Before getting married, Torifu had explicitly told Naori that he would not make her live that kind of life. She should do whatever she wanted and pursue whatever she desired. This single promise was what made Naori fully commit to marrying Torifu.
Naori was a person with great ambitions; she would never be content to be confined to a household, washing clothes and cooking for the rest of her life. Torifu understood Naori very well, so it was impossible for him to let her live such a life. After all, a wife was not a housemaid. If they needed cooking and laundry done, it would be much better to simply hire a servant.
Torifu and Naori turned around. His voice once again echoed throughout the entire hall.
"Everyone, the official ceremony for Naori and my wedding is now complete. Feel free to speak freely and enjoy your half-day of relaxation here in the Cloud Palace. You can go out to admire the scenery or enjoy the snacks inside. Anything is fine."
A round of applause erupted from the villagers in the hall, and amid the clapping, Torifu and Naori departed the center of the stage, walking to the side where the VIP seating was located.
At this time, the various Kage and Princes all stood up to congratulate Torifu and Naori.
"Haha, thank you all Lords for your blessings. With so many people attending, it's impossible to be perfect, otherwise, I certainly would have prepared some exquisite cuisine to entertain our esteemed guests."
The Kazekage was the first to speak. "Hokage-sama, you are being too modest. Fine food can be enjoyed anytime, but your wedding is the main event! Today truly opened my eyes; I never imagined a wedding could be held in this manner."
The other Kage followed suit, agreeing that today's wedding had completely overturned their worldview. It bore absolutely no resemblance to ordinary weddings. If one were forced to find a similarity, it would be that the bride and groom actually got married…
"Everyone, Naori's and my wedding concludes today. Starting tomorrow, Konoha will return to its normal operations. If you have any interest in a partnership, formal discussions will also begin tomorrow."
Torifu then offered a smile. "If you do not have a partnership in mind, you are welcome to stay and tour Konoha for a few more days, or if you wish to leave earlier, that is also fine. We will have dedicated personnel escort you safely out of Konoha's territory."
Excluding the First Prince of the Land of Fire and the Seventh Prince of the Land of Whirlpools, everyone present had come with the intention of cooperating with Konoha. The Land of Wind and the Land of Earth had already established a cooperative relationship a few months ago, but since Amado had developed new things, they were interested in seeing if they could deepen their collaboration.
The Land of Iron and the Land of Water were entirely new clients. The Land of Iron had only recently emerged from its isolation, and the Land of Water had just established contact with Konoha. Prior to this, they had practically no dealings with Konoha. Konoha had enthusiastically sought cooperation with the Land of Iron, so there was no need for too many complicated procedures.
However, for the Land of Water... they hadn't communicated much, and it was not a country they knew well. If they were going to cooperate, they would definitely need to investigate and then make a decision.
The Kage and Princes all nodded repeatedly upon hearing Torifu's words. "Very well, Hokage-sama. We all wish to remain in Konoha for a few more days."
It was a time of peace, and the Second Kage were safeguarding their villages, so there was no need to worry about anything. They could use this opportunity to discuss cooperation and simultaneously enjoy a vacation. They rarely got such a chance throughout the year. On this trip, they intended to relax before returning.
"In that case, please enjoy yourselves for now. Naori and I still need to go see our fathers."
"Understood. Hokage-sama and Madam, please go ahead."
After leaving the Kage, Torifu and Naori walked over to Uchiha Teruya's table. Originally, Teruya was sitting with his own clan members, but Hashirama had called him over. Now, the table was filled with familiar faces: Hashirama and Mito, Teruya, and Tobirama. All of them were elders to the couple.
Torifu and Naori bowed deeply to Teruya. "Father."
That single address of "Father" greatly moved Teruya. He immediately stood up and helped the two of them rise.
"Yes! Good children, please get up quickly."
The couple rose, looking at the contented smiles on the faces of all the elders at the table.
"Torifu, I've watched you grow up every step of the way. I naturally trust your character one hundred percent. Starting today, I hand Naori over to you! Your father believes you two will surely be happy!"
Naori didn't cry upon hearing this. Instead, she beamed with a sweet smile. Getting her father's blessing made her incredibly happy. Besides, they wouldn't stop seeing each other, so there was nothing to cry about.
"Don't worry, Father. Naori and I will be happy."
Having said that, the couple turned to Hashirama and Mito. "Sensei, Aunt, thank you for all your teachings over the years."
Tears briefly flickered in the corner of Hashirama's eyes, but they quickly vanished, replaced by a smiling expression.
"Hahaha, this is wonderful, truly wonderful! True loves find their way to each other. You two have a long future ahead of you. Your Sensei believes that you will certainly make a good life for yourselves."
Mito smiled beside him. "Your Aunt believes in you, too."
To Hashirama and Mito, Naori and Torifu were already like their own children—true family. When Hashirama and Mito saw the two of them embracing and kissing on the stage, they were filled with indescribable emotion. To have such a grand wedding as the start of their happiness was truly a blessing. The wedding showed how thoughtful Torifu was, and he would certainly cherish Naori even more in the future.
"Tobirama-sama."
The couple bowed to Tobirama once more.
Tobirama was also looking at them with a cheerful smile. To be honest, Tobirama's status was special; he wasn't their Sensei, nor were they related by blood. However, Tobirama had always been a presence in their journey of growth. If Hashirama was like a father figure guiding them, Tobirama was more like an older friend, offering advice when they felt lost. He had helped Torifu and Naori a lot over the years, and they were naturally very grateful.
"You two, in my mind, you were always those two little children from back then. It's hard to believe that in the blink of an eye, you're getting married. Time really flies."
Yes, in the blink of an eye, more than two decades had passed.
"I don't have much more to say. I just wish you two lasting happiness. And remember to have a baby soon; your Sensei is always pestering me about that."
At that, the few people present all burst out laughing.
The whole scene was lighthearted and joyful. The blessing from every elder was sincere, completely free of any personal agenda. This was what true family was—simply hoping your life would turn out well.