Kitsune no Ken GAIDEN Chronicles

Written by Neon Majestic

(DISCLAIMER: The Naruto franchise and the characters therein belong to and were originally created by Masashi Kishimoto.)

OoOoO

GAIDEN 07 Veil

(N.B. This Gaiden chapter takes place between Year 1 and Year 2 of the main story s 15-year time-skip before the finale.)

Knock-knock-knock. "Yugito-san, are you nearly ready? The service starts in another half-hour."

"Just about...I m still trying to get used to how this outfit feels. At least now I can walk without tripping on the skirt that s a plus, right?"

"Do you need me to come in and help you with anything?"

"Thanks, Hinata I d really appreciate it."

"All right, then, I m coming in..." and in Hinata came. "Well...you certainly picked the right outfit for this occasion, Yugito-san," she remarked.

"Oh, it wasn't all me. I had help, remember, little mouse?" Yugito gave her younger friend a knowing smirk. "You, and Sakura-san, and Ino-san, and even Tenten-san and Karui-san helped out too."

"Just as you helped us to settle the disputes over what we were going to wear for today," said Hinata.

"But of course. I'm the designated big sister. It's what I m supposed to do, right?" said Yugito.

Hinata looked Yugito up and down...and then her gray eyes rested squarely on Yugito's chest. Yugito noticed the look. "See something you like, dear?" she teased.

"Yugito-san! You're as bad as ever!" Hinata blushed. "The thing is, won't you stand out too much with a bust-line like what you're sporting?"

"I'd think the point of this dress is for me to stand out, Hinata," said Yugito.

"Ah, yes. How silly of me. Because Nii Yugito is as shameless about her body as ever." Hinata shook her head. "But still..."

"Yes?" Yugito looked at her expectantly.

Hinata took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Today's really a special day, Yugito-san. After everything that has happened...everything we've all gone through...it's like today is a major reward for all of that experience."

Yugito's eyes softened. "A reward, huh..."

"Yes...a reward." And Hinata smiled at her friend. "For all of us to be able to share the reward together...me, you, the girls, the boys...I'm really happy. I'm happy we can be in this together...a happy occasion, together, all of us..."

"Oi, oi, Hinata. Don't go all emotional on me now before we've even reached the venue." Yugito crossed over to the dark-haired girl and gently held her shoulders. "Let's just enjoy the time together, okay? It's supposed to be a fun time, formal-wear aside."

Hinata chuckled a little. "Yeah...you re right." She smiled more broadly. "So, let's get you finished up in your outfit, shall we?"

OoOoO

"Aw, geez, I swear, I HATE this kind of ritzy dressing!" Naruto complained loudly as he stood in front of a mirror and vainly tried to adjust his bow-tie.

"Stop complaining like a little bitch and suck it up, dobe," Sasuke, standing a few feet away from him, grunted in response. "It's not like you're being made to wear that suit for the rest of your natural life. It's just for a few hours at a formal event. Sheesh, if you didn't have Kushina-san for your mother, I'd swear you were raised with no class."

"My mom? Classy? Oh, please." Naruto made a face. "That's the woman who cosplays as a comic-book vigilante, for crying out loud. Do you want to know how many Shadow Fox variant costumes she's got in her closet?"

"Well, Naruto, I have to agree with you about these suits...wearing them is such a pain," said Shikamaru, standing near the door as he fidgeted with his own bow-tie.

Shino, casually adjusting his suit-jacket, shook his head. "If you are going to attend a formal event, which you ARE, then the logical thing is to dress formally. Anything less than that would be considered social sacrilege."

The door to the parlor opened just then, and in walked Itachi, clad in a white tuxedo. "I couldn't help hearing you guys complaining about the suits from a distance," he remarked. "Need I remind you that the Uchiha Zaibatsu is paying for your formalwear for today's event?"

"Even if you say that, I still feel like I'm being stifled in this getup," Naruto said crossly.

"Well, I'm sorry, but you'll just have to deal with it for the next two hours or so," said Itachi. "And the sooner we head out, the sooner you'll be able to get into something more comfortable to your tastes. The service begins in twenty minutes, and it won't make us look good if we're late."

"Sigh...well, let's get this show on the road, I guess," said Shikamaru.

OoOoO

The church was slowly filling up, with attendees coming in the front doors in droves. Approaching the doors in the midst of the crowd, Tsunade looked around. "Hmm...I know this is a by-invitation event, but still..." she muttered to herself. "Ah, well, such things do happen."

Suddenly the mayor's eye caught a different sight: Inuzuka Tsume, standing off to one side and wearing a scowl that belied the formal blue dress she was wearing. "Ah, Tsume," Tsunade greeted her. "Why so serious?"

