Konoha was buzzing with excitement. One of their Hokages, Hashirama Senju was getting married. Everyone was happy for the man that brought them peace. His engagement to Mito Uzumaki was a well known fact long before the village even existed. It was an arranged marriage, that much was true, but the two fell in love after years of friendship. Sakura would sigh dreamily every time she sighted the two of them in the village on a date and them proceed to spill the beans to Yamanaka Izayoi and Rinka Hatake.
Izayoi hailed from the Uzuki clan and came to Konoha alongside her best friend Mito. She fell in love with the clan head, Inoki Yamanaka and married him in record time. Izayoi wasn't one to skirt around and waste time, so after realizing she loved him she proposed to him after 5 months of dating. Sakura and Mito found it hilarious that she conquered the clan head so fast.
Rinka Hatake was the clan head of the Hatake clan. A quiet and private woman, she became friends with the terrible trio, as Madara liked to call Sakura, Mito and Izayoi, after crashing into Izayoi while chasing one of her Ninken. Izayoi's short temper flared and they got into a fight. After getting her ass kicked via Hatake she declared that the two of them were friends and the rest was history.
The ladies were very excited to hear Mito was finally tying the knot. They threw her a bachelor party so chaotic it ended up destroying a quarter of the Senju compound. The elders were not pleased, but it's not like they could do much about it, not with Izayoi and Sakura breathing down their necks, threatening to turn them into pancakes if they dared ruin their friend's happy day.
The day of the wedding came on the 12th of September, on Kawarama's birthday. The elder Senju wanted to honor his deceased brother and his memory so he asked Mito to humbly give him this. Mito obviously accepted and proposed that after the festivities they visit his brothers' graves to pay their respects.
Hours before the ceremony started, Mito's friends gathered at her house to 'pretty her up'. Izayoi was in charge of makeup and the outfit while Sakura braided the Uzumaki's long red hair in elaborate braids with thousands of white and gold lewisia flowers that would culminate in an elaborate bun. Meanwhile Rinka carefully painted her nails a striking red while arguing with Izayoi about jewelry.
"We're not giving her a lotus kanzashi, Izayoi. Sakura already braided a garden's worth of flowers in her hair. Adding that would just be tacky." said Rinka.
"But it's so pretty and it has a black pearl that would match her eyes. Come on Rinky-chan~" whined Izayoi.
"I told you to stop calling me that! No means no!"
Izayoi tsked. "You agree with me, don't Kura-chan?"
Sakura hummed. "How about we give her a flower crown? I can move the bun to the base of her neck and leave two braids hanging on the front. We can make one out of the remaining lewisia."
"A flower crown? Seriously? You have no taste, Kura-chan."
"I quite like the idea." said Mito. "And if we run out, we can ask Hashi to make more."
Izayoi sighed as she accepted defeat, she put the kanzashi back in the jewelry box before going back to arguing with Rinka. Mito and Sakura sighed. Those two will never change. After a few more hours, they finished preparing themselves for the ceremony and left for the venue. Sakura wore a dark blue kimono with light blue delphiniums embroidered on and a long blue haori the same shade as the flowers. Her short hair remained mostly unchanged but she had a comb decorated with sapphires and chalcedony on the side of her head. Izayoi wore a lavender kimono with ume blossoms, her purple hair put in a half bun that spilled most of her purple locks down her back, the kanzashi that Mito refused staying stubbornly in her hair. Rinka wore a yellow kimono with red, orange and brown leaves, her head was shaved since the day they met her but the gold hoop earrings she wore complimented her amber eyes.
The star of the show was obviously Mito, her shiromuku was as white as December snow. Her hair braided in the elaborate bun her friend worked so hard on, a beautiful white and gold flower crown made of the same lewisia braided in her hair stood on her head. Her makeup was simple but classy and the yellow diamond earrings she wore glittered in the sun.
Sakura took a seat next to Sasuke. Her lover had been chatting with Madara who was seated at the front. Both of them wore festive kimonos of gray and dark blue respectively, although Madara agreed to tie his hair in a low ponytail for the occasion. Izuna was seated next to his brother, looking bored out of his mind. Then the happy couple arrived, Hashirama was grinning from ear to ear while Mito had a more subdued but just as happy smile on her face. Sakura smiled at them softly.
