"My god, how could you?"
"No... you really dared... You actually stole a person—let alone a Tailed Beast..."
"And you're even skilled in Fūinjutsu... Tailed Beast..."
"Kazuyama, I've realized something. You're like a bottomless pool. No matter how deep I think I've gone, you always show me there's more I don't know..."
Pakura looked at Kazuyama with a touch of awe in her eyes. She had thought she already understood the man in front of her.
But now she realized—she'd been adorably naive.
Kazuyama stepped forward, took her hand, and gave a cheeky grin.
"I've told you all my secrets, so now you have to be my delinquent bride."
"Hmph! I'll think about it!"
"Huh???"
The night never lasted long enough. Laughter and certain breathless sounds rose and fell throughout.
...
Morning in the Land of Birds was beautiful. Kazuyama and Pakura gazed at the sky. She had shed her combat outfit for a flowing green dress that looked stunning on her.
"Let's go, Pakura. Time to head back to the village."
"Let's keep this place as our vacation home. Oh, and the hot springs here are great. Want to try them next time?"
At the mention of hot springs, Pakura shot him a glare. Wasn't it while soaking in a hot spring that this bastard had whisked her away?
"Let's skip today's classes and just rest at home."
"No way. I promised Kakashi and the other two I'd help them train."
"Those three little punks? Train? I'll deal with them myself. Always harassing their teacher's wife, hmph!"
With a flash, the Flying Thunder God Technique activated. In an instant, the view shifted to the familiar courtyard.
Only now it was completely quiet. They exchanged a glance—looked like Hayate Gekkō had already gone off to the Academy.
"Hmph, you've gotten pretty good with that technique."
"Hehe, of course. I'm not as smooth as Minato with Flying Thunder God, but I've got my own flair."
Pakura stretched her sore body lazily. Even with her endurance, last night had pushed her limits.
Then she looked at the man beside her. Hmph, not even winded? Ridiculous.
"Kazuyama, I guess it's settled between us... Should we go ahead with the wedding?"
"I'll leave it to you."
Kazuyama nodded. He was still the clan head of the Gekkō Clan—even if the clan only had two people.
Still, a wedding meant gift money. No way he was passing that up.
Thinking about the wedding made him grin wide. He turned around and started planning the invitations.
But how should they hold the ceremony? He'd pranked so many people over the years... if he held a proper wedding, there was no doubt they'd all come back for revenge.
He'd have to think it through carefully. After all, he'd always been the one doing the bullying—no way was he letting anyone flip that on him.
This needed a solid plan.
"Let's go. I've got to get to the Academy. Hmph, and it's all your fault."
"Hehe, I'll come with you."
Kazuyama had been grinning nonstop since last night, which left Pakura somewhere between irritated and amused.
...
Mornings in the village weren't too crowded. Just some kids heading to school and a few vendors.
Of course, there were also ANBU stationed throughout the village—but when they saw Kazuyama, their expressions turned to shock.
Kazuyama's name had been spreading ever since the war began. From high-ranking officials to ordinary shinobi, everyone had heard of him.
Especially after the final battle at the Land of Rivers. He had led a Tailed Beast away from the battlefield single-handedly, then vanished without a trace. His popularity had soared—on par with Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash.
"Inform the Hokage—Kazuyama Gekkō has returned."
"Yes!"
The ANBU immediately turned and sprinted toward the Hokage's office.
...
At the Academy gates, Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and the others were gathered.
"Guy, knock it off. I'm really not in the mood to spar right now."
"What? Kakashi! You're rejecting me? Fine, I get it—it's because of Kazuyama-sensei. Obito, let's spar instead!"
Might Guy, dressed in his usual green jumpsuit, looked at Kakashi's gloomy expression, then turned hopefully to Obito—only to be met with a shake of the head.
"Guy, I'm not feeling up to it either. We're supposed to meet with Pakura-sensei. Sigh... Kazuyama-sensei has been missing for months now, and Pakura-sensei..."
War changes people. The once carefree trio had been tempered by battle—shedding some of their immaturity and gaining a quiet steadiness.
Guy opened his mouth to say something, but Rin Nohara gently pulled him back and gave him a subtle shake of the head.
The reason they were all back in the village now was that the war had entered a more stable phase. Apart from those stationed at the front, most of the Genin had returned home.
...
"Hayate! Heading to class?"
Obito suddenly spotted a familiar figure and waved.
A short boy with a slightly pale look lit up with a smile as he saw Obito. He was none other than Kazuyama Gekkō's younger brother—Hayate Gekkō.
"Good morning, Obito nii-san."
"Huh? I told you—just call me 'Aniki.' From now on, I'm your big bro."
"Um... but I already have a brother..."
Obito gave a helpless look, but quickly broke into a grin again.
"Then I'll be your other brother! Don't worry—Kazuyama-sensei may be gone, but you still have us. If anyone dares bully you, just tell your big bro. I'll beat them so bad, they'll call you big bro!"
"Hey! Obito! Don't go filling his head with nonsense—you're going to corrupt him!"
Rin couldn't take it anymore and shoved Obito aside, then knelt down with a gentle smile for Hayate.
"Hayate, I packed a bento for you. Take it with you and eat it at school, okay?"
"And listen to Pakura-sensei. Study hard, alright?"
Rin's warmth was genuine, coming from deep within. She had channeled all her concern for her missing teacher into care for Hayate.
Even Kakashi, usually reserved and aloof, stepped forward and pulled a short sword from behind his back.
"Hayate, I forged this short blade myself. It's a craft of the Hatake Clan. I think swordsmanship suits you well."
"And here. I used my war merits to trade for a Kenjutsu scroll—Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon."
"This technique uses Shadow Clone Jutsu. I've written down the training method for shadow clones in the scroll too."
Hayate took the blade and the scroll, eyes shining with excitement. Clearly, as much as Obito's brotherly affection or Rin's kindness touched him, nothing stirred him more than the power offered by the cold, sharp-edged Kakashi.
"Kakashi Aniki, I'll train hard!"
"Kenjutsu! I love it!"
Obito: ... I'm the big bro, damn it! Stupid Kakashi! How dare you steal my title!
Rin: Wow... no surprise—it's Kakashi. Didn't expect him to win over little Hayate that easily.