OK so here we go

This is getting somewhere I promise lol gotta have some heart to heart moments after all.

geez my fingers hurt from typing XD

Enjoy!

revised 5/20/2022

"What!?" Ino's scream nearly broke Shikamaru's hearing as he pulled away clamping his hands over his ears, who knew speaking about possible meddling in the alliance could unlock a new level in the woman's voice. Sai patted her heaving back as she recovered looking from Shikamaru to Naruto who also shared the same pose in protecting their ears from her, and just about everyone else in the room "You're telling me that we fought in this war for four years for no reason?"

"Ino lower your voice will you not everyone needs to know this right now" Shikamaru returned casting a weak glare at her furious downturned lips, Sai cautiously pulling his hand away from her back "I've already sent the letter to Tsunade it's enough that we'll probably hear her screaming from Konoha" Naruto chuckled from beside him at the thought.

"Shikamaru how do you know they aren't lying?" Sakura crossed her arms, eyes suspicious of the sudden news, then again everyone seemed to be.

"We don't" he muttered fishing for his cigarettes as the others took the time to look among themselves, once he had found his lighter, he spoke "We still have no reason to trust a single word they say, but until Tsunade gives us the ok we will further remain in our truce with them" He lit the end and puffed turning to Sai when he stepped past a fuming Ino to speak.

"Do you think it involves the Daimyo?"

"It could" he called lazily shutting his eyes thinking on it "It could be another village's doing, maybe even a conspiracy from either of our nations, maybe the Akatsuki" He half opened an eye when Naruto spoke.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they had something to do with it" Naruto crossed his arms deadly serious now.

"It's possible" Kakashi muttered to his side remaining thoughtful

"Either way we shouldn't spread it around the others right now, we need focus on the front" Neji to his left stepped forward when he spoke "When this is finished then the Kage can decide whether this alliance should last" Neji although spiteful about the idea remained even and controlled in his tone. Shikamaru nodded, agreeing with his third in command, choosing to remain quiet as they spread among themselves speaking about the matter at hand. It wasn't everyday his friends would be on the front like this, it was admittedly nice to know everyone would be fighting side by side tomorrow, Sand included.

One month ago

The Leaf units rushing behind him seemed to have slowed in pace at the haste their Commander had set for them, yet he never slowed keeping each step firm as if it's gain him more traction to jump through the trees. With the abrupt news that his two units have split and the other was now engaged in the Sand he had no choice but to push his first unit behind him to its limit to reach the second in time, the one with Naruto. Based on Ino's message things weren't looking good.

"Shikamaru slow down, we've got a few struggling to keep up" Choji somehow managed to make it to his side but only just as Shikamaru seemed to disregard him and rush faster mapping out the course and sticking to each step down to the second. He'd would have remained calmer had he not known the Sand's command would have changed her entire course of action, leave it to that woman to mess with the most uncommon path he predicted, the Leaf's spies simply fed with false information it seemed "Shikamaru" As if broken from his thoughts the second call to him name tuned his attention momentarily to Choji but not without a harsh tone behind his words.

"We don't have time right now; we need to get there as soon as we can" no reassurance promised to his friend who sighed

"Easy for you to say, you're faster than us when it comes to running" Shikamaru smirked biting back a laugh as he eased his run but only just to force himself to remain calm during the ordeal.

"Come on Choji, what are you talking about? Look at yourself you're the only one beside me while everyone else is behind us, barley keeping up" a smirk pulled to his lips, at least he could always boost his friend up when he needed it,

"You got that right Captain" the determined look rose to Choji's face his unease washed away.

"Seriously you have to stop calling me captain it just sounds weird coming from you and Ino even after four years" He sighed but smiled regardless. The unease over the predicament finally settling as he heard the howls ahead. Naruto. He pushed forward, eyes set in a severe manner, through the last thickens as if on cue to see the reddened creature cry out and unleashed a swipe towards the crowd around him. Yet his eyes searched for something different, someone.

Two kunoichi had been thrown back by the attack and now laid side by side, one slowly sitting up to look down at her still companions her scream echoing along the others.

