As Hui and Tsunade's wedding day approached, more and more people like Karo arrived at Hidden Sage Village.
The entire village was now immersed in a grand celebration.
It had become a sea of red.
And why red?
Because of a single statement from Hui.
He had said that joy should be marked with the color red.
With that one simple sentence, he had shifted a tradition that had been followed for countless generations.
Such was Hui's influence.
Such was the influence of a god.
"It's really lively, huh? It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of energy,"
Fugaku remarked, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he observed the bustling crowds around him.
As the leader of the Region of Wind, one of the Five Great Regions, Fugaku's days were usually filled with endless responsibilities.
He often wished he could split himself into ten or more shadow clones just to manage everything.
But Hui's wedding was an event of immense significance, even for him.
So, while his shadow clones continued to handle affairs in the Region of Wind, his real body had come to Hidden Sage Village.
"Indeed, it's been ages since I've experienced such grandeur."
beside him, Uzumaki Suihei chimed in. He too had made his way to the village for the occasion.
"Soon enough, the entire world will be this lively,"
Hiashi added, a faint smile lifting the corners of his lips.
Speaking of the Hyuga clan, this generation had truly proven itself exceptional.
Hyuga Hiashi was one of the Five Great Leaders, while his brother, Hyuga Hizashi, served as the Head of the Central Administration
These two brothers could easily be considered the most powerful siblings in the entire Sage World.
"Yes, that day will come. And it's not far off, it'll be here soon,"
Fugaku declared firmly, his heart filled with unwavering belief.
"By the way, Fugaku, how's the development going in the Region of Wind? Since we've finally gathered like this, let's exchange some insights and learn from each other,"
Uzumaki Suihei suggested, causing both Fugaku and Hiashi's eyes to light up.
"Good idea. I've actually run into a few challenges lately,"
Fugaku admitted.
"Perfect, let's discuss it!"
Hiashi agreed enthusiastically.
The three of them quickly fell into step, arms draped around each other's shoulders as they walked off to share their experiences.
Meanwhile, the other two leaders of the Five Great Regions didn't join them. Both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sakumo had brought their families along, and since it was a rare opportunity to return to Hidden Sage Village, they naturally chose to head home first.
At Sakumo's residence, he was sparring with a young figure.
That figure was none other than his only son, Kakashi.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The crisp sound of blades clashing echoed through the yard as their silhouettes moved with lightning speed.
Finally, the two separated, their swords held steady.
Gazing at Kakashi standing firm with his blade, Sakumo nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad."
He spoke simply, without unnecessary praise, but those two words were, in truth, the highest compliment he could offer.
Hearing this, Kakashi sheathed his sword, a smile creeping onto his face beneath his mask.
But soon after, he hesitated, as if something was weighing on his mind.
Noticing Kakashi's reluctance, Sakumo asked,
"You seem to have something on your mind."
Kakashi froze for a moment, then, after a few seconds of silence, he made up his mind and spoke.
"Father, was Mother's real surname… Uchiha?"
Sakumo paused at the question, then let out a quiet chuckle.
"So, it seems you've heard something. Yes, your mother's real name was Uchiha Michiko. You, Hatake Kakashi, carry half of the Uchiha bloodline."
There was no much reason to hide it, and Sakumo saw no need for secrecy. He directly told Kakashi the truth.
Upon hearing this, Kakashi seemed to relax a little.
From his father's tone, he could tell that this wasn't some earth-shattering revelation.
"I didn't really hear it from anyone. I doubt people would openly talk about something like this,"
Kakashi replied casually, making Sakumo raise an eyebrow in surprise.
Looking at Kakashi, who carried himself with the demeanor of someone far older than his years, Sakumo asked with interest,
"Then how did you find out? Was it a clue you discovered among your mother's personal belongings? Or something else?"
At this, Kakashi's lips curled into a small, triumphant smile beneath his mask.
He looked at Sakumo, feigning indifference but unable to hide the trace of pride in his voice.
"Because of this."
As he spoke, Kakashi's eyes changed.
From deep black, they transformed into a vivid blood-red, each eye displaying a single tomoe.
The single tomoe Sharingan!
Kakashi had awakened the single tomoe Sharingan at just six years old.
And this, despite possessing only half of the Uchiha bloodline!
Even Sakumo was taken aback, staring at Kakashi's eyes in utter astonishment.
But soon enough, a proud smile crept up on Sakumo's face.
"Not bad… very not bad!"
Sakumo exclaimed, overflowing with satisfaction at Kakashi's achievement.
"Keep up your training. Your Uncle Hui said that powerful enemies will still appear in the Sage World. The people of this world need to grow quickly.
"He has high hopes for you, and you have great potential.
