At this moment, everyone present suddenly realized that perhaps the two people with the highest authority and status in the entire Shinobi World right now, the "Village of Earth" leader Yahiko and the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, were both Jiraiya's students.
'So… isn't Jiraiya the real winner in life?'
Even Tsunade, looking at the spirited Jiraiya on stage, couldn't help feeling a little envious.
She murmured softly, "I've lost all my life, but you… you've been winning all along, haven't you?"
At that moment, Orochimaru turned his head slightly toward Tsunade and said, "Tsunade, sometimes your luck really confuses even me."
"But, I can offer you a way to win too."
"That is, win that man Jiraiya himself. If you win him, then his victory is yours too, isn't it?"
Tsunade gave a short scoff, lifted her bottle, and took a sip of sake.
She said quietly, "Keeping things the way they are isn't so bad, Orochimaru. Maybe the thing that makes me happiest… is that you didn't leave Konoha, and that you're still sitting here with us."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered slightly, "So, you already knew everything. Yes, I did once have thoughts of leaving… but certain things changed my mind."
"The new wind of the Shinobi World has already begun to blow. It's strong, very strong. Tsunade, you've felt it too, haven't you?"
Tsunade took another sip and said, "Yeah… this wind really is strong. So very strong."
———
Meanwhile, on the other side, Nagato looked up at Yahiko on the stage, radiant and full of spirit, and at Konan, more beautiful than ever. His heart filled with joy, and then, he turned to the woman beside him, Pakura.
Suddenly, he gathered his courage and said, "Pakura, do you like me?"
Pakura's face flushed slightly, but she didn't look away. Instead, she asked in return, "Then… do you like me?"
Nagato said without hesitation, "Of course I do."
Pakura shook her head slightly, "So today is the wedding of your two best friends. What are you trying to say?"
Nagato said, "That's right. So, let's get married too."
Pakura trembled all over, "You… don't you think that's a bit sudden?"
Nagato said, "It's not sudden. Just like when I held your hand and drew that blade that day, once you've made up your mind, everything happens in an instant."
Pakura went quiet for a moment. Her gaze softened, and she whispered a single word, "Okay."
That day, the three founders of Akatsuki each found their own happiness.
Afterward, Jiraiya stood on stage and officiated Yahiko and Konan's wedding.
There were no vows, because their bond needed no words.
They simply clasped hands, facing the crowd.
And so, under the witness of countless important figures from the Five Great Nations, in this country of eternal rain, at Akatsuki's birthplace, and amidst the heartfelt blessings of their comrades, Yahiko, the founder of Akatsuki, and Konan, Akatsuki's angel, completed one of the most important ceremonies of their lives.
This wedding would later be known as… The Wedding of the Century.
The wedding ended perfectly.
———
With the Village of Earth's second leader's grand wedding over, the Shinobi World remained peaceful and calm.
After the Konoha group returned to the village, just a few days later, Uchiha Fugaku came to find Obito, his face full of joy.
"Obito, I finally understand what you meant when you said a joyous event was coming! Mikoto is finally pregnant! Itachi is about to have a little brother!"
This was not outside Obito's expectations. He only smiled and said, "Then, congratulations, Clan Leader Fugaku. So Sasuke is finally going to be born."
A faint look of nostalgia appeared in Fugaku's eyes, "Sasuke… he's a good child. I wonder, in that other world, how the other Sasuke is doing?"
Obito replied, "There's no need to worry about that, Clan Leader. Perhaps that Sasuke already has more children than you."
Fugaku's eyes flickered slightly, "Really now? Using that method to revitalize the Uchiha… he actually thought of that, huh."
"But tell me, can Mikoto and my new child still be named Sasuke?"
Obito of course knew what Fugaku was worried about. After all, the Sasuke from the other timeline had already met with the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
And afterward, because of the cloak he wore, he'd been mistaken by the Five Great Villages for a member of Akatsuki.
Even so, so what?
Obito said calmly, "Don't worry. Sasuke should be named Sasuke. No one can take that name away from him."
Hearing that, Fugaku finally felt at ease.
He smiled and said, "Sasuke suffered too much in his past life. This time, I don't wish for any great achievements from him..I just hope he grows up safely and peacefully, and gets along well with Itachi."
Obito's gaze deepened, "That day will come. The tragedies of the past were all caused by the environment. But now, the environment has changed."
"The truth is, once things improve, the Uchiha can integrate too. The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was wrong after all. It wasn't the Uchiha's nature that made them extreme, nor their love that turned to hate, it was the world itself!"
Fugaku pictured what Obito said and sighed softly, "If true peace really comes, perhaps the clan's pride, and the Sharingan, will fade away, no longer awakened by anyone."
Obito said, "And what of it? A life without the Sharingan would be the Uchiha's happiest life. Besides, who knows, maybe, once the Uchiha are truly happy, even a small sickness or minor sorrow will be enough to awaken their eyes again, out of pure emotion."
Fugaku couldn't help but laugh at himself, "If it really comes to that, then what would we old men even count as?"
Obito mocked gently, "Just people who suffered because times were too harsh and spirits too steady."
"But, Clan Leader Fugaku, that's all for later. For now, there's something we can already start trying. Since the Senju could merge with the other clans, perhaps the Uchiha can too."
"Of course, we don't need to go to Senju's extreme, no need to give up our surname. Just… blend more naturally into the village."
Fugaku murmured, "Blend into the village, huh?"
"All right, Obito. I'll agree to that. I'll ask the clan what they think, as long as it's on a voluntary basis."
Obito nodded and said in farewell, "Clan Leader Fugaku, go home and spend more time with Lady Mikoto. I won't keep you any longer. See ya!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Obito's figure vanished.
Fugaku, seeing this, didn't even have to guess where he'd gone.
'Ah… if only all the clan members were like Obito or Sasuke, I wouldn't have to worry about the Uchiha's population anymore. Perhaps… things really will be different from now on.'
[T/N: I have released a new novels set on Type-Moon universe: "Playboy Watchman of Camelot". Search it by name, it is not in this account. Do give it a try. Have a great read~ I have also pinned it below.]
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