Chapter 124: CH 124
Hard thudding footsteps sounded out behind them at a louder and louder pace. The boys turned around to find the statue gaining on them, Naruto's eyes widened at the speed that it was walking at, "Why is it so much faster down here?"
Sai looked and turned around before pulling out his ink, "It must be the momentum that it can gain down here on this long straightaway as opposed to the room we had it in the first time. Sumi Nagashi (Ink Flush)." Sai poured some of his ink onto the ground and made a few hand-seals. Many ink snakes burst from the ground and attempted to ensnare the statue but upon making contact, the seal array reverted them back to ink.
"Was there any part of you that thought that would work?" Naruto gave Sai a dry look as they continued to run, "Sai-kouhai, nothing has changed since the last time we fought this thing, except this time I can't take control of it to beat it. Our jutsu will still disperse upon even touching this thing."
Sai nodded in agreement, "Uzushiogakure truly were fearsome seal masters if they could make buildings and living golems resistant to chakra based attacks."
Naruto shot a look over his shoulder, "Marvel at my ancestors' workmanship later, we still need to lose this thing and find the way out. My Kage Bunshin didn't find an exit, it just found a different path to use." When Sai gave him a questioning look he shrugged, "I told it to find me a path and that's what it did. I never said to go any further."
Naruto and Sai had to separate as now the statue had gotten close enough to nearly squash the both of them with its foot. It began swinging across at both boys, hitting more walls and causing more things to fall. Naruto and Sai sped up as the cavern began collapsing, "What is this thing's problem? It's going to bury itself too if it keeps this up!"
The emotionless Root ninja rejoined with Naruto as they started putting more distance between them and the statue, "It must not care as long as it is able to repel all invaders. It possibly won't leave us alone until we are dead. I wonder how it knows where we are."
Naruto shook his head, "I don't know, but it's just a stupid statue. We might not be able to destroy it but we can outsmart it." They then entered a clearing where there were several possible tunnels to take, leading further underground, "So how are you at labyrinths and mazes Sai?"
Sai stood for a moment, the statue closing in behind them before grabbing Naruto and dragging him down a random path, he dragged Naruto so abruptly that Naruto didn't even have time to steady himself and channel chakra to his limbs. Now that he thought about it, Sai wasn't doing that either. After rounding a corner, Sai grabbed Naruto and pulled him against the wall, keeping him from speaking with his hand over his mouth. As the sound of thudding got lower and lower, Sai eventually removed his hand and gestured for Naruto to stay quiet.