AN: Thank you to everyone who has followed and favorited! The poll remains open for those of you who have yet to vote on whether or not they want Naruto and Ryuuzetsu to be a pairing. The poll will be closing a week after this chapter is posted. Now, on to Chapter VI.

I do not own Naruto.

Chapter VI

Two arms firmly gripped Naruto. Before Naruto could relent the arms threw Naruto against the nearby wall. With the assailant in plain sight Naruto could see that it was…. Ryuuzetsu? Tapping her foot impatiently with a stern look on her face Ryuuzetsu stared up at Naruto. He could clearly see from the look on her face that she was not pleased. About what though? His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Ryuuzetsu say, "Do you remember what the plan was before the mission?"

Naruto just returned Ryuuzetsu's question with a quizzical expression. He was completing the mission. They were to do reconnaissance of the area thought to be Mui's recruiting ground. It even proved fruit when Naruto was able to grant himself a meeting with one of Mui's recruiters. Ryuuzetsu gave an exaggerated sigh and walked towards the doorway of the stairs. Naruto immediately followed her, nearly walking on her heels. When they reached the hallway, Naruto stepped in front of Ryuuzetsu, successfully cutting her off.

Naruto's face held a serious expression but his eyes emitted a soft visage. "What do I do wrong?" Naruto questioned softly. They were not surrounded by the concrete walls of their cell. They could not afford to communicate loudly.

Ryuuzetsu raised her eyebrow when his question reached her ears. "Do you not remember the small briefing we had before entering the building?" Ryuuzetsu reciprocated his questioning tone. "Do you not remember our plan of attack when we entered the recreation center?" Ryuuzetsu questioning tone became sterner with every word spoken.

Upon seeing Naruto retain his serious facial expression Ryuuzetsu finally exclaimed her point, "We were supposed to stay within each other's line of sight!" Ryuuzetsu was seething at this point. "You disappeared into the custodian's closet and were gone for close to twenty minutes. I had no idea what had befallen upon you. I didn't know if you discovered something, were in a fight, or even worse, uncovered by Mui."

Naruto felt like the weight of the prison was sitting on his shoulders right now. He had left Ryuuzetsu out to dry in the middle of an operation. In the field that could easily mean death. Naruto had made a rookie mistake. He had gotten ahead of himself when he discovered a lead. He wanted to chalk this up as a result of him working alone for so long. Naruto knew though, he was an experienced ninja. He should not be committing errors like this.

Naruto opened his mouth to respond to Ryuuzetsu's words but he was cut off. "I don't want to hear anything from you right now. We are going to walk back to the cell in silence and maybe, just maybe, we can discuss what you discovered later." At the end of her statement she walked around Naruto and down the staircase. She never looked back as she walked down and out of the stairwell.

-Later that Night-

It was late, an hour past lights out. Most of the guards had left and only a few had stayed to patrol the building. Naruto was on the verge of falling asleep when he felt a soft cushion like object hit him in the face. Opening his eyes, the first thing Naruto saw was a pillow laying on the concrete floor of the cell. Looking across his cell he saw the form of Ryuuzetsu, calmly sitting on her cot. The silence was broken when Ryuuzetsu said, "What did you discover in the closet?"

Naruto pushed the blanket off his body and sat up on the edge of his bed. Reaching down Naruto grasped the pillow on the ground of the cell. He leaned back upwards after reaching the pillow and peered across towards Ryuuzetsu's side of the room. Noticing the absence of Ryuuzetsu's pillow Naruto could easily infer that Ryuuzetsu had thrown her pillow at him to awake him from his slumber. Slowly standing up Naruto trekked the length of the cell until he was seated adjacent to Ryuuzetsu.

"I think you dropped something," Naruto said cheekily to Ryuuzetsu who did not seem amused by his little ploy.

"I will ask you again, what did you discover in the janitor's closet?" Ryuuzetsu's severe tone left no room for a witty response.

"I came across a meeting between a prisoner and Mui. From what information I was able to gain from the prisoner, Mui has asked a prisoner to recruit sealers and inmates with high chakra levels." Naruto paused to take a breath, but before he could continue Ryuuzetsu started talking, "And he just readily gave you this information?" Ryuuzetsu's skeptical tone matched her doubtful expression.

"No, I had to persuade him with my right fist and convince him with my left." Naruto's somewhat vague message got the point through to Ryuuzetsu. He had tortured the man.

"Was that all the information you could attain?" Ryuuzetsu's expression seemed to shift to one of interest. She wasn't as mad as she was prior in the day. She had somewhat returned to her normal self.

"I was also able to set up a meeting between myself and the recruiter. I molded just enough chakra to disguise my appearance. I was able to fool the recruiter into thinking that I was someone else." Naruto paused in his story to observe Ryuuzetsu's reaction. She moved her right hand up to her chin and a thoughtful expression was painted on her face.

