(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Five days later, on a bright and clear morning, a nervous delegation from Sunagakure, led by the stern-faced Baki, arrived at Konoha's imposing gates to sign the crucial contract.
The atmosphere was palpably tense, given the recent rocky history between the two once-allied villages.
Just a few short months ago, Sunagakure, driven by unchecked greed and ambition, had foolishly allied with the Orochimaru to invade Konoha.
That rash decision had cost them dearly - their Kazekage was dead, their elite forces decimated beyond recognition, and the once-mighty Sunagakure was left with only the elderly but formidable Chiyo to rely on in their darkest hour.
Now, they came humbly seeking Konoha's much-needed support and protection.
Without a strong and reliable ally like Konoha by their side, Sunagakure would be dangerously vulnerable to aggression from the other major villages, who would surely seek to exploit their weakened state.
Baki glanced nervously at Gaara's unnervingly impassive expression, concern and worry evident in his eyes.
"Gaara, you absolutely must control yourself at all costs. The outcome of this meeting is absolutely crucial for Sunagakure's survival," he advised urgently.
"I know you and Kamiyo Colt have some complicated history, but we must prioritize the bigger picture for the sake of our village."
At the mere mention of Colt's infamous name, Kankuro shuddered involuntarily, his body tensing.
The terrifying memory of that fateful encounter still vividly haunted his sleepless nights.
Temari's bright eyes flickered with barely concealed anticipation and longing. Would she finally see him again after all this time? Her heart raced at the thought.
"Understood. I will follow the orders to the letter," Gaara replied calmly, his thoughts and true feelings remaining frustratingly unreadable behind his stoic mask.
A team of elite Anbu agents, personally sent by the newly appointed Hokage Tsunade, respectfully escorted them to their pre-arranged luxurious accommodations. The important delegation would begin the tense negotiations at the Hokage building after settling in and freshening up.
Meanwhile, Colt, recognized as a key figure in the village's defense, had been urgently summoned early that morning. Despite his obvious reluctance to leave Kurenai's warm and inviting embrace, Tsunade's stern orders left him absolutely no choice in the matter.
Keenly observing Colt's constant and exaggerated yawning, Tsunade's prominent forehead vein throbbed visibly with growing irritation.
"Listen very carefully, you impudent brat. If you dare to embarrass me in front of these important Sunagakure envoys, I swear you'll be doing ten back-breaking A-rank missions immediately one after the other, with no exceptions!"
That dire threat instantly jolted Colt wide awake, banishing all traces of sleepiness.
He had just barely secured a precious month's vacation and absolutely couldn't afford to lose it now. Since Tsunade's recent return to the village, he'd been utterly swamped with various challenging tasks while desperately trying to make quality time for the girls in his complicated life.
Seeing Colt now sitting perfectly upright and uncharacteristically alert, Tsunade nodded with obvious satisfaction at her successful motivational tactics.
Soon after, Baki and his somewhat nervous group finally arrived at the meeting room. Temari's expressive eyes immediately lit up with genuine surprise and poorly concealed joy upon seeing Colt unexpectedly present at the gathering.
The drawn-out negotiations between the village elders quickly proved mind-numbingly tedious, with the determined Baki arguing relentlessly against two of Konoha's most stubborn advisors all morning long, neither side willing to give an inch.
Utterly bored by the proceedings, Colt quickly noticed Temari's increasingly frequent furtive glances in his direction. Their eyes met briefly before Temari hastily looked away, blushing, only to steal another longing glance mere moments later. This amusing game of 'peek-a-boo' continued unabated throughout the entire lengthy meeting.
Tsunade keenly observed their obvious interaction with great interest, her sharp mind already working on various intriguing possibilities for the future.
By high noon, both exhausted sides were thoroughly parched and grudgingly agreed to reconvene later in the afternoon to continue their heated debate.
Negotiations between rival ninja villages were never simple or straightforward, and even at a clear disadvantage, Sunagakure still had its own unique leverage to exploit.
As Colt attempted to stealthily slip away unnoticed, Tsunade's iron grip caught him firmly by the scruff of his neck. "Sunagakure has traveled very far to be here today. Colt, why don't you be a gracious host and show them around our beautiful Konoha?" Her knowing eyes, however, were fixed solely on the blushing Temari, her intentions crystal clear.
