Author Note: I'm glad you're still reading, thank you so this chapter, we're going to spend some time with Hinata to run some wedding errands while continue slow-burn making small advancement.
Sorry for the delay, I have no beta readers.
Chapter 5 | Wedding Errands
After several days, Sakura's life was still fascinating. During her time off, she continued her hospital volunteer work. Looking out the window, she admired the beauty of Konoha. The township has undergone major transformations, and peace has been restored. The waltz practice with the Hyuuga prodigy went well. The Hyuuga prodigy's waltz practice went well. They had a nice dinner after their first lesson that night at a traditional Japanese restaurant. Their conversation has been flowing freely since the green tea dessert was served, and they chattered about anything and everything at their own pace, with Sakura doing most of the talking and occasionally getting responses from the prodigy.
Sakura joined Hinata on a date shortly after she finished her morning shift.
The bridal party stopped by the Yamanaka florist on a wedding-related errand and a final fitting for the gown and suits was scheduled for this afternoon. The men will join the women for the media wedding portrait once they have finished their meeting with the other Konoha Alliance leaders.
Twenty minutes later, the girls arrived at the florist. She wandered her gaze over the half-remembered structures until she found the store. Since her first visit two years ago, it had doubled in size and undergone a full makeover.
A Hokage wedding was unlikely to be low-key, but six months of planning was longer than expected. The happy couple would have been less exhausted if they hadn't had to perform tasks that required their presence and unique abilities, like the waltz, as part of their wedding duties. Hinata was tasked with teaching her future husband the waltz. This proved difficult, much like her cousin taught Sakura to waltz, she patiently taught the hyperactive dope social graces.
Naruto argued that the all the details involved in a wedding made it more challenging than completing a S-rank mission. Without much contention, he gave his bride-to-be and the Hyuuga family a free hand in organizing the nuptials.
Once she broke the news to Ino that she was marrying the Hokage, every topic of conversation revolved around the upcoming nuptials. Ino had dragged the future bride dress shopping before Sakura returned from Suna. They search continued until Hinata found the prefect dress, and helped with flower arrangements and bouquets. The couple looked through a flower catalog and, after much deliberation, they decided on white mountain lilies. In a timely manner, the blonde kunoichi scheduled the flower order for the forthcoming nuptials.
Ino called Hinata today to tell her a huge shipment of white mountain lilies had arrived. Given the magnitude of the shipment, she decided to take a day off and handle it on her own. When they arrived, she came out of a huge glass walk-in refrigerator and greeted them with a broad grin and a wave. The bride was pleased with how things were going and they were chatting amiably.
As they were leaving the florist, Ino nodded knowingly at the pinkette and winked at her in anticipation of their obviously arranged double date later. Sakura seemed unfazed by the blonde's direct remark, though she did jab her arm with her elbow and glare at her disapprovingly.
Sakura was unaware that weddings could be so stressful. The wedding was a huge financial and time commitment. No matter how tiring it might be, there was no way she would ever say no to the possibility of sharing her life with a special someone. A small, warm, and romantic ceremony in a charming chapel surrounded by stunning gardens with close friends and family is the ideal setting for her wedding. Absolutely nothing crazy. Keep it simple.
"Ah! There it is." The pinkette mumbled as she saw store signs in the area, a look of exhaustion on her face.
"You must do this as the maid of honor!" Hinata said and flung open the door to the boutique.
Sakura sighed, as said, "Hai, hai, Hinata-chan," as she was ushered inside.
The staff at the boutique had a positive disposition when they arrived. They were scheduled to have their final fitting and official wedding portraits taken. It was at Hinata's request that the maid of honor and best man pose for a photo together. Behind a white door, the staff led the ladies to the large, charming main room.
They spent an hour getting their hair and makeup done, and they looked absolutely stunning. The crew provided the bride with every service imaginable as she prepared to put on her wedding gown. Given that the finest floor-length gown required assistance putting on and lacing up the back.
