Temari couldn't move. She wasn't even trapped in his shadow technique, and that damned Shikamaru still managed to immobilize her.

A few minutes had ticked away as she stood there, frozen. Shikamaru had...defected? Deserted? She couldn't believe that he had so casually severed his ties with Konoha, but, he had. And for her. To free his heart and do what he wanted, instead of what his village told him to do. She had trouble comprehending what had happened.

Whoosh

A kunai soared past her, thudding into the soft wood of a nearby beach tree. Still in shock, Temari looked around at her assailant. A nervous young chunnin stood there. A chunnin? He looks like he should be a genin, he can't be older then 13, 14 tops. Oh gods, I'm supposed to kill him. She looked closely at him. He was shaking, beads of sweat rolling down his face, his eyes bugged out with fear. Temari felt revulsion rise up in her once again. No. She couldn't do this. The slaughter had to stop.

She smiled at the young boy. "Live another day child," She called out. "Try not to waste it." She prepared her chakra for the burst of speed that many mistook for transportation. Shikamaru was right. This was a war not worth fighting. No war was worth fighting, if you wound up killing her heart.

She took off in a burst, leaving a small puff of dirt behind as she raced off towards Konoha.

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Temari crept softly through the trees, every nerve taunt, straining to catch any sound that could help her know if she was in danger. Deep within the Land of Fire, that was a good thing.

Finally, she caught the faint whispers of the chakra signatures she sought. As she stealthily approached them, whispers of their conversation floated up to her.

"He hasn't been seen in days." A high female voice fraught with worry.

"Don't worry, this is Shikamaru we're talking about, he'll be fine." A deep bass rumbled in reply. "I'm sure he'll walk into us at any second, and the first thing he'll say is 'the clouds suck' or something along those lines."

Temari dropped down behind the big red man and the slim blond woman. They both spun around instantly kunai flashing in the meager sunlight that filtered its way through the canopy of trees.

"Yo," she greeted them weakly. They glared at her.

"Yo, Temari," Chouji cautiously replied. What brings you here?"

"And think before you answer," Ino cut in. "The only reason we haven't attacked you yet is because we know what you mean to Shika-" At the sound of his name Temari's face fell, and Ino cut herself off at the sight of her face. "Is he-" She asked hesitantly. Temari shook her head. Chouji frowned.

"If Shikamaru's not dead, why isn't he here?" The frown deepened, and suspicion found its way onto his face. "Come to think of it, why are you here?" Temari dropped her eyes, all of a sudden feeling guilty for causing Shikamaru to leave all this behind. All of a sudden Ino screamed, lunging for Temari's throat.

"You bitch," Ino hissed as she turned furious, frantic eyes towards Temari. "You betrayed him! You tricked him!" Her voice working into a frenzy. "He probably trusted you while you lured him into a trap!" Temari stared in astonishment at Ino. For the first time in days she didn't feel lost, only shocked. The shock was soon replaced with anger.

"Are you effing kidding me?" She hissed. "You honestly think I would betray Shikamaru, the only person not related to me who I give a shit about?" She couldn't believe Ino. "I risked my life, am risking my life to give you a message he asked me to give you, to let you know what he chose to do. I did not betray him." That one word was filled with so much loathing and disgust, that Ino recoiled momentarily frightened.

"So where is he?" She haughtily demanded. Temari looked steadily at her, her eyes steely as she delivered the news.

"Nara Shikamaru, has renounced the village of Konoha, and is now a missing-nin. He has marked his choice by slashing his forehead protector." Chouji and Ino looked at her, their eyes showing that their minds had not yet absorbed the information she had just given them.

"Shika...maru?" Ino choked out.

"Missing-nin?" Chouji followed her up. "Why?" Temari cringed, as the guilt returned.

"The two of us came across each other, and the only way Shikamaru could avoid killing me without disobeying, was if he was no longer under any obligation to obey them." She took a deep breath. "So... he cut his protector and... renounced Konoha." Chouji chuckled weakly.

"Just like Shikamaru. Only he could find a way for no one to lose from his solution, even if not everyone won." Temari frowned at the cryptic remark, but let it slide for the moment. Ino was still quiet. Temari looked at her and their eyes met, Temari trying to express how sorry she was, begging for forgiveness. Ino gave her a feeble smile.

"Don't beat yourself up Temari. He made his choice, and nothing you could've done would've stopped him." Ino resolved her inner turmoil with just a few quiet words. Chouji gave an affirming nod. She looked at them seriously.

"There's more...in a way." Temari spoke hesitantly. The remaining members of team 10 looked at her anxiously.

"What?" Ino asked. Temari took a deep breath.

"Well... I have to say I agree with Shikamaru. There is no way I can go on killing Konoha shinobi, how do I know if I;m killing someone that means something to him? And, I can't keep fighting like this, I want to be with him, on his side. And since he no longer has a side, well then, I guess I don't either." Ino and Chouji once again were shocked into silence.

"What... are... you saying?" Ino questioned Temari grinned.

"I'm going after him." She drew a kunai of her own, and raised it to her forehead. "I, Temari no Subaku renounce my citizenship of Suna." The kunai flashed and a gash appeared across the familiar hour glass shape.

"What the hell Temari!" Ino yelled out. She just gave her a wider grin as she replaced her kunai.

"I'm out guys. I'm done with this war," she responded as she turned and started to walk away. "Oh," she stopped and glanced back at them. "If you guys could do me a favor and let my brothers know what I've decided." She paused. "Better yet, tell Naruto. No offense, but he has a better chance at reaching one of my brothers and of staying alive." With that she turned away, and took off into the trees.