Three days later.
Under everyone's attention, the Fire Nation Federation in Parallel World 4 was officially announced as scheduled, with a grand national founding ceremony held.
Hundreds of thousands of attendees from across the world gathered in Konoha Village.
Festive celebrations lasted day and night.
The entire village, now renamed the Fire Capital of the Fire Nation Federation, was bustling.
Of course, as Fourth Hokage and Federation Council Chairman, Minato was busy as a spinning top all day.
Constantly receiving honored guests, attending ceremonies, reading announcements, signing regulations… and so on.
Luckily, Minato was a ninja, able to act with clones.
Otherwise, with all this busyness, he'd be exhausted tonight.
However…
Compared to the superficial daytime celebrations, for Minato and others, tonight's private cross-dimensional dinner was more important, more anticipated.
Five o'clock evening.
After handling most major affairs, leaving clones on standby.
Minato's real body teleported home early, carefully preparing the dinner.
Miso Chashu Ramen, Dried Katsuo Onigiri, Three-Color Dango, Salt-Grilled Sanma, Seafood Feast, Cinnamon Rolls, Mixed Nabe, Hijiki, Apple Rice Omelet, Boiled Sardine Meatballs, Grilled Sanma, Spicy Hamburger, Red Tea Cake…
Too many.
At least twenty to thirty specialty dishes needed preparation.
Plus, many guests tonight meant preparing extra of everyone's favorites. Fortunately, with sufficient intel, this wasn't hard.
Outside the kitchen.
Slightly nervous Kushina, holding Naruto, repeatedly offered help, gently refused by Minato.
But anxious, nervous Kushina turned anxiety into chatter and advice, constantly reminding Minato to prepare this, that…
Making Minato sweat coldly.
In the kitchen, Minato activated Kyuubi Chakra Mode, turning golden lightning to chop vegetables, fry food fast. Efficiency dizzying.
Luckily, soon after.
Kakashi's team of four, arriving early, helped.
"Minato-sensei, let me help!"
Edo Tensei Rin smiled sweetly, highly enthusiastic, proactive.
"Oh, Rin! Your arrival's a big help, can you prep those ingredients?"
"Leave it to me!"
Rin rolled up sleeves, joyfully joining food prep.
"Sensei, I'll help too…"
Repentant Obito approached, trying spend more time with Rin, help Minato.
But seconds into kitchen, sounds of falling, breaking plates, chopsticks.
Soon, Rin dragged Obito out by ear.
"Pfffttt—!"
Muffled laughter. Obito glared embarrassed at masked, innocent-looking Kakashi.
But young Shisui hiding behind Kakashi quietly shrugged, chuckled.
"What're you laughing at?"
"Huh? Nothing, just recalled something fun."
"What fun? Tell me…"
Obito lunged at young Shisui.
As Uchiha senior, he planned to teach this cheeky junior a lesson.
"Kakashi-senpai, help!"
Shisui laughed joyfully, playing hide-and-seek around Kakashi. Besides harshness to himself, Shisui wasn't cold.
After all, he could joke, steal Itachi from Sasuke. Still had humor.
Plus, village at peace now. Uchiha clan, Hokage trusted each other. Without clan-village pressure, Shisui grew relaxed.
Kakashi shook head helplessly, ready to stop them.
He heard tonight's Minato dinner guests were extraordinary big shots. If they kept causing ruckus, how proper?
"Alright, both calm down!"
Kakashi tried stopping them.
But Obito activated Kamui to phase, Shisui used Shunshin no Jutsu to dodge left-right, leaving Kakashi unable to stop temporarily.
"You guys—!"
As Kakashi nearly lost patience.
Shisui behind suddenly exerted force, locking him.
"Quick, great chance!"
"Kakashi, I'm coming!"
Obito seized chance. In surprise, he pulled Kakashi's mask.
Clearly, a pre-agreed trick. Kakashi's mask was their real target!
"Got it?"
"Did it work?"
Both looked at Kakashi, but joy faded. Under Kakashi's mask, another half-breathing mask!
