A Grand Engagement Ceremony

Konoha was buzzing with excitement.

Cars lined the streets from end to end in orderly rows. Countless roses covered the roadsides, their fragrance carried on the cold wind. Red ribbons hung from trees throughout the village, and ninja stood along the route to keep order.

People streamed in without end, eager to see what the bride-to-be looked like.

"Little Yoru went all out! This is so grand, I almost want to skip straight to the wedding!"

Uchiha Izumi spoke from inside the car. She wore a long white dress, and a touch of makeup made her look especially beautiful.

"He's doing it for our sake!"

"He even told us about some strange rituals and asked us to follow them! He said they'd help us live happily together for the rest of our lives," Uchiha Izumi said.

"What a hassle!"

Izumi grumbled, though she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.

"We're only together because of Little Yoru. Let's do it his way. He said it's called making the occasion special, and that's what you girls want." Uchiha Itachi's usual impassive expression was gone. A smile kept tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The car stopped.

Itachi took Izumi's hand and led her toward the hotel.

All the guests had gathered, including Konoha's two advisers, who rarely saw eye to eye.

Personally, they didn't like Itachi. But he had done a good job building up the village, and he had even invited the other Four Kage.

Apart from the time of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, this was the first meeting of the Five Kage.

They still felt uneasy, but they had more or less moved past it. They couldn't embarrass Itachi on his engagement day.

Dozens of lights shone on the approaching couple.

Handsome Itachi and beautiful Izumi looked perfect together.

"Now, please step forward and exchange rings!"

"Why aren't you over there? What are you doing in here watching the feed?" Karin Uzumaki opened the door to find Uchiha Yoru seated inside. Itachi's Engagement Ceremony was playing on the screen.

"There are too many people. I'm not used to it." Yoru managed a faint smile as he explained.

Karin clearly didn't believe him.

She walked over and leaned against him. "Besides being happy, you seem relieved."

"Relieved? I suppose I am, a little." Yoru knew he couldn't hide it from Karin, so he nodded.

In the original story, Itachi had killed his parents and wiped out his clan. Carrying that pain, he had served as a spy in Akatsuki, only to die of illness in the end.

During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Itachi God had been brought back through Impure World Reincarnation. He and Sasuke had undone the technique together, and Itachi had finally passed on.

The entire Shinobi World owed Uchiha Itachi a thank-you.

And Konoha owed him an apology.

Itachi God, who had loved sweets, had known nothing but bitterness all his life.

Yoru's arrival had changed the fate of the clan, but Itachi still hadn't received what should have been his.

The Hokage Position, love, family...

Today, Itachi finally had everything he had once lost.

Yoru's arrival had changed the fate of a character he had loved in his previous life. It was one less regret for him to carry.

Today, he wanted to remain an onlooker and quietly watch everything he had helped bring about.

After Itachi and Izumi placed rings on each other's fingers, they greeted each other's parents.

Even the usually gentle Uchiha Mikoto said, "If Itachi ever mistreats you, come to me. I'll beat him within an inch of his life!"

Izumi blushed and nodded silently.

"Itachi, you're the eldest. Of my three children, you're the one I worry about least. Take good care of Izumi, and look after your two younger brothers too!"

Itachi nodded. "Yes, Father!"

Izumi's mother added, "Itachi, take good care of my daughter!"

"Don't worry. I'll treat Izumi well!"

Itachi made the promise solemnly.

"That's good!"

Hosts and guests alike enjoyed themselves, and the drinks kept flowing.

"Izumi, I love you!"

"Itachi, I know!"

"I love you so much!"

"I know!"

Izumi carried the drunken Itachi on her back to their room.

Those people were animals. They had kept coming over to drink with Izumi. Itachi knew she couldn't hold her liquor, so he had taken every drink for her. Then the Raikage had brought over two bottles of hard liquor and started knocking them back.

Itachi had no choice but to keep up with him.

He went down at once.

Izumi had to carry him back to their room.

"Izumi, Izumi..."

She hadn't expected Itachi to be so adorable when he was drunk. He kept murmuring her name. Next time she wanted to hear sweet talk, she would pour him a few more drinks.

Sober, Itachi was the perfect boyfriend. He was just a little too serious. Drunk, he was a lovable fool, still mumbling to himself.

Izumi looked at his face and, on a whim, poked it with a finger. To her surprise, he caught her hand and pulled her onto the bed.

"Itachi, what are you doing?"

Thinking of what might happen next, Izumi blushed even harder and waited quietly.

Instead, all she heard was his soft snoring.

Itachi was Itachi, after all!

Even drunk, he kept his hands to himself!

Izumi wrapped her arms around him and fell fast asleep.

Nothing happened all night.

It was why Yoru later gave Itachi such a hard time.

An invitation like that, and he did nothing? Outrageous! How was Yoru supposed to get a little nephew to pick on every day, the way he had with Sasuke? Now that Sasuke was gone, life was a little less fun!