My father passed on in July, and you could say this story is a reflection of what will never happen. :'( Meaning he will never be there IF I decide to get married.

Anyhoo, here we have a father who struggles over losing his daughter - and then comes the planning of an over-the-top wedding which drives him crazy. This short story is composed of only a few chapters, with no need for anything insane and elaborate, and is consisted of both "Father of the Bride" movies (the ones starring Steve Martin, though the originals with Spencer Tracey have also been great) and they have since been a part of my childhood. My grandma is to thank for them. :'D

I own neither Naruto or Father of the Bride.

Chapter One

The Engagement

I always thought a wedding was a simple affair: boy and girl meet, they fall in love. He buys her a ring, she buys a dress, and they say "I do".

I was wrong. What I have just described was "getting married". A wedding, on the other hand, was an entirely different proposition. I know because I, Sasuke Uchiha, have just been through one. Not my own; my daughter's.

Sarada Uchiha-Uzumaki. And that was her married name: Uzumaki.

I'll be honest with you when I say that when I bought this house eighteen years ago, it cost LESS than this event did. I'm told that I will look back one day on this with great affection and nostalgia. I truly hope so.

You fathers will understand this: you have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you in ways you could never imagine. She leans her head against your chest, says you're her hero, and you hold her tiny hand in your big palm. The world is at your feet, just as it had been when you married her mother.

But then, time seems to go by too quickly when the next thing you know is that she's getting her ears pierced, starts wearing funky jewelry and revealing clothing, wants you to drop her a block away from the movie theater. And that's not the worst of it; eventually, she's wearing eye shadow and high heels, and from that moment on, you're in a constant state of panic. Especially when you worry about her going out with the wrong kind of guy - the kind who wants only one thing, and you know what that one thing is because it's the same thing you wanted when you were their age.

But then, you quit worrying about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, because the right kind of guy brings the greatest fear of all: you lose her.

And before you know it, you're sitting all alone in a big house full of memories, good and bad. You wonder what the hell happened with your life.

It was just...eight months ago that it happened, when the storm itself broke, and winter was coming to an end.

~o~

My elder brother and I both ran the Konoha General Hospital gift shop. We helped visitors with loved ones who were patients find what they were looking for, or anything close enough, and it was peaceful and comforting. This was the opposite of what our late father had wanted for us.

If you were wondering, Fugaku Uchiha was one of the hospital's board members, and one of the best, before he was killed out of spite and jealousy. For a long time, our mother raised us alone, and for awhile, it was hard, but we survived. He left us a LOT equally, making sure his wife and sons were taken care of. Itachi and I could have done something better because of what Dad was and expected of us, but it was a choice of our own.

All I had cared about was being close to Sakura, my childhood friend who was now my wife. And Itachi chose not to go with what had been set for him, which was a place with the board like our father. Fugaku would have turned in his grave if he knew of this, but it wasn't like we should care. We were grown men who could do anything we wanted now.

Besides the gift shop, my brother and I also were agents in life insurance, especially for those in hospital who were threatened into epiphanies, therefore causing them to make these decisions which were once so minor. You could NEVER leave your loved ones with nothing when you were gone, not even your personal debts - though the last one couldn't always be helped.

Anyway, I married Sakura fresh out of high school, and she went on to nursing school, and halfway through, she gave birth to our daughter - our only child, Sarada. Mom taught my brother and me that love was the greatest value than materialism and status, despite the fact the Uchiha descended from samurai in the Edo period.

She was one of the best nurses, my wife. And here in Japan, most women would often give up their careers after they married and had children; I thought of that as an ego matter regarding the men who became their husbands. Though, today, the marriage rates were declining for the career and financial reasons, and it also meant divorce rates were on the high.

Not us - not in one thousand years. We've made it work after twenty-three years.

I will never forget our wedding day: both of us in the hospital chapel, witnessed by our few friends, Itachi and his girlfriend Izumi - who was later killed in a gang attack, just before Sarada was born - as well as Mom. I'll never forget my new wife in her white dress, though I don't really remember its design other than it gracing every inch of her body, but I'll always remember she had the earrings she continued to wear today, which were the blossoms she was named after in mother-of-pearl, and her hair covered by a short veil woven through with pearls.