"If you are able to disguise yourself, do you think you would be able to change the appearance of an object, say a pillow?" Naruto's mind started working in overdrive to try and comprehend Ryuuzetsu's idea. Theoretically, it was possible. If he can disguise himself he, he should be able to disguise a small inanimate chakraless object.

Deciding to speak his mind, Naruto said, "I believe I can? Why?" Naruto did not have to wait two seconds before Ryuuzetsu started to describe her idea, "If you can disguise your pillow to be my sleeping figure then I will be able to explore the prison one night and look for the mystical box. We suspect the room where I would need to go. I would just need to find a way in." Naruto looked up at the ceiling of their cell like there was an answer written on it. The idea was good at face value. There were so many unknown variables though. What would she find in that part of the building? How heavily guarded is it? Were there traps laid? Too many questions with few answers pivoted the idea from good to bad instantly.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. There are too many unknown variables. We have no intel on the area you are trying to infiltrate. Assuming I am holding the disguise, you will have no backup should you get in an unfavorable situation." Naruto's worries didn't seem to shake Ryuuzetsu.

Ryuuzetsu just brushed off his statement. "I have been in situations similar to this. I can handle it. You don't need to worry." Naruto wanted to scream at her for saying that. To assume a mission would go similarly to another was idiocy. That is how ninjas die. They assume. False assumptions are what put a ninja in a deadly situation.

Ignoring Naruto's disapproval Ryuuzetsu said, "We should start the operation tomorrow night. The sooner we locate this box, the sooner we can complete the mission, the sooner we can escape." Ryuuzetsu stare tore into Naruto. Her look challenged him to disagree with her.

"Would you be willing to wait an extra day for your operation?" Naruto asked sincerely, hoping to get her to change her mind.

Ryuuzetsu thought he was challenging her resolve. He was not in charge of this mission. They were partners and she was not going to back down. "Pray tell why I should wait an extra day to infiltrate the room of our objective?" Naruto could tell she was not pleased with his question. It seemed to piss her off.

"Before we went off on a tangent with your cushion disguise idea there was something that I was never able to mention." Ryuuzetsu's demeanor changed from her angry visage to that of eyebrow raised questioning look. "When I conversed with the recruiter I was able to set up a meeting between myself and the recruiter. I will be meeting with him tomorrow. Hopefully, I can get myself recruited and placed on the inside, working for Mui on this project."

Ryuuzetsu nodded along with Naruto's words and then replied, "If that is true then I do believe you are right. Your meeting should come first before I try and infiltrate the room."

Naruto breathed out a sigh of relief. He really did not want to be fighting with his teammate for the rest of the mission. Fighting only made decision making and agreeing more difficult. Naruto was brought out of his thoughts when Ryuuzetsu said, "Now, since all that is settled, get off my bed. I want to get some sleep."

Naruto decided to have some fun. She was just mad at him, hopefully pushing her buttons would not make her angry again. "Really now? Are you sure this wasn't some late not plot to get in the same bed as me?" Naruto slowly scooted himself along the mattress, slowly getting closer to her.

Ryuuzetsu's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. So, he wanted to play a game. She was going to show him just how good of a player she was. "Wow, it looks like you figured me out, Na-ru-to." Ryuuzetsu copied Naruto's movement to the point where she was almost flush against him, Naruto could feel her breath against his neck. "The question now is, what are you going to do about it?" Naruto shivered after every consonant and vowel reached his ear drums. Naruto now knew that she recognized what he was doing and played him like an instrument.

Naruto had one last card to play though, he would not be outdone. Turning his body so he was facing Ryuuzetsu, Naruto placed both of his hands beneath Ryuuzetsu's legs and picked her up. He lifted her up and placed her down right on his lap. Their faces were millimeters from each other. Tense silence echoed throughout their cell. Naruto and Ryuuzetsu tilted their heads in unison and then, they met in the middle. Or so Ryuuzetsu thought. Immediately pulling back Ryuuzetsu saw that she was no longer sitting on and holding Naruto. No, she was sitting on her pillow, holding and had kissed Naruto's pillow. Her ire only rose when she turned around to see Naruto laying across his bed waving to her.

"I didn't know you had a thing for pillows. Just make sure you two aren't too loud tonight. You wouldn't want any of the other prisoner to find out about your little adventure." The cheeky tone Naruto used when he taunted her just infuriated her more.

Angrily, Ryuuzetsu stood up with the pillow in hand and stomped across the jail cell. She stopped herself in front of Naruto's laying form. She deposited of the pillow on his bed and retreated towards her bunk. Without a word, she pulled the blanket over her body and went to sleep.

Naruto knew he went too far with that last joke. He knew he shouldn't have played with fire. Hopefully, he wakes up tomorrow without several stab wounds in his abdomen.

-The Next Day-

The bell rung loudly throughout the cafeteria. Naruto looked up from his repulsive meal to try and find Ryuuzetsu. She refused to speak to him when they awoke in the morning and once they were released into the cafeteria she disappeared. The metaphorical thin ice Naruto was walking across the previous night had broken and he was now sinking in the metaphorical water.