Temari's cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red at the Hokage's unsubtle suggestion, but she didn't refuse the tempting offer to spend time alone with Colt.
Kankuro, visibly unhappy with the entire situation, was about to vehemently protest when Gaara's sand suddenly crept up without warning and effectively sealed his mouth shut.
Gaara looked at his sputtering brother with a mixture of pity and amusement, thinking to himself that poor Kankuro might very well remain painfully single forever at this embarrassing rate.
"We'll head back to the hotel now to rest and prepare," Gaara stated matter-of-factly, unceremoniously dragging the still-protesting Kankuro away from the scene.
Baki glanced thoughtfully between the blushing Temari and the smirking Tsunade, but wisely did not say anything about the obvious matchmaking attempt unfolding before his eyes.
Thus, Colt and Temari found themselves unexpectedly pushed out of the Hokage building and into the bright sunlight, both unsure of how to proceed in this unusual situation.
Looking out at the bustling, lively streets of the recovering village, Colt sighed deeply and turned to face Temari with a serious expression.
"You should probably put away your Sand forehead protector for now. Even though the Land of Wind has officially surrendered, many of our villagers haven't forgotten or forgiven the recent events. Emotions are still volatile at this stage, and it's best to be cautious for your own safety."
Temari quietly understood the wisdom in his words and quickly complied without protest, carefully tucking away her proudly worn forehead protector out of sight.
They leisurely headed towards Konoha's busiest and most colorful shopping district, admiring the rapid progress.
Thanks to the tireless ninja workforce, Konoha's ambitious reconstruction efforts were progressing at an astonishing rate, impressing even Temari.
Drawing from his extensive shopping experiences with the surprisingly demanding Hinata and fashion-conscious Ino, Colt confidently guided Temari to some of the better and more exclusive shops in the area.
Being a gracious and attentive host, he didn't hold back on expenses, insisting on treating Temari to whatever caught her discerning eye.
After visiting several high-end stores, they finally emerged laden with numerous shopping bags filled with clothes, accessories, and souvenirs.
Temari couldn't help but smile warmly, watching the gallant Colt effortlessly carry all of her many purchases without complaint. It was genuinely unexpected and oddly endearing to see this decisive and incredibly powerful shinobi in such a humble and domestic light.
"What would you like to eat for lunch?" Colt asked casually, eyeing his beautiful companion curiously.
He briefly wondered if Temari was genuinely interested in his renowned physical beauty, and if so, would he potentially need to sacrifice himself for Konoha's sake? The thought both intrigued and worried him.
"As your honored guest, I'll happily defer to your local expertise," Temari replied with a playful smile, her demeanor now much more relaxed and natural than before.
"Though I thoroughly enjoyed the ramen the last time I visited, I'd really like to try something different and unique to Konoha this time around."
After some discussion, they eventually settled on a quaint snack bar tucked away in a side street, known among discerning locals for its truly excellent Takoyaki and homemade pudding.
"Mmm~ This is absolutely delicious!" Temari exclaimed enthusiastically, savoring every single bite of the expertly crafted pudding. The combination of rich caramel and silky smooth cream exploded gloriously on her delighted taste buds, bringing a genuine smile of pure joy to her usually serious face.
Konoha's renowned cuisine quality remained as impressive as ever, Temari had to admit. During the previous Chūnin exams, she had often secretly snuck out to sample various local dishes whenever possible. However, nothing she tried back then could possibly compare to the hidden gems that only well-informed locals like Colt could easily uncover.
"Ino and Hinata both absolutely love this particular pudding recipe. You should definitely have some more while you're here," Colt encouraged warmly, glad to see Temari enjoying herself.
He wasn't particularly fond of overly sweet desserts himself, opting instead for a hearty combination of savory takoyaki, perfectly grilled meat, and a generous bowl of fragrant fried rice for his own satisfying lunch.
At the casual mention of Ino and Hinata's names, Temari fell into a contemplative silence.
She vividly remembered the two stunningly beautiful kunoichi, one of whom was blonde like herself.
Did Colt perhaps have a particular preference for blonde-haired women? she wondered hopefully.
'What about girls with ponytails like mine?'
Temari's pretty face grew even warmer at these flustering thoughts, and she found herself sneaking more frequent glances at her handsome companion as they continued their unexpectedly enjoyable lunch date together.