Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [2]

☾ 75 ☽

Tsukiko was far above in front of others as she continued to slash through the rocks when her new Jutsu suddenly gave out – or rather, she knew that it had not given out because she was only giving it Chakra energy passively and she still had plenty more to give. She knew at once that it was Usajii's doing and couldn't imagine why he was doing this.

"Listen to me, Usahime," Usajii spoke urgently. "Look at the moon – it is currently reflecting the Rinne Sharingan that Uchiha Madara has acquired. You don't have time. You have to hurry back down to others and protect them before they get caught in it,"

"Madara already activated the Infinite Tsukuyomi?" Tsukiko asked, almost in a panic as she flew back down as quickly as she could. "What should I do to prevent getting caught?"

"Get to that Sasuke boy," Usajii told her. "His Susanoo can keep the light out and your Tenseigan can create an energy barrier to protect those in your vicinity, hurry!"

Sasuke, unaware, was making his way up with his Susanoo as well when Tsukiko landed on top of its head. He raised his eyebrows at her and pulled her into the head where he stood. Before he could even ask her what was going on, she began to quickly tell him everything.

Now, both Tsukiko and Sasuke raced down to the others where Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi were standing, with Naruto pumping out his Jutsus to destroy the rocks.

"Hey, Sasuke, don't head down here so suddenly!" Naruto shouted at him as the Susanoo descended. "I could've hit you with a Rasen Shuriken–! Hey! Land more softly too!"

"Just shut up and stay still!" Sasuke told him as he used his Susanoo to encircle the five of them while Tsukiko rushed to sit in the middle of the formation.

"What are you doing, Tsukiko?" Sakura asked, bewildered as she sat on the ground.

"I'm going to concentrate on raising a barrier for us," Tsukiko replied as quickly as she could. "Please, give me a moment and let me focus – I'll answer your questions in a bit,"

For a moment, everyone stayed quiet and still as Tsukiko closed her eyes to focus on her task. And as the silvery-white barrier began to rise around them to enforce the Susanoo, Tsukiko's eyes glowed even through her eyelids. She could feel the activated Infinite Tsukuyomi outside, and she felt a great sorrow at the thought of her beloved persons caught in it.

On the other hand, something prompted Naruto just seconds before Tsukiko's barrier completed, a voice that reached him, squeezing through the last hole but it was enough to prompt Naruto to rush ahead until Tsukiko's elongated hair caught him, pulling him back instinctually.

"Naruto, don't do it right now!" Sasuke warned, also grabbing onto Naruto's arm. "Don't go outside right now. Without this Susanoo that my eye made and the barrier that Tsukiko's new eyes did, you'd get bound up in his Genjutsu as well! Also, his shadows are outside... if you, Tsukiko and I fall, it's all over! We need to bide our time!"

"What's going on outside right now?" Sakura asked, hoping to get some information out while Tsukiko was still too busy to respond. She looked toward the boy. "Sasuke-Kun?"

"What difference will it make, knowing that?" Sasuke retorted, looking toward the pink-haired girl. "There is nothing you can do right now,"

"Sasuke..." Kakashi said. "That's not the point. Naruto and I also want to know. In order to analyse our next move, Sakura is..."

"Kakashi..." Sasuke responded. "You're being just like Sakura now. Just be quiet for a bit,"

"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto shouted at the boy, angered at his tone. "We need to work as a team! Team needs to work together to bring Madara down!"