Chapter 4

Research was the last thing on Temari's mind the next morning. Not that she had even had that much time to think. Since she was awakened by a knock at the door that startled them both out of bed. Shikamaru grabbed his clothes and in a flash was out the window in just the nick of time before Temari's brother Kankuro came walking in yawning "Morning."

Temari grabbed up the sheets to cover her semi naked body, "Kankuro!" she yelled, "you can't just barge in her! This is My Room!"

Kankuro shrugs, "what? I knocked." Temari shook her head. "Good news sis, we're outta here!" he said with an almost cheerful smile.

"So soon?" she questioned.

"Soon!" Kankuro exclaimed, "Tems we've been here over a week! The Kazekage has work waiting for him back in the Sand and if we don't return you home soon the rumor mill will cook up even more crazy stories!" Temari sighed.

"OK fine" she started to get out of bed, "when are we leav…"

She couldn't finish her sentence before Kankuro discovered that there were drops of blood leading from the bathroom to the bed "Temari!" he shouted while reflectively pushing her behind him along with the sheet she was covering herself with leaving the disaster area on the bed, completely exposed, "What happened here? Were you attacked?"

Temari tried to brush him of "ah, no, I ah, cut myself shaving, just bled more than I thought it did, never mind."

Kankuro let his guard down convinced that, at least, that there weren't enemies in the room and looked her over "but your legs look fine."

"Damn it Kankuro!" she shouted trying to figure out a better explanation "its further up my thigh, don't be a pervert!"

"Ok, Ok," he backed off "sorry, but Tems that's a lot of blood I don't know if you should be traveling with an injury like that and you know Gaara would say the same thing, right?" She slumped her head out of good ideas, plus he was right.

"OK, I had some errands to run anyways, I'll stop by medical and get it taken care of." She conceded.

Her brother thanked her, and they laid out the exit strategy.

Across the village Temari walked into the medical building with a plan, all she needed was an ally. Thankfully a certain pink haired shinobi was never not hard at work "oh hey there Temari" Sakura greeted her "I just heard that your brother's business was concluded, and you'll all be leaving, did you come to say goodbye?"

"Well yes, and to ask a favor." Temari whispered.

Once Sakura learned that Temari was in need of medical treatment she escorted her to a private exam room. "What seems to be the trouble?" Sakura asked.

"This stays between us, right?" Temari questioned, "doctor patient type thing." Sakura nodded and Temari continued "it's an injury of a personal nature and I don't want anyone to know." Temari gestured toward her injury and Sakura nodded again.

As Sakura examined Temari she started to have more unwelcome questions, "Temari this type of injury isn't likely to occur accidentally."

Temari just leaned back and acted relaxed, "it wasn't an accident."

This seemed of bring out a more sympathetic tone in Sakura, "Ok, it wasn't an accident, but Temari, you know I'm a doctor and you can tell me if someone is hurting you right?"

"Yeah," Temari agreed "I know, but just drop it doc." With nothing more to be said, Sakura finished the healing and they parted ways. Temari thought that this had to be a one-time deal and if she kept coming in with the same injuries Sakura would eventually say something and that was just unacceptable.

Temari had one more errand to run before meeting up with her brothers. The doorbells clanged on the door to Tenten's shop of ninja tools. Over the course of many years the two had become close friends, both being tool users "Ah! Temari! I'm so glad to see you!" exclaimed Tenten as she exited the back room of her shop.

"Same" retorted Temari. "Is it completed?" She asked.

With a big thumbs up "Yep." Tenten retrieved Temari's battle fan from the back room where Temari followed her "should be good as new."

Temari examined the fan, and it met her standards "excellent, thank you Tenten" and Tenten smiled.

Once Temari looked around and could confirm that they were indeed alone in the shop she wondered if her friend could help her, "hey, Tenten, can I ask you a personal question?"

Tenten smiled, "of course! Those are my favorite!"

Temari started off in a kind of whisper, "you and Lee, ever any issues 'Fitting' together?" using air quotes.

Tenten thought for a bit then said, "hmm, not anymore but in the beginning yeah."

Temari couldn't believe her luck "really?"

Tenten explained "yeah, see, don't tell anyone else but Lee and Guys Sensei are similarly hung."

So the opposite, not sure how helpful this will be Temari thoughts

Tenten with a look something like pride on her face "So, I had to get creative, and my creativity always leads to Ninja Tools!"

"Ninja tools?" Temari questioned.

"Yep, ninja tools" Tenten nodded, "See guys, there's no changing them. They got what they got but ladies, we have options." Tenten picked up a cone shaped item, "see this, it's a taper and I use it to change the size of holes, like in a kunai, if a user sustains an injury or they simply grow up I can use this to adjust the shape and style of the kunai hole, but you see, people are not kunai, so I created this!" Tenten presented another cone shaped item this time with a blunted tip, and it appeared to not be made from metal, "the lady taper, or at least that what I call it, I've never shown it to anyone else," she said sheepishly, "I didn't want anyone to think less of me or of Lee."

Temari shook her head, "Never, Tenten you are a genius! Is there anyway you could make one for me?"

"Absolutely!" Tenten smiled. "It should be ready in about a week then I'll send it in a sealed scroll for privacy, just release the seal when the scroll reaches you and you'll be all set!" They both smiled.

"Thank you Tenten, could you also make some adjustments to its size and length?" Temari asked.

"Hmm, I'm not sure I can make it any smaller" Tenten quested herself.

Temari laughed, "no its not the smaller end I need adjusted, I need it to be bigger."

"How much bigger?" Tenten asked almost afraid of the answer.

Temari just chucked, "much bigger."