As the group consisting of Naruto, Hinata, Kakashi and Yamato head out, another shinobi watches his comrade disembark from the village he begins to write out his report to Danzo. Sai doesn't include the information that Naruto has left the village both because Kakashi asked him not to, as well as to protect his friend. Just as he finishes writing the report and sending it off he notices a strange purplish glow coming from behind the great Hokage face Monument.

"Hmm...that's strange. Whats that I wonder?" Sai says to no one in particular. "It could be an enemy. I should check it out."

Leaping from branch to branch Sai races towards the source of the strange glow. It doesn't take him long to transverse the distance to the top of the Hokage Monument. Slowing down a little as he nears the clearing he notices the source of the glow.

A strange purple sphere is floating just between the treeline and the nearby lake. There are three jonin level shinobi standing several feet away from it in a triangular formation.

"Come on out Sai. We know your there." ordered the one with a senbon needle between his teeth. Sighing a little he walks out from the forest towards the others. "Since its you Genma I'm not surprised you felt my presence. But I have to ask...why are the fifth Hokages personal guard all the way out here and away from their post?" He inquires to the three.

Cracking a smile around the senbon needle. "While its true we aren't guarding Lady Tsunade at the moment, rest assured that she is being looked after. Now I'm sure your gonna ask about this sphere but don't worry, its the very reason that we're here." He points towards the sphere. "This...this was a mission given to us by Lord Minato the Fourth Hokage. Its our duty to unlock the seal on this thing."

"Unlock it? How do you expect to do that and just what is sealed in there? Also please give me a good enough reason to keep silent on this matter. Especially since this could become a hazard to the village." Sai asks with a blank expressionless face. Staring straight at Genma in such a way.

Genma starts walking towards Sai as he reaches to his kunai holster. Sai stiffens preparing for the worst however all Genma does is pull out a strangely shaped kunai and hands it over to Sai. Upon closer inspection the kunai is trident shaped and slightly heavier then any usual kunai, and is seems to have strange symbols inscribed on the hilt.

"This is the final key to unlock the seal on this sphere. Its a kunai from none other than the Lord Fourth, and was given to us for safe keeping until...certain conditions were fulfilled. Conditions such as the village being on the brink of destruction...the release or near release of the Nine-Tailed Fox, as well as a certain person being endangered. And I'm also sorry to say that with all the commotion with the Akatsukis attack on the village we were unable to fulfil our duty and release this seal earlier." Genma explains to a confused Sai.

"That still doesn't answer my question. Just what is sealed in here?"

Smiling again as he leans in closer to Sai, he then whispers in his ear. "Oh not much is sealed in here...just Lord Minato and Lady Kushina." Sai goes dead silent.

Back on the road Naruto and company were still tailing the cloud ninja, and since it began snowing earlier that made it all the easier to track them. Kakashi hangs back a bit and runs alongside Hinata. "Hinata when we manage to find the Raikage, whatever you do...don't use your Byakugan! I'm use you already know about this but years ago the Raikage sent one of his men to our village to attain your clans Kekei Genkai. And that was by kidnapping you. In light of whats going on I don't think he will attempt such a thing right now but..I don't want to take any chances so stick by either me or Yamoto just to be on the safe side." Taking a deep breath before she reply's. "Yes of course Kakashi-sensei."

As they near a clearing they come to an abrupt halt Naruto presses his back against a large oak as he peeks around it so see who's ahead of them. A dark-skinned but heavily muscular man with light blond hair stood in the centre of the clearing along with his two escorts. The three shinobi that they had been tailing walked up to the man and handed him a scroll. No doubt it contained information about the Akatsuki as well as Sasuke. They had finally found the Raikage!

Before they could so anything one of his guards calls out "We know your there. Come out Konoha dogs!" Hearing that angered Naruto but he tried his best to hide it. "Lets go, there's no point in us hiding any longer." Kakashi states to his team. Everyone leaps out from under cover and land at a respectable distance from the other group.

