Hi all, sorry for the delay but I just finished moving houses and needed to tidy up this chapter a fair bit. For your patience I'll give you a hint on the progression of the story... Ringo will be attending the Chuunin exams one week after the Borderlands mission arc has finished!

Thank you all for reading so far and I'll wrap up this arc in planned one chapter but if it turns into a monster then two.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 20: The Search for Senpai

Previously...

As the streetlights flickered on and the cold became unbearable, Hiroto detached himself from our warm bench-seat huddle to stand up and pace nervously. I don't think anyone had much hope left in our situation. So, it was with desperate eyes and a nervous stutter that Hiroto voiced the conclusion we had now all reached but daren't say.

'Guys… I don't t-think sensei's coming back.'

Now...

'Protocol states we wait at the designated meeting point until new orders,' Noriko gasped scandalised, 'we can't just leave.'

'Well I say we should go look for him,' Hiroto declared, 'I'm team leader aren't I? Doesn't that mean I get to make new orders?'

Noriko gaped a bit but couldn't really contradict that. Souta had technically made him team leader even if it may have mostly been in jest.

'Calm down guys, surely there is a reasonable explanation,' I piped up and stood from the clammy park bench to keep pace next to Hiroto and to encourage warmth back to my limbs.

'The truth of the matter is that it's way too cold to wait here all night. How about we go back to the inn and come back tomorrow. We could even leave a message or something for senpai to meet us at the inn if he arrives before we come back,' I reasoned.

'But protocol!-'

'Screw protocol! Souta is missing,' I hissed at Noriko.

'Who's to say he's missing! This was a C-rank mission. Jounin do not go missing from C-rank missions! Surely he is just delayed?'

'For ten hours!? What could possibly take that long?'

'Maybe he came across something bigger,' Hiroto piped up interrupting our arguing, 'you said there were other shinobi in the village didn't you Ringo? Perhaps they jumped sensei and took the bandits bounty?'

'I suppose? Senpai is pretty nifty with those wind blades though... it would be hard to take him down just for a bandit bounty.'

'But not impossible...' Noriko said depressed.

We mulled over the options and I don't know about the others but I really didn't know what was going on.

'Lets not jump to conclusions,' I decreed, 'We need to find evidence or even better- Souta-senpai.'

'But where do we start?' Noriko questioned.

I thought back to my afternoon at the bar and my talk to Matsuri and went to say something but Hiroto got there first.

'I'm not sure but I think that traders meeting tonight is a good start. Ringo- you said that there was going to be other shinobi there right?'

'Yeah,' I replied smiling feeling a little relief in having a direction, 'it's a good lead.'

'Well then we'll head over, enjoy the party, find sensei and head home.' Hiroto said looking determined.

'Just like that?' Noriko doubted.

'Yes, just like that,' was Hiroto's strong reply and strode off towards the centre of town leaving Noriko and I to follow behind. I did so without a glance but sensed Noriko keeping pace with me so assumed she did the same. I hoped we would just find Souta caught up in longwinded negotiations about the bounty but something was telling me he wasn't.

Let's hope we find him quickly.

The hard thing about finding information about rival shinobi in a mostly civilian village was that it was like hearing ghost stories. It wasn't that we didn't find information it was just that we couldn't guarantee the accuracy of it.

At least the rain stopped...

'Yeah, yeah I'm sure Jii-san. It must have been the ninja that stole your best winter melon,' I droned dully to a "helpful" civilian man who had one eye and a gaptoothed grin.

'Your darn right! Who else would it be!? They're a wily bunch. Here, have one of these firecrackers to chase them away on the way home. Pretty young girls shouldn't have to be scared of ninja ruffians out to catch them.'

'...Thanks.'

I sighed and dutifully took the offered firecracker and walked away with the walk of the dejected. Noriko appeared beside me an instant later. I gave her a droll look and she shrugged and turned her nose up at me. She of course had stopped questioning civilians after one man refused to believe she was a kunoichi. You see... stories of kunoichi were often embellished amongst the civilian men to be a lot less clothed and have looser morals. Noriko didn't take very well to the idea.

