Drake: I Don't Like You Talking to Me While Standing**
Today, Obito was acting unusually strange.
He had run all over the village, finally gathering Squad Nine together.
"Hey, Obito! If you've got something to say, just say it. Why all the mystery?" Anko complained loudly.
"So weird," Kakashi Hatake said, arms crossed, ever concise.
Before anyone else could mock him, Obito cleared his throat.
"Listen—this morning, I saw someone fly away from the back mountain!"
Squad Nine: "???"
Everyone fell silent.
You dragged us all here… just to say that?
"Didn't wake up yet? Mistook a bird for a person?" Anko scoffed.
"No! It wasn't a bird, it was definitely a person! And I even know who it was!" Obito protested.
"Oh yeah? Who?" Anko shot back.
"Drake!" Obito said with absolute certainty.
"Tch—"
No one believed him.
Seeing the reactions, Obito panicked.
"I already went to find Drake—he's not in the village!"
At those words, Kakashi finally reacted.
"You're sure it was Drake who flew away?"
"Absolutely! I saw it clearly!" Obito nodded hard.
"Then we should confirm it. If Drake really isn't in the village, it probably was him," Kakashi concluded.
Honestly, he was already half convinced.
"Kakashi, you're not actually believing this, are you?" Anko looked at him like he was crazy.
"Drake doesn't even rely on ninjutsu! What—did he fly off using Wood Release?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"It's actually easy to verify."
"How?" everyone asked.
"Ask White Zetsu."
ANBU Base
Squad Nine arrived at the base hall.
The moment they entered, they saw Liuli—White Zetsu in disguise—busy moving weapons.
Kunai, shuriken, short blades, katanas… even several heavy cleavers.
"Oh! You're here—perfect timing! Help me move these!" Liuli said happily.
"Why are you moving weapons out of storage?" Squad Nine was confused.
"I'm helping Lord Drake find something," Liuli answered honestly.
"Find what?"
"Handsome, overpowered ninja weapons," White Zetsu explained seriously.
Squad Nine collectively went speechless.
Weapons… handsome?
Why not just make him a fashion outfit?
"Oh right—where's Drake?" Kakashi asked.
"Lord Drake already flew to the Land of Grass to negotiate with the Tsuchikage."
That settled it.
Squad Nine believed him now.
Really.
Obito wasn't lying—
Drake had truly flown away.
Land of Grass
Kenjiro didn't even dare to breathe.
His bloated body was pressed tightly against a corner wall as he nervously looked at the short figure before him.
"You're Kenjiro?" the small figure asked.
"P-please call me Little Wolf," Kenjiro replied submissively.
"You've got quite the information network," Onoki said slowly.
"The news of Drake wiping out my elite forces came from you."
Kenjiro cursed internally.
He had clearly been sold out by同行.
Otherwise, the Tsuchikage would never come looking for him personally.
"I—I bought that intel at a high price… directly from Drake," Kenjiro forced himself to say, dragging Drake into it.
It was the only way he wouldn't get flattened.
"Clear out this inn. I'll be negotiating with the Hokage here shortly," Ōnoki waved his hand dismissively.
"Yes—yes! Right away!" Kenjiro nodded frantically.
Before he could even move, several Iwa ninjas rushed in.
Bang!
Crash!
Thud!
The guests were thrown straight out of the inn.
The speed left Kenjiro stunned.
"So tyrannical! Drake paid for his room—these Iwa ninjas just throw people out?!"
Kenjiro mentally cursed Ōnoki's ancestors eighteen generations back.
No wonder Iwa suffered such losses—serves them right.
"What are you standing around for? Go prepare lunch!" an Iwa ninja barked threateningly.
"Ah—yes!" Kenjiro ran off.
At that moment, a guard approached Ōnoki.
"Tsuchikage-sama, the surrounding streets are fully secured."
Ōnoki nodded and stepped behind the counter.
He bent down, pulled out a thick stack of scrolls, and began reading.
After going through several reports, he lost interest.
"It seems this Kenjiro has ongoing dealings with Drake."
Thinking it over, Ōnoki reached a conclusion.
According to other information brokers, intelligence about Uchiha Madara had also leaked from Kenjiro before.
That alone proved this fat merchant had ties to Drake of Konoha.
Which was exactly why Ōnoki chose this place for negotiations.
His goal was simple—
To pressure Kenjiro into cooperating with Iwagakure as well.
That way, he'd receive Drake's latest intel firsthand.
BOOM!
A dull explosion suddenly echoed from the street.
"Hmm?"
Ōnoki frowned as four guards rushed out instantly.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
The moment they charged out, all four were sent flying back.
"Taijutsu…?"
Seeing the bloody holes in their bodies, Ōnoki's expression turned grave.
Did the Third Hokage arrive?
No—
Could it be the Raikage?!
The next moment—
Step.
A figure walked into the inn.
"Huh? No wonder the street felt off—looks like the inn's under new management?"
Drake walked in casually, eyes full of curiosity.
"You're… Wood Release Drake?" Ōnoki's pupils shrank.
He had reviewed Drake's intelligence countless times.
He recognized that face instantly.
"Judging by your height—Third Tsuchikage?" Drake glanced at him.
Then he dusted off his clothes and said calmly,
"Your Iwa ninjas just attacked me.
You owe me a satisfactory explanation."
Ōnoki was completely dumbfounded.
This was the first time he'd ever seen such a shameless brat.
"Drake, spare me the nonsense. Where is Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Ōnoki said coldly.
"Him? He's authorized me to handle the negotiations. You can talk to me."
Drake smiled, showing his white teeth.
Then he added lightly,
"But—I don't like you standing while talking to me."
Ōnoki narrowed his eyes.
"…What did you say?"
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