The frantic "search" for Meinazu turned out to be a false alarm.
Before long, the team was back on the road.
"Something's off…"
Walking behind the ox cart, Drake studied Meinazu's back in silence, his eyes thoughtful.
This woman was strange. Very strange.
"If it were a normal woman, running into something that embarrassing first thing in the morning, she would've at least screamed."
"But she only froze for a second."
"Her mental resilience is way beyond ordinary people… even stronger than most ninja."
That was his latest conclusion about Meinazu.
He began reorganizing all the suspicious points in his mind.
"First — anyone capable of opening a bathhouse in Konoha must be smooth-tongued and socially sharp. Yet she's barely spoken a word on the road."
"Second — her expression. Even Rin can tell she's worried. So she is uneasy about her situation."
"But her composure is too strong. That means she's suffered a lot before."
"So why isn't she even trying to hide it?"
The more Drake thought, the more inconsistencies surfaced.
If she truly feared for her safety, why post only a C-rank mission?
Wouldn't an A-rank ensure a jōnin escort team?
And someone who could set up a business in Konoha definitely wasn't short on money.
The entire morning passed with Drake lost in thought.
Even during the noon break, his suspicions remained unresolved.
Afternoon – By the Stream
As the team passed a small creek, Meinazu finally spoke.
"I'd like to wash up here for a moment."
A reasonable request — and granted without hesitation.
All three boys moved away, leaving only Rin with her.
Under a nearby tree, Kakashi and Obito approached Drake.
"You looked deep in thought today. Notice anything?" Kakashi asked directly.
He'd observed Drake's unusual seriousness since morning — this was the first time he'd ever seen him genuinely focused.
"What could I possibly notice?" Drake replied lazily, glancing at him.
"Then what were you thinking about all morning?"
"None of your damn business."
Kakashi: "???"
Did this idiot just curse at him?
"You're the captain, yet you keep asking me everything. Makes it look like I'm the real leader," Drake scoffed, chewing on a blade of grass.
"Well said. I've wanted to say that forever." Obito immediately sided with him.
So called "genius"? Figure it out yourself.
"Different leagues, don't force the vibe, haha!" Obito quoted proudly — a line he'd learned from Drake himself.
Watching Kakashi walk off speechless, Obito felt indescribable satisfaction.
When it came to verbal combat, only Drake could shut Kakashi down this cleanly.
Night Briefing
Another round of mission summary began after dark.
Kakashi unfolded the map.
"At this speed, we'll enter the Land of Hot Water in three days."
"With the current clouds, I predict rain tomorrow. We may need to halt movement."
"Tonight, reinforce the resting area and set up proper shelter."
Drake glanced at him, slightly surprised.
So the guy does have a brain.
Normally, this was the part where everyone reported in.
But Kakashi exercised his captain privilege and skipped it entirely.
"See that? He's mad now. Won't even let us speak," Obito muttered sarcastically.
"Why's he mad?" Rin asked, confused.
"Obviously because Drake roasted him this afternoon, hahaha!"
Drake silently added a mark to his mental blacklist.
Just wait. I'll stir your love life next time.
Night Watch
After setting up the camp and eating, it was time for guard duty.
According to the rotation, Drake was assigned the first half of the night.
Once the others settled down, he patrolled the surrounding area briefly.
Then—
He casually climbed onto the ox cart.
In his logic, the mission was to protect Meinazu.
So why guard from a tree when staying right beside the client was safer?
Meinazu wasn't sleeping deeply.
At first, she felt something behind her and assumed it was the cart's side panel — so she leaned closer for comfort.
Then…
An arm wrapped around her waist.
In the pitch-black silence, Meinazu slowly turned around and found herself face-to-face with Drake.
Two pairs of eyes met in the darkness.
"Your composure exceeds expectations," Drake murmured.
"And your persistence is impressive," she replied calmly.
"So you really won't talk, huh?"
"Then can you get off?"
"If you don't talk, I'm not moving."
"…Suit yourself."
After that brief exchange, she turned away again.
Drake's arm naturally settled back around her, hugging the big-chested beauty like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Dawn
As the sky brightened, Drake instantly withdrew his arm like lightning and jumped down from the cart.
Only then did he notice three pairs of furious eyes staring at him.
"Drake! Do you even realize what kind of behavior that was?!" Kakashi's voice was icy.
Sleeping with the client? Are you trying to get the whole village condemned?
"I didn't expect this from you…" Rin said angrily.
When she took over guard duty, she couldn't even find him.
If she hadn't glanced at the cart, she would've thought he vanished.
"Man… even if you're single, this is too much," Obito lectured solemnly.
Drake? Embarrassed?
Not even slightly.
He dusted off his clothes and looked at them calmly.
"I was providing close protection for the client. Any problem with that?"
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