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Konohagakure felt… Odd.
Not in any tangible way..nothing Temari could point to and criticize outright. The streets were clean, the people lively, the air filled with the scent of grilled food and early spring blossoms drifting lazily on the breeze.
In Sunagakure, the air carried grit and heat, sharp and honest against the skin. Here, everything was softer. Warmer in a way that felt almost indulgent. Like the village itself had decided long ago that it would survive.
Temari adjusted the strap of her giant fan against her back, her eyes scanning the street more out of habit than necessity.
She wasn’t on guard.
Not really.
But old instincts didn’t just vanish because the world had decided to stop burning.
“…slow down a little.”
The voice beside her was quiet—gentle enough that Temari almost missed it beneath the rustle of leaves overhead.
Almost. Her gaze shifted.
Hinata walked just ahead of her, slightly bent forward as she addressed the small child between them. The little girl, Mirai, if Temari remembered correctly.. She had her tiny hand wrapped firmly around Hinata’s sleeve, her other arm swinging freely with all the careless energy of someone too young to understand balance.
On Mirai’s other side, Shikamaru walked with his usual slouch, hands tucked lazily into his pockets. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. Which, Temari noted, probably meant he was exactly where he wanted to be.
Mirai then stumbled. How predictable she lulled. It was small—barely more than a misstep—but both of them reacted instantly.
Hinata’s hand hovered, ready to catch. Shikamaru’s foot shifted, subtly blocking her fall before it could happen.
The girl steadied.
Kept walking. Like nothing had happened.
Temari’s brow furrowed slightly.
That wasn’t coordination you faked. It was… practiced.Her eyes lingered on them longer than she intended. She was aware that both of them were alert shinobi but she couldn't help but feel a little different.
Hinata’s expression was soft—always soft, really—but there was something else beneath it. A quiet attentiveness. The kind that didn’t demand attention, but gave it freely. And Shikamaru—
Well.
He still looked bored. But he didn’t miss anything. Not the uneven stones in the road. Not the way Mirai leaned a little too far to one side when she got distracted. Not the subtle shifts in Hinata’s pace.
He matched her without thinking. Temari’s chest tightened…just slightly.
Annoyingly.
“So,” she started, her voice cutting through the calm with deliberate sharpness, “this is new.”
Shikamaru didn’t even look at her. “What is?”
She gestured vaguely, though her eyes stayed fixed on them. “This.”
Hinata blinked, turning slightly. “This…?”
Temari smirked faintly. “Don’t play dumb. You two look like you’ve been doing this for years.”
Hinata’s cheeks flushed almost instantly. “O-oh! N-no, I—” Waving her free hand as if fanning her face.
“Troublesome,” Shikamaru muttered under his breath, finally glancing at Temari. “You’re reading too much into it.”
“Am I?”
Temari arched a brow.
Mirai giggled at something only she seemed to understand, tugging Hinata forward a step.
Hinata stumbled slightly—caught herself—laughed softly.
Shikamaru adjusted his pace without comment. Temari watched the exchange. Again. That ease. It settled into her thoughts like sand in a seam—small, persistent, impossible to ignore once noticed.
“…You’re good with her,” Temari said, directing the comment at Hinata.
Hinata blinked again, surprised by the shift. “O-oh… thank you. I spend time with her often.”
“I can tell.” Temari crossed her arms loosely, her gaze flicking between them. “She trusts you.”
Hinata smiled down at Mirai—something warm and unguarded passing over her features.
“Yes… she does.”
There was no hesitation in it. No awkwardness. Just quiet certainty.
Temari looked away first.
Something about that expression—it lingered longer than it should have. Before she could say anything else, the air shifted.
A presence. Subtle, but deliberate.
A shinobi appeared in a flicker of movement, kneeling briefly before straightening.
“Lady Hinata,” he said respectfully, “the clan requests your presence.”
Hinata straightened immediately, the softness in her posture giving way to something more formal—more composed. She gave a light bow.
“Of course.”
She turned to Temari, bowing her head slightly. “I’m sorry. I’ll have to leave.” Gently passing Mirai off to Shikamaru, Temari watched the exchange intently seeing how natural Mirai swapped from holding onto Hinata to Shikamaru, giving Hinata a loving and exaggerated goodbye wave and Hinata returned it in a gentle tiny wave.
Hinata turned to Temari with an apologetic smile but before she could apologize again Temari waved a hand dismissively. “Go. It’s your Clan.”
Hinata hesitated—just for a second.
Then she smiled. It was small. But it lingered. She nodded in understanding before Jumping up to the rooftops with the other shinobi
And then she was gone. The space she left behind felt… noticeable. Too noticeable.
Mirai made a small sound of disappointment, looking up at where Hinata had been. Shikamaru sighed.
“Yeah, yeah. She’ll be back.”
He reached down, adjusting the girl’s grip on his sleeve to his hand. Temari watched him. Then glanced at the empty space again. Then back at him.
“…So.”
Shikamaru didn’t react immediately.
Which meant he absolutely knew what was coming.
“…What?” he asked flatly.
Temari tilted her head slightly. “You and Hinata.”
“No.”
The answer came too fast.
Temari’s lips twitched. “I didn’t even finish the question.”
“Didn’t need to.”
She huffed softly, amused despite herself. “You’re telling me there’s nothing there?”
“Yeah.”
Temari’s gaze sharpened.
“Nothing?”
Shikamaru met her eyes then, lazy, but not unfocused.
“Nothing.”
Silence stretched.
Mirai babbled something incoherent, tugging on his sleeve again.
Temari exhaled slowly through her nose.
“…Then the kid?”
Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck. “Not mine.”
“I didn’t say she was.”
“You implied it.”
“I observed it,” Temari corrected.
“Same difference.” He sighed again, like the explanation itself was a chore.
“Mirai’s Kurenai Yuhi’s daughter. And my sensei’s.”
Temari paused and blinked at him.
“…Asuma Sarutobi.”
“ah.”
Her arms loosened slightly. “And Hinata?”
Shikamaru shrugged. “Kurenai looked after her a lot. After everything. She was around.”
Temari frowned faintly. “So what-? you’re like… siblings?”
“Close enough.”
That settled it.
“…Huh.”
Shikamaru’s eyes narrowed slightly, catching it.
“Why do you care so much?”
There it was.
Temari stiffened.
“I don’t,” she shot back immediately.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
Shikamaru didn’t say anything.
Didn’t need to.
That lazy, knowing look was worse than any accusation.
Temari clicked her tongue, turning her gaze forward. “I was making conversation. Don’t read into it.”
“Hn.”
He clearly didn’t believe her.
He also clearly didn’t care enough to push.
Typical. They walked in silence after that.
The village noise filled the gaps—distant chatter, the clatter of dishes, the soft rustle of wind through trees.
Temari let it wash over her. But her thoughts didn’t quiet. They circled. Back to Hinata. To the way she smiled. The way she moved. The way she had fit so easily into that moment—
Like she belonged there.
Like she always had.
Temari exhaled slowly, adjusting her fan again.
“…Troublesome,” she muttered under her breath.
Shikamaru snorted quietly beside her. And somehow that only made it worse.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Temari told herself it was a coincidence.
That running into Hinata again the next day…just outside a quiet stretch of shops near the residential district of Konohagakure… was nothing more than a chance.
It had to be.
Because the alternative implied intent. And Temari of the Sand did not linger in foreign villages hoping to “accidentally” cross paths with soft-spoken kunoichi.
“…Temari?”
Her name, spoken gently, snapped her out of her thoughts.
Hinata stood a few steps away, hands lightly clasped behind her back. The sunlight filtered through the leaves above, catching faintly in her dark hair, softening the edges of her already gentle presence.
She looked… pleased.
That was new.
“You’re still in the village,” Hinata said, a small smile forming. “I thought you might have already left.”
Temari crossed her arms, leaning her weight onto one hip. “Diplomatic work. It drags.”
Hinata nodded sympathetically. “I understand.”
A pause. Not awkward. Just… open.
Temari found herself filling it before she could overthink it.
“…You busy?”
Hinata blinked, surprised. “N-no, not particularly.”
“Good.”
The word came out firmer than intended.
Temari cleared her throat, looking away briefly. “Then you can show me around. Properly this time.”
Hinata’s expression brightened—subtle, but unmistakable.
“I’d like that.”
—
The day passed… easily.
That was the strangest part.