Not a lot of things I notice about women's fashion, but if it were a truly special moment, then some of the smallest details were worth everything.

When our daughter was born, my world changed in ways I couldn't even explain. She was mine to protect. Itachi doted on her and spoiled her maybe more than I did. And her grandma Mikoto loved her so much she never said no to anything...until she died when Sarada was not yet thirteen.

Time just flew by so quickly. I didn't realize my little girl had really grown up so fast even when she graduated high school and was going to college for architecture.

She was in her final year, being up in Kyoto for her studies along with a few of her friends, but now she was coming back home for a visit. She hadn't seen us since the end of the old year. The plum blossoms would soon be in bloom, too.

Today, I was very anxious about my daughter's arrival. Itachi had been "sick" today - and also had to handle some phone calls with some clients for insurance - so I had a plate full as it was. But it lessened because of his stand-in, who was none other than Kabuto Yakushi, a med student who part-time worked here. Sometimes we don't get along, just because he sometimes hits on my wife, despite being innocent and that Sakura would never cheat on me. And the fact there was a real age gap between them.

Sakura then came by the shop just as her daytime shift was over, and her eyes were alight with joy. She said the very words that made me drop the pen and clipboard of the next shipment of gifts.

"Sasuke, she's landed!"

I wasted no time leaving with her. We had to hurry up if we wanted to get dinner AND Sarada's present ready before she came home, though Itachi had assured us both that he was our backup in case we ended up being late. Just like my big brother to save our skins.

I've always been a concerned parent, so a part of me hoped our girl made it all right off the plane. Last thing we needed was her being taken from us before she could live life to the fullest. Which is also why I've always been sharp with the curfews, bedtimes, warning about running around with sharp objects, and making sure the car seat is fastened. But what can I say? Being a father means worrying comes with a territory.

We all live in Konoha, on a large island not far away from Japan's mainland, and in a small town. Sakura and I were born and grew up here, we still have friends here, and it's the kind of town you'd want to live in for the rest of your life, where people still smile at each other, and very few ever leave for good. Very few things changed here besides technology, so it fits anyone like a glove - including a guy like me.

And as for our house: it was a two-story blend of modern western and traditional Japanese. There isn't a lot on how to explain it, since it's complete with a zen garden that stretched out to the backwoods, a basketball court - Naruto Uzumaki, my best friend, and I used to kick each other's asses when we were boys, and my daughter learned how to play, which was one of the best times we had - as well as a big maple tree where we all carved our names. Sarada was in grade school when her mom and I bought this place. Now it was where she could come home after college.

I NEVER want to move from this house if I have anything to say about it.

Here, Sarada learned to ride her bike, slept in the backyard with her Uncle Itachi and me, and carved her name in the tree with us. It's cool in summer, warm in winter, and looks spectacular with Christmas lights.

The best things I love most about this house are the voices I hear when I walk through the door, but this time one is with me, and the third waits for us.

~o~

Itachi had picked Sarada up, sparing her the trouble of calling a cab. Though she was still unpacking by the time Sakura and I returned home, we hurried upstairs before she noticed we were back; thank my brother once again for playing along and swearing he would keep up the surprise while we got ready and then snuck downstairs.

When we were both ready, I was in just a white dress shirt and dark jeans while my wife was in a blushing shift patterned at the end with cranes and greenery. That she'd had for YEARS and refused to part with.

We both heard the commotion and voices downstairs, and I think our hearts jolted at the same time. Itachi and our daughter were working in the kitchen together while waiting for us, so this prompted me to take Sakura's hand into mine - and it was then that I felt both of those rings that I gave her a long time ago. Well, one, and the other was a big gift for our ten-year vow renewal. Simple rosy band because it was right after high school, and the heart-shaped diamond ringed with smaller ones was what I always knew had been for her. It was a perfect symbol of love.

And just like that, Itachi was in the kitchen doorway, giving a secret smile of appreciation at us before stepping aside for us to see the surprise waiting for us. I never expected the shocking change, though not a terrible one.

A headband of red crowning a head of raven hair which reached mid-back.

Maroon dress which made her into a woman.

And finally, a face devoid of the large red glasses she used to wear, as our family had a history of bad eyesight, though I've yet to have that issue. Itachi, on the other hand, was sporting a pair if smaller and narrow.

