On the evening of December 31st—Great Darkness Day, which also marked New Year's Eve in the ninja world—the wedding preparations finally came to a close.
After a full day of rehearsal, all the guests had left Raiden and Terumi Mei's home. At last, the newlyweds had a moment of peace in the quiet living room.
Terumi Mei wore a loose azure-blue dress and knelt beside Raiden, gently pouring him tea with a soft smile—like a graceful and devoted wife. The sudden help caught Raiden off guard; he stiffened slightly, his hand awkward on the teacup.
Outside, the cold moonlight streamed through the open doors, casting pale light across the room, illuminating the silhouettes of Raiden and Terumi Mei.
After pouring the tea, Terumi Mei remained silent, quietly kneeling beside Raiden. Her gentle gaze lingered on his face, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
"Terumi Mei, come sit here," Raiden said at last. "I have something to tell you." Her gaze made him uncomfortable—he wasn't used to this kind of intimacy. Despite how quickly he had agreed to marry her, Raiden was a novice when it came to relationships.
It was the first time in his life he had been alone with a woman in this way. With their official wedding taking place tomorrow, the words he wanted to say caught in his throat.
"Husband, what do you want to say?" Terumi Mei replied softly. "I can sit here—this way, I'm closer to you."
Her voice was tender and affectionate, and her words carried a natural intimacy. Compared to Raiden's discomfort, she was already fully at ease—ready to step into the role of his wife.
Raiden was momentarily stunned by the way she addressed him. It was just a title, but it stirred something deep in his heart.
Yes, he had changed. His life was no longer his alone—there was someone else in it now.
Raiden took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the doorway, gazing up at the crisp night sky. "Terumi Mei, you're the Mizukage. You must have sensed something by now."
"There's been unrest in the ninja world these past months. Nobles in the five great nations have been assassinated one after another. It's caused a significant disturbance."
Terumi Mei hadn't expected Raiden to bring up this subject. For a moment, she couldn't understand his point. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied his back.
"I led the assassination of the ninja nobles."
Raiden turned to face her, meeting her eyes with unwavering seriousness.
"Tomorrow, we're getting married. There are things I won't hide from you—because you're going to be my wife. I don't want our marriage to be built on secrets or cracks that appear later."
"It's better to be honest now than to become enemies after we're bound together."
Raiden's eyes met hers as he spoke. Terumi Mei stared at him, mouth slightly agape. After a long pause, her demeanor shifted. Gone was the tender, gentle woman from earlier—now, she radiated the authority of the Fifth Mizukage.
"You led the assassinations? Are you saying Konoha was behind it all?!"
"What are you planning?"
Her tone turned sharp as she stepped toward him.
"While I deployed teams to assassinate nobles across the great nations," Raiden began, "I also sent two units into the Land of Rain and the Land of Tang. Those nations are now fully under Konoha's control."
"I won't hide it from you. Next, we're launching a war against Iwa and Cloud. Our goal is to crush their military power, absorb their populations, and formally incorporate the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning into the Fire Country."
"My aim is to unify the ninja world. Those who share this vision are comrades. Those who oppose it will be erased."
"After Cloud and Iwa..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but Terumi Mei understood. After those conquests, the Land of Water and the Land of Wind would be next.
"So you married me because I'm Mizukage?!"
"You didn't marry me because you love me—you just wanted my title to further your plan?!"
"You think marrying me, the Mizukage, will help you succeed?!"
"You don't love me at all!"
Terumi Mei lowered her head, trying to suppress her anger. When she raised her eyes again, they were full of resentment.
She wasn't angry about Raiden's ambition—she'd met many ambitious men during her time as Mizukage. What hurt was the feeling of betrayal, of being lied to.
Raiden hadn't expected her reaction to veer toward their relationship. He had simply wanted to prevent future conflict—if he attacked the Land of Water after they married, Terumi Mei would be caught between loyalty to her village and her husband.
Better to confront it now—if she couldn't accept it, then the wedding wouldn't go forward.
But now she thought he had used her?
"If I were using you for your position, I wouldn't be telling you this now."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to use you after I'd conquered the Land of Water?"
"Terumi Mei, I'm telling you now because I care about you—because I want our marriage to be honest and lasting."
"I will unify the ninja world. That's non-negotiable. But I don't want to destroy nations or cultures—I want to bring peace through unity."
