Why aren't you all commenting? Please comment please! Oh spoiler warning, for those who DON'T know what Orochimaru does to have his immortality (this is found in Wikipedia and in the Shippuuden Manga) Do NOT read Rokubi's flashback at the end! You have been warned!

Ayamu was driving the boat that Naruto and Suzuka were on. Naruto was being his impatient self and insisting we go at full speed. Ayamu refused to do so until deep water. All Suzuka was doing was staring at the Land of Illusions as they drove away from it. She was to tell them when she could not see the tallest point of what you can see in the North Illusion Sea. She looked off because this was the first time she was leaving her homeland, despite the fact she was nervous she was able to muster courage to go on with this. Deep in her heart she knew that she would help Naruto and Ayamu achieve this mission, but she also felt a bit of despair at the end.

Sasuke finished explaining his lie to Mina and they were on their way to the Sound village once again. Mina, still having her memories lost followed them with a smile. In relief Sasuke and the Sound Four led her through the Land of Fire. Still they had to worry, they knew Naruto would come eventually with backup, and who knows what else is after Mina. They knew that they would have to battle at one point, maybe even separate, but they thought they could beat anyone in their way. They would have to if they wanted to see their master again.

"Aren't you worried at all?" Tsunade asked Matsuri through their transmission talk. Matsuri frowned and nodded, "I am worried, I only hope that the Akatsuki know of this and think that they are in the Leaf Village,"

"There have been reports of the Akatsuki being spotted here, even some Jounin reported that the converged with two." Tsunade said. She said it calmly, hoping that her sister would not be spooked.

"What?" Matsuri was in shock.

"They're gone now though," Tsunade paused, "I've heard they came your direction. They should be there now,"

Matsuri panicked.

"No, they should be searching the home now! They'll come to the village if they can't find her! I've got to warn the villagers!" Matsuri almost screamed.

"MATSURI!" Tsunade yelled. Matsuri calmed down immediately, "They won't come to you,"

"I'm worried if they catch up with the Sound Ninja now, if they do Sasuke's as good as dead." Matsuri said. Tsunade nodded.

"You're right, but don't worry, I'm sure that they'll never make it before Naruto does," Tsunade said this for comfort. For the both of them, and with this Matsuri was able to smile.

"I wouldn't suggest combating with them, especially with Itachi," Tsunade said after a long paused. Matsuri nodded. She was calm now and ready for anything.

"All I can do is wait then." Matsuri looked out her window to see three birds passing by. She smiled.

"After this mess is over, I hope we can make the rest of our terms of alliance," Tsunade said.

"I would like that, very much." Matsuri then ended the transmission and looked at the sky, "Naruto only you can save Mina and Sasuke"

"Naruto! Hey stop! I'm driving!" Ayamu was complaining that Naruto was trying to get in charge of the wheel and the other controls. He tried to get Naruto away from them but he wouldn't give up.

"Stop fighting you two! If you don't I will blast you off this ship!" Kyuubi yelled in annoyance. Rokubi was trying to separate them by force but still in a kind way.

"You two stop it! Do you two want to rescue Miss Lusion or not?" Suzuka yelled. Both of them stopped and looked at her.

"She's driving," They both said in agreement. Suzuka smiled as they ran to the portside of the deck.

"Reminds me of myself when I'm pissed, sure you don't have the Nibi?" Kyuubi asked. Suzuka turned away from him and started to drive again. She was sad but she expressed it as mad. Kyuubi feared her a bit. He turned away.

"I'll shut up now," he said in worry.

"What is taking those five so long?" Orochimaru yelled while trying to contain his pain, "They should have been back by now!"

"An operation such as this takes time, not to mention the distance. I'm sure they are on their way back here as we speak," Kabuto tried to comfort his lord with the fact that Mina would soon be in his possession. But with his pain, Orochimaru knew soon could not be soon enough. If he could he would have her in possession tonight. Even he knew that it was impossible, unless the Sound four and Sasuke already crossed the borders with nobody tailing them. Orochimaru knew at least Naruto would be following with maybe some back up. From what he heard about him he thought he would be crazy enough to chase after her alone.