"Yukata!" the brown haired one quick to check her, alive but unconscious, didn't notice the beast roar back on his heels crying out before lunging forward to claim it's fallen prey. Matsuri gasped and covered Yukata with her body eyes shut tightly, awaiting the inevitable, yet it never came. The sharp clank of metal meeting the claws of the beast's swipe seemed to still the air around Temari, furious yet calm as she stared into the beast's white glare back, the chakra shifting dangerously around the growling form.

"Matsuri get Yukata and retreat" the order spoken clearly but strained under the pressure to her fan as the shaking claws pushed down forcing her to bend at the knee, her strength failing her.

"But Lady Temari" Matsuri yelped as Temari glanced back eyes narrowed in warning for her reluctance.

"Now!" with the order in hand her student wasted no time and dragged her friend up to her side and quickly rushed away as best as her aching body would let her, looking back at her sensei one last time. Temari turned back a short exhale left her lips before they turned into a ruthless smirk. The beast cried out as his grip slammed into the ground in front her retreated body, the end of the fan landing a hit to his chin knocking his head back. Rising to stand the woman splaying her fan to swipe an effortless attack onto her opponent pushing the beast back. Temari stared into the slashing wind the red form struggling under the pressure, teal widened as the creature pushed a step forward, claws gripping dirt, then another, then a yell.

"Yamato!" a familiar voice commanding, then a familiar serious face dark eyes narrowed at the beast before him, she would have smiled, excited to mess with her rival had she not been more focused on controlling the vortex circling the beast before her. His claws digging into the dirt as he pushed forward, it wouldn't be much sooner before he was free from her hold, and from his driven gaze to her, he'd attack first. With a scowl she stepped back, her hold released and his quick run to her once again stopped by her fan. One claw above her the other pushed into her throwing her backward into something hard, her cry bitten back as best as she could, by the distant rustle of leaves she guessed a tree and groaned slipping down and slowly falling to her side. In her final moment, her heavy eyes set on the worried dark gaze behind the stilled beast struggling against an unknown hold to come to finish her off. Then darkness.

Shikamaru turned from her limp body, eyes shut blissfully, to the nine tailed beast, his gaze darkening in a silent rage, one that could even challenge Temari's wrath. Naruto's loss of control barley held in his shadow, yet he remained focused and patient waiting for the wooden hold from the ground to pull back at the beast, the one who wasn't the real Naruto. He refused his eyes permission to turn to reassure himself that she was fine, she'd be fine, she had to be. He couldn't even seem to convince himself and tore his eyes to the tuffs of sandy blonde hair hanging back into the arms of her painted brother, his gaze set on the struggling beast. A trail of red faintly seen at the corner of her mouth, before his mind wandered to darker thoughts he saw the faint rise of her chest, the relief washing over him forcing his gaze back to the struggling beast. Something ached him, he faintly remembered the same feeling when Asuma had died, beyond the mission he was sent to do now he knew he wouldn't have recovered from this loss, and he for once in his life couldn't figure out why.

A woman's one weakness is to fall in love with a man.

So what do the two do when they fall in love with each other?

Cold desert air nipped at her bare legs, forcing Temari's arms to wrap tighter around her bent knees, still fuming to herself even after leaving camp, and to add on to her fury, she felt a little stupid to rush off during the night knowing it could get this cold in the desert. Her little tantrum would cost her some time in preparing for tomorrow, but it was more than needed she figured, possibly it was overdue. Temari rolled her eyes at her own indecisive thoughts, how feeble of her to hide away over such a thing as a lie, well if it really was one.

Eyes closed she silently planned her positions for tomorrow, the cliffside she rested on would be her commanding station anyways, at least until she saw Kurostuchi arrive then the real battle would occur among the two armies. However, they possessed something her army didn't, the Leaf's junchuriki. That would help, as hard as it was to admit to herself, she knew the power of a tailed beast was immense and she got a firsthand view to the power a month ago, right into a tree. She'd laugh if it hadn't hurt like it did, at least if he lost control now, she'd be smarter to stay away from the nine tails warpath, Temari of the Sand never made a mistake twice.