Temari was used to effort.. to negotiations, to strategy, to conversations that required constant awareness of what was said and what wasn’t.
This wasn’t like that.
With Hinata, things simply… flowed.
They wandered through quieter parts of the village first—side streets lined with small homes, laundry swaying gently in the breeze, the distant sound of wind chimes marking the passage of time.
Hinata pointed things out occasionally. Small things.
“This is where I used to train when I was younger…”
“That shop has the best sweet buns…”
“I used to come here with Kurenai-sensei…”
Temari listened. Not because she had to.
Because she wanted to.
And that realization crept in slowly, settling somewhere uncomfortable in her chest.
By midday, they found themselves in the marketplace. It was livelier there—voices overlapping, the scent of grilled food and fresh produce thick in the air.
Hinata paused at a stall.
Temari watched as she carefully selected something—soft, deliberate movements, like she was always aware of the space she occupied.
“What is that?” Temari asked.
“O-oh, just a rice cake,” Hinata said, holding it up slightly. “Would you like one?”
Temari scoffed lightly. “I’m not that easy to win over.”
Hinata hesitated—then smiled, a little more confidently this time. “I wasn’t trying to win you over.”
Temari paused.
Then huffed, looking away. “Good.”
A beat.
“…Get me one anyway.”
Hinata laughed softly.
The sound caught Temari off guard.
It was quiet—but real. Unrestrained in a way she hadn’t heard before.
And it lingered. Far longer than it should have.
—
By the time the sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in warmer tones, Hinata led them away from the busier streets.
“To the forest?” Temari asked, raising a brow.
Hinata nodded. “There’s a place I like to go. It’s peaceful.”
Temari considered for half a second.
Then shrugged. “Lead the way.”
—
The forest wrapped around them quickly.
The sounds of the village faded, replaced by rustling leaves, distant birds, and the soft trickle of running water.
They emerged into a small clearing where a river cut gently through the earth, its surface catching the golden light of the setting sun.
Hinata stepped forward without hesitation, slipping off her sandals and setting them neatly by the bank.
Temari watched.
Hinata dipped her bare feet into the water with a soft sigh, the tension in her shoulders easing almost immediately.
“…You come here often?” Temari asked.
Hinata nodded, eyes half-lidded. “Whenever I need to think… or when I don’t want to.”
Temari huffed quietly. “Must be nice.”
Hinata glanced back at her. “You could try it too.”
Temari looked at the water.
Then at Hinata.
“…I’ll pass.”
She moved closer instead, crouching behind her. Hinata stiffened slightly at first—then relaxed when Temari’s fingers brushed lightly against her hair.
“I’ve been wanting to do this since yesterday,” Temari admitted.
Hinata blinked. “My… hair?”
“Yeah.”
Temari gathered a section of it, letting the strands slip between her fingers.
It was softer than she expected. Not just in texture—but in the way it responded. It didn’t resist her touch. Didn’t tangle or pull harshly. It yielded.
“…Is this alright?” Hinata asked quietly.
Temari scoffed. “If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
A pause.
“…Okay.”
Temari began to braid. Slowly and carefully.
Her fingers, so used to handling weapons and war tools, moved with surprising precision. Each strand woven deliberately, each motion controlled—but gentle. She had no idea why she was so compelled to do this now of all times.. Suppose it just felt right.
She became aware of everything. The sound of the river. The warmth of the fading sun. The steady rise and fall of Hinata’s breathing. The way Hinata leaned—just slightly—into her touch.
Temari swallowed. Ignored it. Focused on the braid.
“I can’t believe it,” she said after a while, her voice quieter than before. Hinata hummed softly in response.
“You and Shikamaru,” Temari continued. “All those years. Through the war and everything.”
Hinata’s lips curved into a small smile, her eyes closing fully now.
“Yes… it’s been a long time.” There was no sadness in it.
Just… acceptance. Contentment.
Temari’s hands slowed for a fraction of a second.
“…You make it sound easy.”
“It wasn’t,” Hinata said gently. “But… we had people to rely on.”
Temari’s gaze dropped slightly.
To the braid forming in her hands.
To the quiet way Hinata sat there—unguarded, trusting.
“…Yeah,” Temari muttered. “Guess that helps.”
Silence settled between them again. But it wasn’t empty. It was… full.
Of everything Temari wasn’t saying. Of everything she refused to examine too closely. She tied off the braid with a small motion, her fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary.
“…There.”
Hinata lifted a hand, feeling the braid.
Her smile widened—soft, genuine.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Thank you, Temari.”
Temari looked away immediately, heat creeping up her neck.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” she muttered. “It’s just hair.”
But her voice lacked its usual bite. Hinata only smiled more.
They stayed like that for a while longer. Hinata with her feet in the water. Temari sitting just behind her.
Close enough to reach out.
Close enough to feel the warmth of her presence.
Too close.
Temari exhaled slowly, leaning back onto her hands, her gaze drifting to the sky as the last of the sunlight faded.
Her chest felt… tight. But not in a bad way.
Just— Full.
She didn’t understand it. Didn’t try to. Because if she did— She might have to name it.
And Temari had never been afraid of much.
But that?
That felt dangerous in a way war never had.
So she said nothing.
And let the moment exist. Just as it was. Unspoken and unclaimed. And already slipping through her fingers like sand.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The gates of Konohagakure stood tall behind her.
Temari didn’t turn around. Not yet. The road ahead stretched long and familiar, winding out toward the desert where the air would grow drier, harsher and honest again. Where the wind didn’t carry soft laughter or the scent of blooming trees.
Where things made sense.
She adjusted the strap of her fan, shifting her weight slightly as she waited.
Her departure had been scheduled and prepared. So why did it feel like something was… unfinished?
“…Temari!”
She stilled. That voice—bright, loud, impossible to miss. Temari exhaled quietly before turning.
Kiba jogged toward her, one hand raised in greeting. Beside him, Shino walked at his usual measured pace, unreadable as ever. And between them—
Hinata…
Temari’s chest tightened before she could stop it. How annoying.
“…You’re cutting it close,” Temari said, crossing her arms to ground herself.
Kiba grinned. “Relax, we made it, didn’t we?”
He shoved something into her hands before she could respond—a folded letter.
“Give that to Kankuro.”
Temari glanced down at it, then back at him with narrowed eyes. “Should I be concerned?”
Kiba’s grin widened.
“Absolutely.”
Temari sighed, already tucking it away without further question. “I’m not getting involved in whatever that is.”
“Smart,” Shino added flatly.
A small, reluctant smirk tugged at Temari’s lips. The moment passed quickly.
Because then it was just them.
Hinata stepped forward. The others lingered back—subtle, but intentional.
“…You’re leaving quite early…” Hinata said softly.
Temari nodded. “That’s usually how it happens sometimes.”
It came out sharper than she meant. Hinata didn’t flinch. She just smiled—small, understanding in a way that made Temari feel seen in a way she wasn’t ready for.
“…I’m glad we got to spend time together,” Hinata said.
Temari’s throat felt strangely tight.
“Yeah,” she said, after a beat. “It wasn’t… terrible.”
Hinata laughed quietly. There it was again. That sound. Temari’s fingers twitched at her side.
‘Say something else. Something better. Something that means something.’ she internally screamed at herself. She must look so lame right now.
But nothing came. So she settled for what she knew.
“…You should visit Suna sometime,” Temari said, her tone more even now. “It’s not all sand and heat. We’ve got new markets. Food’s better than whatever you call those rice cakes.”
Hinata tilted her head slightly, amused. “I’d like that.”
Temari hesitated. Then added, quieter— “I’ll show you around.” The words landed heavier than expected.
Hinata’s expression softened.
“I’d like that very much.”
Silence settled again. Not uncomfortable. Temari shifted her weight, exhaling slowly.
“…Well,” she muttered, “guess this is it.”
Hinata nodded. Then, after a brief pause, She stepped forward. Temari barely had time to process it before Hinata’s arms wrapped around her in a gentle embrace.
Soft and Warm.
Careful… like Hinata was always aware of boundaries, even as she crossed them.
Temari froze for half a second.
Then her body moved on instinct, her arms coming up to return it. Lightly. But firmly enough.
Hinata was warm. That was the first thing Temari noticed.The second…
The scent. The Lavender. Subtle, but unmistakable. It lingered in a way that felt… dangerous.
“…Goodbye, Temari. Be safe on your way back home.” Hinata murmured, her voice softer… Closer. Too close.
