"So…How'd it go?" Kiba asked as he took a swig of his beer. The foam stuck to his upper lip as he wiped it off.
Naruto sighed, ignoring the ice cold beer that had been pulled up for him and slumped onto the counter ignoring the worried looks exchanged from his friends. It had been a bad idea to meet up with them at the bar tonight but Naruto needed all the help he could get. Wooing said Sand Kunoichi would be far more difficult than he had ever imagined. It would probably kill him if he lived long enough before the wedding anyways. That thought severely soured the Rokudaime hokage who slumped further on the barstool.
"It couldn't have gone thatbad" Kiba exclaimed trying to comfort the obvious mopey kage.
Naruto gave him a look. Kiba shrugged and looked to the others who made up the rookie nine for help.
"What happened?" Neji asked. It was rare that the Byakugan user ever went out with the guys to the bar, but he figured of all the nights, tonight would be an important night. Plus he was curious about Naruto's intended.
Naruto's groan was muffled into the bar.
"Don't worry Naruto kun! With the passionate flames of youth you will woo your lady fair!" Lee's eyes grew all sparkly and he continued his justice rant, though everyone tuned him out.
"Troublesome…" Shikamaru sighed, taking a sip of his own beer. So far there was no awkwardness between them though Temari had been an ex of his. The two had parted on friendly terms but hadn't spoken to each other yet. If he knew Temari however, she wasn't going down without a fight.
"Troublesome doesn't even begin to cover it" Naruto whined. "Konohomaru decided to play a prank today" He said blue eyes dark and stormy in their despair.
"Oh no.."
"Oh yes." Naruto repeated, knowingly. "I saved her from being bombarded by his paint balloons and a poorly time rasengan." Naruto said, taking a rather large swig of his pint. He slammed the stein down miserably and the bartender filled it back up again.
"Great, man! That gets you like brownie points for damsel in distress saving" Kiba gave him a toothy grin and a thumbs up.
"That's what started the fight" Naruto retorted, deflating as he slumped against the counter moodily again.
"What?" Neji exclaimed.
"Troublesome woman" Shikamaru grunted, shaking his head.
"She was angry as hell that I'd stepped in. Said I wasn't respecting her as a kunoichi and it went down hill from there" Naruto said lamenting-ly. "I think I redeemed it in the end, but I have no idea."
"That's bull shit" Kiba snarled. Of course he was also getting a bit tipsy as he worked his way through his 8th beer.
Shino sighed. "She wants to be treated like a woman, but respected as a kunoichi. It's a delicate balance."
"Probably just angry she didn't get any" Kiba muttered.
"What?" Narutoasked, eying him speculatively.
"So just what didhappen on this tour of yours with Temari?" Neji asked with a grin at Naruto as he sipped his tea. The Byakugan user did not drink having discovered his severe intolerance for the stuff at Shikamaru's bachelor party.
"Nothing. We walked around Konoha. Saw the training fields, talked to Iruka sensei." Naruto said, confused.
"You mean to tell me you didn't doanything" Kiba replied looking at his kage friend incredulously.
Naruto's confusion grew.
"You know man…did you try her out?" Kiba asked with a toothy leer and a nudging elbow.
Shikamaru shook his head at the conversation. "Is that all you can think about, Kiba?" He glared.
"He lives with dogs" Neji muttered.
"Well you don't buy a weapon without throwing it first" Kiba protested. And suddenly understanding flashed in Naruto's eyes.
"NO! Hell no."
"That's not fair, Temari's got that exotic look going for her" Chouji commented.
"It's not that…it's that she'd castrate me if I tried, and Gaara would maim me and then pulverize me with sand jutsu and then he'd let Kankurou stuff me as a puppet. Geez Kiba…" Naruto sighed.
"So you wantto then?" Kiba grinned with a lusty wink.
Naruto actually blushed to his embarrassment, made worse by the knowing laughter of his friends surrounding him.
"So you think she's attractive." Neji said with a grin.
"We all know she's attractive." Naruto replied, his cheeks slowly returning to their normal color. "But the problem is that I keep messing it up." He slouched.
"I wouldn't say that" a familiar female voice said and every male ninja froze.
"T-Temari…" Naruto gulped. "H-how did you get out of the c-compound?" Naruto stammered. How long she had been standing there was anyone's guess.
