Konoha
Team Nine returned to the village.
Before they had gone far, Drake suddenly noticed three familiar figures ahead.
"Huh? Anko, Rin, Yūgao? You're wearing combat gear—going out on a mission?"
"Drake!"
The moment she saw him, Anko Mitarashi's eyes lit up.
She sprinted forward and leaped at him—
Wrapping her arms around his neck and hanging off him completely.
"Anko! What are you doing?!" Rin blurted out in shock.
"Why are you hanging on Drake like that?!" Uzuki Yūgao panicked as well.
"What's the big deal?" Anko said nonchalantly.
"Drake's hugged me before too."
Drake stood there stiff as a statue, his mind completely blank.
"What a bold generation of youngsters…" Minato Namikaze sighed emotionally.
With that comment, he vanished in a Body Flicker.
"Anko," Drake said seriously,
"with so many people watching, you hanging on me like this puts me in a difficult position."
"I was just worried about you," Anko said, finally letting go and giving an excuse.
"Worried about me?"
Drake leaned in close, carefully examining her expression.
"I'm telling the truth!"
Anko's face instantly turned red as she looked away.
"I don't believe you."
Drake shook his head—and suddenly slipped his hand into her chest.
"I need to feel your conscience and see if you're lying,"
he declared righteously.
"…Huh?!"
Anko's body jolted violently as she lowered her head in disbelief.
She saw it.
He was really touching her heart.
"Y–YOU!!!"
Her face burning red, Anko turned and bolted.
"…Eh?"
Rin and Yūgao stared in confusion.
What just happened?
He said something about "checking her conscience" and Anko just… ran?
"Heh. Like I can't handle this," Drake muttered confidently.
When dealing with girls, he was very experienced.
"Let's go too," Rin said, linking arms with Yūgao as the two walked away.
Drake looked around.
Everyone was gone.
Obito running off made sense—his clan had plenty of girls to comfort.
But where did Kakashi and Yamato disappear to?
Walking alone down the street, Drake planned to head home and lie down.
"Drake."
As he passed an alley, a voice suddenly startled him.
He turned his head.
Rin was standing at the alley entrance.
"Didn't you already leave?" Drake asked, surprised.
He clearly remembered her walking away with Yūgao.
Instinctively, he activated his perception.
No problem.
Not a White Zetsu impersonation.
"Drake… you haven't protected me in a long time," Rin said softly.
"Protected you?" Drake raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I feel unsafe at night," she said, her face slightly flushed.
"…So you want me to protect you tonight?"
"Yes! Yes!" Rin nodded eagerly.
Then added softly,
"I'll be waiting for you tonight."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
She ran off.
Drake looked at her retreating figure and shook his head.
"Looks like Rin's well has finally dried up."
With that thought, he continued home.
Suddenly—
Anko dropped straight down from a rooftop and landed right in front of him.
"DAMN, you scared me!"
Drake nearly slapped her out of reflex, barely stopping himself in time.
Otherwise, she would've turned into Anko paste.
"You cursed at me!" Anko puffed her cheeks, hands on her hips.
"You almost scared me to death. I can't even scold you?" Drake shot back.
"Drake… I like you."
The sudden confession stunned him completely.
What kind of play was she running now?
"Are you stupid? I just cursed you, and you still like me?" Drake asked, baffled.
"But when you curse me… it feels so domineering…"
Anko's voice dropped, her face bright red.
Domineering…?
Even scolding people is considered domineering now?
Drake's brain stalled for a second.
Then—
He went for the kill.
Wrapping an arm around Anko's neck, he slammed her against the wall.
"Anko. Do you really like me?"
"…Ah? Mm…"
She dodged his gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
"Then I'll need to keep checking your conscience."
With a wicked grin, Drake slid his hand in again.
This time—
Anko completely collapsed.
Her breathing grew rapid, her face so red it looked ready to drip.
"D–Drake…"
"Yeah?"
"Tonight… I'll wait for you at home. Let's watch the moon together."
"Sure."
Drake agreed without hesitation.
The instant he did, regret hit him.
He'd already promised Rin.
Now he promised Anko too?
"Then it's settled."
Anko broke free and ran off like her life depended on it.
Watching her back, Drake fell into thought.
Then he activated perception.
"Just as I thought."
In his perception range, Uzuki Yūgao was crouched right outside his front door.
"I only left the village for one day…"
"How did these three girls all turn into this?"
Drake truly didn't understand.
Hokage Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Minato's report.
When it ended, the excitement on his face was impossible to hide.
"Good! Very good!"
He slapped the desk, clearly overjoyed.
He never expected this mission to end with the complete annihilation of Iwagakure's elite forces—
And by Drake, no less.
Drake was ANBU.
Which meant—
A powerful young expert had risen directly under the Hokage's command.
"Minato, notify all clans immediately.
I'm convening an emergency Jōnin meeting," Hiruzen ordered.
"Yes."
Minato's expression was slightly strange as he vanished.
He could already guess the Third's intentions.
This was to use the incident to demonstrate Hokage authority and stabilize his position.
After all, Drake belonged to ANBU—
to the Hokage.
Half an Hour Later — Hokage Conference Room
Hiruzen smiled as he scanned the gathered clan heads.
"Everyone. I have good news to announce."
All ears perked up.
"ANBU Drake annihilated over a thousand Iwagakure elites within the Land of Earth!
Including the son of the Third Tsuchikage!"
The room exploded.
"What? Drake killed over a thousand Iwa ninjas?!"
"His Wood Release is that terrifying?!"
"Even the Tsuchikage's son is dead?!"
"With Drake in ANBU, the Third's position is unshakable."
The clan heads buzzed with shock and awe.
Many hidden ambitions were quietly crushed.
Seeing their reactions, Hiruzen felt immensely satisfied.
Now, no one would dare covet the Hokage seat.
After the Meeting
Outside the Hokage Tower—
"Hiashi," Hyuga Hizashi said,
"I remember Rinon works part-time at Drake's bathhouse, right?"
"Yes," Hizashi nodded.
"Have her invite Drake over to the clan as a guest,"
Hyuga Hiashi instructed calmly.
"Understood."
Uchiha District
The moment he returned, Uchiha Fugaku sought out his wife.
"Mikoto, didn't you say Drake often eats at the bathhouse?" he asked.
"Yes," Uchiha Mikoto nodded.
"Then go invite him for me," Fugaku said firmly.
"Tell him I'm treating him to drinks tonight."
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