The night passed peacefully. Yuzuru lay down to rest quietly, without moving. Kurenai Yuhi and Uchiha Hikari were initially embarrassed, but they gradually relaxed.
The next day, when Yuzuru opened his eyes, he was the only one left in bed.
He got up, washed up, and went for a walk with the two women, just like any other ordinary villager.
The three of them had a great time, but someone else was unhappy.
"There was a strange middle-aged man following us the whole time."
"Uchiha Hikari said in a low voice."
Hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and a smile flashed in Yuzuru's eyes.
"That's my dad. I haven't been home for four days in a row. He must have known that I was with Yuzuru, so he secretly followed me."
I'll go talk to him!
Kurenai Yuhi released Yuzuru's hand and walked straight towards Yūhi Shinku.
Faced with her aggressive daughter, Yūhi Shinku wanted to escape, but had nowhere to run. She could only pretend to be a customer who had just come to the street to buy something, and randomly picked up the items from a stall to examine them.
The shop owner stared at the Yūhi Shinku with a strange expression.
"Dad, stop pretending."
"Oh, it's Hong! What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here. Dad went out to buy something and ran into you."
Yūhi Shinku acted as if I knew nothing.
Seeing her father like this, Kurenai Yuhi didn't know what to say, and suddenly asked, "Then why did you come to the women's clothing store?"
Upon hearing this, Yūhi Shinku stiffened and turned to look at the store, where various women's clothing made him break out in a cold sweat.
"This, this, I am..."
"Alright, Dad, I'll be home tonight. Besides, you know what kind of relationship Yuzuru and I have."
"That's precisely why I'm worried!!!"
Yūhi Shinku screamed wildly in her heart.
The thought of his beloved daughter being taken away by that Yuzuru Yu Xian truly broke his heart.
"Well, actually, Dad doesn't object to you dating, but you should be careful about what you do, after all, you're still young."
"I know, Yuzuru is very sensible, he treats me very well."
The Yūhi Shinku:...
"Alright, let's go back to playing. Dad, if you're alright, hurry home. Don't keep following us around; you're scaring us."
After saying that, Kurenai Yuhi left without looking back, returning to Yuzuru's side and expertly taking his hand.
Seeing this, Yūhi Shinku could only suppress her urge to beat up Yuzuru and left the clothing store.
"Uncle Shinku is still the same, um..."
You know my dad's personality.
Kurenai Yuhi said shyly.
"It's quite fun."
Yuzuru chuckled mischievously.
"You kidnapped my daughter, you know. Tell me, doesn't Uncle Shinku really want to beat me up?"
"You already know, why are you asking?"
The Kurenai Yuhi at him.
"However, he's probably no match for you now."
"Even so, I can't lay a hand on an elder, especially my Hong's father, who is my future father-in-law."
Yuzuru scratched her red palm and teased.
Hearing this, a faint blush rose to her red face, and she hugged Yuzuru's arm tightly.
Although Yuzuru had been away from the village for a long time, Hong's feelings for him had only deepened with time, and so had Yuzuru's.
Uchiha Hikari stood to the side, her face full of envy, but she said nothing. After all, she had arrived later, and Kurenai's generosity was already a great concession to her.
"If Uncle Shinku finds out that I'm going to completely steal you away in a while, I feel like our wedding will be in big trouble."
"Wedding?"
Upon hearing this word, a hint of surprise flashed in Kurenai Yuhi's eyes.
"Yes, a wedding. You're my lawfully wedded wife; how can we do without a wedding?"
"In the Land of Water, regardless of family background, once a man and woman get married, a wedding is mandatory. It can be a small affair, but registration and the ceremony are still required. This is written into the law. Women are not merely reproductive tools, but true mothers of the family."
Uchiha Hikari explained.
Is that so?
Hearing this, Hong's face was filled with anticipation.
Konoha hasn't seen a wedding ceremony in decades. Since the marriage of Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki, the custom of weddings has only existed as long as Hashirama was alive.
After Hashirama and Tobirama died, Konoha was plunged into war, and the wedding was long forgotten.
Even now, Minato and Kushina have never had a wedding ceremony; they simply announced their marriage and became husband and wife.
Minato's wife was Kushina. This fact was known only to the Jonin Konoha and some clans. Most other people didn't even know that Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
For a ninja, letting the enemy know about their family is an enormous danger, as it means they have a weakness.
No one can guarantee that there aren't spies from other villages in the village. If those spies were to risk their lives to eliminate a famous ninja's family, it would be a fatal blow to the ninja.
The village has an obligation to protect its people, but that doesn't mean it can guarantee it will. There's nothing that can be done if someone dies; sacrifice is the norm.
Looking at Kurenai Yuhi, filled with anticipation for her future wedding, Yuzuru slowly intertwined his fingers with hers. "Wake up, there are still several years to go. You can't get married if you're too young."
"I know, don't interrupt me."
Hong couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
In the afternoon, Yūhi Shinku prepared a table full of dishes and waited at home for her little darling to return after being away for many days. However, Kurenai did not return until evening. In the end, only a Ninja Cat brought her a letter.
"Dad, I won't be back tonight. Yuzuru is going to teach me a new Ninjutsu."
Upon seeing the letter, Yūhi Shinku felt the room get hot, so hot that her face turned red.
"That brat!"
Holding the letter, he wanted to storm into her house, but when he thought of Hong and Yuzuru's genuine happiness together, he could only sigh silently.
"You little brat, if you dare bully Hong, I'll personally..."
"I'm so full, Xiao Xian, my stomach is bulging, I really can't eat anymore."
White sauce still clung to her red lips, and her rosy cheeks gleamed as she looked at Yuzuru.
"No, this is rabbit meat from Ten Thousand Fathom Peak."
Hmm.
"Good boy/girl, this is very good for your health, be a good girl/girl."
Seeing the bulging red lips, Yuzuru finally put the empty bowl back on the table with satisfaction.
"Can eating this really make you stronger?"
I'd be a dog if I lied.
Yuzuru wiped the sauce that had spilled from the corner of her mouth.
"That's true. The animals on Ten Thousand Fathom Peak are rich in Natural Energy. I used to eat them often, and it's beneficial for cultivating Sage Mode."
Uchiha Hikari explained.
"Mmm-hmm." (I understand.)