Tsume gave her a look. "Seriously? Has Nolan's work become so memetic?"

Tsunade put up her hands in surrender. "Ouch."

"...sorry, Mayor." Tsume shook her head and looked away. "I just don't do well at events like this."

"Oh?" Tsunade cocked an eyebrow and smirked. "Afraid of dressing up all girly-like? Is Inuzuka Tsume too tough-as-nails to wear dresses?"

"Formal events on a whole, I can deal with," Tsume said coolly. "It's events like this," she waved her hand disdainfully toward the church building, "that I can't cope with." She sighed. "Because of my ex-husband."

Tsunade s eyebrows shot up. "Your ex-husband?"

"Mmm-hmm." Tsume nodded. "Look, today's supposed to be a nice day, and I don't want to spoil it. Can we maybe talk about this after?"

"Well, you certainly look like you could get some heavy stuff off your chest..." Tsunade considered. "All right. After the main event here is done, what say we hit the bar?"

"I think I could definitely do with a drink," Tsume admitted. "But my daughter Hana has appointed herself my personal chaperone where the bar's concerned," and she motioned to one of the church pews closest to the front door, where Hana could be seen watching her mother keenly.

"I see," said Tsunade. "Say, you wouldn't mind if I sit with your family, would you?"

"You're certainly welcome to join us, Mayor," said Tsume. "I'll be inside in a bit...reluctantly, might I add."

Nodding, Tsunade made her way inside the church and sat down next to Hana. "Hey there, Hana," she greeted the younger woman. "Your mother tells me you're acting as a sobriety officer for her?"

Hana, in turn, shook her head. "Anytime we go to functions like this, Mom tends to endanger the bar."

Tsunade glanced back toward the doors, saw that Tsume was still standing on the outside, and then turned back to Hana. "Pardon my inquisitiveness, but, um...your mother mentioned that it's got something to do with her ex-husband...?"

Hana made a disgusted noise with her teeth. "Oh, Dad? Sigh...he bailed on us when I was 10 and my brother Kiba was five. Mom's never really gotten over it ever since then."

"...oh. Well. Awkward." Tsunade bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Hana said quietly. "These kinds of events always remind Mom of him, and anytime she goes to one of these, she winds up getting blackout drunk. I'd rather not have a repeat performance this time."

"Tell you what..." Tsunade smiled a little. "How'd you like for me to be your wingman in making your mom stay on the wagon?"

"Hmm?" Hana cocked an eyebrow. "How do you mean?"

"I mean, I'd already invited Tsume to join me at the bar after this is over...but instead of anything alcoholic, I'll make sure she drinks only ginger ale." Tsunade chuckled. "We may be of different roles in Konoha Town's administration, but professional duties aside, I'd like to think she's someone I'd consider a friend. And you do care about your mother's well-being, and I respect that. Besides, it wouldn't go over well if Konoha Town's police chief gets into trouble for creating a scene while drunk, right?"

"...now THAT type of scandal, I can do without." Hana shivered. "Your offer of help is accepted, Mayor."

"Splendid!" Tsunade nodded...and then looked around. "Hmm, by the way, where's your brother? Didn't he come with you?"

"Oh, he's here, taking direct part in the service," said Hana. "See, there he is, off to the side..."

OoOoO

As they waited in the wings for what they were appointed to do, Naruto nudged Kiba. "Oi, Kiba, isn't that old lady Tsunade sitting next to your sister over there?" he whispered.

Kiba looked to where his sister was seated. "Yeah, that's Mayor Tsunade next to Hana, all right. So?"

Naruto grinned. "Your sister's the only one in all of Konoha Town who can give the mayor the finger and get away with it."

"Grr...that joke wasn't funny the first time you came up with it, and it's STILL not funny now!" Kiba hissed.

"C'mon, you guys, would you cut it out?" Sasuke scolded them. "Look alive; the service is going to start."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto grudgingly acquiesced, only now taking a moment to survey the group they were part of: himself, Kiba, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Shino all wearing matching red tuxedos with white roses pinned on the left side of their vests; and on the other side of the church from them were Hinata, Ino, Sakura, Tenten and Karui, all wearing matching blue sleeveless gowns with white corsages. "Well, the girls look ready to do their thing," he muttered. "Time to put on my best smile..."

"Good afternoon, everyone," a deep, commanding voice reverberated throughout the church as the officiating minister - even with the distance between them, Naruto could immediately recognize the man as Han - spoke into the podium's microphone. "I'm asking the congregation please to be seated; the procession will begin in a few minutes, so we'd like for there to be as little movement about as possible at this time, and for everything to be done in aorderly fashion, thank you."

