Konoha Hospital.
Kitazawa sat on a bench outside the operating room, waiting, a rare look of tension on his face.
Even when he had fought Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, he had never been this nervous.
Because inside the operating room were Kurenai Yuhi and Tsunade.
It was already December now.
They had gotten pregnant at roughly the same time, so by sheer coincidence, they were giving birth on the same day.
Theoretically, with their strength, nothing could possibly go wrong with this delivery.
And yet Kitazawa still could not help but worry.
"Kitazawa-sensei."
Yamanaka Ino noticed his mood and took his hand.
"I'm fine."
Kitazawa shook his head and said, "Really."
When he received the news, he had been in the Hokage's office.
Ino had happened to be reporting to him at the time, so she came with him.
Ino instinctively glanced toward the operating room.
If anyone's emotions were wavering even more than Kitazawa's, it was hers.
But Ino didn't think she could be blamed for that.
Anyone who heard that Kurenai Yuhi and Tsunade were both pregnant and about to give birth would have a hard time believing it.
Kurenai, she could understand.
Even though she and Kitazawa weren't married, everyone knew about their relationship.
But Tsunade…
That was what had truly shocked her.
Three hours had already passed since she first heard the news, but Ino still felt dazed.
After all, Tsunade and Kitazawa had once been teacher and student.
Ino suddenly froze for a moment.
She remembered something.
Hinata Hyuga and Kitazawa were also teacher and student.
That thought made her feel oddly relieved.
If she thought about it carefully, this was actually a good thing.
It meant she could marry Kitazawa too.
"Ino."
Kitazawa pinched her cheek and said, "Go take care of your work. You don't need to stay here with me."
"I…"
Ino had wanted to stay, but after a second thought, she nodded.
"Alright. I'll go first, Kitazawa-sensei."
Because she realized that, given her current position, it really wasn't appropriate for her to remain here.
Besides, this was Kitazawa's big day. She shouldn't disturb him.
Ino stood up and headed for the exit.
At the entrance of Konoha Hospital, she turned back for one last look.
A thought surfaced in her heart.
When it was her turn to be pregnant and give birth someday, Kitazawa would definitely be just as nervous.
At that thought, Ino couldn't help smiling.
"Konan."
Kitazawa called out.
Konan instantly appeared before him.
"Have the Anbu announce who I'm marrying, and the date of the wedding."
Kitazawa spoke directly.
Today was the day of the delivery. The timing was right now, so there was no need to keep it hidden any longer.
He had already spent more than half a year shaping public opinion. The shinobi and civilians of the ninja world had long since prepared themselves mentally.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Konan nodded.
As soon as she finished speaking, she vanished.
By now, computers and the internet had already become widespread throughout the ninja world, and information traveled countless times faster than before.
In less than an hour, the entire ninja world learned that Kitazawa, Tsunade, and Kurenai Yuhi would be getting married on December 24.
Almost everyone was stunned.
But beyond the shock, no one objected.
Aside from the public opinion campaign beforehand, the most important reason was simple: Kitazawa's reputation was now far too great.
Once the news spread, quite a few people even praised him as a real man.
At the Third Ninja Army's station, in Iwagakure—
Hiashi Hyuga sat in his office, looking at the notice in his hand, unable to hide his surprise.
He had never imagined that Kitazawa would actually marry Tsunade.
But very soon, just like Ino, he thought of Hinata Hyuga.
Of course, he didn't know that Hinata and Kitazawa had already undergone their "final special training."
The reason Hinata came to mind was because of how unusual her behavior became whenever she talked about Kitazawa.
Hiashi hadn't paid much attention to it before. He had simply assumed she admired him.
After all, Kitazawa was her teacher.
But now that he thought about it, something felt off.
That was more than simple admiration.
Hiashi subconsciously rubbed his brow.
If something like this could work out, it would actually be a good thing for the Hyuga clan.
But whether it could happen or not didn't depend on Hinata alone.
In the end, Hiashi shook his head.
This was not a matter where he—or the Hyuga clan—could do anything.
All they could do was wait and see.
In the western region of the Land of Fire, in what had once been the Land of Silence—
Jiraiya was drinking in an izakaya.
He had a beautiful hostess in each arm and was having a great time.
At that moment, a toad carrying a scroll on its back hopped onto the table.
Jiraiya froze slightly, sobering up a good deal.
It was an intelligence toad from Mount Myōboku.
A long time ago, after a single order from the Great Toad Sage, all the toads of Mount Myōboku had come under the jurisdiction of Konoha—or rather, the Land of Fire.
