"Close protection means guarding the client at close range."
But Drake?
He didn't just guard her — he hugged the client and slept like that all night.
"So your idea of close protection is literally clinging to the client's body?"
Kakashi's tone was sharp, filled with accusation.
"Drake, do you even realize that this alone is enough to end your ninja career?"
"Huh? My ninja career is over?"
Drake's eyes lit up. His heart almost leapt with joy.
So I'm not a ninja anymore?
This is the best news I've heard all year!
"Then I'll head back to the village first."
He turned and walked off without even looking back, not giving anyone a chance to stop him.
Splashing—
Unfortunately, he had barely taken a few steps before rain poured down from the sky.
All thanks to Kakashi's cursed weather forecast from last night.
Under the Makeshift Shelter
All five of them sat in silence.
Only the sound of rain drumming against the wooden roof filled the air.
Kakashi folded his arms, staring at the ceiling. In his heart, even if Drake apologized, he still felt unworthy of the title "ninja".
Obito was conflicted.
He wanted Drake to admit fault… but he really didn't want to see that smug look on Kakashi's face.
Rin felt the same.
Logically, Kakashi wasn't wrong. Emotionally though, she didn't want Drake to leave.
Then — to everyone's surprise — the one who broke the silence was Meinazu.
"He only did that to force me to speak."
With that one sentence, Drake's negative image instantly crumbled.
Kakashi's face burned.
For the first time, he realized…
He was the clown.
"So he wasn't fooling around… he was extracting information for the mission."
Kakashi clenched his jaw, feeling awkward beyond measure.
Meanwhile, Obito's inner voice wailed:
Even hugging a beauty can be justified as professionalism?! I want that kind of mission too!
Drake, however, was busy with something far more important.
Today's system buff.
Strength: (x2) → Genin Level
"My weakest stat is strength… even doubled, it's still only genin-tier."
He wasn't too bothered.
Random was random. No point crying over it.
The rain soon stopped.
Drake stood up, but Kakashi stepped forward, blocking him — clearly wanting to apologize, yet unable to say the words.
Then Obito grabbed one of his arms. Rin grabbed the other.
The message was clear.
Leaving?
Not happening.
Back on the Road
As soon as they set off again, Kakashi approached him.
"Any new intel?"
Drake stared at him like he'd been possessed.
Weren't you just ready to bury me five minutes ago?
And now you're politely asking for information?
But still, he shared his thoughts. After all, if he couldn't solve it, tossing it to Kakashi wasn't such a bad move.
"Why didn't Meinazu post an A-rank mission instead of a C-rank?" Drake asked quietly.
"That's actually normal," Kakashi replied.
"How is that normal?" Drake frowned.
"It's because of the Five Great Ninja Villages Pact."
He explained carefully:
"There's an agreement between the five major villages. According to it, jōnin are not allowed to enter neutral countries."
"And if they do?" Drake asked.
"That would mean breaking the pact — and other villages would have justification to send their jōnin in as well."
Drake rubbed his chin slowly.
This was the first time he'd heard of such a treaty.
And immediately, several loopholes became painfully obvious.
What if a jōnin infiltrated in disguise?
How would anyone even know?
If Kumogakure sent hidden elites into the Land of Hot Water and silently overthrew the regime, then quietly deployed troops along the Fire Country border…
And Konoha remained obediently bound to the pact?
By the time they reacted, the enemy might already be standing at the gates.
This agreement wasn't peace.
It was an invitation for backstabbing.
"Who came up with this brilliant idea?" Drake asked dryly.
Kakashi answered honestly.
"It was drafted by the Third Hokage and refined with Danzo's assistance before being approved by the other villages."
Drake: "..."
No wonder Konoha always gets hit first.
After that conversation, a growing sense of unease settled in Drake's chest.
Being pessimistic by nature, he always prepared for the worst.
And his conclusion was simple:
What if the Land of Hot Water has already fallen?
If that was the case, then Team Nine walking in like this wasn't a mission.
It was four lambs strolling into a lion's den.
Meanwhile — Border of Hot Water & Fire Country
On the eastern side of the river stood Ashikawa Shinichi, calmly gazing toward the lands of Fire Country.
This river separated the two nations.
Footsteps approached.
"Lord Shinichi, the border forces have assembled," a subordinate reported.
"How many?" he asked without turning around.
"Thirty chūnin in total."
"Only thirty…" Shinichi frowned.
After the rebellion seized control, internal purges had drastically reduced their manpower.
And these thirty chūnin were now the entirety of the Hot Water border defense.
"Deploy all of them here."
His voice turned cold.
"Remember — any Konoha ninja crossing into Hot Water… kill them on sight."
This route led straight toward the Daimyo's capital.
Under the restraint of the Five Villages Pact, any Konoha genin or chūnin entering this territory was as good as dead.
And this order…
Did not come from the rebel leader Kawashiro.
It came from Kumogakure.
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