With the hype from the "Konoha Daily," almost everyone knows about the celebration happening tonight.
A large section of the newspaper revealed the details of the celebration:
- Performances by the Uchiha
- Hosting by the Hyuga
- Flowers from the Yamanaka
- Merchandise from Sword Art Online
- Participation of the Hokage
The eastern streets are already bustling with traffic.
Elves, knights, narrators, Kirito. It feels like stepping into another world.
Haruki and Tsunade are watching Uchiha Obito's performance. At this moment, it's hard to tell if he's given up or is genuinely enjoying it, as he shows no sign of reluctance.
"So cute," Tsunade immediately liked the group of little girls.
Upon learning that Uchiha Obito was a boy, she looked surprised.
"Does he have psychological issues?" Tsunade, with her medical ninja professionalism, asked reflexively. She had encountered such cases before. But noticing Haruki's expression, she flicked his forehead with her finger. "He's just a kid. Aren't you worried he'll have a complex when he grows up?"
"It's just once, nothing major," Haruki shrugged. "Besides, surrounded by so many girls, he seems pretty happy."
"What?" Tsunade's face turned cold, her voice rising. "Are you jealous?"
"I'm not that shallow," Haruki said seriously. "He should envy me for having the prettiest girl in Konoha liking me."
"No way, there are many prettier than me," Tsunade couldn't help but smile.
"Who spread that rumor?" Haruki turned, looking at her white shoulder. "I didn't heard it."
"Then that person must be blind," Haruki put his hand on her cheek, smiling softly. "I suggest they come to me, and I'll give them a new pair of eyes."
Feeling the warmth on her face and hearing his words, Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Aren't I right?"
"Okay, okay, you're right."
Tsunade grabbed his mischievous hand. "Alright, did you bring me here just to watch them dance?"
Actually, yes. Haruki thought that keeping Uchiha Obito's cross-dressing fun to himself would be a waste. But he wouldn't say that. "The celebration starts at seven tonight. I'll take you to a special place."
"Hmm? You're not watching the celebration?" Tsunade looked at him, puzzled. She knew how much effort Haruki had put into preparing for the celebration, running around and spending a lot of money. Yet he won't be there in person?
"I'll watch, but from a different place," Haruki pointed to the Hokage Rock. "We'll go up the mountain. The view is better."
"But there's no celebration atmosphere there. Celebrations need crowds to be lively."
"..."
Haruki held his forehead, feeling a headache from Tsunade's occasional lack of emotional intelligence. Clearly, it's a romantic moment, but she still wants a crowd.
"It'll be lively up there too."
"Okay," Tsunade wasn't dumb. She just hadn't experienced romance and was used to being straightforward. Seeing his actions, she realized his intention.
Haruki pinched her cheek, feeling its smoothness, and couldn't resist pinching a few more times before withdrawing his hand to avoid her glare.
"Ahem, let's go shopping now."
Before she could respond, he took her hand and led her to the celebration street.
In the center, a large temporary stage was being set up, with many people busy decorating it. Haruki glanced at it and moved on.
"Come here."
He brought Tsunade to a shop.
The sign read: "Sword Art Online Merchandise Store."
Inside were various costumes from Sword Art Online, mainly beautiful armors.
There were also swords, pillows, illustrations, and more.
"Do you like any?"
Haruki looked around. Familiar items gave him a sense of nostalgia from his previous life.
Tsunade first noticed the Asuna armor she had worn recently, but quickly moved on to see some cute Q-version pillows.
She picked up a black Kirito pillow, feeling its texture. Haruki frowned slightly. "How about an Asuna one instead?"
Tsunade looked up, interested. "Why?"
"It's cuter," Haruki chose his words carefully.
"Oh?" Tsunade put down the pillow, hands on her hips. "What about me?"
"Of course, it's you," Haruki stepped closer, looking into her eyes.
"Hmph, you're lucky."
In the end, Tsunade didn't buy the pillow. She and Haruki strolled the streets, enjoying many unique snacks.
As night fell, the street lights came on.
Haruki and Tsunade reached the mountain top.
The entire Konoha view lay before them.
Darkness surrounded them, but the celebration area shone like the moon in the night.
Tsunade took off her shoes, sitting on a large rock.
"What's the first program?"
Leaning on Haruki's shoulder, her face looked peaceful.
In that moment, the celebration's noise felt distant. The mountain top, with its starry sky, was silent and beautiful.
"It's the Aburame clan's performance," Haruki thought for a moment.
As Jonin, both had excellent vision, seeing the stage clearly.
Hyuga Kasumi, in a blue cheongsam, appeared elegant, like stepping out of a painting. The side slits revealed her long legs, making many young men excitedly ask who she was. Even Hyuga Hiashi almost didn't recognize her.
Her makeup made her too dazzling to believe. The thought of having her wear a cheongsam at their wedding crossed his mind.
"Ow! That hurts!" Haruki hissed, looking down to see Tsunade pinching his waist.
"Is she pretty?" Tsunade's icy stare made Haruki shiver.
"I think you'd look better in that!"
"Hmph, in your dreams. I'd never wear such clothes."
Tsunade snorted. She wouldn't satisfy Haruki's peculiar tastes.
"Let's watch the performance."
Haruki turned her face gently.
Tsunade slapped his hand, ready to speak, but was stunned by a beautiful sight.
Summer night suddenly lit up with flying fireflies.
They seemed to coat the darkness in silver, floating like dandelions, filling everyone's view.
"So beautiful," Tsunade couldn't help but say.
Controlled fireflies constantly formed various patterns on stage.
From the Konoha symbol to flowers, then to words.
"Do you like it?"
Haruki held her hand, whispering, "Close your eyes, and they'll come to you."
"Really?" Tsunade didn't believe it. "At their speed, it'll take at least ten minutes to reach us."
But she still closed her eyes.
"One, two, three. Alright."
Hearing Haruki, she opened her eyes, stunned.
Fireflies surrounded them like night spirits, constantly changing, finally forming a sentence.
"For the rest of my life, the wind and snow will be you, the calm will be you, the poverty will be you, the glory will be you, the warmth in my heart will be you, and the sight before my eyes will be you."
Haruki turned his head. Tsunade's face was illuminated by the fireflies' light. He smiled softly. "The moon is beautiful tonight."
Like the moon's radiance, a faint mist rose around them.
As the mist cleared, countless roses, like a grand firework, appeared before Tsunade.