Chapter 257: The Wedding

Within the Castle Tower.

On the eighth floor, in the martial practice room.

In the meditation chamber, Dan sat cross-legged with a straight spine, hands resting on his knees, eyes closed in deep contemplation.

Behind him on the wall hung the calligraphy with the words "Sitting in Oblivion," the characters flowing elegantly like a dragon in flight, exuding a profoundly mysterious air.

At a certain moment.

Swoosh.

Dan's eyes snapped open, returning to reality from his meditation.

To the surprise of any onlooker—

His eyes alternated between the red and black Taiji of the Yin-Yang fish and the crimson, triple-bladed pinwheel, the two patterns shifting ceaselessly within his gaze.

Eventually, they merged into an even more intricate design.

In the sockets of Dan's eyes, the new pupils slowly revolved, their complex and wondrous pattern dizzying to any who caught a glimpse, threatening to overwhelm their sense of self.

This was the true Sharingan.

He looked at his palm where, previously, Obito's eye had been transplanted; it was now gone.

This was due to Obito's eyes merging with Dan's, evolving into the Eternal Sharingan Sharingan.

The Eternal Sharingan.

It was said that this eye could only be awakened through the transplantation of another's Sharingan, the success rate increasing with the closeness of the donor's blood relation.

Thus, the birth of an Eternal Sharingan typically occurred among direct kin, such as siblings or parent and child.

However.

Even without close blood ties, there remained a hope for successful integration, as long as one could withstand the rejection.

Like Dan had achieved.

He originally planned to use Shisui's eyes but later discovered that Obito's Divine Sharingan was clearly the superior choice.

That being said.

The Eternal Sharingan, rather than an evolution of the Sharingan, could be considered a reversion to ancestral blood.

Its essence lay in the merging of two Sharingans, enhancing the host's ocular powers and thus purifying the Sharingan's lineage.

If one were to also integrate the blood of the Senju clan—by transplanting Hashirama's cells—then one could attain the so-called "Power of Myriad Realms," drawing closer to the common ancestor of the Uchiha and Senju.

The Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.

Under the stimulation of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline, the host's Sharingan would evolve again, and after a considerable duration, the Rinnegan would awaken.

How long would this take?

Considering the battle at the Valley of the End.

Madara, after biting off a piece of Hashirama, took nearly twenty years to awaken the Rinnegan as he neared the end of his life.

But.

Madara was older when he transplanted Hashirama's cells, his spirit and body declining from their peak, and he was blind in one eye.

Dan was different.

Now in his prime, his conditions were far superior to Madara's.

Therefore.

The time for Dan's awakening would surely be much less than twenty years.

Perhaps ten years, or even shorter, and he would possess those eyes.

At that time.

With the Rinnegan, Dan would become a true Ōtsutsuki.

And the power of his Rinnegan would be born from his own Amenominaka, Tengoku no Oni, and Obito's Kamui—truly something to anticipate.

Afterward, no matter the enemy.

Be it Uchiha Madara, the former Hokages, or even if Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki himself were resurrected, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki returned, or the Ōtsutsuki clan invaded the shinobi world...

Dan would be able to face them with ease.

Not to forget.

Dan also possessed the blood of the Joestar lineage, granting him the Stand ability to stop time.

"The World" in conjunction with the Rinnegan would make Dan an invincible being in the truest sense.

All he needed now was patience.

Just then.

Knock knock.

A knock at the door, followed by a gentle female voice: "Dan, are you ready? It's almost time."

"Sister, come in,"

Dan said, rising to his feet.

As the door opened, Misato stepped in briskly, bringing with her a tailor-made suit for Dan.

After a rustling of fabrics.

Misato personally helped her brother into the suit and led Dan to the mirror, her smile radiant, "My brother is so handsome. Ah, we're going to be late."

With that, she took Dan's hand and hurried out of the meditation chamber.

Today was the wedding of Dan and Samui.

Now, with the Uchiha's return to Konoha and after half a year, the village had regained its prosperity and liveliness.

Fugaku and Mikoto, after deliberation, felt it was time and proposed to hold a grand wedding ceremony for Dan and Samui.

Dan agreed.

Early today, the village of Konoha began to dress up, from inside out, brimming with festive air, and the whole village took a day off to celebrate.

At ten in the morning.

