Temari clenched both fists, barely restraining the urge to flatten that face before her.
"If your injury wasn't still healing, I'd have dismantled every bone in your body by now..."
"That's all trivial. But you—do you really not need my help with anything?"
Daigan smiled unconcernedly.
"You... what do you mean?"
After a moment's thought, Temari asked strangely.
"Do you know something?"
"Whether I know anything isn't important. What matters is you—you need to think carefully about what will happen if the fourth round begins, and... how to wrap things up."
"So you're not as simple as you look after all."
Temari's expression turned serious as she lowered her voice.
"Whatever your goal is, don't get any funny ideas. The third test is different from before..."
"Don't be nervous. I have no ill will toward you, Temari..."
Daigan closed the hospital room door.
"I've been waiting for you, Kankuro, or Captain Otokaze—anyone who could tell me the specifics of that 'plan'..."
"You really do know..."
Temari casually found a place to sit, watching leisurely as Daigan waved his hand. Wind Release chakra immediately enveloped the small area illuminated by lamplight.
"They can't see what's happening in here from outside, and our voices won't carry out either..."
Sound waves were just air vibrations. Interfering with or even blocking their propagation to create an acoustic barrier wasn't difficult.
"In the third test preliminaries, you really did hold back..."
Temari glanced toward the doors and windows—pitch black. External sounds had completely vanished too.
"So tell me, what exactly do you want?"
Daigan controlled the puppet Temari to peel several apples and offered them.
"Want some?"
"No thanks, I'm in a hurry..."
"All right."
Not even allowing room for small talk—Daigan felt somewhat helpless. He bit into the sweet fruit flesh.
"If the fourth round begins, I hope we can reach an understanding..."
"Understanding? You want me to go easy on you..."
Temari laughed dismissively.
"Think what you want. It's just internal Sand Ninja competition anyway. As long as the fight looks good, who wins or loses doesn't affect the village's honor. What can those laymen see? They're just there for the spectacle..."
"But there won't only be laymen present—both the Hokage and Kazekage will attend..."
"Isn't it just a performance?"
Daigan curled his lip disdainfully.
"If they were experts, who would take the Chunin Exam seriously? Whether Genin can advance—the evaluation committee can only give opinions. The decision still lies with each village's leader..."
"The Fourth Kazekage won't pull strings for you. Even if you cozy up to me and Kankuro, he won't give you any favors..."
Since their mother's death, Rasa had devoted himself entirely to Sunagakure affairs, barely fulfilling his duties as a father. After Yashamaru died, Temari rarely saw Rasa's true face.
On the rare occasions they spoke about official business, thick curtains and black cloth veils separated them. If not for old photographs, she might have forgotten his features over time.
"I'm not counting on that anyway."
Nepotism would be nice if it worked, showing real ability. But Rasa, this clearly hopeless prospective father-in-law, was truly beyond hope.
"When I said I want to fight a coordinated match with you, it's to avoid injury and conserve chakra. We're both..."
"You..."
Temari's expression changed as her left hand reached for the fan handle on her back.
"Let me finish..."
Several Chakra Threads bound Temari's wrist just as she was about to act.
"What I'm about to say—once we leave this room, I won't acknowledge it. You'd better just keep it to yourself and act like you never heard it..."
"Let's see what you have to say..."
Temari's tense body relaxed slightly as she lowered her eager hand.
"Uchiha Sasuke's injuries are severe and complicated. He's currently training in a very powerful jutsu, but time is tight. If he can't arrive on time, his match against Gaara will be postponed. Neither Sunagakure nor Konoha will allow this match to end inconclusively. The third or even fourth round matches will be moved up. When that happens, Kankuro, you, and I will have to decide—who will stall for time..."
"You're saying..."
Temari's expression stiffened as she couldn't help contemplating what to do if the troublesome situation Daigan described occurred.
Kankuro's opponent was Konoha ninja Aburame Shino—his strength wasn't weak. Kankuro might not have the ability to control the fight precisely.
Even if he won, exposing his strength and consuming too much chakra wouldn't be good.
By comparison, Daigan and Temari, both Sand Ninja, were much easier to work with.
"Can I trust you?"
"Like I said—I won't lie to you. But whether it's true, you have to judge for yourself."
Because of Daigan's actions in the Forest of Death, after Uchiha Sasuke defeated Akado Yoroi, he waited several more hours until the third test preliminaries completely ended before receiving treatment. Much time had already been wasted.
But whether he'd actually be late as in his memories—only when the moment came would he know for sure.
"Where did you get this intelligence? Yome might have such capability, but you? I doubt you have that kind of skill..."
"If it were other questions, I'd tell you everything. But this time, I really can't answer. I've said so much only because I don't want to die. And also... you shouldn't die either..."
"You really are a big idiot. Just forfeit and return to the village—wouldn't that be fine? Knowing there's danger, why wade into this mess?"
Sensing Daigan wasn't making things up, Temari's tone softened considerably.
"Also, can you let me go? The Chakra Threads are hurting my wrists..."
"Ah, sorry..."
Daigan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"You already hinted I should be careful—why won't you just tell me plainly? We're all Sand Ninja, yet I'm the only one left in the dark..."
"Too many concerns. The 'plan' was only formally decided for execution a few days ago. There's no turning back now."
Once the war machine started, even the Kazekage himself couldn't stop it.
"Because your intelligence source is unclear and its authenticity can't be verified, and there are too many random factors, its value can't be confirmed. But I agree to the proposal of a coordinated fight in the fourth round. Since it doesn't affect the 'plan's' execution, I'll keep it secret for you for now..."
"I understand, Temari. Thank you."
Daigan said joyfully.
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