Sakura was completely capable of dressing herself. Dressed to the nines, she wore a floor-length gown with a halter-neck, plunging v-neckline, and open back for the shoot. Carefully, she slipped on the dress, the bare back of which sent a shiver down her spine as the cold air conditioning blasted her. It was fine that the dress was a tad too formal for her taste because she had no intention of ever showing up in public wearing it.
Just outside the changing room, Sakura picked up on a familiar, resonant, and joyful tone, as well as another deep male voice. It was probably the groom and his best man.
The Hokage walked into the boutique, alongside his right hand man with his usual air of nonchalance. The man was particularly adept at masking his emotion on his face. Even though it wasn't his scene, he was made to go along with the shooting today.
"Hey, how are things?" A familiar blonde, still dressed in his Hokage robes, questioned anyone who would listen.
"Of course everything is great!" From behind the screen, Sakura responded casually.
With one hand still on the hem of her dress, Sakura emerged from behind the curtain. At that moment, a pair of bright white eyes met hers.
Upon their arrival, Neji was staring at Sakura in the gown, his perfect brows raised and his jaw slightly agape. Bringing home a woman as smart, impressive, and beautiful as the pink-haired kunoichi would have been a dream for any man in Konoha.
Though Neji hadn't had much experience with woman, he had obviously seen someone before and could thus make a passing judgment on her style. To say she was beautiful would be an understatement.
The soft gray of the bridesmaid dress was a lovely complement to her glowing skin and the way the halter neckline showed off every inch of cleavage confidently. She stood out from the crowd thanks to the attention-grabbing effect of the massive opening in the back of her dress. Her bubblegum pink locks, with the exception of a few loose waves that framed her lovely face, were pulled back into a stylish bun. Nothing too over the top; her natural beauty shone through her classy wardrobe and minimal makeup. Beautiful.
The sensation of his heart fluttering against his chest startled him. Though he had practiced being unflappable, he had never been with the type of woman he now deeply desired.
"You look stunning."
Under his riveting gaze, Sakura felt her entire world vaporize, "I know, right?" She met the adoring white eyes and uttered, "Thank you."
It was when the bride emerged from the dressing room with the help of the staff carrying the hem of her gown that she became the center of attention. Taking a quick look at her reflection in the mirrors that lined one wall. It had a white satin off-shoulder neckline and a hem that fell softly to the ground. She wore a three-inch heel to complement her gown. Her long, amethyst hair was styled into a beautiful bun on the crown of her head. The mile-long veil was fanning out behind her as the staff worked, and soon the thin fabric was cascading softly onto the floor.
"What do you think, Sakura-chan?" Hinata, delighted, queried her best friend.
"Stunningly gorgeous, Hinata!" The pinkette enthused.
The Hokage walked up to her. She turned anxiously to face her man, causing the veil to envelop her petite frame. "What do you think, Naruto-kun?"
"Wow…" His cerulean pupils grew larger. While on the pedestal, his bride radiated beauty from every angle in her wedding gown. In the face of her beauty, he found himself speechless. Her off-shoulder bridal gown looked great with her giant twin orbs, before it flared out from her hips all the way to the marble floor.
Rather quickly, she caught on to where he was looking and crossed her arms over her chest and admonished him, "Stop staring, N-Naruto-kun!"
His face broke out in a wide grin, and he nodded rapidly, "You look amazing, Hinata-chan! Amazing beyond words, fantastic, magnificent, astonishing…"
"Stop it, this is embarrassing!" Her lips pursed in a cute blush as she replied to his offhand comments.
He ascended the pedestal, abruptly became serious and said, "I'm serious, Hinata-chan." When he swept her off her feet and planted a long, hard kiss on her lips, she let out a cute squeal of surprise. She slithered her palm around his neck for support, and they embraced one another.
Hinata sucked in a breath, her eyes growing wide in panic. She jerked away from him in an instant afterward and exclaiming, "Ugh, Naruto-kun! Y-You make us look bad!" Her stutter was clearly audible.
