Warning: Contains manga spoilers.
Disclaimer: Naruto (C) Masashi Kishimoto.
Context: Canon to Chapter 699, minor timeline adjustments thereafter. Set 8 years after the conclusion of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
'In your heart, I have found my home.'
Four Weddings and a Funeral
First Wedding
Chapter One - Problematic Surprise Guest
'You are cordially invited to celebrate the union of Ino Yamanaka and Sai in holy matrimony.'
He read the inscription on the marble tablet confirming he was in fact in the right place. He stepped quietly into the chapel and paused for a moment at the entrance way. The light from outside was pouring in behind him giving him an angelic glow. His initial plan was not to attract much attention and simply slip in unnoticed. It never seems to work that way where Konoha was concerned.
"Why's he just standing there?" Choji whispered to Shikamaru. Yep, spotted immediately. The groomsmen were standing at the altar watching the unexpected guest enter the far end of the chapel.
"I think he's trying to decide which side he's supposed to sit on, bride or groom," Shikamaru observed.
This was true. He wasn't particularly close to either party although, if he was being absolutely honest with himself he would consider the both of them his friends. The invitation to be a part of this wedding was somewhat humbling.
He looked to his right and noted this half of the room was filling rather quickly. It seemed the entirety of the Yamanaka clan was gathered as well as quite a large majority of both the Akimichi and Nara clans. He smiled briefly, well a version of a smile where the corners of his lips lift a tad and then immediately return to a collinear fashion. He was glad to see the continuation of a loyal alliance between the three clans. This camaraderie was what Konoha was all about.
On this side there were various other faces he recognised; Iruka Umino, Kurenai Yuhi, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame to name a few. Perhaps he should sit with those familiar to him. Although the thought of having to make small talk dispirited him. He wasn't much of a talker.
To his left, the side wasn't as congregated. That tended to happen when a bride or groom to be is clanless or without a family. He supposed an ex-ANBU was not permitted to keep many friends in his early years. Loneliness was an unavoidable part of the job. Still, there were some faces he recognised and a reasonable turn out… considering.
Let's see here:
Hinata Hyuga, sporting a radiant glow of confidence he had never seen upon her before. Perhaps the source could partially be attributed to the wedding band around her finger. Apparently the blonde idiot hadn't messed things up with her yet. He almost felt shocked, yet couldn't help resolving to feel exultant for the young couple.
Lady Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju… well, former Hokage would be a more appropriate title. Even though visually, she appeared to be younger than the current Hokage would be at this time. He may know a great deal about chakra and ninjutsu. But a woman's desire to resist the natural process of age would always remain an enigma to him.
Rock Lee, unchanged in the slightest. In fact, he managed to incorporate green into his formal wear. Funny, he couldn't picture the young man in anything else. He half expected him to break into a round of push-ups in the aisle whilst awaiting the processions.
All of these friendly faces and he didn't feel the urge to sit with any of them in particular. He searched through the crowd one last time.
He couldn't find her. He assumed she must play the role of bridesmaid in the event and there was still some 10 minutes before the bridal party was expected.
Best he take a seat and get comfortable. Knowing what he knew about this particular bride, he assumed the wait would be far longer. Surely the sight of this extremely detailed chapel, covered in intricate flower arrangements and tapestries was some indication of the high standard the gowns were expected to be. 'High maintenance' was one description that came to mind when he thought about the woman in question.
"Move it!" a child behind him shouted before throwing a tiny fist into the back of his leg. Probably would have hurt too, if he didn't have such a high tolerance for pain. 'What a strong little kid.'
He turned around to find the culprit. He should have guessed. White spiky hair and glaring black eyes. Uncanny resemblance to…
"AIIYYEEEEE!" a woman screamed as she sprinted in behind the boy and picked him up in haste, "Sakumo! You can't just come in and harass the guests like that, Now you apologise to this young ma-"
Her voice stalled in recognition of the man in front of her.
"It's... it's y-you…"
"Shizune, I hope you are keeping well," he spoke fluently placing his palms together and offering a slight bow, "Last time I saw you, you were about 8 months pregnant."
He glanced at the silver haired child in her arms who probably already came up to his knees in height, "Time sure does fly."
"Ye-Yeah, I suppose it does," Shizune murmured, "You certainly have grown up too. It took me longer than I thought to recognise you. I-I didn't expect you would be here. Naruto never mentioned it..."
