"God damn IT! Where the hell are they, Shizune!? The whole of Konoha is due a shipment of of all types of alcohol!" It was horrible, it was as if someone had set up a blockade on Konoha. But instead of cutting off food or customers, this person, moving in the shadows, had only removed every drop of liquor, sake, beer form every store and bar. Drunks and alcoholics, like the Hokage, were going out of their minds. Thank Kami there was still coffee.
For the third day in a row, Tsunade had gotten her paperwork done ahead of time, just so she wouldn't have to think about where her precious drink had gone to. But everyone was demanding, and she did mean everyone about, where it all had gone. Not a single store showed they were short of profits. It was like someone had bought it all when no one was looking. Even Hiashi was starting to shake from it. "Tsunade-sama, think of it like this, you got your work done." Shizune, of course, was perfectly fine as she didn't drink.
"I don't give a damn about work! This is a crisis! I am this close to calling a state of emergency!"
"Something wrong, kaasan...Hokage-sama," Naruto asked walking in. He had a cloth wrapped package under his arm. The glare she sent him was enough to wilt a tree. "We guess so. Tell us what's wrong, you will feel better."
"I will not feel fucking better until I get some fucking sake!"
Naruto blinked a few times and said, "Oh, that." He wasn't even a light drinker, though he did have his likes. But when he replied, there was the slight sound of amusement in his voice.
A crazed look covered Tsunade's face as a thought struck her. The sake went away after he was forced into having to get married. Not only that, with his bounties as well as his inheritance and the mountain of money he still has from Gatou, he could easily afford something like this. She stood over him, grabbed his bandages, and pulled them down. His face was straight, with no sign of laughing close by. "Did you come here to see your handiwork!?"
"No, Hokage-sama. We came because a good friend in Mist collected his brother yesterday, gave us a nice reward, and a crate of...sake." She had him by the collar and close to her face.
"I am ordering you to give me some!"
"Kaasan! We can't do that! You are the Hokage, look at how it would look with a council member was to do that! The fallout would kill us! Plus, that sake is for our weddings in two days! It is being served at an open bar!" He groaned when he was enveloped in a spine crushing hug.
"You are a wonderful godson!" Open bar meant she could drink to her heart's content.
"Ow, ow, OW! Kaasan, crushing spine...can't feel legs..." She let him go and Naruto almost fell to the ground. "We did, though, come with a small gift. It isn't much but we have a bottle..." Again she had him by the collar. "That we are going to let the council have a glass each, to see if it is satisfactory."
Tsunade growled as she let him go. He may not have been born for it, by he did learn political maneuvers fast. "When is it?"
"This evening, council chambers. And kaasan...just one glass." He walked out, slightly limping. 'It hurt, a lot, and very expensive, but Tsunade-kaasan, payback is a bitch.'
"Naruto, just a second." Naruto stopped and looked at her. "You are a hunter ninja, so I am going to give you a S rank mission. I want you to find the missing sake and, though this is optional, the person who took it. If you apprehend him or her, you will bring them to me and make them talk on why they did this."
"We would, Hokage-sama, but we still have a week of rest leave to go through before we can."
"Don't give me that shit!"
"You were the one that forced it on us, Hokage-sama. No options. But once we are off it again, we will make it our top priority." There was that amused sound again.
—oo000oo—
Danzou walked into the Hokage's office, barely showing even a hint of withdrawal. "You wanted to see me, Hokage-san?"
"Sit," she said, motioning to the chair in front of her. "I want to know why ROOT is still active."
"I am afraid I don't follow."
"Danzou, I haven't had a drink in a week. My head hurts like hell. And, if I could, I would be doing what others are and going to a town outside of Konoha and having a drink. But as I can't, I am going to take my frustrations out on you. So, cut the bullshit, or I will put you in the hospital."
"...You have a way with words, Tsunade-san. You want to know why I have still left that fraction of Root intact? Because of that." He pointed to the headband of Uchiha Itachi, which was to be given back to his family today. "And that," Kabuto's. "And men like him having to die." He finished by pointing to the Fourth Hokage.
"I read the brief the hunter ninja, Venom, gave to the ANBU commander. Uchiha Madara is still alive and is the cause of a lot of problem around the Elemental continent. Not only him, Orochimaru, Rokusho, others that have hurt Konoha. The Uchiha clan itself. These are or were men that could or did hurt our home is some form or other and is beyond normal ninja to beat. Granted, Rokusho isn't the best example as he is only dangerous because of that sword. But that is besides the point." He leaned forward and took in a deep breath. "You know how I lost my arm and eye? I was in ANBU. And my team and I were after someone. It doesn't matter anymore who he was. Just that he was stronger than us. As my men and women were dying around me, I decided that if I was to go down, I would at least take him with me. As you can see, it didn't go as planned as he was dead and I wasn't.