Lies

She'd made more than her fair share of mistakes, so small she'd never think to count them. One being her rival's little tug on her, she might have started the game, but he wasn't a novice and knew how to finish it. Back to thinking about him, she was either going crazy or more annoyed than she initially thought. A faint drag of rocks being kicked caught her attention pulling her focus behind her. Needing no thought to who it could be, no shinobi who meant to kill you would purposely be making noise after all.

"Why is it you're always near a cliff when I'm looking for you?" She would have thought his first words sounded vaguely like he was concerned but refused to acknowledge them with any regard except irritation.

"Just in case I decide to throw you off, I like being prepared" Mocking as always, she grinned slightly but it fell just as fast as it came, was she excited to hear him again? He'd reach a new level to her rage if he kept giving her this sudden warm feeling, not that she minded it just felt uncomfortable and she dislikes it. Sulking on it was not a good look for her she decided "What do you want?" back to demanding it was. Leaning back on her hands she stretching her legs forward crossing at the ankles relaxing as she continued preparing for a list of things "And don't spill some crap about feelings, or try to hug me again, I'll break your arms this time"

"Why are you always so mad?" he grumbled his steps halting, no doubt put off by her mood. As welcoming as she could be she was more known for her sharp tongue rather than her sweet words

"As if you don't know" mocking her shock with a scoff. A sigh followed by a hesitant step forward, dragging the rocks under his feet. Even thought she wasn't looking she could already see his eyes rolling as if deciding if this was a good idea or not.

"Even you weren't aware the Kazekage would be there, what makes you think I would have known?" Returning to match her with a bitter mood of his own, she almost smiled at her faint victory to annoy him, sometimes it was just too easy.

"You still brought him" he sat beside her a few feet away, possibly cautious if she'd strike him, but it only prompting her to look away from him almost childishly.

"You do realize Naruto is one of the strongest shinobi we are going to have in the battle tomorrow, he needed to be informed by both of us" his tone forced as if saying this would cause him more pain with her, it did.

"Doesn't mean I need to see him in my camp, strong or not he's not welcome" simply put with a warning behind it.

"You're still mad he hurt you?" She shot him a glare, finally turning to see him as he leaned back slightly under the warning "What is it with all you women and giving that look?" he muttered turning away from her uneasily. Temari scoffed bringing her knees up and handing her arms loosely on them staring into the edge of the opposite cliff ahead of her, but he continued with a need to pull her focus it seemed "He's had trouble controlling the nine tails for a while, but we've found a way to handle it" he paused glanced over at her, but Temari remained eyes firmly forward listening but refusing to look "Naruto wasn't supposed to be there that day, he was supposed to be in camp but when he heard about the patrol you guys had taken down near the south of the border he went after our backup unit. He was just trying to do his part, we all were" defending a friend, she could respect it if she wasn't still bitter about her loss and the headache she'd gotten after.

"You think I have a choice in what assignments I got picked for me?" she rolled her eyes casting a side glance at him "my job is the plan it out, the council decided it was our next attempt" she huffed, pulling her focus forward again, as if contemplating whether to go on, it's not like he needed to know the details of how their frontline worked. She peeked over at him his eyes catching hers, resting long arms over his knees, slouched forward, she turned back and closed her eyes attempting to avoid the dark gaze in a way

"Gaara was still recovering, the council didn't want us to look like we gave up and told me we had to take out the next village to make sure no one would find it suspicious that we'd been sitting still for three months because of" She cursed herself for stopping and with a short exhale continued as if nothing happened "the attack. It was rushed I'll admit it, but I had to at least show some push forward, your line was getting more reinforced and I couldn't supply mine fast enough to match it, so I had no choice but to take my troops further south to the fertile lands. It was my order and I had to follow it" She glanced over at Shikamaru when he nodded, probably reading her tactics out in his head "Everything was going to plan, up until Naruto showed up" She inhaled feeling the anger rise up in her stomach, possibly a small headache to at the reminder "I would have called a retreat but he had already gotten to me" She muttered tensing when he sighed

"He was ahead of us" he muttered quiet "I couldn't get there in time when Ino told me, she said you looked pissed" Temari scoffed but said nothing "You had to stop miles away from the actual town" he sighed if he had any feelings towards the words, he didn't show them keeping his eyes down into the dirt "I saw the hit, looked bad, but I wasn't able to get there until after he'd already knocked you out"

"I wouldn't say knock out" she huffed slightly embarrassed he'd seen her at a rather vulnerable time "I was fine after a week"

"You mean fine enough to try and kill me?" He looked over at her, glare returning.