"Ah, well, in actuality nobody knew of my attendance save one-"
"Ah… Hello!?" the boy in Shizune's arms interjected with his hands on his hips, "Who is this joker?" Sakumo glared and pointed him dead in the face.
Shizune sported a horrified look, mortified at her son's consistent misbehaviour. They had told her it was just a phase. That being the son of a Hokage is a difficult burden for a child. That he would soon one day grow into a respectable shinobi and man. For Shizune, that day couldn't come fast enough.
"Now you hear me young man!" Shizune began, completely comfortable telling off her son in a place of worship, "You are being extremely rude and I won't have any of it for the rest of the day!"
Sakumo pouted and crinkled his face not quite convinced of his mother's typical empty threats.
"Now you apologise to Sasuke for speaking to him that way and for hitting him. We don't hit peop-"
"Wait…" Sakumo interrupted. Did that kid ever let anyone finish a sentence, "You're Sasuke?"
The man smirked at the kid's new found curiosity and he began to wonder who was responsible for informing the kid of himself. He assumed it was either his father, or Uzumaki.
"That's right, and you must be Kakashi's little brat," Sasuke replied smirking when Sakumo recoiled at the insult, "Funny, I wouldn't have expected anyone related to Kakashi-sensei could be so lame."
Sasuke knew he should be baiting a child in a wedding chapel, some 5 minutes before processions were set to begin especially when he was trying to lay low. But he couldn't resist stirring such a stuck up kid who sort of reminded him of himself back in the day.
"Me lame? You're lame!" he shouted causing Shizune to jump at the sudden shift in volume, "I'll bet you're not even Sasuke anyway. My dad said Sasuke is a fourth shinobi world war hero and you're no hero," he carried on, letting out a temper tantrum that had obviously been building long before Sasuke's encounter with the child.
"Oi Sakumo!" Naruto shouted from the altar, "You won't win any argument with him, believe it, I've tried. So hurry up and get your butt up here."
Sakumo's demeanour shifted instantly when Naruto called to him. Sasuke assumed he had already developed some kind of brotherly friendship with the little guy looking up to Naruto as an iconic and powerful shinobi to emulate (as many kids do these days.)
He bolted to the altar where Sai, Naruto, Shikamaru and Choji were standing without so much as a second glance towards Sasuke. Naruto smashed a hand onto his head and ruffled his already messy looking hair in.
Sasuke breathed a laugh at a typical 'Naruto' interaction. He decided he really ought to sit down if he wants to avoid further unnecessary conversation (and potential fights with toddlers).
"Ahh, What an unexpected surprise?" a familiar voice came from behind.
Kakashi, hardly appeared to have aged, likely due to the fact that his face was always covered. He did however sport his Hokage white and red trimmed robe over his formal attire. It always baffled Sasuke that someone as lazy as this man managed to retain the top job all of these past 8 years. He was probably dying for Naruto to smart up enough to relieve him of all of his work.
"Lord Sixth," Sasuke placed his hands together and bowed slightly which came as quite a shock to Kakashi. He had found Sasuke wasn't one for respecting people's rank or position in his early years.
"Oh how convenient," Shizune crossed her arms, "He shows up as soon as the commotion tides over."
Kakashi bashfully scratched the back of his head, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah right," Shizune rolled her eyes. Sakumo's misbehaviour wasn't the only thing she could rely on, Kakashi's frequent absence during said misbehaviour was another.
'At least he is characteristically as lazy in parenthood as he was as a sensei,' Sasuke thought to himself.
"I'd love to catch up but perhaps we should let the processions get underway first," Kakashi suggested and motioned for Sasuke to follow him to an empty seat on the left side of the chapel. He guided his wife to an empty seat to his right and pulled her chair out for her in an obvious grab for forgiveness which was granted immediately with a smile. It was impossible for Shizune to stay mad on a perfect day like today.
Funnily enough, Sasuke realised Kakashi was the perfect person to sit next to. Even thought he was probably the person armed with the most content for small talk. In the last time Sasuke had been in the village Kakashi had since had his first son, watched his beloved student Naruto be wed, and no doubt made countless accomplishments as the villages Hokage. Yet he was as equally disdained by the uncomfortableness of chit-chat as Sasuke was.
Perfect.