"Bastard! How many layers you wear?"
"Kakashi-senpai, let us see once!"
Obito jumped anxiously, Shisui pleaded sincerely.
Sadly, couldn't sway Kakashi's resolve.
Clearly, seeing Kakashi's true face behind mask, in some sense, was classified impossible 'concept.'
At least Obito, Shisui couldn't do it.
"Alright, play later."
"I need your help."
Kushina called. Obito and co. Stood straight, awaiting orders.
"Obito, go to Ichiraku again, order three hundred ramen portions!"
"Huh? That many? Who'll eat?"
"Go quick!"
Kushina put on serious face, urged.
Who'd eat that much?
How could she not know how many big eaters at tonight's dinner?
Minato only needed prep specialties. For bulk main dishes, had to trouble Ichiraku's Teuchi.
Daughter-in-law visiting. Must ensure they eat full before leaving!
"Roger!"
Obito activated Kamui, vanished to Kamui dimension.
With his other dimension, he was most useful delivery guy. Only he could easily bring back hundreds ramen portions.
"Kakashi, Shisui. From seven, help me greet guests."
"Okay!"
"Got it!"
Kakashi, Shisui young, no dark history any timeline. Most suited to greet.
Couldn't let Obito greet Nagato and co. At door, fearing house wrecking.
"But who're tonight's guests? Daimyōs from nations?"
Shisui curious. Hard imagine what honored guests deserved such respectful greeting by Minato couple.
"You'll know later. Don't be too shocked!"
Kushina livened, reverting to youthful mischief, ready to tease Kakashi, Shisui.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Time passed fast.
Obito not back. Hundreds ramen portions, plus other customers' orders. Even Teuchi cramped pulling ramen.
Finally, seven o'clock.
Door wind chime rang on time, followed by knocks.
Kushina rushed, opened door to greet.
"Shodai-sama, Madara-sama, you're here! Welcome all!"
"Hahaha, here to bother!"
Parallel World 1 Hashirama scratched head, laughed heartily. Then joyfully led several into house.
Parallel World 1 Madara escorted Hashirama, arms crossed, nodding coldly at Kushina. Actively nodding was polite enough.
Behind Hashirama, Madara, three more.
Parallel World 1 Tobirama, Naori, Izuna.
Naori's eyes covered white silk, seeming melancholic. Likely didn't transplant Sharingan, still blind.
Held by Tobirama, Izuna, one left, one right.
Of course, Tobirama, Izuna didn't get along. Sulking, glaring till inside.
If not for Naori, they'd have fought.
"Tobirama-sama, Izuna-sama, Naori-san, hello!" Kushina slightly shocked, hurriedly greeted one by one.
Naori, Izuna promptly returned greetings, only Tobirama seemed distracted.
"Tobirama! Be polite!"
Hashirama turned, smacked Tobirama's head, dizzying him.
Unsure if truly mad at Tobirama's rudeness; or because Tobirama posed as elder brother, secretly stabbed Madara's butt, making elder brother harsher lately.
"Hello Kushina, sorry to bother."
Parallel World 1 Tobirama nodded back sadly, dutifully escorting Naori into inner hall.
Meanwhile, Parallel World 1 Izuna, suddenly interested in little Shisui greeting.
"You're Uchiha clan kid too?"
"Y-Yes, right! I'm Uchiha Shisui…"
Shisui answered stuttering, body frozen.
Gods, he thought guests were Daimyōs, prior Kage; but door opened, First Hokage, Second Hokage… Living stone statues, even Uchiha ancestor Madara appeared!
Made little Shisui's head nearly smoke.
He suspected dreaming? But Kushina's reaction wasn't dreamlike.
Thus, Kakashi beside also stunned.
"Good, good! I like outstanding juniors like you. Come, let's chat!"
Izuna grew interested. Extended big hand, grabbed Shisui, rubbed back-forth, showing care.
Compared to brother, Izuna cared deeply for entire Uchiha clan, hoping more Uchiha geniuses in future!
Hence his interest in Shisui.