"It was then, as myself, the dead, and wounded were carried back that I realize that most people don't know how to fight someone that has no intention to live through the attack. Most never get that mentality of all or nothing. And it was then, I knew that, were we to survive at times, we needed someone who did. You no doubt heard, through some way or other, from Uzumaki, correct? I asked him to join because he already had it. He may want to live, but he had no one before and he fights, with nothing to lose but himself. He fights because if he doesn't, others suffer. I wanted him there because he would be willing to go that distance if it is needed. Though, I am glad it hasn't been."
"So you kept it alive for throw away soldiers," Tsunade demanded.
"Are you telling me there isn't something you would be more than willing to die for? For Root, it is Konoha. I never wanted to make ninja weapons, that would make us lose our humanity. But, at times, it is because we want to live that missions fail. That wars are started. You remember how the last ninja war started right?"
"...I remember. A ninja from Iwa talked because he wanted to see his home again."
"And for that, the Third took what he thought was the right action. Which lead to war. There is a country far to the west, whom has several branches of military. One of those branches goes by this creed. Mission accomplishment, troop welfare. They volunteer to join this service, knowing this. The mission comes first." Danzou sighed. "I lost my son during that blasted war. And while I would love to blame the Sarutobi, the blame for his death falls on that bastard Iwa that is still alive, to this day."
"I am not going to pity your for your lost," Tsunade said.
"Nor do I want you to. I am saying that we need some of that 'mission accomplishment' so something like that is never caused by us."
"I want numbers, names, and what you planned to do with them."
"One hundred, seven members, I will have the names to you soon, and what is reintroduce them to other ninjas to spread get them thinking along the same lines."
"If I find out you are lying," Tsunade warned, letting the threat hang.
"But you won't, because I'm not." He stood up, popping his back as he did. "Most peculiar thing, all the sake gone."
"Yeah?"
"Wasn't the brand gone first your favorite vintage?"
"...It was."
"Ah, just checking." He turned and walked out. "I will see you at the tasting, yes?"
"You will."
"Almost cruel, though, only giving us one glass and making us wait two more days until we can have more."
"Get out, Danzou," Tsunade growled. She sat back in her chair. "I think I know my godson well enough to know if he did or didn't. Not like he would have any reason too... Except me, forcing him to get married. In two weeks. To two woman... I hate that bastard." If she wasn't sure he was right, she would think he was doing this to drive a wedge between them.
—oo000oo—
"You said it?"
"I did," Danzou replied. "You are most cruel when it comes to those that has earned your ire."
"We know. By the way, Root enjoying the wine?"
"They are as happy as clams," Danzou replied. "By the way, thank you for that Lightning hundred year old. How did you know I collect wine?"
"We have good eyes," a second voice replied.
"Of course you would," Danzou stated. "It is most funny to see her shake. Although, I believe this has gone on long enough. It is starting to effect ninja."
"We agree," the first said. "You should have seen Naruto-kun's face when he came back, Danzou-san. He hasn't had this much fun in a while." Haku stepped forward more, out of the shadows.
"Even we have enjoyed it," Hinata said. A rose was tucked into her hair. "Again, we thank you for the help."
Danzou smiled, "It was fun to do it. And with the Fuuma clan helping, it was easier than most would think. Tell me, how goes the development of the knew estates?"
"It goes well," Haku replied. "It is really traditional, apparently, they thought it would be better if it looked a little like a feudal mansion. And it does look beautiful."
"I am glad. I must go get ready, not a single member has turned down the invitation, no surprise there. If I don't look presentable, or worst, not show up, than I lose face." He bowed to them and left.
"...We are surprised," Hinata stated. "For a trained killer, he is kind of pleasant."
"Its as Naruto puts it, that is work," Haku told her. "Lets go, isn't your fitting soon?"
"Oh my goodness, we forgot!" Hinata raced out of there, with Haku following, laughing about it.
—oo000oo—
Naruto entered and felt the eyes of everyone there looking at him and, almost more importantly, the cloth covered bottle in his arms. "Good evening, ladies, gentlemen. We do hope this is up to standards." Going to the table he had set up earlier with several sake glasses on it, Naruto slowly unwrapped the bottle, showing it wasn't a clay sake bottle but a double magnum wine bottle, three liters of pure, almost holy, sake.
