"A wedding?!"
On Training Ground Three, sweating profusely, Might Guy looked at Kakashi before him, feeling a wave of bewilderment.
"That's right. You're the first person I'm inviting, Guy."
Kakashi's eyes curved into crescents as he handed a bright red, gold-gilded invitation to Guy.
"Th-this... Sob sob sob!"
"As expected of Kakashi!"
"Always faster than everyone else! Even when it comes to marriage!"
Might Guy stared at the wedding invitation in his hands, eyes instantly filling with hot tears as he wept openly.
Hearing this, a drop of cold sweat involuntarily slid down Kakashi's forehead.
If possible, it would be better to leave out the part about being "faster than everyone."
"Since Kakashi invited me first, I will definitely be there! And I will prepare a wedding gift carefully selected by Konoha's Noble Blue Beast!"
"Boohoohoo!"
"Kakashi is getting married, I want to get married too! Sob!"
Might Guy clenched both fists in front of his chest, as if cheering himself on.
[Might Guy's Emotional Fluctuation +1]
[Chakra +1%]
"Well, Guy, you're so excellent, there's definitely a girl out there who will like you."
Seeing this, Kakashi could only step forward with a dry laugh to comfort him.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the words left Kakashi's mouth, Might Guy violently flung away his tears. His gaze turned slightly sharp, and his entire aura seemed to change significantly.
He slammed a hand onto Kakashi's shoulder and spoke seriously:
"Since Kakashi is getting married, I have a suggestion that I simply must make."
???
"Wh-what?"
Kakashi suddenly felt like his backside was in danger.
"Kakashi, as the Hokage and the most excellent among our generation."
"In these final days of bachelor life, shouldn't you invite all our contemporaries for a gathering?"
???
Oh, so it's just that. I thought...
Wiping away non-existent cold sweat, Kakashi expressed his approval of Guy's suggestion.
After all, Guy was the type of person who liked lively atmospheres.
"If you agree, then leave this matter to the great Might Guy!"
Might Guy's efficiency was just like his personality—fiery and enthusiastic.
In just twenty minutes, he had run through the entire Hidden Leaf Village, inviting every contemporary he could remember.
Everyone was stunned and surprised when they heard the news.
They hadn't expected Kakashi, being so young, to actually...
Well, it seemed it wasn't actually that early.
Kakashi was already twenty years old. In the ninja world, where the average marriage age was fifteen, this could already be considered a late marriage.
It was just that among Kakashi's generation, it seemed no one had much interest in marriage.
As the Hokage and the first of his generation to marry, Kakashi was setting a leading example.
Night
At this moment, everyone had gathered at the Akimichi family's BBQ restaurant.
Apart from Kakashi, the protagonist, Might Guy, Tenzo, Hayate Gekkō, Genma Shiranui, Raidō Namiashi, Iwashi Tatami, Ibiki Morino, Shizune Katō, Yūgao Uzuki, Kurenai Yūhi, Anko Mitarashi, and others were all present.
Only Asuma, who was far away in the Daimyō's capital serving as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, couldn't make it.
It is worth mentioning that Hikari also couldn't bear the loneliness and tagged along.
Clearly, she planned to formally show her face in front of Kakashi's friends.
Although Hikari had more or less come into contact with these people in daily life, due to her status, many only knew her as the unknown Uchiha girl lodging at Kakashi's house.
Though, they didn't understand why Hikari didn't stay with the Uchiha Clan and lived in the Hatake household instead.
At the dinner table, everyone's spirits were high. They offered congratulations to Kakashi and Hikari one after another. Since everyone was an adult, quite a bit of alcohol was consumed.
Only Hikari, who claimed to the public to be only eighteen, couldn't drink alcohol. She could only watch helplessly as Kakashi refused no one, swallowing cup after cup when others proposed toasts.
As the alcohol went down, everyone gradually loosened up. No longer concerning themselves with Kakashi's status as Hokage, they began reminiscing about their childhoods one by one, mostly missing their days at the Ninja Academy.
Anko's face was flushed red with intoxication. Leaning on Kurenai Yūhi's arm, her eyes held a trace of nostalgia:
"It was so good back when everyone was here..."
"Not just Obito, but Rin too."
"If Rin were still alive, maybe the one marrying Kakashi right now would be..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the originally lively atmosphere stagnated. Kurenai pinched her under the table, signaling her to shut up.
"That hurts! Kurenai, you jerk, why did you pinch me?"
Anko looked at Kurenai with a displeased expression.
"It's fine. If Rin were still here, she would be very happy to see this, because I will take very good care of Kakashi."
Sitting next to Kakashi, Hikari didn't seem to care much about Anko's words.
She's already dead; could she crawl out of her grave?
"Ahaha, let's keep drinking! By the way, Hayate and Yūgao have been together for a long time, right? When do you two plan to get married?"
Not far away, Raidō Namiashi quickly smoothed things over, shifting the topic to another couple.
"Ah, th-that, it hasn't been decided yet..."
Hayate Gekkō's face, already red from the alcohol, turned even redder.
"Let's wait a bit longer. I'll listen to Hayate."
Yūgao Uzuki, on the other hand, seemed to be the decision-maker, calmly stepping in to relieve her partner's embarrassment.
"It's so nice. Everyone is getting together one after another."
Shizune felt a bit melancholy. She was also twenty years old. Originally, she wasn't in a rush to get married.
But seeing Kakashi from her generation planning to marry, and even Hayate Gekkō and Yūgao Uzuki having been together for so many years...
And herself?
Shizune paused, then suddenly realized something.
Why am I in such a rush to get married?
I'm the Deputy Minister of the Medical Department, and the Minister is Lady Tsunade. Wait a few years until I completely master medical ninjutsu, Lady Tsunade will quit, and then I'll be the Medical Minister.
As the Medical Minister, would I worry about not being able to marry?
What a joke.
Shizune could already imagine suitors trampling her doorstep flat in the future.
Ehehe, that's right!
Shizune immediately dropped her pessimistic attitude toward marriage and cheerfully began chatting with her peers.
The night grew deeper, and after three rounds of drinks, people began to say their goodbyes one by one. Kakashi, slightly tipsy, paid the bill and left with Hikari.
Watching the man being supported by the Uchiha girl, Kurenai's beautiful eyes flickered slightly in the night, her thoughts unknown.
"Wah, Kurenai, save me..."
Beside her, Anko held onto a telephone pole, vomiting violently, miserably calling out to her best friend for help.
Kurenai glanced at this loose-lipped friend with annoyance.
No matter how much Anko didn't approve of Hikari, she shouldn't have said those things at the dinner table.
————
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