Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 635 The Wedding in Progress

The wedding in Konoha Village is scheduled for January.

Today, perhaps because the space passage was completely sealed off, causing weather problems inside, the originally clear sky turned gray and hazy, as if covered by a thick fog that could never be dispelled.

But for the first time, the streets of Konoha Village were covered with red silk and paper flowers, which the villagers had made overnight using the uniformly distributed white cloth dyed with cranberry juice.

The color was uneven, with some areas being darker and others lighter, but no one complained.

Because this is the only thing that's different in all these years.

Everyone in the village who could walk came. They were dressed in the same style of gray and white clothes, standing on both sides of the street, with long-lost smiles on their faces.

The patrolling ninjas weren't on the street corner today, and the ever-present scrutinizing gazes had temporarily disappeared. People could finally stop pretending to be happy and genuinely smile from the bottom of their hearts.

Even if it's just for this one day.

"Here it comes!"

The crowd stirred.

Naruto was dressed in a white suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he had a nervous yet expectant expression on his face, like a boy going to the battlefield for the first time.

Xiao Li walked beside him, not wearing the white shirt again, but a tight-fitting green best man suit, supposedly the color of youth.

He walked along, bubbles of excitement bubbling from his nose, constantly muttering, "Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Naruto-kun is truly incredible!"

"Can you please stop nagging me..." Naruto's ears were burning from his nagging.

"Oh! This is the thrill of youth!" Lee's bubble grew bigger and bigger. "Seeing Naruto get married, I feel like I'm seeing my future with Sakura too! Ah, Sakura will look so beautiful in her wedding dress—"

boom.

A fist flew from the crowd and landed precisely on the back of Xiao Li's head.

"Shut up." Sakura's voice came from behind, carrying undisguised murderous intent.

Xiao Li covered his head, turned around with a wronged expression, and saw Xiao Ying walking beside the bride, wearing a light pink bridesmaid dress, with exquisite makeup, her hair up, revealing a section of her fair neck.

"Sakura..." Lee's nose started bubbling again.

Sakura ignored him and focused her gaze on Naruto ahead, with Ino walking beside her.

This was the first time in five years that Ino had left the hospital and seen so many people.

She wore a white wedding dress with a train that trailed on the ground, and a veil that covered half her face. Sakura did her makeup in the morning, applying a light pink to her lips and a thin layer of rouge to her cheeks.

At this moment, Ino is as beautiful as a porcelain doll.

Her gaze remained empty and blank, but a faint smile played on her lips.

"Ino, are you cold?" Sakura asked softly.

Ino shook her head and clenched the small bunch of white flowers in her hand.

Hyuga Neji stood at the front of the crowd, his white eyes watching the slowly approaching line.

His expression was calm, but after his gaze lingered on the bride for a moment, he moved to the other side of the procession.

Every day, she wore a bridesmaid dress, the hem of which swayed gently with her steps. She carried a small basket full of flower petals and was intently scattering them into the air.

Pale pink petals fell among the gray crowd, like flowers blooming from ashes.

Neji's gaze followed Tenten's figure, and he didn't even realize that the corners of his mouth were slightly curved up.

Tenten seemed to sense that gaze and turned her head, meeting Neji's eyes directly. She paused for a moment, then smiled, a bright and generous smile, though her ears involuntarily turned red.

She scattered flower petals, her steps unconsciously moving closer to Neji.

The hand beneath the skirt was gently grasped by another hand with distinct knuckles.

Tian Tian's body stiffened for a moment.

Neji's hands were cold, and his fingertips had thin calluses, the result of years of practicing Gentle Fist.

He didn't hold it very tightly, just gently. Tian Tian kept his head down, looking at their clasped hands, his heart pounding like a drum.

Having known each other for so many years, gone through life and death together, and witnessed each other's growth and pain, she thought they would always be like this, standing side by side, not too far, not too close, just the right distance.

I never imagined that he would take this step on this day, in this place.

Neji also kept his head down, a faint blush rising to his cheeks. His fingers tightened slightly, as if afraid she would run away.

"Neji," Tenten whispered his name.

"……Um."

Your hands are shaking.

"……I don't."

Tian Tian smiled and took his hand in return. Her hand was small, and his palm completely enveloped it, warm and firm.

"Then I'll hold on tighter," she said.

"Hmm!" Neji, that's the expression you have, but the strength of your grip betrays all your thoughts.

Hanabi stood behind the bride, wearing a small white dress, holding Ino's skirt in her hand, and walked solemnly down the red carpet.

She had grown into a graceful young woman, with the aloofness and stubbornness characteristic of the Hyuga clan in her eyes. She was not too willing to be a flower girl, but her older sister said it was a very important matter, so she reluctantly agreed.

At this moment, she lifted her skirt, thinking: When will this end? I'm so hungry.

Kakashi stood on the makeshift stage, wearing the white haori of the Hokage, holding a small booklet in his hand—the wedding program.

He watched the approaching newlyweds with a look of both relief and emotion on his face.

"I never thought I'd be the one to officiate Naruto's wedding." He muttered to himself, "I never imagined I'd be the one to officiate at Naruto's wedding."

Time flies so fast, it's like the blink of an eye.

Naruto and Ino stood on the platform, facing each other.

Sakura gently lifted Ino's veil, revealing her delicate yet bewildered face.

Her eyes were on Naruto, who took a candy out of his pocket. It was strawberry flavored, and the red wrapper looked particularly bright in the hazy sunlight.

"Ino," he said, holding the candy up to her, "will you marry me?"

Ino looked at the candy and blinked.

"If you're willing, just nod." Naruto's voice trembled slightly. "Then I'll put the ring on your finger. After that, this candy is yours."

Everyone was waiting; the crowd was so quiet you could hear the wind.

Ino tilted her head, as if trying to process the meaning of those words. She looked at the candy, then at Naruto, and slowly nodded.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Naruto's eyes welled up with tears. He had finally waited for this day, but he vowed that even if Ino remained the same for the rest of her life, he would still love her for the rest of his life.

He frantically pulled a platinum ring from his pocket, grabbed Ino's hand, and carefully slipped the ring onto her ring finger.