It took only a minute, but those who were milling about soon found seats, and in a little while the church was quiet save for a slight hum of subdued chatter here and there.

"Thank you very much. Now...I invite the congregation to stand at this time," Han directed, and he smiled as everyone complied. Then he turned to look behind him, where a large pipe-organ stood, with its musician - Akimichi Choza, he remembered the man's name as - waiting expectantly, and the minister gave him a brief nod.

"Yosh...!" Choza whispered as he turned to the pipe-organ and placed his hands on the keys.

A moment later, the church was filled with the echoes of the organ's notes...then, as everyone watched, from the church's front entrance came Itachi, with his father Fugaku and his mother Mikoto on either side, all walking uniformly up the aisle to the very front row, to which Itachi directed his parents before going up to the altar himself and turning to face the congregation.

The last few strains of the music died away; then Choza began playing a different tune. "There's our cue," Sasuke whispered. "Let's go, guys."

He stepped out first, with Sakura also stepping out and coming toward him. They joined arms together and marched in uniform step up the aisle; behind them, Naruto and Hinata acted likewise; then Shikamaru and Ino; then Shino and Karui; and Kiba and Tenten took up the rear. The five pairings made their way up to the front, with the boys going to the right of the altar and the girls taking their position on the left.

Again the music died away. Then Choza began playing something different, and yet a very familiar tune to the ears of all present:

Here comes the bride.

And then...coming from outside the front door, coming up the aisle, were Hinata's sister Hanabi and her friend Udon, she carefully scattering rose petals along the aisle and he bearing a velvet couch on which rested two rings. Behind them came Naruto's father Minato, dressed in a crisp-looking brown tuxedo and looking very pleased. And...on his arm was Yugito, wearing a snow-white sleeveless dress and a veil that covered the top half of her face and whose train went all the way down her back, its tail carried behind her by an equally-smiling Kushina.

"Yugito-san..." Hinata whispered tremulously on seeing the white-clad woman.

Itachi took a deep breath as he beheld the beautiful vision walking toward the altar. Yugito...

Hanabi and Udon reached the altar first, walking up the steps to take their place a little distance behind Han's post. Minato and Yugito carefully walked up the steps, Kushina still holding the tail end of Yugito's veil behind them, and the former two soon stopped in front of Itachi. Yugito turned to look at Minato. "Minato-sama..." Her voice was much softer than she'd intended. "My own father and mother aren't alive to see this day...but thank you for being the one to give me away."

Minato gently cupped one of her cheeks with his free palm. "Thank you for letting me have the honor, Yugito."

Gently putting Yugito's veil-train down, Kushina took a step back and beamed, blinking rapidly to fight back the tears. "Oh, Yugito..." and she nodded as Minato now handed Yugito over to Itachi, then turned and walked back down the steps toward her and offered his arm; she silently took it and let him lead her over to where Fugaku and Mikoto were standing in their designated bench.

"The congregation may be seated," Han announced, and everyone in the pews sat down. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to bear witness to the joining together in holy matrimony, of this man, Uchiha Itachi, and this woman, Nii Yugito..."

OoOoO

Sitting in one of the middle pews, Hyuga Hiashi nudged his seat-mate, Dr. Haruno. "You know, doctor, to be honest, I'm still surprised that that man Han was an officiating minister...and that they allowed him to keep his credentials following that tribunal he underwent for being one of the Kyuushingai."

"Well, he had a few things in his favor that time," Dr. Haruno shrugged. "There was the support of his parishioners, plus my character testimony, and his own early submission to the government prosecution; all being told, he got a lenient sentence from them. A few years' probation isn't that rough."

"Mmm-hmm." Hiashi nodded.

OoOoO

"...the couple has prepared their own unique vows, which they will now give in the sight of God and man." Han nodded at Itachi. "Itachi, you first."

"Thank you, sir." Itachi turned to look at Yugito. "Yugito...I know I've annoyed you and been a general pain, in all the time we've known each other...but even in spite of all that, you kept putting up with me. That's so much more than I deserve. And besides which, you're strong, you're wise, you're kind, you re honest, and you think of others before yourself. And you've put a lot of faith in me, with everything we've gone through together...and I promise, this day and always, that I will do my utmost best to make sure your faith is rewarded. I want to give you my full 100 percent...and then I want to give you more. I will do everything that I'm capable of so that you will be proud that I'm your husband. Today, I give myself to you, wholly to you, nothing held back and nothing hidden, and that will be my constant gift to you, every day that we're together, every day that we will live."

