"So...this is why it was a bit difficult."Pakkun observers, looking at the surrounding thick heavy fog that laid before him. Sniffing the air, yep this was the location.

This...swampy or marsh area, that clearly thanks to his heighten senses had the scent Kakashi gave him to find along with the rest of the Ninken pack, after someone's connection to locate the missing person was blocked. Sticking his tonuge out to taste the fog in the air. That clearly was not fog at all. True fog can become this thick that one could not see their own hand in front of them, this fog though different than any kind of natural fog or chakra infused fog. It was unnatural, being a dog he could tell. Looking straight ahead in the direction he was sure the person was in, he treads further into the ominous place, signaling the others to fan out and scout the area.

Walking casually and carefully, he moved forward toward the direction he knew was right. The scent became stronger and stronger, keeping his urge from rushing off towards it, otherwise risk giving himself away. This new enemy, from what he was informed of was not from this world, nor was the person he was tracking. But he was smart, and Pakkun could tell already when was first used to track down the same person before, her scent was different from the others of this world. Though he never thought much over it, because it wasn't his place. To him, they were still a person, so that's all that matter also someone who could scratch behind his ear just right was alright in his book.

Sensing he was reaching the spot now, he slows down his steps. This time more weary, standing still listening to every sound around him, down to even the faint blow of the wind's current. Sniffing the air, he becomes alarmed by another presence. Thinking quickly he makes himself scarce, backing up into the fog. Luckily he managed to find a large rock to hide behind, holding his breath he peaks around to see who it was he smelled, surprised at rose out of the water.

The fire cracked and popped, night settled upon the sky. Everyone who came, minus a few took a rest. Splinter sat close to the fire, while Tsunade healed him a bit more. Due to his injuries he had developed a limp with his right leg, and some of more minor injuries had not full healed. But that didn't stop him from coming with the others to retrieve, May. Looking at each of them, some of them rechecking their supplies, others going over strategies, the most prominent those in deep thought and reflection. No doubt still guilt tripping themselves over everything, which was understandable but not helpful. Looking away he focuses on Naruto, who was in deep concentration out of everyone, sitting away from them trying to make his connection with May once again. Through the use of Senjutsu, entering his Sage Mode. Meaning he had to concentrate when doing this, something he has been doing sense the start of this rescue mission. He knew they each had their own reason to come. And did not bother to pry, their reasons are their own. One thing was sure, May was very important to them, just as she was back home with everyone. It was interesting how she still had the same effect. Even the leaders of their village came, Gaara and Tsunade who was dressed for it. Wearing her forehead protector and flak jacket.

"How is that?"Tsunade asks, breaking his attention on the others.

Realizing she was done, Splinter felt better. He gives her a thankful nod.

"Much better. Thank you."

He turns back to everyone, she follows looking too."Everyone is so willing, aren't they?"she questions, with a warm smirk.

"That they are. It warms my heart to know, May was never alone in this world. She was able to make friends and in a sense fit in here."

"Yeah. Though why do you say it like that?"

Splinter looks at her sadly."Back home, it was hard for May to in so many words. Blend in. Things where quite difficult for someone, like herself. She had to hold back quite a deal. Hesitant one would say. Though it was no to punish her, no. It was to keep her safe as possible. To merge into the world, being new to it was hard. She was not made like everyone else, at school it was hard for give her full potential. Not to mention the fact she carried the knowledge of her being different. Self aware of it. A burden she could not share with others, not even her sister."

"...I see."she understood."Her life back home, trailed with her here."she scoffs thinking about her training with May. Shaking her head."Now it all makes sense. Why she's hesitant."

"Indeed."Splinter."Yet, when push came to shove, May wouldn't hesitate. Especially when it came to her sister. She would do anything for, April. Just as April would do anything to May."

"Sounds like a strong bond."

"A strong one indeed. April helped May to get adjusted into world, she never saw as anything but. Her sister had to play in a sense two roles, that of a sister and mother. May looked up to her sister a great deal, she would do anything to protect her. Because of what May is, their connection with one another runs deeper than most. They could always locate the other or tell when something is wrong. Both sensitive to the other. I can only imagine, the idea of not having April here was hard on May. The day she was taken from us, April was not herself. It was like there seem to be a missing piece in her."

"..."