"Said I would didn't I?"

"Temari, he didn't mean to do any of it, but what was he supposed to do when you had him outnumbered, the second unit was meant as a backup, and he'd been unstable for weeks" he began but she let out a groan, quieting him.

"I get it he's a good shinobi, he's training and all that, but he's like what Gaara used to be" Her eyes dropped to the ground at the memories of her brother before, the uncontrollable lust for blood, the fear he brought to everyone, he was a monster back then but she always tried to not believe it "he can't control it and that makes him unpredictable and dangerous that is the only reason I hesitated to strike first, I though could stop him at least give some time for the retreat" she paused "What if something happened after this battle, or during? We both know you outnumber me with him on your side"

"You're worried?" her eyes shot to his warning becoming clear as he leaned back, stupidly having suggests she was weak in any form.

"Excuse me?" he faltered a second trying to find another way of saying it, and probably avoiding her silent threat that he would get hurt if he continued.

"If your Kazekage said to not fight us after then why are you" he paused stilling under her stare, intimidated to say the least.

"Gaara said not to fight, but nothing about defending against you" she turned away the unease of the possibility irritating her.

"You really think I'd turn on you last minute?" Although he was genuinely asking, she didn't care to hear it, even with a hidden concern in his tone.

"Yes, I can't trust you" clear and simple no hesitation, finished off with cautious glare his way

"Your stubborn you know that" he groaned, back to annoyed, setting a side glare back at her.

"Thanks" She grinned smugly the faint blush to his cheeks pulling his eyes off her in his discomfort.

"Not a compliment" He mumbled pulling a pack from his vest, no doubt figuring a way around her little wall. Temari watched the movements almost like she was reading a detailed report, he plucked a cigarette from the pack shoving it back into the vest and in the other hand flicked open the lighter. He lowered a leg laying it on the ground and rested his elbow on his remaining knee to light the end of the bud set in his downturned lips, still fuming at her no doubt. It was almost no fun when he made it too easy.

"Why did you start smoking?" truthfully she was curious to know, she'd rarely ever seen him without one, or the same annoyed look he carried every time he saw her.

"Don't know" avoiding her, shame for him she didn't quit easily.

"Liar" one word needed to force him to think, and not by his own choice.

"My sensei Asuma used to smoke, a lot" He muttered turning away thoughtful but hesitant to continue. Temari almost leaned in to force him to look at her while he spoke, she didn't like the avoidance anymore "I hated it smoke always burned my eyes, still does" a long sigh his eyes turned down into the ground in front of him "Akatsuki killed him couple years ago, so I guess I do it to remember him somehow" Had he been anyone else she would have probably slapped the back of his head and told him to stop pouting, but she understood loss, they both did. She wasn't heartless after all but didn't mean she was any softer when she asked.

"You're not going to cry on me, are you?" she raised an eye at him catching him roll his eyes at her.

"You'd love another reason to make fun of me, wouldn't you?" He raised his head slightly as he asked.

"I don't need another reason, there's plenty to pick from" he dropped his head in a defeated sigh. She bit back a grin but ultimately failed and started laughing stifling it into her arm, watching him glance over at her a small grin rising to his lips, one could even call it admiration "Lighten up Nara" she settled the smile still lingering on her lips, she'd almost forgotten what it felt like to be so relaxed and comfortable in another's presence. Suna didn't necessarily scream relaxation, with all the external conflict things liked to manifest in the village from time to time, so moments of peace were rare. Guess the truce they decided on still stood, but she couldn't help herself but to ask "Why didn't you kill me when you had the chance Shikamaru" she turned her head to face him as she spoke, him staring quietly back as he had been since she smiled.

"It'd go against my mission directive" with a sigh he straightened as if readying himself.

"What mission?" she waited although didn't quite know where he was going with this.