The wedding was held solemnly in the banquet hall on the second floor of the Tenshukaku.

The guests, encompassing notable figures from Konoha as well as dignitaries and representatives from various countries and shinobi villages, came to extend their congratulations and presented gifts and blessings.

As the band played a solemn and sacred tune.

Under the watchful eyes of many, Dan, clad in a suit, and Samui, in a pristine white wedding dress, held hands and walked into the hall, slowly making their way through the crowd.

The groom was striking and dashing, the bride beautiful and enchanting. To everyone, they were a match made in heaven.

Sincerest envy and blessings were sent from the hearts of all present.

Accompanied by flowers, applause, and smiles.

The wedding ceremony was successfully completed.

For a time, the banquet hall was abuzz with joviality, the atmosphere reaching its peak.

"Samui-sama is truly beautiful, and her wedding dress is so lovely."

Uchiha Izumi, gazing at the bride Samui on stage, surrounded by happiness, couldn't help but clasp her hands over her chest, her eyes filled with longing.

Words spoken with intention, listeners with sentiments alike.

Beside her, Itachi turned to look at Izumi, and as their eyes met, all was communicated without words.

When they came of age, they too would have a wedding just like this one.

Not far off, at the children's table.

"Hmph."

Sasuke, having witnessed the affectionate exchange between Itachi and Izumi, snorted, his face a mask of discontent.

His brother had been thoroughly stolen by that woman.

Just two days ago, Sasuke, thinking he had made rapid progress, couldn't wait to challenge Izumi, only to be soundly defeated.

He had lost face in front of his brother.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, losing his appetite. He stood up and left the banquet hall with a darkened face.

"Lord Sasuke, wait for us!"

The brothers Fūjin and Raijin, also seated at the children's table, hastily shouted after him, clumsily grabbing plates of food and scurrying after him.

These two clods served not only as Sasuke's bodyguards but also as his sparring partners in taijutsu.

"What's with him, walking around with that sour face all the time, who's annoyed him now?"

Ino looked after Sasuke's retreating figure and complained.

"Who knows." Shikamaru yawned disinterestedly.

"Waa-waa." Chōji didn't say a word, just kept on eating voraciously.

Neji turned back and spoke to Hinata beside him, "That Sasuke guy is probably worried about how to activate his Sharingan."

At the Ninja Academy, Sasuke and Neji were touted as the two great geniuses of Konoha, neck and neck, each with their victories.

But Neji was confident that he would soon surpass Uchiha Sasuke.

Because, as a member of the Hyūga clan, he was born with the Byakugan.

The Uchiha, on the other hand, required an external trigger.

Neji had heard from the clan head that an Uchiha needs a strong emotional stimulus to awaken their Sharingan, like witnessing the death of parents or siblings.

But Sasuke would not experience such a thing.

After all, in these times, who would be so tired of living as to provoke the Uchiha clan? Especially a top-tier legacy like Sasuke, who would have to kneel and beg for forgiveness if he was even bumped on the street.

Uchiha Sasuke was a flower in a greenhouse, without an opportunity to awaken his eyes, he would most likely fade into mediocrity.

Still, one should not underestimate him.

With these thoughts.

Neji took a few bites of his meal and also hurriedly got up, heading to the training grounds.

Shikamaru shook his head, remarking:

Sasuke and Neji, the two great prodigies of the Ninja Academy.

On the other side, at the liquor table.

Danzō had drunk half a bottle and was slightly tipsy, suddenly staring at Kakashi to ask:

"Senior, you're not getting any younger, when are you planning to marry?"

To Danzō, Kakashi, always buried in his Icha Icha Paradise books, should be a master of flirting, and it was unseemly for him to be single for so long.

In fact, many people were trying to set Kakashi up with a girlfriend.

After all, he was handsome and capable, a young Anbu captain with a high position and authority, had a good relationship with the Uchiha clan, and was deeply trusted by the Sixth Hokage.

Such an eligible bachelor was one in a million, the dream of countless women.

Kakashi set down his Icha Icha Paradise, and said indifferently:

"Isn't Asuma in the same boat?"

"Uh."

Upon hearing Kakashi's words, Gai was at first taken aback, then confidently slapped Kakashi on the shoulder and declared, "Hey, Kakashi, I'm way more popular with the ladies than you are."

Really now?