After the religious ceremony, everyone moved to the Senju compound for the party. It was a wonderful event with delicious food provided by the Akimichi. All of the village was invited and while not everyone could attend, they couldn't just leave the village unprotected, many left the couple gifts and their well wishes.
Sakura let out a dreamy sigh as she danced with Sasuke, she hopes her wedding will be as beautiful as this one.
...
"This has to be the dumbest, most reckless, stupid and insane thing you two had ever done." said Sasuke. It was the 14th of February and Sasuke, instead of being home, spoiling his very pregnant wife was watching Izuna get dressed in a shitty motel in a small gambling town at the edge of the Land of Fire. Why was he here may you ask? Well, his stupid idiotic friend decided to get married to his long time rival, the scourge of the Uchiha, fucking Tobirama Senju. "If your clans find out about this you will be hung."
"I know, why do you think we came to this nowhere place? It's the only way we can make sure no one will know about it."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Yes he knew why they came here, but he still found it stupid. This wasn't even gonna go on any legal documentation, it was pointless. He told Izuna as much.
"Look Sasuke, I get why you don't understand it. You got blessed to fall in love with a strong beautiful woman that our clan very much approves of. You don't have my issues...Sure, our clans never had a problem with homosexuality but the fact that I, Uchiha Izuna, current clan head of the Uchiha and Co-Nidaime Hokage fell in love with the one that once was my enemy, the person that almost cut me down, is never going to be approved by the elders. Do you know what it's like, to love someone so much and not be able to show them that? To have to hide behind closed doors and stolen moments?" He looked at Sasuke, who remained silent. "No, of course you don't. Like I said, you got blessed to fall in love with a woman that the clan approves of. But I don't have that. So even if all I will ever have is stolen moments and a farce of a religious ceremony, I will take it. I will take it, because I want to show Tobirama how much I love him and how much I wish to be with him."
Sasuke said nothing as he let Izuna get changed in silence. Once he was ready, he offered him a pat on the back. "Come on, let's get you to your man."
They walked towards the hall with a henge that changed their hair and eye color. Nobody could know that the Nidaime Hokages were here, so their whole wedding party, consisting of Sakura, Mito, Sasuke and the happy couple, all disguised themselves. They all wore festive clothes for the occasion, with Sakura and Mito wearing matching kimonos. Sakura had a pink kimono with red roses, loosely tied over her large belly, while Mito had a red one with pink roses. The henge made their hair appear a muted brown color and their eyes a dark blue, making them look like sisters. Tobirama's henge gave him Hashirama's colors, while Sasuke and Izuna looked like off copies of Naruto, not that anyone but him and Sakura knew this. The couple had their wedding attire on and a priest that had to be older than Senju Butsuma would have been, had he lived, started the ceremony.
"I'm happy for them." said Sakura. "They deserve to have this."
"Yeah." said Sasuke. "But I still think this is incredibly reckless."
Sakura punched his shoulder. "You have no sense of romance."
Sasuke send her a halfhearted glare in response before returning to the ceremony. Once it was done, they returned to their motel for the so called party. It felt more like a drinking night between them, if Sasuke was honest but it was still nice. Sakura was confined to only drinking orange juice or water, but Mito had gotten plastered drunk. Izuna and Tobirama had danced around in their small hotel room on music provided by the musical seals Mito had given them. Despite his earlier reservations, Sasuke was truly happy for his friends. Oh he still thought this was a bad idea, but...if this was all they could have in terms of their love for each other then...it was fine he supposes. Not like anyone would tattle on them.
No, this was a secret that all of them will be taking to their graves.
...
Sakura was drinking sake, watching Sakumo and his wife, Kotone dance. Her long pink hair was put in an elaborate bun, with 3 peacock feathers hanging down her back. Her whole attire was peacock teamed, a beautiful kimono that had been gifted to her years ago by the Shodai Mizukage, Byakuren. She sighed as she watched Chihiro approach her. Her student was wearing a long sleeveless velvet blue dress with white gloves, her hair was cascading down her back and she had cotton flowers in her hair. Her 6 months pregnant belly was showing.