Temari’s breath caught slightly. There was something in the way she said it.
Not just polite.
Not just friendly.
Something… personal.
Something Temari couldn’t quite name.
“…Yeah,” Temari replied, her voice lower than usual. “Goodbye, Hinata.”
She hesitated.
Then leaned in just slightly, her lips close enough to Hinata’s ear that her words wouldn’t carry.
“Don’t forget,” she added quietly, “you still owe me a visit.”
Hinata’s breath hitched—barely noticeable… Then…A soft giggle. Right against her ear.
Temari’s heart stuttered.
“I won’t,” Hinata whispered.
For a moment… Just a moment…
Temari considered not letting go. But she did. Of course she did. They pulled apart slowly. Too slowly. Temari forced her hands back to her sides, steadying herself. Hinata’s eyes lingered on her.
Soft and bright. Unreadable in the worst way.
And Temari hated that.
She preferred enemies she could understand. And this… This was something else entirely.
She stepped back, putting space between them.
“Take care of yourself,” Temari said, her voice back to its usual steadiness.
“You too,” Hinata replied.
Kiba waved again. “Don’t take forever getting that letter there!”
“I’ll take my time just to spite you,” Temari shot back.
“Yeah, yeah!”
Shino gave a slight nod. Hinata said nothing more. She just watched.
Temari turned. Started walking. One step. Then another. The gates passed behind her. The sounds of the village faded. But…
The scent didn’t. It clung faintly to her clothes. To her skin. To her thoughts. Temari exhaled slowly, her grip tightening briefly on the strap of her fan.
“…Troublesome,” she muttered under her breath.
But her voice lacked any real irritation. She didn’t look back. She knew better. Because if she did…
If she saw Hinata still standing there, still watching… She might stop.
And Temari of the Sand did not stop once she started moving forward.
Even when part of her… Wished she would.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The wind in Sunagakure was supposed to clear her head. It always had. Dry, sharp, relentless. It stripped things down to their essentials. There was no room for hesitation in the desert. No space for lingering thoughts or soft distractions.
Just survival. Just forward motion.
Temari stood atop one of the higher structures overlooking the village, arms crossed as the evening wind tugged at her clothes and hair, carrying grains of sand that stung faintly against her skin.
It should’ve been grounding. Familiar. But instead… Her thoughts drifted again.
“…This is getting old,” she muttered.
Because no matter how many times she tried to refocus, she ended up in the same place.
Her soft laughter. Lavender. Pale eyes closing in quiet contentment.
Her jaw tightened.
She pushed herself off the ledge and turned, heading back inside before she could spiral any further.
—
Sleep should’ve been easy. It always had been.
Temari didn’t waste time lying awake, overthinking things that didn’t matter. When she was tired, she slept. Simple as that. Except… Lately, it wasn’t simple.
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling of her room, one arm draped over her eyes.
“…Stupid,” she muttered.
She rolled onto her side. Closed her eyes. Forced herself to breathe evenly. And eventually…
Sleep came.
—
It started the same way it always did.
A place she recognized. Not Suna. Not quite. A river. Clear water catching golden light. Trees swaying gently overhead. And…
Hinata.
Sitting at the edge. Bare feet in the water. Just like before. Temari approached. Of course she did. She always did. She felt like a wet soggy puppy crawling back desperately..
“Back again?” Temari said, her tone lighter than it ever was in reality. Hinata turned, smiling. That same soft, open expression.
“I was hoping you would come.”
Temari scoffed, even as something in her chest tightened. “Don’t get used to it.”
But she sat beside her anyway. Closer than she should’ve. The conversation never made much sense afterward. It drifted. Changed.
Sometimes they talked about nothing—weather, food, meaningless things that didn’t matter. Sometimes…
Hinata would look at her. Really look.
And Temari would feel like she was being pulled apart and understood all at once. But tonight…
It was quieter.
Hinata leaned slightly, her shoulder brushing Temari’s. Temari didn’t move away. Didn’t comment. Didn’t breathe, for a second.
“…You’re warm,” Hinata murmured.
Temari huffed softly. “You’re not exactly cold yourself.”
Hinata laughed. That same quiet sound. But closer. Too close. Temari’s fingers twitched against the ground between them.
She could…
No.
She shouldn’t.
But.. what if..
Her hand moved anyway. Just slightly. Just enough that her fingers brushed against Hinata’s. Soft. Warm. Real. God- this was embarrassing… being mushy and childish like this…
But… Hinata didn’t pull away. Instead… Her fingers curled gently, returning the contact.
Temari’s breath caught.
The world around them seemed to still—the river quieter, the wind softer, everything narrowing down to that single point of contact.
“…Hinata,” Temari started. She didn’t know what she was going to say.
Didn’t have the words. Didn’t want to think about what came after them. But she said her name anyway. Because it felt right. Because it felt necessary. Hinata turned slightly toward her.
Close. So close. And for a moment… Temari thought…
—
She woke up with a sharp inhale. The ceiling stared back at her. Her room.
Dark and quiet.
Her hand was clenched in the sheets.
Hollow and empty.
“…Damn it.”
She pushed herself upright, dragging a hand down her face. Her heart was racing. Not from fear. From something worse. Something stupid.
“…It’s just a dream,” she muttered.
Except it wasn’t. Not really. Not to her..
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing abruptly.
“I’ve dealt with worse than this,” she said aloud, as if saying it made it true.
War. Loss. Responsibility.
This… Whatever this was… Should’ve been nothing. And yet… It wasn’t going away.
—
The next few days passed in a blur of routine.
Meetings. Reports. Training. Repeat.
Anything that kept her occupied. Anything that kept her from thinking too hard. It worked. Mostly.
“Temari.”
She looked up.
Gaara stood across from her, his expression as unreadable as ever.
“You’re distracted,” he said.
Temari scoffed lightly. “I’m always distracted. It’s called multitasking.”
Gaara didn’t react. Of course he didn’t.
“The Moon incident report finally came in” he continued.
Temari blinked.
“…when the moon was obscenely close to earth?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed. “You’re going to elaborate, right? Or am I supposed to guess?”
“A mission was carried out,” Gaara said. “Konoha shinobi were involved.”
“Okay?” She questioned as her brother lingered.
A pause.
“Naruto. And Hinata. They were the main actors in said fiasco.. Sakura, Shikamaru, and Sai were involved as well.. But it was a retrieval mission of Hinata’s younger sister Hanabi as she was kidnapped by a man named Toneri.” Gaara elaborated.
The air felt… different. Temari stared, shocked that Hinata had been so involved in the incident. Sure Naruto was a given he was the all powerful hero he usually deals with things like this. But Hinata? She immediately felt ill at her safety. She imagined that she’s safe considering the report didn't say otherwise.
Temari crossed her arms, forcing her expression into something neutral.
“…And?”
“They succeeded.” His head tilted slightly. “The man Toneri was the one causing the moon to come closer to earth because he wanted to marry Hinata allegedly.”
“That’s it?” She blinked irked at the concept of whomever this Toneri guy was.
“That is all the relevant information.”
Temari clicked her tongue. “That’s barely information.”
Gaara said nothing.
Which meant… That really was all he had. All he needed to explain why the village was in danger with the asteroids. Temari exhaled slowly, turning away slightly.
“…Fine.”
They were alive. They were fine. That should’ve been enough. It was enough. So why… Her thoughts flickered. Hinata.. On the moon for crying out loud fighting for her life.. How hurt was or is she.. Her worries scurried about in her mind.
SHe shook her head. Temari shut it down immediately.
“…She can handle herself,” she muttered.
More to herself than to Gaara.
“She always has.”
Gaara’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.
“I see.”
He didn’t press. He never did. Temari was grateful for that.
—
That night, she found herself back at the window. Looking out over the village. The desert stretched endlessly beyond it, the sky dark and wide above. Her reflection stared back faintly in the glass. Unfamiliar.
“…You’re fine,” she said quietly. It sounded hollow.
She closed her eyes briefly. Inhaled. Exhaled. Again. Then pushed herself away from the window.
“Get over it,” she muttered.
Simple and direct.
The way things were supposed to be. Temari crawled back into bed, turning onto her side, pulling the blanket up slightly.
She closed her eyes. Hoping that this time… She wouldn’t dream.
She did. Of course she did. And this time…
Hinata smiled like she already knew.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Hinata’s arrival in Sunagakure should not have affected her this much. Temari knew that. Understood it. Repeated it to herself the moment she received a letter from Hinata. And yet…
She still found herself waiting.
