After Akamure, it took the genins three more days to reach the next and southernmost fortress along the Fire and Hotsprings border, a sad castle that answered to the name of Okajou. The way was pretty dull and the only good thing Naruto found to the lengthy travel was that his endurance was definitely getting better and better by the day. Also, he supposed the view of Hotsprings' countryside from the eastern plateaux of Fire Country was pretty sweet, the natural onsen and the geysers breaking the morning sunlight and creating countless rainbows. Until noon, the vision was really picturesque.

Naruto wasn't one to be caught by Nature's beauty for long, however, and he was bored relatively soon. Maybe it would have been better if they had actually had the time to stop and enjoy the scenery but as it was, Neji kept pushing them.

After Okajou, they journeyed to the south and west towards their last stop, the port-city of Funadamari. The path ran along the coast and Naruto found the vast expense of water absolutely fascinating. It was calling to him almost.

The cry of the seagulls made him tear up and the blond felt an emptiness within him he had always tried his best to ignore come to the fore. The birds' song, almost mournful or at least it seemed so to the boy, made him long for everything he had never had. A family. A clan. So stricken was he that Tenten had to coax him into moving again.

When night came, he profusely apologized to the weapon mistress. The next day, while he did his best to ignore the seagulls, Naruto still felt a strange melancholy for the rest of the way, until the group reached Funadamari.

The port-town was strangely quiet, much more so than Naruto had imagined a busy harbour would be. As they went up the way that led to the castle, the blond could see the docks were empty and the dockers lazying around with worried faces. When the four genins were welcomed in the fort, the officer had a grim visage.

"Ah, you're bringing the mail," the man said with a small smile, the new not enough to make his worries disappear. "Please, follow me to the supply office."

The genins struggled to keep rolling their eyes. They had heard that too much over the past few days.

While the scroll was emptied of its content, the Uzumaki wandered around the small fortress. All soldiers the boy met seemed worried and at one point, Naruto couldn't hold himself back and approached a young bushi.

"Hum, sorry to disturb you but… Would you tell me why you all look so down?"

The young soldier, who had been looking out at the sea, started and whirled towards Naruto, one hand on the handle of his sword. "Good lord boy, don't scare me like that again or you'll be one head shorter!" The older teen exclaimed.

Naruto scratched the back of his head and rose one hand in a motion he hoped was calming. "Ah sorry, didn't think you were on edge that much. So, what is going on?"

The soldier sighed. "I'm not surprised you don't know. Our city has a problem boy. Do you know of Wave Country?"

Naruto shook his head and the teenager smiled weakly. "Yeah, that's normal. It's a pretty small island to the east of here. They have pretty rich waters though, with corals and pearls and rare fishes and stuff. We buy what they find form them and trade it for our own production. You know, land products like milk and cereals, that kind of stuff. They keep it or sell it to Water Country and we make jewellery with the pearls, the nacre and the pieces of red coral. They buy our stuff in the Fire Lord's court you know!" The young man explained with pride before his face darkened. "But since a while, the only boats that come here are owned by Gato Corporation and they sell the coral and the pearls at a pretty ridiculously high price while they don't buy anything. They say it's cheaper to buy in Tea Country." The older teen muttered before he spat bitterly. "Bullshit."

Naruto grimaced. "I'm sorry. Hard time for your family?"

The soldier nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty lucky I still get my pay because without it we wouldn't make any money. It's been three months since my Pa has sold anything. And us farmers have it easy, we at least have our stuff to eat. Our neighbours sculpt coral and they couldn't afford the new prices. They left already."

The blond grimaced once again. He couldn't imagine leaving Konoha; in spite of everything, the village was his home, with the Old Man, Asuma, Konohamaru, Teuchi and Ayame. To have to leave because of something as dumb as money seemed horrible to him.

"But isn't there like… Another place where they could buy this stuff from?"

The soldier shook his head. "'T was a well-oiled business because Wave is pretty close. I'm sure there are pearls in many places but to make them come from so far away, that'd basically mean the prices would be too high for us."

Naruto scratched his chin. "But then… But then if you're not buying anything from these Gato jerks, how do they even make a profit?"

The teenager smiled at the blond's curse before he sighed. "Apparently, they are making part of the jewellery themselves now. I've heard they are already selling it in Hotsprings to avoid the taxes. It's stupid 'cause merchants from Hotsprings are selling it back to the court of Fire you know?"

Naruto looked at the older boy and scratched his head, his face marred by a frown. "Well… Wow. That sucks. I'm really sorry man, I wish I could do something to help."

The soldier smiled crookedly. "Thanks. It's cool to see someone care."

The blond's eyes immediately narrowed. "Whaddya mean?"

The other teen scoffed. "I told you it's been months right? Well, Gato Corporation is a company of Fire Country. We sent a letter to lord Mukabe, who is the governor of our region but he didn't answer. He is a fat sack of lard and Gato must have paid him to look the other way." He spat again.