"I cannot believe that two of my students ended up with accidental pregnancies! Was that talk I gave you about contraception all for nothing?" asked Sakura.
"Oh, lighten up sensei. It's not like it's the end of the world." said Chihiro.
"First you and now Sakumo knocks up Kotone...Oh, where did I go wrong?"
"Whatever..." said Chihiro, bringing a glass to her lips, only to have it snatched from her by the pink haired woman.
"Uh-uh, I don't think so, young lady. No alcohol for you!"
"Wh- Sensei! It's my teammate's wedding!"
"I don't care! As long as you have that baby growing in your belly, there will be no alcohol for you!" said Sakura, before downing the glass of wine. "Have you spoken with-"
"No. And I don't plan to. I don't need some useless asshole to raise my baby. I can do it all on my own." said Chihiro with a huff.
Sakura put her arm around her shoulders and brought her close. "I'm sorry it had to be this way..."
"It's fine, I always knew Jigoku wasn't the type to stick around. It's fine."
"If you say so. Just know I will always be here to help you, Chihiro."
"I know...Thanks, sensei."
"Of course...Have you thought of a name yet? It's a boy, no?"
"Yeah, I was thinking Genma."
"Genma Shiranui, eh? Sounds like a wonderful name."
Sakumo finished his dance and began walking towards them. His wife left him, instead choosing to go talk to her family.
"Well if it isn't my other disgrace of a student." said Sakura.
"Come on sensei." said Sakumo. "It's my wedding. Can't you let this go, just for one night?"
"Nope. Maybe if I make fun of you two enough, it will teach you not to have any unprotected sex! Honestly now, why did I even bother teaching you anything?"
"I mean-" started Chihiro. "I don't know about Sakumo, but it certainly helped me on my honeypot missions."
"And yet, you did not apply it to your personal life..." muttered Sakura.
"Lighten up sensei. Come on, have a little dance with your old student." said Sakumo as he began dragging the older woman away. Sakura followed him with a laugh and let the white haired man spun her around. He was clearly drunk, from his reddening cheeks and sloppy steps. He ended up tripping and stepping on her kimono countless times throughout their dance, but the smile never left his lips. Sakura laughed with him as they went, only a little tipsy from the sake, but very much drunk on happiness for her student.
...
Sakura just finished her dance with a very drunk Jiraiya and began walking towards the bar where she found her first student getting plastered drunk. She took a seat next to her and ordered a martini.
"You don't look very happy for someone who's brother just got married." said Sakura.
Tsunade snorted. "What makes you say that? I'm getting drunk and celebrating, aren't I?"
"Maybe you could fool someone else with that but not me. I can see it in your eyes." Tsunade said nothing in response. "Talk to me."
Tsunade turned her head away and gazed at her brother. Nawaki was currently dancing with his mother-in-law, Touko. His lover, Shirona was dancing with a very reluctant Orochimaru. "Is it so awful, that I wish he was here with me?"
"Oh, Tsuna..."
"He was even more excited about this wedding than me and Nawaki. He bought Shirona's dress you know? Dragged his ass to Ōujisama and hired the best seamstress for her. He should have been here tonight..." Tsunade punctuated that statement by downing another glass.
Sakura gazed at her apprentice in sadness. There weren't any words of comfort she could offer. Dan's death was a tragedy and there wasn't anything she could say to her student. Sure Sakura did her best, made 100% sure she was there on his original death date to prevent it but she wasn't all knowing. She had no way of preventing an ambush in Kawa no Kuni she had no knowledge of. As much as the people in her life liked to joke she wasn't omniscient she is just one woman. Some things...were just meant to be she supposes.
”I know nothing I will say will bring any peace to you, so I will not try. The pain of losing a loved one is something I wish I could spare you from, but alas, something not in my power. I will only give you the same advice my own shishō gave me back when I first lost someone. Mourn the dead and cherish the living my dear. It will be hard, but one day you feel better, trust me.” with a kiss to her student's forehead, Sakura left the bar. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jiraiya and Orochimaru make their way to Tsunade. The toad sage put an arm around her shoulders as he took a seat on her left while the snake summoner took one on the right and squeezed her hand.