Not at the main gates! she had more self-control than that… but near enough that it wouldn’t be strange if she just so happened to be passing by when the Konoha delegation arrived.
“…Right on time,” she muttered under her breath.
Because there she was.
Hinata Hyuga… stepped through the gates alongside other important shinobi, her posture as composed as ever, her presence somehow both quiet and impossible to ignore.
Temari’s chest tightened. Then steadied. Then tightened again when Hinata spotted her.
“Temari!”
There it was. That brightness. Unfiltered.
Hinata moved toward her without hesitation, her expression softening into something warmer… something familiar. Something that made Temari feel like she’d been missed.
“…You made it,” Temari said, crossing her arms in a poor attempt at nonchalance.
Hinata nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I was hoping I’d see you.”
Temari’s heart did something inconvenient.
“Yeah, well,” she said, looking away briefly, “you’re hard to miss.”
Smooth. Very smooth. Hinata only laughed quietly. And just like that, Temari’s carefully maintained composure felt thinner.
—
They spent the day together.
Of course they did.
There were official duties—meetings, formalities—but those were brief interruptions compared to the stretches of time Temari managed to claim.
The markets were busier than usual, filled with voices and movement, warm desert air carrying the scent of spices and grilled meats.
Temari walked slightly ahead at times, glancing back to make sure Hinata was keeping up. Not that she needed to.
Hinata followed easily, her gaze moving from stall to stall with quiet curiosity.
“It’s so different from Konoha,” Hinata murmured.
“That’s the point,” Temari replied. “If you wanted the same thing, you could’ve stayed home.”
Hinata smiled. “I’m glad I didn’t.”
Temari pretended not to notice the way that landed.
—
They stopped at a food stall. Hinata leaned forward slightly, examining the options. Temari watched her instead.
“…You’re supposed to eat it, not analyze it,” Temari said.
Hinata blinked, then laughed softly. “I’m just deciding.”
“Here,” Temari said, already ordering something. “Try this.”
Hinata accepted it carefully, her fingers brushing Temari’s for just a second. Too brief. Temari pulled her hand back first.
Hinata took a bite. Paused. Then her eyes lit up—subtle, but unmistakable.
“It’s really good.” She whined.
Temari smirked faintly. “Told you.”
Hinata continued eating, small, content movements, clearly enjoying it.And Temari… Watched. She didn’t mean to. But she did. God she felt so creepy… But she couldn't pull her eyes away…
The way Hinata’s expression softened with each bite. The quiet hum of approval under her breath. The way she seemed so… present.
Temari felt something warm bloom in her chest again.That same dangerous feeling from before. She was so… Cute… so…
Domestic and soft.
Like this could be…
No.
She cut that thought off immediately.
“…You really like it,” Temari said instead.
Hinata nodded, smiling. “I do.”
Temari looked away, exhaling slowly.
“Good.”
Because that was safer.
—
They wandered again after that. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the sand. And somewhere along the way… It slipped out.
“…Naruto would probably like this too.”
Temari’s steps faltered. Barely. Hinata didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe she did—and chose not to acknowledge it.
“He always eats a lot,” Hinata added, a small, fond smile forming. ”I think he’d enjoy the ‘Exotic’, ‘authentic’ramens.”
There it was. That tone.
Soft and affectionate.
Temari’s chest tightened. sharper this time.
“…Yeah,” she said, forcing her voice steady. “He seems like the type.”
Hinata nodded, her gaze drifting slightly, like she was recalling something. A memory.
One Temari wasn’t part of. Something twisted uncomfortably in her chest.
Jealousy.
The realization came quick.
Temari clenched her jaw subtly, pushing it down. Not now. Not here.
“…We should head back,” she said after a moment. “It’s getting late.”
Hinata blinked, then nodded. “Of course.”
—
The walk to the inn was quieter. Not awkward. Just… heavier.
Or maybe that was just Temari.
They stopped at the entrance. Hinata turned to her, hands clasped lightly again.
“…Thank you,” she said. “For today.”
Temari shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“It isn’t,” Hinata said softly.
Temari met her gaze. Held it. For a second too long she found.
“…Get some rest,” Temari muttered, breaking the moment first.
“You too.”
Hinata hesitated. Then smiled. That same gentle, knowing smile.
“…Goodnight, Temari.”
“…Night.”
Temari turned before she could say anything else.
Because if she stayed… If she let that moment stretch any further… She wasn’t sure what she’d do. And that was scary.
—
Back in her room, the silence hit immediately. Too quiet. Too still. Temari shut the door behind her, leaning against it for a brief moment before pushing off and walking further inside.
Then, she dropped onto her bed. Hard.
“…What is wrong with me?”
She kicked her legs once. Twice. Then groaned, dragging a pillow over her face. Because this was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
She’d fought in a war. Faced enemies who could’ve killed her without hesitation. And yet this…
This soft, quiet, stupid feeling…
Had her completely off balance. She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Her mind drifted.
Hinata’s smile. Hinata’s voice. Hinata’s hand brushing hers…
Temari exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair.
“…Stop.”
But it didn’t stop.
Because now… It shifted. The image changed.
Hinata. Close. Laughing softly. But not with her. With…
Naruto. Naruto of all people… sure she’d heard speculation of Hinata having the longest crush on Naruto… she gets it.. Kind of. He’s the hero of the war. The world. And now the moon too.. How ridiculous.
Temari’s chest tightened painfully. She turned onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut.
“No.”
But her mind didn’t listen. Because now she could see it. Too clearly. Hinata reaching for him. Hinata smiling at him the way she… this was stupid. She was overthinking clearly. Like how she did with Shikamaru.
Temari inhaled long and hard. Abruptly sitting up gently punching her chest in frustration.
“…Damn it.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing quickly and started pacing. Then stopping. Then going. The stopping. Repeat. For the past 20 minutes or so she wasn't thinking about it.
Because running from it wasn’t working anymore. Ignoring it wasn’t working. Pushing it down- Wasn’t working.Temari pressed a hand to her face, exhaling slowly.
“…I get it.”
The words came out quieter than expected. More fragile.
“…I get it.”
She dropped her hand, staring at the floor. At nothing. Boring holes into it as if it was gonna do something about her jumbled thoughts finally piecing.
“…I’m in love with her.”
Silence.
The room didn’t change. The world didn’t stop. But something inside her… Shifted and settled. Like a truth finally spoken couldn’t be taken back. Temari let out a short, breathless laugh.Good lord she was corny…
“…That’s embarrassing.”
Understatement.
She scrubbed a hand through her hair again, turning toward the window.
The night stretched out beyond it—dark, endless, indifferent.
Temari walked over, pushing it open slightly.
Cool air drifted in.
She leaned her arms against the frame, staring out into the darkness.
“…Of all people,” she muttered. Hinata… She was soft and kind. Everything Temari wasn’t.
Everything Temari…
Her thoughts cut off abruptly. She straightened, stepping back from the window.
“No.”
Firm and final.
Because this. This didn’t change anything. Couldn’t and wouldn’t. Hinata didn’t feel the same. Temari knew that. Had always known, even before she let herself admit any of this. So what was the point?
“…Nothing,” she answered herself.
Exactly. She was being ridiculous. Sappy and silly.
She closed the window. Turned away. And walked back to bed. This time, when she lay down, she didn’t fight it.
Didn’t deny it. Didn’t try to name it anything else. She just let it sit there. In the heavy, quiet and real.
Her eyes drifted shut slowly. And just before sleep took her… One last thought slipped through.
She felt… Unwanted… Hinata had been the only person to make her feel… Unlovable…
‘What if things were different?’
Temari didn’t answer it. She didn’t need to. Because deep down…
She already knew.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Spring in Konohagakure felt… excessive.
That was the only word Temari could settle on as she walked beneath trees heavy with new blossoms, petals drifting lazily through the air like the village itself had decided to celebrate being alive.
It was too soft. Too gentle. Too much. She wasn’t used to this kind of peace. Not the kind that lingered. Not the kind that invited you to sit in it. And yet…
She had chosen to come back. Vacation, technically.
Granted by Gaara with his usual quiet understanding that Temari hadn’t bothered to question.
She told herself it was to relax. To take a break. To step away from responsibility for a while.
But standing there now, her eyes scanning the familiar streets, she knew better.
