Memories of the Blossom Heart

Chapter 16: Fireflies

The sound of the large bell had struck everyone to make up from their sleep. Temari could care less if one of them is lazy or unmotivated to participate in their group activities. She knows how important it is for them to do the basic exercises. Instead, she and Shikamaru were informed by Lady Tsunade to do another option. They were all congregated, facing her.

"Treasure hunting? Seriously, what are we, fifth graders?" Kiba scoffed and shook his head with a displeasing look.

"I guarantee you that this is not the one you have in mind. It's not with those bells that our sensei have taught us back in our survival training," Temari replied.

"Okay, so what's the catch? Please don't tell me we have to climb the trees to get the fruits," Tenten whined, mentally slapping herself.

"Girl, trust me. This is going to be fun," Temari pointed out.

"Like you even know what that means," Kiba snorted stifled laughter until he got stomped on his foot by Tenten's heel. "Argh! Ow!!!"

"Tsch. Serves you right," Ino smirked half-way at him experiencing the ache.

"Go on. I would like to hear more," Neji encouraged.

"Hmm. I'm sure this ain't a big deal," Choji nodded.

"Alright. Brace yourselves because this is going to blow your mind. Shikamaru, tell'em the details," Temari snapped her fingers to signal him forward.

He cleared his throat and began to speak. "So you are all cautious about this place here, right? Here are the following rules. Number one, you are in a group of four and you will be marking your starting point in these wooden logs. Number two, you will each be given elastic bracelets, which only Temari and I are in charge of. In any case, one of you gets lost."

"Number three. Hehehe," Shikamaru slightly snickered with a jovial grin, much to the others' befuddlement.

"Gah... What's so funny?" Naruto raised an eyebrow morbidly at his demeanor.

Neji and Shino stood there silently as they were waiting for him to continue further with his instructions.

"You can bring only two weapons; the kunais and shurikens inside your pouches. Nothing else. Your Kekkei Genkai is prohibited," Shikamaru stared at them with a humorous glimmer in his eyes.

"What?!!" They dropped their jaws in shock.

"No! Why?!" Naruto questioned vehemently. His eyes were bulging out of his sockets.

"It would be too easy for you guys to find the treasure and I know this can be a little challenging for you. But I believe you will all end up on the same route. You are ninjas and there's no reason for you to complain about not being provided with a map. You will go along the way. The food and water is mostly your responsibility to take care of yourself," Shikamaru explained honestly and sighed as his hands were placed inside the pockets of his pants.

Temari was smiling proudly at him and agreed. "He's right, you know."

"Oh and lastly... Be careful out there. You never know what you may encounter. Sakura..." Shikamaru piped in gleefully, wiggling his eyebrows, making her react to him in astonishment.

She rolled her eyes and threw her head back in annoyance.

"Hey, don't put her in the spot. That girl had endured the scariest thing last night," Temari scolded and nudged him on the shoulder.

"I know, I know. I just want to remind her nicely," Shikamaru put up his hands defensively and added in. "But I acknowledge her strength and power after fighting the wolf. Okay, the list of names is written down in this scroll. Once your names are called, you can get your stuff and you can stand between this line before I advise you to go. Understood?"