Shikamaru's Wedding

In Konoha, the summer sun in Konoha was so intense that it was hard to open one's eyes. But on this day, the entire village was immersed in a festive atmosphere that seemed completely out of place with the tense situation—the wedding of Shikamaru Nara and Sand Village Temari was to take place as scheduled in three days.

The wedding was held on the clan grounds of the Nara Clan. The spacious courtyard was meticulously decorated—cherry blossom trees were adorned with ribbons and lanterns, and although the blooming season was over, the decorations still created a dreamlike atmosphere. Long tables were arranged on both sides of the courtyard, laden with various dishes, from traditional Konoha sushi and tempura to Sand Village- style grilled meat and spiced rice, clearly showing that the hosts had considered the tastes of both families' guests.

The air was filled with the aromas of food and flowers, as well as a subtle sense of tension—after all, this was the first major celebration since the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, and the shadow of war was far from over.

At 10 a. m., guests began to arrive one after another.

Tsunade appeared at the scene dressed in her formal Hokage robes, only making a brief appearance at the start of the ceremony to offer her blessings and a gift—a pair of exquisitely carved deer antlers, symbolizing the Nara Clan's crest. She patted Shikaku on the shoulder and whispered, "Today you are a father, not an advisor. Enjoy it."

Shikaku rarely showed a relaxed smile, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Gaara didn't come. As the Kazekage, he had to stay in Sand Village to deal with the potential threat from the Akatsuki. Representing Sand Village was Kankuro, who was wearing a formal black kimono and light makeup, different from his usual attire, clearly dressed up specially for the occasion. He stood Temari, his expression complex—a mixture of joy for his sister and reluctance to see her marry far away.

Temari wore a white wedding Muku in the style of Sand Village, her long red hair was carefully styled and adorned with traditional Sand Village metal hair ornaments. She stood next to Shikamaru, half a head taller than the groom, but the two of them had an unexpectedly harmonious aura—one was lazy and casual, the other was dashing and capable, complementing each other perfectly.

Shikamaru's expression... was classic. It was a complex mix of emotions: "Finally relieved," "So troublesome," and "But it's not so bad." He was wearing a dark purple crested hakama, and his hair was unusually neatly combed, but the dark circles under his eyes betrayed that he probably hadn't slept well last night.

As the ceremony began, the young ninjas who had attended the dinner party that night gradually arrived. Each of them brought a gift, and the choice of gifts fully reflected their individual personalities.

Naruto was the first to arrive. He was wearing an orange suit—yes, orange, clearly a custom-made one, because it's hard to find such a striking wedding outfit on the market. He was carrying a huge cardboard box, and his smile was brighter than the sun.

"Shikamaru! Temari! Congratulations!" Naruto slammed the cardboard box onto the gift table with a heavy thud. "This is a gift I specially prepared—a whole box of the latest flavor of kimchi instant noodles! It's super delicious! You can take it with you on your honeymoon!"

The Nara clansman in charge of registering the gifts wrote "Uzumaki Naruto: One case of instant noodles" on the gift list with a subtle expression. Temari's lips twitched, but Shikamaru smiled—he knew this was Naruto's way of showing concern, clumsy but sincere.

Sakura arrived with Sasuke, which caused quite a stir—after all, Sasuke Uchiha's appearance in this setting was surprising enough.

Sasuke was still dressed in black, but in a more formal stand-up collar style. His expression was indifferent, as if he were not attending a wedding but rather on a mission. However, observant people would notice that he was carrying an exquisite gift box.

"Congratulations." Sasuke placed the gift box on the gift stand, his words concise and to the point.

The clansman in charge of registration opened the gift box, glanced inside, and his eyes lit up. "A collector's edition porcelain tea set... a very valuable gift."

The surrounding guests whispered among themselves. Everyone knew that the Uchiha Clan Compound had been abandoned for many years, so where did Sasuke get the money to buy such an expensive gift? Only Sakura was secretly laughing to herself. At seven o'clock in the morning, Sasuke suddenly approached her and asked expressionlessly, "What should I give as a wedding gift?" His arrogant demeanor, despite his lack of social skills, made her both amused and touched.

Sakura accompanied him to choose the tea set, and Sakura also helped him bargain—although Sasuke seemed completely unconcerned about the price. Throughout the process, Sasuke frowned, clearly finding it much more troublesome than training in Ninjutsu.

"Sakura helped me choose this," Sasuke added, as an explanation.

Sakura quickly waved her hand, "I was just giving advice! Sasuke chose it himself!" She presented her gift—an exquisite wooden box containing top-quality Gyokuro tea leaves—"Shikamaru, Temari, I wish you eternal happiness."

"Thank you." Shikamaru thanked him earnestly, a rare occurrence for him. He glanced at Sasuke and Sakura standing together, a knowing look flashing in his eyes.

Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji after the other. Rock Lee was still wearing his green bodysuit, but he had put on a white haori over it, a compromise for the formal occasion. The gift he gave was very "Rock Lee"—two brand-new, identical green bodysuits.

"Shikamaru! Even though you're married, your youthful training can't stop!" Rock Lee gave a thumbs up, his teeth gleaming. "This is a custom-made couple's outfit! You and Temari can wear it together for training!"

Temari's expression instantly froze. Shikamaru sighed, "Rock Lee... thanks, but I think Temari might..."

"I really like it," Temari suddenly said, taking the green bodysuit with a serious expression. "It's perfect as loungewear."

Shikamaru Temari an eyebrow. "What? Women from Sand Village can't wear green?"

Tenten was secretly laughing to herself. Today she was wearing a light pink furisode kimono, her hair was styled in an elegant updo, and she had a pearl hairpin in her hair— Neji had picked it out for her while shopping yesterday. She was holding a long, rectangular gift box in her hands and was about to put it down when Neji, who was walking up behind her, gently pressed her hand down.

"Wait," Neji said.

He was unusually dressed today—a dark blue haori, a white shirt, and black hakama. His long hair was tied back, making him look handsome and upright, a stark contrast to his usual casual and lazy demeanor. His Tenseigan gleamed with a faint blue light in the sunlight, but at this moment, all his imposing aura was gone, replaced by a peaceful and serene expression.

Neji took the gift box from Tenten, opened it, and glanced inside—a pair of Kunai made of fine steel, with the names "Shikamaru" and "Temari" engraved on the blades, along with the blessing "May you be forever united." A thoughtful gift, but also... very ninja-like.

"The Kunai fine," Neji said to Tenten in a gentle voice, "But today is not the time to deliver weapons."

He took out another smaller box from his sleeve and replaced Tenten's gift box. "Use this."

Tenten curiously opened the new box, her eyes immediately lighting up—inside was a set of exquisitely carved jade shogi pieces, the pieces smooth and warm to the touch, the board made of ebony, its edges carved with deer patterns of the Nara Clan and fan patterns of Sand Village. Exquisite, elegant, and... perfectly suited Shikamaru's tastes.

"This is too expensive..." Tenten whispered.

"It's your gift," Neji smiled. "I just helped pick it out."

The clansman in charge of registration gasped when he saw the chess set—it was clearly a masterpiece, extremely valuable. He solemnly wrote on the gift list, "Tenten: One set of jade chess pieces."

Tenten delivering the gifts, Neji presented his own—two bottles of sake in an exquisite wooden box, labeled "Special Brew" and "18 Years Aged."

"After marriage," Neji said to Shikamaru, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Sometimes you'll really need this."

Shikamaru was taken aback at first, then gave a wry smile, "... Thank you, I think I understand what you mean."

The adult guests around them chuckled knowingly. Temari raised an eyebrow at Shikamaru, Shikamaru quickly waved his hand, "I'll be more restrained..."

The following gifts Eight Gates:

Shinan Hyuga presented a pile of health supplements—deer antler, ginseng, and lingzhi mushrooms—in exquisite packaging, clearly of considerable value. He earnestly said, "Shikamaru will be taking on more responsibility in the future, so please take good care of your health."

Hinata had prepared a dress in the style of Sand Village, embroidered with the Nara Clan's deer crest and Sand Village's fan crest by hand. The stitches were delicate, clearly showing that she had put a lot of effort into it. "Temari- neechan, I hope you can feel the taste of home here," she said, blushing.

The gift box contained a newborn puppy, its fur gray and white, its eyes not yet fully open. "This is Akamaru's great-grandson! He's very well-behaved!" The puppy whimpered softly from inside the gift box, eliciting gasps of surprise from the female guests.

Shino's gift was the most special—a huge glass box containing a perfectly preserved specimen of Kikaichū, its wings outstretched, gleaming with a metallic sheen. "This is a special breed cultivated by the Aburame Clan, symbolizing resilience and loyalty," he added, adjusting his sunglasses. "Don't worry, it's been treated; it won't come back to life."

Choji's gift left everyone both amused and bewildered—a thick stack of coupons, the cover proclaiming, "Konoha BBQ Q Buffet 50% Off Coupons, Valid for Three Years, Unlimited Use." As he handed it over, Choji looked reluctant, as if he were tearing off a piece of his own flesh. "Shikamaru... use them sparingly... I've been saving them for so long..."

Ino's gift was the most beautiful—a huge flower arrangement, with ninety-nine lilies forming a heart shape, adorned with a cactus flower symbolizing Sand Village and a staghorn fern symbolizing Nara. "Lilies symbolize a long and happy marriage," Ino said proudly. "I spent the whole night arranging this!"

Kakashi's gift... brought the wedding to another climax.

