Team Nine advanced steadily.
Minato had found an experienced boatman who safely ferried them into the Land of Water. Once the boat docked, everyone disembarked.
"So this is the Land of Water…" Drake murmured as he looked at the thick white fog surrounding them.
This was his first time here, and his only impression so far was one word:
Fog.
"It's because of the terrain. Once we walk further in, it'll clear up a bit," Minato explained, motioning for everyone to follow.
"Sensei, where exactly are we supposed to gather intelligence?" Kakashi finally spoke up.
He had been thinking about this mission all along and felt it was extremely difficult — the biggest problem being:
No conflict allowed.
"We disguise ourselves as Mist ninja and blend in among them to collect information," Minato said calmly.
Hearing this, Kakashi gave Drake a strange look.
"Sensei, don't you think you're making things difficult for Fat Tiger here?"
Drake's face darkened.
"Hmm?" Minato blinked.
"Did you forget? Drake doesn't even know the Three Basic Techniques!" Rin reminded him.
"Yeah! He can't even transform properly!" Obito brightened, as if discovering Drake's fatal weakness.
"So he really can't use the basic jutsu?" Anko's eyes widened.
"Then why was he teaching us cultivation the other day?" Yugao felt slightly cheated.
They clearly remembered how steady Drake had been when walking on water — yet he couldn't even use the three basic ninja techniques?
"Well… that's my oversight," Minato sighed, rubbing his forehead.
He had subconsciously started treating Drake like a combat monster on his own level — and completely forgot the fact that this monster couldn't even use the most basic ninja skills.
The infiltration plan was basically dead on arrival.
"Actually, you don't need to worry about me," Drake said thoughtfully. "Just carry out your plan."
"And what about you?" Minato asked suspiciously.
"I'll be your bodyguard," Drake grinned.
"A wandering ninja. Codename: One Punch Man. You hire me for protection."
Everyone fell silent.
The codename was ridiculous — but the idea itself was surprisingly workable.
Hiring a rogue ninja as a guard was perfectly normal in any country.
Soon, the rest of Team Nine disguised themselves as Mist ninja.
Drake, meanwhile, loosened his clothes, tied them at the waist, revealing his toned torso — instantly becoming a wild, unruly-looking rogue ninja.
"His abs are showing…" Anko stared without blinking.
"Stop looking," Rin tugged her, though she herself sneaked a few glances.
"You two are falling behind," Yugao called out, while also sneaking a couple of looks.
Minato felt deeply exhausted.
The boys were maintaining formation like proper ninja, but the three girls kept turning back with flushed faces.
Have you ever seen a patrol unit where half the team is blushing?
First Encounter
Half an hour later, Team Nine ran into their first pair of Mist patrol ninja.
"Stop! Password!" one of them shouted.
In an instant, the entire team froze.
Even Minato had no idea how to respond.
This wasn't even close to the Hidden Mist village yet — and they already needed passwords?
Were they this strict?
Step.
Drake walked forward calmly.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked arrogantly.
"You? Who are you?" Both Mist ninja grew cautious.
"Oh? You don't recognize me?" Drake confirmed again.
"Identify yourself immediately or—"
BOOM! BOOM!
Two fists flashed.
Both Mist ninja had their heads blown clean off.
Their bodies collapsed to the ground.
"If you don't know me, that means I'm not exposed."
He casually wiped his fists on their uniforms.
From Team Nine's perspective, Drake had walked up, said two sentences, and then casually erased two lives.
"This…" Minato was speechless.
"Yep, classic Drake," Kakashi commented calmly.
"Didn't Sensei say no conflict?" Obito asked weakly.
"I only killed them one-sidedly," Drake shrugged. "There was no conflict."
Strangely… that logic almost made sense.
Covering Tracks
Normally, the bodies should be hidden, but Drake stopped them.
"Don't touch them."
"But won't other Mist ninja find them?" Rin asked nervously.
"Find them?" Drake shook his head.
"No one knows we chose this exact route. As long as we change direction slightly, we have a perfect alibi."
Then he added seriously:
"Honestly, this was probably the Stone, Cloud, or Sand ninja. Definitely not us."
Listening to this absolute nonsense, Minato thought for a moment… and disturbingly, found it logical.
So Team Nine altered their route and continued forward.
Second Encounter
An hour later, they ran into a much larger Mist patrol.
More than ten fully armed ninja.
"Stop! Which division are you from?" the leader demanded sharply.
Again — silence.
Password last time, now hierarchy?
Step.
Once more, Drake walked forward.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked coldly.
The Mist ninja scrutinized him, clearly confused.
"Judging by your faces, I already have my answer."
Before he could move—
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Minato and Kakashi struck first.
"Hey! I'm the bodyguard!" Drake protested angrily.
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