The staircase this time looked ancient, carved from veined marble that shimmered faintly in the dim light. As Naruto sprinted toward the Twelfth Bunny House, he noticed the sudden appearance of age-worn pillars and murals—each intricately embroidered with golden and diamond threads, depicting carrots, bunnies, and even more carrots and bunnies.
The stairs seemed endless, but Naruto and his trusted companion Kyubi-kun could not stop—not now, they had to continue no matter what! Never underestimate a ninja's stamina, especially the stamina of the future Hokage—a genin who'd spent ten years running from his teachers and villagers after pulling pranks on them!
Soon, the staircase led them into clouds. But these weren't ordinary clouds—they smelled like marshmallows and tasted like strawberry-flavored candy. At first, it was delightful… but the more they ran, the more it became a hindrance. How could anyone catch their breath when all they could inhale was sugar and not fresh air?
Minutes of running turned into hours—endless hours of climbing. The higher they went, the thinner the oxygen became. Naruto's face paled, but through the power of friendship—and the constant encouragement of the brave little fox—he pushed on.
Eventually, the sky shifted from a grey-blue into deepening darkness, the temperature dropped steadily, and stars began to emerge. The ancient steps, pillars, and walls were no longer made of marble, but of a translucent, crystal-like material—purer than ice, glowing occasionally with bluish pulses of light. The stars became clearer and brighter but Naruto's lungs burned, his blood throbbed in rhythm with his heartbeat, and a piercing hum rang in his ears, his head, and his very soul.
The little fox showed exceptional resilience, always finding the strength to uplift Naruto when he faltered.
And then—they arrived.
They stepped onto a vast platform, ancient, luxurious, and bathed in starlight. The skies above stretched wide and infinite. Several balconies overlooked a breathtaking view where stars and comets drifted across the void at impossible speeds!
And there she stood—with her back to them—heroically facing a massive door adorned with a gigantic golden carrot!
She wore a white, form-fitting bodysuit laced with a blue ribbon. Over it, a short, sleeveless light-blue jacket adorned with bunny-tail puff balls and trimmed in white faux-fur. Black pantyhose contrasted sharply with her outfit, highlighting her graceful, refined figure. Her white boots reached just below the knee, and were detailed with blue accents and carrot motifs at the ankles.
Her snow-white bunny ears twitched softly. Her hair—an ethereal mix of light blue and snowy white—was styled into two long, gracefully braided ponytails, decorated with orange carrots, blue hairbands, and white ribbons, giving her an air both of youth and majesty.
As Naruto collapsed to his knees, breathless and spent, she turned to face them—her gaze radiant with regal charisma. Raising her hand and pointing at him she declared:
"We are Pek—Ahem! Ahem! We are Kaguya, the Moon Princess! Be honored to witness our magnificence! As guests of this realm, you shall receive a gift most sacred... an Almond! Yes, an Almond! The treasured jewel of Usagi Land!"
Her voice was crisp and commanding, filled with elegance and superiority—yet carried an odd charm. Naruto could hardly believe such a splendid creature could exist, and he could only drink her appearence with his eyes, and blush in awe, in admiration.
Two white, fluffy bunny-retainers appeared, each bearing a cushion. On each rested a single, glowing almond—one for the boy, one for the fox.
The fox snatched his almond eagerly. Naruto, still blushing like a ripe tomato, grinned as warm as sunlight and stammered:
"W-Whoa! This is for me? Seriously?! You're amazing—uh, I mean, thank you, Princess!"
He didn't devour it in one gulp, as he usually would. Instead, he chewed it slowly, savoring it as though it was the most precious thing in the world.
As he swallowed, a warm sensation spread through his body and his fatigue vanished in an instant! Then, a strange feeling overtook him. Techniques—described in beautiful, precise detail—were etched into his mind, as if an artisan was engraving a masterpiece into his memory.
In moments, he understood it all: the Moon-Burrow Fang Style, or Gessō Garu—a taijutsu system with seven major moves and three rabbit-themed power boosts.
He turned to the princess, eyes wide with astonishment, with unhidden admiration.
"Huhuhu~ We see you are pleased by this idol-bunny-princess's gift!" she declared proudly, her laughter bouncing in unpredictable directions, somehow making her all the more endearing!
Naruto, his blush returning full-force, tried to keep his composure.
"By the way," Kaguya continued, "what is it you seek here, at the Twelfth Bunny House?"
"We came to save you, Princess!" Naruto proclaimed. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, the future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village! I'm a hero on duty!"
He struck a heroic pose. The little fox mirrored him and together, they looked genuinely heroic!
"Hohohoho! We see! We see! It is only natural for a hero to save a beautiful and innocent princess such as ourselves!" Kaguya exclaimed, her voice still light, crisp, and musical. "Only a pure-hearted soul can open the Golden Carrot Gate without burning. But we... have committed too many warcr—Ahem! Ahem! Hmmm! Too much of ourselves to the kingdom! Yes! We are far too tired to push open these heavy doors. Yes! Far too tired!"
"No problem! I'll open them for you Princess, you know!" Naruto said, bounding up to the gate. As he placed his hands upon it, the massive doors swung open effortlessly, just like that. Then he blinked in confusion, as he was looking at the open gates, then at his hands, back and forth.
"We are grateful to the chosen one," said Kaguya, princess of Usagi Land. "As absolute ruler of this realm, We graciously offer you a reward. One wish. Any wish your hero's heart desires!"
Naruto, still a bit lost in the whirlwind of events, returned to himself at the mention of a wish.
"Honorable Princess," he said earnestly, his hands clasped together, "my friends and I are facing fierce enemies in the world I come from. Please—send us back. Let us fight again! I need to save them!"
Without warning, a giant red carrot materialized in Kaguya's dainty hands. With the power and precision of a professional athlete, she smashed it into Naruto, shouting:
"KUSA-KUSAAA~! Now be sent back under the weight of 10,000 carrots!!"
And then... there was pain, and nothing else.