___________ POV Narration ___________

"Well, well well... Would you look at that, I wasn't even invited to such a big event. So much for an Alliance, huh?"

Ken slowly turned towards the Raikage as the tall and burly bronze-skinned man started walking up towards the bride and groom, and him by extension.

"This is not a political event dipshit." To the side, Yorihikko was already up and walking towards the Raikage.

Both men were dressed formally for the occasion, but Ken knew better than anyone that neither man would really take their costumes into consideration when starting a fight.

Of course, he doubted it would go that far.

"What did you just call me you damned bell pepper?!?" The Raikage grunted as he clenched his fist, a hostile light flashing in his eye.

'Ok, maybe a fight could break out...' Ken sighed as he gave Kushina and Minato a look of pity.

Kushina was looking quite mad, and Minato's gaze had also turned serious. If a fight was to break out they would definitely be joining in.

But it was never going to come to that regardless.

"Sorry about the mess you two, just focus on your wedding. Seems like old men just like to stir up trouble like this." Ken stepped towards the Raikage as he spoke.

Before anyone realized it, the Blind Assassin was already standing in front of the Raikage, his bulky frame matching the Raikage's own almost perfectly.

"What are you thinking exactly, Lord Raikage?" The Assassin's tone was somewhat respectful, but he didn't bother to hide his annoyance at the Cloud Leader's antics.

"Well, what else could I be thinking when representatives from all other lands in my alliance are all gathered at an event I wasn't even notified about?"

The Raikage muttered as he scratched the back of his neck. His tone sounded annoyed when faced with Ken, but he still retained some respect.

"Yorihikko may have been a bit disrespectful, but it is true that this is a private matter. I am only here as a guest not representing any powers." Ken crossed his arms and huffed right back at the Raikage, his head shaking slightly before continuing.

"I only ask that you are respectful of the bride and groom. This ceremony is to celebrate their love, not to speak about politics."

The Raikage's face seemed to twist for a second, a scowl slowly forming on his face as he eyed Ken with a bit of distaste.

"And what would a cold-hearted monster like you even know about love?"

The Raikage's words and tone seemed to surprise just about everyone present, including Yorihikko.

It had been widely believed that the Raikage and Ken's friendship was as solid as the mountains that the Cloud Village were perched upon.

So, what could cause such a shift in their relationship?

Well... It was not a pleasant tale.

As the years passed by, the Raikage's friendship with Ken only got stronger and stronger, all up until one day.

In a casual conversation over some drinks, he had managed to call Ken by another name... 'A'.

Whether it was because his mind growing senile due to his old age, or just a minor slip-up one would blame on alcohol, it didn't matter.

It was a sad mistake really, the slurred words of a still grieving father.

But Ken's strong reaction at that time had startled the Raikage.

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"Never call me by that name again. For as long as you live."

The Blind Assassin didn't know if it was due to any amount of internalized guilt for what he had done to the Raikage's Son, or just because he was in a bad mood that day due to some disputes with his children due to recent recruits being kicked out of the Brotherhood.

But the Blind Monster had essentially snapped, and the Raikage didn't appreciate it. Or rather, he was utterly bemused by it.

It was a small mistake of Ken, the Assassin had even apologized right away. But it was also confusing for A, it caused him to ask himself a lot of questions.

But he ended up going down a rabbit hole he shouldn't have, and ended up asking questions that he didn't really want to know the answers to.

The question that grasped at his mind the most at that time was...

'Did the Grey Fox ever really even exist?'

Not like he had ever been spotted in the Shinobi World before or after that.

There were allegedly some sightings, but he had not done anything major on the battlefield for the Uzumaki Clan since then, leading the Raikage to think it was a coverup.

And, turns out, he was absolutely right.

It took a few years, and quite a bit of denial, but he did eventually conclude that Ken was in fact the Grey Fox. It was the only real explanation that he could come up with...