Han nodded to Yugito, who in turn took a deep breath and looked intently into Itachi's face. "Itachi," Yugito spoke, "there aren't enough words that I could say to express how much appreciation I have for you. You've been there for me, in my ups and downs; you've listened when I needed someone to listen...you've even risked your life to defend mine. As for me, well, there's so much that I've undergone that I can't undo...but you looked beyond that and looked at me for who I could be and still can be. When I was at my most vulnerable, you cradled me...and I want to have you near me always, to be my anchor, my compass, my world. I pledge to you, now and forever, that you will always be happy to have me as your wife. I put myself in your hands, and offer all I have to you, and only you, for as long as both of us will live."

The two looked at Han, who nodded to them both. "Thank you, both of you," he said. "Now, if we may have the rings...?"

Udon carefully stepped forward and held up the velvet cushion with the rings atop it. "All right," said Han. "Now, Itachi and Yugito, you will each take one of these rings and place it on your betrothed's finger, as a physical emblem of the commitment you are both making this day before heaven and before this congregation."

Itachi took one ring from the cushion and gently took Yugito's offered left hand, sliding the ring on her third finger; then Yugito followed suit with the other ring, sliding it on the third finger of Itachi's left hand. As they did so, Han continued speaking.

"I take Nii Yugito as my lawfully wedded wife. I take Uchiha Itachi as my lawfully wedded husband. Marriage is a divinely-inspired institution, blessed of heaven, and may no other party, man or woman, come in between you; may this bond never be severed except by death. Honor the commitment and pledge you have both given this day, and may all here witnessing this event bear witness to the truth of your promises to each other and to all of us. Now, if you will come and sign the certificate..."

Everyone watched as, one after the other, Itachi and then Yugito stepped up next to Han and gave the needed signatures on the document as instructed.

"And with that, everyone..." Han paused for deliberate dramatic effect. "I present to you, this day, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Yugito, joined in holy matrimony as husband and wife!" He looked at the two. "Sir, take your bride! Madam, claim your husband!"

And the cheers and applause thundered and echoed throughout the church as Itachi and Yugito caught hold of each other and exchanged what Hatake Kakashi would later describe as "the hottest French kiss to put even Icha Icha Paradise to shame."

OoOoO

"Okay, ladies, you know how it goes..." Yugito said much later, her back to all the women in the crowd as she stood on the front steps of the Hyuga mansion and held the bouquet in her hands. "One...two...THREE!" and she threw her arms up and sent the flowers sailing high up and away from her person.

"It's coming my way!" Ino cried.

"You're too young! Get lost!" Terumi Mei snapped.

"Don't be jealous, you old virgin!" Ozaki Haruna mocked her teacher.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Mei asked threateningly.

The bouquet descended rapidly...

"Ah! It got caught!" Hinata announced.

"And the winner is..." Yuuhi Kurenai began.

All the ladies looked to see who had caught the bouquet: Nohara Rin, not there now as a reporter, but as a guest in her best dress. "Uh...me?" she asked, a blush appearing on her face.

"Ooooh! So you'll marry sometime soon! Just like the folklore says!" Sakura grinned at her.

"Really? I will?" Rin blushed some more.

OoOoO

"Not that I mind or anything, but...why are we doing this, again?" Yugito questioned as Itachi carefully slid her garter down her leg, while several of the male guests watched in anticipation.

"Because Minato-sama said it was tradition, and also because Naruto-kun said Suigetsu-kun would sulk for a month if we didn't agree to this," Itachi said casually.

Yugito rolled her eyes. "Methinks I need to have a long chat with those guys about what really motivated them to insist on this. Also, remind me to add a mallet when I give Hinata this dress for her eventual wedding to Naruto."

"A mallet?" Itachi asked as he finally slid the garter off.

"Yes. Because as much as I love Naruto, he needs an occasional conking for when he's acted stupid," Yugito declared.

"I see. I'll keep that in mind." Itachi turned to the men. "Guys...?" and with a grand flourish he let the garter fly.

Suigetsu immediately began the stampede. "That sweetheart's MINE!" he shouted.

"Watch it, runt! You're 100 years too early!" Shiranui Genma snapped. "P.E. teacher coming through!"

"As if I'm going to lose to YOU guys!" Naruto yelled.

The garter got lost in the midst of the crowd as the men pushed, shoved, stomped on, and outright fought with each other to claim it...and a certain silver-haired man wearing a dust-mask calmly walked out of the throng, dusted off his tuxedo, and twirled the garter around on his index finger. "Can't touch this," he intoned.