Naruto was helping Sai with his boutonniere on the lapel of his suit jacket. Shikamaru placed a hand over his forehead as he watched a clear case of the blind leading the… severely visually impaired.
"Naruto, you're going to wreck it. It was fine before," Shikamaru complained.
Naruto was under the impression that since he was the first of their graduating class to marry, he had all the inside tips and there wasn't a problem he couldn't solve.
"I appreciated it," Sai smiled when Naruto was finished fixing (wrecking) the flower.
Naruto shot Shikamaru a childish 'see, I told you,' look to which he receive an exaggerated roll of the eyes.
"Gee Sai, you sure seem calm, aren't you like nervous at all?" Choji asked. For a guy marrying the Ino Yamanaka aka Bride Zilla you'd think he'd be at least a little on edge. But no, he was as happy as the pervy sage at a mixed bathing retreat.
"No, not at all. Now that Sasuke, has arrived that is," Sai replied.
"Wait hang on, are you telling me you knew he was coming?" Shikamaru questioned.
"That's right, I invited him," Sai replied casually as ever. He had a habit of answering a person's question without realising they wanted further explanation. It drove everyone mad.
"Aw, so Sasuke really means that much to you. That's nice," Naruto grinned, although he was kind of peeved that Sasuke had made the effort to come to this wedding and not his own.
"Oh no, it's not that. Ino wanted him here," Sai explained.
"What? No she didn't. What gave you that impression?" Shikamaru asked.
"She said she wanted Sasuke here. She didn't give me a whole lot of duties to complete for this event so I really did my best to make sure I got this one done."
"Ino really said she wanted Sasuke here?" Choji asked, clearly confused.
"Yes"
"Hang on a minute, how did she say it exactly?" Shikamaru questioned.
"Well, we were discussing the guest list and I brought up Sasuke and she said 'Yeah right, I totally want the boy I used to obsess about and who turned me down, at my wedding'" Sai repeated.
Naruto and Choji laughed quietly.
"Sai you idiot, she was being sarcastic!" Shikamaru chided, "Don't you know what sarcasm is?"
"Sure I do," he began reaching into his back pocket for a book.
"No books," Shikamaru groaned and grabbed his wrist before he had to hear some stupid definition on 'sarcasm', "Aw man, Ino is going to flip when she finds out Sasuke is here."
Shikamaru turned on Naruto and Choji who were treating the situation like one big joke, "What's so funny about this, you know what she's like. Whenever Sasuke shows up it's all anyone can talk about. We can't have that on Ino's day"
The phrase 'Ino and Sai's day' had long since expired. Everyone knew it was all about her.
"It's kinda sweet though," Choji smiled, "Every snarpy and sarcastic comment Ino makes Sai takes in a positive way."
"Yeah, they're kinda perfect for each other," Naruto smiled in agreement.
"Alright fine, you all just take this lightly, but when she has a spaz attack you're all on your own," Shikamaru held his hands up in defense.
"You got it," Naruto slammed a palm on his back a little too hard, "Now do you want me to fix your boutonniere?"
"Get off me," Shikamaru roughed him away playfully.
"Fine, I'll just fix this little guy's then," Naruto chuckled as he knelt down.
"I'm not little," Sakumo growled, folding his arms.
"Yeah sure... and Shikamaru's not a sourpuss," Naruto commented. "That was sarcasm by the way Sai, just FYI"
"Right," Sai said to himself thoughtfully, as he finally began to stress about his apparent mistake in inviting Sasuke.
"Flowers are for girls," Sakumo whined as he squirmed around in the tiny little suit he was obviously forced to wear.
"Yeah I know kiddo, but don't worry I'll make it so it falls apart at the end of the ceremony," Naruto winked knowingly and offered a thumbs up. The kid remained as grumpy as ever. Now stomping his foot.
Ino had thought it would be a sweet idea to have the children of their former sensei/team captains be the flower girl and page boy for the ceremony. She obviously didn't think it through enough. If anything was going to ruin this wedding, it wasn't Sasuke, it was this little kid who was a ticking tantrum time-bomb.
Just as Naruto finish with Sakumo's boutonniere the strings section made their way down the aisle, signalling the bridal party had arrived. They seated themselves at the front left corner of the room and prepared to play an abridged version of wedding march. String instruments was one of the few items Sai was permitted to request for the ceremony. And a very good choice it was.
