This episode made it very obvious that these two would eventually be a thing. Temari could have basically helped someone else’s in The Sand Shinobi: Allies of the Leaf episode but she appeared to rescue Shikamaru way to state the obvious.
Temari saves Shikamaru from Tayuya, he thinks “She’s almost as scary as my mom”, then she turns at him and smiles.In that moment Shikamaru gets astonished, probably because he remembers the conversation he had with his father that morning, about his mother:
“Dad, Why did you marry the mom?”
“Well, sometimes she can SMILE. That’s a reason.”
And then he smiles too.
Naruto Episode 135:
Temari accompanies Shikamaru as he anxiously awaits news of the others.
Shikamaru is being talked down by Temari when they are waiting for the news about his comrade
She could have easily just waited with her brothers, but she decided to accompany Shikamaru. She questions his masculinity but later sympathizes with him after his dad yells at him and watches from a far distance how he breaks down into tears.
Naruto Episode 142:
Shikamaru escorts the Sand Siblings out and says goodbye to them. Temari teases Shikamaru by calling him a “crybaby” and he returns that sentiment by saying “women are troublesome.“Shikamaru’s earring sparkles after he says that line and Temari’s eyes sparkles when she chuckles. If that’s not flirting i don’t know then what it is because its pretty obvious they were by then very fond of each other and not only that but they had mad respect for one another in just that small amount of time.