"Send Kimimaro in a few days if they do not return, a few hours after that I'll need you to go," Orochimaru ordered this casually, which was unlike him in this state of unbearable pain.

"I understand, I will make sure these are followed," Kabuto then walked out of the room. Orochimaru smiled. To escape the pain he tried to picture the face of Mina when he was going to do what he almost did to his old Akatsuki partner; Itachi Uchiha.

Kabuto walked down another hall and opened a door. Inside the room he could see someone attached to some sort of system. It was a man of average white skin and his facial features were hidden under a white cloth.

"Do I have orders?" The man asked.

"Not yet but in a few days you'll be sent out," Kabuto paused, "Be careful out there,"
"I understand, after all, I am Lord Orochimaru's ideal container," The man smiled as he said this.

"Yes, but a new one is coming, when you go out you are to retrieve her and bring her back here. If you cannot I will come to help," Kabuto explained slowly.

"If that is the case then I shall not fail," The man said with a smile.

"You are the same as always, Kimimaro," Kabuto said to the man. The man, Kimimaro, then smiled.

"Kabuto-sensei?" The man named Kimimaro asked, Kabuto only continued typing, "Be honest, how long do you think I have left?"

"I'm not sure exactly, all I can say is not long. Not long enough to become a useful container," Kabuto explained.

"I see, then that is what I must do, to have some meaning to my useless existence," Kimimaro tried to move but Kabuto wouldn't let him, not now anyways. Kabuto looked at the screens in worry.

"They better get here, no way we can keep this girl if someone's after her. Also, she won't be here on her free will and certainly try and escape." Kabuto thought this deeply. But he did not know that Mina lost her memory, so he didn't put that card into play. At least, not until he saw for himself.

As the now escorted Mina followed along with Sasuke, she then noticed a watch on her wrist. She had no memory of it and started to look at it more curiously. She tried her best to ignore it so she wouldn't bump hard into anything. Sasuke slowed down to be beside her.

"Just give it to me, t could be dangerous after all," Sasuke said. With her gullible trust she took it off her wrist and gave it to Sasuke. Both went on.

"Finally, we're here!" Naruto said looking off the boat to see their destination; Tonugo. It was a small and peaceful town with a huge market for passing travelers. Some houses were on construction so you could tell it was an evolving town. But fishing and food market wasn't all that was happening; there was also some lodging, taverns and cafes. All of them were going to meet in an old tavern names Ocean's Halter. It was a sailor themed place, but not so much, mostly sea. They even had some soups there besides what is usually served at taverns. Naruto eagerly got off the boat and ran into town.

"Naruto-Sama! Wait for us!" Ayamu yelled finishing docking the boat. Suzuka ran after the both of them with Kyuubi and Rokubi behind her.

"Energetic as ever" Kyuubi thought. Rokubi ran much faster up to Naruto. As much as Naruto he was determined to get Mina away from Orochimaru. If they didn't, disaster would come. Rokubi knew that much more than Naruto, because he knew what Orochimaru would do to her.

One night when Mina was still young she was awakened by an urge. But Rokubi took control of her and walked into her caretaker's room like she just had a bad dream. Mina tugging on his shirt awakened Third Hokage and he looked at her with a gentle smile. He was used to it because she was in the stage that she was dependant on a parent. Not only that but Rokubi has the ability to mimic his master.

"Did you have a bad dream?" He asked. Rokubi nodded. He climbed up on the bed and sat next to him.

"It was about Orochimaru," Rokubi used Mina's voice to say this. Third looked at him.

"I guess this means your mind is curious on what he does now," Hokage was lost in his memories; One that he could never forget.

"He was trying to contain me," Rokubi said. Mina truly had this dream but Rokubi erased it from her memory, to save her mind.

"This creeps me out as much as you will be," Third paused, "For immortality he transforms and devours the one he transfers into."

Rokubi gasped. Pictures flashed into his mind of the agony Mina would suffer if this happened. On that night he vowed never to have her into his grasp for that to happen. But he could never keep that promise, because he just broke it.