Chapter 10: Surgical Entry

Yamato watched the blond with unreadable eyes. His expression was a mask of focused frustration, as he tried to will the sun to set a little faster. The boy had already explained to him that yakuza preferred to operate after dark. Still, that didn't explain how he knew. And, curious, and wishing to pass the time, he asked.

He was quiet for a moment, before answering. "Ero-sennin used to take me on some weird 'missions' every now and then. Especially in Water and Grass countries. He said that the brothels were too expensive in one, and you couldn't trust the girls in the other. We'd go to a local yakuza, and gather information. At the time, I thought he was just being a pervert. He'd always be asking geishas, and where you could find the best girls the cheapest. Now that I think about it, he was being a pervert. But he was also teaching."

"So what are we doing?"

"This part is mine. I need you to go find a wireless transmitter with a distance of at least five hundred feet. I need to figure out a story that'll hold water."

"Won't they frisk you?"

Naruto snorted. "Of course, but they won't check my sword. It's presumed that you have a sword when you meet a yakuza. No one'll bother looking at it."

"And if you have to use it? I know for a fact yakuza are pretty good."

"Let's hope I don't have to use it."

The man approached calmly. No trace of fear at the sight of two large men, armed with short-swords in wooden sheaths. His gi top and pants were colored a light gray, and his light skin and dark brown eyes, combined with black hair, fit the standard appearance for the Cloud country.

"Whaddya want?" One of the men demanded, hand drifting to the sword.

"I am here to speak with your boss." The voice was a study in indifference. The two men in front of him were below his notice.

"Why should we let ya do that? I feel like cutting stuff up."

"I doubt he would like that very much. After all, that would be bad for business."

The only one who had spoken thus far thought about that for a moment, before he looked at his companion. The other man nodded, and slipped inside.

The man picked a bit of imaginary lint off of his sleeve, before he clasped his hands behind his back. The handle of his short-sword stuck out from behind his back. Or was it the hilt. The man wasn't entirely certain, and he didn't want to try and find out. This guy stood far too easily to not be at least somewhat proficient.

The man in gray looked up at the windows of the darkened warehouse, not really expecting to be able to see anything from outside. A yakuza that was that careless died quickly, and thus wouldn't have the information that Naruto needed.

The door opened, and Naruto's eyes came back down to it. Out stepped the large man, who held the door open for skinnier, almost feminine man. "The boss will see you."

"Thank you."

"So, what do you need?" Boss Iyaten asked, as he sat across from the man in gray.

"I have a proposition for you. My boss, Gamata, has found that his slave supplier has recently been, discovered. He needs a new contact, one outside of Cloud Country."

"I may be able to help you. Ask your boss to come meet with me."

"Actually, he has granted me the authority to make deals for our business. I have been trained to be the mouth that makes his deals, and hand that shakes on them, since I was very small."

Iyaten raised an eyebrow. "Unusual."

"But it works. He has been the Boss for almost 20 years."

Iyaten's other eyebrow joined its companion. That was a long tenure. "I see. Well, you are in luck. Our supplier's wagon train is preparing to stop for another auction."

"Really? Where and when?"

Iyaten's eyes narrowed slightly. The man in gray continued, as if he hadn't just slipped up. "Several of our clients are on business trips to cities in country at the moment. If the timing is right, I might be able to have them look at the goods."

"Why don't they just buy them themselves?"

"They are 'legitimate' businessmen. They don't believe they could 'have their hands soiled' by such dealings."

Iyaten snorted, as he took a drink of sake. "Ah, but they are willing to ogle the concubines that they will be buying."

"Of course. Such are the ways of a businessman, check the goods before purchase."

Iyaten laughed, and motioned to a man on the wall. His guest was shocked as the man stepped out from behind a section of wall, removed enough as to let a man stand behind it.

"Show him the site, and explain to him the rules."

The man bowed as the man in gray stood, and fell in behind him. He turned at the door.

"It will be a pleasure doing business with you."

"The same for yourself, I'm certain."

On the roof of a neighboring building, Genma and Yamato listened, and tried not to be too impressed. They watched as Naruto and the man walked out, and, ensuring their distance, followed them.

They found their way to a pier near the edge of the dock district. A boat sat in dry-dock, where it had apparently stood for many years. The man led Naruto into the building, explaining that the auction would happen in the ship's cargo hold.

It took two more hours for the man to finish explaining the situation to Naruto, and make sure he knew the procedures. He gave Naruto the password, asking if he thought he could remember it. He assured him he could.

He'd be hard-pressed to forget a password of 'sakura blossom'