Naruto's frown deepened.

"And you know what's worse? The lord stopped paying for your shinobi to come and patrol the coast. Now we only go during the day." The teen rolled his eyes.

The blond looked at the older boy, puzzled. "Hm, sorry but… what does it mean?"

The soldier smirked. "Never been out much huh? Well, the coast is pretty jagged here, with lots of secret creaks and coves. Perfect for smugglers."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You think he is encouraging smuggling?"

The teenager shrugged. "It's obvious. Smugglers act during the night. That's why Konoha used to send us people with dogs, you know. Ina… Inazaku?"

Naruto chortled. "Inuzuka," he corrected.

"Right, those people. Pretty cool. There was always a team sleeping here you know and they would patrol during the night when it's useless for us to go. Pretty good at their job also. But since two months ago, they stopped coming. If that's not proof the lord is a crook, I don't know what is."

The blond wasn't quite listening anymore, already running through various scenarios as Ibiki had taught him. Smuggling meant taxes not paid, it meant Fire Country was losing money and if only a little it could impact Konoha negatively. It was already impacting the village negatively, thought the boy: the tracking team sent here for patrol sounded like a long-standing contract and losing it meant yet less money for Konoha.

The mission office had a team of analysts who kept track of every important contract and deal the village was a part of and losing a stable influx of money should have started an inquiry, no matter if the payment wasn't high. Maybe Konoha had already reacted and negotiations with the Fire Lord were already open? But if the soldier was telling the truth and it seemed like he was, then the problem should have already been corrected. The Hokage had the ear of the Fire Lord after all and in a situation were both the crown and Konoha were losing money, Naruto had no doubt it should have been solved quickly.

So something or someone was making opposition. The question was, who? Who had the power to conceal-.

Naruto froze. Of course.

Shinobi.

The boy forced himself to relax and leaned against the battlements, turning his gaze inward and to the fort's inside. As inconspicuously as he could - and he knew him turning around like that wasn't - he scanned the castle around him. He cursed silently. They had talked too loudly. He had to warn his teammates. Naruto stretched like a lazy cat before he bowed to the older teen and smiled. "Sorry, I didn't get your name," he said with an extended hand. "Mine is Menma."

The soldier returned the blond's smile. "Mine is Shinji."

Naruto nodded. "Well Shinji, it was a pleasure discussing the sea with you." The blond began before he had to throw a harsh glare at the older teen who was looking at him with puzzlement. "Thanks for sharing all this knowledge." Naruto leaned towards the older teen. "Keep a dagger on you at all time Shinji. If the lord is in, then some of the officers here are accomplices."

Shinji's eyes widened but the blond slapped him so fast, his surprise was replaced with anger. "What did you-"

"Don't show anything." Naruto whispered harshly before he made a sorry face; "Ah sorry, there was an annoying fly, sorry, sorry!" The blond apologized. "Remember, stay armed and alert." He whispered again.

The older teenager gulped and nodded. "Y-yeah, sure."

The blond smiled. "Good, good, take care Shinji," he said with a meaningful glare and a gentle wave. "I need to go back to my teammates. The supply office should be done soon after all and we'll need to go."

Gai allowed the transformation to dissipate and it was like sand was falling off his face to reveal his true appearance while the fake clothes he was wearing seemed to melt into a kind of water that evaporated before it reached the ground.

Looking for ninjas in an entire country being, simply put, absolutely impossible, the jounin had resorted to traditional intelligence gathering methods: he had disguised himself as a beggar and listened in on conversations he wasn't necessarily meant to hear.

The peasants of Rice Country were happy. Apparently, Gato Corporation had bought their crops at a slightly higher price than the market's and, being rather poor, the peasants felt rich. The jounin had travelled through many villages and larger towns alike for an entire week and it was the same everywhere: the crops had been entirely bough by Gato Corporation.

Gai knew of only one thing that needed that much food.

An army.

The only problem with this theory was that Gato Corporation was a well known Fire Country company and had no right to field any kind of militia. At least in the Land of Fire.

Who knew what dealings the international company had in other countries? The jounin had instigated however and, if some of the rice was indeed leaving Rice Country through Hotsprings, much of it was stored in large warehouses apparently to stay in Rice. To what end, Gai could only guess but he would need more time to uncover that.

That could have been it, the strange machinations of a business shark, the obscure manipulations of a greedy tycoon. Indeed that could have been it if he hadn't heard other less savoury rumours. Rumours about small villages, lost high up north near the border of Iron, entirely deserted by their population and walled off by the authorities who spoke of diseases and quarantine measures. But the people knew better: these poor souls were used for mysterious schemes and it smelled foul and demonic if the wise elders were to be believed.

No one was talking too loudly about it, however, as whoever was caught doing so was immediately taken in by the police. Police which had been recently entirely re-equipped and outfitted with weapons and armours courtesy of… Gato Corporation.

Foul and demonic, Gai agreed. Unyouthful even.

