That afternoon.
Konoha — Hokage Office.
Drake reported the mission results to the Third Hokage.
Danzō stood to the side, listening in silence.
When the report ended, both men exchanged strange looks.
According to Drake, Team Nine arrived too late to save the other ANBU.
Although they destroyed the giant serpent summoned by Orochimaru, the ANBU had already become its food.
After that, Orochimaru escaped using a summoning technique.
"Drake… you should be realistic with your report," Hiruzen said meaningfully.
"?"
Drake blinked, completely confused.
He'd told them mostly the truth. What was the old man implying?
"Kakashi!"
Danzō suddenly turned to him.
"Did you kill the giant snake?"
Kakashi shook his head. "No."
"Anko?"
"Not me."
"Yamato!"
"I didn't either. When I arrived, everything was already over."
Their answers didn't surprise Hiruzen or Danzō.
What surprised them was this —
Drake had been fooled by his own teammates. Again.
Same squad. Two versions of the story.
The conclusion was obvious in their eyes:
Team Nine arrived after the battle and fabricated merit, letting Drake take the lead in reporting. If it worked, everyone benefited. If not, Drake alone would take the blame.
As for the snake meat they brought back? Probably scavenged from the battlefield.
"No wonder they made Drake captain. He's far too pure…" Hiruzen sighed emotionally.
"And earlier when he challenged you, that was also these kids leading him on," Danzō nodded deeply.
A puppet captain… everyone loved those.
Outside the Hokage Tower.
Drake stroked his chin, frowning.
"Did I get seen through? Why do those two look at me so weirdly…"
Shouldn't they be praising or rewarding him?
Not just him — Anko and the others were also confused.
"Do ANBU missions really come with no rewards?" Anko grumbled.
"Good thing I didn't throw any shuriken… or I'd be losing money," Rin muttered.
"So how are we supposed to make money now?" Yūgao asked, voicing the biggest problem.
Were they supposed to survive on passion alone?
"Just think about it yourselves," Drake waved dismissively, leading Rin away.
The others stared blankly.
He owned a massive bathhouse — of course he wasn't worried.
But they weren't so lucky.
On the street.
Drake and Rin walked side by side.
After touching that snake flesh, Rin felt disgusted all over.
"Hey, Drake…"
"Yeah?"
"I want to take a bath."
"Perfect. I do too."
And so, they headed for Joyful Hot Springs.
The moment Drake stepped inside, as expected, Kushina dragged him away.
"You picked the perfect time! Mikoto and I came up with another new design!"
She pulled him straight into a private room where Lady Mikoto was already waiting.
"Another new design?" Drake looked surprised.
Hadn't they just finished the sleep-aid room?
"Here, look!"
Kushina lifted a cloth, revealing a two-meter-long single bed.
"This is…?" Drake frowned.
"A massage bed!" Kushina said mysteriously.
"Massage… bed?"
He inspected it carefully but saw no mechanism.
"It just looks like a normal bed."
"You're missing the key point! The massage!" Kushina reminded him.
"And?"
"Me and Mikoto plan to hire women from the Hyūga Clan as massage therapists!"
"…WHAT???"
Drake was genuinely shocked.
The Hyūga were one of Konoha's elite clans.
Their women becoming masseuses? That sounded absurd.
Mikoto gently explained,
"Normal methods won't work, so we're planning to offer extremely high wages."
"And we're waiting for your approval! You're the boss, after all!" Kushina added.
Drake pondered it for a moment.
In theory… it actually made sense.
The Hyūga specialized in Gentle Fist and could perceive chakra points with Byakugan precision. If such women became masseuses, they'd be top-tier masters by default.
As for the payment — it came from communal hot spring funds anyway. He wasn't losing anything.
"Kushina-senpai, just go ahead and handle it," Drake agreed.
"Perfect!"
Kushina left in high spirits.
Now only Drake and Lady Mikoto remained in the room.
Awkward silence followed.
He turned to leave.
"I'm pregnant."
Her voice suddenly cut through the air.
"…Huh?"
Drake nearly tripped.
"Congratulations, Lady Mikoto," he said sincerely.
"The child is yours."
CRITICAL HIT.
"That's impossible! It's only been two days! How could you already be pregnant?" Drake retorted instinctively.
"So you admit you slept with me?" Mikoto's eyes gleamed.
"…You tricked me?" Drake froze.
This woman had just baited him.
But why?
"My relationship with Fugaku changed after he became clan head… we sleep separately now…" she murmured.
"Even Itachi has his own room now… he's already independent…"
"Stop. Please stop talking." Drake raised a hand.
Then he sighed deeply.
"Just tell me one thing…"
He looked straight at her and spoke calmly:
"Where are we meeting tonight?"
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