Both for Ken's behaviour and for the elusive existence of the Gray Fox.

In the past, he may have raged at that thought, he may have rushed and tried to duke it out with Ken right in the middle of the Dark Brotherhood compound.

But this time, he simply couldn't bring himself to.

Unlike before, his fiery rage had withered away into nothingness. Instead of wrath, he could only feel sadness and betrayal.

Now, that didn't mean he thought that Ken had killed his son. No, that was going too far. But he realized that Ken had some sort of connection to his son's death.

A connection that he had kept quiet about for the longest of time.

The fact that he had been lied to for so long was enough to break any trust he may have had in Ken.

Respect for Ken's strength and his accomplishments was still present, but he simply could not get himself to call the Blind Monster a friend ever since.

During their final conversation as friends, he had also said something quite hurtful to Ken...

'You know... For something that looks and feels so human, I find it hard to believe that you are nothing more than a deceitful monster...'

Those were his parting words to Ken after a rather heated argument, with the Blind Assassin still denying any connection to A's death.

It was a rather regretful end to their friendship and likely one of the reasons why the Alliance was no longer in as good a state as before.

But Ken did not want to bring all of that drama and politics to Minato and Kushina's wedding. Though it seemed the Raikage had no such fears or concerns...

Many around them were now fully paying attention to the situation, especially after hearing the Raikage's words.

Many were curious, and even more were just plain shocked at the situation, including the Bride and Groom.

"Hmp-" The Raikage, seeing that Ken was not responding, tried speaking, only to be interrupted by Ken's palm clasping his mouth shut like an iron vice.

"A cold-hearted monster, huh?" Ken's voice was chilling to anyone who heard it.

"That's certainly true, you know that by now... So why are you trying to test me, A?" Ken's head tilted to the side, some veins bulging out on his neck as every muscle in his body seemed to pulsate and flex.

The aura that Ken gave off was enough to make everyone present freeze in their tracks.

The Raikage's gaze reflected quite a bit of shock as well, not expecting Ken to lay his hands on him. He couldn't even react in time, as Ken continued speaking.

"I may be a monster, but I can still admire love from a distance... That is what I am here to do. What are you here for, Raikage?"

The first part of the Blind Monster's words sounded sad, especially for many of the married couples around.

But the question he asked the Raikage was filled with hostility.

Ken let go of the Raikage's face, his head still tilted as he waited for an answer from the darker-skinned man.

"..." The Raikage looked at Ken, his gaze seemed to be complex, he opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but he seemed to fail to find his words.

"Nothing it seems. So you'll just be leaving now..." Ken patted the Raikage on the shoulder as he got a little closer to his ear.

He then started speaking in a much quieter tone, so only the Raikage could hear him.

"Are you trying to cause a scene and leave the Alliance perhaps? If so, then consider this a success. Leave, we may have a formal meeting in the Hokage's Office after the wedding."

The Raikage's expression immediately twisted, but he couldn't refute Ken in any way.

After all, there was very little reason for the Raikage to pull a stunt during the wedding of the future Hokage.

The only real explanations that Ken could find was that he wanted to stir up trouble for no reason, or wanted some kind of 'out' from the alliance.

One made more sense than the other.

Aside from Ken, the Raikage didn't have any other friends in the Alliance. With their friendship falling apart, it wasn't the most surprising thing that the Raikge wanted out.

The Cloud was strong enough to stand on its own already regardless.

It was still unexpected, sure, the Alliance provided a certain kind of security, but Ken could still cope with the matter.

He had grown strong enough now, to where he was certain he could keep the peace in the same way that Hashirama Senju had managed.

The Raikage didn't say much else, he only turned around and left. He only gave Ken's back one last gaze before he left.

Again, his gaze seemed complex, he almost seemed regretful, but he quickly shook his head and left.

"Apologies for the mess, Kushina, Minato... Let the celebration ensue~" Ken quickly changed the atmosphere by raising a toast.

And the party continued...