She had come back for one reason. And one reason only.
“…You’re early.”
Temari turned slightly.
Hinata approached at a gentle pace, her expression softening the moment their eyes met.
There it was. That same quiet warmth. Temari’s chest tightened instinctively.
“…You’re late,” Temari shot back, though there was no real bite behind it.
Hinata smiled. “Only by a few minutes.”
“Still late.”
“…Then I’ll have to make up for it.”
Temari huffed softly, looking away for a second longer than necessary.
“…You can try.”
—
They spent the first day together. Walking through the village, slipping back into that same rhythm they had found before—quiet conversations, shared spaces, the kind of silence that didn’t demand to be filled.
It should’ve been fulfilling… Except now… Temari knew. And knowing changed everything. Because every glance lingered longer. Every accidental brush of hands felt deliberate and desperate.
Every smile from Hinata…Felt like something Temari had to consciously stop herself from wanting too much.
—
On the second day, Hinata led her somewhere quieter. Away from the village center. Away from the noise. Temari didn’t ask where they were going. She already knew.
The path itself said enough.
When they stopped, Temari’s gaze settled on the stone marker ahead.
Neji Hyuga.
“…I never came here before,” Temari admitted quietly.
Hinata stepped forward, kneeling gracefully in front of the grave.
“I visit when I can.”
Temari stayed standing for a moment.
Watching.
Then she moved closer, her posture more subdued than usual.
“…You’ve been handling it well,” she said.
Hinata’s hands rested lightly in her lap.
“…I’m trying.”
That was all she said.
But it was enough.
Because Temari remembered.
—
The war hadn’t been quiet. It hadn’t been soft. It hadn’t been anything like this. The mountains had been cold. Sharp winds cutting through armor and bone alike, carrying the distant echoes of battle that never truly stopped.
Temari had been preparing to move another deployment, another push forward when a couple of her soldiers alerted her to the presence of some Konoha nin approaching.
She turned. And saw them. Rock Lee—usually loud, usually burning with energy—was… shattered. His movements were uneven, his breathing ragged. He clearly has been crying and poorly wiping the tears to see where he was going better. And in his arms…
Neji.
Still. Far too still.
Hinata walked beside him. Or maybe she was guiding him. Temari couldn’t tell. Because Hinata…
Didn’t look like herself. Her face was pale. Her eyes were empty. Not crying. Not screaming. Just void and null…
Temari moved before she thought about it.
“Here,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended. “Put him here.”
They lowered Neji carefully.Like if they handled him gently enough, something might change.
Something might undo what had already been done.
Rock Lee broke first.
A sound tore from him— raw, unrestrained grief that echoed off the mountains and seemed to sink into the earth itself.
Temari clenched her jaw, looking away for a moment. Then back. Hinata hadn’t moved.
She knelt beside Neji, her hands hovering before finally settling gently over his eyes. Closing them. Slowly and carefully. Like it mattered. Like it still meant something.
Her hands trembled. Just slightly. But her face remained.
Temari felt something twist in her chest. She didn’t know Neji in any way but she knew he was a very strong man.
“…You should go back,” Hinata said suddenly, her voice hoarse.
Rock Lee didn’t respond at first.
“I’ll be fine,” Hinata added. “You’re needed- far more than me right now.” Lee was about to protest. “I need to rest my Byakugan anyways.”
That seemed to go through. Barely. Lee hesitated. Then nodded. And left. Leaping away at his exceeding speeds back into the battlefield. Leaving the two of them alone.
Temari stood there, unsure what to say.
What could she say?
Hinata spoke first.
“…He won’t have a grave.”
Temari frowned. “What?”
Hinata didn’t look at her.
“The curse mark,” she said quietly. “Branch members… when they die…”
Her voice faltered. Just slightly.
“…Their eyes go first.” She pointed at Neji’s corpse, an ashy solution slowly dripping from his closed lids.
Temari’s stomach dropped.
“To protect the Byakugan,” Hinata continued, her tone distant. “Then… the rest follows.”
Temari stared.
“…For real?.”
Hinata nodded. Temari blinked in horror and peeled her eyes back onto Neji's actively decaying body. And they waited, together in silence.
Temari didn’t look away. She couldn’t. As slowly… And horrifically… Neji’s body began to disappear. Whilsting away into particles.
Until there was nothing left. The remaining particles blowing into the hot winds of anguish.
Till there was nothing. Just clothing. Left behind like a hollow shell.
Temari swallowed hard, something heavy settling in her chest. She had seen death before. Plenty of it. But this… This felt wrong. On a fundamental level.
Beside her, Hinata finally cracked. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Just a quiet, shuddering breath, As if something inside her had finally pushed hard enough.
Temari didn’t reach out. Didn’t speak. She just— Stayed. Because that’s what felt like could be the only thing she could offer.
—
“…Temari?”
Hinata’s voice jolted her back from the grim memory. She was standing beside her hand on her shoulder in worry.
Temari blinked once, the memory returning to its place in her mind.
“…You’re stronger than you think,” Temari said quietly.
Hinata smiled faintly.
“…Maybe.”
Temari looked at the grave again. Then away.
“…He mattered to you.”
“Yes.”
The simple answer was enough for Temari. She nodded.
“I can tell.”
—
They didn’t linger too long after that.
The mood had shifted—heavier, quieter. But not entirely. Broken by small bits of conversations and quips. So when Hinata suggested a café— Temari agreed.
—
The place was small and warm. Tucked into a quieter part of the village. It felt… intimate.
They sat across from each other. Tea between them. Steam curling lazily into the air. And for a moment…
It felt like before. Like nothing had changed.
Like Temari hadn’t spent weeks unraveling over something she couldn’t have.
“…I’m glad you came back,” Hinata said softly.
Temari’s gaze flicked up.
“…Yeah?”
Hinata nodded. “I am.”
Temari exhaled slowly.
“…Me too.”
And she meant it.
More than she should.
—
“Hinata!”
The voice cut through the moment like a blade. Temari’s shoulders tensed immediately. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was. But she did anyway.
The man of the village… Naruto. The Naruto Uzumaki.
‘Oh great. Of course.’ How annoying.
He approached quickly, all energy and brightness, completely unaware—or unconcerned—with the moment he had just interrupted.
Hinata straightened slightly, surprised.
“N-Naruto-kun—”
He grinned. Wide. and full of a familiar look she understood… a look she found very very dumb on a fellow blonde. But she knew that it was her jealousy barking into the canals of her conscious ears.
Temari forced her expression into something polite and controlled.
“Temari!” Naruto greeted, just as energetic. “Didn’t expect to see you here!”
“Likewise,” she replied evenly. Internally… She was hella irritated.
But not overwhelmingly so. Not enough to show. Clearly. But enough. Because this… This was her moment with Hinata. This was a fragile, carefully held space between her and Hinata.
And now… It wasn’t.
Naruto sat without asking. Of course he did. He talked. So… so so freely. And Hinata… Listened. Smiled. Blushed and got flustered. And responded just as enthusiastically sometimes in her own gentle ways.
And all Temari did or well. Could do was. Watch. Quietly. Because she knew if she spoke she’d say something brutally honest and not called for. And high chance it’ll ruin her relationship with the both of them… which resulted in her taking in every detail she didn’t want to notice.
The way Hinata’s voice softened when she spoke to him. The way her posture shifted—subtle, but different. Open in a way Temari…
Temari looked away.
“…You two seem close,” she said lightly.just to probe really. She knew the answer.. And she knew confirming it would hurt far more. But… there still was a hope…
Naruto laughed. “Well—yeah!”
Hinata stiffened slightly. Almost as if… Hinata knew how Temari felt. I mean clearly. Temari caught it. Hinata knew. She didn't know how to break it to her. Of fucking course.
Something unspoken passed between them. When they glanced. Too quick to fully grasp. Too clear to ignore.
And then… Naruto said it. So casually… Like it was nothing…
“Yeah, we’re dating.”
Temari’s world didn’t stop. Didn’t shatter. Didn’t collapse. It just… Tilted. She gripped the empty tea cup forcefully because if she didn't she was sure she was going to do something stupid. And she was far above moving without thinking first.
“…Oh?” she said, raising a brow.
Her voice didn’t betray her.
Good.
“Since when?”
“Since after the mission!” Naruto said proudly.
The mission. Ah, The moon. Of course.
Temari’s gaze slid to Hinata.
Caught the hesitation. The awkwardness. The guilt. And something in Temari’s chest tightened.
