Joyful Hot Spring Baths — VIP Private Room
Drake was feeling… uneasy.
Staring at the bath that barely spanned two meters in diameter, he couldn't help thinking — isn't this a bit too small?
Especially with a stone table placed right in the center, taking up most of the space.
"Go on in and wait," Minai said softly.
Drake stepped into the pool, trying to sit down — only to realize his legs wouldn't stretch properly. After a bit of awkward maneuvering, he slid his feet past the table to the opposite side. Only then did he finally relax.
Splash…
The curtain lifted, and Minai entered, wrapped in a bath towel.
Amid the mist, her curves were vaguely outlined, long waves of hair falling loose, faint pink highlights peeking through the steam.
Drake froze for a brief moment.
By the time he recovered, Minai had already stepped into the bath and sat down opposite him at the stone table.
The moment she removed her towel, she suddenly stiffened.
"…Am I sitting on your feet?"
"If I say this is a misunderstanding, will you believe me?" Drake replied with perfect sincerity.
Then, as if trying to save the situation through logic, he added,
"This table design is flawed. It shouldn't be placed in the middle."
Unfortunately, Minai wasn't in the mood to discuss interior design.
Because she realized something far more serious.
She… couldn't stand up.
"Drake! You!!!"
Outside the Bathhouse
Team Nine was lurking suspiciously near the entrance.
"Kushina-senpai is still at the front desk," Rin whispered.
"Then we can't get in at all?" Yugao frowned.
It had been nearly half an hour since Drake entered, yet they were still pacing helplessly outside.
"That long… He's probably already been completely taken by that Daimyo..." Anko sighed.
Half an hour was more than enough for Minai to make her move.
And with Kushina guarding the entrance, they had no way in.
"It's over..." Obito groaned.
"Drake isn't that kind of guy," Kakashi muttered, trying to defend him.
He was immediately met with three cold stares from the girls.
With no choice, Team Nine could only camp outside.
Under the scorching sun, Kakashi was drenched in sweat, his silver hair drooping pitifully. Obito was even worse — sweat pouring down like rain.
Meanwhile, Rin, Anko, and Yugao calmly enjoyed cold drinks across the street, eyes never leaving the bathhouse entrance.
"…Why didn't they buy any for us?" Obito muttered miserably.
"Think about it," Kakashi replied flatly.
An hour passed.
No sign of Drake.
"Does it really take that long just to eat?"
"Don't forget, there's bathing too…"
"…Ah."
The three girls exchanged glances — and inevitably exploded again.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion suddenly erupted near the village gate.
The ground shook. Fire and black smoke shot into the sky.
"Even the village gate can't stand this anymore! Look — it's gone!" Rin shouted, pointing toward the entrance.
"That's an enemy attack, right...?" Yugao murmured nervously.
"Enemy attack!!!" Anko yelled.
Back in the VIP Bath
Following Drake's suggestion, they had moved the stone table to the side.
Instantly, the space felt much more open.
"See? Much better now. Plenty of room."
"Not just that," Drake continued seriously, "this table also makes a perfect support tool."
"Support… tool?" Minai blinked in confusion.
"Come, I'll show you."
Through this deeply educational exchange, Minai finally understood.
This table truly did need to be held onto.
BOOM...
A dull explosion echoed in the distance, sending ripples across the bathwater.
"I'll go take a look," Drake said calmly.
Konoha Village Gate
The entrance had already gathered a crowd of ninja.
A destroyed gate.
A massive crater.
And two dead guards.
The Third Hokage crouched beside the bodies, examining their wounds before walking to the edge of the crater.
"This level of destruction… Explosive tags buried underground?"
"That seems likely," Uchiha Fugaku replied.
As captain of the police force, he had rushed over at the first sign of trouble.
He had also already dispatched Uchiha members to search beyond the village.
"Summon the Hyuga clan. Have them search as well," the Third ordered an ANBU.
With their Byakugan, enemy tracking would be far more efficient.
Nearby, Team Nine was also inspecting the scene.
"So the explosive tags were planted ahead of time?" Kakashi murmured.
"But there were guards here. How did the enemy manage that?" Anko asked, puzzled.
"If it exploded just now, they can't have gone far!" Rin added.
"Scouts are already out," Obito replied.
While his teammates discussed theories, Drake silently examined the crater, then the destroyed gate.
Finally, he crouched beside the two corpses, studying them closely.
"Eh? Drake, when did you get here?" Rin noticed him at last, surprised.
"While you were analyzing," he answered casually, standing up slowly.
"Wait! Why are there strawberry marks on your neck?!" Anko suddenly exclaimed.
Because Drake had bent over, the faint red marks were now clearly visible.
Rin and Yugao leaned in immediately.
Several scattered, unmistakable love bites.
"What's the big deal? My neck was stiff, Minai helped massage it," Drake said calmly, expression unchanged.
"…Oh! That's all!" the three girls said in unison, instantly relieved.
Nearby ninja exchanged strange looks.
Even Fugaku and the Third Hokage briefly glanced at Drake, gaining a completely new perspective of him.
He's lying so smoothly it's terrifying…
To preserve team harmony, Drake decided to step away.
He casually walked beyond the village gate.
"Hey, are you going to help search for the enemy?" Kakashi called out.
"Nope. Too hot here. I'm going to sit under a tree and cool off."
So saying, Drake strolled away leisurely — as if explosions and conspiracies had nothing to do with him at all.
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