Epilogue 2

Naruto woke up to a shaking sensation.

"Naruto," he heard Shio exclaim.

Naruto groaned and looked at his little sister. That's right; he had decided to stay over at the Namikaze household the week before his big day. And now...that day had come.

"Come on, we have to get you ready," Shio exclaimed.

"I feel like you're more excited about this than me," Naruto grumbled.

"Can you blame me? Everyone is excited about this Naruto," Shio exclaimed. "Come on, put a smile on that face! Today's the day you're getting married!"

Naruto smiled at that. He looked out the window. It was a nice clear sunny day in spring; the perfect day for a wedding. Today was the day he would be bonded to his beloved fiancé Itachi forever.

Naruto was broken out of his trance when Shio tugged him again.

"Come on, mom is waiting downstairs to help get you ready," Shio exclaimed. "You're so slow, Naruto!"

"Slow, eh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I'll show you slow."

Naruto teleported them both downstairs in a yellow flash. Shio shrieked and almost fell down if not for Naruto catching her.

"Goddamnit Naruto!" Shio exclaimed. "I hate it when you do that."

Naruto laughed. Kushina poked her head into the room and grabbed Naruto by the wrist.

"Come on dear, we need to get you ready to be married off," Kushina exclaimed.

"Mom, slow down," Naruto exclaimed. "The wedding is in the evening!"

"We have to make you look beautiful," Kushina exclaimed, a crazy glint in her eyes.

Naruto leaned away from her nervously.

"I will make you look absolutely beautiful, my beloved son. So beautiful it will make Itachi stare dumbly at you for hours!" Kushina said determined.

"Mom, he already does that," Shio said.

"No he doesn't," Naruto exclaimed.

"Are you kidding me Naruto? I can still remember that time we saw you for the first time as part of the Akatsuki. You pinned him down to the ground and he just froze. He practically melted under your touch when you kissed him," Shio exclaimed. "He's so deeply in love with you that it's almost disgusting."

Shio made a face and shuddered.

"Hey, that's my soon-to-be husband you're talking about as well as your brother-in-law," Naruto jabbed her in the ribs. "And he did not melt under my touch! He was just surprised to see me; that's all!"

"Oh honey, he melted all right," Kushina said. "I was surprised that he didn't melt when he first saw you. It's only natural though. He had been deprived of you for four years."

"Mom!" Naruto exclaimed, blushing bright red.

Kushina chuckled.

"Only speaking the truth dear," she said. "Now then, let's get you ready."

"You nervous, Itachi?" Sasuke asked.

"Would you believe me if I said no?" Itachi asked.

Sasuke snickered at him. Itachi glared at him halfheartedly.

"It's only natural you're nervous. You're about to get married. I bet Naruto is even more nervous," Sasuke said.

"I just can't believe this is actually happening," Itachi said, straightening his kimono. "This isn't a dream, right?"

Sasuke pinched his arm.

"Ow!" Itachi yelped.

"Nope, not a dream," Sasuke said. "Come on big brother, you're getting married to the one person you've been pining after for years! You should be bouncing off the walls in excitement!"

"Uchihas do not 'bounce off the walls in excitement'," Itachi said.

"I meant it figuratively," Sasuke said, rolling his eyes.

Itachi chuckled lightly.

Finally, it was evening. Itachi was shuffling his feet nervously. Everyone invited to the wedding was settling down now. Minato was standing at the altar in full Hokage attire.

"Calm down, Itachi," Minato said.

"I guess I'm just excited," Itachi said.

Minato chuckled.

"Well, you are about to get married," he said. "I was excited myself. Sarutobi almost had to restrain me because I got a little too excited. I almost teleported away in my excitement. Now that's a disadvantage of having a teleportation bloodline limit. Anyways, Itachi, you'll be fine. Just take a deep breath. The wedding will start soon."

Itachi nodded. Soon, everyone was seated. Kushina was sitting in the front row with Shio, Sasuke, and Kakashi besides her. The music started and everyone looked back. Naruto came into sight. Itachi had to stop his jaw from dropping at the sight of the blond. Naruto smiled at him as he walked forward. He also wore a black kimono, matching Itachi's own black kimono. The black fabric framed Naruto's slender figure perfectly. There was a slight blush on Naruto's cheeks and his blue eyes shined brightly. Naruto walked up the aisle. Itachi held out his hand and Naruto took it. They turned to face each other, both smiling. Minato's smile widened. Kushina began sniffling.

