Chapter Thirty-Five – Ceremonies
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It seemed like the entire village had turned out for this ceremony. The ground in front of the Hokage Tower was solidly-packed to the point that quite a few of the children had been relocated to their parents shoulders. Every balcony with a line-of-sight to the tower was packed, as was every rooftop. Even the walls hadn't been forgotten as many of them were festooned with ninja who had chosen to take to them to let the less-skilled, the infirm and civilians have enough space to stand.
The forms of the Great Tigers were visible in the crowd, many of them serving as safe-points for the giggling children who had been placed on the cats' backs by parents who had realised that by doing so, they effectively negated the risk that their children would trip and be trampled by the crowd.
"I'm glad Tsunade decided to delay the ceremony until you could get out of bed." Hinata sighed, leaning against her fiancée's shoulder and enjoying the way his arm was draped around her shoulders. "You pretty much saved Konoha, so you deserved to be here."
"Thanks." Naruto whispered, taking the opportunity to give her a quick kiss to her cheek.
"Urgh, you two are so sickly sweet, it's like drowning in syrup." Zabuza mock-complained from behind them.
"I find it quite agreeable, father." Haku said almost instantly. "Although I admit to being biased in their favour, since it was they who gave us our new life."
Zabuza snorted. "Still too sweet for my tastes. "
Hinata promptly lowered her head into her jacket collar to hide her blush while Naruto simply sighed. "Uncle, please be serious. This is an important day."
"Not as important as tomorrow." Zabuza smirked and Hinata's blush deepened. "I talked with Honoka by the way, she's torn down and re-installed the privacy seals on your apartment. Means that you won't wake us up."
"Father, stop teasing them." Haku commanded and Zabuza started to laugh.
"Can't help it. They sleep together, yet they're still so innocent." He chortled. "It's a gift from Kami, that's all I can say."
"Just ignore him, Hinata-hime." Naruto said reassuringly and Zabuza started to laugh again.
"Hush." Haku commanded. "They're starting."
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Sarutobi stood at the front of the roof of the Hokage tower, the council flanking him on either side. All of them wore the formal robes and Hiruzen smiled as he adjusted the hat that he would, Kami willing, never have to wear again. Taking a deep breath, he looked sideways to where Tsunade was standing, concealed from the village's view behind several council members, then he began.
"People of Konohagakure, today an era ends and a new one begins. Today I announce to you all my retirement and the appointment of a new Hokage, the Godaime Hokage. The grand-daughter of the Shodai Hokage and my former student, she has returned to Konoha to take on the mantle of the Godaime Hokage. I present to you all, Senju Tsunade!"
Tsunade swept across to where Hiruzen was standing, resplendent in her formal robes. As she approached, Hiruzen removed the Hokage's hat from his head and turned it round, lifting it to place it on Tsunade's head. As he placed it, the village seemed to erupt with cheers and applause, causing hundreds of birds to fly into the sky.
Returning Hiruzen's bow, Tsunade turned to face the village as Hiruzen stepped back. Holding up her hand, Tsunade waited for the crowd to quieten once more before speaking.
"People of Konohagakure, I thank you for your overwhelming welcome. It is with a humble heart that I accept the position of Hokage, and I promise that I shall serve Konoha faithfully until the day that I die or pass the hat to another who is deemed worthy of the burden that this hat symbolises."
Unseen by most, her eyes flicked across to where Naruto and Hinata were sat.
"I know that we have much that still needs doing in order to recover from the treacherous attack plotted, launched and led by my former team-mate and traitor Orochimaru, so I will not keep you for long. However, looking across at you all, I can see that no matter what challenges we have in the future, no matter what obstacles we face and no matter how bleak things may seem, your courage and will, the Will of Fire which Konoha is renowned for, will always see us through and take us to a brighter future! Together, there is nothing we of Konohagakure cannot achieve!"
A roar of approval swelled up from the crowd, a roar that was not just the great tigers. Tsunade smiled as her eyes filled with tears of pride and joy.
"I shall do my best." She whispered. "I have returned, and I will not fail the task I have accepted."
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"…and our new Hokage is indeed most youthful!" Lee declaimed as the rest of the Konoha 14 (as they had become with Kin's recruitment) stared at him.
"Is he always like this?" Kin asked and the rest of the table nodded.
"Naruto is the only one of us who… scrumph… can keep up with him." Chouji said between bites. "Since he and Lee are almost brothers, it's no surprise."
Kin looked between the two indicated individuals, then shook her head. "I don't see it."
"Lee-senpai!" Naruto gasped. "Can it be that our newest youthful friend does not understand the ways of true Youth?"
"That is truly terrible, Naruto-kun!" Lee replied instantly. "Surely we can do something that will help her fan her flames of youth as we have fanned ours?"
"it is never too late to be youthful, Lee-senpai." Naruto replied solemnly. "With the examples we set, surely all who witness our youthful powers will be in awe of our conflagurations of youthfulness!"
"As always, you phrase if far better than I do, Naruto-kun!" Lee proclaimed.
"Lee-senpai!"
"Naruto-kun!"
Hinata's eyes widened in horrified realisation.