Neji was the first to notice. "Wha - oi, oi, Kakashi-sensei got it!"

"NOOOOO!" every other male in the crowd screamed in despair.

Yugito face-palmed. "I'm definitely having that chat with those men after all this is over."

OoOoO

The Hyuga mansion's front lawn was well-occupied with dancing couples for the next hour or so. Itachi and Yugito were the center of attention, of course, though they didn't dance exclusively with each other; Yugito got to share a number with Minato as part of his temporary "father of the bride" role, plus she also got to dance with her new father-in-law Fugaku, and Itachi himself did the "mother of the groom" number with his mother Mikoto, and a short one with Hinata at Yugito's suggestion.

Neji, Suigetsu and Jugo found themselves in an unlikely team-up to keep Rock Lee and Suigetsu's father Gengetsu as far away from the bar as possible. The less said about that, the better.

Hiashi and Fugaku got into rather rowdy competition over which of them had brought the better wedding present.

Hana and Tsunade succeeded in keeping Tsume sober, but they both discovered too late that it would be wiser in future not to let Tsume do any sort of wedding toast, even if it was with a glass of ginger ale. "And if your new hubby decides that he needs to get himself a new model of woman with curvier assets, just make sure you come to me, and I'll give you a link to a guy I know..." was as far as Tsume's speech had gotten before the embarrassed daughter and mayor sought to swiftly usher her away, while everyone else present just smiled and nodded for the sake of politeness.

Naruto got Hinata into an impromptu tango number, of course with much incognito help from manservant Kabuto at the deejay table, to the scandalized irritation of Hiashi and the awed wonder of everyone else not named Itachi and Yugito.

Kurenai and Genma spent the rest of the reception teasing Kakashi and Rin about their being the next ones to marry.

When Karui wasn't busy doing a musical request for the guests with her violin, she was sitting at a table with the ever-stoic Shino, though a watchful observer would have noted that Shino seemed a little less stoic in her company.

Kushina had to chase Choji away from the kitchen three times when he tried to sneak extra food from there...although she, let the truth be known, had quietly sneaked a few extra slices of wedding cake into a bag when nobody was looking, even though she had baked the cake and could easily have baked another one at her own leisure if she'd really wanted to.

And at the end of it all, when Itachi and Yugito finally got spirited away to the Samsara Hotel for some quality time, it was soon proven that being a virgin did NOT mean being completely in the dark about certain things, as Itachi was soon to find out about his new wife.

"Uh, Yugito, dear...are those what I think those are...? And what's that thing for...? And what the hell is THAT?"

And the next morning, the hotel's management gave complimentary meal passes as an apology to anyone whose sleep had been unduly disrupted by the noise coming from the penthouse suite the night before...though only one guest actually took up the hotel on that offer, the rest having been too, ahem, inspired by the new couple's sounds to make any formal complaints.

All in all, the wedding, reception and union consummation were a complete success.

OoOoO

END GAIDEN 07

00000

NEON MAJESTIC: Today's my birthday, and it's the second-to-last day of 2016, and so I've decided to give myself a present, and by extension a present to all of you who have been reading this saga: Itachi and Yugito tying the knot. Congratulations all round, and yes, you're welcome.

Now, this whole wedding chapter was inspired by a certain X-Men comic I had back in the day, which outlined Scott and Jean's wedding from start to finish. In particular, the scene where Kakashi suavely snags the garter like a boss was inspired by a scene from that comic where Gambit did the same thing, only he blew up the other male guests to get his hands on Jean's garter. Yeah.

FYI, Itachi's last line up there was one I had always wanted to incorporate somehow into the story, although in the early planning stage, it was intended to be a line spoken by Naruto once he and Hinata should finally get married; the idea was that Yugito's naughty nature would've rubbed off on Hinata.

No pun intended there, perverts.

And no, I am not going to say what Itachi was making reference to in his question. Fill in the blanks yourselves.

On a completely separate note, I will use this opportunity to address a few other pairings as had been outlined in both this Gaiden chapter and the main fic. Obviously, we have Naruto x Hinata, Sasuke x Sakura, Kakashi x Rin, and Idate x Hana becoming married couples, as according to the final chapter of the main story; as to one other particular pairing, Shino x Karui, I do believe I will address that in a later Gaiden chapter. If there are any other pairings you have questions about, feel free to ask.

And yes, minor character Haruna has been given the surname Ozaki in this combined story, as you would've seen if you saw the main story's final chapter. This won't be the last you'll see of her or of her other friends, either.

More Gaiden chapters to come! Stay tuned! And Happy 2017 the moment it comes!