The barbecue gathering dragged on until afternoon.
Every member of Team Nine left completely satisfied, belching contentedly.
The one who ate the most was White Zetsu—with Rin taking a close second.
Outside the barbecue restaurant, Drake firmly clasped Fugaku Uchiha's hand.
"Clan Head Fugaku, you really went all out for us."
"What's this? If you liked it, we can do it again next time," Fugaku replied politely.
"Then it's settled," Drake said seriously.
"Uh… hehe, of course!" Fugaku's smile stiffened slightly.
I was just being polite—why did he take it seriously?!
After Drake and the others left, Fugaku wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"This Drake… he's even bolder than I am."
Watching their retreating figures, Fugaku sighed.
When he retaliated against Danzō, he did it in the shadows—suspected, perhaps, but never provable.
But Drake?
He openly defied an ANBU order, completely disregarding the vice-captain's command.
That was practically slapping the Third Hokage in the face.
What shocked Fugaku even more—
That ANBU messenger had been gone for so long… and there was still no follow-up.
What did that imply?
Unthinkable.
"I don't even know who approved his entry into ANBU," Fugaku muttered, shaking his head.
Drake's audacity had reached a whole new level.
"Fugaku, next time we should invite Drake alone," Mikoto Uchiha suggested thoughtfully.
"That… actually makes sense," Fugaku nodded after some thought.
In ANBU Team Nine, Drake was clearly the core. Even Obito practically worshipped him.
"Then next time, we invite only him."
"Oh right, we still have that daimyō-exclusive wine at home," Mikoto added.
"But Drake isn't of age," Fugaku frowned.
"Then you drink the wine, and he drinks tea," Mikoto smiled.
"…That works," Fugaku agreed.
Befriending Drake meant befriending Minato, Kushina, and the entire Team Nine.
Pure benefits. No downsides.
On the Street
Team Nine walked side by side, occupying the entire road.
"Under Drake's leadership… don't we kind of feel like village bullies?" Obito muttered.
The others nodded in agreement.
"At first, I was threatened into this," Anko chimed in. "But now I've fallen into the pit and can't climb out anymore—sigh."
"Me too," Yamato added weakly.
He was the youngest—threatened, intimidated, and almost buried alive by Drake.
At this point, Yamato felt so morally compromised that even jumping into a river wouldn't wash him clean.
Drake ignored their complaints.
Because he suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right… didn't an ANBU order us to assemble earlier?" Drake asked, puzzled.
"..."
Team Nine collectively collapsed.
They notified us at noon—it's almost evening now. You're only remembering this NOW?!
ANBU Base · Main Hall
Team Nine arrived fashionably late.
The moment they entered, several newly recruited ANBU glanced over.
"That guy in the middle—that's Drake, right?"
"I heard he's a squad leader."
"Not someone you want to provoke."
"Vice-Captain Luli is here."
The whispers instantly stopped.
Fire Luli stepped into the hall and fixed her gaze on Team Nine.
"Drake! As an ANBU squad leader, you openly defied orders. Do you have an explanation?" she demanded coldly.
"My stomach's still kind of full…" Drake muttered, rubbing his belly as he sat down at a stone table.
As for Luli's accusation?
He didn't even acknowledge it.
"Hey, there are plenty of empty seats. Why are you standing? Sit," Drake waved casually.
Kakashi and the others sat down without a word.
They knew it was coming.
Drake vs. the ANBU vice-captain.
Being ignored outright, Luli's anger flared.
"Drake! Do you know who I am?!"
"Vice-captain," Drake replied flatly.
"Then how dare you defy my command?!" Luli raised her voice.
With no ANBU captain present, she currently held the highest authority.
If she didn't suppress Drake here and now, her prestige would plummet.
"Defy orders?"
Drake laughed and stood up.
"Fire Luli, right? I heard you barely escaped from a Sand ninja main force?"
Luli's expression shifted.
"What are you implying?"
Drake strolled forward, voice calm.
"If I'm not mistaken, you ran into Maki and Pakura during your escape."
"And they let you go—out of respect for me."
"Am I right?"
Drake stared straight at her, waiting.
"So what if I am?" Luli snapped back. "I already had Minato thank you on my behalf."
The moment she said that, her authority visibly crumbled.
"Oh—so Drake indirectly saved Vice-Captain Luli?"
Several ANBU finally understood.
"No wonder he dared defy orders."
"Maki and Pakura…?"
Team Nine exchanged looks.
Those two Sand ninjas had once been scared witless by Drake.
Compared like this, Luli's strength suddenly didn't seem all that impressive.
Luli's face darkened.
She could feel the change in how others looked at her.
Her prestige was collapsing.
So she doubled down.
"Drake! This is still not a reason to defy orders. Once I report this to the Hokage, you will be punished!"
"You won't get the chance," Drake shook his head.
"What did you say?" Luli's heart jolted.
No chance?
Was he planning to betray the village?!
Drake's eyes filled with disappointment.
His voice grew eerily calm.
"You ungrateful trash. Without my reputation, you'd already be dead."
"So where do you get the nerve to speak to me like this?"
Snap!
Drake seized Luli by the throat, his expression icy.
"You—!"
"Someone without gratitude is just wasting air," Drake said indifferently.
Crack—!
He crushed her neck with a single squeeze.
Without even looking back, Drake bent down sharply—
BOOM!!!
His arm plunged through the ground and yanked out another figure.
"Huh? Another Luli?"
The hall erupted in shock.
Including Fire Luli herself.
Her eyes were wide with disbelief.
Her secret technique—a physical fire clone—had been exposed?
Even if the clone died, it should have taken time to dissipate!
"Wait, Drake—"
"Wait your ass."
CRACK!!!
Drake snapped her neck again, eyes devoid of emotion.
The hall fell into dead silence.
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