Chapter 181: A New Character Emerges

By the time Naruto sprinted back from several hundred meters away, the wedding ceremony was nearly complete.

It was now time for everyone's favorite part—the banquet.

Taking a glance at his cheerful mother and Karin, Naruto puffed out his cheeks and muttered to himself, "Hmph, no way am I sitting with Mom."

"...I'll go sit with Itachi instead!"

With that, he made his way toward Itachi's table, spotted an empty seat, and plopped himself down without hesitation.

As soon as he sat, a sudden sensation made his hair stand on end.

"Whoosh!"

Dozens of crimson eyes lit up, all turning to stare at Naruto in unison. The gaze was cold, emotionless, and unnerving.

"Wha—what's going on?!" Naruto leapt to his feet in fright.

Itachi, raising a brow in mild surprise, asked, "Naruto, why are you here?"

Scratching the back of his head, Naruto replied, "I came to find you... I wanted to sit with you."

The Uchiha around the table exchanged glances, seemingly piecing something together. Slowly, they withdrew their gazes, each with an expression that suggested they understood more than they let on.

Beside Itachi, a young Uchiha woman chuckled and greeted Naruto with a smile.

"Hello, Naruto. Itachi talks about you often."

The woman wore a purple dress, her glossy hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her large, expressive eyes seemed to shimmer, and a beauty mark rested delicately beneath her right eye—she was undeniably stunning.

Naruto, ever the extrovert, quickly struck up a conversation.

"Does Itachi really mention me often? Or..." His tone turned suspicious. "Is it just to call me stupid or something?!"

The girl giggled, covering her mouth. "No, no, he always praises you."

Naruto sighed in relief.

"Phew, that's more like it! By the way, I still don't know your name."

Itachi, in his usual calm manner, introduced her. "This is Uchiha Izumi, my friend and colleague."

Recognition dawned on Naruto's face. "Oh, I remember now... We were in the same academy class, weren't we?"

Itachi gave a slight nod, murmuring a soft "Mm" before returning to his meal, uninterested in further conversation.

Naruto didn't mind, he was used to Itachi's reserved nature.

Izumi smiled warmly. "So, you only remembered now, Naruto? We even had a few classes together back then."

Scratching his head in embarrassment, Naruto laughed awkwardly.

"Sorry about that. Haha!"

Izumi, intrigued by the boy often mentioned by Itachi, found herself enjoying their chat. Naruto, always naturally sociable, hit it off with her instantly. The two quickly fell into an animated conversation, leaving Itachi momentarily sidelined.

After a while, Naruto glanced around the table before asking curiously, "Where's Sasuke? I haven't seen him in ages."

Itachi tilted his head slightly, puzzled by Naruto's endless chatter, but answered nonetheless.

"Sasuke's been busy with his studies at home."

Naruto nodded, looking a bit disappointed. "Oh, I see..."

Just as Naruto was about to say something else, a voice interrupted him.

"Naruto, why are you sitting in my seat?"

Turning toward the familiar voice, Naruto exclaimed, "Oh, Obito! Is this your spot?"

The newcomer was none other than Uchiha Obito. Though there were designated seats for the groomsmen and bridesmaids, the Uchiha clan had reserved a spot for Obito as well.

Obito, who had planned to join the group for a chat, found his seat already taken by Naruto.

Scratching his head, Naruto sheepishly stood up. "Sorry about that, Obito. I'll move."

But Obito laughed, pressing Naruto back into his seat. "Don't worry about it. You stay here. I'll sit somewhere else."

After exchanging greetings with the group, Obito wandered off to find another seat, eventually making his way to Kushina and Minato's table.

"Teacher, Kushina-sama, long time no see," Obito said as he sat beside Kushina.

Minato smiled warmly. "Obito, it's been a while."

Though Obito had returned to the village some time ago, he and Minato hadn't yet had a proper reunion. Now, sitting together for the first time in ages, they exchanged a meaningful look.

It was time, both thought, for a long-overdue conversation.

"Humph!" Kushina, however, wasn't feeling sentimental. She gave Obito a playful slap on the back, nearly knocking him over.

"You brat! You've been back for a while and haven't even stopped by to see us. What have you been up to?"

Obito winced in pain, rubbing his back as he laughed sheepishly. "I've been busy, Kushina-sama. I'll definitely visit you and Minato-sensei in the next couple of days. I promise!"

Meanwhile, in a small pavilion on the southern side of the estate, a woman with pale blond hair tied in a ponytail sat alone. Her forehead bore a violet diamond-shaped mark, and she wore a light green cloak over her shoulders. Her youthful appearance clashed with the sorrow in her eyes.

Despite the festive atmosphere, Tsunade was drinking alone, far from the noise and laughter.

"Dan..." she murmured, downing another cup of sake. Her cheeks were flushed, a clear sign of her growing intoxication.

At that moment, a hearty laugh broke the silence.

"Hahaha! Drinking alone? That's no fun, Tsunade."

Without turning around, Tsunade replied, "I'm not in the mood for your jokes right now, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya approached with a bottle of sake and a cup, sitting across from her.

"I'm not here to joke. Just thought you might need some company."

Tsunade glanced at him briefly before letting out a small huff.

"Fine. Pour the sake, then."

Grinning, Jiraiya filled her cup. The moment it was full, Tsunade grabbed it and downed it in one go.

Jiraiya shook his head, got up, and began to walk away.

Tsunade frowned, grabbing his sleeve. "Where are you going now?"

"I'm not your waiter, Tsunade," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "I came to drink, not just pour for you."

After a moment's pause, Tsunade let out another huff.

"Fine, sit down. I'll humor you."

The two sat together, drinking cup after cup.

After a few rounds, Jiraiya leaned back with a grin.

"See? Drinking with someone is way better than sulking alone."

Tsunade, her eyes hazy from the alcohol, scoffed. "Less talking, more drinking."

"Alright, alright!" Jiraiya chuckled as he poured her another.

The mood shifted as the alcohol took hold. Jiraiya broke the silence with a more serious tone.

"You still haven't moved on, have you, Tsunade?"

Tsunade's hand trembled as she gripped her cup. Her gaze darkened.

"Why... Why bring him up now?"

Jiraiya's expression softened.

"Because you're the one who hasn't let him go."

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

Read more than +80 chapters and support me on Patreon

Patreon(.)com/Jixo