Her apprentice will be fine, she had her teammates looking after her. For now she will focus on the progenity of the White Fang and what an adorable baby Kakashi made.
...
Sakura hummed as she brushed Kushina's bright red hair, much as she'd done to her predecessor what felt like a lifetime ago. Kushina and Minato's wedding was something Sakura had anticipated, basically counting down the days, from the moment the Third Shinobi World War finally ended. And now, it was finally here and Sakura was very excited. Her adoptive daughter elected to go for a similar look her dear friend Mito went for at her own wedding, electing to have dozens of lewisia flowers in her hair, but choosing to go with orange ones instead. 'The perfect combination of her's and Minato's colors.' Internally Sakura had cackled like a madwoman when she heard, but outwardly only gave a small smile.
While Sakura braided flaming locks, Mikoto and Kushina were discussing jewelry. The atmosphere was so similar to Mito's own wedding, Sakura sometimes had to do a doubletake to remember who was in front of her. Right now they were discussing earrings.
”I'm just saying, silver earrings are so boring for my wedding day, 'ttebane! I want something more...I don't know...special or something.” said Kushina.
”Ok, yeah, I get it, but hoop earrings are tacky! And they might get caught in your hair. Be reasonable here Kushina.” said Mikoto.
The redhead let out a grumble which made Sakura laugh. ”I think I might have a solution to this.” Getting up from her chair, Sakura walked to her vanity desk and opened one of her many jewelry boxes. Finding what she wanted, she presented Kushina a pair of yellow diamond earrings. They were short enough not to get caught in the hair, but long enough and fancy to catch the eye.
”Mito-chan wore these on her wedding day, I loaned them to her for the night since she always liked them so much.” Sakura rolled her eyes. ”Of course, I told her she could keep them but she's always been stubborn like that.”
”Oh...my Sage...Ba-chan these are gorgeous! Thank you!”
”Anything for you, my dear.” She turned her head to Mikoto. ”So, do they meet your approval, oh mighty one?”
Mikoto rolled her eyes. ”They do. You wouldn't happen to also have a necklace to match, do you?”
Sakura winced. ”I do have a yellow diamond pendant from a different set but...I don't think it's a good idea to use it.”
Mikoto and Kushina shared a confused look. ”Why not?”
”It was a gift to me from Ōnoki from before he became Tsuchikage.”
”Ah...”
”Yeah, better not tempt fate.” said Mikoto.
After that, the little bridal party made their way out of Sakura's house. While Kushina never took on the Uchiha name, the clan considered her one of their own and as such, the tradition of the whole clan, yes, elders and kids included, walking her to her husband's house was included. As the mother of the bride Sakura was leading the march through the streets of Konoha, looking the part of the evil mother-in-law. She had a lavender off shoulder dress with the puffiest sleeves she could find that went up to her neck, with a long train. Her pink hair was put in the tightest bun she could muster with two hair sticks that had small flowers and beads hanging off them. The lipstick she wore was dark purple and her eyeliner was sharp.
Behind her Kushina was simply breathtaking, her long red hair put up in an elaborate braided bun at the top of her head with two braids hanging from the front. Her wedding dress was as white as December snow, with a sweetheart neckline and a twirly skirt, with pearls all throughout it. Her yellow diamond earrings glittered in the sun as did the silver choker Mikoto found while looking through Sakura's jewlery. Mikoto herself wore a gorgeous powder blue turtleneck mermaid dress, with her black hair curled and falling down her back. She was behind Kushina with Fugaku at her arm.
Once they reached the house, Sakura knocked and Minato opened the door, already dressed in his tux. Sakura stared him down, channeling her inner Godaime Hokage Tsunade as she looked at him. The man gulped as he looked at her, but held her gaze.
”Do you promise to take care of my daughter?” asked Sakura, as was customary.
”I do.”
Sakura hummed and stepped aside, allowing Kushina to enter their home.