To say that her face was fifty shades of red would be an exaggeration, but it was undoubtedly more red than usual. Another pair of intimidating white eyes met hers. Whenever he did that in his role as their courtship chaperone, he unintentionally made her nervous.
Neji scowled. As the appointed chaperone on all of their previous dates, he was used to it. Still, as a respectable Hyuuga, he was taken aback by their level of flirtation, and he would chide them for their indecency. As of today, however, he's decided to drop the matter.
"Naruto, please act your age!" He prompted them with a recollection.
"Hai, hai, Neji."
Hinata then hurriedly urged the two men to get set up for the shoot.
He turned to face his beloved and said, "I'll see you in a few minutes, love!" He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Her white eyes briefly followed her man before moving to the other side of the room.
From their separate dressing rooms, Naruto and Neji made a dashing pair as they stood side by side in their new roles as groom and best man. The Hyuuga male had undeniable sexual allure, making him the center of admiration wherever he went. In terms of good looks, he can hold his own against the last Uchiha. After his engagement ended, he was surrounded by suitors. With the help of the female staff on board, he had his coat pulled up, buttoned, and his collar adjusted, and his bow tie straightened with great assistance. Sakura saw them from a distance, though they weren't immediately obvious, and she almost glared at them.
As he walked out of the changing room, the Hokage gave himself a compliment, "Damn, I look great!"
While standing next to him, Neji rolled his eyes.
"Whoah!" The blonde turned to his best man and slammed his shoulder and said, "My friend, you look great."
"Come on, let's get going. Don't hold up the ladies," as they made their way to join the ladies.
The sun-kissed groom looked sharp and dapper in his white tuxedo, with a white dress shirt underneath and an onyx bow tie. He had a professional do a close shave to his wild golden spikes and polished, giving him an air of sophistication and maturity. The hokage may have gotten older, but he still retained some of his youthful qualities, which were his traits.
A subtle blush spread across Hinata's delicate features as she realized she had been staring at her beloved.
Speaking of the most eligible bachelor in Konoha, Hyuuga Neji, the best man today required a professional hairstylist to style his long hair for the Hokage wedding portrait. It is uncommon for clans in Konoha to have long hair, and his was exceptionally long. Not every man can wear a man bun, top knot, ponytail, or wavy curls effortlessly. To match the groom's attire, he wore a three-piece suit in a muted grey hue, along with a crisp white shirt and a waistcoat in the matching tone. This man was the epitome of class and refinement.
Wedding stylist suggested curly hairstyle for him since no one else could do it. He declined politely, explaining that a slicked-back look was all he needed. As a member of the clan, he was expected to maintain a long, flowing mane as part of his upbringing. This brought back memories of having his hair styled by his dependable retainer or his cousins. His hair went through some changes, but nothing as significant as Naruto's. His hair was fishtailed neatly behind and to the sides of his ears, and the rest of it cascaded down to his waist, giving him a double bohemian look. To appear so divine was almost a crime. The pinkette's piercing gaze towards him was impossible to miss.
They were ready to go, and the crew assisted them in making it to the studio.
Naruto kept his gaze fixed on his bride throughout the entire 15-minute photo shoot, and the newlyweds looked absolutely stunning the entire time. The camera crew couldn't help but join in on the fun because of the adorable chemistry they shared. There was a chance that other guests didn't get as much attention as the Hokage couple did.
Neji sat on the two-seat couch in the waiting area, elbows on knees, watching the photobombing couple while Sakura read a magazine. During their recent dinner, his feelings for Sakura began to warm. As they were conversing, the crew came up and interjected. They were the following in line to take part in the pictures.
