She and Kankuro had escorted Gaara for a long time without encountering a single Sand Ninja. With the path ahead uncertain and pursuers closing in, being isolated and helpless meant that Daigan's assistance—though perhaps not a powerhouse reinforcement—was better than nothing.
Daigan picked up the Three-Moon Fan lying nearby and clipped it to his waist. Then, taking Temari by the arm, he hoisted her onto his back and quickly headed in the direction Kankuro and Gaara had fled.
"You... there's no need to worry about me. Just let me rest alone for a while. Catapult yourself to Kankuro as fast as you can. Gaara's condition is getting worse..."
"What silly talk is that? I can't leave you behind now. With you and Kankuro there, you might be able to get a few words through to Gaara. If I go alone, I might just get killed by a Gaara who can't tell friend from foe... Dying in battle at Konoha gets me the title of hero. Dying at Gaara's hands might not even get me a pension. Dying for nothing? I'm not doing that!"
"Since when is the village that stingy?" Temari retorted with dissatisfaction. "You're talking nonsense again! You 'died' once during a C-rank mission and earned the elegant nickname 'Red Sand Dust'. That's already worthy of your meager contribution..."
"Without something tangible, what's a vain title worth?"
If Daigan had actually died half a year ago, would the village have supported his mother Kureha and grandfather Kazuchi, who would have lost their main pillar of support, for the rest of their lives?
Impossible to even imagine!
"Greedy..." Thinking of Daigan's farcical reputation, Temari couldn't help but chuckle softly. "I thought you just didn't want to leave me behind because you wanted to get close to me..."
"Get close?" Daigan paused, then realization dawned. "True enough. It's the first time we've been this close..."
Daigan sniffed audibly. "You smell quite nice. A bit sweaty, though..."
Thud.
An elbow slammed into the back of Daigan's head, causing the unprepared boy to stumble and nearly fall from the tree.
"You idiot, you're the one who stinks! Don't frame me..."
"Don't hit the head! What if I get stupid? I rely on my wits to eat..."
"If you were a little smarter, you'd talk less. I might actually look at you with some respect then..."
"I'll try my best!"
Humans grew mouths for more than just eating. If he couldn't speak, he'd suffocate!
Looking at the face so close to hers, which seemed to have absorbed absolutely nothing she said, Temari sighed.
"You... I really don't know what goes on in that head of yours..."
He wasn't stupid—he could dream up all sorts of devious pranks, so his brain clearly worked. Temari had seen his ability to plan before acting. As for ninjutsu talent, while not breathtakingly brilliant, it was certainly high-tier.
So why did a smart person do so many foolish things that made one want to laugh and cry?
As a child, Daigan had just been an unlikable brat. She hadn't expected that growing up would make him even harder to figure out.
"What's not to understand? Aren't my emotions always written on my face? Just look..."
"Well, thank you for your honesty..."
If this big idiot were just a little more reserved, he wouldn't be so annoying...
"Haha, that's one of my virtues..."
"I wasn't praising you!"
Seemingly sensing a chakra fluctuation in the distance, Daigan quickened his pace. Temari, tightening her hold around his neck slightly, spoke grumpily.
"I thought you'd take the opportunity to try something inappropriate. Surprisingly, despite your filthy mouth, you have the conduct of a gentleman!"
"Don't talk about me like I'm a monkey in constant heat!"
Daigan looked up at the sky. High above, the following Sand Eye seemed to detect a disturbance.
"I'll take that as a compliment, though I don't know why I'm not happy about it."
"Guilty conscience?"
"Hardly. But with such heavy curiosity, do you feel it's beneath my status if I don't do something scandalous? In that case, I won't be polite..."
"Forget it!"
Talking as if complaining that her charm wasn't enough to move him... Temari slapped Daigan's face away as he craned his neck toward her.
"Watch the road ahead and stop doing unnecessary things!"
"Stingy. No reward at all, even after I worked so hard!"
Watching Daigan mutter in dissatisfaction, Temari laughed.
"When did you learn about the existence of the 'plan'? It was clearly a mission with a ninety percent chance of death. Why did you go to such lengths to get involved?"
"It just happened unconsciously..."
"That's really not a straightforward answer..."
Temari wasn't satisfied with such ambiguity.
She was willing to come to Konoha for the joint Chunin Exam mission not just because of orders, but because she couldn't rest easy letting her two troublesome brothers go alone.
Staying by Gaara's side was truly not a pleasant experience.
If she hadn't been with Kankuro, Temari might have been too scared to persist. Kankuro, whose relationship with Gaara was even worse, probably hadn't fared much better; he'd been too terrified to eat on more than one occasion.
Yet, the siblings still escorted Gaara here!
Brave people aren't born fearless; they simply cannot let go of the bonds of blood.
But what about Daigan, who was frowning and focusing solely on the road? What was he here for?
Probably...
Maybe...
Just because he's an idiot who doesn't understand the situation!
After a moment of silence, Temari suddenly asked, "Are you... not afraid?"
"Hmm? You're talking a lot today. You've said more to me in this short while than in the past ten years combined. Were you scared witless by Sasuke Uchiha?"
"Ten years? Don't exaggerate..." Temari's mouth twitched. "I'm not that timid. I don't need to chatter endlessly for comfort just because I lost a fight. Sorry to disappoint you..."
"Is that so!"
Daigan glanced sideways at the seemingly angry Temari.
"That's good. You should be able to hold on when we meet something scarier later. As for being afraid... I am truly scared of dying here inexplicably. Don't laugh, but I've fantasized more than once about what I'd do in a situation like today to capture your heart. But now that it's actually happening, none of it seems useful..."
Daigan revealed a complicated smile.
"The battlefield really isn't a good place for romance..."
The suspension bridge effect is an interesting theory.
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