Zabuza frowned and let out an exasperated groan.

"OH COME ON HAKU! I didn't write the story!"

Haku sniffed and crossed his arms pouting.

"You let the princess get raped! How could you Zabuza-sama!"

The older nin ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

"Listen koi. I'm sure that...um..."

"Kisame."

"Yeah. Kisame will come in and save the day before anything else bad happens. I mean...It's obvious..."

The younger boy wiped at the corners of his eyes before moving closer to his lover.

"You promise?"

"Urr...Hey! How 'bout we get back to that story huh? Yeah. Such a great story."

Kisame frowned and shifted his weight on his heels. He'd been here for at least four hours. The sun was already setting on the horizon, and the baka trio had yet to make a move. It was almost as if they were waiting for something. The shark boy leaned back against a tree, his arms crossed scowling at the group as they sat comfortably around a fire he couldn't have for fear of being caught.

"Come on. Come on. How long does it take to kidnap someone? I could've been half way around the world by now."

He was pulled out of his thoughts almost instantly as the forest echoed with the sound of hoof beats. Kisame stiffened and reached behind him to grip the handle of his sword hard. Someone was coming. The group didn't seem to care. Kakashi looked up once, but that was the only acknowledgement of the guest that was riding down on them. In mere moments the group was surrounded by soliders. The blue man growled as two men on horseback stood out in his memory. He growled as the blonde leader of the trio, Deidara, addressed the evil man wearing a black strapless dress that stopped at the top of his thigh.

"Orochimaru-sama, nice to see you didn't forget us. Yeah. We were starting to think you wouldn't come uh."

Tobi leaned over to whisper in Deidara's ear rather loudly.

"Hey sempai. He's a guy right? What's with the dress?"

Deidara hit Tobi hard over the head, half ignoring him. The older man, who had heard the insult and didn't really care about it, dismounted and stood before the trio smiling warmly. His white haired assistant stayed put smiling softly, but had a look in his eyes that dared anyone to make a move against his master.

"I'm quite sorry Dedara-kun. I was held up cleaning up for my charge. I swear sometimes Hyuuga-san can be so...violent. It took poor Kabu-chan hours to fix up our poor little Itachi-kun."

Kisame's eyes widened and he reached up to clench at his chest right over his heart.

'I...Itachi.'

He shifted uncomfortably, wanting nothing more than to strangle Orochimaru with his own tounge until he told him where his love was. Unfortunatley his common sense stopped him. He still didn't know exactly where Itachi was, and currently he was out numbered. He'd have to be patient, no matter how hard it was. He forced himself to focus in on the conversation again. The pleasantries were finally ending and they were getting to what the meeting was really about. The kidnapping of the princess.

"..I don't think I need to remind you how important this is. Hiashi-sama is slightly put out by Neji-sama's choice of bride. He personally couldn't care if Neji kept the boy as a toy, but marriage is another story. Plus there's the obvious gossip that Itachi is responsible for the death of Uchiha Fugaku. It really is quite complicated. Especially with the Uchiha younger brother claiming that he deserves the throne instead of Itachi..."

Tobi cut the snake man off with a loud yawn.

"Deidara-sempai! It's so boring. Like listening to all your art talk!"

The blond glared at his companion grabbing him by his throat and choking him. Kakashi didn't seem fazed by the action and simply shrugged it off. Deciding instead of breaking up the little scuffle, to speak directly to Orochimaru.

"My younger companion didn't put it as gracefully, but he's right. We don't really care about the details. All we need is the job description."

Oro ran his long tounge over his lips, causing a shudder to run down everyone's spine. Kisame personally felt like puking.

"Very well. Princess Itachi will be riding through the forest tommorrow morning. Of course you'll be expected to abduct him and swiftly transport him off of the coast of Kohana, and to a small village somewhere in the land of sound. There you will kill him and leave this."

Orochimaru tossed a torn cloth with what looked like an emblem for the sound country. As Kakashi bent to pick it up the other man climbed back onto his mount grinning wickedly.

"Of course this might lead to war, but these things can't be helped. After all the Hyuuga have always wished for a few of sounds more...interesting weaponry. Not to mention some of the poisons they reach from the mist villages. It's truly sad it takes the death of a 'princess' to win such prizesss."

Tobi raised one of his hands, while the other rubbed at the large welt forming on his head.

"Hey what about our pay? Even if it's not something special we should still get paid. Shouldn't we Deidara-sempai."

Deidara hit him again, but Orochimaru just chuckled lightly before tossing a sack of gold at their feet.

"If you wish for more, visit me AFTER the job is finished."

With that the pale man, and his entourage rode off back into the forest they'd come from. Kisame settled back against a tree branch, a plan slowly forming in his mind. Tommorrow morning he would follow the three would-be assassins and once they had left the boarder of Kohana for sound he'd make his move and take back his princess. Staring up at the stars above he made a silent promise he hoped would reach Itachi somehow.

'Stay strong my princess. I failed you enough. I promise you that I will give you your happy ending. Even if I have to die trying.'