Sighing in resignation, Naruto stood up and retraced his steps back to the recreation building he was at the previous day. Along the way he couldn't help but think of a way to try and remedy his situation with Ryuuzetsu. The mission would be infinitely harder to complete if they were mute with each other. He pushed those thoughts into the back of his mind as he approached the recreation building. Naruto needed to be focused. In order for the mission to continue he needed to impress the prisoner colluding with Mui.

Walking through the first floor of the building Naruto didn't waste a look either way, he was focused on reaching his current objective. Climbing the staircase, Naruto made it to the second floor of the building. Everything was the same as yesterday. The tables, the chairs, the walls, they all remained constant, the only difference was the occasion.

Crossing the room, Naruto took the most efficient route to the custodian's door. Grasping the cold metal handle, Naruto inhaled deeply and then exhaled, exhaling all the anxiety and nervousness built up in his body.

Naruto opened the door and entered the closet. He recognized the unwelcoming pipes adjourning the walls and the cold concrete floor. For the second time in a minute, Naruto deeply inhaled and exhaled, desperately trying to expel all of his nervousness. He knew delaying the inevitable would only make him more nervous, Naruto steeled himself. "I can do this." Naruto kept repeating the mantra over and over to himself as he trekked down the long hallway.

Before he knew it, Naruto was at the opening of the walkway and had entered the open room. Sitting crossed legged at the other end of the room was the darker skinned man from yesterday. Naruto slowed his stroll to a complete stop. Standing several yards away from the man, Naruto waited a minute for him to acknowledge his presence.

After a minute passed, Naruto reached deep within his throat and loudly cleared it. When the noise died out the inmate raised his head. Without a word he shifted his feet so he could stand up. Once he stood up his eyes met Naruto's blue orbs. A second later Mui's worker broke the silence, "Who the fuck are you?" The phrase was said with an imploring tone. It did not sound aggressive by any means.

"I was told by a little bird that I would find a man here that could give me a way out. Was I misinformed?" Naruto questioned the man, trying to act oblivious to the fact that he knew this man was his way inside.

The man chuckled before he opened his mouth to speak, "You never answered my question so I'm going to assume that you are Uzumaki?" The man's tone was nearly identical to Naruto's, interested and questioning.

Answering the man in front of him, Naruto said, "Yes, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. Now, can you answer my question?" Naruto crossed his arms, giving off the aura of an impatient man. Naruto truly wanted this meeting to get over with as soon as possible. Yesterday, the two quarreling inmates spoke of a riot happening today. Naruto wanted to see this riot for himself. He might be able to do a little more reconnaissance of the compound during the mess.

Naruto was broken out of his musings when the man responded, "Yes, I can be your way out. Do you live up to your legacy though? I need seal masters, not some kid riding on the tails of his ancestors." The man's word held truth. He did not know anything more about Naruto than his name. To get inside Naruto would have to play one of his cards. He would have to show his sealing abilities. Hopefully, he will not have to fight Mui later on. The element of surprise can be instrumental to the assured success of a mission.

Deciding the best course of action was to show one of his abilities Naruto took his left hand and reached over to his right sleeve. As if he wanted to build suspense, Naruto slowly rolled up the sleeve of the orange jumpsuit he was wearing. He soon replicated the motion on his left arm with his right hand. Now on show for the inmate was Naruto's collection of seals. His previously hidden arms were on display for the dark-skinned man.

The man's eyebrows shot up to the point where they were touching his hair line. He failed to hide how surprised he was. The different seals on Naruto's arms could barely be identified by the man. He thought one of them was a storage seal but the matrices around it made him do a double take. There was always that 0.01% chance that these were just intricate tribal tattoos but that thought was soon banished from the man's mind.

"I apologize. It appears you do live up to your ancestors." The man's eyes scanned Naruto's arms. His eyes trailed them up and down, scanning every brush mark.

"I'm happy I proved my worth but you still never told me how you would help me out of this joint." Naruto's expression steeled and his figure now did its best to intimidate the smaller man.

"Ok, Ok, Ok…" The man gestured for Naruto to calm down. It appeared as though his intimidation tactic worked. "In several days' time meet back at this very spot during free time. I am collecting sealers for a special project commissioned by Mui. I don't know what the project entails but he promised shorter prison sentences and possibly freedom to those who cooperate." The man smiled, he was probably thinking about those last five words that he spoke. "…possibly freedom to those who cooperate." Naruto didn't blame him for being selfish. In this world there were few people you could rely on.

Naruto took a deep breath and tried to hold his commanding visage, "Is that all?" Naruto's commanding tone left no room for a sarcastic response.

"Yes, that is all," responded the dark-skinned man.

Seeing as the conversation and meeting had come to an end Naruto turned on the balls of his feet and walked towards the closet door. He didn't need anything else from this man. He had accomplished what he came here to do. He had a way into Mui's project, he had a way to access the box, he had a way to end this mission sooner than later.

-Until Next Time-

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