The villagers had originally just wanted to help, never expecting to go to the actual wedding venue. Everyone was ecstatic. They'd have been happy to pay Torifu, let alone take the money. So, no one complained about the small sum.
"I owe you a debt of thanks this time, Boss. You solved a huge problem for me."
The owner rubbed his belly and laughed heartily. "Hokage-sama, if you'll excuse my boldness, I watched you grow up since you were a child. Now that you're getting married, I'll naturally do my best to help you." It had been over twenty years since Torifu first met the owner at the age of six.
Torifu paused upon hearing this, then smiled. "You're right. It was actually in your shop that I received word from my Sensei, which led him to call us to the Hokage's office, and then I became the Hokage's disciple." Time truly flew; in the blink of an eye, the child had become an adult about to get married.
"Haha, yes, and that was the beginning of my little shop's explosion in popularity. If it weren't for you and Naori-sama's frequent visits, I don't know where I'd be now."
It was undeniable that Torifu was the owner's benefactor. Without Torifu, the owner might still have become popular due to the taste of his barbecue, but it definitely wouldn't have been the massive explosion in popularity he saw now. Conversely, Torifu lacking the owner would not have resulted in any substantial loss, merely the lack of some food.
Torifu, however, never thought this way. He believed that all the people and events one encountered in this world were due to fate and connection. People who merely brushed past him simply had a shallow connection. Someone like the owner, whom he had spent a long time with, was naturally a friend with a deep connection.
"Boss, thank you for all your help during this time. After the wedding tomorrow, hire people to clean up the Cloud Palace, and then there won't be anything else to worry about."
The owner nodded, smiling. "Understood, Hokage-sama. Leave it to me."
Afterward, Torifu left the barbecue shop and headed home. Just as he walked out, he realized he had forgotten to discuss the cooperation talks with the other Kage after the wedding. The owner managed the commercial sector, and many matters would require him to interface with them. Thus, his tasks might even increase after the wedding. But since he had already left, Torifu didn't bother going back, deciding to let the owner enjoy a little peace of mind.
When he got home, Amado was preparing lunch. They had all witnessed the moment the Cloud Palace descended, which had nearly dislocated their jaws from astonishment.
Minato rushed over when he saw Torifu return. "Big Brother! How did the Cloud Palace get so big!"
Torifu rubbed his head. "The Cloud Palace can absorb clouds and mist to increase its size. I only recently found that out myself."
Minato was astonished. If it continued to absorb clouds, couldn't it potentially cover the entire Ninja World's sky?
Torifu naturally didn't know what was running through his little brother's mind. Smelling the aroma, he walked toward the kitchen.
"Oh, you woke up quite early today, it seems? Did you adjust your schedule?"
Amado looked at Torifu. "Yes, Big Brother. Tomorrow is your wedding, so I definitely need to show up looking my best."
At least the kid had some conscience. He was Torifu's brother; if he dared to show up at the wedding with dark circles under his eyes, Torifu would have to break out the cold-water-soaked whips.
"It smells good. When will it be ready?"
Amado estimated, "About twenty more minutes. You could play a few rounds of games."
Torifu nodded and left the kitchen, but he didn't start playing games. Instead, he went back to his room and called Naori.
"Hello?" Naori's voice came through the phone. "Why are you calling? Do you miss me?"
Torifu replied, "I do, a little. Are you feeling nervous at all?"
There was a slight silence on the other end, followed by a light chuckle. "Do you want the truth?"
"Of course."
"The truth is, a little... After all, this is my first wedding. I've been to plenty of other people's weddings before, but now that my own is approaching, I'm getting nervous."
Torifu felt the same way. He thought he was the only one feeling anxious, but it turned out Naori was too. This was also his first time getting married. Although he talked and laughed with the other Kage and villagers on the surface, he was actually quite nervous inside, especially because he couldn't see Naori due to custom. If the two of them could have been together, it might have been easier, but now he was alone. He felt a strange unease for no apparent reason, unsure what exactly he was nervous about.
When Torifu told Naori about his state, she confirmed that she felt similarly. Perhaps the symptoms would only disappear once the two of them officially met.
"Before we got married, I always looked forward to when you would propose, but now that the wedding is here, I'm nervous. Honestly!" Naori chuckled in self-mockery, yet she was happy. Her wish was to marry and spend her life with Torifu. The same was true for Torifu.
"How is the wedding attire? Is your uncle satisfied?"
"Father is very satisfied. He keeps saying he's never seen such wedding attire, and how gorgeous it is. After all, the history of the Kumotsuru Clan is much longer than that of the Uchiha Clan, so they must have much more to pass down to us."
This was indeed true. Even Torifu himself didn't know the exact origin of his clan. The root of this world was the ancestor Kumotsuru Kajin, who was a person from the Cultivation World, so the things passed down from his side must be even more extensive. However, none of that mattered to Torifu. The Cultivation World was too distant, and Torifu had never planned on going there. To be able to live peacefully in this world was already his lifelong dream. Despite having the System, this wish had yet to be fully realized after so many years. He wondered when the day he truly fulfilled his wish would come.
"I'm glad he's satisfied. I was worried that your uncle might not accept the outfit due to different beliefs."
Naori laughed upon hearing this. "How could that be? Father isn't that old-fashioned; he's willing to accept new things. Besides, this was my own decision, and he respects me greatly."
That was certainly true. His future father-in-law even used his Mangekyō Sharingan when playing Naruto, which made playing against him a sweaty affair. As the saying goes, 'you're bad but you love to play,' but it didn't matter. If he was bad, he cheated; if he couldn't lose, he cheated. It was an ability he was born with, so there was nothing anyone could say to him, except perhaps to bind him with moral arguments.