'Great idea attending this gathering,' Noriko said falsely.

'Oh shut it,' I grumbled, 'clearly my informant lied about having shinobi at this thing. You know... for a border village on the edge of a country that was at war for most of the last few decades... they're an awfully naïve bunch.'

Noriko sighed wearily.

'It's exhausting speaking with them.'

'Oh? All that talking you did?'

I got a raised eyebrow, 'One civilian commenting on how I was somehow lacking was enough.'

It was then I caught sight of Hiroto's head over the crowd in the flickering lantern light and waved him over.

'Any luck?' I said hopefully as he neared.

Hiroto's grim expression said enough and I sighed.

'How about anything on Souta?' I asked and received a negative head shake, 'Damn... we should have just raided the bounty hall even though its closed.'

'We can check in the morning,' Noriko said dodging a couple of kids running past with firecrackers cackling loudly, 'Let's just regroup back at the inn, this place is kind of... over run.'

'Yeah maybe you're-'

'Damn kids!' I voice behind me bellowed interrupting my reply and it made us all flinch for our weapons.

I turned incredulously at the man who had yelled basically in my ear but he was too busy glaring after the kids that had ran by to pay any attention.

'Raiding my fireworks wagon,' he said angrily, 'Should be in bed!- Hey! You! Hand them over!'

It took a moment before I realised he was talking to me.

'Me?'

'Yeah you! Hand over the merchandise.'

'This one is mine though,' I defended now indignantly attached to the red firecracker.

'Yeah right!? I see my name on it!'

I looked down at my firecracker and turned it in my hands to see a black marker scrawl of some initials on the side and I scowled.

'I don't know if it was originally yours or not but I got it from some old man,' I defended.

'Ninja defence apparently,' Noriko muttered dryly from behind me. I deftly ignored her.

The man however just scoffed, 'Like a firecracker would do anything. All the ninja are holed up anyway in the teahouse up the road. Unlikely to come down to this part of the party and mix with the regular folk anyway.'

I felt the acute attention of Hiroto and Noriko behind me.

'...teahouse?'

'Yeah, the teahouse that is up the road. VIP's only sort of thing so I wouldn't worry about it. Just enjoy the party down here.'

I shared a look with Hiroto that had come closer to loom over my shoulder.

'...Would you mind pointing us in the direction?' he asked politely and nudged me purposefully. I wrinkled my nose but relented to the silent demand and offered the firecracker to the grumpy man as a gesture of good faith. The man looked at us suspiciously but took the firecracker quick enough.

'Head up that road and turn left,' he grunted and turned away muttering more.

I looked to where he had pointed and smiled. Finally we had a lead.

'Are you sure this is the place?' Noriko asked sceptically, 'It looks kind of…'

'-Seedy,' Hiroto finished for her and turned to look doubtfully at me, 'It looks really seedy Ringo.'

I frowned at them both.

We were crouched behind a railing on the building opposite the teahouse casing the place and first impressions was that it was clearly not the place you would take your mother to.

'Seedy or not this is where that guy said shinobi were meeting. You heard just as well as I did. If senpai was captured it could only be by shinobi of talent and so in this teahouse the best lead we have to finding out whether they took Souta-senpai.'

'This was to the right of the road though and the man clearly said left. This may not even be the right teahouse,' Noriko nit-picked.

'How many teahouses could one town have! This must be the place,' I defended self-righteously. I after all had led them here.

'Right teahouse or not we should still check it out,' Hiroto said looking at the guarded teahouse door, 'but how do we even get in?'

We paused a moment and started looking at the security flaws of the building.

'Looks like the second floor balcony has a window open we could sneak in?' I offered.

'Too visible from the side street. Perhaps we could take out the guards and henge as them?' Hiroto suggested.

'If there is shinobi in the building though they would notice the chakra flare,' Noriko countered, 'we need to find a subtle way to get in without alerting anyone.'

I wonder if there is a back door?

'Ringo, you're the infiltration type. How would you get in?' Hiroto asked turning to me startling me from my thoughts.

