Chapter 191: Trivial Matters
When it came to the customs and traditions of the ninja world, Mizuki had always found them strange. In this world where the technological tree had been oddly skewed, clashes between modern trends and ancient traditions were common—yet, under the great banner of utilitarianism driven by wartime necessity, they were somehow perfectly reconciled.
While the level of technology hadn't yet reached the quasi-high-tech era of ten years in the future, various modern-like tools had already begun to emerge. Take cameras, for example: both the old-fashioned kind that required a black cloth to prevent exposure and the newer, more portable models existed. Though the image quality of the compact ones didn't match their bulkier counterparts, they were already a clear sign of advancing technology and progress.
Yet, traditional etiquette and customs remained fiercely persistent. Having lived two lifetimes without ever experiencing "marriage," Mizuki felt deeply uneasy about it now. He'd long anticipated this moment, but it still snuck up on him, and the calm confidence he'd maintained up to now had vanished without a trace.
"Mizuki, are you even listening?" Seeing him zone out again, Chihaya waved her hand in front of his eyes to get his attention.
"Ah, sorry about that, Chihaya." Mizuki returned to his senses and apologized.
Chihaya shook her head, signaling that it was fine.
"Are you too tired? Want to rest for a bit?"
"No need, I'm fine…" In truth, Mizuki had never been more relaxed these past few days. He had plenty of free time, and there was no way he was truly exhausted.
"What about the arrangements for the day after tomorrow? Anything you want to bring up?"
Most of the wedding planning had been handled by Chihaya, who managed everything with ease and competence far beyond his own. While Mizuki had helped as much as he could, he was often preoccupied with other matters, leaving many things he should have done to Chihaya. This filled him with a deep sense of guilt.
Luckily, neither Mizuki nor Chihaya had much familial baggage or clan ties—they were both war orphans. At least Chihaya had a surname; Mizuki had spent over twenty years with only a given name. With such a meager background, only a few close friends and colleagues were invited to witness their union. There was no need for much more.
In a world of constant conflict, anything could change in an instant. As a result, most traditions were streamlined and practical. While a few ancient rituals survived, time-consuming and meaningless formalities had long vanished. People had grown used to efficient, no-fuss ceremonies.
Of course, there were exceptions—like Naruto and Hinata's wedding, which drew dignitaries from all five great nations and required entire teams just to manage the gift money. Mizuki had no such prestige. Even with the guest list trimmed as much as possible, he couldn't gather that many attendees. Not that he liked flashy displays anyway. A wedding's true purpose, in his eyes, was for friends and loved ones to witness the beginning of a new family. Everything else—the decorations, the fanfare—was just a backdrop for receiving blessings and sharing joy.
Still, as Mizuki looked over the guest list Chihaya handed him, he frowned.
"Chihaya, don't you think there are too few of your friends attending?"
For two people without deep ties or powerful clans, most of the invitees were colleagues and acquaintances. Many were tied up with various obligations or couldn't make it for personal reasons. But the list Chihaya gave him contained only a handful of names—most of them from her sealing corps unit, and several others were people she had met through Mizuki, like Anko Mitarashi and Yugao Uzuki.
Chihaya looked slightly embarrassed. "The sealing team's been really busy lately… and honestly, there just aren't that many others I can invite."
"Is that so?" Mizuki sighed internally. Sealing team missions? Sure, they were busy—but if something truly urgent came up, wouldn't they ask the sealing jutsu master himself for help? The truth was probably much simpler: it was a matter of limited social circles.
Maybe… this is just how things are for an ordinary chunin. Maybe I've been overthinking it.
He glanced through his own list: clan head Hiashi from the Hyuga (a political ally), Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and possibly Kurenai if she could attend, along with the elder Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Yamashiro Aoba, and a few special jonin like Raidō and Iruka Umino. Without his "cheat" of being a transmigrator, Mizuki figured that Iruka and a few fellow teachers might've been the only ones to show up.
Even though Chihaya possessed chakra control talents Mizuki himself envied, she was just another unrecognized shinobi quietly contributing behind the scenes.
Yet Mizuki quickly set aside these small troubles. Fame? Reputation? Prestige? He didn't care. As long as the Hokage and the village leadership accepted him, and as long as Danzo acknowledged his strength and influence enough to stop plotting against him, nothing else mattered. If it weren't for the special nature of this occasion, Mizuki might never have had the chance to associate with these high-ranking figures.
Chihaya noticed his subdued mood and asked, "You're not happy with it?"
"Not at all," Mizuki replied with a wry smile. With his strength now reaching new heights, he could afford to be a bit arrogant. "I'm just worried you're not happy."
Chihaya smiled softly and shook her head. "As long as you're by my side, nothing else matters."
Well, that response even made Mizuki feel a little ashamed. He had overthought things, again. Sometimes, being too pragmatic wasn't a good thing.
Still… can't let her go without any backup. Time to use a sneaky little trick…
Having made up his mind, Mizuki closed the folder. "Let's leave it at that. I'll handle the rest. Some things are better if I do them myself."
"If you say so." Chihaya nodded. "After tomorrow, everything will change."
"Yes. A few twists and turns along the way, but it's all working out."
…
The next morning, Mizuki went to check on Karin, who was settling into her temporary lodging. For someone who had nowhere else to go, it was a pretty good deal. The place was originally a flower shop with a back room used for storage and breaks, which they converted into a bedroom.
He even gave her a simple job to keep her occupied. Watching this once strong-willed future kunoichi now acting like a timid little girl felt surreal to Mizuki. Still, becoming a florist's assistant was a fitting occupation for her age—and a chance to take root in Konoha.
As for why she'd arrived so unexpectedly, Mizuki had asked—only to hear a frustrating truth: she'd lost the scroll he had given her. When she was driven out of her village, the scroll was the only thing of value on her, and it was confiscated by some thugs who couldn't even understand what it was. She hadn't even had the chance to use it. Desperate, she made her way to Konoha and sought him out.
Of course. This isn't some single-player RPG where you get a storage bag at level five. One tiny mishap, and the whole plan falls apart…
Still, her appearance—while troublesome—was manageable.
"Sensei… thank you," Karin said softly.
Not everyone in need found someone willing to help. She knew she had brought Mizuki a lot of trouble.
"Whatever. Just stay here until we figure something out. You've been told the rules—don't wander into restricted areas or act suspiciously. You're not exactly trusted here yet."
"I understand. I'll be careful."
"Good. And while I'm not around, listen to Chihaya's instructions. She'll let you know what needs doing."
…
After making sure everything was in order, Mizuki left.
He hadn't gone far when he stopped and called out, "You've been following me for a while. Need something?"
A figure stepped from around the corner—it was none other than Uchiha Sasuke.
"Mizuki-sensei… do you have a moment? There's something I need to talk to you about."
The request was sudden, but Mizuki didn't mind sparing a few minutes. If he could help, especially for Kakashi's student, he would.
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