Jiraiya had no fixed residence, and he disliked going online.
Under normal circumstances, it was hard for the Anbu to find him.
But Mount Myōboku's toads could track him down easily.
And not just him, either.
Jiraiya couldn't help feeling puzzled.
What kind of news in today's ninja world still had to be delivered by toad?
Ever since Kitazawa became Emperor, the world had been peaceful in every direction.
That was exactly why Jiraiya had felt so aimless and had simply gone off to gather material around the ninja world.
He had always been carefree.
Making him sit in an office and work was completely against his nature.
"You two, step outside for a moment."
After the two hostesses left the private room, Jiraiya opened the scroll strapped to the toad's back.
He glanced at it casually—
Then froze.
Kitazawa would be getting married on December 24.
That wasn't the important part.
The important part was the second half.
The people he was marrying were Tsunade and Kurenai Yuhi.
"That's impossible!"
Jiraiya blurted out instinctively.
But he knew very well that neither Mount Myōboku nor the Land of Fire would ever joke about something like this.
After all, Kitazawa was the Emperor.
Making fun of the Emperor was the kind of thing only someone tired of living would do.
Jiraiya stared blankly at the scroll in his hands.
His first instinct was to return to the Land of Fire and ask Tsunade face-to-face what was going on.
But then what?
What would he do even if he got an answer?
Jiraiya knew Tsunade's personality all too well.
And with something as serious as marriage, there was no way she had been forced into it.
If it was her own choice, then what could he possibly do?
Jiraiya let out a long sigh.
Then he remembered something.
Ever since Tsunade became Kitazawa's teacher, she had gradually changed.
Jiraiya had never connected that change to Kitazawa before.
But now, it seemed that Tsunade's change had most likely happened because of him.
"Tsunade… I wish you happiness."
After a long silence, Jiraiya raised a cup of sake and drank it down in one go.
He had once had a chance.
But for various reasons, he had missed it in the end.
Time passed slowly.
Then Kitazawa heard the door open and immediately stood up.
"Kitazawa."
Shizune stepped out and said, "Both mothers and daughters are safe."
Since they had been living under the same roof, Shizune had already known about Tsunade's pregnancy half a year ago.
She had long since gotten over the initial shock, so now she could take it in stride.
Still, helping Tsunade deliver her child was something she would never forget for the rest of her life.
"Thank you, Shizune-senpai."
Kitazawa finally let out a breath of relief.
"We're about to move Tsunade-sama and Kurenai into their rooms," Shizune reminded him. "Come with us."
Kitazawa nodded.
Soon, Tsunade and Kurenai Yuhi were wheeled out.
They both looked exhausted after giving birth.
At the same time, Kitazawa finally saw his two daughters.
On the surface, they looked no different from ordinary newborns.
But the moment he saw them, he noticed something extraordinary in their eyes—a powerful ocular force.
It was a power he knew well.
It came from the Rinnegan and the Byakugan.
The daughter Tsunade had given birth to possessed the Rinnegan from birth.
The daughter born to Kurenai Yuhi possessed the Byakugan from birth.
Of course, it was not the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, but the Ōtsutsuki clan's Byakugan.
Still, the two girls could switch freely the moment they were born, so their eyes currently appeared normal.
One had inherited Tsunade's bright brown irises.
The other had inherited Kurenai's crimson eyes.
Kitazawa didn't find it strange at all.
Honestly, it would have been weirder if his daughters had been born without anything special.
After all, whether it was him, Tsunade, or Kurenai Yuhi, all three of them had already reached the level of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
"Kitazawa, I'll leave you all to talk."
Shizune had enough self-awareness to know when to go. Once she confirmed there was nothing else she needed to do, she turned and left the room.
In the end, only Tsunade, Kurenai, and Kitazawa remained in the hospital room.
"I've already sent out the notice. The wedding's on the twenty-fourth. What do you think?"
Sitting by the bedside, Kitazawa asked casually.
"I don't mind."
Kurenai Yuhi shook her head.
"Hmph. You're getting the better end of this by far."
Tsunade shot him a look.
Kitazawa blinked, saying nothing.
Because in this matter, he really had come out with a huge advantage.
He didn't stay long.
First, because Tsunade and Kurenai needed to rest.
Second, because the wedding was right around the corner, and he still had a great deal to arrange.
Kitazawa returned to the Hokage's office.
Konan appeared soon after.
"How did they react?" Kitazawa asked casually.
"Nothing unusual."
Konan knew exactly what he meant.
"Everyone is very supportive of your marriage."
"Go bring Ino here."
