Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [1]

☾ Stone of Gelel - 4 ☽

Tsukiko, Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru all chased Nerugui down in the dark forests, knowing very well that the ferret would lead them right to the Gelel Mines. And those mines were far ahead of them, amongst the mountains, and there the four of them found themselves entering worn-out mines. It was darker inside but the Konohagakure Ninjas didn't stop moving inside after Nerugui.

"Look at the state of this place!" Tsukiko breathed as they rushed through the ruins, turning several corners blindly behind Nerugui. "I don't think anyone has been in here for a very long time,"

"Where is he running?" Naruto shouted, following the ferret around a corner. "I can't tell!"

"Right now, he's our only hope!" Shikamaru responded as they turned yet another turn and into a very long, dark corridor. Tsukiko was in the lead behind Nerugui.

"Is that an exit?!" Naruto yelled, and ahead of them, they could see some light flooding into the corridor. Tsukiko nodded as she sped up and turned just as –

"Naruto!" Tsukiko shouted when Naruto just kept running right off of the ledge in front of them, along with Sakura and Shikamaru behind him. "Hair Binding Jutsu!"

Before Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru fall down into the crevice below, Tsukiko's white hair elongated, reaching out and binding the three up and pulling them back on the ledge. She caught sight of Kahiko and Temujin in the middle of the mines, on an elevated platform which was surrounded with darkness – it was quite deep. And the hall itself was gigantic and circular.

"Look over there – that's Oji-Chan and the Temujin person, Usa!" Tsukiko said to Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru as she placed them down safely and let go of him. "But what are they trying to do? He's going to force Oji-Chan into opening the mine and then get the stone to create more havoc!"

"Let go of Oji-Chan!" Naruto shouted, jumping down to the platform, and Tsukiko hurriedly followed right behind him, not wanting him to go get into further trouble.

"You're in the way!" Temujin said as he turned to face them angrily, his hand on his sword.

But before any of them could retort back to him, there was a huge earthquake that shook the entire mine, the ground beneath them shaking as if it was going to give out. Tsukiko quickly shielded Naruto and herself with the help of her Crystal Style before they could be hit by the falling debris.

However, it was nothing natural – something was drilling into the wall at one side of the mine.

"Wh-What is that?" Naruto asked as he and Tsukiko realised that it was yet another metal ship that was breaking into the mine, and right in front of it, with his lackeys, was –

"Haido-Sama..." Temujin said as he got down to his knee immediately. Tsukiko glared at him when she realised that he had not realised anything. "The Mine of Gelel is right beneath this,"

"Thank you, Temujin," Haido replied. "I've put you through so much trouble. Thanks to you, our utopia is right before our eyes," Temujin nodded. "Everyone, let us go,"

"Hold on a second!" Shikamaru shouted, stopping him with his shadow, having used their distraction to his advantage. "Sorry, but I have some things I want to ask you,"

"Haido-Sama!" Kamira said.

"It's all right, Kamira," Haido responded. "Hmm... How troublesome. Is this rude person your friend, Naruto-Kun and Tsukiko-Kun? What are you doing? We made a promise. That we would all try our best to make a better world,"

"We're the ones who want to know what exactly you're up to," Tsukiko replied coldly. "What do you really plan on doing once you get the Stone of Gelel? Why are you going so far for it?"