"But, I can see here May has made an equally strong bond with everyone. To see everyone here, for her despite everything. Just like back home."

Tsunade smirks."May's my student, it's a Master's job to be there for their student."

"Yes it truly is."

"That's why you came here isn't?"

Splinter nods his head."Yes. May was in my care, she was my responsibility."his tighten with guilt."Though May is strong, her spirit and heart was not meant for such cruelty or harshness, in this world or my own. Despite what was programmed into her."

"If you don't mind me asking, what did the Kraang make her for?"

Silence comes over Splinter before he spoke."Her father explained, May was to be used for purpose for the Kraang. By gathering her sister's mental energy, May was the product of their attempt to create a sustainable body for the Kraang."

"Sustainable body?"

"Yes. The Kraang can only operate in their mechanical devices. Without them, they are hopeless, though with May they are not. She was built for their purpose to walk among humans, while turning my World into a world much like their own. From Dimension X. May was the product of succeeding, she had their DNA placed in her, making her suitable to survive their world, and with human DNA allowing her to survive Earth, and with her sister's mental energy gave the Kraang what they needed. Thus May was born, # 13-1-25. That was her model number, it is etched on the back of her neck. Meaning she was part of row thirteen, first test number and the twenty fifth experiment. May was blessed that she survived, we are all blessed that she did. Her father who helped make her, rewrote her programming from that of the Kraang as best he could. Luckily, his programming was stronger than the Kraangs."

"So her whole life, she's been programmed."

"Yes and no. True May has had programs installed in her, she has struggled with being of three different worlds. Unsure where she actually belongs, born into nothing but darkness, the start of her life. Though we are in darkness for just nine months, to then end up seeing the light. May I dare say, was made by darkness. By evil. She did not have a choice upon how she was made into existence. She struggles everyday, always fighting looking into her eyes, they are always weighed heavy with questions of uncertainty and lost, about the World, about herself. While at the same time they reflect boundless joy, innocence, determination to find her place and heart. Would be the one word to describe her, even if she does not seem to understand it much. She merely acts upon it."

"Which is why she confuses logic with emotion and emotion with logic. She's a sensitive girl, what she feels might be right, can end up being wrong. The choice or choices she's made since being here, in her mind it was the right thing to do, and we all agreed along with it. Crafty little one. But we're all to blame, we saw the signs but choose to ignore them. Thinking about it, I bet that's what she wanted from us. That way, when this happened we wouldn't think twice about it."

"May is selfless, beyond measure. She will protect anyone, a good quality to have. The down side, she never watches her own back. She would rather herself suffer than let others. And here in this world, she could not allow it suffer either. It is very interesting, because that was never in her programming to begin with."Splinter scoffs with a small fondling smile."The boy, Naruto. Never have I seen such determination before in someone."

Tsunade looks over to Naruto who still had not left his position.

"No one like Naruto really. Yeah, he has that about himself. It's amazing really."Fukusaku speaks, interrupting them. Hopping over to them."My apologizes, I did not mean to intrude upon your conversation."

"That's is alright."Splinter.

"They boy has still yet to locate May."Fukusaku informs them."He seems to be struggling, unable to lock unto her. They must be blocking him, it's good Kakashi sent out his Ninkin. The boy is really pushing himself to locate her,"he looks over at Naruto still in his same position."Shima is working with him."

Splinter looks down at the elder toad, he saw the deep concern and fear he held. That reflected how he himself felt right about everything now. Feeling his eyes upon him, the toad turns to look at Splinter, they both lock eyes understanding each other. Splinter gives him a nod of gratitude.

"Thank you."

Fukusaku smiles respectfully."You're welcome."

Splinter returns the smile, he takes a quick glance at Naruto before turning to Tsunade.

"I am glad to know May has bonded with another. He cares for her greatly, almost along the lines as her sister. My Lady Tsunade and Honorable Fukusaku, there is something I would like to discuss with you and few others. About May, to assure she will be safe after this ordeal."

Hearing the importance in his voice, Tsunade and Fukasuku give him her full attention.

"Yes? What is it?"Tsunade speaks.

Sakura looks over to Naruto."Still nothing yet?"Kiba chimes with annoyance."This would have been way easier if I just tracked her. We would have found her by now. This taking way to long!"

