Mizuki didn't mind minor losses, and Tsubaki wasn't stingy either. With everything settled in a single day, when Mizuki made his decision on important matters, Tsubaki didn't really refuse. Relatively speaking, this day had already been quite peaceful. Konoha village was simply too big; many people had lived there for half their lives but still didn't know each other well. Most had only met a few times without becoming familiar. Especially with ninja, the profession that thrived in secrecy—though having become mainstream battle forces in the ninja world over the past millennium—their traditions remained largely unchanged. Having this level of popularity today was actually quite good.
"That's not what I meant," Tsubaki said. "Mizuki, we're ninja after all. Doing side jobs is fine, but being so conspicuous about it—is that really okay?"
"Huh?" Mizuki looked startled. "Why are you worrying about this?"
A small ninja family deeply rooted in Konoha would have good reason to be concerned. The power one wielded determined the level of resources controlled. The Nara clan nearly monopolized the herbal medicine trade thanks to their formidable strength. The Inuzuka bred ninja beasts and had claimed large tracts of land. Even the minor Kurama clan, which had withdrawn from Konoha's mainstream, maintained several excellent bases near the village.
Before overwhelming power shattered the ninja world's order entirely, numbers and strength still held significant value. Due to various considerations, ninja hadn't deeply involved themselves in civilian life or production, yet the massive expenses required to sustain ninja far exceeded those of regular civilians. Open and hidden struggles over resources were inevitable—from conflicts between ninja villages down to petty rivalries over internal rank and promotions—all merely reflections of greater truths.
Once Mizuki's true worth was fully revealed, such immense latent value could never be safeguarded by just Mizuki and Tsubaki alone. Even now, their modest yet highly profitable business could already be considered substantial wealth. But for ninja standards, these were just "soft powers"—providing money, yes, but failing to directly enhance absolute combat capabilities, the very aspect most valued by ninja. Naturally, precisely this point represented the core focus tightly held by major ninja clans and villages.
Therefore, truthfully speaking, Mizuki never worried much about this issue at all. After all, Konoha's overt rules still followed the 'lawful good' alignment—even if that term came from distant fantasy realms. As long as you weren't caught beneath the wheels of authority, its protection was actually quite thorough. Moreover, the impending collapse of the ninja world's order within at most three years further dulled Mizuki's concern toward such matters. Still, since Tsubaki brought it up, he needed to explain things appropriately.
"Don't worry about it," Mizuki said. "I'm already a Jonin now. Besides, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, has held office for quite some time. There won't be any unexpected troubles anymore."
Not to mention the Hyuga clan's overt and covert support—it's unlikely anything dangerous would happen. However, relying on others' kindness and depending upon them for security still seemed somewhat unreliable.
"Should we raise our banner and build our own team? Hmm, seems unfeasible."
"If you're not a legitimate disciple or heir of the Hokage, forming your own little circle within such a massive system seems destined for trouble. Even the Uchiha clan failed at it, so Mizuki definitely couldn't pull it off either. If you aim too high, you'll draw unwanted attention and get shut down; play too small, and it won't be worth the effort. Besides, an upper-rank ninja's influence still falls short."
"Also, Tsubaki, don't you think there are more important things to consider right now?"
It's good to be frugal and detail-oriented, but timing matters, doesn't it? Now really isn't the time to start tallying up how much we've spent—next thing you know, will we be counting all the gifts received? Mizuki remembered that Tsubaki wasn't usually this meticulous—could it be she was feeling shy?
"Yeah, well then, what exactly are we fussing about?" Slightly awkwardly, Tsubaki stood and walked over to Mizuki. "You must be utterly exhausted yourself."
"Right." He had been to several other people's weddings before, but being the central figure this time was surprisingly nerve-wracking. More than anything, he couldn't stop thinking about the parts that hadn't gone smoothly, afraid of leaving behind regrets. As a result, he'd placed tremendous psychological pressure on himself. If he felt this way, Tsubaki probably wasn't in much better shape either, though neither was used to wearing their emotions openly. Still, happiness remained constant.
"Hey, Mizuki," Tsubaki said as she wrapped her arms around his waist, looking up at him.
Mizuki responded by putting an arm around Tsubaki's shoulders.
"It's not just about today," Tsubaki murmured with slight concern. "Honestly, there's no need to push yourself this hard anymore."
Tsubaki understood Mizuki's transformation best. There were no pressing issues threatening imminent danger anymore. While his physical condition hadn't been completely resolved, there wouldn't be immediate problems, and patiently waiting for experimental progress had become feasible.
Mizuki smiled reassuringly. "Remember when I passed my exam to become both a Chunin and an instructor at the Ninja Academy?"
Tsubaki nodded. They'd talked about those experiences recently.
"You told me 'Good job' back then."
Affectionately patting Tsubaki's head, Mizuki continued, "The same person who encouraged me with 'You've got this' is now telling me it's okay not to work so hard."
Burying her face against Mizuki's chest, Tsubaki muttered, "You always remember these tiny little things."
"How could I possibly forget? These moments stay close to my heart."
No matter what either of them said, that deep sense of caring never changed. Just like earlier, when Mizuki needed encouragement, now he needed calm—to keep anxiety from collapsing under excessive pressure. The woman resting beside him was the one who understood him most deeply.
"I see. Since we can't run from it, let's face it together." Tsubaki lifted her head and looked firmly into Mizuki's eyes.
"All right."
When a solitary life transforms into one shared between two people, profound upheaval is inevitable. Mizuki had long been prepared for that. Once you're used to having someone always by your side, it's easy to take them for granted without realizing how essential they've become—like the air we breathe, often overlooked yet absolutely essential.
No one knew who that woman really was, yet she had promised to face everything together. Who could say how she'd react if she found out their opponent was none other than the 'God' they'd met earlier that day.
"Feeling better?" Mizuki smirked.
"Hmm, Mizuki... We're sticking together—for the next few decades at least."
"That goes without saying. Our wedding has been approved by a 'god'—you can't go back on it now."
Mizuki declared firmly, sealing her vow with unwavering determination.
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