Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. All characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.


Clearly, Tojuro was not "under the weather" as he had so claimed. Temari grimaced, her intuitions peaked. How did he get in here? And so quickly...

"Lord Tojuro," Gaara addressed him politely. He didn't even acknowledge the blatant offense that was someone sitting at his desk uninvited. "Do you wish to speak with me?"

"Lord Kazekage, let's skip pleasantries." Tojuro turned towards the engaged couple. "I've received word from a confidant about your illicit affair."

Illicit affair? Confidant? Was it Hibiki who said something? Temari knew the young advisor was always seeking, rather spinelessly, the Council's approval. But it was unclear when she had confirmed that Shikamaru was more than just a visiting ally; unless the Councilman sent her specifically to spy on them. Temari clenched her jaw and started advancing towards the desk before Gaara held out his arm.

"If you have something to say, please, come out with it."

Tojuro laughed in response as if sharing a joke with himself.

"Out with it!" Kankuro snapped. "Or remove yourself from the Kazekage's office."

"I can't believe how rudely this generation addresses its elders. There is truly no sense of tradition amongst any of you. Clearly." He shot a pointed glance at the exposed couple.

Shikamaru gently pulled Temari back but she brushed off this gesture. It wasn't his fault in particular; she just didn't like being handled by others, especially when someone was clearly asking for a fight. Tojuro was lucky she had left her fan in her room. Unfortunately for her, she didn't expect a confrontation on her first night back home.

The Senior leaned back in Gaara's seat, relishing in his own audacity. "Yes, truly, there is no regard for custom. I've simply come to inquire about Lady Temari's marital status. My confidant tells me you and the Leaf boy"—he now waved dismissively towards Shikamaru— "were discussing marriage this afternoon. Is this true?"

"It's none of your business," Temari said.

"It is when you break Suna customs. Only married patrons can stay in the same room when—"

"I was taking him to dinner. That's all."

"So you two aren't engaged, is that correct?"

The room stiffened. Well, they were. And she wasn't ashamed of it either. But she didn't appreciate someone acting as if they could blackmail her with something that was her business to tell. She wanted to control the narrative.

"Well, Lady Temari? Or do you prefer just 'Temari'? I'm not sure what titles you go by these days."

"Just die already," she muttered.

Kankuro glanced at Gaara. What's our next move? We can't forcibly remove a Senior, can we? Gaara returned eye contact. Let's wait a moment. Shikamaru stayed silent.

Ultimately, it was Temari's call on how to handle this: tell him now, or tell him later. Her brothers would not undermine her autonomy by answering on her behalf.

And then there was Shikamaru. He had come all this way to "see Suna" but more importantly to learn what type of village Temari had grown up in. However, her relationship with Sunagakure was one he didn't quite understand yet. At some moments, she seemed to visibly cherish her home. At other moments, she looked like she wanted to tear her hair out. Perhaps, it was her role that mystified him. After taking up his late father's position as Head of the Nara Clan, Shikamaru swore to maintain the family's dignity as Shikaku had. But, when he compared his own clan—knowledgeable, laid-back, moderately respected in Konoha—to a noble clan like the Hyugas, there was simply no comparison. The difference in status and inherited abilities was just too vast. How then could he understand what his fiancée, a literal princess of the Sand's ruling Kazekage Clan, had to deal with? As smart as he was, the most he could do was watch and follow her lead on this.

"Lady Temari, you haven't answered my question."

The kunoichi took a deep breath and let it go.

"It's just 'Temari'." She paused, appearing she would leave it at that, before adding, "And yes, we're engaged." The room seemed to tilt slightly under the single office light overhead.

Tojuro leaned forward. "So my confidant was correct about this illicit affair."

"There's nothing illicit about it." The kunoichi stood her ground, fully prepared for battle. "Never has there been a law forbidding a Suna resident from marrying a resident of another village."

"True. But a member of the Kazekage Clan is different. We have rules. Traditions. The Council has always approved the spouses who marry into this Clan, and they have always been from the Land of Wind."

"Yes, but there's not a single law saying that must be the case. I've checked all the books."

"There's no law because it's always been a tradition!" Tojuro slammed his hands on the desk. Kankuro smirked. Well, look who lost his cool this time around. His sister aimed accurately: it was a pesky loophole the Seniors never bothered to fix because, frankly, no heir ever considered straying from such timely beliefs.

Temari was on a roll. "Those traditions are old and tired. Gaara is the leader now and he's already done a lot of reform in Suna. I'm sure with more time, he'll phase out that "tradition" as well." The youngest, standing silently with his arms folded, felt the fire of his sister's conviction in him. For that, he was grateful.

"I don't think you grasp the weight of your decision," Tojuro said, regaining his composure. "You, Lord Kazekage, and Lord Kankuro are the face of this village. The Council serves as the hands and feet which support you, but we can only do so much to influence public opinion. What does it look like if one of you departs to reside in another Land?"

"Why do you assume I'm leaving the Land of Wind?" She retorted.

The brothers surveyed each other. Did this mean-?

Suddenly, she glanced away, acknowledging no one in particular. "I mean, I am. But don't just assume that."

Oh. The brothers slumped at the false hope.

Tojuro shrugged almost nonchalantly. "I assumed you would. It's typical for the wife to follow her husband."

"I don't follow anyone," Temari growled. Shikamaru observed that the Councilman was switching to a more spiteful tactic: one that provoked his opponent to act on pride rather than logic. Unfortunately, Temari was becoming so involved, she didn't notice this redirection.