Naruto took his time, setting up the glasses and then, popping the cork. He lifted the first glass and was about to pour when he noticed the followed the movement of the bottle. He moved the bottle left, then right, noticing they still followed. "We take it you are all really thirsty?" They had the decency to blush save Inuzuka Tsume.
"Damn right, I am dying for a taste already!"
Naruto laughed and poured the drinks. "Well, for your honesty, you may have the first taste." He pushed the glass toward her. Tsunade had to refrain from shouting at him but that was quickly soothed when she got her glass.
Danzou, like Naruto expected, took his time to savor this, to enjoy the smell and taste. The lesser drinkers, about a glass a week, did as well. Heavy drinkers, like one Hokage, began to gulp it down. "Need us remind you that there is only one glass each?" That made her stop and almost choke on it.
Inuzuka walked coolly over to him as he corked it. "I know what this is," she said.
"Do you?"
"You are taking advantage of the shortage and making people grateful to you. The open bar as well."
"Is that what we are doing? And we are surprised word got around so fast."
Tsume smiled before laughing at him. "And a little revenge for the situation you were forced in. One glass! That is the most evil thing anyone has done in this village in a long time." The bottle was still half full, making everyone else agree with her. "Still, I appreciate the gesture," she said to him, setting her empty glass on the table before bending down to look at him. "Hmm, you are a little young but I am sure Hana wouldn't mind."
"And we are sure our current fiancées would," Naruto informed her with a wry grin. "Besides, she will have to get in line." Naruto turned to the others. "So, is it worthy of being given?"
"That and more," Jiriaya said, having somehow gotten a glass and some of the smooth liquor. Naruto spun around, found the glass for himself gone, and looked back at him. He never even noticed. "I am not a Sannin for nothing," he said with his own wry grin.
"...We are putting security on our sake then," Naruto informed him. Making the man curse, having already been planning on raiding his stash. "No one touches it until the weddings." He closed the bottle, collected the glasses, and was about to leave.
"Have you decided who the the best man will be," Hiashi asked.
Naruto stopped for a moment. "We have, actually. For when we marry Hinata-chan, we want our friend, Kiba. For Haku-chan, Shino."
Tsume's face fell slack. "How can you do that to my son?"
"Because he is our friend and he loves Hinata almost as much as we do. Should anything ever happen to us, we want him to be the one to take care of her."
"The same thing with my son," Shibi asked. Naruto nodded.
"I am actually surprised he did not ask Uchiha," Koharu stated. "I have heard you have become friends."
"We are, but there is still that part of us from when we were in the academy. We haven't forgotten the insults and fights over taijutsu. Forgiven, yes, forgotten... Well, anyway, we have to ask Sarutobi-san something if someone doesn't arrive for it. He will be giving Haku-chan away."
"And who is the person you are waiting for?"
"The Mizukage," Naruto replied. "We bid you all good evening."
"...Why not," Homura asked, taking his seat. "Seems he gets everything else he wants."
"You make it sound like he is given it," Danzou told them. "I was under the impression that he had worked for each and everything he has."
"He has," Tsunade stated. "Now, we need to to talk about something of great importance, right now. How do we get more of that sake him?" Danzou shook his head in disapproval.
—oo000oo—
Naruto pulled at his collar. He was nervous, which he felt stupid for. He had fought five S rank ninja and survived. He shouldn't be nervous about this. And yet...whenever he looked at Zabuza, who was wearing his uniform and sharpening his sword, he just had a bad feeling.
"Naruto, you are fretting over nothing," Shino said. He was wearing a kimono now, though Naruto couldn't get him to lose his sunglasses. Many people couldn't believe how nice he looked without that coat blocking it.
"We know, but we just can't relax. What if we mess up?" Naruto himself was wearing a black kimono. Predictably, he had the spider sown onto the back of this one as well. What no one but him realized, mostly because they never thought otherwise, was that this was actually a kimono.
"What if my aunt had a beard, she would be my uncle," Kiba said, stepping up to him. He straightened Naruto's clothes. "You better make her happy, you smug mother fucker."
"Thank you, Kiba," Naruto said. "In advance should anything ever..." He trailed off.
"You better not die," Kiba said. "Because if you do and make Hinata cry, I will break into the gates of hell itself just to kick your ass."
Naruto chuckled a little. "It is a three headed hound that guards the gates. Are we presentable?"
"No," Kiba said without hesitation.
"You look fine, Naruto," Shino replied. "And when have you ever messed up?"
"How about last week? A few hours before that one. Or..."
