Naruto: The Prince of Lust

The blond turns to the elders seated in opposing seats at the side of the warm room, seemingly cut off from the main group. Seemingly acceptable, Naruto slowly mouths, "okay. What's up Temari-chan?"

"I'd first like to say, thank you very much," she begins with a bow that her brother and sensei emulate. "All of you, for taking the time to meet with us and indulge my selfish request."

"It's our pleasure to have you," Hiruzen voices with his genial smile. "Like wind and fire, Sunagakure and Konoha are allies and I consider Rasa-san to be a friend. What would you like to discuss?"

Clearing her throat, Temari fakes a bit of blush to her cheeks as she reveals, "I'd also like to apologize. This will be a personal and deeply embarrassing request."

"Please, continue," Hiruzen directs.

Nodding, Temari asks Hiruzen and by extension, the room, "I'm curious if you're familiar with the custom of Omiai? If I recall correctly, the trend was abandoned by your nation's code of civil conduct."

"Mnn, it's been quite some time since I've heard that term," Hiruzen slowly voices, tilting his head as if eying into the past of all his out-of-date knowledge. "In my youth, the practice had only just been removed from common circulation. While not illegal today, peace between clans, villages, and nations made the practice unnecessary for many decades now."

From the side of the oval office, Koharu voices to the room, "Land of Wind has also ended its practices of arranged marriage."

Whipping his blond head to his Hokage, Uzumaki seems shocked to hear that. Though it's an official diplomatic meeting, a wide-eyed Uzumaki seems to have no qualms repeating loudly to his superior, "arranged marriage?"

"Not quite," Temari voices. "That's a common misrepresentation. Omiai is more aptly a meeting opportunity or series of meetings with serious considerations for the possibility of marriage; not forced marriage. Basically, a man and a woman are introduced to each other to consider the process of courtship. But many think of it as arranged marriage because Omiai has more to do with the family or businesses involved than actual love."

"It's matchmaking," Kankurō dismally adds. Though enthusiasm for the plan would be appreciated, it works in their favor if Kankurō appears very much against it.

"Currently, 6.2% of marriages in our nation are still being arranged via Omiai," the glasses-wearing Himura adds from his seated place at the fringes of the room.

"…Okay," a flustered Naruto slowly accepts, still clueless as to what arranged marriages has to do with him.

Everyone else seems to understand her direction as Hiruzen voices with a tone of consideration, "I see. Rasa-san is interested in a transnational marriage between his daughter and Naruto-kun."

"Wait, what," a stunned Naruto blurts out as the elder Koharu speaks, "Kazekage-sama is quite bold."

"Too bold," Himura adds before the Sandaime—while patting Naruto's shoulder in solace—voices his displeasure, "Himura." The glasses-wearing elder remains quiet as Hiruzen continues, "I was unaware your father believed in such a custom, and while I would not pass judgment on his authority to lead to the best of his ability, in this matter, I cannot agree with his request. Not only do we not practice Omiai in Konoha, but Naruto-kun is also very special to me and I would not make such a demand of him, even to further cement our friendly relations."

"I understand completely, Hokage-sama," Temari replies. Having already planned for that result, Temari continues, "our honorable father does indeed believe in the old custom to form and protect strong military alliances among villages or even nations as a means to ensure mutual support, however, he has not requested Naruto-kun as a candidate for my Omiai."

With squinted eyes, Naruto mumbles, "I'm so lost."

"Please continue," Hiruzen requests.

Considering Naruto's lack of knowledge on this, Temari nods and fully explains, "as you may or may not know, our nation is a major power among the five due to increased capital per worker, advancement in puppeteering labor, a highly skilled and educated workforce, supportive policies by our Kage, and most importantly, a good world trade environment." Though all of that helps Suna and their nation, all of that pales in comparison to her father's magnet release fishing for gold deposits deep within the sand, however, Konoha doesn't need to know that state secret.

"It's no secret most of our land is unsuitable for agriculture," Temari continues, displeased by admitting to their enemies one of Suna's many disadvantages. Temari feels an urge to hit Uzumaki for looking at her empathetically, as if his sympathy had any value to a proud ninja of the Sand. "Because Land of Wind lacks many raw materials and farm goods needed for industry and energy, our honored father must make mutually beneficial alliances and positive relations with others; trade enterprises, prosperous villages or clans, and if the circumstances are ideal, even other nations."

"I understand the Yondaime's challenges quite keenly," Hiruzen acknowledges. "As allies, we will, of course, do all we can."

'You mean when your economy isn't suffocating our own very nearly to our demise,' Temari mentally berates the elder. "And Sunagakure is incredibly grateful," Temari thankfully responds with a bow her bother and sensei imitate. She continues to explain to the room, though more for Uzumaki's benefit, "in order to strengthen our position, our honored father covers our deficits-trades with our surplus-trades, as many nations and villages do, and for the good of the village, Kazekage-sama would utilize the practice of Omiai to secure a suitable match for the only daughter of the Land of Wind's Kazekage."

"And you're cool with that," Naruto gasps to ask, quickly following it with the obvious, "what if you don't love who your tou-chan picks?"

Temari finds it disturbingly funny the blond would ask that when her mission is to guarantee he falls in love with her by fucking him like a common whore. Showing a hint of sadness, even using melancholy thoughts of Daimaru-kun to make it feel genuine, Temari answers, "I will do my duty to our village."

"As it should be," Koharu slowly voices from the side of the room.

Naruto seems oblivious of her importance as he quickly asserts, "not when it comes to who you marry, baa-chan. That's insane," he huffs and rather than being reprimanded by the council, they simply sigh as the Hokage agrees with a humming nod. To Temari, it's yet more proof of how important Uzumaki-kun is to them as well as how much more vital her success needs to be.

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