"Everyone, we are here today to witness the binding of two souls," Minato began. "Did you two prepare vows?"

"Yes," Naruto said.

"Very well then; Itachi, you go first," Minato said.

"Naruto, I've loved you for years, long before we became lovers. If it hadn't been for that first kiss after you crashed into me from the sky, I don't think I would've ever had the courage to ask you out onto a date. I'm glad that day happened; it was possibly the best day of my life. I love everything about you. I love your eyes and the way they remind me of the ocean on a clear sunny blue day. I feel like I could gaze into them for hours and never tire of it. I could never hate you for anything Naruto Namikaze. I promise to love you for the rest of my life."

Kushina was crying. Naruto was blushing even more now.

"Naruto," Minato said.

"Itachi...you're the best thing to ever happen to me. I'm glad that poor excuse of a first kiss happened as well, even if it was just me accidentally falling out the sky and crashing into you. I'm still sorry about that by the way. You've been there for me this whole time and I love you for that. Thank you for loving me still Itachi, even after all the things I did. Those crimes I committed, I am not proud of them, even if it was just a mission. I regret them even now. But I am willing to move forward and build a new life with you. Itachi Uchiha, I love you with all my heart and that will never change, no matter what."

Kushina was sobbing heavily now. Shio was comforting her.

"Itachi Uchiha, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse?" Minato asked.

"I do," Itachi said, not looking away from Naruto.

"And do you, Naruto Namikaze, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse?" Minato asked, looking at Naruto.

"I do," Naruto said, smiling widely.

"Then as the Fourth Hokage, I now pronounce you partners for life," Minato said. "You two may now kiss."

Itachi and Naruto met halfway and kissed each other deeply. There were whistles and whoops of excitement and of course, the sound of Kushina still sobbing.

"My baby boy is all grown up," Kushina exclaimed, wiping her tears away. "I'm so happy!"

The newly wedded couple broke apart.

"Congratulations you two," Minato said, smiling warmly.

Naruto hugged his father. Then he went over to Kushina and hugged her.

"Mom, you can stop crying now," Naruto said. "It's not like I'm leaving the village."

"Still," Kushina sniffled. "I've been waiting for this day to happen for years! Oh, Mikoto and Fugaku would be so happy for you two!"

"Yes, I know mom," Naruto said, chuckling fondly. "You two had planned out our wedding and everything before we had even gotten together."

Itachi walked over and wrapped an arm around Naruto's waist. Shio squealed and tackled her brother in a tight hug. Naruto laughed and hugged her back.

"Oh I'm so happy for you, Naru," Shio exclaimed. "Come and visit every once in a while, okay?"

"Yeah I will," Naruto said. "Although I expect you to be at least Chuunin by then."

Shio whacked him on the arm.

"Don't ruin the mood," she exclaimed. "And quit rubbing that in my face! I'm working on it!"

"Not hard enough," Sasuke teased.

"Shut up!" Shio shouted, blushing red in embarrassment.

Shio chased him around. Sasuke laughed at her.

The after party went on late into the night. Finally, everyone began going home. Itachi and Naruto walked to the Uchiha compound, hands entwined.

"As much as I enjoyed the wedding, it was pretty tiring," Naruto said.

Itachi chuckled. They stepped into the house and went up to the bedroom. Naruto changed quickly out of the kimono and put on some of Itachi's clothes.

"Damn your clothes are too big for me," Naruto grumbled.

Itachi chuckled in amusement as he changed as well. Then he grabbed the tiny blond and dragged him onto the bed. Naruto wriggled in his grasp until they were facing each other. Itachi pulled the covers over them before wrapping his arms around Naruto. Naruto kissed him on the cheek before burying his face into Itachi's chest.

"Night, Tachi," Naruto mumbled tiredly. "I love you."

Itachi squeezed him and kissed him on the head.

"I love you too. Go to sleep, Naru," he said.

Itachi turned off the lights. Naruto was already asleep. Itachi relaxed and closed his eyes. He breathed in the soothing scent of his new husband.

"Good night."

~Fin~