At the training ground, Drake tilted his head slightly and casually dodged a small stone flying toward the back of his skull.
As for why it was a stone... that was something only the thrower could explain.
"Huh?"
Anko stared, stunned, then tossed another rock.
Whoosh!
It shot straight for his back at impressive speed —
and still missed.
"How is that even possible?!" she yelled. "Did you grow eyes on your back or what?!"
She bent down, grabbed several more stones, and hurled them in one go.
Drake remained with his back turned, raising his right hand lazily.
Slap. Slap. Slap.
Afterimages of his palm flashed through the air. In the blink of an eye, every stone was caught.
"Don't move!" Anko shouted.
Thump thump thump!
She rushed over, circling him with sharp suspicion.
"What? Got flowers on my face?" Drake grinned.
"No way… you used the Byakugan, didn't you?" she squinted.
"Byakugan? I'm not a Hyūga," he chuckled.
"Then how did you sense the stones behind you?!"
"You guess."
And she really did start guessing.
"I'm sure this isn't perception!" she insisted.
"Perception only senses chakra — it can't track rocks!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Drake muttered doubtfully.
"Of course! Only the Hyūga's Byakugan can do what you just did!"
She narrowed her eyes further.
"I'm starting to suspect you were adopted. Maybe you're secretly from the Hyūga clan, and you're actually—"
"Stop."
Drake stepped closer, leaning in.
"Look into my eyes. Do they look like Byakugan to you?"
Their faces were dangerously close now.
Anko's heart began thudding wildly.
They were normal eyes…
But somehow, she could see her own reflection in them.
Wait… am I blushing?
And then — acting purely on instinct —
she kissed him.
"AHHH!!!"
Screaming, she covered her face and sprinted away at top speed.
Drake stood frozen, completely dumbfounded.
"…You kissed me. Why are you the one screaming?"
Afternoon – ANBU Assembly
The summon came quickly.
When Drake arrived at the Hokage's office, he noticed the ANBU number had dropped drastically.
"Only six people?"
Including Squad Nine, that made twelve total.
Looks like we really are securing our foothold.
If things kept going like this, the entire ANBU might eventually become Squad Nine's personal playground.
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"This mission is extremely dangerous. It is an S-rank assignment."
Everyone inhaled sharply.
Even Drake's expression shifted — not from fear, but excitement.
"S-rank, huh? Perfect. Squad Nine's total domination just got faster."
Hiruzen continued heavily.
"Fire Country agent Hikari Ryuri infiltrated the Sand Village to steal intelligence regarding the Three-Nation Alliance… but she failed."
"She is currently being pursued by Sand shinobi. Your mission is to extract her safely."
He tossed a scroll.
Smack!
Drake caught it cleanly.
"Drake, you are acting captain for this mission."
"Wait, Hokage-sama."
A masked ANBU stepped forward.
"We refuse to cooperate with Squad Nine. We request independent operation."
"Oh?" Hiruzen frowned. "Reason?"
"In the Snake Capture mission, all other ANBU were wiped out except Squad Nine."
The implication was crystal clear.
That Drake and his team had deliberately waited for everyone else to die, then reaped the rewards.
They didn't trust them.
"I'll remind you to choose your words carefully," Drake said coldly.
"If Squad Nine hadn't arrived, would there even be any remains recovered?"
"Remains?" The others looked speechless.
"A few torn masks and scraps count as remains?!"
Even Hiruzen's temple twitched.
But with ANBU already decimated and morale unstable, he let it slide.
"Enough. Squad Nine is Team One. You six form Team Two."
The decision was final.
Outside the Hokage Tower
No sooner had Squad Nine stepped out than several ANBU blocked their path.
"Wood Release Drake. Aren't you forgetting something?" one of them said, staring at the scroll in his hands.
"Hm? Am I?"
"Hand over the mission scroll."
"Oh, this?" Drake lifted it casually — then slid it into his coat.
The ANBU immediately stepped forward.
Slash!
Kakashi moved instantly to shield Drake.
Thump!
Yamato clasped his hands together, Wood Release ready.
"Girls! Bring out our trump cards!" Anko roared.
The three girls pulled out thick stacks of explosive tags.
Drake sighed.
Then smiled.
"You do realize…" he gestured at the Hokage Tower behind them,
"if this place turns into rubble in a minute…"
He paused, eyes sharp.
"The responsibility will be entirely yours."
"After all — you're the ones who forced Squad Nine's hand."
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