Chapter 202: Pretending to Be Divine
In shinobi society, it was rare to see ninjutsu used so openly at public gatherings. Just like how chakra and jutsu were seldom used to improve civilian life, ninja were warriors—trained killers, not entertainers. To flaunt power in front of ordinary people was generally frowned upon. Even in battle, most ninja made efforts to avoid harming bystanders.
Mizuki's extravagant display of chakra at his wedding—though not inherently dangerous—was bound to cause a bit of a stir. It was flashy, borderline theatrical, and broke some of those unspoken rules that governed the conduct of shinobi in public. Though no major consequences would follow, he'd undoubtedly have to deal with some minor backlash.
As the decorations in the hall activated, soft waves of light spread across the space, gently enveloping the attendees.
"Is that all? Just some flashy illusions?" someone murmured. "Feels like simple projection work."
Indeed, the effect could be replicated by any moderately skilled ninja with some knowledge of seals and genjutsu—just lights and illusions.
But Mizuki wasn't done yet.
In the center of the hall—where a traditional stone or wooden effigy of the shrine deity would typically stand—a new vision emerged. A spectral form materialized: tall, robed in white, long-haired. It was a visual representation of the Usagi no Megami, the Rabbit Goddess—supposedly a divine being who blessed marriages and symbolized purity.
But something about her was off.
Unlike the benevolent, smiling visage often seen in religious art, this version had no visible expression. Her eyes—white and inscrutable—radiated not warmth but distant majesty. She seemed less like a patron saint and more like an otherworldly force. A being not made in man's image.
In the crowd, Kakashi pulled down his forehead protector to activate the Sharingan, narrowing his gaze. "What do you think, Hiashi-san?" he asked, addressing the white-eyed head of the Hyuga clan.
Beside him, Hiashi adjusted his focus with his Byakugan and frowned. "It's… hard to say. The illusion is refined, but the face is obscured. Still—there's something about it that feels… authentic."
Kakashi nodded. "It doesn't look like the usual depictions we see in shrines or paintings. It feels more like the real thing."
"A revelation of the source of faith, perhaps?" Hiashi mused. "It's unsettling. Like this is how the Rabbit Goddess truly appears, and we've all been mistaken until now."
"Knowing Mizuki… this wasn't an accident."
In truth, Mizuki hadn't intended to replicate Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—the original source of the Usagi no Megami legend. He simply wanted to replace the crude, clunky clay statue that typically served as the centerpiece. He had aimed to create a virtual figure that could interact with the environment and guests in subtle ways.
But somehow, deep within his subconscious, the image he projected drew closer to the original myth—a reflection of a goddess high above the mortal plane, not a comforting maternal figure, but something unearthly and serene.
Still, no one complained. Unless one examined her closely, the differences weren't so obvious. She resembled the traditional deity enough not to raise alarms—especially amid the festivities.
When Mizuki and Tsubaki stepped into the hall, Mizuki noticed the curious glances cast toward the deity projection. But with no protests raised, he chose to ignore it. After all, today was their day—not the goddess's.
Being skilled in genjutsu and barrier techniques had its perks. Mizuki had turned the path to the altar into something from a dream. Petals—illusions, but lifelike—drifted down from nowhere. Vivid flowers bloomed beside them as they walked hand in hand through the center aisle, guests applauding quietly as they passed.
"Tsubaki," Mizuki whispered as they approached the stage. "If you didn't know better, wouldn't you think this was Nirvana Pavilion Technique?"
Tsubaki chuckled softly. "Isn't it?"
"Technically, yes. I just replaced feathers with flower petals."
She frowned slightly. "You realize there are civilians here? If you overdo it, they could get mentally overwhelmed."
"Relax. The illusion's intensity is scaled way down. At most, they'll feel like they skipped a few hours of sleep."
He wasn't wrong. Mizuki had fine-tuned the genjutsu to reduce cognitive strain. The sensory immersion was gentle, not invasive.
Of course, he could've done more—much more. He could've covered the entire village in a vast dome-shaped barrier and projected the entire ceremony onto the sky itself. But that would've triggered the village's perimeter security, and in these uncertain times, even a celebration couldn't justify that kind of stunt.
Instead, he had settled for small, hidden projectors throughout the village—miniature versions of the Reverse Telescope Technique. These created subtle illusions that showed glimpses of the ceremony in key areas: a park, a marketplace, a few rooftops. It stirred curiosity and gradually pulled more onlookers toward the actual venue.
As the final act of the ceremony began, Mizuki and Tsubaki stepped before the goddess's projection. The divine figure spread her arms and a golden light poured down upon them. As they reached up, their fingers brushed the falling radiance. In that instant, it exploded into a halo of golden petals, surrounding them like stardust in a sacred realm.
The light spilled outward, coating the venue in a gentle dreamlike glow. Even the onlookers watching from afar seemed to feel it. For a few heartbeats, everything was still, as if touched by divinity.
"…Only Mizuki," someone muttered from the crowd. "Of course he'd make divine theatrics part of his wedding. I should ask him to design mine."
"That you, Anko?" another voice said.
Hidden in the crowd, Mizuki smirked. He'd heard that. He heard everything within his own genjutsu field.
If Anko ever did get married, maybe he'd give her a show even grander than this. Assuming, of course, she ever found someone who could handle her.
But that was a story for another day.
Today—was perfect.
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