“…You didn’t mention that,” Temari said lightly.
Too lightly.
Hinata looked at her. Really looked at her.
“…I—”
She stopped. Didn’t finish. Temari smiled.
“Well,” she said, leaning back slightly, “guess that explains a lot.”
Naruto laughed again, missing everything. Hinata didn’t. Their eyes met for a brief moment.
And in that moment… Temari understood. Hinata hadn’t told her. Because she was right on the money.
—
The rest of the conversation blurred. Temari played her part. Teased. Smiled. And engaged just enough. But her mind…
Was elsewhere. Because now…
Every moment from before replayed differently. Every smile. Every laugh. Every almost… when… when did she figure it out… Hyugas arent observant for nothing I suppose.
—
That night, back in her room. Temari lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. Unmoving and unblinking. Her thoughts wandered.
Of Hinata… Hinata being so… Close. Smiling and being soft… with Naruto… Reaching out towards him… Laughing and holding him… Longing for him… Crying for him…
Temari squeezed her eyes shut, dragging a hand through her hair roughly.
“...Fuckkkkk…” She slurred to herself. There was no ambiguity left.
She turned onto her side, exhaling shakily.
“…Of course,” she muttered.
Because really—
What had she expected? She isn't a Konoha citizen, she's not there every single day to be with her. And even then Temari isn’t as friendly as Naruto either… So she gets it.
Temari let out a quiet, humorless laugh.She rolled onto her back again, staring up at nothing. And for the first time since all of this started…
The feeling in her chest wasn’t warm. It wasn't soft. It wasn't hopeful. It was… Just heavy.
Temari closed her eyes slowly.
“…i’ll just. Get over it. It’s fine.”
This time… She had to convince herself.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The letter arrived on an ordinary day. Which, Temari would later realize, made it worse.
There was nothing dramatic about it, no urgency in the messenger’s step, no tension in the air, no shift in the wind that might have warned her something was coming.
Just another report. She thought.
Another piece of correspondence among dozens that passed through Sunagakure’s administrative halls every single day. Temari barely spared it a glance at first.
She stood at one of the long tables in the Kazekage’s office, scanning through documents with practiced efficiency, her posture straight, her expression composed. Outside, the desert stretched endlessly beneath a pale sky, the heat already beginning to rise in shimmering waves despite the early hour.
Everything was routine. And that was exactly how she liked it. How it was supposed to be.
“Another joint correspondence,” one of the aides said, placing the letter down among the others. “From Konohagakure.”
Temari hummed in acknowledgment, not looking up immediately.
Joint correspondence meant formality. She dealt with these all the time alongside Gaara and Kankuro occasionally, it meant nothing particularly interesting.
She finished reviewing the document in her hand, signed it with a quick, decisive motion, and set it aside before finally reaching for the letter.
It was heavier than expected. Not physically. Just something about it. Temari frowned faintly, her fingers pausing against the seal. She paused for a long moment asking herself why she feels this unnecessary dread over some formal Konoha letter, then she broke it open.
She didn’t react right away. At least not outwardly. Her eyes scanned the contents once. Then again. Then a third time, slower. Processing. As if reading it differently might somehow change what it said.
It didn’t. Of course it didn’t. A formal invitation. A union. Names written clearly. Unmistakably.
Naruto Uzumaki. And Hinata Hyuga.
Temari exhaled slowly through her nose.Her grip on the paper tightened—just slightly. Not enough for anyone else to notice. Enough for her to feel it.
“…Is something wrong?”
The aide’s voice broke through the silence. Temari folded the letter neatly. She genuinely considered declining, using work as the excuse but she wasn't the Kazekage.
“No,” she said evenly. “It’s just a wedding invitation.”
That was all. Just a wedding. Just a formal event. Just another obligation. An invitation from one of her closest friends.
“…Ah,” the aide said. “From Konoha?”
Temari nodded once, already setting the letter aside.
“Prepare a response confirming attendance,” she added. “We’ll be going.”
“We?”
Temari didn’t hesitate.
“The Kazekage, myself, and Kankuro.” she stated “the invitation is for the three of us.”
“Ah, I see of course Lady Temari.” the aide replied before tapping out of the room to go notify her brothers.
—
“Wait—what?”
Kankuro’s voice carried casually through the hall later that afternoon, loud and animated in the way Temari had long since stopped reacting to.
“A wedding?” he repeated, already reaching for the letter Temari had brought. “From Konoha?”
“Try reading it,” Temari replied dryly, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
He took a moment to do so. And she could see his face light as his response.
“Oh, this is gonna be good.”
Temari’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Explain.”
Kankuro grinned, tapping the page. “First of all—Naruto? Married? Never thought I’d see the day.”
Temari said nothing. Didn’t need to.
“Second,” he continued, his grin widening, “Hinata, huh? That actually makes sense.”
Temari’s chest tightened.
“…And third,” Kankuro added, flipping the page casually, “Kiba’s gonna be there.”
Temari blinked once. “And?”
“And I’ve got a reason to see him again.”
Temari stared at him.
“…I don’t want to know.” Her eyes closed with a sigh of disappointment.
“You don’t,” Kankuro confirmed cheerfully.
Temari sighed once again, pushing off the wall.
“Just be ready when we leave,” she said, already turning away.
“Yeah, yeah.”
She didn’t stay for whatever else he might’ve said. She did not care.
—
She made it halfway back to her room before it hit properly. It was the implication. The finality of it all.
Temari stopped walking.
The hallway stretched out around her, empty and quiet, the distant hum of village life barely reaching this far in. Her hand tightened slightly at her side.
“…Of course,” she muttered.
Because really… What had she expected? That things would stay suspended like that forever?
That Hinata would possibly reciprocate… For what? For her? Temari let out a short, humorless breath.
“…I’m so stupid.”
The word echoed faintly against the walls. She started walking again.
—
Her room felt too still. Far too quiet. Temari shut the door behind her with more force than necessary, the sound sharp in the otherwise empty space. She didn’t move right away. Just stood there.
In the center of the room. Breathing.
In and out. In and out.
Her hands clenched. Then loosened. Then clenched again. She’s overreacting… possibly having a ridiculous anxiety attack over this. Over a girl.
“…Get over it,” she said aloud. She had too.. For her sake and her friendship with Hinata’s.
Her voice sounded steady. That meant she still had control. Surely.
She turned, walking toward the center of the room slowly, her boots quiet against the floor. Then she stopped again. Because moving didn’t help. The room began to spin and her face started to hurt.
Thinking didn’t help. Nothing was helping. Temari exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair. As she wobbled to grip the end of her bed for support.
“…It’s just a wedding,” she muttered. “They’re my friends.” She was desperately telling herself now. “It’s their union… Their celebration…” She frantically whispered out loud. “To celebrate their…”
Her thoughts cut off abruptly. No. Don’t finish that. Don’t say it. Because saying it made it real in a way she couldn’t take back.
She squeezed her eyes shut briefly as she scolded herself. But that didn’t help either. Because the images came anyway.
Hinata… Smiling. Radiant in a way Temari had seen before, but never like that. Not like… Temari inhaled sharply, opening her eyes again. God she felt like a child.
“…No.” she said firmly to herself.
Because this… This was exactly what she wasn’t going to do. She wasn’t going to sit here and spiral over something that had never been hers to begin with. She wasn’t going to… To be a god damned child.
Her thoughts faltered. Because that part… That part wasn’t entirely true. There had been moments.
Small ones. Quiet ones. The river. The market. The way Hinata had laughed. The way she had looked at her…
Temari pressed her lips into a thin line.
“…It didn’t mean anything,” she said.
And maybe that was true. Maybe it had only meant something to her. That would make more sense.
Wouldn’t it?
Temari let out a slow breath, her shoulders finally lowering slightly.
“…Yeah,” she murmured. “That makes more sense.”
Hinata was kind. That was it. Kind to everyone. That is her nature. There was nothing special about what they had.
Nothing unique.
Temari laughed quietly under her breath.
“…Right.”
Because even as she said it… She didn’t believe it. Not fully. Not after the way Hinata had hesitated. Not after the way she hadn’t said anything about Naruto. Not after that look…
Temari shook her head sharply.
“Doesn’t matter.”
It didn’t. It couldn’t. She wouldn't dwell. She can't, it's over now. Because now…
Now there was a wedding. A date. An invitation. A future already paved. And Temari… Temari was not part of it.