"And concerning the village, there are three of us. My brothers are still here to "save face" if that's what you're worried about. What's the problem?"

"The problem is you are a noblewoman. And this act is not noble of you."

"Oh, here we go!" Temari tossed up her hands. "Skip the prattle bullshit and say what this is really about: you can't stand the fact that a woman isn't doing what the Council wants. You always have something to say about how I do things, never anyone else! Hey, why hasn't the Council bothered to "recommend" people to Gaara? Or Kankuro? Oh? Maybe because you're so obsessed with what I'm doing and making sure I have three kids by twenty-two!"

"Temari, wait—"

"Meanwhile, you get to mosey around the Kazekage's house pretending to be useful to the village. When really you just use "traditions" to hide the fact you don't give a damn about this village or its people." She was seething. If she were on the battlefield and an opponent had made her this angry, they would have been eliminated by now.

Kankuro adjusted his puppet. He could tell her sister had been waiting to air out these grievances for a while now. If this continued, he had a feeling this might divulge into a full-out fight. And though the Senior was up there in age, he didn't take him lightly.

Shikamaru continued to evaluate the scene from his position by the door.

Tojuro had the nerve to snicker. "I can't believe you three are the future of Suna. One's a hothead and the other two"—he gestured to the brothers as if they were not the village's leader and second-in-command—"go around keeping her secrets. Where's the loyalty? Where's the leadership?" He looked around, surveying the room as if to prove a point.

"Lord Rasa, our dear late Fourth, may have made his share of mistakes," he continued. "But he always put this village first. I can't say the same for his heirs."

She took a step forward. "Don't you dare bring him up."

"I can't believe you would give Konoha access to jutsus and abilities that have been native to the Land of Wind for centuries. At this rate, Suna will be overtaken by Sunday."

"Bastard, shut up!"

"But, frankly, given how foolishly the youth believe in this era of false peace, I'm not surprised you would so easily betray your village—"

"Look, I have never betrayed—!"

"—and lie comfortably in bed with Leaf shinobi. It's disappointing, but not shocking." It was at this moment that all hell broke loose.

Temari flew across the room towards the Councilman, Kankuro following suit. One thing the two oldest siblings would not tolerate was someone remarking snidely about the other. Without missing a beat, the plug to Gaara's gourd popped open, releasing a fast and steady stream of sand. Before Kankuro could release Crow from his back, the sand secured around the puppeteer's left leg and cinched his right arm. Just enough to restrain him.

Their sister was another story. She had made it to the desk, no fan or weapon in hand. Nope, all she had was her fists and a burning fury to send this man to an early burial. But as she toppled the desk, knuckles inches away from his nose, her lower half stiffened. She was unable to advance or retreat. Fuming in her restrained state, Temari glanced above at the dim light that illuminated the Kazekage's office. Damn him, she thought. That's all he needed.

Behind her, the shadow from her feet trailed ten feet back to Shikamaru who was still positioned by the door.

"Shadow Paralysis Jutsu...complete," he said defeatedly. He had a feeling that he would never hear the end of this.

As Temari remained frozen atop the desk, Tojuro rose slowly. "Well," he said. "At least you two suit each other."

The Kazekage released his sand grip over Kankuro. He stepped forward to put a hand on his shoulder. "We should not resort to violence against a fellow Suna citizen."

"Gaara, he's a snake," the middle child hissed. "Don't you see? He's trying to stir things up for his benefit!"

"Even so. He is a member of this village."

By this time, Shikamaru had slowly approached the desk, releasing his jutsu.

"Temari, please," he said.

But she was not listening. In fact, she was halfway out the door before he had an opportunity to reach out or console her. As she disappeared into the hallway, he began to regret intervening, reminded of something his dad used to tell him. Son, the smart thing isn't always the right thing. No kidding.

The Councilman cleared his throat. "I see you have your hands tied with that one, Shikamaru. I suppose this wasn't part of your strategy."

Shikamaru turned towards him slowly. "My...strategy?"

"What, this whole thing is not some strategy concocted by the Leaf? A long-term play for our land and resources? Don't act clueless."

"There's no strategy. None."

"You say that now. But if something should happen to Lord Gaara or Lord Kankuro, how long would you wait before you use any child spawned by this union to secure the Kazekage title?" He leaned into the lazy shinobi. "A move like that could increase the Nara Clan's status ten-fold."

Shikamaru was speechless.

It was such a cold, calculating, yet, valid concern. The worst part was, if the Leaf tactician was on the other side, he would ask the same thing. Shikamaru realized he was playing against a strong adversary, and that tonight was just one of many subsequent moves. But at the moment, all he cared about was how Temari was feeling. So he made a powerful and dangerous decision: he ignored his opponent.

"I'm going to see where she went," he told Gaara and Kankuro. They paused.

"Don't be a hero. Give her some time to cool down before you talk to her," Kankuro warned.

Shikamaru nodded and left.

The two brothers were left with the Councilman. Tojuro pressed his webby fingers onto the Kazekage's desk, leaving his imprints.

"I must apologize for the uproar I've caused this evening."

The middle child pointed towards the door. "Leave."

Tojuro did not object. He had inflicted his damage for the night. But as he made his way out, he remarked, "Your sister's decision impacts both of you, as well. I'd start considering what heirs you will bring to the Kazekage Clan." With that, he disappeared down the corridor.

Standing in a scattered puddle of his own sand, Gaara stood with a stony face. But inside, a foreboding terror rumbled through his insides. Kankuro rested a tired fist on the wall.

"Nara…"