After thinking for a moment, Kitazawa gave the order.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Konan turned and left.
Not long after, Ino pushed the office door open and walked in.
"Shizune-senpai is busy today," Kitazawa said without preamble. "So for now, you'll temporarily take over her duties and begin pushing forward the wedding preparations."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei."
Ino nodded, then asked, "How are Tsunade-sama and Kurenai-sensei?"
"Both mothers and daughters are safe."
Kitazawa smiled.
"I want to have your child too."
Ino stepped closer, her face full of expectation.
"Not yet."
Kitazawa shook his head.
"Your bodies haven't reached their peak yet."
Though Ino felt a little disappointed, she said nothing more.
After all, she was only nineteen.
To be honest, she still wasn't fully prepared to become a mother.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
At last, December 24 arrived.
Early that morning, the entire palace was decorated in a festive atmosphere.
As Emperor, Kitazawa's wedding was naturally going to draw countless guests.
The palace was huge, but even so, it still wasn't enough.
The Hokage Secretariat had specifically ordered the Engineering Department to use Earth Release to construct a massive temporary wedding venue near the palace, one large enough to hold tens of thousands of people.
They also built several large teleportation arrays so guests could be transported directly from the palace to the wedding grounds.
At nine in the morning—
Even though the wedding was still two hours away, the venue was already packed.
"This is incredible!"
Naruto Uzumaki exclaimed in amazement.
"If the venue were bigger, even more people would've come."
Shikamaru Nara said it casually.
"How come it's just you and Choji?"
Tenten glanced around and asked, "Where's Ino?"
"Ino is the Hokage's secretary now."
Sakura Haruno's voice drifted over as she approached.
"The Hokage Secretariat is in charge of this wedding, so she's probably going to be busy all day."
"No wonder Hinata isn't here either."
Tenten nodded.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto instantly spotted Sasuke Uchiha standing beside Sakura.
Sasuke gave him a nod.
"Hey, everyone!"
At that moment, Kiba Inuzuka's voice rang out from not far away.
Everyone turned instinctively—and paused in surprise.
Because besides Kiba, there was also a gray-haired young woman standing with him.
"Her name is Tamaki. She's Granny Cat's granddaughter."
Seeing their reaction, Kiba introduced her.
"What's your relationship?"
Tayuya asked curiously.
"Ahem."
Kiba looked a little embarrassed.
"We're dating."
In the original story, after the Fourth Great Ninja War, he and Tamaki had become a couple.
"Didn't expect you to get there before the rest of us."
Chino said with a light laugh.
"That's because I'm amazing!"
Kiba declared proudly.
Sakura instinctively glanced at Sasuke.
The relationship between the two of them was a little subtle right now.
They looked like a couple, but they still hadn't openly said it out loud.
As for Naruto and Rock Lee, though, they clearly didn't care much about that kind of thing.
"What are you all planning to give Kitazawa-sensei as a wedding gift?"
Shino Aburame pushed up his glasses and asked.
"I bought two sets of the most expensive women's jewelry from Konoha Jewelry."
Tenten answered.
"I'm giving him some medicinal herbs specially prepared by my family. Kitazawa-sensei is a medical ninja, so he'll be able to use them."
Shikamaru said, both hands behind his head.
"You all are rich…"
Sakura said blankly.
"Limited-edition instant ramen!"
Naruto announced excitedly.
"That's… unique."
Sasuke twitched the corner of his mouth and gave his verdict.
The group chatted as they waited.
Eventually, the time reached eleven o'clock at noon.
The wedding officially began.
Kitazawa, Tsunade, and Kurenai Yuhi appeared before everyone.
"The groom and brides have arrived!"
Ino called out loudly.
She had volunteered to be the master of ceremonies for the day.
Even if she hadn't, the role would still have gone to someone from the Hokage Secretariat.
Either Shizune, herself, or Hinata.
Hinata had wanted to do it too, but her personality simply wasn't suited to being an emcee, so she had ultimately given up.
This wasn't a modern wedding, but a traditional one.
Tsunade and Kurenai were both dressed in pure white shiromuku.
Kitazawa wore a black kimono.
The wedding ceremony itself was very complicated.
For Kitazawa, it was little more than going through the motions.
After all, their daughters had already been born.
But for Tsunade and Kurenai, the wedding still held special meaning.
Especially for Tsunade.
She had never imagined that she would one day truly hold a wedding with Kitazawa.
"The ceremony is complete!"
Looking at Kitazawa, Ino raised her voice and announced:
"The wedding banquet will now begin!"
~~~
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