

"Leave the Wedding preparations to us. After all, this is a major event in your life. You'll be very busy from now on," Hyuga Jinren said, directly taking the wedding preparations upon himself.

"I'd better do it myself."

"Trust me, I've officiated more weddings than you've attended. Without anyone to help, you'll be exhausted!"