You are my Star

Chapter 12 - Skating Coffins

"Where have you two been?" demanded Shikamaru. "We just got news. The other three tombs have disappeared. And they're moving. On their own, towards a place a few miles from here." 

"What?"

"Moving on their own? What kind of jutsu is that!"

"I have no idea," said Shikamaru. "But we need to take action."

"Right," said Hoshiko. "Where is Lord Chiriku?"

"Here," said a voice behind them. "And yes, we must take action. They have taken all four sacred tombs. Time to recover them."

Sai spoke up, suddenly behind them. "We're going to need coordinates."

Chiriku gave them a destination, then said, "Sora and I will be coming with you."

Naruto shook his head vigorously. "No way. Nuh uh. I'm not letting that troublemaker come along with us."

Hoshiko sighed. "If Lord Chiriku wants Sora to come along, he'll come along."

"Yeah, Naruto," said Sora, walking out from behind a corner. "Are you scared I'll get more coffins than you?"

"No. I'm afraid you'll start crying when I get all of them!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Duh!"

"Why, you little-"

Neji, jumping down from the roof, and Chiriku, stepping over, pulled the two apart. "Stop being an idiot and sober up, will you? This isn't a competition of who can retrieve more coffins!"

Naruto grumbled something about killjoys and murder, but didn't leap at Sora again. 

Neji dusted himself off. "Right. Shall we get going, then?"

                                                                          * * * 

The five ninja and two monks stood at the edge of a cliff, rubbing their eyes. Four wooden boxes were skating across a grassy plain in full view. 

"What the hell am I seeing?" Hoshiko gaped.

"I have no idea," responded Shikamaru. 

"Alright, I'll go in," said Naruto.

"You mean I'll go," retaliated Sora. "I'm much more capable."

"Oh yeah? Let's see!"

"Gladly," Sora sneered, and the two raced off down the cliff. 

"Those two little-" growled Hoshiko. "Didn't even wait to form a plan." She chased after the boys. "Shikamaru, you, Sai, and Neji need to form an actual plan. I'm going to follow them to make sure they don't kill themselves."

"Sure," said Shikamaru, running a hand through his hair.

Hoshiko nodded, and continued hunting down her comrades. She heard a yell behind her, and turned her head slightly. It was Neji. "Coffins...nothing...trap" was all she heard. But it was enough. She understood. She dipped her head in thanks and sprinted after Naruto and Sora. The coffins were empty. It was a trap. 

Unfortunately, Naruto and Sora didn't know that. They reached the coffins and grabbed them. "Dammit," said Hoshiko under breath just as the paper bombs exploded. She thrust out a hand, and a wall of dirt rose between the fire and them. Just in time. The smoke slowly cleared, and she saw that the dirt wall had crumbled, but everyone was ok. She dropped into a portal and appeared next to her shocked friends. She punched both of them. "How. Many. Times. Do I need to tell you. Not. To. Run. Straight. Into. Things?"