He became upset, growling lowly. While his dog whimpered a bit."Calm down Kiba."Hinata tries to sooth her teammate."I-It takes time, Naruto will locate her."

Kiba grunts at what she said. Folding his arms."It's taking way to long, for my taste. It just would have been easier if...Gagh!"he throws up his hands."I mean, if just...I mean come on!"He bits down on his lip to hold in his exploding anger.

The others of Konoha understood how he felt, though where not as expressive. Confused, irritated, frustrated and hurt. Even though they decided to take on the mission to retrieve and save May. They were still wrapping their minds around everything, doing their best not to rely off their thoughts and do so more with their feelings.

"Is it our faults?"Lee speaks the question that lingered on everyone's mind."I mean..."

"Why didn't she didn't she trust us?"Tenten ponders."Did she think...we'd think differently about her?"

"If you think about it, yeah."Choji bluntly says the answer. Bring a hush to everyone around.

"But, why? Couldn't she come to us? I mean...come on."Sakura clenches her fist."We never would have seen her like that.."

"But, we didn't know what she was either."Shikamaru says coldly, though not intentionally."All these questions you guys keep asking, only bring up more. When really, the fact of the matter is simple. Like Kakashi said and you Hinata, she did for our protection. She was transported to our World, and at the same time new to life. She knew this enemy and knew what they're capable of. Fighting them back home, in her world. May's is very observant and calculating, despite her sunny disposition. I don't know if any of you even notice, heck I know I didn't until the very end. She saw already the weight and struggles she believe we've have or had gone through. I'm sure some of you told her backstories, which she no doubt took to heart beyond anything."

Looking around at the others seeing them rethinking and realizing he was right.

"She's an sensitive and sympathetic girl. Even if she doesn't realize it, she would rather do, than have someone else do it. Like a child really, who believes if something happens, it's their fault. And May just believes that really, it's how she thinks. Can we change how she thinks, no...not really. She hasn't been taught like us, right and wrong. Realizing our choices do have an affect on others. Like right now, we're all beating ourselves up over what happened. Thinking that if we did something, we could have prevented this. But I beat, and just sticking this out here, May was aware of that. She covered her tracks good but not well. She knew who it was that framed her, she knew the results would be worse if she did not comply. All simple to shield us from having to suffer any more, for this World to suffer less. Even if she had to be written out of existence. Her being self aware made her come to this rationalized decision, which made her feel at peace about it."

"But it's not right!"Sakura disagrees with his logic response.

"Yeah. It's just not right at all!"Lee agrees with her.

"I know. I get it. But to May it is fair and right. Again her mind works differently than ours. Though she's afraid, she swallowed it all and plunged herself into it. Back into what she fears and hates the most. What's interesting about this all, is the fact she did it with a smile on her face. That girl is stubborn if you asks me, reckless, crazy and misguided. Remind you of anyone really?"

"Naruto."

"Bingo."Shikamaru nods his head, looking over to the boy."Well, in some ways not all. I think he's aware of this, which is why he's so adamant upon finding her. I can't say I understand their deep bond. One thing is for certain, Naruto will defiantly give her a talk after this all over."He chuckles a bit, smirking."He now realizes the massive burden she started to carry since coming here. Trying to fit in and adjust. Bad enough, she's of three different Worlds. She's always going to feel alienated, I'm sure we've all looked her with those eyes when we meet her. But you know what,"he turns back to everyone."Despite it all, she's rubbed off on me. To me she's not different, she's just May O'Neil. Troublesome. But I'm glad to call her my friend, and despite it being issue. Will get her back. That's the decision I came to. The girl can't do it on her own, seriously."

His words resonated with all of them, understanding what Shikamaru spoke. Was the truth.

"She's my friend too."Hinata speaks up."She's my best friend. Some one I can, talk too. I don't want to lose that."

"None of us, do."Neji places a hand on her shoulder, agreeing with her.

"I owe May so much, and more."Ino."We'll all bring her back here, she's not alone."

The others nod in agreement, when rustle coming from the bushes alerted everyone. All eyes looked in the direction of the noise, Hinata and Neji get ready to activate their eyes when, Pakkun comes out. With the rest of the Ninken pack.

"Well, I've got some good news. And I've got some bad news."he tells everyone."Which one do you want to hear first?"