Chapter: 14
As the months went by, the village was thrusted in a nuptial panic. The decorations were put up. Vendors scurried about trying to set up their stands to sell their wares. The Moon Lilly Estate, now completed, is active with the servants rushing to get ready for the Newly-Weds housewarming and Family reunion. Tsume, being the overzealous mother is busily overseeing the last-minute details of the manor's grand reveal. At the Hokage Mountain Park, the Elders are barking orders and overseeing the Wedding venue preparation. This is of huge importance to the Village as a whole and the Daimyo of Fire Country. With the Royal wedding, Naruto's coming of age will officially re-establish the relations between the Whirlpool and Fire Nations. Therefore, the venue's Nobles' Area must be perfect. Hana and her Bride's maids rush about getting the last-minute fittings and adjustments to their ceremonial Kimonos. With Hinata and Tenten being very pregnant, are giving special matching Yukatas to better accommodate their motherly bellies. It was arranged for them to serve at the reception and gift tables (so they could stay off their feet). Nobles from the surrounding areas are arriving for the wedding and Konoha is busting at its seams. Tsunade and Shizune are nervously rushing around the office to accommodate all that is going on, plus get their own sizing done as Groom's Mother and Maid of Honor.
"Thank Kami for the Fire Lord's samurai bolstering our security. This wedding will be the death of me yet." Tsunade growls at the situation she is in.
"I, for once, agree with you, Master." Shizune says, as she reviews the housing situation for all the Dignitaries coming for the grand event.
"Has Naruto turned in his guard roster for the Honeymoon. He knows that as of now, his wife and him are known Royals and must be accompanied." Tsunade asked, knowing how he wants the Honeymoon to be special and undisturbed, which is hard to do if servants and guards are always around.
"He and Hana have always been guarded and escorted up until he was commissioned. He should be use too it by now. I do understand his reluctance though." Shizune commented.
5 am, on the big day, Naruto is awakened blindfolded and tied as he is Groom napped by his friends.
"Time to earn your Bride!" Sasuke announces with a smirk on his face.
The boys drop Naruto off in the middle of Area 44 also known as the Forest of Death. Taking pictures for future blackmail and remembrance, the Groom's men laughing tell Naruto he has 3 hours to escape, shower get dressed and make it to the Bride's home for the "Gate Crash ceremony" (A/N: A tradition were the groom and his entourage Crash the Gate of the Bride's home to officially see the bride in her gown for the first time and escort her to the wedding venue).
"Aww man Area 44, they got me good." Naruto laughs to himself, as he uses the rope escape technique and frees himself.
Naruto starts to run to let the wedding games begin. Meanwhile, in the Inuzuka compound, the house is alive with bridesmaids running with a purpose getting the nervous Bride ready. Tsume smiles as Hana is in a panic to be picture perfect for her big day.
"You only have 3 hours till the Gate Crash, are you ready?" Tsume teases as the bridesmaids glare at her for making Hana even more nervous.
An hour later, Naruto makes it to the Senju Compound. There he runs up the wall to the open window on the second floor, since the doors were all barred from the inside.
"You too kaa-chan? Making me work for it" Naruto grins as he runs to the shower with 2 hours to go.
Hana, now bathed with her skin and hair oiled in a jasmine, vanilla and lavender essence and her waist long hair is done up in a Rapunzel fishtail braid, studded with small white jasmine blossoms and topped off with Kushina's (Naruto's mother) tiara, that Naruto asked her to wear as his princess. The girls now fuss over her dressing. The eggplant red silk, sequined in gold images of a wolf pack running under a full moon, to represent her maternal clan. This long qipao dress has a Mandarin collar, short shoulder cap sleeves, upper thigh high slits at sides, with a zip closure in the back. Her shoes were traditional flats of matching red silk and soft leather soles, embroidered with a golden floral pattern. Kurenai grins mischiefly as she hides the shoes for yet another obstacle that Naruto will have to overcome. Meanwhile Kiba and a couple of his clan's men set up the Jian Yu (a wedding sedan chair).
