Invite a few more people?
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
He didn't believe Hiruzen Sarutobi had run all the way over here specifically just to ask him to invite a few insignificant guests, without asking about the Uchiha or Danzō.
"The other four Kage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed an answer that Kakashi hadn't expected, his expression slightly grave.
The Kage of Wind, Lightning, Water, and Earth.
"The war has been over for three years now, and every village is resting and recuperating."
"Previously, the Hidden Leaf acted too forcefully, which inevitably drove the other four villages toward a trend of uniting against the Fire Country."
"Now, taking advantage of the day of your wedding, Kakashi, we should extend invitations to the other four Kage."
"Consider it a smokescreen for them. In their eyes, the current Hidden Leaf..."
Speaking to this point, Hiruzen paused, glanced at Kakashi, and then continued:
"The current Hidden Leaf has just undergone the Uchiha coup, and Danzō Shimura failed to seize power. To them, the period of rest and recuperation that should have happened has been forcibly stalled."
"This is their opportunity to probe the Hidden Leaf's actual situation."
Hearing this, Kakashi leaned back in the main chair, pondering Hiruzen's proposal. After a moment of silence, he asked:
"And if something goes wrong, then what?"
The Third Great Ninja War should have ended much earlier, but it was dragged out to that final battle solely because of the Raikage's greed.
If they really followed Hiruzen's suggestion to invite the Kage of Wind, Lightning, Water, and Earth, it would inevitably lead to complications.
Hiruzen merely glanced at Kakashi upon hearing this, saying nothing more.
Seeing this, Kakashi understood.
The old man's meaning was clear: You are the Hokage. I am only offering a suggestion; whether you use it or not is your business.
Use the wedding to suggest that the Hidden Leaf's strength has declined, thereby lowering the guard of the four Kage so they can free up their hands to deal with the messy situations in their own villages.
Kakashi actually agreed with this point.
He knew the situation of the other four villages at this point in the timeline from the original work.
The Hidden Mist's "Blood Mist" policy had the kekkei genkai clans living in fear.
The Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone had conflicts with his Jinchūriki, leading the Four-Tails Jinchūriki to wander the ninja world and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki to live outside the village.
The Hidden Sand had suffered consecutive defeats, causing the Wind Daimyō to be extremely dissatisfied with the current Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and cut military funding.
As for the Hidden Cloud...
They were working overtime to recuperate and cultivate the village's young power.
But...
Aside from the Kaguya clan's coup being extinguished in the Mist and the Cloud's recuperation, none of these events had happened yet.
This was the impact of the Hidden Leaf's overly aggressive attitude three years ago, which caused the other villages' vigilance to spike.
Wind, Lightning, Water, and Earth—no one dared to easily move against the opposing forces within their own villages.
If they sensed that the Hidden Leaf's strength had slipped due to the Uchiha coup and Danzō's power grab, it was highly likely they would proceed to deal with these internal matters.
"Very well."
After thinking it over, Kakashi approved Hiruzen's proposal.
If the Five Kage really gathered, it would be considered a grand occasion.
The scale of the wedding would have to be expanded further.
"I will order people to send the invitations to the four Kage immediately."
Listening to Kakashi's decision, Hiruzen nodded and said:
"When the time comes, arrange for more members of the Hyūga clan to coordinate with the other ninja squads to maintain order."
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
Ultimately, it was to prevent the events of three years ago from repeating.
If nothing else, if a pair of Byakugan and a pair of Sharingan were placed in front of the other four Kage, they would all choose the Byakugan without a shred of hesitation.
The Byakugan was a strategic Kekkei Genkai, capable of easily scouting a range of several kilometers to over ten kilometers.
As for the Sharingan...
Kakashi felt he had enough experience with the Sharingan to know.
Seeing that Kakashi was prepared, Hiruzen said his goodbyes and left the Hokage's Office where he had stayed for decades.
He didn't drag his feet in the slightest.
He didn't even mention the names of Danzō Shimura or Koharu Utatane.
Kakashi chuckled lightly at this.
It seemed Hiruzen Sarutobi had been prepared for this outcome from the very day he took office as the Acting Hokage.
Very quickly.
The news that the Hokage was inviting the other four Kage to his wedding swept through the ninja world.
No one understood what this young Hokage was planning.
Wasn't this giving others a chance to figure out the Hidden Leaf's current condition?
After all, the news that the Uchiha clan coup resulted in the deaths of all the coup plotters couldn't be hidden.
There was also Danzō Shimura's failed attempt to seize power, which was a symbol of declining strength.
Wait... did Danzō Shimura's failure count as an increase or a decrease in the Hidden Leaf's strength?
In any case, almost all forces in the ninja world were suspicious and uncertain about the news of the Hokage inviting the Wind, Lightning, Water, and Earth Kage to his wedding.
However, the individual with the biggest reaction was not the Wind, Water, or Earth Kage, nor was it the Raikage who hated Kakashi to the bone, but rather Obito Uchiha.
Water Country
Hidden Mist Village
Mizukage Office
Obito Uchiha looked at the large, red, gilded wedding invitation before him, his face twisted and terrifying.
His clenched fists trembled slightly.
Kakashi!
Kakashi!
Kakashi Hatake!
How dare you!
How dare you!!
Rin's spirit in heaven is still watching you!
And you're actually getting married!
You have to realize that even in death, Rin wanted to die by your hand!
Yet now, for some Uchiha wild girl who popped out of some corner, you've abandoned Rin's love!
What exactly do you consider Rin to be!
Unforgivable!!!
At this moment, the Hidden Mist Village had already fallen into Obito Uchiha's hands. Even the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi, was controlled by the Mangekyō Sharingan, submitting at Obito Uchiha's feet.
Naturally, Obito Uchiha received the news of Kakashi's wedding immediately.
"Obito, how should we deal with this matter?"
Zetsu, with his black-and-white yin-yang face and aloe vera head, slowly emerged from the ground, looking at Obito, who couldn't suppress his rage.
"Call me Madara Uchiha!"
Obito squeezed the sentence out through his gritted teeth.
"Very well, Madara-sama."
Zetsu sensibly went along with Obito's wish.
"Let Kisame and that eyesore Mei Terumī go. They can stand in for the Mizukage."
Obito suppressed his anger over Kakashi's marriage and mentioned the others.
"Kisame?"
"He is suitable."
Zetsu stroked his chin, approving of Obito's handling.
"Then what about the wedding gift?"
Zetsu raised another rather important question.
???
That guy Kakashi took it upon himself to get married, betraying Rin's love, and I have to send him a wedding gift?!
Screw him!
Obito was filled with fury, but then said with a lack of interest:
"Just have the Hidden Mist ninja dig up a big piece of coral from the sea and count that as the gift for that bastard Kakashi."
The Water Country was located overseas; it was a large island nation, so seafood was considered one of its major specialties.
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