Chapter 18.
"Come on, old man you had to see someone suspicious?" Naruto whined to the chef. "I'll tell you again, many people come through here." He replied with crossed arms and a tick of annoyance on his head. "Naruto that's enough. We won't find anything here." Chusie said calming the blonde and walked out. "You sure, he was close to spilling his secrets," Naruto said as he caught up. "Sure...and what secrets could a chef have?" Amane replied sarcastically. "Like what he cooks, that stuff isn't food it's goop." He stated with cross arms before someone knocked him upside the head with a flying ladle. "I heard that you brat!" the cook shouted. "hehe. Maybe we should get going." The blonde chuckled sheepishly.
They spent the next few hours searching the camp and asking questions to no avail. "Jeez, you think someone would know something!" Exclaimed Naruto with Amane concurring. "Unfortunately that's where we find ourselves," Chusei responded. "Plus whoever the spy is will probably be on guard now." Amane stated with a frown, "Yes, this is worrying if we don't find them who knows what they could do." Chusei spoke before going deep in thought after a quiet moment Naruto spoke. "How about we speak to the second division that's the only thing we can do." Naruto pitched to the surprise of his teammates. "What?" he asked once he noticed the looks his friends were sending him.
"It's just that's a good plan coming from you for once." Amane taunted. "Come on, I'm not that bad." He replied to which both his friends gave him a deadpan stare. "Do we need to bring up the hornet disaster?" Amane answered with a large smirk, "That's not my fault how was I supposed to know there was a large nest there!" Naruto yelled back as his friends laughed at the memory.
"That's enough Amane you shouldn't tease Naruto for an accident," Chusei spoke trying and failing to hide a smile. "I hate both of you!" Naruto said with a pout that drew a laugh from both of them. "I'm sorry" Chusei spoke as he and Amane were still chuckling at the poor blonde. "Let's just go already," he replied before walking off with the duo behind him.
The trio arrived at the makeshift prison a few minutes later to see how crumby it looked. "This is the prison," Naruto said as he deadpanned at the building. "Well with the sudden move can you blame them," Amane responded before they entered the building and walked up to a man sitting at the desk. "Yes is there something I can help with?" He asked as he spotted the three enter. "We're here to ask the second division some questions," Chusei stated. "Ah, I received word from the leader you might come by. Just be aware the guards will be with you while you question them." He stated while eyeing the three in front of him with the three agreeing before being escorted to the cells.
Once the three arrived at the cells they stepped forward and looked at the second division. "Hello," Naruto spoke up first getting their attention. "What do you want?" The captain asked with a scowl. "We think you guys were set up so I apologize. We're trying to make this right so we need info." Naruto stated as Chusei now took the initiative. "Did you see anyone around the second division that shouldn't be there?" He questioned while the captain pondered.
"I never noticed anyone suspicious around the camp but now that I think Kaito the quartermaster was always coming by." He uttered with a hand on his chin. "What was he there for?" Chusei asked with narrowed eyes. "He'd usually come by to blow off some steam with us and even brought us sake. Kaito seemed like an okay guy so maybe he knows something." The captain suggested as the trio shared glances and nodded. "Thank you for this info we will see if we find anything," Chusei replied.
Moments later the trio arrives at the supply depo to find Kaito sitting behind a desk filling out paperwork. "Excuse me!" Amane semi-shouted getting his attention after standing there for a few minutes. "If you here to resupply you need the proper form." He groaned as the trio sweatdropped. "Sorry we're not here for that we have some questions to aks you." She corrected. "Umm, ask away," Kaito said confused. "We wanted to know why you've been hanging around the second division?" She asked the man, "Why? I'm friends with the captain." Kaito replied in an innocent tone, "Well they were arrested for spying you wouldn't know anything about that?" Amane asked with narrow eyes. "Really? That's a shame but I'm sorry I don't know anything." He replied with a small frown. The trio exchanged glances before saying goodbye and departing.
After walking away from the depo Chusei turned to Amane and Naruto. "Thoughts?" he inquired, "I think he's lying while he sounded sad. Something about him feels off to me." Naruto responded, "Agreed, he seems a little too innocent." Amane added, "True but we don't have enough evidence to say anything solid." Chusei infromed them, "We could search his tent, maybe he hid something there?" Naruto suggested while Chusei disagreed. "I doubt we'll find anything there. Maybe we keep an eye on the depo and see." He returned with both agreeing.
