Kakashi Hatake POV
The after-party was set to happen in a hall not too far from the Uzumaki Clan Temple that made it easier for the guests and the newlyweds themselves to get there.
And once again, Amaya was helping coordinate the preparations, though now she had Tsunade and Jiraiya with her to help out.
Food was served to the settled guests, who were split among tables by how close they were so strangers or people who didn't know each other well wouldn't have to put up with one another.
I was left at one of the tables with my and Amaya's old Academy classmates: Asuma, Kurenai, Rin, Obito, and Gai. But they weren't the only ones there. Itachi Uchiha and weasel-face settled in too, and as expected, it didn't even take five seconds for the questions to start.
– Kakashi, what was that between you and Amaya?! – Kurenai got the "privilege" of going first.
– I never imagined you two were… – Asuma said next – You know, together like that.
– Is it true? – Rin asked me right after – Are you two really… – I quickly denied it, hoping to stop the questions there.
– Amaya and I aren't together or anything like that. The kids who were going to be the flower girl and ring bearer got sick, and their father came to tell Amaya just a few minutes before everything started – I explained – And since there was no way to change the ceremony order or find other kids, we just thought of a solution.
– Being the ring bearer and flower girl – Obito deduced, and I nodded.
– But even if we were going to do that, we're not exactly little kids for those roles – I continued – So we had to adapt and come up with something different for the two of us in the moment.
– And acting like a potential couple was almost like showing a version of Kushina and Minato themselves – Asuma said, and I agreed.
– So it was all just an act… – Rin said, almost letting her relief show.
– I have my doubts if all that was just acting – Shisui commented with a teasing smile and tone.
– You saw what you wanted to see, weasel-face – I shot back casually at the Uchiha.
– I kind of agree with him – Kurenai spoke up, and we all looked at her – I mean, come on, what was that look you two exchanged when you stood up? – the brunette asked excitedly, smiling.
– Or even how in sync you were improvising? – Gai spoke up for the first time, just making things worse for me.
– Yeah, those are hard points to argue – Asuma added, and I glared at him.
– You two really did seem comfortable – Obito said, and like Shisui, in a tone that showed he wanted to add fuel to the fire.
And even though I wanted to argue against it, that point really was delicate, for two reasons: First, because in the moment I really didn't feel like I was acting with Amaya—it all came so… naturally.
And the second because of that moment we looked at each other. The image of those green orbs of the Uzumaki fixed on me, her calmness and her smile… Why did all that leave me so at ease?
I wasn't someone with fervent faith in some deity or divine being, but if something like that existed, he or she acted in my favor to escape a thousand other questions that were clearly coming.
Kushina and Minato had arrived, and of course, everyone's attention turned to them.
Even though Minato-sensei was still in the same outfit, Kushina had changed her dress to a shorter one, just like Amaya's, in the same light golden shade.
The guests closest to the newlyweds rose from their tables and went to congratulate them. And since the families of those at my table were already there, they went to their relatives.
Since I hadn't come with anyone, I chose to wait for the others to congratulate Minato and Kushina first. But I wasn't alone at the table for long.
– I hope Shisui didn't bother you too much – Amaya said as soon as she settled into the chair beside me and looked at me.
– And you thought he wouldn't bother me? – I asked, and the Uzumaki laughed.
– No, it wouldn't be Shisui if he didn't – she commented, and I agreed – And about that… – I looked at her – Thanks for agreeing to help me.
– It'd be hard for anyone to refuse seeing you in that bind and about to freak out – I said casually, and the redhead gave a weak laugh.
– Baka… – Amaya said and looked at me – But seriously, if there's ever anything you want, don't think twice about calling in the favor for today.
– Don't worry about it – I said quickly.
– I'm serious – the redhead said seriously, but still with a calm expression toward me – What you did for me today and for my parents… – She turned her eyes to Minato and Kushina farther away, smiling softly – I don't think there'd be anyone else besides you who'd accept everything last minute and still do it so well – She turned her gaze back to me, still smiling – Thank you, really, Kakashi, for everything.
(That day, I forgot to try contradicting Amaya again about her thinking she owed me a favor for helping her at her parents' wedding. However, exactly two years later, for a reason involving Minato and Kushina, I would receive that favor I initially refused to accept from her by her own choice…)
__________________________________________________________________________
It didn't take long for everyone to have congratulated the Namikaze couple, so it was Amaya's and my turn to do the same. And of course, as I expected, Kushina was the one who showered us with questions about what we did during the ring exchange.
The older redhead was excitable by nature, but at that moment it seemed she'd managed to be even more so. And seeing Amaya answering Kushina's questions with all the calm in the world was amusing it was like the mother-daughter roles were reversed for the two.
Minato-sensei and I laughed at both of them we were used to their dynamic.
Not long after, someone started the speech time. Some of Kushina and Minato's acquaintances congratulated them, wished them well, shared stories about the couple, among other things.
And what caught my attention most and intrigued me was how most of the speeches moved the Namikaze couple to tears, along with some other guests.
– Can't understand why people get so emotional about this kind of thing… – I muttered quietly, and Amaya, who was seated beside me, looked at me.