Kushina calm, with Lux's assurance. Tonight's dinner guests wouldn't overdo. Plus, interacting with long-dead Uchiha ancestors surely beneficial for Shisui.
Just, Kushina seemed not to see expected Grandma Mito, puzzling her.
"Shodai-sama, sorry to ask, where's Grandma Mito?"
"Her? Mito said she felt unwell, didn't like too-crowded gatherings, so didn't come…"
"Sss—! Shodai-sama, didn't you invite her more than once?"
"Huh? Invite what? Isn't this casual gathering? Can invite her next time, right?" Hashirama said dumbly, confused.
"Ugh! Then, after you return, you might be in trouble."
Kushina shivered. She could imagine Hashirama's big trouble returning.
"Trouble?"
"No worries. Shodai-sama, please. Enter, rest."
After pleasantries, greetings, all Parallel World 1 honored guests entered.
Though slight issues, overall smooth.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Soon, wind chime rang again, second guest group arrived.
Four total.
Leading, Parallel World 2 Madara, followed by slightly bruised, swollen-faced Parallel World 2 Tobirama, Mito, Kagami.
After Parallel World 2 Madara entered, eyes swept around.
Paused on Hashirama three seconds, then glared unhappily at Parallel World 1 Madara, finally focusing on Parallel World 1 Izuna.
"Izuna!!!"
Parallel World 2 Madara exclaimed joyfully. Boundless longing for his brother flooded.
He hadn't revived his Izuna. Seeing Parallel World 1 Izuna here, he was thrilled.
"Brother?"
Parallel World 1 Izuna, rubbing Shisui, couldn't help shock. Turning, seeing identical brother, stunned.
Parallel World 2 Madara lunged at Izuna, but Parallel World 1 Madara blocked.
"That's my brother!"
"He's my brother too!"
Both Madaras faced off fiercely, neither backing down.
Especially Parallel World 1 Madara. How bear let beloved brother be greeted by another self? Even one call of his name felt like boyfriend stolen!
"Brothers…"
Izuna felt dizzy.
Both Madaras his brothers, their love real. Hard to pick sides!
But luckily, all warned beforehand: any violence during dinner, sent home immediately.
So, though both Madaras' eyes nearly sparked fire, they restrained.
Shisui, squeezed, seized chance, struggled free from Izuna's grip, escaped.
Elsewhere.
Parallel World 2 Mito saw Parallel World 1 Hashirama instantly. Eyes filled deep longing, sorrow.
This sincere gaze across millennia made Parallel World 1 Hashirama shiver, stiffen.
Facing another wife ten years older, a widow who lost him, with Hashirama's emotional intelligence, he struggled!
He hurriedly signaled Parallel World 2 Tobirama, urging other good brother save him!
Sadly, how dare Parallel World 2 Tobirama step up?
Caught between sister-in-law, brother, daring stand out, feared head chopped!
Plus, just angered Madara, beaten half-crippled.
After hard recovery, attending such cross-dimensional gathering, must stay low.
Else, if other Madara knew what he did.
Then, several Madaras ganging up beating him. How survive?
This mustn't be known!
(But what's with that Parallel World 1 Tobirama bastard? Why uninjured? Didn't fulfill bet? Or dodged Madara's venomous beating?)
(No way, impossible!)
(And, why's a Uchiha kunoichi beside him, so close?)
(Can this be tolerated?)
(This bastard shames Senju Tobirama!)
Parallel World 2 Tobirama, grim-faced, lunged at other Parallel World 1 Tobirama!
Even dying, he'd drag other self down!
Also, last Parallel World 2 Kagami, shocked by scene. Though Tobirama explained before coming.
But truly seeing house full of famed ninjas from other space-times, couldn't curb shock.
Luckily, Kagami's adaptability strong. Quickly calmed.
Same time, saw little Shisui. Familiarity, closeness rose from heart. Thus, moved instantly, caught poor Shisui again, began peaceful interaction.
Seeing Shisui caught again, Kakashi couldn't help trembling.