"Lee-senpai!"
"Naruto-kun!"
"Look away NOW!"
"LEE-SENPAI!"
"NARUTO-KUN!"
Kin's eyes widened in horrified fascination as Naruto and Lee exchanged a manly hug…
…against the background of the sun setting on the horizon of a rocky shore.
As it faded, Shikamaru sighed. "And that is why we try to stop Naruto and Lee from sitting next to each other."
"Eeeeeeurraabbrbrbrbraaaaaagu uuurg?"
Tenten leaned across and looked at Kin professionally. "Looks like they did a light Sunset Genjitsu, she'll be back with us in a few minutes and will be fine within the hour."
Hinata got out of her chair and walked to stand between Naruto and Lee. Naruto looked up at her, then without a word, slid into the vacated chair, allowing Hinata to take his place. Once seated, she shook her head.
"It's my fault, I'm afraid. I know that Lee gets… edgy when he can't perform his displays of… youthfulness… so I haven't tried to ban Naruto from doing things like that."
"eeeuuurraaaoooeeeegraaarrrrh aaawa?"
Naruto shrugged apologetically and Kiba managed to stop sniggering as Hinata glanced at him. After a few more seconds, Kin seemed to slump in her seat.
"I never want to see that agin!" she gasped, her eyes still wide. Neji nodded.
"I have seen it many times myself, so it barely affects me any more. Naruto is immune to it, something I almost envy."
Hinata sighed. "New rule, you two. No more Youthful Hugs at gatherings like this."
Lee and Naruto looked at each other, then spoke in usison. "Yes, Hinata-hime."
"Good."
Sasuke looked at the clock on the wall and winced. "We should get moving. We still have a pair of celebrations to attend."
The fourteen of them exited the restaurant, Sasuke pausing to pay the bill, and split into two groups outside, Kin looking rather nervous.
"Should I really be coming? I mean, less than a month ago, I was a sound-nin…"
"You're one of us now." Ino said with a grin. "You joined us, so you're coming with us. Say goodbye, Hinata, you won't be seeing Naruto until the ceremony tomorrow."
"Indeed." Sasuke said with a grin. "I made the preparations and had your formal robes delivered to my clan-house, although we'll be using one of the other buildings for the actual party, just in case."
Naruto turned to follow the departing boys, then paused and sprinted back to Hinata. The two of them exchanged a long kiss, then rested their foreheads against each others.
"Have fun, Hinata-hime." Naruto said quietly. "I love you."
"I love you too, Naruto-kun." Hinata whispered. "Now have fun, and if you're even a single second late tomorrow…"
Naruto smiled and gave her another kiss, then jogged off to where the laughing boys were waiting.
"Kami, Hinata." Ino sighed. "You are so lucky."
"I know." Hinata said with a smile as she let the others lead her away. "He's my snuggly."
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Naruto inhaled and winced as his ribs protested. Sasuke pulled himself upright and looked round at the shattered beams and missing walls, then across to where a sleeping Lee was being tied up by a very bruised Gai and Kakashi.
"How much did he have to drink?" Sasuke asked in a shell-shocked voice.
"One sip of sake." Naruto answered, looking round at the devastation as he clasped his hand against his aching side. "One sip, then he managed to KO Neji with a single punch and then gave the rest of us a hard fight."
"I'd heard you were good," Asuma said as he limped up, "and thank Kami for it, Lee was almost unstoppable."
"You brought the six seconds I needed to recover and use my Tiger Warrior form." Naruto responded. "You okay? Lee sent you straight through a support beam."
"Hell of a fight." Zabuza chuckled as he stood, his arm splinted and bandaged. "Warn me next time, I want a rematch at some point."
Several of the other still-conscious genin looked at him as if he was mad. "What? That's the best pure taijitsu spar I've had against anyone except Gai himself. Kid's got style."
"One genin." Sasuke whispered. "One genin managed to hold off five Jonin and a chunin for five minutes. How?"
"Training." Naruto half-whispered, slumping against the wall and not caring if it gave way or not. "He trains more than I do. But that was something new."
"He's a natural Suiken fighter." Gai said as he limped up to them, his sleeping student slung over his shoulder. "I had no idea… It is something that I need to investigate."
"Just not in the Uchiha sector." Sasuke said with a wry grin as he tried and failed to see through his black eye. "I know I own quite a few spare buildings, but when I get round to rebuilding my clan, I don't want to have to rebuild my sector as well."
Asuma laughed, then winced and clutched at his ribs.
"Well, after that, I'd recommend simply crashing." He said as he straightened slightly. "The Karaoke machine's broken, most of the food is… not salvagable and there is no way I'm letting anyone near anything alcoholic after that battle."
"Agreed." Sasuke said, looking round and wincing at the devastation. "Anyone who's mobile, gather up the fallen and let's get them to an unbroken building."
Putting words to action, Sasuke lifted Shikamaru, then paused.
"You lazy bastard." He half-laughed. "You're playing possum."
Naruto grinned as he picked Chouji up from the floor.
"Huuuuh, wasssuuupp?"
"We're heading out." Naruto said. "Come on."
