"If my guess is right, Cloud Nin probably thinks you've mastered the Eight Gates Technique!"
Minato Namikaze finally voiced the reason behind Kumogakure's sudden retreat.
"They're probably afraid you'd go all out and trade your life for the Third Raikage's!"
Drake rubbed his chin, feeling their logic was downright ridiculous.
Just because his taijutsu was strong, they jumped to that conclusion?
Still, this was only Minato's speculation — not necessarily the full truth.
By noon, reinforcements from the village arrived.
Team Nine and the other squads cremated their fallen comrades and began the journey back to Konoha.
Along the way, Rin pulled Yuugao Uzuki into Team Nine's formation and found Drake.
"Drake."
"Yeah?"
"Before he died… Hayate said you should take care of Yuugao."
"How do you know that?" Drake asked suspiciously.
He was sure only he had read Hayate's letter.
"Here. See for yourself."
Rin handed him another sheet of paper.
Drake went silent.
So the guy didn't write just one farewell letter…
He really had time on his hands before dying.
He scanned the contents.
Yuugao, I messed up. I didn't dodge in time… the explosive trap destroyed my organs.
I won't survive. But I hope you will.
I entrust my wish to protect you to Drake.
He owns a massive bathhouse. Obito said it's worth at least a hundred million.
Even though I'm dying, I still hope you'll find someone to protect you.
I'll bless you and Drake from the afterlife.
My blood is running out...
After reading, Drake glanced at Yuugao, expressionless.
Then he walked over to Obito and patted his "good brother" on the shoulder.
BAM! THUD!
Without any warning, Obito was slapped face-first into the ground.
"Drake?! Why did you hit me?" Obito spat out dirt, utterly baffled.
"Think about it yourself."
Leaving that behind, Drake walked off.
"Tch… loose lips always bring disaster," Anko muttered with her hands in her pockets.
"Green Bean! I've tolerated you long enough!" Obito jumped up, sleeves rolled.
But seeing Drake already gone, he gave up.
"I'll let you off this time!"
"Heh."
Konoha Village
Inside the village, the atmosphere was completely different.
The streets were lively, full of laughter and noise — no trace of war at all.
The moment Drake returned, a masked ninja blocked his path.
"Lord Danzo wants to see you."
"Huh?"
To be honest, Drake nearly forgot he was still Danzo's elite undercover agent.
Under the strange gazes of others, he was escorted away by Root operatives.
"Sensei, will Drake be okay?" Rin asked anxiously.
"Don't worry. He'll be fine," Minato replied calmly.
He was fairly certain Danzo was just looking for an excuse to target him, not Drake.
Unfortunately for Danzo, his judgment was terrible — choosing Drake as a spy was practically inviting chaos.
Private Room – Yakiniku Restaurant
Slices of meat sizzled on the grill, aroma filling the air.
"Sit," Danzo said, unusually gentle.
This alone made Drake deeply uncomfortable.
"I already know everything about your mission," Danzo declared the moment Drake sat down.
"You know everything?" Drake blinked in shock.
He hadn't even submitted his report yet.
"I called you here because I need you to contribute to Root."
"Wait! Lord Danzo! I also have something to ask first!"
Drake hurriedly interrupted, planning to drain Danzo before being drained himself.
"Oh? Speak."
"I want Yuugao Uzuki to join Team Nine."
"Again?" Danzo frowned.
"If I remember correctly, Team Nine already has five members."
"Adding another means they'd be the size of two squads. That's difficult."
"I see…" Drake sighed, then continued,
"Yuugao is weak and has no team willing to take her. How about letting her join Root instead?"
Danzo's eyelid twitched.
Weak people join Root?
Does he think Root is a recycling bin?
But thinking ahead to his real objective, Danzo decided to compromise.
"This is the last time. Six members. That's Team Nine's absolute limit."
"Thank you, Lord Danzo!" Drake beamed in satisfaction.
Setting aside Danzo's personality and morals… Drake had to admit — the man was quite easy to exploit.
"Now," Danzo said coldly, "it's time for you to repay Root."
"Huh?"
"Root is experiencing financial difficulties. For the sake of the village, you must show devotion and hand over your bathhouse to Root."
Hand over the bathhouse?!
Danzo… do you have any idea how fast you're sprinting toward death?
Drake hesitated deliberately, deep in "thought".
Danzo's face immediately darkened.
"You refuse?"
"No!"
Drake shook his head.
"You're too late. I already gave the bathhouse to Kushina-senpai."
"As expected…" Danzo sighed.
Days earlier, Root had investigated the Happy Hot Springs and found it converted into a women-only bath.
He had assumed Drake did it — but it turned out Kushina had beaten him to it.
"Damn Minato…"
Danzo naturally pinned the blame on Minato. After all, Minato and Kushina were lovers.
Stealing even a student's bathhouse — utterly shameless.
Losing interest, Danzo waved his hand.
"You can leave."
"I'll be going then~ Don't forget about the extra member," Drake reminded him cheerfully before walking out.
Outside the restaurant, Drake wandered for a while. After confirming nobody was tailing him, he headed straight for Minato's residence.
"You want my bathhouse, huh?"
"Then don't blame me for what comes next."
He knocked on the door, then paused.
"Oh right… Sensei should still be reporting the mission."
"No rush. I'll just wait inside."
With that thought, Drake casually removed the door and stepped into the house.
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