So, don't let your Uncle Hui down. Work hard and turn that potential into real strength."
Sakumo patted Kakashi on the shoulder, his voice filled with emotion.
Kakashi nodded firmly in response.
"I will."
Though he was only six years old, Kakashi's thoughts were far more mature than his peers. He had long sensed the expectations Hui had for him.
"But that's enough training for today. Your mother's prepared a feast for dinner,"
Sakumo said with a chuckle, ruffling Kakashi's hair before leading him into the house.
Soon, the warmth of a family dinner filled their home.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen, after returning home and briefly reuniting with his family, had gone off drinking with his old comrades.
…
As night fell, Hidden Sage Village buzzed with even more excitement.
It had become the most vibrant place in the entire world, and without a doubt, the most beautiful at night.
Everyone who set foot in Hidden Sage Village was stunned by the brilliance of its evenings.
And with Hui and Tsunade's wedding fast approaching, fireworks jutsu lit up the skies every night, painting the heavens with dazzling colors.
For many first-time visitors, the spectacle was unlike anything they had ever seen, leaving them awestruck.
"What a… beautiful night!"
murmured a man from the Region of Earth. He looked to be in his forties and was visiting Hidden Sage Village for the first time.
This place completely shattered his old notions of what a village could be.
And as he imagined the Region of Earth one day becoming as splendid as this, his heart brimmed with anticipation.
Though the world had only recently unified, what was surprising was how quickly people had begun to feel hope.
They trusted their new leadership, confident in a brighter future.
In just this short period, they had witnessed the world's transformation with their own eyes and felt the changes in their daily lives.
Hidden Sage Village had become a city that never slept, its lights illuminating the night.
Countless people now experienced what true nightlife was like.
Even Hui, disguised alongside Tsunade, wandered the streets of Konoha.
As a living god, if he walked around Hidden Sage Village in his true form, he would be swarmed and unable to take even a single step.
"It's hard to believe that in just ten short years, this place has changed so much,"
Tsunade said, unable to hide her amazement as she gazed at the bustling streets around her.
Compared to the old Konoha, the transformation into Hidden Sage Village was almost unimaginable. The scale of change was enough to leave anyone in disbelief.
"Well, you'd have to ask your husband about that. These past ten years just happen to coincide with my time as the leader,"
Hui replied with a grin, earning an eye-roll from Tsunade.
"Eh? Isn't that Minato and Kushina?"
Suddenly, Tsunade exclaimed in surprise, spotting the couple strolling hand in hand through the streets.
"What's so surprising about that? You didn't just realize those two were together, did you?"
Hui replied, a bit speechless. The way Minato and Kushina looked at each other, it was obvious to anyone with eyes what their relationship was.
Tsunade was at a loss for words. She honestly hadn't been paying attention; she'd just been too busy.
"Seriously, Minato and Kushina are together, and yet Nawaki still hasn't found a girlfriend!"
She couldn't help but complain about her younger brother, Nawaki. Seeing Minato and Kushina together made her worry about him.
It suddenly struck her that Nawaki didn't seem to have any intention of finding a girlfriend at all.
Thinking back to some of Nawaki's past comments, Tsunade grew even more concerned.
After all, Nawaki was the only heir to their family, the sole descendant responsible for continuing the Senju bloodline!
If he really didn't plan on getting married…
The thought made Tsunade clench her fists.
"Damn it, I won't allow it!" she muttered to herself, already deciding to have a serious talk with Nawaki.
Hui, sensing Tsunade's thoughts, couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Nawaki.
But Hui had no intention of stopping Tsunade.
In fact, he agreed that Nawaki should find a girlfriend.
After all… Nawaki had exceptional genes, he was a man who could use Wood Release!
To be honest, i Hui even considered the possibility of pairing Nawaki with a woman from the Uchiha clan.
He was curious about what might happen if Senju and Uchiha bloodlines were combined, especially with the influence of natural energy. Would it produce even more remarkable results?
Even if it didn't result in another pair of Rinnegan eyes, the potential of combining those two bloodlines with natural energy was fascinating to think about.
The more Hui entertained the idea, the more interesting it seemed.
In that case… why not give it a try?
A smile crept onto Hui's face as he pondered the possibilities.
…
Meanwhile, the very Nawaki that both Mochizuki Hui and Tsunade were scheming about was sitting alone atop the Hokage Rock, gazing blankly at the sky from Hui's carved stone visage.
"Achoo!"
Nawaki sneezed suddenly, a puzzled look crossing his face.
That's odd…
With his physical constitution, it was strange to have such a reaction.
Something's off. Really off.
Could it be… is someone thinking about me?
Nawaki wondered, still perplexed by the sudden sneeze.
[tl/n: Red is traditionally used in chinese weddings]
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