Drake scooped Meinazu onto his back and sprinted like his life depended on it.
"After them!"
From the rolling smoke, a swarm of ninja burst out, instantly locking onto Drake as their primary target.
But the very next second, they all halted.
Because another thick stack of explosive tags flew from the fleeing boy's hand, scattering through the air like deadly petals.
"Is this Konoha brat insane?"
"He's throwing explosive tags by the bundle?!"
Faced with that many tags, they had no choice but to scatter and take cover yet again.
A few minutes later, Drake rejoined Team Nine.
What surprised him was that those idiots had actually turned back to cover him.
"I really didn't notice at first," Kakashi said stiffly, clearly embarrassed about losing the client during the escape.
Even geniuses panic when fifty chūnin appear out of nowhere.
"Drake, thank god you're okay," Obito said, letting out a long breath.
While fleeing, he had suddenly realized Drake and the client were gone — which was why the team doubled back.
"So what do we do now?" Rin asked anxiously.
"Keep running. Lay explosive traps along the way to slow them down," Kakashi said quickly before adding,
"As long as we make it to the Daimyo's residence, we should be safe."
"No."
Drake shut that idea down instantly.
Running along open roads was suicide — no cover, no concealment.
And as for the Daimyo's residence being safe?
With unknown forces blocking the border, how could that place possibly be secure?
Joke of the year.
"If not the Daimyo's mansion, then where?" Kakashi frowned.
"The forest."
"The forest? Our speed will drop drastically once we enter."
"And their speed won't?" Drake shot back coldly.
Once inside the woods, not only would pursuit slow — it would also scatter the enemy formation.
Once scattered, survival rates increase.
This was basic logic.
Did Kakashi really not see it?
No.
In his eyes, the mission still came first.
Drake glanced at him silently.
If he doesn't get it, I'll just abandon ship.
Into the Woods
Team Nine plunged into the forest.
As soon as they entered, Drake altered direction deliberately — not toward the Daimyo, and not back toward Fire Country either.
"You're leading us the wrong way," Kakashi warned.
"It's right," Drake replied without turning back.
Obito and Rin exchanged confused glances.
Right… or wrong?
Using the sun's angle, Drake adjusted their route again and again, weaving deep through the trees.
Kakashi erased traces behind them, finally doing something worthy of his "genius" title.
Then — trouble.
Meinazu twisted her ankle.
With no choice left, they crafted a crude stretcher from branches, Obito and Rin carrying her as they moved.
"Drake… can we really escape?" Rin asked nervously while walking.
She wasn't wrong to worry.
They were vastly outnumbered.
Even if they temporarily lost the enemy, a large-scale search would eventually find them — especially with their slowed pace.
The Reality of the Situation
Half an hour later, at a hidden slope along the mountain waist, Drake and Kakashi stood atop a tree, scanning the distance.
Below them, startled birds burst skyward in scattered flocks.
"They're searching. And there are a lot of them," Kakashi said grimly.
Even with his attempt to erase their trail, haste had left gaps.
"If you face them head-on, how many can you take?" Drake asked quietly.
"Four or five for sure. Seven is probably my limit."
He wasn't exaggerating.
This estimate already factored in terrain, fatigue, and chakra usage.
"Seven…" Drake muttered.
That number meant nothing in the face of fifty-plus enemies — especially when the rest would signal reinforcements the moment combat began.
Once surrounded, Team Nine would be annihilated.
Entering the forest had only delayed their execution.
Drake sighed heavily.
He didn't want it to come to this.
But at this point… he had to consider escape.
His own escape.
The Final Option
Back at their temporary hiding spot, Drake laid the truth bare.
"At this rate, even if we keep running, they'll catch us."
Silence.
A dead quiet.
Dozens of chūnin hunting a single genin-class squad — there was no miracle that could overturn this.
Then Drake spoke again.
"But there is… one last solution."
Everyone froze.
"A solution?"
"What is it?!"
"You still have a way?!"
Even Kakashi could hardly believe it.
With all eyes on him, Drake scratched his cheek awkwardly and cleared his throat.
"The only way… is for someone to lure the enemy away."
To draw them off.
To sacrifice themselves.
The air turned heavy.
Obito clenched his fists — but fear held him in place.
Rin opened her mouth, yet no words came.
Kakashi stared toward Meinazu, struggling… and ultimately remaining still.
Seeing their reactions, Drake let out a quiet breath.
"Good."
He turned to Kakashi.
"From here on, the team depends on you."
And with that, he walked downhill — decisive, calm, without hesitation.
"Drake!" Obito called out weakly.
The boy saw his friend's back, one hand raised in a casual wave — a silent farewell.
"Drake…"
Rin's eyes reddened as she watched that figure fade into the forest.
That back…
It looked impossibly tall.
"So this… is your choice…"
Kakashi whispered, feeling something deep inside him quietly shatter.
Even Meinazu murmured his name, as if engraving it into her soul.
Drake.
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