"Four years ago, I was specifically picked to lead the west border against you and Kankuro to make sure neither of you were kileld by the Leaf" Leaning back slightly she gave him a once over eyes narrowing tightly as he continued carefully "We were just preventing the war from reaching Konoha, I was protecting my village just like you" Her shoulders relaxed despite her will to look threatening "Thought it'd be easy, but you don't like to make things easy" She stared blankly at him, a rather long moment passing.

"So, you were assigned to make sure me and my brother were what? Being kept out of trouble?" the mocking words left before she could register his smug grin.

"You're a lot of trouble Temari" he sighed shifting lazily to sit up straight, clearly wanting to remain as he was, and pulled something from his side to her "and you're going to get a cold if you don't cover up" Temari tensed leaning away from him at first until her eyes turning down to the subtle hint of pale green fabric as he leaned over to her wrapping it around the back of her neck, the faint glow from the cigarette shifting a refined light to his face. She kept her eyes down watching his hands work quietly as he wrapped it once more before determining it looked good enough and pulling back "Thought you'd like it consider your other one is probably still covered in blood" He laid back onto the ground, resting his head under his arms as if nothing had happened shutting his eyes and shifting the cigarette in his mouth, giving her a moment to pick her reaction.

Looking down slowly Temari raised her hand to the edge of the scarf stroking the smooth cloth between her fingers almost intrigued by the shade of green, not shiny, and not rough just like her sand colored one, and it smelled vaguely like the forest and smoke, like he did. She hid her nose in it for a moment, biting back a small grin if she didn't know any better, she'd call this some kind of romantic gesture, a slight blush rose to her cheeks. He was asking for a new round of taunting, but maybe she'd let it slip this one time. As she always thought the man was too gentle, no wonder he retreated more than he fought against her, even without the mission put on him he wouldn't be kill her. Then again, he probably thought her some frail woman and didn't want to hurt her, or maybe he just liked her.

"I don't need protection you know or gifts" her voice sounded to quiet even for her and almost lacked her harsh edge, she'd scold herself later for it.

"I know" He answered her with a sigh trail of smoke blowing to the side of his mouth, but said nothing more knowing she wasn't finished

"All you men think we woman are so fragile and delicate as if we'd break if you look at us wrong" her willed some fire back into her voice and smirked down at him, not cruel but a tease no doubt "If I recall I've taken you down more than once" he grinned slightly one eye opening to meet her soft glare down at him, the subtle warm feeling rising in her chest again. She wasn't heartless, but neither was she gentle.

"Yeah, not my greatest moments thanks for bringing that up" She leaned toward him resting her hand close to his torso, his eye following but quickly returning to hers as she moved closer.

"I still don't trust you" she shifted her legs moving nearer to him eyes remaining on his.

"Same here" he remained still, seemingly following the tug to her lead. The satisfaction she got when her leg wrapped over his waist, and deliberately straddling him was beyond any of her victories over their little matches. She could read ever sudden change in his expression, feel the increase in his heartbeat, eyes widen unsure. The same look men got staring at woman they lusted for, but his seemed more controlled as if willing it down, or replaced but something like fondness, she almost leaned down to get a closer look.

"But I guess I have to make sure you don't die tomorrow either since I owe you huh?" she sounded bothered as she said it like when given a chore she didn't want to do, but a quick glance down him and he willed himself to speak, through his almost dazed look, pulling the cigarette from his mouth as he did.

"That'd be a drag" he muttered quietly but remained thoughtful clearly picking what to do next "You already know I have to make sure you don't" She smiled down at him, her eyes shutting momentarily with the effort, at least she could trust him not to pull anything stupid, she had a feeling he knew better. Feeling him shift up to sit, his efforts restrained from moving closer by her hand pressing firmly to his injured shoulder, the pain ignored it seemed, as he searched from one teal eye to the other, remaining still under the hold.

"Shikamaru?" She let her hand slip from the shoulder leaning in.

"Yeah" breathless and nervous almost, he barley whispered as she brushed her lips against his but never settling in, thought it seemed to pain her just as much as him, as the warm feeling burned her now and she didn't give up easily.

"Thanks for the scarf" pulling back the corners of her lips in a vicious grin as her hand pushed him away standing from his lap. His annoyance from the incident written all over his glare as he watched her turn back flashing teeth in what he thought was the rarest smile she seemed to own.