– Just a guess, since I don't really get it either… – the Uzumaki said, also in a low tone, and turned her eyes to her parents – But maybe it's because they're looking back on all the things they did together, the good they did for others, and what they might do together now.
– Even so, I can't grasp all the emotion involved… – I said.
– When it's your turn to love someone, then maybe you'll understand better – I looked at her, and the redhead gave a soft laugh at my probably disbelieving expression – I'm sure someone will put up with all that bad mood of yours, and you'll also cry like a little kid at your own wedding – And if I was looking at her disbelievingly before, now I was just confused by the certainty in her voice about that – And I hope I'm there to laugh at you when it happens.
* Present Day *
Naruto's burst of laughter made me stop my story as we walked leisurely through the village to find somewhere to have lunch.
– Nee-chan had no idea she'd be the one putting up with you! – the blond laughed, and I couldn't help but do the same.
– Neither Amaya nor I did – I admitted, still with a faint smile on my lips.
– So what else happened at otousan and okaasan's wedding? – Naruto asked right after, as if he hadn't just been laughing his head off seconds ago.
– The rest of the party was pretty calm – I said calmly, eyes on the path ahead – Maybe there was another jab or two from Shisui, but it'd be weird if he hadn't done anything else – The blond agreed with a soft laugh.
I stopped walking, and the Uzumaki did the same, following my gaze to the establishment in front of us. Ichiraku Ramen…, I thought. With everything I'm telling him, maybe this is the perfect place to continue…
– I guess you'll want to eat here, right? – I asked rhetorically—after all, I already knew the Uzumaki would say "yes"—and headed toward the restaurant.
– Absolutely, 'tebayo!
Even though I'd entered Ichiraku first, Naruto was the one who sat down first and was already talking to Teuchi to place his order.
– I'll take a pork one, just to start! – the Uzumaki requested excitedly, almost unable to stay seated.
– Coming right up! – Teuchi said casually to the blond, then turned his attention to me – Rokudaime, what can I get for you?
– Please, no need for "sir" – I said, sitting next to Naruto – The same as him – Teuchi nodded and promptly went to prepare the ramen.
– So, Kakashi-sensei… – I turned my attention back to the fidgety Uzumaki beside me – There's something I wanted to ask you earlier, but I forgot – I gave a weak laugh – Why were you always acting so arrogant around your classmates?
– You mean, avoiding them? – The blond nodded quickly.
– Did you not like them or something? – I shook my head.
– No, the opposite – The Uzumaki tilted his head, confused – Like Amaya, I saw them as my friends, but… I didn't know how to act around them. I was always terrible with friendships, and being treated as a prodigy pushed people away – I looked at him – Not that I cared much at the time, but it was a little annoying not having a friend there, someone who understood you. Like Sasuke is for you.
– Yeah, I think I get that a little now… – the blond said in a lower tone, but soon smiled brightly again – Keep going… – I gave a weak laugh.
– Right, continuing… – I said – A few days after your parents got married, Minato got called up for a mission. It was a long one that would keep him away for a few months.
– But he and okaasan had just gotten married! – the blond complained.
– And just like you're bothered by that, someone else was too when they found out.
– Nee-chan… – I nodded.
– Since she was in the Anbu and a jounin-level kunoichi, Amaya requested that the Sandaime let her take that mission with other Anbu instead of her father. If it had been anyone else asking, the Third probably wouldn't have even considered it – I looked at him – But the Sandaime knew some jounin and even Anbu members were uneasy about the idea of placing his sister in the Anbu so suddenly.
– But nee-chan was really strong! – Naruto defended her quickly, and I agreed.
– Yes, but she didn't have major achievements yet to prove her real capabilities for the Anbu position – I explained.
– So what did she do on that mission? Did she finally shove it in their faces that she was really powerful? – I gave a weak laugh.
He's even starting to sound like that weasel-face defending Amaya…, I thought, holding back an amused smile.
– Yeah, she really showed them what she was capable of – I said right after – Her mission was ranked A and involved stealing intel from the village we were at war with.
– The Village of Stone, right? – I nodded.
– But not in the most conventional way – I clarified – Like I told you before, the Land of Grass borders Konoha and the Stone, but at that time the village was under Iwa's control.
– So how did nee-chan and the team with her get into the Land of Earth?
– They crossed through the Land of Waterfalls without even the residents of Taki noticing the intrusion – I smiled faintly – And the same happened in Iwa. I've never known anyone as good at stealth missions as your sister. She could enter and leave a place without you ever noticing she was there.
– Incredible… – the blond muttered, slightly open-mouthed, and I gave a soft laugh at his expression.
– And the specific document Amaya recovered from the Land of Earth was one that helped lead us to the end of that war.
– Seriously?!
– That's why I told you that's where Amaya started building the reputation she had. Besides managing the feat of entering and leaving two countries without drawing any attention, not a single member of the squad with her got even a scratch – I looked at him – And your sister brought Konoha the document that would lead me and my team at the time to finally enter the war conflicts.
– And what was it?
– The route supplies and reinforcements took from the Stone to their ninja in the Land of Grass: Kannabi Bridge.