Chapter 70: A Boring Wedding
While the news of the Daimyo's daughter marrying into the village spread through Konoha and became the talk of the town, the villagers were unaware that their Hokage was currently living in misery.
In an Akimichi BBQ restaurant, Hashirama was treating Masahiko to a meal for the first time in a long while.
Seeing Hashirama hesitate to speak, Masahiko smiled. "What's wrong? The last time you treated me to BBQ was when you wanted Madara to be Hokage. What trouble do you have this time?"
At the mention of Madara, Hashirama clearly became more depressed. He let out a long sigh but didn't explain.
Masahiko smiled. "Last time, there really was nothing I could do. But for other things, you have to trust your Great-Uncle. Tell me about it, and I'll give you some good ideas."
Hashirama looked at Masahiko, then at the table full of empty plates. He couldn't let this meal go to waste... After thinking about it, he said, "It's about Kenji's marriage."
"Six years ago, I arranged the engagement between Kenji and the Daimyo's daughter. You were there too, Great-Uncle. I thought Tobirama was there and would tell Mito about it, but..."
"One thing led to another, and I forgot about it too. Now the wedding is approaching, and Mito and Kenji have only just found out. These past few days..." He sighed again.
Masahiko shook his head with a laugh. "I was wondering why you hadn't told Mito. How could you forget something so important?"
"Before..." Hashirama looked confused. "You knew I didn't say anything... why didn't you remind me?"
"Ah, haha," Masahiko laughed awkwardly. "Didn't I think you just didn't want to say anything yet?"
Hashirama shook his head and sighed again.
Masahiko patted his shoulder. "Don't be so discouraged. Isn't there still me? I'll go talk to Mito..."
After speaking, Masahiko turned and left. Hashirama looked relieved. However, when it came time to pay the bill...
No matter how much the Hokage's heart ached for his wallet, he couldn't bring himself to dine and dash, especially at an Akimichi restaurant. Even if he was unreliable, he had his limits.
While Hashirama was agonizing over the bill, Masahiko had already strolled over to the Senju compound and arrived at Hashirama's house.
He knocked on the door, and Mito welcomed him in. Mito, who had just passed 40, still looked like a young woman. The diamond seal on her forehead was deeper in color, and she still wore a gentle smile.
Before Masahiko could speak, she took the initiative. "Great-Uncle, I know you're here to plead for Hashirama. Actually, I'm not that angry about this matter."
"It's just that Kenji is getting married, and I, as his mother, am the last to know..."
Masahiko scratched his head. Hashirama really hadn't handled this well. But since he had eaten the man's food, he had to help persuade her. Just as he was about to speak, Mito interrupted him again.
"Fortunately, Kenji doesn't have a girl he likes right now, or it would be troublesome. Great-Uncle, please tell Hashirama for me: just this once, never again!" With that, she saw Masahiko out.
Standing in front of Hashirama's closed door, Masahiko smiled bitterly. He hadn't realized Mito was so formidable before. Hashirama must have had a hard time all these years.
"I don't think I even said a word before I was ushered out?" Masahiko shook his head with a wry smile. But a moment later, he broke into a happy grin.
"I guess I got a free BBQ meal out of this... maybe I can even..."
Ten minutes later, Masahiko found a pained-looking Hashirama and said with a smile, "What, does your wallet hurt? Your Great-Uncle didn't eat your BBQ for nothing. After my hard work persuading her, Mito has finally forgiven you! She asked me to tell you: just this once, never again!"
Hashirama was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly, failing to notice Masahiko's slightly strange smile.
With the Hokage's family matters finally resolved, preparations for Kenji's marriage to the Daimyo's daughter were put on the agenda.
Although this was a world where ninjas were respected, and Kenji was the eldest son of a village's Hokage, giving him high status...
But... how should one put it? In some ways, the Naruto world was no different from modern society. For example... money talks.
Konoha had been established for more than six years. Although more and more civilians were moving in and missions were increasing, the village still couldn't be self-sufficient. It required a large sum of funding from the Daimyo every year.
Therefore, the preparations for this wedding were somewhat important. However, Masahiko found that he had nothing to do with it.
"Kenji's wedding... and I have no part in it?" Masahiko muttered to himself. "I'm his Great... Grandpa."
He found a busy Tobirama. Tobirama, who was becoming more and more serious, actually showed an expression somewhere between laughter and tears. "Great-Uncle, you still want to get involved in Kenji's wedding? The wedding of my older brother that you officiated is still unforgettable..."
Masahiko looked embarrassed. So that was why no one had asked him...
"It's been over twenty years. Why do you guys still hold grudges? Great-Uncle was young and ignorant back then..." For the sake of causing trouble, Masahiko didn't even care about his dignity anymore.
But in the end, Masahiko still didn't manage to get involved. He could only leave a resentful remark: "Tobirama, you've changed..."
The wedding was held as scheduled at the beginning of June in the 7th year of Konoha. The Daimyo came to Konoha in person again, but the Guardian Shinobi Eighteen accompanying him had changed.
Masahiko sat helplessly in his seat, watching what seemed to him like an old-fashioned, boring wedding proceeding. It was incredibly dull. The background was just a few simple cherry blossom trees, and Tobirama officiated it in a very standard, by-the-book manner. Not a single one of the rituals Masahiko had taught Tobirama back then was used...
The 20-year-old Kenji was a handsome and talented man, and the 16-year-old Daimyo's daughter looked like a beautiful young girl with flowing blonde hair.
"A talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven. But this wedding..."
Masahiko still wasn't ready to give up. He looked at Hashirama and the Daimyo sitting in the seats of honor, shuffled over a few steps, and patted Hashirama on the shoulder. "Isn't the wedding boring? Why did you let Tobirama officiate? Why didn't you let Great-Uncle..."
Hashirama smiled bitterly. The Daimyo next to him looked at Masahiko and spoke up. "I remember you. You are... the '108 Generals'! You haven't changed much in all these years. How do you do it?" The Daimyo was over 50 and looked older than Masahiko, so he assumed Masahiko had some secret technique for retaining youth.
Masahiko glanced at the Daimyo. "Heh heh..." With a dark face, he turned and walked back to his seat.
Hashirama hurriedly apologized and explained to the Daimyo...
"'108 Generals'... is this going to be a stain on my life forever? This Daimyo!"
Although Masahiko felt the wedding was boring without his "creativity," the onlooking civilians of Konoha were very excited and chattering away.
Even ninjas longed for peace, so naturally, civilians desired it even more.
"With the union of the Hokage's son and the Daimyo's daughter, the Land of Fire and Konoha Village will become even more peaceful..." many people sighed with emotion.
"When will this boring wedding end?" Masahiko sighed with a completely different emotion.
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you