"Mist will suffer no major loss if it joins us. In fact, its future may be even brighter."
"The Land of Water is an island nation, with poor conditions for farming and a low population—only slightly more than the Wind Country. After unification, its people could migrate to fertile lands in the Fire and River countries."
"There's plenty of uninhabited land. We can support them, give them better lives."
"The noble assassinations were to eliminate parasitic forces obstructing peace. Once unified, there'll be no more wars. No more need for lifelong shinobi."
"With no enemies, there's no need to fight."
"Terumi Mei, the children of the future won't be forced onto the battlefield. They'll have choices we never had."
"Our generation must bear the pain, so the next can be free."
Raiden's words came from the heart. He and Terumi Mei had both been born into war. He had spent most of his life on the battlefield. He had long known the cruelty of endless conflict.
In the past, Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu's shadows had kept him from acting. Now, those threats were gone. Finally, he could move forward.
Terumi Mei remained silent, her eyes locked on Raiden's. She saw the truth in his expression—his ambition, sincerity, and hope.
It was her turn to decide.
"So this is how you justify your ambition?"
"Raiden, I don't care about ambition. I've never hated men with vision."
"What I do hate is being lied to."
"I only have one question. Do you love me? Did you marry me because you love me?"
She crossed her arms and stared at him, waiting.
Raiden blinked in surprise—then smiled.
He stepped forward, gently embracing her. His voice was soft in her ear.
"Of course I love you. I married you because you are the one I love."
"With my strength, I don't need Mizukage's title to achieve anything."
"Terumi Mei… thank you."
Her tense body relaxed. Her anger melted away. She raised her head and whispered, "You're my husband. And the world you've described... I want to see it too."
"I hope you'll stay true to that goal. I'll do everything I can to support you."
"But if I ever find that you've strayed—if it's only for your own gain—then even if I die, I won't forgive you."
Beneath the moonlight, their silhouettes disappeared through the doorway.
January 1st, Clear Skies — The First Day of the New Year.
The wedding of the Fourth Hokage, Raiden, and the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei, was held in Konoha as scheduled. For the first time in history, two village leaders joined together in marriage.
The guests weren't just friends and family—envoys from Sand, Iwa, and even Cloud were present to offer their congratulations.
At the auspicious hour, Raiden stood on the stage beside the waterfall, dressed in a sharp black suit, waiting silently.
Before long, Terumi Mei emerged from the end of the path, her white wedding dress flowing around her. With the Great Elder of the Mist at her side, she approached the stage, eyes fixed lovingly on her groom.
As she walked forward, Namikaze Minato, acting as officiant, stepped beside Raiden and gently patted his arm. Raiden walked forward and took Terumi Mei's hand from the Mist Elder's.
They stepped onto the stage together.
Applause burst from the crowd. Naruto blew a wolf-whistle, grinning excitedly at the couple.
"Hey, Naruto—sit down and behave!"
Beside him, Kushina clapped through teary eyes. She frowned at Naruto's antics and tugged him back into his seat.
As she watched her younger brother exchange vows, tears welled in her eyes. The boy she'd raised, who had been alone for so many years, was finally getting married.
He was in his thirties and had never had a girlfriend. Kushina had worried he'd remain single forever. But now, at last, he was settling down.
"Mom, why are you crying? Are you sad Uncle's getting married?" Naruto asked innocently.
Kushina's expression darkened. She bonked him on the head.
"What do you know, brat? Your uncle was a leftover bachelor! Terumi Mei wasn't exactly young either, but thank goodness they finally tied the knot. Now I can face our parents with no regrets!"
Still sniffling, she clapped again.
"Pfft."
"Uncle's the Hokage! There's no way he'd be single forever!"
"He just didn't have time for love while protecting the village! I'm gonna be just like him!"
Naruto rubbed his head and quickly forgot the pain, cheering loudly for Raiden.
Unlike most ninja weddings, which were short and formal, Raiden and Terumi Mei's ceremony lasted all day. The guests only began to leave around eight or nine that evening.
"Let's begin."
Though the wedding had ended, the living room was packed. Raiden and Terumi Mei sat at the head of the table.
Around them sat Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato, and Gaara, along with Baki and Mist's elder representatives.
On their wedding night, in the heart of Raiden's estate, the top leaders of three great ninja villages had quietly gathered.
A secret meeting was about to begin.
(End of this chapter)
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