Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Today marked the official wedding ceremony of Uchiha Ryujin.
Konoha, especially the Uchiha district, had been transformed into a sea of red. Lanterns hung across every street, silk banners fluttered in the wind, and lavish decorations covered the entire clan compound.
The Uchiha Clan had never lacked wealth, and this was the wedding of their Clan Head. Naturally, they spared no expense.
The scale of the celebration was unlike anything the village had seen before. Everyone in Konoha could feel it—someone important was getting married.
Not just anyone.
The strongest man in Konoha.
And his bride was none other than the princess of the Senju Clan.
This marriage was more than a simple wedding. It was a declaration.
After today, the conflict between the Senju and the Uchiha would finally come to an end. More importantly, since Tsunade had become the head of the Senju Clan and was now marrying Ryujin, the two clans would effectively unite.
If that happened, the Uchiha would become the most powerful force in Konoha's history.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly stared at the red invitation in his hand.
"A wedding…" he muttered.
Something about this situation bothered him.
This did not feel like a mere ceremony, especially not at a time when tensions within the village had reached such dangerous heights. Yet the invitation had been delivered openly and publicly.
That only made him more suspicious.
Still, as Hokage, he could not refuse to attend.
Whether this gathering represented peace or the beginning of war, he had to be present. It was his duty.
Deep down, Hiruzen felt a trace of guilt toward the Uchiha.
During every conflict, it was always the Uchiha, the Senju, and the Hyūga who carried Konoha on their backs. Their clans had sacrificed more than anyone else for the village.
And yet, the Uchiha had continuously been restrained and suppressed.
But Hiruzen believed he had no other choice.
For the sake of balance. For the stability of the village. For the Will of Fire.
He had agreed with Danzo's methods.
Suppress the Uchiha. Maintain equilibrium.
At least, that was how he justified it to himself.
Even so, he quietly made preparations.
Trust was a luxury he could no longer afford.
Meanwhile, inside the Uchiha district, Uchiha Mu stepped forward and lowered his voice.
"Clan Head, all non-combatants have already been relocated."
The women, children, and civilians of the clan had all been moved to secure locations.
"Good."
Ryujin nodded calmly.
Today, he wore a crimson ceremonial robe reserved for weddings. The bright red fabric made him appear even more imposing.
Even with a storm approaching, the celebration had to continue.
Appearances still mattered.
Today was supposed to be a wedding.
And it would look like one.
The Uchiha district overflowed with life. Bright lights illuminated every street while laughter and cheerful voices filled the air.
To outsiders, it looked like nothing more than a joyous celebration.
But beneath that joy, something dangerous was quietly brewing.
Ryujin stood beneath the night sky and looked up at the stars.
"…After today," he murmured softly, "Konoha will change forever."
Elsewhere, Tsunade slowly opened her eyes.
"Miss… is this really alright?" one of the maids asked nervously.
For a brief moment, even Tsunade herself was stunned by the reflection staring back at her.
Her clear eyes shimmered softly beneath delicate brows, while her long lashes trembled ever so slightly. Her flawless skin carried a natural blush, and her lips resembled blooming flower petals.
Wrapped in an elegant crimson bridal gown, she looked breathtaking.
"Miss, you're absolutely beautiful today."
"Ryujin-sama will definitely be captivated."
The maids could not stop praising her appearance.
For once, Tsunade actually felt shy.
But more than anything else, she felt happy.
She had understood her feelings for a long time.
From childhood until now, through every interaction and every shared moment, she had already chosen him.
Ryujin was the only man she wanted.
And now, she was finally going to become his wife.
As she thought back on everything that had happened between them, a faint trace of fear lingered in her heart.
If events had unfolded differently…
If that night had never happened…
Would they still have reached this point?
Perhaps not.
That thought alone brought a soft smile to her lips.
A radiant smile so beautiful that even the maids momentarily lost themselves in it.
If they had been men, they would have fallen for her instantly.
At the same time, Ryujin had already finished preparing for the ceremony.
Yet instead of waiting peacefully for the wedding to begin, he continued patrolling the district alongside the clan elders.
Today was far too important.
This was not merely a marriage ceremony.
The union between the Uchiha and the Senju would shake the entire village.
Hiruzen and Danzo would never ignore something like this.
Even if they did not move openly, they would certainly act from the shadows.
Ryujin himself feared nothing.
But the safety of his clan was another matter entirely.
Even a single unnecessary death was unacceptable.
That was why everything had to proceed perfectly today.
Every danger needed to be eliminated before it could emerge.
Just then, a young Uchiha shinobi appeared beside him.
He bowed respectfully before whispering something into Ryujin's ear.
Ryujin raised an eyebrow.
"…I see."
A strange expression briefly crossed his face.
"Continue the patrol," he ordered.
"Yes, Clan Head."
The young shinobi disappeared instantly.
Ryujin then turned toward the elders.
"You all continue as well. I'll walk alone for a while."
The elders exchanged knowing glances.
Without another word, they bowed and vanished.
Left alone, Ryujin let out a quiet breath and walked deeper into the district.
Eventually, he turned into a narrow alley.
Step by step, he moved farther inside until he finally saw her.
Mikoto.
She sat quietly on a set of stone stairs with her head lowered, completely lost in thought.
She failed to notice his approach.
Only when a gentle hand rested on top of her head did she suddenly flinch.
Startled, Mikoto looked up.
Then froze.
"…Ryujin-sama…"
Ryujin stood before her with a faint smile on his face.
"Alone?" he asked calmly.
"And you didn't even notice someone approaching."
There was a teasing tone hidden in his voice.
"Mikoto… if you continue like this, you'll never become a proper ninja."
130 plus chapters aHEAD ON MY PATREON Ph4nt0mTL