Naori was already in her wedding attire and was currently putting on her head ornaments; it looked like it would take a while longer. She hadn't finished her makeup yet, either.
"I was a little nervous, too, but after chatting with Sensei yesterday, I feel much better."
"Also, Sensei and Aunt will be attending our wedding as my parents."
Naori paused upon hearing this, then took Torifu's hand and gave him a gentle smile. "Sensei and Aunt must be thrilled. Father and Mother will certainly approve of your decision, too."
"I think so, too." The two smiled at each other.
Naori's crown was a gold phoenix, but it wasn't overly exaggerated; it was generally delicate and small. Yet, it didn't make her look simple in the slightest. The couple chatted casually in the room. Torifu's main goal was to cheer Naori up, as the head ornaments were complicated to put on, and he worried it might affect her mood.
Outside, the villagers had begun their orderly entry. The remaining Uchiha Clan members, as the bride's family—apart from the maidservants helping with the bride's dressing—were already queuing to enter the Cloud Palace. Their seats would be closer to the front, giving them a clearer view of the ceremony. However, Torifu had placed many crystal screens inside the Cloud Palace, ensuring that all the other villagers, no matter where they were seated, could clearly see Torifu and Naori.
As for the distinguished guests, all the Kage and visiting princes had left their apartments, and their procession was moving toward the Cloud Palace.
Ichiryu's life in Konoha these past few days had completely reshaped his worldview. He found himself somewhat addicted to the various convenient amenities, and even when he consciously tried to escape this feeling of dependency, he couldn't help but use them. In the end, he chose to make peace with himself, deciding not to fight against these facilities designed for convenience. Once he reached this conclusion, his body and mind instantly felt much more relaxed, and the sense of constraint vanished.
"Mifune, I truly never expected that one day, we Samurai would be able to ascend to the clouds and look down from the sky."
Mifune smiled. "Indeed, Master. I was also stunned when I saw the wedding hall yesterday. I had no idea about any of this beforehand." He knew Torifu was incredibly strong—the best in the entire Ninja World—but he hadn't imagined he was this strong. Holding a wedding in the sky was truly unprecedented.
"I'm very much looking forward to this, Master. This trip has broadened our horizons and taught us that there are always people stronger and things greater than what we know." He also understood just how foolish the policy of isolation was, having caused the Land of Iron's development to regress. The Samurai, with no Ninja to challenge them, lost their sense of vigilance, leading the entire country to decline. As a result, when the country was invaded, no one could effectively resist. It was truly tragic.
The Land of Iron delegation was among the first to arrive. The teams from the other countries followed behind them. Ichiryu had spent a rewarding afternoon yesterday talking with the Kage of the other nations. They were initially shocked to learn that the Land of Iron was also collaborating with Konoha Village, but they eventually accepted it. After all, Samurai hadn't been active in the world for many years, so their sudden reappearance, and collaboration with Ninja, had simply surprised the Kage. However, neither Ichiryu nor Mifune cared what they thought. They were willing to do anything to see the Land of Iron restored to its pre-isolation state. Furthermore, Konoha Village was a genuinely trustworthy partner for cooperation, which gave Ichiryu great peace of mind.
Their pace was quick, and they soon arrived in front of the barbecue shop, which marked the location of the cloud ladder. Just as Ichiryu and the others were queuing seriously, they saw a little speck—Ōnoki—fly up.
"You guys take your time waiting; I'll be going first, hahaha."
Using the Lightweight Earth Jutsu, Ōnoki could easily fly. The Cloud Palace was currently resting at a level equivalent to the cliff face of Konoha's back mountain, about fifty to sixty meters high. Ōnoki flew up with ease. This made the other Kage somewhat envious.
The Kazekage could also fly, but he would need to use his Iron Sand to form wings, which would cause significant damage to Konoha Village. He wouldn't dare damage the Hokage's wedding for a moment of showing off. Not only would the cooperation fall through, but there was a hundred percent chance of retaliation from the Hokage! The Hokage's retaliation was no joke—it could destroy a village in minutes. Therefore, they could only watch as Ōnoki ascended to the Cloud Palace first.
Fortunately, everyone was quite eager, and although the queuing was orderly, their steps were quick, and the flow of people steadily moved forward. Before long, Ichiryu and the others reached the cloud ladder. He cautiously stepped onto it, finding that it was no different from an ordinary staircase, except for its snowy white color. There were railings on both sides, so even children couldn't fall off.
"Let's go, Master. Let's climb up and take a look. Torifu-sama's wedding hall must be very beautiful, and as distinguished guests, we get to sit closer to the front."
Ichiryu smiled. "Haha, yes. Let's hurry up."
And so, the Land of Iron delegation ascended the cloud ladder, steadily climbing toward the Cloud Palace. They moved farther and farther from the ground and closer and closer to the Cloud Palace. Touching the handrail, it felt cool and slightly damp. Was this what clouds felt like? It was truly magical. Ichiryu at that moment didn't seem like a General but like a country bumpkin, observing everything. However, the people behind him were following closely, and he didn't dare linger for fear of causing a blockage. Thus, he had to abandon the beauty along the way and focus solely on ascending to the Cloud Palace.
Finally, after about ten minutes, the group reached the top. The Samurai's bodies were very sturdy, so the stairs weren't a problem for them. The villagers were a bit winded, but it was within the acceptable range. However, the elderly had a harder time, so the younger folk would lend them a helping hand.
Arriving at the platform of the Cloud Palace, the area was already full of people. But most people had already entered and were seated inside. Although the Cloud Palace hadn't formally risen yet, it was already fifty to sixty meters above the ground. Looking down at Konoha Village from this vantage point offered a completely different perspective. Almost none of the villagers had ever observed Konoha Village from this angle before. Today was a first for them.
"It's truly magnificent." Ichiryu couldn't think of a better word than 'magnificent' to describe it. "This is a first in a lifetime. We truly have the Hokage-sama to thank for this."
Ōnoki, who had arrived earlier, saw Ichiryu and walked over.