Another hour down and one to go, Naruto meets up with his Groom's men at the Academy. This is the designated starting point for the wedding gauntlet to get his bride. With the enlisted help of the Hyugas and the Akamichis to be the blockers along with a kiss and hug from Tsunade and a handshake from Jiraiya, Hiashi with a quick few hand seals, send up a red flare starting the run. Shikamaru takes point with Shino and Choji on the flanks, they take off with Naruto in the middle and his best man, Sasuke in the rear guard. Dodging and sidestepping the blockers Naruto makes his way to the first obstacle. Ino, at a table, asks "What is Hana's favorite desert?"
"Cheese cake with peaches" Naruto says with a big grin.
"Correct you may pass!" Ino smiles as the crowd cheers the running Groom.
At the next station, Sakura grinning, presents a mannequin with a lacey bra on it. "You must wear this blind fold and with only one hand remove the bra."
Naruto blushes as Sasuke ties on the blind fold which happen to be one of Hana's panties, as the crowd laughs and cheer son their Prince. Naruto awkwardly fumbles around and feels up he mannequin trying to locate the clasp. Finally, after an embarrassing 30 seconds he gets the bra off.
"You now must be guided to the next station, keeping the blind fold on!" Sakura giggles at the open-mouthed blushing Prince.
Naruto with his hand on Sasuke's shoulder and his blockers in formation, they all move on to the next station. The Guests and crowd jog along and laugh at the Bridal gauntlet.
"With nothing but verbal hints from Sasuke, you must get the wedding bands from their perch" Moegi announced at the next station.
The rings are suspended on a red ribbon from the archway entrance to the Clan District. Sasuke then begins to give his directions. "Take two steps forward and stop. Now one more half step. Good, now a sidestep right. Good, now jump the rings are above you about 3 meters high."
Naruto jumps and hits the ribbon, but it slips out of his hands now making the rings swing like a pendulum. Sasuke watches and time the sway.
"Be ready… in 3…2…1, NOW!" Naruto jumps and catches the ribbon this time holding tight, he gets the rings.
"Keeping the blind you may continue" Moegi giggles with pink cheeks seeing the panties on Naruto's head.
After a few close calls with the Bridal blockers the Groom's men make it the Inuzukas compound gate, with some Bridal Blockers taking their last stand in front of the entrance. With a battle cry of "HA-CHAN, I LOVE YOU!" Naruto runs forward holding on to Sasuke as the rest of his men form a wedge to open the blockers line and climb the barred gate. Once inside they knock on the door. Then it slowly opens.
"Oh My Kami!" Anko falls back laughing at the panty head Prince.
Stepping in, Tsume greets the Groom and his men then take a picture for back mail later and allows Naruto to take off the panties but insists he keeps then in his robe's pocket. Naruto and his men are all wearing a royal blue Kimono with their Clan's crest on the back embroidered in gold.
"You have one more obstacle to overcome." Kurenai announces, as she hands Naruto a card with a riddle on it.
Card: Mother is the word for God on the lips of all children. It doesn't matter if she is blood, Foster, or adopted. She will always be in your heart. Look for the RESTING PLACE to find the missing items that cannot be worn indoors.
(A/N: opening quote by Brandon Lee from The Crow)
Naruto reads out loud. Meanwhile Hana is sitting in the Jian Yu. She is ready but shaking as she is nervous. She smiles hearing her Groom proclaim his love for her outside the house.
Shikamaru points to the stairwell and excitedly yells "Quick go to Tsume's room Han's Bridal Shoes are on the bed."
"Thanks Shika!" Naruto happily yells as he runs upstairs.