Hours later it was near midnight before they saw someone leaving the depo. Following the figure it made it's way out of the camp and into the woods before stopping into a clearing. As the light from the moon shone down it revealed the figure to be Kaito. Minutes later two Loyalists appeared and walked over. "Report!" One nin groaned out. "I haven't been able to gather any info at the moment. I also believe the others suspect me now." He replied nervously while the two men looked at one another. "I see, it seems you spying has reached its end." He stated which made Kaito smile. "So does that mean I can go back to the village now?" He asked excitedly before noting the lack of an answered and frowned. "Right?" He asked once more looking at both of them. "Sorry, kage said no loose ends." The man answered before throwing a hail of kunai at Kaito.
Kaito closed his eyes as the kunai drew closer until he heard a bunch of clinks and opened his eyes to see a wall of earth in front of him. "Apologies, we can't allow you to kill him." A voice said before stepping out into the clearing. "You! You're one of the brats who came by earlier." Kaito shouted while pointing at him, "Yes and we figured you'd do something if we waited around." He stated as his teammates appeared next to him. "Amane you secure Kaito, Naruto and I will handle these two." He said as they dashed towards their targets.
Amane vs Kaito
Kaito tried to vanish once the two loyalists and others were distracted but Amane quickly caught up. "Dam, can you buzz off!" He shouted while throwing a hail of shurikens and kunai at her. Hiding behind a tree she shot three earth spikes at him forcing him to dodge and into a clearing. "Eath style: pebble barrage!" She shouted and pelting him. "Grr." is all he growled before rushing her and making a wide swing. Ducking the swing she struck him in the gut winding him before roundhouse kicking him and separating the two. This time making the charge she rushed him while he was dazed and gathered some chakra and gathered some earth around her legs. "Earth style: stone legs!" Amane shouted before kicking him in the stomach again and launching across the clearing and traping him with some earth chakra. "Got ya! Let's hope the others are having an easy time like me." She said with a chuckle before tying him up and dashing towards the camp.
Naruto vs ninja 1
"Shesh," The blonde said while dodging a hail of water bullets, "We just had to end up near a lake!" He yelled before dodging another round. "is it too late to say I'm sorry! Naruto yelled out, "Not a chance you brat! That was a low blow." He shouted in reply rubbing his stomach. "it's not my fault you feel for a simple bushin!" Naruto snapped back before running to a new tree. "Stay still you rat." The man yelled, "Fine let's bring this to a close. Shadow clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted before spawning two clones and rushing the man. Trading blows here and there the clone landed a few blows before being dispelled. Hitting upwards and breaking his guard Naruto quickly followed up with a kick to his gut and launching air bullet and knocking him out. "Hehe seems like you taijutsu was lacking," Naruto said before tying him up and making his way towards the camp.
Chusei vs ninja 2
Both chusei and the ninja were engaged in a fierce Taijutsu battle with the enemy tanking the blows and Chusei dodging most strikes. "Ha, it seems you're a glass cannon." The man smirked while continuing the barrage. Chusei neither responded nor cared as he carefully studied his opponent. Taking a quick moment to throw a faint to then follow up a punch to the man's left side earning a gasp. "Bastard!" He roared before charging, taking a moment to gather chakra Chusei drew some to his fingertips before flicking some water at the man's eyes stalling him. While stunned he kicked at the man's legs bringing to his knees before being put into a chokehold. Struggling to fight he stood up with chusei hanging off his back before slowing and falling over. "That was close, a little more and I would be done." He gasped catching his breath before taking the enemy with him to the camp.
Once meeting back at the camp the trio quickly took the prisoners to Mei waking her up and explaining the situation. "I see, I once again have to thank you." She sighed while Aoi nodded after being called and briefed. "We were just doing our job mam," Naruto said while scratching the back of his head. "Well still thank you for your efforts. I will have the guards process them and gained whatever intel they can." She said before walking off to issue orders. "Well, this has been a pain." Naruto stated, "Agreed!" Amane added. "Well I don't know about you two but I will sleep for a week," Chusei said before walking off with the two following.