Chapter 5: The Wedding
The Senju clan's patrols had already spotted them long before they arrived.
When they reached the entrance, many people came out to greet them. Among them was Tobirama and Hashirama's father, the current head of the Senju clan, Senju Butsuma.
"Father, we were attacked by the Uchiha clan on the way," Tobirama spoke up before Senju Butsuma could even ask. "The three uncles were injured. It was all thanks to the Uzumaki clan's Great-Uncle, Uzumaki Masahiko, that we were able to repel them."
The surrounding crowd erupted. "The Uchiha! How dare they!"
"Lord Clan Head, please give the order! We will go and teach the Uchiha a lesson!"
"Lord Clan Head..."
"Enough!" Senju Butsuma cut them off. "Today is the day of Hashirama and Mito's wedding. As for the Uchiha, we will teach them a lesson sooner or later!"
"Someone, take our injured clansmen to be cared for. Where is Hashirama? It's already getting late. Call him out quickly so we can begin the wedding ceremony!"
"This is all a bit rushed. My apologies for the poor reception, Niece Mito. And this must be the Uzumaki's... Second Uncle... Masahiko. You have worked hard today."
"Lord Senju, there's no need to be so polite. You can just call me Masahiko." Facing the clan head of the number one clan in the Warring States, and sensing his chakra reserves, which were several times greater than his own, Masahiko didn't dare act superior and accept being called 'Uncle'.
'This amount of chakra... As expected of the Senju Clan Head. He's so much stronger than the clan head and elders of my Uzumaki clan. I'm afraid he's already at the peak of the 'Clan Head' level. In this era, probably only the future Hashirama and Madara will be able to definitively surpass him,' Masahiko thought.
At this moment, two figures walked out from the compound. One was the Third Elder of the Senju clan, and the other... was Hashirama.
Masahiko watched the future "God of Shinobi" from a distance. Seeing him steal glances at Mito, and thinking of his goofy personality, Masahiko felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.
"Hashirama is here. How are the preparations in the main hall?" Senju Butsuma asked.
"Everything is ready, Lord Clan Head," replied the Third Elder who had come with him. Hashirama, meanwhile, had already fallen into a state of inexplicable shyness...
"In that case, let everyone move to the main hall," Butsuma said.
"Ahem..." Masahiko coughed lightly, simultaneously signaling Tobirama with his eyes.
Tobirama immediately understood. "Father, the Uzumaki clan wishes for the wedding ceremony to be conducted according to their customs."
That's right. This was the "dirty deal" Masahiko had struck with Tobirama on the road in exchange for the Shuriken Substitution Jutsu.
However, Masahiko wasn't the only Uzumaki present. Mito shot her unreliable Great-Uncle a glance and immediately understood what was happening.
"Yes. I also hope to have an Uzumaki-style wedding." For some reason, Mito didn't refuse. Instead, she actively supported him.
"Since you request it, Mito, then so be it. Tobirama, you know the procedure. You will officiate your older brother's wedding. Is that a problem?" Senju Butsuma said.
"I can, Father," Tobirama replied.
The group entered the hall. Tobirama spoke again: "Father, Great-Uncle, you two represent the parents of both families. Please sit in the seats of honor."
"The bride and groom, this way," he said, guiding Hashirama and Mito to the center of the hall.
Thinking of the lines he had to read, Tobirama's mouth twitched, but he continued nonetheless.
"First part of the ceremony: The couple will share an apple!" As he spoke, an apple was lowered on a string between the two. "Big brother, Sister-in-law, you can only use your mouths. No hands allowed."
It's difficult to describe the specifics of how this part went. In short, after it was over, Hashirama's entire face was bright red. Mito, on the other hand, was fine, just watching Hashirama and laughing softly.
Tobirama also couldn't hide his amusement. Opportunities to see his older brother this flustered were rare. He finally understood why Masahiko had insisted on this whole procedure...
"Second part of the ceremony: The couple's vows of love!" Speaking up to this point, Tobirama felt even more awkward.
"Uzumaki Mito, do you take this man to be your husband, to have and to hold? In sickness and in health, or for any other reason, will you love him, care for him, respect him, and be faithful to him, until death do you part?"
Mito was stunned for a moment before replying, "I do."
Afterward, Tobirama asked Hashirama the same question. He hadn't even finished reading the lines when Hashirama blurted out, "I do!" This time, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.
Tobirama also smiled and continued officiating: "Third part of the ceremony: The Three Bows!"
"You two, turn and face the front. First bow, to Heaven and Earth!"
The two froze for a second before reacting, hurriedly bowing toward the front.
"Second bow, to the parents!"
The two turned around and bowed to Butsuma and Masahiko.
"Third bow, to each other!"
The two smiled at each other and bowed deeply.
"Ceremony complete! You may proceed to the bridal chamber!"
"Alright, Big brother, Sister-in-law, the wedding is over. It's getting late. You should go and rest," Tobirama teased.
At this, even Mito's face turned red. The two looked at each other, then turned around. "Father, Great-Uncle, Elders, and clansmen, we will take our leave now."
"Go on," Butsuma said.
After the two left, the spectating clansmen also departed, chatting and laughing.
The only ones remaining were Masahiko, Senju Butsuma, Senju Tobirama, the three Senju clan compound elders, and the two elders from the eastern and western battlefronts.
Butsuma thought for a moment, then said, "Masahiko has had a long day. Tobirama, take him to a guest room to rest."
"I really am a bit tired," Masahiko replied, following Tobirama out.
After the two were long gone, Butsuma's face instantly darkened. "What the hell kind of wedding was that? Is that an Uzumaki ceremony?"
The First Elder said, "It was likely Uzumaki Masahiko's idea. I'd long heard he was... unreliable. I didn't expect him to be even more ridiculous than the rumors."
Butsuma continued, "Forget it. A wedding ceremony doesn't affect the big picture. With Hashirama and Mito married, our relationship with the Uzumaki clan is now even closer."
The Eastern Elder added, "Exactly. With the Uzumaki's help, the pressure on our eastern front will be greatly reduced. That damn Kaguya clan! We must teach them a lesson."
"We can't rely entirely on the Uzumaki clan," Butsuma added. "They've always stayed neutral in this war; they might not be willing to help us with their full strength. Let's do this: Hashirama just got married. Let him rest in the compound for half a month, then have him and Tobirama go support you."
"That would be even better. That bunch of taijutsu lunatics is perfectly countered by Hashirama's Wood Release," said the Northern Elder.
...
The meeting here continued, but Masahiko had already reached his guest room. Today's mashup of Western, Eastern, ancient, and modern wedding customs had satisfied a bit of his sentimentality from his previous life. Of course, he would never admit he did it all just to make Hashirama bow to him as a 'parent'.
After Tobirama left, Masahiko, who had been running all day, collapsed onto the bed... only to sit bolt upright a second later.
Because a familiar line of text had just flashed in his mind: "Participated in and witnessed a major event in the Naruto world: The Wedding of Hashirama and Mito. Received 20 Witness Points."