The photographer spent an additional ten minutes photographing the two couples. Whether it's their attire or their overall appearance, both couples complement each other beautifully. Naruto was accompanied by Sakura, and Neji was by Hinata's side, glowing with joy. Neji managed a soft smile despite his normally stoic appearance. They did some wide shots first, then moved in for some closer ones. All scheduled group shots have been taken. The Hokage couple appeared magnificent, and their attendants, the maid of honor and the best man, were just as well put together. The crew unanimously agreed that the Anbu captain and the Sannin made a pretty pair, and they encouraged the two to pose for photos together.
Sakura was initially uneasy about their situation because of the attention they were receiving. She never fails to greet everyone with a warm greeting and a cheerful face. Neji was serious about the crew's suggestion and wanted to take a photo with her was made clear when he reached out his hand to her, and she gladly accepted it.
A polite arm was placed over Sakura's shoulders as they posed in accordance with their instructions.
"Can I ask if you're feeling nervous?" Suspiciously looking his way as the photographer motioned for them to come closer.
As a typical INTJ, quiet, reserved, and with few social connections. It took him some time to feel comfortable in social situations, especially with girls.
"Why should I be nervous?" He questioned the underlying logic.
"About drawing nearer to me."
Neji allowed a small smile on his face, clearly delighted with the circumstances, "I don't typically feel nervous."
Her words brought him closer to the easygoing phases of pregame preparation. That is, he can initiate physical contact whenever he pleases, provided he has been given the green light to do so and has been assured that his touch is welcome.
The man stood behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his long fingers on her abdomen in a possessive embrace. She felt as though they were dancing, and the tingling from their close embrace lingered on her skin. Leaning against his sturdy chest, she put her head on his shoulder.
His breath tickled her ear as he kissed her rosy locks. A shiver ran down her spine. Only for the sake of photography did this take place. Soothe your nerves and calm down. When the tall man looked her way, she did too.
Shots taken.
Sakura turned around so that she was facing Neji, palms resting on his biceps, he placed his hands on her hips. His head dipped, eyes locked. The tip of their noses touched pressing their foreheads together. Interesting. Great to see the Anbu captain putting on such a romantic guise. Collectively, they close their eyes. She was only slightly embarrassed, as evidenced by her blush.
Several more shots were taken.
They were well aware that the Hyuuga heiress had her frenzied gaze fixed on them.
Hinata sat back and watched the couple in silence, pleased with the results of her double-dating strategy. The seriousness with which her favorite cousin fancied the kunoichi surprised Hinata, even though she had always thought Sakura and her favorite cousin made a cute couple. She was very excited to see how the pictures came out.
Once the photo shoot was over, they politely excused themselves from one another.
Once they were finished and the four had changed back into their regular clothing, they did not fancy remaining in the formal wear for too long. The bridal attire will be meticulously packed away in their respective ivory boxes and later delivered to the Hyuuga compound.
Their dancing lessons went well, and the wedding was two weeks away. She was certain that dancing the waltz had gotten better thanks to the Hyuuga.
The pair decided to dress in formal attire, which included dresses and suits, as one might for a ball. Neji wore a dress shirt with buttons down the collar, dress pants and penny loafers. Sakura wore a cocktail dress that she owned. She practiced dancing in the heels Hinata had given her, confidently twirling, and spinning all the while.
He obviously underestimated her dancing ability, because she picked it up very quickly despite the fact that the two were not in a hurry and taking things slowly. At some point, she stopped stomping on his foot with her heel, and instead, they pressed against each other in all the right places, spinning and dancing as if engaged in a graceful fight. Around thirty minutes passed while this continued.
The Hyuuga asked the pinkette to start practicing the more difficult Varsovienne Waltz because it will be their dance in the ceremony. It made her feel like she had to start over from square one to learn the new waltz steps. She winced and pulled away, fearing she would once again trip over his shoes, but he reached around and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back into his embrace.
"Don't give me that look, please. You're so smart, you'll eventually pick up the new dance steps."
She had been practicing for hours, occasionally receiving criticism from the Hyuuga, who was very critical of her. Since they had some quality alone time together, and it was actually quite pleasant.