The three groomsmen and page boy wished Sai very good luck (Shikamaru insisting he would need it) and left the altar to take their place at the door. The strings began playing and the sound of the horse and carriage halting out the front could be heard.
Here we go, ready or not.
The girls congregated in the entrance and were preparing to be escorted down the aisle by the groomsmen.
Everyone turned in their chairs in anticipation. This wedding promised the most intricate and beautiful gowns coupled with the perfect flower bouquets.
Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi's 3 year old son involuntarily linked his arm around an older little girl.
Mirai Sarutobi-Yuhi, Kurenai and the late Asuma's daughter. She was approximately 7 years old and a real cutie. She had on a bright yellow tulle dress and happily sprinkled heart-shaped flower petals from a basket, down the aisle as they walked together. In contrast to the page boy, she was ecstatic to be chosen to participate. She had grown very close to all three members of team 10 and had always looked up to Ino as a role model.
Tenten was the first bridesmaid to arrive at the entrance. Her chocolate brown hair was worn completely down, curled, and partly braided, with real daisies clipped all the way through.
Choji escorted her down the aisle and made a deliberate attempt not to accidentally step on her elegant canary-yellow floor length bridesmaid dress. They greeted Sai at the altar and took their sides as the next couple appeared at the entrance.
Temari didn't like to wear yellow. It blended with her hair. She half thought Ino chose the colour in spite of her but she played along anyway. It was nice that she was becoming more and more accepted in Konoha. She was grateful to even be considered Ino's first choice as bridesmaid.
Shikamaru gracefully walked his fiance down the aisle sporting a kind smile which had replaced his anguish over the Sasuke issue. It seemed the ball gowns were enough to attract everyone's attention from Sasuke. Which is exactly what Ino would want. Hopefully Sai would dodge that bullet at least until the reception.
The last two to walk down together, before the bride herself, were the best man and the maid of honour.
"Don't forget to breathe," Naruto whispered in Sakura's ear as they were given the cue to begin walking.
"You don't have to be so dramatic," Sakura whispered back. If she could handle 12 emergency situations at the Leaf Village hospital at once she could handle a well rehearsed glide down the aisle with her former teammate no problem. She wasn't one for stage fright.
"Oh, I think I do," Naruto responded, knowing it would only take seconds before she noticed him.
He was right.
Sakura, graced in wearing the same perfect canary yellow gown. The colour made her long curled pink hair stand out. She smiled politely, glancing around the room, feeling slightly uncomfortable everyone was looking at her with deep admiring eyes. She wasn't used to being looked at that way.
That was the moment. She thought she was imagining it but Naruto squeezed her arm tightly to stop her from falling, reassuring her it was in fact true. He was here. He was here.
Why did no one tell her he would be here?
Her graceful smile was replaced but an uncomfortable expression of fear and her perfectly musically timed steps faltered. She felt like she was going to faint.
"He… He,"
"I know, Sasuke Uchiha is here," Naruto whispered, "But 'sh' it's a secret okay"
She looked at Naruto bewildered and then back to Sasuke sitting on the left hand side of the room watching her walk down the aisle. That was when he smiled at her. Not a smirk of arrogance, or a look of pity. A smile, a real smile.
It was like she and awoken from a genjutsu. Her frightened expression replaced with a kind smile and a slight blush as she managed to conjure the will to complete her short walk down the aisle with Naruto.
'Let's ignore him Sakura, and get through the processions,' her inner self told her, 'then you can fall apart in emotional backlash afterwards.'
She kissed Sai on the cheek in congratulations and moved to her designated position, sporting the best fake smile she could manage. The audience arose to their feet as the bride was lead in. Everyone gasped in awe at the sight of her.
Everyone accept one.
Sasuke kept his eyes to the front. To the altar. Unconsciously trained on her. Her.
A/N: What do you guys think so far? I hope you don't think this Sasuke is too OOC. Considering the way his character is ended in chapter 699, I believe in later years he would develop a humble set of good manners and reflect on his time in the village as positive. What do you think? Too much?
If you're wondering about the whole Kakashi x Shizune thing, it was more a decision based on availability and convenience. I kind of expect each of them would be married and have kids by this point in the timeline so I figured 'Why not with each other?' It's not my first choice in pairings for each of them but they don't have a particularly huge role in this story so it was just easier than introducing more characters.
Reviews are greatly appreciated/ my favourite thing in the world. So please leave some feedback on your way out xx!
XO HerosReprise
