"Ah, you must be Mr. Gant." A short, pudgy man in a business suit shook Naruto's hand as he and Yuugao approached their target's compound.
"Gunn, Mr. Gato. Solomon Gunn." Naruto said coldly, looking at the man over his nose.
"Of course, please forgive me." Gato smiled a little, straightening his glasses. "And this lovely lady must be your wife." He sent a leer at Yuugao who surprised a shiver.
"She is. Now let us dispense with the pleasantries, I came all the way here from the capital for a business transaction, did I not?"
"Yes, of course, but wouldn't you rather wait until tomorrow and rest up. It's getting pretty late and you must be exhausted." The sun shone brightly directly overhead.
"Oh very well." Naruto relented still in the same cold voice after glancing at Yuugao. "I must admit the trip was a little taxing on my wife, and I would prefer her to be at full strength." Gato nodded and signaled one of his mercenaries, who was openly leering at Yuugao. This time she couldn't help but shiver.
"Lead our esteemed guests to their rooms." When the mercenary led the two away another turned to Gato.
"Boss what are we gonna do with them?"
"Deal with them and send them on their merry war, unharmed."
"But Boss, the girl…"
"I know, but that man is very important in Fire Country, and the last thing I need is the Daimyo sending an army. I already have those ninja to contend with. Which reminds me, inform Zabuza that he's not to touch those two."
Back with Naruto and Yuugao, he was sitting on his bed in the room they'd gotten.
"Something wrong?" He asked Yuugao.
"I'm fine." She brushed it off.
"Bullshit. You were shivering." Naruto pointed out.
"I don't like it here. I feel like I have to watch my back constantly or I might get raped." She shivered again. "The sooner we end this the better." Naruto nodded and did a few handseals.
"Suppression Barrier! There, that should do it. Let's discuss strategy." A blue hue lit up the room before vanishing. Naruto motioned to a chair opposite of him and Yuugao sat. "This." He took out a large roll of paper from somewhere. "Is the blueprint of the compound."
"Where did you get that?" Yuugao raised an eyebrow.
"Well, even Gato has to follow some laws, and one particular states that all compounds must be registered with the Daimyo, with complete blueprints offered. I just got a copy. So, we'll consider this one real, at least until I case the place. We'll get to that tonight. For now, memorize these plans." She nodded and got to it while Naruto stared out the window.
Later that night, after leaving a pair of clones behind, Naruto and Yuugao snuck out of their room. Naruto led her to the wall, where they climbed up, and then on one of the five towers there.
"This security is pathetic." Yuugao commented.
"It's a nice enough system, but the guards are morons." Naruto replied, looking over the buildings from his perch. "Well, the plans hold true, for now. Let's get to the basement." They jumped down from the tower and landed softly, not even raising the dust, speeding off to the door leading them to the basement. When they got there, Yuugao let out a quiet gasp and Naruto frowned.
The entire basement was littered with cages filled with naked women whimpering in them, chained to the walls. Yuugao stepped forward and opened her mouth, trying to help the poor girls, but Naruto put a hand over her mouth and flickered them out of there. He let go when they landed in their bedroom, quickly applying the seal. Just in time, as Yuugao turned and scowled at him as soon as she came to.
"What was that for? I could've helped them! I could've saved them!" She screamed in his face.
"And then what!" Naruto yelled back, a scowl on his face as well. "Please, tell me, then what?"
"I…"
"Precisely. You would've endangered not only our own lives, but the mission as well. How did you plan to open the cages without anyone hearing the noise?" She lowered her head, silent. "How did you plan to get them out of the compound?" She had a few tears in her eyes. "Yuugao, you're an Anbu for fuck's sake, you should know better than that."
"I'm sorry." She whispered lowly. Naruto's eyes softened and he sat next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder and hugging her, letting her lay her head on his chest.
"I know, I don't like it, either. But you have to remember what we're here for. Now, in two days Gato will go to the bridge and confront the team Leaf sent, so he'll want us to finish our business tomorrow. So, tomorrow night we're gonna rob him blind, cast some minor Genjutsu, and, when he goes to the bridge, free all the slaves. Ok?" She nodded. "Get some rest now." Yuugao lied on the bed, wiping her eyes, and quickly fell asleep. Just when Naruto was about to follow her, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Yes, what is it?" He asked coldly as he opened it. The door revealed a girl about his age with long black hair in a pink kimono.
"Greeting, Mr. Gunn. My employer would like to speak with you." She said politely.
"I have no interest to talk to Gato at this time. Whatever it is, it can wait until our meeting tomorrow."
"I do not work for Gato, and I am afraid I will have to insist. You wouldn't want everybody finding out a Leaf Anbu is here." Naruto studied her for a moment before he exited his room and locked the door, sighing.
"Very well, take me to your employer…"
"Haku." She led him outside and to a secluded cottage. "In here, please." He stepped inside, Haku locking the door behind him. There was a singe bad at the far side of it, with a man lying on it.
"Haku, is that you?"
"Not quite." When Naruto approached eh saw a man with black pants and sleeveless shirt, a slashed Mist headband tied to the side of his head.
"Oh, if it isn't the little ninja." He got up into a seating position, grinning at Naruto.
"I'm not exactly a ninja. What do you want? And how did you find out?"
"You really should be more careful before using the Body Flicker. And such a unique one, as well." The man grinned again. "And I propose a little alliance."
"And why should I trust you, Zabuza Momochi?" The man grinned again.
"Oh, so you do know who I am. Well, other than the fact that I didn't kill the jackass your village sent here, even when I could, you don't really have a choice."
"True." Naruto sighed, studying his grinning face. "What do you want?"
"Me, I just want to get paid. So, if you can top what Gato is currently offering, I see no reason to lead him to the unfinished bridge tomorrow."
"How much is he paying you?"
"Fifty thousand. Make it double and I'm available."
"Make it the day after tomorrow and we have a deal." Naruto stuck out his hank, which Zabuza shook.
"Why the day after tomorrow?"
"I have a cover to maintain, and arms dealer from the Land of Fire. Gato and I have business to discuss tomorrow, and I can get on with my mission the night after that." Zabuza nodded.
"Makes sense. I'll leave Haku here to help you. She'll escort you back to your room. You'd better keep your end of the deal."
"I could say the same." With one final glance in Zabuza's direction Naruto went off.
Also, I have a new Twitter acount, on which I will be posting updates and maybe even new ideas. Check it out, the name's Drakai07, the pic is the same as my profile for FanFiction.