Kakashi rolled his eyes dismissively at his friend's boast, "You, a prized beast, it'd be a real shocker if any woman fancied you."

Gai, incensed, waved his fist and shouted, "Kakashi, I won't lose to you — let's see who can get a girlfriend first! Do you dare accept my challenge?"

Such a strange competitive spirit.

Tenzō looked on with an odd expression, almost mistaking the impassioned duo for a couple themselves.

Thud, thud, thud.

At that moment, a figure passed by the trio, reeking of strong alcohol and carrying an aura of malice, heading straight for the Sixth Hokage.

It was Lady Tsunade.

"Uchiha Dan!"

Her roar captured the attention of everyone in the hall, and she charged at Dan, grabbing his collar and glaring at him fiercely.

"What's the problem?" Dan inquired coolly at the drunken Tsunade before him.

"You! Explain the portrayal of the Second Hokage in the new academy textbooks..."

Tsunade, her face flushed and eyes bleary, seemed on the verge of a drunken rage, but her anger was genuine.

Because she had just discovered.

The latest textbooks composed by Konoha's Education Department had cast the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, as the greatest villain in Konoha's history.

Describing him as despicable and shameless with no moral bottom line, not only did he conduct various cruel human experiments, but he also invented the Impure World Reincarnation technique, disgracing the dead and tarnishing the image of the Hokage and Konoha in the shinobi world.

Moreover, during his tenure, he continuously persecuted and slandered the Uchiha clan, sowing division within Konoha and even trained disciples like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō, further plaguing Konoha with their misdeeds.

In the textbooks Tsunade had seen, except for the First and Fourth Hokage, Konoha's Second, Third, and Fifth were all tarred with the same brush and nailed to the pillar of shame.

Tobirama Senju was, after all, Tsunade's great-uncle, and she was quite displeased about this.

In the face of Tsunade's wrath, Dan remained as calm as ever in his response:

"Tobirama Senju is undoubtedly a scoundrel, a criminal who betrayed the friendship between the Senju and Uchiha clans. Isn't bringing such a miscreant to justice and giving the Uchiha clan their due exactly what's needed?"

"You..."

Tsunade was at a loss for words.

Shizune and Anko hurriedly ran forward, bowing incessantly to Dan, "We're terribly sorry, Lord Hokage. Lady Tsunade has had too much to drink, we'll take her back to rest now."

With that, the two firmly held Tsunade, escorting the inebriated woman out of the banquet hall.

The guests began murmuring amongst themselves.

"Even if Lady Tsunade is dissatisfied with the new curriculum, she shouldn't make a scene at the Sixth Hokage's wedding. It's unbecoming."

"Will the Sixth Hokage be angered? How will he deal with Lady Tsunade?"

Whoosh.

Dan's gaze swept over the assembled guests.

Everyone snapped back to reality, quickly shutting their mouths and returning to their laughter and chatter, pretending as if nothing had happened.

"Let's go," Dan said, turning to the bride.

"Okay." Samui nodded obediently, linking her arm with Dan's as they left together.

The couple arrived at their bridal chamber.

The room was set with aromatic incense and candles, and soft music played, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Dan and Samui looked into each other's eyes.

"Are you happy today?" Dan asked while gently removing Samui's veil.

"Very happy."

A sweet smile bloomed on Samui's usually cool countenance, like an iceberg melting. She snuggled against Dan's chest, leaning quietly against him.

After a moment.

"Dan."

"Hmm?"

"Let's have another child for Marisa, a brother or sister like Itachi and Sasuke. I don't want her to be lonely."

Samui looked up, her voice tinged with uncertainty, as if worried he might refuse.

To her surprise, he readily agreed, "Of course, I'll do my best."

Upon hearing his response, a blissful blush spread across Samui's cheeks.

...

Mount Myōboku.

Inside the temple, the Great Toad Sage sat on his throne, silently gazing at a crystal ball that reflected the bustling scene of Konoha.

The wavering in the prophecy wasn't felt by Jiraiya alone; the Great Toad Sage himself was unsure.

Just moments ago, he had another dream, but the future he saw was unclear.

This made the Great Toad Sage realize that the Uchiha clan was changing the destiny of Konoha and perhaps the entire shinobi world.

"Alas, perhaps I'm really getting old."

In the temple, the sigh of the Great Toad Sage echoed long after.