Go in as Aki.

'It's a bit different infiltrating in a team though rather that just yourself,' I explained, 'that's why you don't see many big infiltration teams.'

'Try anyway,' Hiroto asked firmly.

I was a little startled at his forcefulness and studied his face curious.

He must really be worried about Souta.

'Hiroto... I'm sure Souta-senpai is fine, he is a jounin and we don't even know if he was captured.'

'Even if you say that he should have gotten word to us. He should have at least sent a summon.'

Summons? What?

'Hang on? What-?'

That was when something colourful caught my attention and derailed me from some potentially fascinating information. It was a group of brightly coloured 'entertainers' with delicate parasols heading towards the teahouse. The reason why I stalled though was because I recognised one of them.

Matsuri-san?

It was with incredulous eyes that I noticed the entire group admitted to the teahouse with only a glance from the guards at the door.

The hell? I knew she probably didn't like her job by the way she was drinking but a prostitute?

'Ringo?'

I ignored Hiroto's prompt in favour of a blossoming plan that just might work. I turned to Hiroto and Noriko and explained it as best I could.

'Whaaaaaat?!'

'I said, "I could get in by dressing up like a oiran",' I repeated, 'no one truly pays attention to one from another so it would be easy infiltrate the place for information.'

I don't think the repetition of my idea alleviated any of the disbelief I received.

'But… that's a bit extreme isn't it?' Hiroto whispered hesitantly.

'Not at all. You asked how I would get in and this is it. No chakra is needed either since they wear so much makeup. I have lots of practice with this sort of thing so I could easily slip under the radar and play the part.'

'I don't think it's a good idea…' he said looking doubtful.

'Just see it as a seduction mission. Kunoichi go on them all the time.' I said breezily trying to convince him and I received two sudden looks of realisation from my teammates. I also must have missed a significant look shared between Hiroto and Noriko when I glanced away as they appeared agreed on something when I turned to look back. Noriko was biting her lip hesitantly and Hiroto was looking at me with pity filled eyes.

'I don't think it's a good idea. Plus! We haven't had time to prepare a disguise,' Noriko argued.

'Taken care of,' I replied swiftly pointing to a seal on my armband, 'Never go without.'

They both looked to my arm to see the many circular seals I had painted on my armband.

'Surely they are too small to carry-'

Without a word I released one of the seals and a kimono appeared- a three layered one.

I looked at them smugly.

'Surely we can work out something else though.'

'We're genin! What else can we do? We can't just go in with our kunai out and hope to beat them all. Even if they are no shinobi in there that's a hell of a diplomatic problem beating up civilians in a border town. Our only option is to sneak in if we want to know what's going on in there. Going in as a prostitute may not be the only way but it is a way,' I replied in a harsh whisper.

'I don't know what missions you've been on but you don't have to do that kind of stuff with us. You're more than that Ringo,' Hiroto said earnestly.

That made me pause a bit, 'Huh?'

…Wait? Do they think I regularly go on mission like this?

'Yes. No matter how low class you were born Ringo you've proved yourself more than what sort of missions you probably have had in the past. We'll think of another way,' Noriko said strongly.

…they totally think I regularly did honeypot missions…

I was a bit insulted, as I have continuously told them I was an infiltration ninja, but I was also not above taking advantage of this misrepresentation though.

'Thanks I suppose? But it doesn't matter. The point is there is a reason why there are so many of these missions around the place. They're super successful.'

'They have a high success rate?' Hiroto asked curiously but seemed to regret his question as soon as he said it with Noriko's glare.

'Yes. Seduction missions have a really high rate of success.'

Because men are apparently idiots and fall for the same trick over and over again… Women too actually?... We're all idiots for sex it seems.

Hiroto still wasn't convinced and don't even get me started on what Noriko thought. Her stubborn little chin was firmly set at I could see the refusal in her eyes.

'It's not like this is a proper seduction mission anyway. We are simply trying to find a way to get in the place. This is my expertise, infiltration, and this idea is an excellent way to infiltrate.'

I could see the cogs working in Hiroto's minds as my argument started to make sense.