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"No way! You've been sleeping with him that long, and you're still a virgin?" Sakura exclaimed.
"They decided to wait until they were married." Anko said with a leer. "Not that that hasn't prevented them… getting to know each other."
"Anko!" both Hinata and Kurenai snapped at the same time, then they looked at each other and laughed. Anko grinned and looked round.
"You know, Honoka, your idea of pampering us in the private Nami… I mean Uzumaki hot springs was brilliant." Hinata said, trying to change the subject.
"I agree." Ino said. "I can feel the tension melting away… and I bet Hinata appreciates it more than any of us do."
Anko opened her mouth, only for Kurenai, who had edged closer, to clap her hand across it. Anko sighed and nodded.
"I'm surprised that you went for such a small ceremony." Tenten said. "I had expected a village-wide celebration, not a small ceremony on the Hokage tower and then a barbeque and party in Tiger Forest."
"I quite like the idea." Hanabi piped up from where she was sitting between Hinata and Honoka. "I got a new kimono for tomorrow, I want to look my best for my big sister's big day."
"But it's not my big day tomorrow." Honoka teased and everyone laughed as Hanabi pouted.
"You know what I mean."
"Sorry," Honoka laughed, "But you're so cute when you do that."
Hanabi giggled and nestled against Honoka's shoulder as Honoka wrapped her arm around her. A few seconds later, the combination of the late evening and the heat of the spring-fed pool meant that she was asleep. Several of the others in the pool 'awwww'd at the sight. Karin smiled as she wiped her glasses lenses again.
"You really need to find yourself a chap, Honoka-neesan. The way you look after Hanabi-chan, definite maternal material."
Hinata fought down a yawn, but Kurenai noticed. "It's getting late, ladies and girls. I think it's time to head in and get some sleep for tomorrow."
Hinata nodded and helped Honoka to lift Hanabi out of the pool. Stopping just long enough to wrap a large towel around her, they led the gaggle of Kunoichi inside, to where the futons had been set up.
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Tsunade stood on the roof of the Hokage tower, smiling at a very nervous Naruto and his best man, Lee, who was looking incredibly different in his formal kimono, rather than the green spandex outfit he often wore. Naruto also wore a formal kimono, but like most of his other clothes, his was made primarily from chainmail with a leather underlay. However, the links had been carefully made from metal imbued with special ground crystals which caught or absorbed the light, giving Naruto the appearance of wearing a metallic, glowing tiger-skin kimono.
"Calm down." Hiruzen muttered from nearby as Naruto shifted position yet again. "She'll be here. Do you really think that she'll miss this?"
Naruto smiled at Hiruzen, then his gaze moved across the audience. Most of them were from the Hyuuga clan, chosen from those who did not openly disapprove of Hinata, while the rest of the audience were the rest of the Rookie 14, their Senseis and a few others. Teuchi saw him looking and waved while Ayame winked at him while Konohamaru , clad in a formal Sarutobi kinomo, gave him a wide smile and slight bow. Honoka and Karin both gave him reassuring smiles while Haku was almost grinning widely enough to risk self-decapitation. From the crinkling of his mask, Zabuza was as well.
"Straighten up!"
Naruto turned and straightened in response to Hiruzen's warning, just in time to see Hinata appear, flanked by Kurenai and followed by Hanabi. Naruto gaped at her, the rest of the world seeming to fade away as she seemed to float towards him, a vision of absolute perfection that he knew he didn't deserve, yet by some gift of Kami was receiving anyway. He knew he was staring like the Dobe that Sasuke called him, but he couldn't help but be overwhelmed as she approached, radiant and perfect.
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"He's waiting." Kurenai said and Hinata took a deep breath.
"You'll be fine, neesan." Hanabi whispered and Hinata nodded jerkily, then she stepped up round the curve of the staircase and almost froze as she saw her husband-to-be. His eyes lit up as she appeared, perfect pools of sapphire that she could lose herself in for hours at a time, then his mouth, the so-kissable mouth, formed a small but welcoming smile.
Hinata felt sure that she was clumping towards him, her legs seemed determined to disobey her and her hands felt as if she was about to drop the bouquet of flowers she was holding. Somehow, she managed to make it to his side without falling over, and she felt the world around her disappear as she took her position in front of Tsunade.
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Tsunade smiled gently as she looked at the two in front of her. This was one of the best things that a Hkage could do, joining two people who were deeply in love together in matrimony. Looking up at the audience, she let her gaze drift across them before returning her gaze to Hinata and Naruto. Taking a deep breath, she began the ritual that predated Konohagakure by hundreds of years, if not more.
"We are here today, in Kami's sight, to celebrate the joining of Kagetora Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata in matrimony. We are here to celebrate the bonds of love that unite these two, the bonds that they feel for each other and share with each other…
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Authorial Afterword.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have faded out on a happy ending (for now). Although I have hopes to continue this story at some point in the future, my muse has currently decided to go on holiday.
I therefore declare that this story is open to adoption if anyone wants to take it.
Thank you for reading and the (relative) lack of flames in the reviews. It has been a pleasure (and honour) writing this story and perusing the feedback. Thank you for your kind words.
And thank you for giving this story a chance.
