You are my Star

Chapter 10 - The Fire Temple

A few days later, Hoshiko was called in for yet another mission, this time with Sai, Naruto, Neji, and Shikamaru. 

A B-ranked mission to eliminate a few grave robbers. They were to meet the monks from the Fire Temple for further instructions.

"A couple of grave robbers? Shouldn't that be a C-ranked mission? I don't mind the extra money, but it doesn't seem right to me."

"These aren't any normal grave robbers. They took the coffins of one of the four deceased Guardian Ninja. They died in battle and are greatly respected, meaning the security around their tombs is exceptional, guarded by monks of the Fire Temple. To get past that security means they're really good."

"Alright, leave it to us, milady."

"Right, then Hoshiko, I'm promoting you to chunin."

Hoshiko blinked a few times. "B-but, milady! I didn't take the test yet!"

Lady Tsunade glowered. "We don't have time for you to go fit in a pit! We need your skills right now. This way, you can communicate information with the other chunin and the jonin comfortably."

Hoshiko looked at the hokage, not sure how to respond. "T-Thank you, Lady Tsunade. It's an honor."

The legendary sannin looked at her with all the intensity that made her legendary. "But I didn't promote you for nothing. You and Shikamaru are to lead this mission together. Consider it a post-chunin test. You four are to leave this afternoon."

"Two leaders? For a B-ranked mission?"

"I have a bad feeling this mission will stretch beyond the B-rank boundaries. The evidence and their actions just don't add up."

The hokage didn't know how right she was.

                                                                             * * *

Hoshiko stared into her closet. Her normal outfit was dirty, and she hadn't washed it yet, so she couldn't wear that. Perhaps it was for the best. Lady Tsunade had looked really worried, so perhaps she should dress for heavier combat. She pondered for another minute, then grabbed the standard chunin uniform and put it on, deciding she would try it out. 

It was noon already. "Guys, we'd better grab lunch then get going."

"Ichiraku it is!" Naruto called, nodding.

"Sure," replied Sai, who had come over from his house to get ready for the mission. 

So the four went over to Ichiraku Ramen for lunch. Naruto ordered three bowls of the stuff. He would have gone further if Hoshiko hadn't stopped him. Fifteen minutes later, they were staring at a very, very large bill. 

"You'll take care of it, won't you, Hoshiko?" said Naruto, casually strolling out of the shop.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Hoshiko, snapping her fingers. A portal opened up on top of her seat and she fell in, landing ten meters outside. 

Neji was already gone.

Shikamaru looked at the three empty seats, then at Sai, and got out of there as fast as he could, leaving Sai to cover the bill. He paid with a confused look on his face. 

"Shall we get going then?" he asked, still slightly befuzzled.

"Yeah, we should," replied Naruto. "Thanks for paying."

"Um, sure."

                                                                    * * *

The five ninja walked for seven days and six nights without any activity. The seventh night, however, did not pass without incident, unfortunately. They had arrived at the meet-up point and had been waiting for quite some time. 

"I'm going to go look for them," said Hoshiko, standing up. "Neji, you're coming with me. I'll need your Byakugan." 

"I'll come too," piped up Naruto. 

Hoshiko considered for a moment. "Fine. Naruto and Shikamaru, head the other way. Sai, stay here and watch for them."

So Hoshiko, Neji, Shikamaru, and Naruto went off in search of the missing monk guides. 

Naruto and Shikamaru had more luck than the other two, if you can call it luck. 

"What is this?" They were standing at the edge of a hole in the ground with stairs leading down to a rank, cellar-like room. They both pulled out a kunai and proceeded cautiously. There were piles of rubble decorating the ground outside and on the stairs leading in. The two ninja melted into the shadows, slinking into the suffocating darkness.

When they saw nobody else was in the room, they put away their weapons and peered over at the strange stone box. "This must be one of the graves that was stolen from!" Shikamaru murmured. "But we were too late." The box was empty. Then he froze. Footsteps. Naruto's eyes narrowed, confirming his suspicions. 

Shikamaru merged back into the shadows. But Naruto, on the other hand didn't. And was spotted by the boy walking out from one of the many tunnels carved into the tomb. He had shoulder-length teal hair, and was wearing one of the uniforms of the monks. The more cautious of the two shinobi sighed in relief, and stepped out. "You're one o-" 

He didn't get to finish. Naruto had thrown a kunai at the boy, and the young monk's face turned from wary to hostile. He glowered and made a series of quick hand signs. "Beast tearing gale palm," he snarled, holding his hands out in front of him. Naruto jumped to the ceiling, and the wind blade followed him there. He was barely able to dodge the attack. However, the jutsu tore through the ceiling of the tomb, and Naruto jumped away. The blue-haired boy followed. 

Shikamaru gaped. "W-wait! Please, stop! We're leaf shinobi, and we were supposed- Oh, for crying out loud..." Nobody heard his plea, because they were already gone, dashing across the grassy field, throwing attacks left and right. 

Meanwhile, Sai was dutifully sitting against the rock, waiting for their guides to arrive. And they would, running and yelling, in about five minutes. Hoshiko and Neji, however, were wondering what the commotion and light coming from a mile back was about. "What happened? Do you think one of the others ran into a grave robber?"

"Well, there's only one way to find out, am I right? Byakugan!" Neji squinted. "All I see is Naruto. He's engaged in combat, about three-fourths of a mile east. Shikamaru is no where to be seen, and I can't make out the enemy, either. Let's go." So they did, sprinting towards the cause of the noise, jumping through the forest until finally, they arrived at the edge of a clearing. They spotted Naruto, throwing kunai, punches, shadow clones, anything and everything he could get his hands on. They also saw a boy with hair the color of the ocean, locked in a fight with him. 

"...is that...?"

"...a monk?"

Indeed, the boy was wearing the robes of a monk-in-training. 

"What did he do to get into a fight with him?"

"Most likely, Naruto attacked without making sure he was an enemy at all, and since he was attacked, the boy had no choice but to strike back. The idiot has gotten himself into an unnecessary conflict. And with our client, too!"

Suddenly, Shikamaru ran up to them. "Shikamaru! You're okay!"

"Yeah, I am, but Naruto's not."

"Just to be sure, that's a monk, right? Naruto's in a fight with one of our client's?"

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck, scowling at the two boys clashing mid-air. "It sure seems like it."