Well… She was. Just not the main person.
She moved suddenly. Crossing the room in a few quick steps before stopping again, right back in the center.
Like she’d forgotten what she intended to do. Her hands lifted slightly. Then dropped.
“…Tch.”
Frustration bubbled up, sharp and unwelcome. Not at Hinata. Not at Naruto. But at herself. Because this.
This was solely her fault.
For letting it get this far.
For not shutting it down earlier.
For…
Temari exhaled sharply, dragging both hands down her face.
“…You didn’t even say anything.”
The realization hit differently this time.
Because she hadn’t. Not once. Not even close. All those moments… All that time… And she had said nothing. Done nothing. Just… Felt. Because… she was just happy in the moments with her… Didn’t want to ruin what they had… just… happy to spend time with her… no other strings…
And assumed that was enough.
Temari let out a soft, disbelieving breath.
“…I’m so pathetic.”
Because what had she expected?
That Hinata would just…
That things would magically align without Temari ever taking a single step forward?
Temari dropped her hands, staring blankly ahead.
“…Yeah,” she muttered. “That’s on me.”
Her face hurt… then it felt wet. She was crying. Goodness this was ridiculous.
—
Time passed. She wasn’t sure how much. Minutes. Probably an hour. Temari eventually moved again, slower this time, crossing the room towards her window.
She pushed it open, letting the dry desert air drift in. It grounded her. Just a little. But enough to breathe easier.
Her gaze drifted outward. The village stretched below, familiar and steady. Unchanging. Unlike everything else.
“…You’ll get over it,” she said quietly. She had to. She repeated to herself. There wasn’t another option.
This wasn’t something she could act on. Wasn’t something she could fix. Wasn’t something she could…
Temari stopped herself again. She was starting to sound like a broken record.
Hinata was getting married. She had chosen. She was happy. Temari had seen it. Felt it.
So what would saying or doing anything do now?
Nothing good. Nothing that wouldn’t complicate things. Nothing that wouldn’t…
“…Ruin it,” Temari finished quietly.
For Hinata. For herself. For whatever fragile balance still existed between them.
She exhaled slowly, resting her forearms against the window frame.
“…Yeah.”
That settled it. There was no decision to make. Because there had never been one.
She was going to the wedding. Sucking it up and letting Hinata go.
Temari straightened after a moment, closing the window again. The room fell quiet once more. The air felt still.
She walked back toward the center of the room, her steps more deliberate now. More controlled to herself.
“…You’ll go,” she said aloud. “You’ll show up. You’ll do your part.”
“You’ll congratulate them.”
Her jaw tightened slightly. But she continued.
“You’ll smile.”
That part felt harder. But not impossible.
“And then you’ll leave.”
That part… That part felt easy. Temari nodded once to herself at her shitty rehearsal.
“…Done.”
Problem solved. Handled and contained. Just like everything else. Temari exhaled slowly, closing her eyes.
“…Congratulations,” she murmured.
The word felt strange on her tongue. But she meant it. Even if it hurt. Especially because it hurt.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The ceremony was… beautiful.
Temari hated that.
Not because there was anything wrong with it—quite the opposite. Everything about it was carefully arranged, intentional, steeped in tradition and meaning in a way that made it impossible to dismiss.
That was the problem. It deserved to be beautiful. And that made it harder to stand there and feel anything else.
The venue stood just beyond the heart of Konohagakure, set in an open courtyard framed by arching trees and delicate hanging lanterns. Soft fabrics in shades of red and gold draped from wooden beams, shifting gently in the breeze. Floral arrangements lined the aisle, petals scattered intentionally along the ground like a path that had already been walked a thousand times before this moment.
It was traditional.
Temari stood among the gathered guests, her posture straight, her expression composed, her hands loosely clasped behind her back.
To anyone watching… She was fine.
Just another dignitary from Sunagakure attending a political ally’s wedding. And attending her friend’s wedding. Nothing more. Nothing fragile beneath the surface.
“…You look like you’re about to critique the decorations.”
Temari didn’t turn immediately.
She didn’t need to.
“…And you look like you’re enjoying this a little too much. It's not your wedding.” she replied dryly.
Kankuro snorted beside her, arms crossed casually as his gaze drifted across the crowd.
“Hey, weddings are entertaining,” he said. “You get food, drama, and—”
“Finish that sentence carefully.”
He grinned. “—opportunities.”
Temari sighed. Of course.
Her eyes flicked briefly across the crowd, catching glimpses of familiar faces—shinobi from various villages, allies gathered under peaceful circumstances rather than war.
It still felt strange.
“…Where’s Gaara?” she asked.
“Already spoke to some of the Konoha higher-ups,” Kankuro replied. “You know how he is.”
Temari hummed softly. Yes. She did. Her gaze drifted again. Searching…
Before she caught herself. Because she knew exactly who she was looking for. And she knew she’d find her. Eventually. Whether she wanted to or not.
It was her wedding afterall.
—
The ceremony began with a quiet shift. Conversations softened. Movement stilled. Attention turned.
Temari adjusted her stance slightly, her focus moving toward the front as the officiant took position.
Traditional music followed—soft, deliberate, each note carrying weight. With meaning and expectation. And then…
He arrived.
Naruto stood at the front, dressed in formal attire that somehow didn’t entirely erase the energy that always seemed to surround him.
He looked… different. Not in a way that changed who he was. Just… Settled and content.
Temari studied him quietly. Not with resentment. Not really.
Just… Understanding. He deserved this.. He deserved her.
That thought came easily. Which somehow made everything else harder. Because there was no villain here. As much as she wants to make one out. No reason for the tightness in her chest beyond herself.
“…Tch,” she clicked her tongue softly.
And then… The moment shifted again. Because she arrived.
Hinata.
Temari’s breath stilled.
Not noticeably. Not enough for anyone else to catch. But she felt it. Felt everything pause for just a fraction of a second as Hinata stepped forward. She wore red.
With gold accents traced along the fabric, catching the light with every movement. Her hair was styled carefully, adorned just enough to elevate without overwhelming.
Temari’s chest tightened sharply. Holy shit she was beautiful.
Temari exhaled slowly.
“…Of course,” she murmured. ”She’s stunning.”
Because how could she be anything less than stunning? How could this moment be anything less than perfect? Hinata moved down the aisle slowly, each step deliberate, measured.
And she was smiling. Not the shy, uncertain smile Temari had first known. Not the hesitant, quiet one she carried in casual moments. No…
This was something fuller. Brighter and certain.
Temari felt it like a hole barring into her chest. Because that smile… It wasn’t for her. It never had been. It never would be.
Her gaze followed Hinata the entire way.
Hinata reached the front. Took her place beside Naruto.
And the ceremony began.
—
Temari didn’t remember all of it. Not in detail. She caught pieces. She completely zoned out.. Drowning everything out.
The words about unity. About partnership. About shared futures and unwavering support. Promises. And the Vows.
Because part of her was watching. Taking it all in. And part of her… Was somewhere else entirely. At a river. In a quiet moment that had never meant what she wanted it to. At a memory she couldn’t unfeel. At a version of something that had never existed.
Temari’s hands tightened slightly behind her back. Quickly loosening them upon realizing she was clenching them.
“…Get through it,” she told herself quietly.
And she did. She stood there. Watched. Listened and endured.
—
When it was over, the shift was immediate. Applause. Cheers. Laughter. The atmosphere brightened instantly, the tension of the ceremony giving way to celebration.
People moved and gathered.
Congratulations. She thought. The newlyweds were surrounded quickly, pulled into conversations and well-wishes from every direction.
Temari didn’t move right away. She stayed where she was. Just for a moment longer. Because now… Now they stood together. Side by side.
Like they had always belonged that way. And maybe… Maybe they had. Temari exhaled slowly, her expression softening just slightly.
“…Yeah,” she murmured. That made sense. More than anything else ever had.
“Alright,” Kankuro said beside her, clapping his hands lightly. “Time to go play nice.”
Temari shot him a look.
“I always play nice.”
He raised a brow. “Debatable.”
She didn’t bother responding. Instead, she stepped forward. Because this part… This part she had already decided.
—
It took a few minutes to reach them through the crowd. Long enough for Temari to steady herself. To settle everything back into place. To make sure her expression was exactly what it needed to be. By the time she stood in front of them… She was okay… And she was ready.
Naruto noticed her first.
“Temari!” he grinned. “Glad you made it!”
