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The World of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
The sun leapt from the ink-black sea, unfurling like a bolt of brilliant silk.
Warm light threaded through the air, carrying a smooth, pleasant scent on the breeze.
Juri shot up from his bed.
His door was being pounded. Hard.
BAM BAM BAM!
"Coming!"
Juri, barefoot, scrambled to the main door.
He opened it. His vision was filled with a massive bouquet of flowers.
"Huh?"
He took the flowers, utterly bewildered.
"Juri!"
"What are you doing?"
"The sun's already baking your butt!"
"Juri, why aren't you ready yet?"
A crowd of people shoved their way inside.
They were all talking at once.
Every single one of them wore a massive grin.
"What?"
"Ready for what?"
Juri stood there dumbly, holding the flowers, completely lost.
Masako shoved him without a shred of mercy. "Uchiha Juri! So happy you've lost your mind! Today's your wedding to Tsurugi!"
"Wha… what?"
Juri's eyes went wide.
"Stop pretending!"
"Haven't you been dreaming of this day forever?"
Masako looked at him, amused.
Juri's face flushed beet red. He looked frantically at Shisui and Masako. "Get married? Me and Tsurugi? For real? This… this is so sudden!"
"Sudden?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You and Tsurugi have been dating for ages!"
Masako stared at him, puzzled. Seeing his scarlet face, a mischievous grin spread across hers. "You really are delirious with joy!"
Juri opened his mouth. No sound came out. The corners of his lips twitched upward on their own.
"Hurry up and get ready!"
Before Juri could react, the crowd pushed and jostled him into the changing room.
Inside, hanging with solemn grace, was a formal black kimono.
Juri reached out, almost shyly, and touched the smooth fabric.
"How could I forget something this important?"
…
Firecrackers and celebratory streamers burst in the sky.
Boundless flowers lined the roads of Konoha.
The surrounding crowd was all smiles, their eyes brimming with pure joy.
With blessings for Juri.
Sweat began to dampen Juri's palms around the bouquet he held. He straightened his clothes and began to walk slowly down the white carpet laid before him.
At the end of the path, Tsurugi, also in a kimono, her long hair elegantly tied up, watched him with gentle warmth.
Juri's face grew hotter and hotter.
A hint of sheer, unadulterated pride flickered in his eyes.
He was marrying Tsurugi.
This was the greatest achievement of his entire life.
Nothing in the world was more beautiful than the person you loved in your youth still standing by your side.
Juri took Tsurugi's hand. His own trembled faintly.
He led Tsurugi toward the crowd. He was even too embarrassed to look at her.
"Juri?"
"Juri?"
"Juri!!"
Tsurugi's voice came from beside him.
"Why won't you look at me?"
Juri pressed his lips together. "I… I…"
"Juri?"
"We're married."
Tsurugi's voice was gentle, teasing.
Juri's face was on fire. He slowly turned his head, his expression deadly serious.
"Juri?"
"What's wrong?"
The image of Tsurugi before him suddenly shifted.
Juri's face filled with horror.
"AH!"
He landed hard on his rear.
Standing before him now was Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in a pure white kimono.
"Lord Third Hokage?"
"H-how…?"
Juri's eyes bulged.
Hiruzen looked at him, bashful. "It was always me, Juri!"
And it was still Tsurugi's voice?
This was terrifying!
Juri thought.
"Juri?"
"You didn't actually imagine you could marry Tsurugi, did you?"
Shisui looked down at him, a vicious smile spreading across his face.
"Don't daydream!"
Uchiha Shisui planted his hands on his hips and roared with laughter.
"Stop dreaming!"
"HA HA HA HA!"
In Juri's vision:
The treacherous Uchiha Shisui.
The mocking Uchiha Masako.
The crowd of onlookers…
His world dissolved into a cacophony.
As his consciousness faded, Juri thought, "So scary."
This world!
Too scary!
"Juri?"
"Juri!?"
"Wake up!"
Uchiha Masako's magnified face swam into Uchiha Juri's vision.
"Masako?"
"Here…?"
A devastated battlefield lay in ruins around him.
Juri looked around.
Iwa-nin were mending the shattered earth.
Kiri-nin were restoring the obliterated mountains.
Everyone was cleaning up the battlefield in an orderly fashion.
For a moment, Uchiha Juri still felt caught in a dream.
"This…?"
He looked at Masako, bewildered.
"Ah!"
"You probably don't know yet!"
"The Fourth Great Ninja War is over!"
"Lord Tsurugi saved everyone!"
"Our comrades who died are all alive again!"
"The future will only get better and better!"
"…"
Masako's voice gradually faded in Juri's ears.
His gaze immediately sought out Tsurugi in the crowd.
Many people were coming up to her, reminiscing.
Shisui and Itachi Uchiha were sticking to her side like glue.
Juri couldn't help but let a small smile touch his lips. I see… That's good…
Shisui felt his gaze and turned, offering him a mild, gentle smile.
Juri wiped the smile from his face, looked away, and muttered to himself:
"Shisui is still so damn annoying…"
―[Juri's Side Story] END―
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