Temari stood resplendent in a red tube top that hugged her curves, showing off her bronzed skin; glowing from her desert tan. Red suits her…he thought as he took in the rest of her. The black puffy pants and strappy flat sandals only added to her exotic look. She wore a sash around her waist, covering her miscellaneous weapons and a smaller fan, about half the size was strapped to her back. She'd tied the hitae ate around her neck and her hair was still in the four ponytails. Many of the ninja stared at the Suna kunoichi. She was a special jounin in her country, beautiful and deadly.
"I managed to bribe your anbu to let me out without my chaperones knowing" Termari said smirking. She jerked a thumb to Kakashi and Sai.
"She stole your porn, didn't she, Kakashi sensei?" Naruto asked, eyeing the orange icha icha paradise book in her possession.
The older teacher nodded looking forlornly at his orange book. Temari tossed it back to him and the gray haired copy nin had a seat at a table. She handed Sai back his paint brush and he had a seat with Kakashi, pulling out his sketch pad.
"Anbu these days" Naruto said nervously, scratching his head.
"Don't fret, I won't spoil your boys night. I came to have a drink and do some dancing. The girls left me a note that they would be here and I figured this would be a good opportunity to get to know them" Temari said with a shrug as she sat down at the barstool next to him.
Naruto glanced at her trying to hide the look, but it was obvious he was looking. Temari smirked. Atleast they had that going for them. Both of them were curious about each other, and sheer physical attraction was a useful thing.
"Do you often come here?" She asked, meeting his look head on.
"Uh…not often. Sometimes?" He replied her bold look making him cautious.
Temari grinned. "I told you not to worry. I don't think I'll castrate you quite yet" She said taking his beer from him and drinking it.
Naruto swallowed. "I didn't mean any disrespect-"
"You weren't disrespectful" Temarisaid, waving a hand dismissively as she downed the pint. She wrinkled her nose.
"Konoha beer has a funny aftertaste." She stated.
"It's the wheat and barley here." Naruto replied with a shrug.
"The music is good at least. Look at all the people dancing." Temari said optimistically as she looked at Naruto beneath her black lashes.
"It's alright" He replied a bit uncertainly.
Naruto was focused in on the newest beer set down before him, seemingly not aware of the subtle hint she had just given him. Temari was not one to beg, and certainly not one to sweat over another man's lost. If he wasn't going to dance with her, then fine. She would find someone else to dance with. It was time to experiment on how her fiancé acted under duress. He was heisitant, still cautious, but Temari would provoke a response out of him.
From the corner of her eye, Temari saw Shikamaru get up. Before he could sneak away and she grabbed him by his jounin vest yanking him back down into the barstool as she slid next to him.
"Cry baby Nara is it? Trying to run away?" Temari laughed.
Shikamaru glowered at the sand kunoichi. "Temari" He acknowledged gruffly.
Naruto was surprised as he watched hisfiancé saunter over, even more surprised to find Shikamaru and her actually getting along. Her turquoise eyes gleamed. If he didn't know any better he would have said that they were predatory as she talked with Shikamaru. But Shikamaru was married to Ino. Temari's laughter rang out as they talked and though Shikamaru was heisitant, he didn't stop talking to her. Naruto frowned. They had dated a few years back but had ended it. Long distance relationships never worked out. Temari suddenly grabbed his hand, making Naruto twitch. She led him out to the dance floor and began to sway.
Shikamaru, red faced and muttering what obviously had to be a "mendokusai" danced, albeit lazily with her.
……………………………….
Temari grinned as she laughed at Shikamaru. "It's been a while. I want a rematch" She told him.
"Too Troublesome." He replied. "I'd get my ass kicked."
"You don't know that" She grinned.
"Whatever it is you're playing at, I want no part of it." Shikamaru said, eyeing her distrustfully.
"Whatever could you mean Shika kun?" Temari batted her eyelashes innocently.
"You're deliberately provoking him, and we both know it. I'm not your pawn. And I'm not going to-" Shikamaru said, eyebrow's drawing together.
"You're his friend right?" Temari interrupted.
"Yea, I'm also his subordinate." Shikamaru said.
"Then you know this needs to happen." Temari replied simply.
"Troublesome…"Shikamaru muttered.
"Anything that involves moving with you always is, now get your lazy ass up and dance with me!" Temari said, dragging him up.
"Temari…I'm a married man" Shikamaru said.
"Don't worry Nara, I'm not interested in old flings. I'm not that kind of girl. And I'm a soon to be married woman. You don't need your wife to dance and you know this is good for him. I have to know" Temari replied.
