They both shared the sentiment of not wanting all the shinobi who had been gathered together during the war to separate again, as well as the intention to work together and make the Union as good as it could be.
When you added that to the strong bond between Naruto, who intended to become Konoha’s Hokage, and Gaara, Suna’s present Kazekage, that easily made the bond between Suna and Konoha the strongest amongst all the villages united under the Union. With such external forces at work as well, it was natural that Shikamaru and Temari had reached a stage of existence where both was the other’s biggest support within the Union.
“Since you’re like this, something bad must be happening in Konoha.”
Temari had made a very good discernment. However, she’d missed the mark a little. The situation wasn’t in Konoha, though the situation did affect all of Konoha’s shinobi. Temari’s theory was half-right, half-wrong.
If there was one thing that never changed about the life of shinobi, it was that anything which passed the borders of your own village had to be jointly carried out with other villages. This was a basic principle of the Union. The course of action that Shikamaru and Kakashi were taking was a blatant violation.
And yet, Shikamaru still had no intention of telling Temari the truth. It wouldn’t be a wise move to get the whole of the Union involved with the business of the Country of Silence.
He’d firmly resolved that Konoha would handle it by themselves…
“You’re saying there’s nothing going on that you can depend on me for?”
“Nothing.”
Shikamaru’s firm tone made Temari close her eyes.
"Is that so…”
The punch came in the next moment.