She nodded once. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
In a way. He extended his hand. She took it. Firm and brief.
“Congratulations,” she said.
Naruto beamed. “Thanks!”
Then she turned to Hinata. Temari’s gaze shifted. Met hers. And they held. For just a second. Long enough for something unspoken to pass between them.
Something quiet and complicated. Something that didn’t belong here. Temari didn’t let it linger. She stepped forward. And closed the distance.
And before she could second-guess it. She pulled Hinata into a light embrace. A real genuine embrace. Close enough but not tight enough to let Hinata know that she was holding her for being scared of letting her escape.
“…I’m proud of you,” Temari murmured quietly, just for her.
“And I wish you a happy, prosperous marriage.”
The words felt steady. Even if her chest didn’t. Hinata’s hands tightened slightly against her back.
“…Thank you, Temari,” she whispered. She could hear the mild strain and knowing behind her genuine gratitude. She knew for sure that Hinata was fully aware of her feelings.
It was so sincere. And maybe… Just maybe… A little heavier than it should have been. They pulled apart.
More quickly than she’s sure either of them would liked.
Temari didn’t let her hands linger. Didn’t let the moment stretch. Because if she did… She’s scared she might not recover from it. And stepped back.
Gave a small nod. And that was that.
Gaara stepped forward next, speaking calmly with the newlyweds, his presence steady and composed.
Temari moved aside. Blended back into the crowd. Where she belonged.
—
She watched. Just occasionally.
Enough to see the way Hinata smiled. The way Naruto laughed. The way they moved around each other with ease. With something Temari couldn’t deny.
Her expression softened slightly. A quiet, sad kind of acceptance settling in. Because this, this was right.
Even if it didn’t feel good. Even if it didn’t feel fair.
Temari exhaled slowly, folding her arms loosely as she turned her gaze away.
“…You’ll be fine,” she muttered to herself.
Not convincing. But not entirely false either. Because she would be. Eventually.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Outside, the sounds of celebration still filtered through the walls of the wedding hall—laughter, clinking glasses, the rise and fall of conversations, and the occasional cheer that echoed far too loudly to be mistaken for anything other than joy.
But inside, Temari found herself in a different kind of silence. It wasn’t peaceful.
despite the composed expression she had kept on her face all day. And it was tiring as hell.
She stepped out of the hall, away from the laughter, away from the incessant noise of a celebration that now felt like it belonged to someone else. Her heels clicked softly against the stone of the courtyard as she made her way down a narrow corridor, where no one could find her.
She wasn’t trying to escape the noise. She just needed space to breathe. And to let everything steam off her.
Temari stepped out into the cool evening air, and her eyes immediately sought the open space—the sky above her vast and endless, as if it were the only thing left that hadn’t changed.
She didn’t know how long she stood there, her back against the wall, just staring up at the stars. Her heart felt... heavy.
"Tch..."
She had promised herself she’d be fine. That she wouldn’t let the day break her down. That she wouldn’t let herself falter, not in the face of everything she had come to understand. And yet… Here she was. In the silence.
Temari felt her chest tighten once more, and she clenched her hands at her sides, nails digging into the palms of her hands. It didn’t help. Nothing ever helped.
The knot in her stomach, that sickening feeling of wanting something she couldn’t have—it didn’t fade. Not even as the night carried on, not even as the celebrations continued. And maybe it never would.
But there was something... something about standing here, in this quiet, that made her feel almost like she could breathe again.
For the first time in what felt like forever.
“Are you going to stare at the stars all night, or are you going to come back inside like the rest of us normal people?”
Temari’s head snapped to the side, eyes narrowing instinctively. She wasn’t surprised.
Of course he would find her. Of course Shikamaru would always appear when she least expected it.
He was leaning casually against the wall just a few steps away from her, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes half-lidded in that perpetual state of near-boredom. His posture was relaxed, but Temari knew better than to mistake that for indifference. Shikamaru always noticed things, even when he didn’t want to.
“Don’t you have enough of a headache from the wedding already?” Temari replied flatly, not bothering to turn to face him fully. She kept her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, pretending she couldn’t feel his presence in the way he somehow always seemed to be just... there.
“Headache?” Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled lazily. “Well, you were the one who decided to come all the way to Konoha to begin with, so don’t blame me for this mess.”
Temari snorted softly, though there was little humor in it.
"I didn't come for the wedding, Shikamaru. I came because Gaara asked me to. And I can't very well refuse him."
“Uh-huh,” he drawled, clearly unconvinced. “You’ve been looking like someone hit you with a tree ever since we got here. Are you telling me it’s not the wedding that’s got you all wound up?”
Temari stiffened slightly, but she didn’t respond right away. Instead, she took a step forward and leaned her back against the stone wall, arms folding across her chest as if to hold herself together.
"Why are you still here, anyway?"
“What do you think? I’m bored,” Shikamaru said, shrugging. “And you’re not exactly the life of the party, so I figured I’d keep you company.”
There was a brief pause. Shikamaru looked over at her, his eyes not judgmental, but observant. He wasn’t pushing her to speak, but Temari could feel the weight of his silent understanding.
And despite herself, she hated how much that made her want to confide in him.
“It’s not the wedding,” she said finally, her voice quieter now. “It’s just… everything that comes with it. The way things are. The way it’s all changing so fast.”
“It always does,” Shikamaru said, turning his gaze toward the stars. His expression, too, was neutral. “But it’s not like you didn’t know this was coming. You’ve known for a while.”
Temari didn’t say anything to that. Because he was right. She had known. She had always known that Naruto and Hinata would end up together. The way they complemented each other, the way they understood each other—it was inevitable.
But what made it hurt wasn’t that they were perfect together—it was that Temari wasn’t.
She wasn’t the one standing at Hinata’s side, grinning with that soft, loving smile.
She wasn’t the one receiving that gentle, intimate touch.
She wasn’t the one who was enough.
“…It’s fine, I just wasn't expecting any of us to get married so fast… especially so soon after everything, I guess it frustrates me how it feels like no real healing was done.” Temari muttered, though the words were quite hollow.
“Sure.” Shikamaru agreed dryly, his tone laced with the kind of sarcasm only he could manage. “I’m sure you’re fine.”
He didn’t push. And Temari wasn’t sure how to feel about that. But she didn’t let herself soften completely. Not yet. Not with him. Not with anyone. Despite her half assed lie.
“You should go back inside,” she said, trying to ignore the way her chest felt tight. The way everything inside of her was twisting with emotions she didn’t know how to name. “It’s late. They’ll be wondering where you are.”
“They’re all fine,” Shikamaru said with a nonchalant shrug. “Besides, I’m more interested in making sure you don’t go off and get into some ridiculous fight with a random civilian or do something equally idiotic.”
Temari glanced at him, then rolled her eyes. “As if I’d do that.”
He chuckled softly. “You’re a bit of a handful sometimes, you know that?”
Temari didn’t answer.
She didn’t want to admit it, but part of her was relieved to have him here. Even if he did know her too well. Even if he saw through the cracks she’d worked so hard to hide. But then…
He pulled out another cigarette, lighting it with a fluid motion. “Whatever’s bothering you, Temari,” he said, his voice quieter now. “You don’t have to keep pretending it’s nothing. You don’t have to keep pretending it doesn’t hurt. You’re allowed to feel it, even if you’re not sure how to deal with it.”
The words hit her harder than she expected. Temari’s throat tightened.
“I don’t want to feel it,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “I just… I just want it to stop. I don’t want to keep feeling like I’m not enough.”
For a moment, the world felt still. Shikamaru didn’t say anything, but she felt him watching her. And for the first time all evening, Temari didn’t hide. She didn’t mask it. She didn’t try to pretend she was okay. She smoked that cigarette like how a starving man inhaled food.
She inhaled too hard and too fast. She broke into a coughing fit.
Shikamaru exhaled a plume of smoke clearly holding in a laugh at her wheezing, watching it swirl around them in the soft evening breeze.
“…Well, if it’s any consolation, you’re not the only one who’s struggling with figuring out what’s next.”
Temari glanced at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she said between coughs.
Shikamaru smirked slightly. “Nothing. Just thought I’d remind you that you’re not alone in this.”
Temari didn’t answer immediately. She just stood there for a moment, letting the stillness sink in.
“I want to go home.” she stated.
“Same.” He replied.
It wasn’t much. But it was something. And for the first time in a long while, that something felt like enough.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───