Naruto: The Rise of Kurama

Chapter 87 87: Celebration

The sake was stronger than Kushina expected.

She sat at the head of the long table that had been assembled in the clearing, watching her clan descend into cheerful chaos around her. Someone had produced instruments from somewhere- a shamisen, a flute, and a set of drums- and a group of the younger Uzumaki were attempting to play something that might have been a traditional wedding song, though the tempo kept shifting as they argued about the correct rhythm.

"They're butchering it," one of the elders muttered from further down the table. "In Uzushio, we had proper musicians. Ones trained from childhood."

"In Uzushio, we had a lot of things," another elder replied. "Let them play. It's close enough."

Kushina sipped her sake and said nothing. The elders could complain all they wanted; the younger generation was doing their best with what they had. With the troubles the clan had gone through ever since the fall of Uzushio, that was all anyone could ask.

The food was simple but plentiful- the toads had been generous with their supplies, and Akaji had somehow produced enough rice and fish to feed the entire clan twice over. Children darted between the tables, stealing sweets when they thought no one was looking. A group of women had gathered near the musicians, clapping along to the uneven beat and occasionally breaking into laughter when the shamisen player hit a particularly wrong note.

It was imperfect. Nothing like the elegant ceremonies the elders remembered from before the fall.

But it suited their clan in that moment.

"You should eat more." Aina appeared at her elbow, a plate of grilled fish in her hands. Karin was balanced on her other hip, the toddler's red curls bouncing as she reached for the food. "You're feeding two now, Lady Kushina."

"I've eaten plenty."

"Lady Kushina, you've had three bites and two cups of sake. That's not plenty." Aina set the plate down in front of her. "The baby needs more than alcohol."

Kushina considered pulling rank, then decided it wasn't worth the effort. Aina was right. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Satisfied, Aina moved away to rejoin her husband, who was deep in conversation with a group of the clan's warriors. They were probably discussing security arrangements for the night- Akinari never truly relaxed, even at celebrations. It was one of the things that made him valuable.

Across the clearing, Kushina spotted Nagato sitting alone at the edge of the festivities. He had a cup of sake in his hands, but he didn't seem to be drinking it, just staring into the liquid like it held all the answers to his questions. The seal would be quiet tonight; there was nothing disloyal about sitting apart from a party.

As she watched, Honoka approached him. She said something Kushina couldn't hear, and after a moment's hesitation, Nagato shifted to make room for her on the bench. They sat together in silence, not touching, but close enough that their shoulders almost brushed.

Progress, Kushina thought. Slow and painful, but progress.

"You're watching them." Kurama's voice came from behind her, and she felt him settle onto the bench at her side. He'd been drifting around the edges of the celebration for the past hour, clearly uncomfortable with the noise and chaos but unwilling to leave entirely.

"I'm watching everyone. It's what I do."

"You're worried about Nagato."

"I'm not worried. I'm observing." She took another bite of fish. "He's been more stable lately. The seal hasn't activated in weeks. Either he's learned to control his thoughts, or he's genuinely accepted his situation."

"Which do you think it is?"

"Both, probably. He's not stupid enough to keep fighting something he can't change." She glanced at Kurama. "He'll serve the clan. He'll fight for us when the time comes. That's enough."

Kurama's tails shifted behind him, curling loosely around the bench. "You're more forgiving than I expected."

"It's not forgiveness. It's pragmatism. Nagato is useful, and punishing him further gains me nothing." She set down her chopsticks and reached for her sake cup. "Besides, Honoka likes him. If I killed him, she'd be upset, and then I'd have to deal with that."

"How terrible for you."

"It would be inconvenient, yes."

They sat in comfortable silence as the celebration continued around them. The musicians had finally settled on a tempo, and a few brave souls had started dancing in the open space near the tables. One of the elders was telling a story to a group of children, his hands moving expressively as he described something that made them gasp and giggle in turn.

"I've never been to a wedding before," Kurama said eventually. "Not as a participant."

"What do you think?"

"It's loud and chaotic."

"That's the point."

"I understand that, but it still feels excessive." His ears flattened slightly as a particularly enthusiastic dancer stumbled too close to their table. "Humans expend a remarkable amount of energy on rituals that have no practical purpose."

"The practical purpose is morale. In the past years, the clan has dealt with the fall of Uzushio, Akagakure, and then the flight from Madara. They need moments like this to remember why they're fighting." Kushina finished her sake and set the cup down. "And so do I, if I'm being honest."

Kurama looked at her, some concern in his red eyes. "You're tired."

"I'm always tired. I've been tired for years." She leaned back, letting her weight rest against his side. His tails shifted to accommodate her automatically. "But today I don't have to do anything about it. Today I can just sit here and watch my people celebrate and pretend that everything is going to be fine."

"It is going to be fine."

"Probably. Madara is still out there. We're going to have to fight him eventually, and there's a good chance some of us won't survive." She closed her eyes. "But that's tomorrow's problem. Tonight, we celebrate."

The music shifted into something slower, and the frantic dancing gave way to couples swaying together in the lamplight. Kushina watched Akinari lead Aina onto the floor, Karin now safely deposited with one of the older children. They moved together with the ease of long practice, and Aina was smiling in a way that made her look ten years younger.

"You should dance," Kurama said.

"I don't dance."

"You did when you were younger."

She opened her eyes to glare at him. "That was a long time ago."

"It was eleven years ago. That's nothing."

"It's my entire adult life."

"And yet you remember how." He stood and extended a clawed hand toward her. "Come. It's your wedding. You should dance at least once."

Kushina stared at his hand for a long moment. The clan was watching- she could feel their eyes on her, curious and expectant. If she refused, it would become a thing, something people whispered about. The leader who wouldn't dance at her own wedding.

She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet.

The musicians, sensing an opportunity, shifted into something even slower. Kushina recognized the melody after a moment- an old Uzushio song about the whirling sea, loss, and finding home again. Someone had been paying attention.

Dancing with Kurama was strange. He was taller than her in his human form, and his tails kept getting in the way, and he clearly had no idea what he was doing despite his claims. But his hand was steady on her waist, and his chakra was warm where it pressed against her skin, and for a few minutes she let herself forget about everything else.

"You're terrible at this," she murmured.

"The song is poorly structured. The rhythm keeps shifting."

"That's not why you keep stepping on my feet."

"Your feet are in the wrong place."

She laughed- a real laugh, surprised out of her before she could stop it. Kurama's ears flattened in annoyance, but he didn't pull away.

The song ended, and they stopped moving, but neither of them pulled away immediately. Around them, the celebration continued, but it felt distant now, like something happening in another world.

"Thank you," Kushina said quietly.

"For what?"

"For everything." She squeezed his hand once before letting go. "Now you can stand in a corner and glare at people. I know you've been wanting to all night."

"I don't glare."

He huffed something that wasn't quite a laugh and retreated to the edge of the clearing, his tails swishing behind him. Within minutes, he'd found a spot in the shadows where he could watch without being part of things. Several clan members gave him a wide berth, which he seemed to appreciate.

Kushina returned to her seat and let the celebration wash over her. The night was warm despite the mountain's usual chill, and the lanterns cast everything in soft gold light. Children were starting to flag, draped over parents' laps or curled up on benches. The elders had moved on from stories to quiet conversation, their voices a low murmur beneath the music.

It was past midnight when the last of the revelers finally stumbled off to bed. Kushina stayed where she was, watching the lanterns gutter and die one by one. Kurama materialized beside her at some point, silent and patient.

"It was a good night," she said.