At dawn, Team Nine assembled and left Konoha.
Since they were traveling light, their pace was quick and steady.
By nightfall, the four gathered around a campfire to plan how they would infiltrate the Land of Grass.
"We'll reach the Grass border tomorrow. But if we're sneaking in, what identity should we use?" Kakashi spoke first.
"How about pretending to be merchants?" Obito suggested.
"But we don't have goods or a cart. Wouldn't that be too obvious?" Rin pointed out the flaw.
While the three debated back and forth, Drake remained silent.
He was genuinely curious to see what kind of brilliant plan these idiots could come up with.
"Drake? What do you think?" Kakashi turned to him.
"No ideas. You guys keep going," Drake replied lazily.
Seeing even Drake offer nothing, the discussion grew even louder and more chaotic.
Finally...
A "perfect plan" born from the combined wisdom of the three emerged.
"We can use Transformation Jutsu and disguise ourselves as Grass Village ninjas. We'll blend right in!"
Drake almost burst into tears.
You idiots forgot the most important thing —
I don't even know Transformation Jutsu!
Thankfully, Obito had a rare moment of clarity.
"Wait... does Drake even know Transformation Jutsu?" he smacked his forehead.
When Drake shook his head, the three of them looked utterly disappointed.
The kind of look that said:
You're useless and dragging us down.
"Well, that plan's dead."
"We'll have to think of another one…"
After a painfully long discussion, Plan Number Two was born.
"Me and Rin will transform into a middle-aged couple! Kakashi and Drake can be our sons!" Obito announced proudly.
The advantages of this plan were… apparently obvious to him.
Kakashi reluctantly agreed. Rin also didn't object.
"And this is your final masterpiece?" Drake sighed, shaking his head.
"Huh? What's your problem now?" Obito snapped.
"You three are beyond saving," Drake scoffed.
"Making plans without considering timing, reality, or consequences — this is pure stupidity!"
He stood up sharply.
"Let me ask you this. In a time like this, with people entering from the Land of Fire into the Land of Grass — do you really think no one would suspect our identity?"
"Disguises are meaningless."
Kakashi was the first to catch on.
Drake had just exposed the critical flaw he'd overlooked.
"He's right! The Grass Country lives off intelligence trading. They'd figure us out instantly."
Obito scratched his head, half-confused.
Rin nodded thoughtfully, as if everything suddenly made perfect sense.
"Then... how do we get in tomorrow?" Obito asked.
"Just walk in," Drake replied calmly.
No one spoke after that.
At first light the next morning, Team Nine resumed their journey.
Strength: 228 (114 × 2) — [Super Level]
"Strength doubled again?"
Feeling the explosive power coursing through his body, Drake's sense of security soared.
By dusk, they successfully entered the Land of Grass.
Strangely, everyone here was a ninja — not a single civilian in sight.
As they walked through the territory, countless gazes followed them. After all, the oldest among them — Drake — was only twelve.
Suddenly, a one-eyed middle-aged ninja blocked their path.
"Brats, you're from Konoha, aren't you?" he growled.
"Is there a problem?" Drake asked with an innocent smile.
"Tch. No problem? You think I'd stop you for fun?" The man sneered arrogantly.
He stepped closer, looming over Drake.
"Want to buy intel?"
"Do you have information on the Iwagakure border troops?" Drake asked.
"Of course I do. But it's expensive," the one-eyed man grinned greedily.
"I see..."
Drake rubbed his chin, as if pondering.
The next instant—
He grabbed the man's arm and gave it a light squeeze.
Crack!
"AAAAAAH!!!"
A sharp bone-snapping sound echoed as the one-eyed man staggered backward, gasping in agony.
Broken.
His arm was completely crushed.
It happened so fast that Kakashi and the others barely processed what they'd seen.
"Brat! You're dead—!"
"Because you lied to me," Drake interrupted calmly.
"You don't have any intel on the Iwa border forces."
"YOU'RE DEAD! I'll kill you!" the man roared, face twisted in rage.
He pulled out a signal flare and bit down hard.
SHOOOOOT!
The flare streaked into the sky, bursting into crimson light.
Obito panicked.
Rin froze.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, calmly scanning their surroundings.
Within moments, over a dozen ninjas appeared, surrounding Team Nine.
"Eyepatch! What happened?!"
"This Konoha brat crushed my arm!"
Fury swept through the group.
"You little pests don't actually believe we won't kill Konoha ninjas, do you?" their leader sneered.
"He's strong," Kakashi whispered to Drake, face serious.
"He might be a Special Jōnin. I'll handle—"
Before he could finish—
WHOOSH!
Drake vanished.
Like teleportation, he appeared in front of the Special Jōnin and slammed a fist into his chest.
BOOM!!!
Blood burst outward. Bones shattered.
One punch.
The Special Jōnin was pierced clean through.
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