"Shut up," Kiba said. "Now, it is simple, we to the front of the isle. I walk to the right. You bow to the priest, then turn around. Momichi Zabuza walks up with Haku. He might give you a silent threat before he presents Haku to you. You bow to them, they bow to you. Then you take her hand and walk her down isle while Zabuza moves to the left. Once you get there, the purification ceremony will take place. Then, you will take three drinks from three cups of sake, each. Followed by both of you promising to live together...forever. God damn it, I am going to need some sake after this myself."
Naruto put his hand on the shoulder of his friend. "There is no one else we would like for this, Kiba. Come on, we ditched class together."
"I know... I just always thought it would be me going down the isle and you glaring death. Now, we need to get ready. Hinata is first."
When the music started, Naruto felt his heart climb up into his throat. Looking ahead, he saw the Sarutobi clan were filling the position of his family. He really had to thank the old man. To the left was the Hyuuga clan. Both were already facing each other, they would not look at the bride and groom until they finished the sake.
Kiba chuckled, "Never thought it would be you first."
"You just never know," Naruto replied. Ahead of him, before the part of the isle leading to the priest was at least a hundred people, most likely more. "Thanks, Kiba, we owe you."
"Let's go then." The two started walking, coming to a stop before the carpet leading into the shrine. "Good luck, dog," Kiba whispered, before walking off to the right. Naruto bowed to the priest, who returned it, before facing around. He saw Hiashi, also dressed in a black kimono, walking Hinata down the isle to them. She was dressed white, from head to toe. She also wore a white headdress, while her head was slightly bowed. When she looked up and met his eyes, Naruto fought hard to keep his face straight.
Hiashi and Hinata came to a stop and Naruto bowed to them. Hiashi was a little stiff about it but he returned it with Hinata. Naruto hoped it was just giving Hinata away so early in their life. He would let out a sigh of relief when Hiashi tells him it was. Taking Hinata by the arm, they walk down the isle and into the shrine itself. There, they bow to the priest, who takes a stick from one of the shrine's sacred tree with paper streamers on it, and waves it over them to purify them. Naruto noticed he did it just a few times more over him but understood why. When finished, he gave them a bow and they straighted. An offering was offered to Kami before the priest recited the norito, a shinto ritual prayer, to celebrate the new beginnings of their lives and ask for Kami's good graces.
Naruto and Hinata stood before a table next, with three saucers on it, one large, one medium, and one small. Sake was poured into the first and given to Hinata. She took her drinks and passed it to Naruto who followed. When the three were all drank from, Kiba stepped forward again. He gave Naruto the rings before stepping back. He slid Hinata's ring onto her hand, before Hinata did to him.
Naruto, after the faced back out again, took a piece of paper from his robes and unfolded it. "...We are no longer a singular person, a singular thought. Everything we do now, must be done for two. For we are now joined together in one soul. Uzumaki Naruto..."
Hinata took the paper and and said, "And Uzumaki Hinata." Turning back to the shrine, they both present a branch from a sacred sakaki tree as another offering. Cups of sake are exchanged between the Hyuuga and Sarutobi, as a pledge of loyalty to each other.
Naruto sighed, the first finally over, before he reached behind Hinata, and pulled her into as deep a kiss as he could. "We love you."
"We love you," Hinata replied, before leaning her head on his chest.
—oo000oo—
Naruto's wedding to Haku went exactly the same, it went off perfectly. Though he could have swore he heard Zabuza growl at him. He gave Haku a kiss just as deep and and told her he loved her as well. Naruto was glad it was over though. He would much rather be hidden than the center of attention.
Thanks to kage bunshin, Naruto was able to dance with both at the reception. He also let Shino and Kiba dance with them as well. He smiled when he noticed how busy the bar was. He motioned to Kimimaro during the bride and best man dance. "We believe she has suffered enough. Inform the Fuuma clan that tonight is the last night."
He nodded. "There will be many not happy with all the sake they could want but that is how it goes. But you should be enjoying yourself, not worrying about the affairs of the clan right now, Naruto." Naruto agreed and went to take his wives back. He still had the main dance to perform.
"Kiba, Shino, we are afraid we have to take them back now."
"Why, afraid we might to try and take them from you," Kiba asked.
"You could try," Naruto replied, "and fail. But you are no doubt thinking it, Kiba." Naruto made another clone and they held onto the hands of their wives. He looked into both their eyes and realized how lucky he was. And he would fight tooth and nail against anyone that said they shouldn't be with him.
—oo000oo—
Author's notes. Shorter than normal, we know. But we wanted this one out. The marriage above is how a traditional Shinto wedding is preformed. Though a few details maybe off. We apologize if they are. As for Danzou, that is actually what we think he made Root for. Though we hate to admit it, sometimes it is the only way to win.
See ya space cowboy.
