One wave hadn't settled before another began.
It was now the forty-seventh year since the founding of Konoha. After celebrating the New Year, the village had once again become lively.
Akio hadn't expected this, the Konoha Council of Elders was formally sending a marriage proposal to the Land of Whirlpools, asking for Uzumaki Kushina's hand in marriage on behalf of Namikaze Minato.
Incidentally, after Hiruzen stepped down as Hokage, he filled the Elder position left vacant by Hyūga Nichikai's death in battle. Thus, the current Konoha Council of Elders consisted of Hiruzen, Danzō, and Kagami.
"So impatient, aren't they?" Akio sighed helplessly. "But since the dowry they're sending is quite generous, I won't cause trouble this time."
The Hokage of Konoha proposing to the princess of the Land of Whirlpools, the event was far grander than the wedding between Kenji and Kazane back then. At that time, Konoha was still rebuilding after the war; no amount of gifts could impress the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
Now, the dowry alone was worth about… twenty Asuma heads.
From the Land of Whirlpools, Nanako accepted the proposal readily and accompanied Konoha's delegation back to finalize the marriage. Minato and Kushina were clearly devoted to each other; there was no reason to refuse.
Upon arriving in Konoha, Nanako immediately sought out Akio to discuss the matter of the dowry.
"A dowry?!" Akio's expression was one of disbelief. "We're marrying Kushina off to Konoha, they even made her the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki and they still have the nerve to ask us for a dowry?"
Nanako sighed softly. "Sensei, keep your voice down. It's not that Konoha is asking us; it's just that Kushina can't go empty-handed into her new home…"
Akio sighed again, clearly displeased. "No wonder Konoha sent such an extravagant dowry. They just want to make the money back. I guess I'll have to find them something to keep them busy, they're always scheming…"
At this point, the Land of Whirlpools was ridiculously wealthy. It still couldn't compare to the Land of Fire, but compared to a shinobi village like Konoha, it was far richer.
Nanako looked at him helplessly. "Sensei, I just want to hold a great-grandchild before I die…"
"What's the rush? You still" Akio started to retort, then paused when he looked at Nanako's snow-white hair. He couldn't bring himself to finish.
"…Forget it. Do as you see fit," he said at last. "You can add the money Konoha owes me from the Third War into Kushina's dowry. They clearly have no plans to pay me back anyway."
"Yes, Sensei."
Akio watched Nanako leave, silently calculating. "Nanako's over seventy now, isn't she…"
…
Without Akio stirring up trouble, the wedding preparations proceeded smoothly.
Nanako adored her granddaughter Kushina deeply. She gave so generously that even Akio felt a twinge of pain at the expense, but Nanako didn't even blink.
On Minato's side, Jiraiya being the rough type was completely clueless about wedding preparations, so he asked Tsunade for help. She at least had experience from organizing Nawaki's wedding.
Seeing Tsunade bustling around to help Minato, Akio felt relieved. If the competition for the Fourth Hokage title had driven a wedge between Tsunade, Jiraiya, Minato, and Nawaki, it would have been a real joke.
When everyone works toward the same goal, preparations move fast.
Finally, Akio picked a good date, March 1st of Konoha Year 47 for the ceremony.
Many wondered why March 1st was a "lucky day," but Akio merely smiled and refused to explain.
"Would I tell them it's the start of the school term?" he thought with amusement. "This way, the academy kids get a day off thanks to Minato and Kushina's wedding. I wonder how many 'school-hating' brats will be overjoyed."
And so, on March 1st, Minato and Kushina's wedding was held.
Akio had attended many weddings, each stirring different feelings.
When Hashirama married Mito, he felt he was witnessing history.
When Kenji married Kazane, he thought he had uncovered the mystery of Tsunade's blonde hair.
When Nawaki married Mikoto, he felt he had "changed the world."
Now, watching Minato and Kushina, he felt a mix of excitement and awkwardness.
Excitement, because the "golden couple" finally came together and soon, Naruto would be born.
Awkwardness, because Kushina was someone he had watched grow up. It was that indescribable feeling of a father watching his daughter marry even if her groom was Minato.
"Heh… I'm just the great-grandfather here," Akio muttered with a wry smile. "I suppose Ninagawa, Kushina's father must be feeling it even more."
He looked over at Ninagawa, who was chatting with Hiruzen and the others, carrying himself now with the dignity of the Whirlpool Daimyō.
The wedding was spectacular held in Konoha's stadium, no less. One could easily imagine the scale and the number of attendees.
It had taken over a month to decorate the enormous stadium into something "elegant."
Nanako herself volunteered to officiate the ceremony, leaving Akio a bit embarrassed to interfere, he still had to maintain his dignity in front of his disciple.
The rest of the ceremony was straightforward, a perfectly proper "Hokage World Wedding," nothing too dramatic.
Still, Akio found himself deeply entertained. After all, this was the wedding of Minato and Kushina, something the original story had never shown.
The celebration lasted a long time. Starting before noon, it continued until dusk as the newlyweds received blessings from countless guests.
At last, when Akio stepped forward to offer his own blessings, the ceremony finally came to an end.
As the couple departed, Akio gained another 20 Witness Points.
"Now, all that's left is to wait for Naruto," he thought.
Recalling Kushina's slightly flushed face from earlier, Akio couldn't help but chuckle.
…
Life soon returned to normal for Akio. He wandered around Konoha aimlessly, hoping to gather some Witness Points but nothing noteworthy happened.
The only event of minor importance was Neji's birth in July, but births of major characters had never awarded him Witness Points before.
"Do I have to both witness and participate for it to count?" he sighed. "If that's the case… how exactly am I supposed to participate in that!?"
By the end of Konoha Year 47, Kushina's belly still showed no sign of pregnancy. But news from the Senju clan once again disrupted Akio's peace.
Uchiha Mikoto was pregnant again.
Doing a quick calculation, Akio shuddered. "No way… are those two planning to make another Sasuke?"
He rushed to the Senju compound and found Nawaki.
"I heard Mikoto's pregnant again. What are you going to name the child?"
Nawaki grinned. "If it's a girl, we haven't decided yet. But if it's a boy… you'll never guess!"
Akio's face darkened. "Don't tell me you're going to name him Senju Sasuke."
Nawaki blinked. "Sasuke? Oh, you mean the Third's father? That's close but not quite."
Akio let out a sigh of relief. "Then what is it?"
"If it's a boy," Nawaki said cheerfully, "I want to name him Senju Akio. Mikoto agrees."
"...What?"
Akio froze for a long moment before coming back to his senses.
Nawaki, are you doing this to get back at me for not supporting you as the Fourth Hokage?
---
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