It was so hard to believe that this was Sarada, my daughter.

"Hi, Dad!" She looked so lit up that she pranced over and threw her arms around my shoulders, and the dam was released. I had never been so happy to see her; tomorrow, we were going to do something as a family to celebrate, maybe get together with Naruto and his family, since their son had also come back from Kyoto.

"If she's this fired up, you two should go up there to Kyoto sometime," Itachi noted as he was bringing in the onigiri to the table. This made Sarada beam again.

"Uncle's right; it's the most romantic place in the world! Should be a second honeymoon for you, Mom and Dad."

Second honeymoon didn't seem like a bad idea. We looked forward to hearing about her adventures at the dinner table, but first, we gave her the gift: a delicate necklace featuring a small white druzy crystal sided with pearls and moonstones. Her eyes sparkled, and she embraced us both, and that was when I inhaled the smell from her skin which I didn't recall being from either of us. She must have gotten it in Kyoto as a gift or on her own, but I admitted it was light and bold, with musk and woods, along with raspberries and - I couldn't figure out what else.

"Hibiscus extract," Sarada finished, sniffing her own wrist since she loved it that much, making us all laugh.

At the dinner table, everything tasted so much better than usual because Sarada was home, and it came to suggestions about what to do as a celebration before she returned after cherry blossom viewing was over. That included said festival on the list, the not-so-busy plum event coming up, as well as seeing their basketball team play against Kiri - who were rough and vicious when it came to competition - but it turned out that she seemed so distracted when she hummed and affirmed.

"Honey, is there something going on?" Sakura asked after a sip of wine.

"Well...yeah. But it's nothing life-threatening; it's just something hard to tell parents. It's about...Boruto. You know how we've been friends for a long time, we had our moments, and he's really grown up if being such an idiot sometimes, but while we were in Kyoto with all of our friends, we've gotten to be..." She swallowed and blushed a little. "...closer than as just friends."

I did NOT like where she was going with this, now thinking I needed another drink, but it would have to wait until after this. Itachi looked my way and was giving me the warning look, but this was my daughter, not his. My wife was gob smacked if not judgmental.

"Mom, Dad, Uncle...I'm getting married!"

~o~

I had always been concerned especially about my daughter's friendship with Boruto Uzumaki, since the kid was worse than his father with his attitude. Too laidback for anyone's taste, and Sakura had to remind me that there was nothing wrong with wanting to be yourself, and if Sarada had a problem, she'd deal with it. How could I not trust either of my girls with their word?

But this time...it was different.

"I'm ENGAGED!" The words were followed by a small scream of excitement, and her uncle was more than happy for her, telling her congratulations and that he trusted her choice in men, while her mother said this was so much to take in, before asking if that was her engagement ring. "Oh, yeah, Mom, he got it in a flea market, and the man who sold it said it was very old, since the sixties."

In spite of my dismay, I found myself looking at that thing, seeing that it was crafted to look like a calla lily. It looked so natural it could be a real one, featuring a tear-shaped ruby within platinum, enhanced by tiny blinking diamonds. But despite its brilliance - and knowing it was everything exuding my daughter - I was looking at her again, but this time, I didn't see the woman with long hair and devoid of glasses, but the little girl with the short mane and those big spectacles as she repeated the words.

"Dad, Boruto is wonderful, brilliant, and we're getting married."

"This is ridiculous. You're too young to get married!"

Why had her return home brought this so-called news - and involving Boruto Uzumaki of all people?! I heard he was a genius with computers and communications, being independent from the big guns, and his parents were always talking about how proud they were of him. Not that I didn't believe them, but this...!

"Too young?" Sarada sputtered. "Dad, I'm twenty-two; Mom was much younger."

But the damned times had changed! And I had thought she didn't believe in love and marriage, that it was when a woman sacrificed her identity - which was my worries in these times for her, especially since she should be having a job and being her own person first - and she answered she didn't, until Boruto. And they'd agreed that she didn't have to give anything up for him.

"And he's brilliant, just like you, Dad. He loves I want to be an architect. It also means I can design a house for us to live in!"

It was out of the question. It didn't matter that the miniature loser - loser being an old nickname I had for Naruto when we were kids - had a stable job while going to school, nor did it matter he was letting his girlfriend be who she was. If I had anything to say about it, she was NOT getting married to Boruto Uzumaki.