"Fine, continue if you please."
Neji held out a single hand for her to take and Sakura grasped it gladly. She had one hand on his shoulder and his other on her waist.
"Alright. Calm down and take a deep breath. Let loose and dance to the music, shall we?"
She complied and nodded.
For what felt like an eternity, the Hyuuga led the pinkette through the dance, demonstrating the steps and various moves she should use whether dancing alone or together. She picked up the new steps rather quickly, and he stirred her across the dance floor to the music, at which point she asked, "Am I doing it right?"
"You're starting to get the hang of it, so yes."
Sakura smiled broadly at him, apparently agreeing with his assessment.
"How exactly did you get involved in ballroom dancing? Besides your Juken training, this is not something you would want to learn. I mean no offense..."
"None taken."
"Duties to the clan?"
"You can be sure I was forced to do that. At clan gatherings and ceremonies, it is my duty to accompany Hinata-sama as her chaperone."
Her delicate brows were knitted together in a pout, making her beautiful but dejected, "It's so frustrating to have been born in a branch house."
He smiled slightly and said, "You've probably heard about the trauma of being born into a branch family. Sometimes I have to take charge of things that are solely my responsibility." He nodded his head in agreement, and then, with a faint smile but no trace of melancholy in his voice, he added, "I would sometimes go against it if I thought it was unjust."
After the Chunin exam and recovered from his near-death experience, he makes peace with the main branch.
"Okay, one last thing before we wrap up today's lesson. Unfortunately, I can't put off my daily training forever."
"I apologize for taking up so much of your time, Captain Hyuuga!"
"Don't mention it, and you're welcome."
The highlight was right at the end of the music, with their hands still intertwined, he lifted her arm and she spun a perfect circle, then he supported her back down into a dip. His eyes bore deep into hers as he hauled her up again, their faces came within an inch of each other. The sudden shift caught the pinkette off guard, so she wrapped her arm protectively around his neck for support, cuddled close to him.
They stopped in place, with her arm still around his neck. The way he was staring at her was strangely endearing, if also annoying as if he was contemplating about something. She couldn't take being under such intense gaze from him. Sometime during the constant staring, she eventually looked away. She shifted her gaze a little bit over to his perfect brow or to his full lips.
Subtly, he caught her looking away and said daintily, "Take a look at me."
"What now, Hyuuga?" She blinked in confusion at his request and returned his gaze.
"At this moment, I should have your full attention." He gave off an air of superiority when he said that.
"Is making eye contact a rule of formal dancing?" She pondered.
"Yes," with a knowing smirk on his handsome face, he went on, "To feel your soul connecting, looking at me in the eye is part of proper dancing. Be professional, Haruno!"
"It was eye contact to enhance the dancing and not distract me from it!" she retorted, wishing she had thought of a better comeback.
His smile had an undercurrent of teasing banter.
"Fine." As she gazed into his beautiful white orbs.
"Cute." With an involuntary smirk forming.
"W-What…?!" Sakura pursed her lips as if to say something that would completely erase the smirk from his face, but was at a loss for words in the face of his frank reply.
"I said, you're cute when you get all embarrassed like that." He found it amusing to watch her get all flustered over him.
He looks at her for a while, noticing that she has a faint blush on her cheek. He looked at her full, luscious lips as she gaped at him, knowing that if he closed the gap, they would kiss. He swore he felt an overwhelming desire to crash on them with his lips in that instant. He forced himself to swallow to prevent his eyes from wandering.
Sakura's eyes widened in shock. Wait, did he just call me cute? The blush on her cheeks was returning.
Finally, the song was over.
Not wanting to embarrass her further, he took a step away from the pinkette, "Alright, that concludes the lesson for today," he slowly and with reluctance backed away, ending their lesson for the day.
She was upset when he pulled away from their embrace, but she realized that if he hadn't, she might have stopped breathing.
End Note: Final edits on chapter 6 are almost finished, I'll see you soon!
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