"I never expected Senju Tobirama and Hiruzen Sarutobi to be that sort of people. You truly can't judge by appearances."
"What a pity for Uchiha Kagami."
"If he'd been in Kumogakure, would he ever have ended up like that?"
"Konoha really never treated the Uchiha as their own."
A flicker passed through the Fourth Raikage's eyes.
"In that case, send this suicide note to the Land of Fire—to the hands of the Uchiha."
At present, Kumogakure and Konoha were not engaged in large-scale warfare.
In earlier clashes, Minato Namikaze had even earned the Fourth Raikage's respect.
But Kumogakure was Kumogakure, and Konoha was Konoha.
They were different shinobi villages, and their interests were completely different.
Now that he saw a chance to make things difficult for Konoha, the Fourth Raikage had no intention of letting it go.
He looked toward the young shinobi.
"This suicide note is valuable. I have another use for it. Make a copy of its contents for yourself. I'll count that as a B-rank mission. Do it here."
The young ninja's face lit up with joy.
"Yes, Raikage-sama."
As he copied it down, he silently thanked his long-dead grandfather.
Even after being dead for so many years, one final note had still managed to earn him the reward for a B-rank mission.
"Grandpa, thanks. I'll burn paper for you when I get back."
…
…
In Sunagakure, countless people stepped out into the streets and looked toward the Kazekage Building.
Even knowing that the wedding had been arranged hastily—
Even knowing that the ceremony would be simple—
They wanted all the more to witness it because of that.
"What we're really here to see isn't just a wedding."
"It's the love between Kazekage-sama and Pakura-sama. It's Kirigakure's shamelessness. It's the sacrifice Kazekage-sama and Pakura-sama are making for the village."
"And everyone's determination to resist."
"We will never surrender!"
"We swear to follow Kazekage-sama to the death!"
After changing into wedding attire, Rasa and Pakura made their way to the Kazekage Building and walked inside under the gaze of the crowd.
Each had someone following behind, holding flowers.
Behind Rasa stood Yashamaru.
Behind Pakura stood Maki.
Before long, the two stepped onto the roof of the Kazekage Building, standing high above the village and looking down.
Countless villagers had gathered in the streets, heads tilted up toward them.
Their voices rose in cheers.
"Kazekage-sama!"
"Pakura-sama!"
"What a perfect match!"
The whole of Sunagakure seemed to come alive, the noise of war momentarily washed away by the excitement.
Pakura looked somewhat nervous—likely because this was her first time.
Rasa could not help raising a brow.
A woman with such overwhelming shinobi strength, a hero of Sunagakure whose Scorch Release had earned astonishing results against Kirigakure… and yet now she wore such an expression.
The contrast was unexpectedly charming.
Rasa waved to the crowd below, earning an even fiercer response.
Pakura copied him and gave a wave of her own.
"Give me your hand."
"Ah?"
Pakura froze for a moment, not reacting immediately.
Only when Rasa held out his hand toward her did she hesitate, then slowly raise her own and place it in his palm.
Rasa clasped her hand and lifted it high.
"I, Rasa, in the name of the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, hereby announce—"
He stepped forward.
"I, Rasa."
This time, Pakura did not miss a beat.
Like Rasa, she stepped forward.
"I, Pakura."
Then they spoke together.
"Today, we formally become husband and wife."
An explosion of cheers unlike anything before erupted at once. The roaring wave of sound seemed almost strong enough to shake the nearby buildings apart.
Rasa and Pakura did not lower their hands. They continued to stand there, accepting the roar of the crowd.
Only when their arms began to ache with numbness did Rasa feel dampness in his palm. He turned to glance at Pakura and immediately realized—
She was so nervous that her palm had begun to sweat, and her hand felt hot.
"Everyone."
Rasa looked down at the gathered villagers.
"I believe all of you know that Sunagakure's situation has not been good lately."
"Kirigakure presses us on the battlefield and uses despicable means beyond it."
"But I believe hardship is only temporary. We will endure this dark period. Kirigakure will not break Sunagakure. Sunagakure will not fall."
"I hope all of you can stand united."
"As Kazekage, I will do everything in my power."
"Please trust me."
The voices below grew even louder than before.
At that moment, perhaps not all of Sunagakure was united completely—but at the very least, when it came to facing Kirigakure, the overwhelming majority now stood firmly in opposition.
"Defeat Kirigakure! Defend Sunagakure!"
"Defeat Kirigakure! Defend Sunagakure!"
"We swear to follow Kazekage-sama to the death!"
…
Night fell.
The atmosphere in the village gradually calmed.
Rasa and Pakura entered a room meant for the two of them alone.
Though time had been short, the room had still been carefully decorated.
Besides flowers, there were ornaments of gold and gems placed around the room.
At last, it felt somewhat like a wedding chamber.
Compared to that, the ceremony and outdoor decorations earlier had been far too simple.
Pakura sat on the edge of the bed, nervous and visibly at a loss, unsure where to rest her gaze. Her cheeks carried the faintest flush. In the end, she lowered her head and stared at the tips of her shoes.
Rasa glanced at the sky outside.
At this hour, most people were likely already asleep.
Then he turned to Pakura.
"Pakura, you can rest here tonight. Don't worry—I'll go to the study."
With that, he turned to leave.
But the instant his hand touched the doorknob—
"Wait."
Rasa looked back.
"Is there something else?"
Pakura met his gaze, something complicated flickering in her eyes.
"Now that I've married you, Kazekage-sama, I am your wife. No matter why this wedding took place, that fact can no longer be changed."
"So I must fulfill the duty a wife ought to fulfill."
As she spoke, Pakura rose to her feet and drew in a deep breath.
"Husband… tonight, let me attend to you."
Step by step, she walked toward him, then, with obvious nervousness, took hold of his hand.
One step at a time, she led him back to the bedside, then lay down flat and closed her eyes.
"Husband… please be gentle."
Rasa nodded.
"Very well."
At this point, there was no way he could refuse.
With Pakura having already expressed herself so openly, refusing her now would not be respect.
It would be humiliation.
And besides, the wedding had already taken place. Just as Pakura herself had said, they were husband and wife in every meaningful sense.
There was no longer any possibility of her marrying another.
A gust of wind passed outside the window.
Then came the soft, restless sounds of the night.
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