Shikamaru shook his head. "You could just ask him."
Temari shook her head, moving to the music. "There's no fun in that. I wouldn't be a ninja if I wasn't subtle."
"What exactly are you trying to determine about Naruto?"
"You're the genius" Temari replied.
"As if I everunderstood women…this is such a pain in the ass" Shikamaru retorted.
"Yea, you always were a lazy ass" Temari replied.
"But to answer your question. Lots of things" Temari replied, spinning. "He's watching, pull me close for a second" Temari said.
Shikamaru glowered, but complied.
Temari didn't miss the flinch from Naruto or the clench of his fist as he slammed down another pint. She'd been watching him from the corner of her eye. So he did get jealous. Temari categorized that useful information for later. She could feel his eyes on her again and she laughed as Shikamaru spun her around the dance floor.
But his gaze lost sight of her as a group entered, and his entire body was turned, focused on the one person entering the room. His heart in his eyes Naruto looked towards the newest approaching female who smiled and waved to him.
Shikamaru could tell Temari was distracted by Naruto's distraction. She still kept in step with the dance, but her eyes were clouded. Shikamaru turned to see who had entered. Ah, Sakura.
"Who is she? She looks familiar" She asked simply, eying Shikamaru with a deadly glint to her sky blue eyes.
"Only the love of his life." Shikamaru replied with an eyeroll. To his surprisem, Temari didn't laugh. In fact the Kunoichi looked dangerous.
Temari's jaw clenched. "Don't look like that. She's his teammate and she's engaged to Uchiha Sasuke." Shikamaru retorted brows drawn together. Perhaps there was something more to this little arrangement then simply politics.
"Ah...the pink hair. She's the Godaime's apprentice. She saved my brothers then."
"Both of them" Shikamaru nodded. "She's now the co head of the hospital with Shizune, so Tsunade can focus on other things."
"How long?" She asked simply, eyes cold and calculating.
"His entire life" Shikamaru said. Temari looked skeptical. "Seriously. He gave her flowers when she was three and asked her to marry him."
Temari felt her stomach clench. He was talking to Sakura now. Shikamaru spun her.
"Keep dancing and smile" Shikamaru said to her.
…………………………
Sakura could see the look on Naruto's face and she walked towards him and back to the bar.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
Naruto scowled. "Don't give me that look. I'm your teammate. I know when something's wrong. And let's face it Naruto, when you're upset about something, you pout."
Naruto's eyes casually wandered to Temari and Shikamaru. Sakura's eyebrow arched. "Jealous?" She questioned. "No" He pouted. "Why didn't you ask her to dance?"
"Because I didn't feel like it" Naruto retorted moodily as he crossed his arms.
"And now that she's dancing with Shika, what are you going to do about it?" Sakura asked him.
"Nothing. I don't want to control her" Naruto replied sadly. Sakura's heart flinched for her ramen loving best friend and kage.
"C'mon" She said grabbing his hand.
"S-Sakura chan?" Naruto stammered. "This is a one time only deal, Naruto" Sakura replied, as she dragged him out to the dance floor. She wasn't about to let Naruto look bad in front of the Suna nin.
Naruto brought her close as they danced, smelling the strawberry shampoo she used.
"This is bittersweet." Naruto told her softly. "I've always wanted to hold you like this" He confessed wistfully.
Sakura sighed. "We're both engaged, Naruto."
"Don't you ever wonder what it would be like, though?" He asked, her, blue eyes serious.
She paused. "Yes." She replied. Naruto's heart clenched painfully, as he took a sharp breathe.
"But not enough to change what I have now. I'm happy, Naruto. You're my best friend, but I'm happy." Sakura replied firmly, conviction unwavering. She had never given up on Sasuke, this entire time.
"I could make you happy too" Naruto said, blue eyes bright and intent on her.
"Naruto…" Sakura trailed off. "I love Sasuke. I could never do that to him. And you couldn't either."
Naruto nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat as he looked at the ground.
"If you could only find this kind of happiness…Temari is a lucky woman…" Sakura trailed off.
Naruto swallowed and nodded numbly, emotion thick in his eyes. "Go cut in" Sakura urged him.
"No! I don't want her to think I'm jealous" Naruto exclaimed.
"But you are!" Sakura pointed out. "That's beside the point" Naruto replied pouting again.