"What!? What are you doing here Naruto?"Karui exclaims. "Hey...don't tell me you were following us." A scowl crosses her face as her hands tighten into fists. But before she could do anything Omoi places a hand on her shoulder telling her to stand down. "Lord Raikage...there was something else we found out while in Konoha, but before this incident we didn't get the chance to say anything. Its about something that blond kid called Naruto in the middle there said to me and Karui. He told us that there's a good chance that Master Bee is still alive.." was all Omoi was able to get out before the Raikage raced past him towards Naruto, grabs him by his shirt collar and lifts him up one handed "JUST HOW DO YOU KNOW HE'S ALIVE BRAT!"

Kakashi steps forward "Please calm yourself Lord Raikage, and can you set Naruto down, I'm sure he will answer to the best of his ability." The Raikage glares at Naruto then to Kakashi. "Fine" He then promptly drops Naruto and walks back over to the others. "Now explain yourself brat. Just how the hell would you know that he's alive."

Hinata rushes to his side and tries to help him up. "N..Naruto, are you ok?" Still coughing from what just happened Naruto tries to stand up straight and look at the man before him, but nods to Hinata letting her know he's fine. "That's because the Akatsuki always take the jinchūriki in alive. Besides they've even come after me." He pauses to cough a little more then fully regain his composure.

"Huh? And I was just wondering what kinda bullshit story you'd come up with. So just what reason would they have to come after an idiot like you?" He points at Naruto.

"Umm...Lord Raikage sir..." Omoi raises his hand. "Actually there's a good explanation for that. Umm...he's the jinchūriki of the Nine-tailed fox. Not only that he even gave us his solemn oath that he will help in rescuing Master Bee." The Raikage goes silent as he takes this all in. "And are you strong? You'd need to be if you even hope of standing against the Akatsuki. Also just why are you even here in the first place?" He stands firm and glares down at Naruto as he crosses his arms.

Before Naruto has the chance to say anything more Kakashi steps up, " Naruto, we shouldn't be wasting much more of Lord Raikages time. So can you just tell him what we came here for." Looking away sheepishly Naruto nods in agreement and then proceeds to tell the Raikage about what happened in Konoha, the fight with Pain excluding the parts about Hinata being cut down and the Fox going on a rampage, then finally about what he came there for. To request him to cancel his order to dispose of Sasuke. And as he finishes he gets down onto his knees and bows down to show his sincerity.

The Raikage glares down at Naruto. "I have no intention of revoking my decision. When I find him...he will die!" A few moments of silence goes by before he turns around and walks back to his guards. "However...if and I do mean only IF you manage to rescue my brother...then I will stand down in this matter. But I won't hold my breath. Now lets go!" The Raikage and his guards then race off towards the summit meeting, leaving the members of Team Samui behind.

Placing a hand on Narutos shoulder before speaking. "Well that went far better than I thought it would go, eh Naruto." Flashing his masked teacher a cocky grin. "Ya! Now I know I have a chance to bring back Sasuke...but now I have to find Bee..." Trailing off at the last part as he begins to wonder just how they will manage such a feat. Yamoto steps forward and looks from Naruto to Kakashi. "I have an idea how we can find him. Although I'm not sure if this method will even work since I've never had a reason to try it. I can try using my wood style to search a far wider area...but it will use up all my chakra reserves and I can't guarantee that I will even be able to find him."

"Umm...if you do find the direction of where he lies It shouldn't be that hard to find him because of my byak..." Hinata starts but trails off when she remembers Kakashis earlier warning. Upon hearing that both Omoi and Karui race over towards Hinata and Yamoto. They simultaneously ask. "Do you really mean it? You can find him! Oh please say you can." They continue on with their desperate pleas before Samui and Kakashi manage to pry them off of Hinata and Yamoto. "Calm yourselves, And you call yourselves cloud ninja?" Samui starts to lecture before turning towards the wood style user. "I know its not my place to ask this but...can you please find Lord Bee?"

Yamoto walks toward the treeline and squats down. "I'll do my best. That much I can promise you all." He brings his hands together making the serpent sign.

"Wood Style! Forest Harmony" His eyes close as his jutsu begins. Roots start to protrude from all parts of his body and imbed themselves within both the earth and the very trees surrounding him.

The members of Team Samui are suffice to say..shocked at the sight before them. "Whoa..I didn't think anyone else could even use wood style!" Exclaimed Karui before she looks back at Hinata with a puzzled look on her face. "So...just how will you be able to help in locating Master Bee?"