'No offense… you're kind of not the type to be mistaken for an oiran. You're too… clean.'

So I don't look like a prostitute...? No offense taken.

'I don't have to be a good prostitute. In fact that may work in our favour. Someone no one looks twice at.'

'I would like to point out that I do not agree with this. No woman should have to degrade herself like that.' Noriko declared.

I sighed.

'It's not about degrading myself. It's about doing a mission. Don't you want to find Souta-senpai?'

'Yes, but surely we can fight them?'

'Like I said before- that would be too risky.'

'Girls. Just let me think a moment,' Hiroto pleaded.

'This is a terrible idea Hiroto-kun!'

'No it isn't'

'Yes it is,' Noriko said firmly.

'No it isn't,' I replied equally stubborn.

'Yes, it is!'

'Jeez, give a guy a break.' Hiroto grumbled, 'I don't like it but I think it's the best we're going to get for now.'

'What?' Noriko gasped disbelievingly.

'Is there any other ideas? We have to do something… and I trust Ringo to know what she's doing.'

I nodded in acquiescence to Hiroto.

Yeah… I have no idea what to expect.

'Fine, then I'm coming too!'

'No way Noriko!'

'You're not team leader!'

'No, Ringo is right. It's too dangerous for a novice. Plus… you're a little young…' Hiroto said hesitantly.

'Some men like that,' she said primly giving me a small heart attack.

'Say what?' It wasn't so much that I was shocked that some men liked them young but it was the fact Princess Noriko knew that information.

'I was well versed on what is acceptable interactions between myself and older men,' came the stiff reply thus relieving me of worry.

Actually… I faintly recall a similar conversation in my clan training…

'Still, I really don't think it's the sort of place you think it is,' I affirmed.

'I'm sure I'll do fine.'

'What do you think leader?' I asked turning to Hiroto seeing as I was getting nowhere with Noriko. He had a hunted expression on his face. Noriko interrupted him before he could speak though.

'Wait! It would look strange to see a lone woman. Plus, a lot of those courtesans have young apprentices with them. I can act as one of those and help pour tea and hold her instrument like I've seen at court.'

…I'm pretty sure these aren't the fancy geisha for the court that you're used to but low class whores kid.

'I don't think they're that classy here,' I informed mildly.

'Same principle,' she retorted her nose upturning prissily. I turned again to Hiroto trying to beg with my eyes to not let Noriko go.

'You're team leader Hiroto… it's your decision.'

He looked absolutely no happier having to be the decision maker in this scenario. Unfortunately for me my begging eyes didn't work and that Noriko's argument seemed to prove stronger. Hiroto turned to Noriko.

'You will be safe? You know enough how to do this?' he pleaded.

No.

'Yes,' she replied surely.

I gritted my teeth annoyed. Hiroto looked overwhelmed but resolved to the plan. I hoped we wouldn't regret this ruse.

'Just… don't go too far. Please.'

And just like that. We had an in.

The dinner party was surprisingly mild.

I had expected the whole den of iniquity type deal but it was actually a tasteful set up with delicate ikebana and an assortment of dishes to share on the long table where everyone sat along. The prostitutes were spread out across this table serving the men nearby and pouring bowlful upon bowlful of what appeared to be sake. All in all it looked to me like a company dinner. No one struck me as a shinobi either.

How very pedestrian.

Getting through the door was a heart attack in itself but true to form we were let through without much of a glance after donning our disguises. I seemed to pass muster as a average oiran in the semi-modest 2 layered kimono I decided on as well as the heavy makeup I had caked on to make me look older. I had also chosen that rather than a wig to go back to my "natural" hair colouring and re-dyed it black and on a whim reverted my eyes back to Uchiha black in case the burnt orange was too noticeable. Noriko had her eyes full of questions when I had first pulled off my bandana when we got changed together and she saw my black roots but I got away with an "I have some questions for you later" from her and counted it as a win.

At the dinner party I was assigned midway down the table to serve what I assumed was some of the middlemen of the organisation. It was very trying and I forced myself to smile genially even if I wanted to rip out one of the men's throats.

