Considering there were indeed two individuals of special status present, the officiant didn't say anything like, "If anyone objects, speak now."
Otherwise, those two won glaring intently at Naruto from below might actually stand up and shout, "I object."
—Even if doing so couldn't change the outco of the wedding, it would still dampen the mood.
After Naruto put the rings on Stussy and Hancock, it was their turn to exchange rings with Naruto.
According to tradition, the groom should wear the wedding ring on his left ring finger.
But Naruto ended up with two rings on at once, looking sowhat like a nouveau riche.
Fortunately, not many people minded this small detail, and the wedding proceeded according to schedule.
Finally, with the two elders as witnesses, and the officiant's loud proclamation, Naruto, Stussy, and Hancock were declared husband and wives.
—Their marriage likely wouldn't be recognized by the laws of most regions, but that obviously didn't include Amazon Lily.
As the Emperor and Empress of Kuja, making appropriate andnts to their nation's laws was acceptable.
Even the tradition of 'no n allowed on the island' had been broken… the marriage was a minor issue in comparison.
"Hancock, Stussy, I love you."
On stage, Naruto gently embraced the two won, whispering in their ears.
At this mont, Hancock naturally wouldn't embarrass her husband or do anything to humiliate him.
If anything, it was the opposite.
Hancock, who had maintained her 'aloof empress persona' throughout the wedding preparations, finally couldn't hold back her tears upon seeing the ring on her finger and hearing Naruto's whisper.
In fact, not only her, but even Stussy, who was always composed and could maintain a perfect facade in any situation, nearly lost control.
Imagining it was one thing, but experiencing it was another.
At the actual wedding, neither woman was as strong as they had imagined.
"It's okay, don't cry... you'll ruin your makeup."
Stussy gently dabbed at the corner of Hancock's eye with her white-gloved hand. At this mont, she didn't bring up their previous rivalry.
"None of your business... you're the sa."
Hancock, showing a rare girlish side, glared back at Stussy.
But this glare held no bite.
Below, besides Belo Betty and Gion, a certain young girl with a mythical Zoan fruit was looking on with complex emotions.
Although she kept telling herself things like 'there's still a chance' or 'who knows what the future holds', Karin now understood that this was Naruto's final destination.
She had never had a chance...
Beside her, Naomi and Kalifa seed to want to speak but hesitated, feeling that anything they said might be inappropriate.
Yet they also didn't want to see their captain wallow in sorrow.
"Captain..."
Naomi stepped forward, about to say sothing, but was interrupted by a hand reaching out from behind.
"No need to comfort her. She's not as fragile as you think."
Naomi turned her head at the words and saw Sasuke's face.
The dark-skinned girl imdiately flinched back as if shocked, springing away as if Sasuke's hand were contaminated.
"..."
Seeing this, Sasuke was speechless but didn't dwell on it. He simply walked silently to Karin's side and stood beside her.
Seeing this, Naomi wanted to say more, but Kalifa beside her reached out and stopped her.
It was best to leave this to him.
Even if she was reluctant to admit it, Kalifa had to acknowledge that Sasuke understood Karin better than either of them did.
"What, feeling regret?"
Glancing at the two won who had moved away, giving him and Karin so space, Sasuke turned back to look at Karin. Unusually for him, he was the one to initiate conversation.
"...Of course."
Towards Sasuke, whom she had always found rather arrogant, Karin didn't bother hiding her emotions.
"Hah... then you'll just have to keep feeling that regret. The guy already has children. You've got no chance."
Sasuke wore an unusually faint smile and spoke such a long sentence.
—It's just that his words weren't exactly pleasant, sounding more like rubbing salt in a wound.
So Karin simply rolled her eyes at him.
"Arrogant jerk. Did you co over just to say that to ?"
"Why else? Did you expect to comfort you?"
Sasuke's attitude remained infuriating, but surprisingly, Karin didn't overreact.
If anything, gentle comfort at this mont would have been counterproductive.
"Tch. Do you think I'm that fragile?"
Unobtrusively wiping the corner of her eye, Karin then showed Sasuke the familiar expression filled with fighting spirit.
"Ever since Naruto-san rescued from that place, I told myself I couldn't be as fragile or as easily controlled as before."
"What I want, I'll go after myself."
"Even if I don't get it, I won't regret it."
"So if you ca hoping to see looking pitiful, you can forget it!"
With that, Karin pulled down her lower eyelid and made a funny face at Sasuke.
"I suppose so."
Sasuke shook his head. Just as he was about to say sothing else, he suddenly sensed sothing.
His expression imdiately turned serious as he looked up at the sky.
Simultaneously, those with the most exceptional Observation Haki on site wore the sa expression, all gazing towards the clouds.
"Sothing's falling."
It was Karin who spoke.
Without Momoshiki taking over, her Observation Haki was relatively weaker.
But conversely, if she could sense the massive object approaching at high speed, most of the experts present should have already noticed it.
"Is that... a ship?"
A shadow had beco faintly visible in the clouds, resembling a ship.
Judging by its size, it seed even larger than the [Queen Mama Chanter].
A massive ship flying in the sky.
The older generation, forr mbers of the Rocks Pirates, almost imdiately thought of the sa person.
"Shiki!?"
"No, that guy died long ago at Naruto's hands."
The guess was quickly refuted.
Naruto, who had already walked off the stage with his two wives, showed no change in expression. He gently kissed each of them on the lips.
"Wait a mont. I'll go handle this and be right back."
Stussy, holding their son, nodded slightly without saying much. Hancock, however, reached out, grabbed Naruto's collar, pulled him in, and gave him a deep kiss.
"Hmph. Hurry up. This Empress's wedding must end perfectly."
"Yes, yes~"
Seeing Stussy's amused look, Naruto obediently wiped off the lipstick stain before straightening up and looking at the other guests.
"Everyone, no need to be tense. Continue the music, continue the dancing."
With Naruto's gesture, Brook exchanged a glance with his newly acquainted musical partner, B, and promptly began to play.
The veteran powerhouses rely glanced up briefly, then went back to their own business, showing no tension whatsoever.
After speaking, Naruto's figure vanished from the spot, moving so fast that even Katakuri and Shanks couldn't perceive it.
"This guy... how much stronger has he gotten? He's like a monster."
Shanks shook his head, then raised his glass and clinked it against Katakuri's.
"Don't worry. His abilities are far beyond what you know."
Seeing Katakuri still looking a bit concerned, Shanks shrugged.
If there was soone even Naruto couldn't handle, then probably no one else present could either.
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