Hinata looks from the loud mouthed cloud kunoichi to Kakashi, he gives her a nod letting her know she can now let them know the secret. "Well...I can find him using my Byakugan. I asked not to mention it earlier for...obvious reasons."

To keep Karui from saying anything further, Samui moves her hand in front of her mouth. "I understand. It may not make any difference in me saying this but I'm sorry for whats happened in the past." A puzzled looked crosses Karui's face but she doesn't say anything more.

Naruto starts walking away from the group and sits down on a rock. "Kakashi-sensei? Please let me know when and if Yamoto manages to find anything." Kakashi turns to Naruto. "Sure but...what are you planning on doing? I hope your not thinking of taking a nap."

At those words the entire group look over at the blond haired boy on the rock. "No I don't intend to nap. But I have to deal with someone who's giving me a major headache at the moment." Closing his eyes he prepares to give a certain someone a talking to.

Deep within the confines of his mind he returns to the large bars holding back the fox.

"So just what the hell if going on with you this time? Your giving me one hell of a headache because of the racket your making. I can't even think straight at the moment." He glares up at the fox before him.

"Do you think i give a damn that you can't think straight? Since when have you ever done any real thinking anyways!" The fox growls at Naruto before continuing. "The reason I'm making a so called racket is because I can sense the other fucking half of my chakra! And you seemed to be too busy earlier to listen to me because you were pleading to that stupid kage before you."

Taken back at hearing this info. "Huh? What do you mean by the other half of your chakra? Besides there's no one else in the world with your chakra in them besides me right?"

"Ugh i don't have time to deal with this right now. Just head in the direction of my chakra NOW! You will retrieve it for me." A large furry paw slashes at the gate separating them.

"Now now just calm down for a moment. I thought we agreed that we will try and work together from now on, besides you still haven't bothered to tell me your name yet." Naruto tries to calm the fox down.

"DAMMIT! Would you try to think for a second. The Akatsuki are searching for the biju right? But it'll be far easier for them to get ahold of that other chakra then to fight us for what we currently have, plus they might even use that power against us!" He takes a beep breath before continuing. "Do you understand now...Naruto?"

Naruto goes silent as he thinks to himself. "Ya I do get what your saying...but how about a compromise? If you help me find Bee then I'll do whatever it is you want...besides letting you out of course."

Letting out a low growl. "Fine then. But once we find this Bee, you are going to go straight to the source I just mentioned and you will return it all to me...deal?"

Letting a big grin cross his face he happily exclaims. "OK! But how shall we do this?"

"Start off by going into that sage mode your so proud of. Then give me temporary control over your body, even for a couple of minutes. Once I figure out the direction. You just have to inform that wood user to focus his power in that direction. Then between him and your women you should be able to find him easy enough. Then once you find him, if there are any enemy around I can give you enough power to stop them."

"WHAT?! You expect me to give you my body? You can't expect me to..." Naruto starts to say but if quickly interrupted. "I don't intend to even move your damn body I just need it as a conduit you moron! Besides how can you even expect us to work together without some freaking trust!"

After a few moments of silence Naruto reluctantly agrees. He begins to gather nature energy.

Back in the field Narutos body starts to exhibit the changes brought upon from sage mode and it starts to freak out Karui. "HEY WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HIS EYES?!" Everyone looks in the direction she's pointing. "Kakashi starts to reassure her that everything is fine, but once Narutos eyes open Kakashi starts to get worried as he sees a different change in his pupils.

Before anyone can say or do anything the fox speaks through Naruto. "Calm the hell down! Naruto here and me made a freaking agreement and I'm just fulfilling my part. And that damn part is finding the Hachibi's direction so SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Everyone does dead silent at that comment and they back a little ways away.

Moments later Narutos eyes seem to focus on something far in the distance. He then points towards the west . "There. That's the damn direction he's in. And it seems that fucking octopus is completely fine!"

His eyes revert to normal as the Nine-tails returns control of the body back to Naruto. He starts to get up and silently thanks the fox.

"There I held up my end. Though I am surprised you were willing to trust me."

Naruto looks directly into the foxes eye. "Its as you said...we have to trust each other. And thanks for everything." He prepares to return to his body but just before that the Fox flashes his a toothy grin. "Ha ha no worries you little pup. Also...its Kurama!"

Back in his body Naruto gets up and looks at the others. "Lets go!"