Chapter 222

Tsunade had a childhood dream, one that very few people knew about.

It wasn't to become Hokage, as most would expect. Instead, her dream was to win at every casino in the world.

Only Jiraiya and Orochimaru knew of this particular dream.

However, everyone also knew that Tsunade's gambling luck was legendarily bad. Winning? That was something that happened purely by accident and rarely at that.

"Hey, you actually remembered?" Tsunade said, blushing slightly, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips.

Having her childhood dream exposed by Orochimaru was beyond embarrassing, especially since she had nearly forgotten it herself.

But before she could defend herself further, Orochimaru delivered a line that nearly made her dizzy.

"This childhood dream of yours is practically impossible," he said matter-of-factly. "Even if I gave you another 200 million, you still wouldn't be able to achieve it. Honestly, if I were to put effort into something that difficult, I might as well work on achieving world peace, it'd probably be easier."

"You—! How can you say that?" Tsunade snapped, clearly annoyed. "Is my gambling really that bad?"

"This isn't about your gambling skills," Orochimaru replied, shaking his head. "Let's stop talking about this. Go call Kushina for me. My sealing technique needs some adjustments."

Tsunade sighed, clearly unwilling to let the conversation end on his terms, but ultimately gave in. "Fine. But… 200 million…" she muttered under her breath as she walked away. "It's enough to make me want to cry…"

---

Everyone in Konoha knew about Orochimaru and Tsunade's upcoming wedding, and within days, nearly all of them had received invitations.

The news of their extravagant wedding budget exceeding 200 million ryo quickly became the hottest topic in the village.

If there had been social media in this world, the story would have undoubtedly trended for a solid week, dominating every conversation.

After all, 200 million ryo was an astronomical sum for ninjas. Even the wealthiest Jonin wouldn't have been able to save that much in several lifetimes.

---

Time flew by, and soon, the day of their wedding arrived.

June 6, Konoha Year 36.

The entire village of Konoha was buzzing with excitement.

From early morning, the wedding venue an open-air space dedicated to large gatherings was already packed to capacity.

The term "empty streets" didn't even begin to describe the scene; nearly the entire village had shown up, and the crowds stretched as far as the eye could see.

This was a wedding unlike any other. The sheer scale and grandeur were a testament to the 200 million ryo budget. The guest list included nearly every prominent clan in Konoha: the Hyuga, Uchiha, Aburame, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Inuzuka clans, among others. Even Hiruzen and the village's top brass were in attendance.

Kushina and many other civilians joined the celebrations, while only a few ninjas assigned to border patrols or critical missions were absent. Even Jiraiya had returned from the Sound Village upon hearing the news.

The guest count approached nearly ten thousand people.

"It's incredible!" Mikoto said in awe, her tone filled with both surprise and admiration as she looked out at the sea of people.

Konoha had never seen a wedding like this before. While ninjas typically took their weddings seriously, they rarely went to such extremes. Even Hiruzen's own wedding hadn't been this grand, it had been a private affair attended only by key figures.

But this? This broke all records.

---

Standing near the entrance Kushina tugged on Orochimaru's sleeve, her expression filled with concern.

"Orochimaru-sama, isn't this… a little too much? I mean, all this money spent on one event…"

Her mind wandered to the war orphans who struggled to survive each day, often going without food. To her, the extravagant display felt wasteful.

Orochimaru, however, didn't seem to share her sentiment. Gazing at the large crowd, he murmured to himself, "No… it's not a waste at all."

Unlike most ninjas, Orochimaru had a unique perspective on wealth. In the ninja world, money was often spent on missions, weapons, or military resources. To spend it on a personal celebration like this was practically unheard of.

The chaos of the open-air venue, the unprecedented guest count, these were things Orochimaru could ignore.

For him, this was more than just a wedding; it was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and he wanted to do it his way.

If it took 200 million ryo to make it happen, so be it.

---

The ceremony itself was grand yet chaotic, with so many attendees struggling to find space. But none of it mattered to Tsunade, who looked radiant in her bridal makeup, her beauty amplified by the joyous occasion.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Jiraiya finally found Orochimaru and Tsunade.

"Hahaha! Orochimaru, Tsunade—you two finally made it!" Jiraiya exclaimed with a wide grin.

His feelings for Tsunade were long buried. After realizing the depth of her bond with Orochimaru, he had quietly let go of any lingering emotions. His only reason for returning to Konoha was to offer his heartfelt congratulations.

"Jiraiya," Orochimaru greeted, his usual indifference replaced with a rare warmth.

Unlike most people, Jiraiya's presence was meaningful to him. As one of the few he considered a true friend, Orochimaru valued his words in a way he didn't for others.

For the first time in a long while, Orochimaru drank freely.

---

By the end of the day, the festivities wound down, and Orochimaru found himself lying on his bed, his vision slightly hazy from the alcohol.

Turning his head, he watched Tsunade removing her bridal makeup, her radiant appearance still fresh in his mind. He smiled faintly.

So this is what it feels like to get married…

The thought lingered briefly, but it didn't feel particularly special to him. He quickly closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him.

Tsunade, meanwhile, gazed at Orochimaru's sleeping form. The memories of their years together, from childhood to this very moment, rushed through her mind.

Did I really marry him?

She couldn't help but chuckle softly to herself.

Quietly, she walked over, taking off his shoes and cloak before covering him with a blanket. Afterward, she slipped out of her own wedding attire and climbed into bed beside him.

Turning off the light, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close as sleep overtook her.

(T/N : The End. Jk)

***

Drop a review if you haven't already.

For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 60+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.