Handing Sasuke the shoes they all go to the Carriage Room. There, Sasuke knocks on the Jian Yu and Hana sticks her dainty pedi-cured feet through the silken red curtain. Sasuke, as best man places, the shoes on her. The Groom's men then take their position at the carry poles and lifts the carriage. Escorted by Hanabi, (a tradition to proclaim good luck and fertility with the Groom being led by a younger child) the procession makes its way to the venue as the village onlookers cheer the Royal couple and throw flower pedals.
At the Hokage Mountain State Park by the Remembrance Lake, the procession arrives and the officiator, the 3rd Hokage Sarutobi, announces for all to stand for the Royal couple. The carriage is placed and Hanabi continues to escort Naruto up to the Altar. Kiba stands by the Jian Yu as the two Mothers are led to their chairs by the Chaperones. After the two families are seated, a piano and Harp begin the Bridal March. Everyone stands and Kiba opens the curtain and helps his sister out of the Jian Yu. The audience gasp at the beauty of the bride. Naruto is stunned wide eye and mouth open seeing his Ha-Chan in her dress for the first time. He is truly mesmerized.
"Let the Tea Ceremony begin." Heruzin commands. Shizune as Maid of Honor prepares the tea and hands the cups to Hana and Naruto. Taking the cups to the Groms side first they both bow while holding out the presented tea to Tsunade and Jiraiya. Accepting the cups and drinking. Tsunade places a golden necklace with a golden sow pig and 6 suckling piglets dangling under the belly. (A/N: the sow represent blessing of fertility to the Bride) The same is repeated to the Brides side as Tsume and Kiba drink and hands Naruto a golden Kunai to represent protection from the clan.
"Please a moment of prayer and silence for the remembrance of the fallen and ancestors of both Clans" Heruzin reverently asked. Naruto and Hana both kowtow in front of the altar for 30 seconds then stand and are given two lighted incense sticks each. Bowing and presenting the incense they place one each in a sand bowl in front of a framed photo with a black ribbon around them of Naruto's parents and Hana's father. Who all have died during the Kyubi attack. Kowtowing one more time then the wedding continues as Herizen preforms the nuptials.
"This institution called marriage is a union of honor and trust through kami to each Bride and Groom. To remind all that the vows and promises made before Kami, the Ancestors and the gathered witnesses here today is binding here and in Tian with the penalty od placement in 18 levels of Diyu. Naruto, place the ring on her finger and vow that you are willing to marry Hana as your wife, in sacred marriage together for life? Whether she has sickness or health, poverty or wealth, beauty or is plain, in good times and in bad, you are willing to love her, to comfort her, to respect her, and protect her? And willing to be forever loyal to her?" He looks to the Groom awaiting the answer.
"I want!" Naruto expresses while he looks into his beloved's eyes.
"Hana, place the ring on his finger and vow that you are willing to marry Naruto as your husband, in sacred marriage together for life? Whether he has sickness or health, poverty or wealth, beauty or is plain, in good times and in bad, you are willing to love him, to comfort him, to respect him, bare his progeny and protect him? And willing to be forever loyal to him?" Heruzin asks Hana.
"I want!" she answers with blushing cheeks looking to her Naru-kun.
"When two people are at one in their innermost hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze. And when two people understand each other in their innermost hearts, their words are sweet and strong like the fragrance of orchids. You may now kiss and claim your Bride" Heruzin smiles and grants his blessings.
Leaning forward and kissing his now wife the viewing audience cheer and Tsunade and Tsume cry tears of knowing their children are now grown.
"To all in attendance, I give you Prince and Princess Naruto and Hana Uzumaki- Namakaze!" Heruzin shouts happily and the views cheer loudly.
"The reception is over at the pavilion. I hope you all will share or first meal as husband and wife!" Naruto announces.
The celebrations continued into the night with a bonfire and dance and ended with a spectacular fireworks show. In all it was a grand fairy tale wedding for our beautiful Bride and will be remembered and used as a standard for years to come.
(A/N: the traditions and vows were attained by combining the cultures of the Philippines, Korea, and China)