When Kakashi placed a beautifully wrapped gift box on the gift table, the clansman in charge of registration casually asked, "Lord Kakashi, may I ask what this gift is?"

"The complete collector's edition of <Make-Out Paradise>," Kakashi said without changing his expression.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

Then a huge burst of laughter erupted. Tsunade spat out the mouthful of tea she had just drunk. Shikamaru's expression went from shock to despair, and finally to a numb resignation. Temari narrowed her eyes, her gaze towards Kakashi filled with "You just wait."

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura covered her face. "What are you giving me?!"

"A very practical gift." Kakashi shrugged, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "A reference for newlyweds."

"Thank you so much!" Shikamaru gritted his teeth.

This little interlude completely enlivened the atmosphere of the wedding. Amidst the laughter, people temporarily forgot the shadow of war, the threat of the Akatsuki, and the resurrection of Madara Uchiha —at this moment, they were simply a group of young people celebrating their friend's wedding.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly. The ritual was held at the Nara Clan's shrine, where Shikamaru and Temari under the guidance of the priest. Sunlight streamed through the shrine's windows, casting dappled shadows on the two of them. At that moment, Shikamaru's usual languor vanished, Temari's eyes lost their usual sharpness, leaving only a promise to each other.

After the banquet began, the atmosphere became even more lively. Naruto and Choji were enjoying a hearty meal at the buffet, Kiba and Shino were discussing what to name their puppy, Ino and Sakura were talking to Hinata about her embroidery skills, Rock Lee was reporting his recent training progress to Guy-sensei...

Neji and Tenten sat under a cherry blossom tree in the corner of the courtyard. Tenten ate small bites of three-colored dumplings, glancing occasionally at the bustling crowd, her eyes full of smiles. Neji, on the other hand, held a cup of tea, his gaze calmly sweeping across the room, finally settling on another corner—

Sasuke stood there alone, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, seemingly out of place with the festive atmosphere around him. A glass of juice sat in front of him, untouched.

Neji stood up.

"I'm going to say something to Sasuke," he said to Tenten.

He nodded Tenten without asking any further questions.

Neji walked over to Sasuke, but instead of looking at him, he gazed at the center of the courtyard—where Shikamaru was being forced to drink by guests. Although he looked unwilling, he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.

"A rare moment of relaxation," Neji suddenly said.

Sasuke did not respond.

Neji turned back to Sasuke. A serious glint flashed in his Tenseigan: "Remember what I'm about to say—in the battle against Madara Uchiha, you must protect Naruto."

Sasuke finally looked up, a look of confusion flashing in his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan: "What do you mean?"

"Literal meaning," Neji said, "Protecting Naruto is protecting yourself. This is... the most important rule in this battle."

He didn't explain further, patted Sasuke on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

Sasuke stood rooted to the spot, his brow furrowed. Neji's words seemed cryptic, but he knew that every word spoken by this man who had already reached the Six Paths Tier held a deeper meaning. Protecting Naruto meant protecting himself? It sounded like some kind of... destiny-related connection?

He looked at Naruto on the other side of the courtyard—the blond boy was holding a wine glass, laughing and competing with Choji to see who could eat more. The sunlight shone on him, warm and dazzling.

"The worst..." Sasuke muttered to himself, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

The banquet continued into the evening. As the sun set, lanterns in the courtyard lit up one by one, casting a warm glow in the twilight. Shikamaru and Temari cut the cake amidst everyone's blessings, Naruto led the singing of a slightly off-key but enthusiastic congratulatory song, Sakura and Ino clapped and laughed, and even Kakashi hummed a tune softly...

Neji watched all this, a complex emotion welling up inside him.

He recalled the world from the original story—where Shikamaru and Temari's wedding took place many years after the war.

Now, because of his intervention, because of his "experiment," the world has taken a different turn.

These young people can still laugh here, celebrate their friends' weddings, and temporarily forget about war and death...

"The brave enjoy life first," Neji said softly, raising his teacup towards the setting sun, "And then enter the grave."

"What did you say?" Tenten, who was standing next to her, didn't hear her clearly.

"Nothing," Neji smiled, setting down his teacup. "I was just thinking... today is a good day."

She looked at him Tenten, then suddenly reached out and gently took his hand. Neji was slightly taken aback, but didn't pull away.

Their hands clasped quietly under the table, warmth transferring from their palms, especially comforting in the cooling evening breeze.

In the distance, fireworks soared into the sky, blooming into dazzling flowers against the night. Guests looked up in amazement, and children cheered with joy. Shikamaru and Temari stood side by side, gazing up at the fireworks, their hands clasped tightly together.

The light of fireworks reflected on everyone's faces, flickering like a microcosm of this era—darkness and light, separation and reunion, death and rebirth.

In the shadows where the fireworks couldn't reach, the blue light in Neji's Tenseigan flickered faintly.