Angrily, Sarada snapped to her feet. "Daddy, what is wrong with you?!" She then turned and stomped her way out of there. I was dumbstruck in that moment.

She had always looked up to me, appreciated me - for the most part - but this time was different. She chose my best idiot's son over ME, and now my brother and wife were looking at me no differently. "Itachi -"

"Mm-nh, you started it, you fix this mess, idiot little brother," Itachi said, clicking his tongue and shaking his head. "I'm going to get more sake ready since we will all need it. Then I am gonna call the Uzumaki residence myself so we can all have a family gathering for this..."

I could hardly believe that my own brother would take that step when I was the man of this house, never mind he was the eldest, and my wife was no better. "Sasuke Uchiha, would you stop being such a lunatic father, go talk to your daughter before she runs off with that kid and we never see her again?!"

Everyone was against me, and when I thought about Sarada's tear-filled, furious eyes, I had never felt so crestfallen. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy, and I was being forced to accept she could make her own choices, never mind that I still saw her as the little girl with glasses.

~o~

I had no choice but to do what everyone wanted me to, if I didn't want Sarada to hate me. I had to let her be with him, if she loved him so much. I had to learn to live with it...but I really had no idea how to deal with the next eight months that were coming with discussing the wedding plans.

Boruto Uzumaki - spiky blond hair like his father, having whiskers on his cheeks kind of like a fox, and having blue eyes brighter than Naruto's which was something I NEVER thought I would say - had really grown up, and I appreciated that he had a good sense of humor, too. As for his profession, he would be sent across the world to hook up all these coming-of-age computers in Tokyo, in China, and other places. Like my daughter said, he was a natural genius.

He and Sarada told us about what led to the way they were now: the inns they stayed at, the authentic cuisines, the kabuki plays, and a midnight showing of the 1951 classic Genji Monogatari - inspired by one of the greatest love stories of our country and throughout the world. That was what led them to getting close...

"Uncle Sasuke -" The title he called me since he was a boy, given his father and I were like brothers. "- I tried putting myself in your shoes. Your daughter comes home when you haven't seen her in a long time, and she shocks you with the news we're getting married. And to someone you're not a big fan of. But I'm not that boy you remember - much. I can't wait to marry her one day, and I'm doing my best to support her dreams. I didn't think I'd have a girl like her."

While that was a great reassurance, I knew my day had passed. She'd always love me, of course, but not in the same way. I was no longer the man in my little girl's life. Kind of like a clothing line which everyone got excited about only for it to discontinue after some time. This was the start of wondering where my life was going now. I had only one child, so there you go.

My new title: father of the bride. But while my wife was over the moon excited, my brother more than ready to put in his share since this was a family event - celebrating it with the newlyweds on the day that would come - and so were Naruto and Hinata, along with their daughter Himawari who was in high school, I was probably secretly the least bit excited.

The sooner you let your kids go, all you could do was hope you brought them up just right.

Eventually, we managed to work out some details before the kids would go back to Kyoto to finish their studies - but we could keep in touch on the phone, emails and such - and Sarada wanted a traditional wedding, being with family and friends in the local Shinto temple, even though these kinds of ceremonies were declining these days.

Reception: here at home, where else?

The idea got me thinking about ways to save money, when I thought a home reception was a great idea with picnic tables filled with homemade meals, paper lanterns painted by hand, fairy lights, and this being a laidback affair overall.

Except the cold look in Sakura and Itachi's eyes made me sit in my place, and Sarada was on the verge of looking the same way she did that night. I had to say to myself just this: great going again, Sasuke. Now she's going to be looking at wedding gowns at a bargain in magazines.

From then on, I decided to just keep my mouth shut on everything. If Sarada wanted the wedding of her dreams, I was more than willing to give it to her.

Yeppers, Sarada and Boruto - with overprotective Papa Sasuke losing his shit. XD And the fact Boruto is mature, to an extent. The show itself I am watching at the present is really good, and a lot of people are too hard with comparing it to its predecessors. I mean, the times have CHANGED, with no new war on the way just yet. (Watching English dubbed, not aware of what is present in the Japanese version)

Reviews in lots o lovin detail are appreciated. :D