'My younger sister is not yet of age to be entertaining privately honoured sir,' I said somewhat politely as I once again tried to dissuade him from making lewd offers for Noriko who was dutifully sitting behind me dressed in a plain lightweight kimono.

'Surely she is old enough to graduate hmm? If ya' get what I mean?' he sniggered.

You piece of slime…

We are also simple oiran not geisha. We hold no practices of mizuage,' I replied courteously but quite firmly, 'She will graduate with age not feats of pleasure.'

'Kentarou, leave the entertainers alone,' a deep voice near the head of the table cautioned. I glanced briefly at in that direction and happened to lock eyes with a jade-eyed man. He lifted his sake bowl in a motion of politeness in my direction. I could only respond with a demure smile.

'Damn waste.' The brute that I now know as Kentarou muttered and sent a hungry look at Noriko before downing another shot of sake.

Yeah… keep doing that and I'll help you meet your insides from the outside.

'Aa…' the lanky brown haired man to my left sighed disappointed and started to clean out his ear with his pinky, 'What's the point to having prostitutes at a dinner party anyway if we can't use them?'

In response I gracefully refilled his drink. He eyed the movement with a sceptical look.

'Ya' sure you ain't geisha?

I bowed my head benignly and signalled Noriko to take the empty sake bottle. I was pleased that she was efficient in her movements.

'You have a keen eye sir. I was not always oiran. These troubled times have over filled their pot and now we have to deal with spilt tea in all our houses.'

'Tch. Probably those damn ninja messing with us again. They think they own everything because they got a bit of hoodoo on their side.' the black haired man with a dirty moustache on my opposing side muttered.

'Oh? Does troubles also seek this side of the border? I was unaware that Grass's issues have spread?' I asked curiously with an open-ended question. Anything about shinobi that they could tell me- I wanted to know.

'Ah you pretty thing. There is ninja trouble everywhere. If we didn't have a bloody hands tied with them I'd try and slit all their throats,' dirty mo-man replied condescendingly while giving me a appraising glance.

'Oh. Forgive me. I have only had contact with the shinobi that visit my mother's tea house.'

'…where is that exactly?' Kentarou asked not so subtly still giving Noriko the eye. To her credit though Noriko had not slipped once in her composure of a meek apprentice.

'In the village two days North of here. By the time you find it I'm sure my younger sister here will be of age,' I retorted perhaps a little too tartly because I receive a vicious look from Kentarou but his probably less than friendly reply was halted due to an amused snort. I glanced to the head of the table again to see green-eyes was looking at me curiously. I suddenly held the sensation that he never truly looked away.

'You're a curious one little grass flower,' he said inquisitively. 'You have a Fire look about you though with that pale skin and dark eyes.'

Deflect!

'You often travel to Fire?' I asked politely.

'Some,' he replied softly before whispering quietly to the tea server closest to him. The girl nodded obediently and rose away from her cushion.

'Come, you are too far away for conversation,' he called and motioned to the now free seat near him, 'I wish to know more about you.'

I froze a little at the offer and for a second and blinked a few times trying to figure out whether this was a good thing or a bad thing to happen. I rose gracefully from my own cushion and rounded the table to his side, Noriko dutifully two paces behind me.

'What is your name little grass flower?' Green-eyed man asked politely.

'Nezumi, and yours?'

Green-eyed man just smiled, 'Depends if that your real name or your stage name?'

I paused minutely before replying, 'It is the name I took when my mother took me in.'

'Ah, not your real name then. Well, when you can tell me your real name I will return the favour,' he bargained and took a sip of his sake and his green eyes sparkled.

I felt a little flustered under my guise as I realised that in that moment he was actually a pretty attractive man and I essentially appeared the most like my natural looks than I had been for many years and he was finding me attractive.

I can't help but be a little pleased.

I bit back a smile and busied myself with pouring a nearby gentleman a refill to detach myself again.

'-All I'm saying is that my daughters wedding was delayed three weeks!' I unintentionally eavesdropped from the man as he grumbled to his friend.