"Hokage sama" Sakura said fixing him with a no nonsense stare. "Go get her, Shannaro!" Sakura launched him towards the spinning pair. Naruto barely kept from bumping into them.
"Hokage sama" Shikamaru greeted.
"Ah, er-" Naruto tried to formulate some sort of response when Shikamaru saved the proverbial day.
"Here, I'm exhausted" Shikamaru said, handing Temari off abruptly and heading to the bar. Giving a glare at the Pineapple haired genius Temari fixed her attention on her intended. He had left his coat on the back of the chair. He wore his black shirt, and green ninja pants. His eyes were bright and piercing blue and his hitai ate flashed beneath the multi colored lights. Temari eyed the whisker cheeked kage, waiting.
"Ehehe…would you like to dance, Temari?" He asked her. She nodded once and then gave him her hand.
"So she's the one who saved my brothers?" Temari said, eying Naruto as they slowly danced to the song.
He nodded. "That's Sakura Chan. She's the co head at the hosptial"
Temari nodded. She was never very good at subtlety particularly when it regarded matters of her personal life. Missions were a separate thing entirely, but this instance was not something she could afford to be misunderstood on. So Temari came out with the question, addressing the issue head on.
"You love her" It was a fact, a statement, not a question.
Naruto's eyes widened. He caught hold of Temari's steeled blue turquoise eyes and they locked. She was searching his, waiting for his response. He knew that she would know if he lied to her. He wouldn't lie to her though, but admitting it seemed much more difficult now that he had essentially been rejected by the girl of his dreams. He nodded, unable to speak, as he looked at the pink haired medical specialist talking with Hinata.
"I don't mean to be rude…but why marry me?" Temari asked him.
"She's engaged." Naruto replied.
"So?" Temari said with a shrug. "That's never stopped people before". Naruto eyed her incredulously. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. Temari was the kind of woman that actively pursued what she wanted, consequences be damned. He had always liked strong woman, so he supposed it was a good quality to start with.
"Let me say it again. She's engaged to my best friend" Naruto told her.
"But if you love her-" Temari interjected.
"There's more to it than that. She loves him. and He actually loves her, which is really the miracle of the whole thing. I would never stand in the way of her happiness." Naruto replied, looking back at Temari.
"You still didn't answer my question though. Why me, especially since you're in love with someone else?" Temari told him.
"It's not just business, Temari, if that's what your thinking. I'm selfish enough to like the thought of being married, but I'm also selfish enough to want a real marriage. Yea, I love Sakura Chan. I'll probably always love her. But I could learn to love you, I think" He said scratching his head.
Temari's eyebrow arched.
"More importantly, I want to learn to love you. She's Sakura Chan, but You're going to be my wife. You are the person I will marry and be with... and I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter in light of that. I can't live in the past anymore" He said, eyes serene and serious as he looked directly into her own turquoise blue.
"Look…. It's not too late to call this off" She offered. "I can see how much you love her."
"No." Naruto replied. She was surprised by the firm tone in his voice. "Yeesh…didn't you just hear me? I want this."
"For your people, of course" Temari replied, clarifying. It never ceased to surprise her the amount of passion and emotion Naruto spoke with but she couldn't risk assuming with him. It was appealing, the fact that he was so committed to everything he spoke of.
Alright, she conceded grumpily. Maybe you weren't too far from it, Gaara, he is a good man. She thought.
"Not just that. Its good for Konoha, it's good for Suna, yes. But… I want to see if this can work. I've never backed down from a challenge." Naruto told her with a grin.
Temari smirked, satisfied with the answer. "Good. Because I'm about as complicated as they come, and I'm not going to tolerate any bitch trying to steal what's mine." Temari told him, turquoise eyes gleaming predatorily, as she pulled him towards the center of the dance floor.
………………….
Sakura and Shikamaru eyed the two as they danced on the floor with a knowing grin.
"There's chemistry there, for sure" Sakura commented with a cheerful grin. She wanted the best for Naruto, wanted him to be happy like she was. If Temari and him could be successful then it could work out. After all Temari wouldn't let Naruto get away with his stupid pranks, and in turn Naruto could lighten Temari up a bit. All in all Sakura was pleased by what she saw as the two danced.
Shikamaru nodded, slightly and took a drink of his beer as he waited for his own troublesome wife to show. Dark eyes fixed on Temari with a look of concentration.
She's hiding something.