Training Ground No. 9
Standing before the stone marker, Drake stared at it in silence, deep in thought.
He could understand the lunchbox and the photo of the busty beauty…
but why in the world was his name carved into the stone?
"…You're really not dead?"
Obito reached out and started patting Drake all over, a mix of shock and joy on his face.
"Are you sick?"
Drake shoved him away, full-body goosebumps rising.
"You're a guy. Why are you touching me?"
"Drake!"
Rin ran over, her face filled with unmistakable relief.
She had clearly been about to hug him —
but Kakashi cut in and blocked her path.
"How did you shake them off?"
He stared at Drake, disbelief clear in his eyes.
With so many chūnin giving chase, even Kakashi himself wasn't confident he could've escaped.
"I brought over three hundred explosive tags," Drake replied calmly, radiating the aura of a bored veteran.
Three hundred?!
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly.
"For a C-rank mission, you're insane," Obito added. "The reward doesn't even cover twenty tags. You lost big time."
No one in their right mind carried that many tags for a low-level mission.
The cost-performance ratio was pure tragedy.
"Well, at least you got famous," Obito said, changing the topic.
"You got written into the academy textbooks."
"Textbooks?" Drake frowned. "What kind of textbooks?"
Bookstore
He picked up a newly printed student-level textbook and flipped it open.
On the very first page, bold red letters screamed:
[Unity! Effort! Selflessness! Dedication!]
— The Strongest Third Hokage
Expressionless, Drake turned the page and started skimming for his name.
Half an hour later, after nearly flipping the entire book, he finally found it.
Only those with an unshakable Will of Fire can unleash true power.
For example: Konoha's worst graduate in history — Drake.
In a moment of crisis, he alone drew away dozens of enemy chūnin, creating a decisive advantage.
He sacrificed himself to demonstrate the essence of the Will of Fire!
Snap.
Drake closed the book and walked out of the store.
The moment he stepped onto the street, he spotted a handsome young ninja smiling at him.
"Sensei Minato?"
"Drake. I only just got back, and I've already heard everything," Minato said warmly.
The street wasn't ideal for conversation, so they headed to Minato's residence instead.
Minato's Home
"I heard you brought a ridiculous number of explosive tags on that mission."
Minato brought up the topic the moment they sat down.
"Yes."
"But just explosive tags wouldn't be enough to escape dozens of chūnin," Minato said meaningfully.
"I'm pretty fast," Drake replied after a moment's thought.
"Speed…"
Minato nodded.
That matched his own conclusion.
To break free from that kind of encirclement, speed was the decisive factor.
"You did very well this time. You know Kushina's been praising you non-stop since I returned? That's rare."
Drake scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.
Truthfully, he'd never intended to be heroic.
He just tried to run, got spotted, then bombed his way out and bolted like his life depended on it.
And somehow, that turned into a legendary tale in the textbooks.
He then asked the question that had been on his mind.
"Sensei, is there any ninjutsu that's ridiculously powerful… like, huge range and massive damage?"
"There are plenty," Minato said — then smiled apologetically.
"But unfortunately, you can't learn any of them."
"Oh."
Drake deflated a little.
Still, Minato was quietly pleased.
At least Drake was finally showing genuine interest in ninjutsu.
Sadly, with no chakra attribute… and his experimental non-attribute jutsu still incomplete, there was nothing he could teach yet.
Back Home
The moment Drake stepped into his yard, his body relaxed.
Home sweet home.
He dropped into his chair and leaned back lazily.
Training?
Cultivation?
Forget it.
Being horizontal felt infinitely better.
Just a while ago he'd been eager to learn a powerful jutsu —
but the instant he lay down, that motivation was launched straight into the void.
Hokage Office
After finishing his paperwork, Hiruzen Sarutobi stretched his sore arms.
As expected —
the Hokage seat wasn't for ordinary men.
Only someone as diligent and self-sacrificing as him could shoulder such a burden.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A messenger ninja entered.
"Hokage-sama, an urgent letter from the Land of Hot Water."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen accepted it, slightly surprised.
Wasn't that issue already resolved?
"Hm? A letter of thanks? And… they're transferring the 'Joyful Hot Springs' business to Drake?"
He skimmed the contents, a faint smile forming.
The letter was personally written by the newly appointed ruler of the Land of Hot Water — Minako.
Not only did she express gratitude to Konoha, she specifically stated that the Hot Springs establishment in Konoha would be handed over to Drake.
And at the end, she warmly invited him to visit anytime.
"Drake? Didn't he die in action?"
Hiruzen's brow creased.
If Minako sent this letter, she clearly believed Drake was still alive.
So why the invitation?
"Someone, go confirm whether Drake has returned to the village."
An ANBU appeared and vanished in a flicker.
Not long after, the report came back.
Drake had indeed returned.
Hiruzen tapped the desk slowly.
"A dead-last who was supposed to die… yet survived."
"And worse — he's been made the symbol of the Will of Fire."
"If someone like this makes a mistake later, the entire image collapses."
His gaze darkened.
"A so-called heroic figure… how can he still be alive?"
He opened the mission ledger and began flipping.
His eyes came to rest on a B-rank mission.
A complicated expression crossed his face.
"There really are far too many missions lately…"
Then, softly:
"This one… should be perfect for Team Nine."
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