But as long as it wasn't them and the representative from the Gato Company kept paying good ryo for the rice, the people weren't going to talk too loudly about the affairs of the those in power.

Gai gathered his findings as he fished in one small pouch a ration to eat. He was slowly but surely going through his reserves and his investigation would soon be cut short by simple needs like food if he couldn't procure himself some. He had very little money because it was normally useless to bring anything during a C-rank. The jounin frowned: he should have known young Naruto's first C-rank mission would turn into something unpredictable and youthful.

His team's first C-rank had been quite… Peculiar too.

He was glad he had been able to keep his team in Fire Country this time, where they would be safe.

He could let loose if need be as there would no genin to keep away from danger.

"We are in danger," said Naruto to the assembled genins of team Gai in a low voice. They were all four huddled in the common room, seated at a table with some food in front of them. A few soldiers were eating too as it was the evening first service and there was an ambient noise the blond hoped would cover their discussion.

Rock Lee took a large breath of air and Naruto could hear the boy's lungs ready themselves for one of his loud tirades. "Oh?! And what-"

The blond stuck a hand on Lee's mouth and applied enough chakra for it be stuck, silencing the older green-clad boy. "Shush Lee, I'm serious. I asked some questions and I wasn't discreet enough. You've all noticed people here seem down, the port is looking dead and empty and some houses in the city are deserted. That isn't normal."

The members of team Gai leaned forwards, even Neji, surprised by the intensity of the blond they all thought to be a greenhorn, especially Neji.

"This town makes its business with Wave but there's something happening there. Plus, a recruit told me there's normally one of our tracking team in station here, to patrol the coast and catch smugglers. They haven't been coming for months now."

It took Neji a second to piece every information together, Tenten one second more and Lee's eyes widened after three more. "The fort commander is dealing with smugglers?" The Hyuuga offered.

Naruto shook his head. "I'm sure he's in but apparently, the lord is staying deaf to the locals' call for help. He is in too and he has the kind of authority to interrupt a contract with Konoha. There is also this Gato Corporation involved but I'm not sure how it all ties in."

The Hyuuga nodded. "I know of it. My… Clan," the boy spat the word. "Has dealings with this company."

"Whatever the case," continued Naruto, "the guy who told me all this will end with a dagger between his shoulder blades before dawn and we'll be dealt with too." He said darkly.

Tenten paled at that and Neji's features hardened. "Why would they come after us?"

"Because we are genins but we aren't stupid. Even if I hadn't talked with the guy, wouldn't you tell the Hokage about a city that looks that dead?"

The Hyuuga boy nodded, as did Tenten. "So they will attempt to keep us from returning to Konoha."

Naruto nodded. "I bet we'll ask for the scroll and something will be wrong with it. They'll offer us to spend the night here."

Tenten choked as her eyes widened. "We-we need to do something," she whispered harshly, her voice suddenly pitching high at the end.

Neji glared at the girl. "Tenten, control yourself. You're a kunoichi of the leaf, you'll show our enemies none of your fear," said the Hyuuga evenly.

The girl breathed in and out before she nodded.

"I have a plan," explained Naruto. "I can get us out of here and in the town. Then, we'll use the cover of the night to book it. Neji, we'll need your eyes to guide us and guard our rear."

The Hyuuga nodded. "I can do that. What's your plan?"

The blond smiled. "Ever heard of shadow clones?"

"What's this?" Tenten asked lowly.

Naruto's smile widened. "An awesome jutsu. Drink. You'll need to go to the toilet to make the exchange."

All three older genins gave the blond a puzzled look but Naruto shook his head. "Don't worry. In a moment, I'll go to the toilet. One after the other, you'll go there. Keep it natural and don't go all at the same time, okay?" All nodded their assent. "Good. As I was saying, drink, or at least pretend to. It needs to feel natural. Neji you'll come first and activate your byakugan to tell me if the outside wall is clear. Then, when you see Neji comes out, it will be Tenten's turn to come and you two will be our lookout until I get Lee out."

"Neji will come back? I thought we were escaping, who will replace us?" The girl questioned, sceptical.

"It'll be a clone, like all of us."

"Clones cannot use a transformation jutsu." Neji objected.

Naruto nodded. "Normal clones can't but as I said, it's an awesome jutsu. Trust me. Are we ready?" The blond asked, releasing Lee's mouth.

The green-clad genin nodded with excited enthusiasm. "It's a most youthful plan!" He whisper-shouted, making all three of his companions wince.

"We need to work on your stealth Lee," muttered Tenten.

Neji gave Naruto a hard look. "Don't let us down."

The blond eyed the Hyuuga evenly. "I won't."

AN: apparently, all first C-rank missions do turn to shit. I'll admit without shame that the last chapter was me buying some time: I have nothing planned, writing as I go and it took a while to get my brain going.

Okajou means "hill castle", Funadamari means "haven". Appropriate names for appropriate locations.

Serious Gai is serious. Leave a review if you're youthful.