The moment Drake's mocking words fell, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed drastically.
He never would have imagined it—
Drake was openly ridiculing him.
"Drake, watch your language!"
Hiruzen rapped the desk, his voice low and stern.
"Watch my ass—watch it for what?" Drake snapped back instantly.
"No way I'm watching it."
"What did you say?!"
Hiruzen's voice shot up in disbelief.
Had he heard wrong?
Was Drake really insulting him to his face?
"Hiruzen Sarutobi!" Drake's tone turned brutally domineering.
"You keep throwing missions at me every single day—are you tired of living or what?"
As he spoke, Drake stepped forward and flipped the desk over with one hand.
"And trash like you thinks you deserve to be Hokage?"
"The Five Great Nations treaty—you drafted it, didn't you?
And that so-called 'honesty pact' with the Cloud Village—that was your idea too?"
"Is your brain made of donkey shit?"
"As Hokage—have you accomplished anything at all?"
Drake stared straight at Hiruzen, tearing into him without the slightest restraint.
"You—YOU—!"
Hiruzen glared furiously, his anger surging.
"What 'you'?" Drake shook his head.
"You think I'm obligated to listen to you?"
He raised one finger.
"Believe it or not—
I could poke you to death with just this one finger."
Outside the Door
Squad Nine, who had just arrived and stopped at the doorway, were completely frozen.
They had been waiting for Drake—
hoping to try flying on a sword.
Instead, they overheard something horrifying.
"Drake… he's really cursing out the Third Hokage?"
Obito trembled from head to toe.
He knew Drake was bold—but this was outright insane.
"One finger to kill the Hokage?"
"Did he drink too much?"
"His guts are exactly as big as ever," Kakashi said sincerely, almost wanting to kneel in respect.
"These words… only Drake would dare say them."
"I feel like something huge is about to happen…" Rin whispered.
"Take out the word 'feel'," Anko scoffed.
"This is definitely a huge incident."
"We should probably prepare to defect," Yugao added calmly.
"Where would we even go?" Yamato asked weakly.
"Join Danzo?"
"Let's keep listening," Kakashi suggested.
"There might still be a turning point."
Everyone leaned in, ears fully alert.
Back in the Office
"Drake, I admit it—you are a rare genius,"
Hiruzen said coldly.
"But you've overlooked the most important factor."
"Oh?"
Drake almost laughed.
"Then enlighten me. What did I overlook?"
He gestured casually.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Hiruzen raised his hand toward the air.
Whoosh!
An ANBU appeared.
"Summon the ANBU forces immediately!" Hiruzen ordered.
Nothing happened.
The ANBU didn't move.
"…Hmm?"
Hiruzen's heart skipped.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Idiot."
The ANBU replied coldly.
Hiruzen: "???"
Squad Nine outside: "???"
Both sides were completely stunned.
"What did you just say?"
Hiruzen's voice dropped dangerously low.
"I said—you're an idiot," the ANBU repeated.
Then he stepped behind Drake and stood respectfully.
At that moment, Hiruzen finally understood.
If he still didn't understand after this, then he truly didn't deserve to be Hokage.
"…Drake. You've taken control of the ANBU?"
"Control?"
Drake shook his head again.
His hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Hiruzen by the throat.
"Third—
you should be thanking me."
"Thanking me for still following the rules."
"Otherwise, you'd already be reuniting with the First and Second Hokage."
Bang!
Drake casually tossed Hiruzen to the ground and sat back down.
"I used a single Wood Clone to crush Ōnoki," Drake said indifferently.
"How many clones do you think you could handle?"
"You defeated Ōnoki… with a Wood Clone?!"
Hiruzen's heart was shaken violently.
Ōnoki's Dust Release was terrifying—and he could fly.
Yet he couldn't defeat even one of Drake's clones?
"Impossible!"
Hiruzen shook his head desperately.
"Oh?"
Drake crossed his legs, a faint smile curling at his lips.
"Kneel."
The single word fell like a decree.
Buzz——
An overwhelming will crashed down on Hiruzen.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Hiruzen's face changed instantly.
He felt an irresistible pressure attacking from all directions—
especially from above.
Crack!
His knees gave out.
He dropped to the floor.
"W–what kind of power is this?!"
Hiruzen's eyes nearly popped out.
Just one word—
and he couldn't even move?
A curse?
Some unknown art?
"…You're even worse than Ōnoki," Drake said in disappointment.
"At least he struggled."
"I haven't even attacked—and you're already kneeling."
"Trash."
Drake stood up and didn't even look at him again.
He walked to the door and kicked it open, stepping outside.
Outside
"Huh?"
Seeing Drake come out, Squad Nine froze.
"You eavesdropped for that long—
felt exciting, didn't it?" Drake glanced at them calmly.
"Y–yes. Very exciting," Obito nodded stiffly.
"I thought you'd actually fight the Hokage," Anko said, disappointed.
"Sorry to let you down," Drake shrugged.
"He knelt before we even started."
"He won't just stay kneeling there forever… right?" Rin asked.
"No," Drake shook his head.
"I only suppressed him with will. No chakra synchronization."
"The pressure will fade soon."
"So what now?" Kakashi asked.
"What else?" Drake yawned.
"Go home and sleep."
He wasn't worried about Hiruzen retaliating.
Because the moment Hiruzen dared retaliate—
wiping out the Sarutobi clan would become fully justified.
"Captain… we're not running away?" Yamato asked cautiously.
"Run my ass," Drake flicked Yamato's forehead.
"Konoha is my home."
"Why the hell would I run?"
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