pdf-ebookys Chapter 449 Wedding
Chapter 449 Wedding
The central shrine of Konoha. The stone steps leading to the solemn main hall are now decorated like a painting.
Fresh, verdant vines and white ribbons entwine the ancient torii gate, and the long approach to the temple is paved with brand-new red felt. Every few steps on either side, there is a pair of exquisite floor-standing stone lanterns, with patterns of swirling vortexes and the Uchiha clan crest intertwined on their shades.
On one side of the shrine entrance stands a large, meticulously crafted signboard with a dark solid wood background and flowing gold lettering in the center.
谨贺
Uzumaki Naruto
Uchiha Sasuki
ごWedding disclosure party
To all our guests:
As seating has been arranged in advance, please inform us of your name at the registration desk so that we can guide you to your seat.
bridegroom and bride
Beside the sign, several late-blooming cherry trees, specially transplanted here, are in full bloom. A gentle breeze blows, and the pink and white petals flutter down, adorning the red carpet and the shoulders of the guests.
Several children dressed in well-fitting suits, who looked to be no more than sixteen years old—led by Sarutobi Konohamaru, along with his friends Udon, Moegi, and others—were seriously busy at the makeshift registration area, helping to guide early-arriving guests and organizing gift lists.
Although it was still early, a considerable number of people had already gathered inside and outside the shrine. Familiar and unfamiliar faces, dressed in formal attire or traditional kimonos, exchanged hushed greetings, and the air was filled with a festive yet solemn atmosphere.
"Yo, you've arrived, Jiraiya." An old but still vigorous voice rang out.
Jiraiya, dressed in a well-tailored, sharp dark gray suit, turned around at the sound and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was also dressed in traditional formal attire. The old man was leaning on his cane, smiling as he watched his grandson Konohamaru and his friends busy collecting and registering the monetary gifts not far away.
"You're here pretty early too, old man?" Jiraiya walked over and casually straightened his collar, which felt a little tight because he wasn't used to it.
"Tsk, these clothes are really uncomfortable to wear... But then again, looking at you over the past few years, even though some people in the village still have some complaints about you, you've been living quite well since you retired... It's about time I retired completely, isn't it?"
"What's your rush? There are more than just one or two outstanding successors in the village who meet the requirements of the Hokage now. Unlike me back then, I had to go to great lengths to drag you back from outside to find a suitable successor. Alright, stop complaining. How many bills of cash have you prepared for the betrothal gift?"
Jiraiya's face fell, and he sighed.
"Well... I am Naruto's master, so the gift money should be of the highest standard... Sigh, you don't know, ever since I became Hokage, my 'Make-Out Series' has been completely discontinued, and my source of royalties has dried up... Maintaining the master's reputation is really not easy."
Despite his complaints, he didn't hesitate to pull out a thick, specially made gift bag with the Hokage crest and hand it to the concierge in charge of registration.
In the courtyard in front of the main shrine, Minato Namikaze and his wife, and Fugaku Uchiha and his wife, who were in charge of receiving guests, saw Jiraiya from afar and were about to go up to greet him.
On the other side, Hyuga Neji and Tenten stood together, talking quietly. Tenten was wearing a light pink modified furisode today. She looked at the large, exquisitely packaged gift box in Neji's hand and asked curiously in a low voice.
"Neji, what gift did you prepare?"
"...What would be appropriate to give as a gift in this situation? I'm not sure if the gift I've prepared is suitable." Neji was dressed in a formal white kimono, which made his temperament appear even more aloof and otherworldly.
"...What would be appropriate?...It would be something I consider most precious, something that best represents my feelings."
Neji frowned slightly, subconsciously thinking of the fox mask he treasured at home, which belonged to "that person".
That thing was of great significance to him, more important than his own life, and there was absolutely no way he would give it away as a gift.
Tenten pointed again at the large gift box in Neji's hand, "What exactly is this...?"
"I'm sending you custom-made kimonos," Neji replied. "They're custom-made by the best craftsmen in the Hyuga clan, using the finest silk and following traditional techniques. There's one kimono for each man and one for a woman."
Looking at that expensive gift box—the packaging alone suggested it was priceless—and imagining the fine clothes inside, his expression stiffened, and he gave a dry laugh. "Heh, heh...looks like they put a lot more effort into it than I did..."
Just then, a loud shout, so loud it could almost shake the cherry blossoms off their petals, drew the attention of almost everyone in the audience.
"Li! Wishing others happiness also tempers our own mind, body, and will! This is precisely the meaning of our youth in this wedding!"
"Teacher Kai! Do you mean that even at a gathering like this, we shouldn't forget our passionate spiritual practice?"
"That's right! True youth knows no time or place! Come on! Let's give it our all! Let's offer our most powerful blessings to the newlyweds by tossing and catching specially made dumbbells!"
Two figures, dressed in tight green bodysuits and with incredibly thick eyebrows—Matt Kay and Rock Lee—had already assumed standard physical training postures, with several enormous dumbbells that looked incredibly heavy at their feet, and were about to begin their unique "blessing ceremony."
Tenten and Neji simultaneously turned their heads sharply, their movements perfectly synchronized, their faces displaying a subtle expression that said, "We don't know those two people."
Meanwhile, at the main reception area, Kushina Uzumaki was carefully checking the mountain of gifts that had just arrived. She was wearing a bright red tomisleeved kimono today.
But her face showed confusion. She pointed to a line on the gift list and waved to Minato, who was talking to Fugaku on the other side.
"Um... Minato, come here and check if we've remembered this place correctly?"
Minato Namikaze approached upon hearing the sound. Today, he was also dressed in a formal dark kimono, exuding a gentle and refined air. "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Kushina handed him the gift list, pointing to the sources clearly marked on it.
"Here, representing the congratulatory gifts from Sunagakure and the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara..." she began to read out the astonishingly long list of items.
"One hundred catties of gold dust, ten boxes of top-grade secret spices from the Land of Wind, fifty jars of ancient oasis-brewed wine, twenty boxes each of 'Sand Date Candied Fruit' and 'Glassy Sugar Crystals' made by a nobleman's royal confectionery chef, one hundred sets of ninja tools crafted by Sunagakure's top artisans from rare metals, accompanied by a specially made ninja tool pouch, and... a permanent mining right certificate for a small 'Chakra Conducting Metal' mine in the southern part of the Land of Wind with proven reserves..."
After reading it aloud, Kushina looked up, her large eyes filled with disbelief. "This is... too much, too precious! It's almost like a state gift. Did the child in charge of registration write down an extra few zeros? Or did they mix up the Sunagakure village's 'village gift' and the Kazekage's personal congratulatory gift?"
Minato took the gift list and then glanced at the area next to him where gifts were temporarily stored. There were indeed several exceptionally large boxes with extravagant packaging and Sand Village style markings stacked together, along with several sizable sealed jars and wooden crates.
He carefully examined the seal on the gift list and the accompanying letter bearing the personal seal of the Fifth Kazekage, then gently shook his head.
"...If I remember correctly, these are the items." Minato said confidently, handing the gift list back to Kushina. "Gaara...it seems his relationship with Naruto is quite special."
"Huh? Really...?" Kushina was still a little taken aback, looking at the mountain of gifts, and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Naruto... this friend of his is way too... too generous. How am I going to repay this favor..."
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