Now Shikamaru was caught in hesitation.
Shikamaru racked his brain trying to figure out what gift he should buy. He needed to decide quickly.
Something practical just didn't feel festive enough. Decorations could end up as ugly clutter if they didn't suit the recipient's taste. Flowers or food felt too much like holiday offerings. Giving gifts really was a gamble...
Come to think of it, what about cash?
An idea lit up Shikamaru's eyes. That way, they could buy exactly what they wanted—much better than receiving something useless or the same gift everyone else gave.
Wait, Shikamaru's expression darkened again. He needed to think this through more carefully. If only he gave money as a bonus gift, people might think he was too lazy to shop and just gave cash for convenience.
Choji watched Shikamaru's shifting expressions with concern. "Shikamaru, are you okay?"
"A bit chilly," Shikamaru replied casually.
Choji put down his ice cream bowl. "Sorry, does watching me eat so much ice cream make you feel cold?"
"No…"
Choji rubbed his chubby cheeks. "Perfect for cooling down the inner heat I got from eating so much barbecue. Besides, I'm the kind of guy who'd still enjoy ice cream even on a snowy country trip! Appetite triumphs over cold!"
Shikamaru sighed helplessly. "Unbelievable... Your appetite is something else."
Suddenly, Shikamaru froze. "Wait! Choji, what did you just say?"
"Appetite triumphs over cold?"
"No, no, the previous sentence. About the snowy country!"
Choji scratched his chin. "Even when traveling to the snowy country, I'd still eat ice cream…"
"There it is!" Shikamaru grinned excitedly.
Shikamaru and Choji walked out of the ice cream shop.
He shared his idea with Choji.
Choji blinked in surprise. "A honeymoon trip?"
Shikamaru nodded. "Yes, give Naruto and Hinata, Sasuke and Sakura, each a honeymoon journey."
Choji asked, "Then where are you going now?"
"Choosing destinations," Shikamaru explained. "Ideally, we should check them out personally first. Also, since we need to consider Hinata and Sakura's feelings, I also want to get some female perspectives. Ino would've been perfect here."
Choji noticed someone ahead who looked familiar. "Talk about timing!"
However, the person wasn't Ino, but Temari.
When Shikamaru and Temari met each other's gaze, both felt their hearts flutter for a moment, their cheeks subtly reddening.
Shikamaru raised his hand and greeted, "Long time no see. First time since that incident, right?"
Temari appeared somewhat shy. "Yes… What are you two doing here?"
"We just finished lunch. How about you?"
"I'm here to discuss the Chunin Exams and make some official courtesy calls."
"That's... uh... interesting."
Shikamaru murmured to Choji, "You're serious? I thought it was Ino at first."
Choji shrugged naturally. "But you just wanted to ask a girl for her opinion, right? It doesn't really matter if it's not Ino."
Shikamaru grumbled, "She's totally a hardcore martial artist! If I brought up something like wedding presents... she'd probably mock me by saying 'What? Giving a honeymoon journey as a wedding present? You actually have time to think about such nonsense~'!"
Choji made a weird face. "If that's the case, wouldn't Ino probably say something just as bad?"
Temari frowned. "Hey, what are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing, really..."
But Choji held Shikamaru's shoulder and cheerfully said to Temari, "It seems Shikamaru has something he wants to discuss with you."
"Discuss?"
Temari recalled how before they parted ways earlier, Shikamaru had told her he'd treat her to dinner...
Temari blushed slightly and asked hesitantly, "Discuss... what exactly?"
Shikamaru was completely flustered—he almost wanted to yank the ice cream out of Choji's mouth and smash it on the ground!
Looking at Temari, Shikamaru realized there was no way he could bring up the topic of their honeymoon journey with her now—this wasn't something he could just casually talk about with her.
But time was pressing... No choice then~
Bracing himself, Shikamaru stammered, "Well... I've been seriously thinking about our honeymoon journey lately. Like, where do you think would be best to go?"
Temari was taken completely off guard: "Honeymoon journey?"
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing. A honeymoon journey... Why are you asking me?"
"I just... Because I feel you're the most suitable person to ask~"
Hearing this from Shikamaru, Temari's heart swelled with happiness. "Is that so? Well then, I guess I can't refuse. Go ahead and ask me anything!"
Shikamaru inquired, "I personally think staying at a hot spring inn for some relaxation is perfect, but do you think that's too old-fashioned?"
Temari thought for a moment and replied, "Hot springs sound pretty nice."
"Really?! Great! Nothing beats delicious food and relaxing hot springs!"
Shikamaru felt encouraged—finally got an opinion. Problem solved.
Originally, Shikamaru had planned to scout locations together with Choji, but Choji immediately betrayed him, saying he needed to go get dessert, and left Shikamaru and Temari to handle the scouting themselves before running off.
Thinking Temari might be angry, and unsure of what to do next, Shikamaru was surprised when Temari suddenly grabbed his sleeve and said, "I'll go."
Walking down the street side by side, Shikamaru couldn't quite figure out how things had turned out this way. He felt a strange sense of tension; meanwhile, Temari remained silent all the way.
To lighten the mood, Shikamaru decided to play darts with Temari first.
Just as they arrived at a shooting range shop, Shikamaru and Temari saw some people playing there. It was a group of five: three adults and two children, with the two kids currently taking their turns.
Since there were only two available spots, Shikamaru planned to take Temari to another shop to play.
"Dad, this is totally messed up! Why can't I hit anything?!"
"Dad, I really want that big daruma prize!"
"You think I'm some sucker you can rip off? Don't you even know who I am? Mess with me and I'll shut this place down — The Fifth Hokage's under me, pal!"
"Cu-customer, please calm down! Maybe it's just bad luck. Try again next time, okay?"
Shikamaru and Temari simultaneously stopped walking and turned to look at the shooting range booth.
They saw an adult man gripping the shop owner's collar, looking ready to start a fight.
Shikamaru asked tentatively, "Aniki Shindai?"
Shindai, wearing a displeased expression, turned his head. "Hmm?"
When he spotted Shikamaru and Temari, a smile appeared on his face. "Oh? Shikamaru! Long time no see!"
Shikamaru happily stepped forward. "Aniki Shindai, you're back in Konoha already?"
Shindai released the shop owner's collar and said cheerfully, "Yeah, since Naruto and Sasuke are getting married, I had to come back for that. But..."
He looked from Shikamaru to Temari, raising one eyebrow. "Looks like your turn has come too, eh?"
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