'That's ridiculous!' his friend replied, 'You should have just had the wedding in Grass. Far easier to get hitched there.'

'No, no my daughter specifically had her heart set on the temple near the hot springs in Fire. I knew the price was going to be obscene but the screenings took a month longer that necessary! All because we're merchants by trade and we had to prove that we were transporting the dowry and belongings of my daughter rather that illicit products. Just because we look a little Earthen I bet. Bunch of racists they are.'

'You would think it'd be easier if you were used to crossing the borders being a trader of iron,' the courtesan next to him said softly.

'Na, its been 2...3? years now that its been real hard crossing borders with having the right papers and all that. Influx of bandits too which makes it hard. Had to hire some ninja last trip east. Good thing too, we were attacked three days in.'

'Am I boring you?' a voice called from my left and I immediately turned my attention away from the conversation to my right to look at green-eyes.

'My apologies, I was merely lost in thought,' I murmured shamefaced.

He just snorted softly and looked curiously at the man I had eavesdropped on before asking me, 'Does trade interest you?'

...I don't really know what to say?

'Oh, only a little,' I dithered, 'I find it fascinating to hear stories from traders that travel through such fantastic lands.'

He snorted softly.

'Ah, maybe if I told you I run a route of traders your attention would all be mine,' he teased licking a stray drop of sake from the rim of his sake cup.

I blushed furiously and thanked all that is and was that my makeup wouldn't show it.

I really am inexperienced in this.

'You're too kind sir' I replied flustered and almost died at my cheesy response. He just smiled at me though and placed his now empty sake cup near me so I could refill it, which I did daintily. He watched the movement keenly.
'Now my little grass flower,' he said while lazily tracing a finger across the red camellia pattern on his sake cup, 'while only limited to Earth country at the moment I am more than willing to regal some of my tales if it amused you? Some of them may even contain some ninja.'

'Only if it pleases you sir,' I replied softly trying very hard not to seem too keen, 'I would be happy to hear anything you care to say. You most certainly have my full attention.'

With that I sat rapturously as green-eyes regaled me with his stories of which I picked up a couple of underlying facts.

Restrictive visas, price hikes in major cities but not necessarily in country towns, new trade syndicates appearing, shinobi dealing with civilian leaders...

I thought about the hundreds of scrolls littering the walls of my cavern and started matching events. I didn't know the inner details of Earth country like I did Fire, Water, Wind and River but I knew enough that what he was saying was plausible. That was when I realised that it matched way to perfectly to my records and the sequence of events of what Water and Wind country went through.

Oh shit I recognise this pattern!

'Are you ok?' Green-eyes asked politely and I realised he had been trying to get my attention for a couple of minutes.

'Oh I apologise! I just noticed that many of our party seem to be leaving,' I redirected desperately.

What can I do? It seems like Earth is heading into war!?

True enough to my words though; many of the people at the head of the table had left throughout the meal as well as many underlings who had slunk away with a prostitute on their arm. Epically I had noticed a man leave with three just 20 minutes prior.

'So it seems,' he sighed dejectedly after he had take a look around himself, 'I was quite enjoying your delightful company too.'

'You're too kind sir,' I replied now owning that phrase.

We both lulled in conversation but his gaze never left mine. In a flash though his grass green eyes lit up with glee.

'Oh! I know! There is a sort of... after party... at the Kuroi Chou now that this gathering has finished. You could perhaps join?'

I hesitated.

'Oh! But don't worry! You'll of course will be paid well,' he said beguilingly and I'm sure if I actually was a prostitute I'd be happy with the turn of events but I was kind of insulted. I didn't let it show though and thought hard.

It seems like an opportunity not to miss but... Noriko...

I turned my head slightly to observe my shadow who had not broken character to her credit but I could definitely sense her disapproval.

Oh Noriko... I hope you don't start hating me again after this.

'Of course, I'd be delighted,' I replied ignoring the oppressive aura Noriko was now emitting, 'On one condition... I would like to attend without my apprentice.'

Sorry Souta... I promise to look after right after this. There is a bit more at risk and I have no idea why?

xx