Chapter Four – The Event That Shall Be Named

Naruto called his godfather, Jiraiya the Big Pervert Kahuna. "Sakura and I are getting married and we want you to officiate. So get off your butt and get over here or I'm going to buy the entire North Shore and build condos on every square inch of land I can."

Jiraiya caught the red eye and arrived the next morning.

That morning Naruto ruthlessly used his connections and called in favors to get the necessary paperwork prepared and couriered to Sakura's apartment.

Sakura unplugged the phone in the bedroom and turned the ringer off the phone in the kitchen then the pair sent a group text message to their friends and family:

Sakura and Naruto are getting married at sunset on the beach.

Bring yourselves and your love.

Then they turned off their cell phones and spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon in bed.

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When they got to the beach, they were not surprised to see the crowd of people waiting for them, but they were very surprised to see a large white tent with caterers, tables, chairs and a DJ. Sakura pointed out with awe, "There's even a photographer and videographer!"

Naruto grinned at her. "Obviously someone else has been ruthless in using their connections and favors too!"

Sakura was barely out of the car when her mother, Kushina and Ino swooped down and yanked her away.

"You are in BIG trouble, son!"

Naruto turned and there was his father, Minato standing with Kakashi and Jiraiya. "Kakashi? You're here?"

"I was visiting Jiraiya and invited myself. Don't try and change the subject." But the stern words were belied by the twinkle in his teacher's eye.

Naruto looked at his father. "Why am I in trouble?"

"Because you denied the womenfolk a chance to go crazy picking out wedding things. So you are going to have to suck up big time to your mother." Minato grinned at him. "I ain't stopping her this time if she tries to kill you."

"Yeah. Thanks a lot."

"I thought you learned that lesson a long time ago." Minato slapped Naruto on the back.

Kakashi tousled Naruto's hair. "He's a slow-learner."

"Go to hell!"

Minato reached into his pocket and pulled a small box that obviously held a ring. "I brought this. I didn't think that the two of you had picked anything out so I thought you might like to use this for Sakura's wedding ring."

Naruto took the box from his father's hand. He opened it and gasped. "This is great-grandmother's ring." He remembered seeing it from when she was a child. He suddenly remember when he was ten and just before the indomitable woman passed away her saying that it was to be given to Naruto's bride.

He gazed at the simple but elegant arrangement of diamonds and realized that it would fit Sakura's finger as if it was always meant for her. Tears welled up in his eyes and he looked up at his father. "Thanks, Dad."

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Sakura smiled as she walked down the sandy aisle towards the man she would spend the rest of her life with. He wore what he arrived in: loose white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and loose white pants.

Everyone noticed how he looked at her like she was a goddess come to earth and he was her most ardent worshipper.

Sakura also wore what she came in: a white sundress with thin straps, a sweetheart neckline and a hem that danced around her knees. But she also carried, courtesy of Ino, a bouquet of flowers that consisted of gardenias, red roses, purple tulips, jasmine, ambrosia, asters, heliotrope, honeysuckle and Mallow. It probably should have looked tacky but Ino made it look like it had been planned weeks in advance.

Everyone also noticed that she looked at him and everything she felt shone in her face: Her love, her friendship, and her affection. It was all there for everyone to see and they knew that while this was a very spontaneous wedding, it was going to be one that would last forever.

Both bride and groom…as well as most of the guests…were barefoot.

Sakura handed the bouquet to Ino and she stood with Naruto facing Jiraiya.

Jiraiya spoke simply and eloquently about the bonds of love, friendship and marriage and what he hoped the future held for them. Then the all-important question was asked. Sakura and Naruto had discussed on the way to the beach if they want to make a speech to each other but they agreed that they'd done all of the necessary talking earlier. So they kept it simple and each said, "I do."

"You may kiss your bride!"

Naruto pulled Sakura into his arms and kissed her with all of the love and passion that he had. Sakura returned the favor.

The setting sun blessed the newlywed couple by giving them the most glorious sunset that had been seen in years.

The End.

Author's Note: Flower Meanings: Gardenia – Joy; Red Rose – True Love; Purple Tulip – Forever Love; Jasmine – Love; Ambrosia – Love is Reciprocated; Aster – Talisman of Love; Heliotrope – Devotion; Honeysuckle – Bonds of Love; Mallow – Consumed by Love.