Tujushan Ruins
Tieyan stood there trembling, barely daring to breathe.
In his wildest dreams, he never imagined that going to Outpost No.1 to deliver a report would result in over a thousand elite Iwagakure ninjas being wiped out.
"You did quite well," Drake said calmly. "Just a little late."
"I had to treat my wounds and change clothes, so I arrived late," Tieyan replied honestly.
Drake looked at him and questioned evenly,
"Didn't I tell you I came here to negotiate? Then why did those people surround and attack me the moment they arrived?"
"This…"
Tieyan was on the verge of tears.
He had reported the message to Captain Huang Tu—but Huang Tu simply refused to listen.
And besides… you already annihilated the entire force.
How do you still have the nerve to question me?
"This matter," Drake continued, displeased, "your Iwa side owes me an explanation."
Tieyan was completely stunned.
He had never seen someone so shameless.
You're clearly the invader, yet you're acting like the victim.
"Since you delivered the message wrong the first time," Drake went on,
"help me deliver it again."
Tieyan swallowed hard.
"This time, tell your Tsuchikage that I came to negotiate.
If he agrees, he can come to Konoha to find me."
"And if… he doesn't?" Tieyan asked weakly.
"Then I'll throw this technique into your village."
Drake smiled and pointed at the sky.
After that, he patted Tieyan on the shoulder.
"Don't stall. My patience is limited."
Whoosh!
The moment Drake finished speaking, Tieyan fled at full speed.
"You really scared him badly," Minato said with a smile.
"I didn't scare him," Drake replied casually.
"I was just stating the facts."
Sizzle—
At that moment, a White Zetsu clone emerged from the ground.
"Lord Drake, I've already contacted the main body inside the village."
"Oh?" Drake gestured. "Go on."
"The main body reports that after Danzo escaped the village last night, he most likely regrouped with Uchiha Madara. So the pursuit was halted."
"Madara?"
Drake and Minato exclaimed in unison.
"Why would he appear near the village again?" Minato frowned.
Previously, Madara had been defeated by Drake and faked his death to escape.
By all logic, he should be hiding far away.
"Probably because we rescued Obito," Drake guessed.
"That means Madara lost his successor."
"So that's it," Minato nodded in realization.
But soon, a new question surfaced.
"Then why take Danzo in? Wouldn't it make more sense to abduct Uchiha clan members?"
"No idea," Drake said lightly.
"Maybe he doesn't have much time left."
Drake himself wasn't fully certain of Madara's intentions.
Logically speaking, Madara should find someone capable of impersonating him to act in his stead.
…But could Danzo do that?
Drake paused, thinking carefully.
Actually—
it might be possible.
Danzo definitely knew Madara personally.
If Madara helped him transplant Hashirama cells and replaced his Sharingan…
Then Danzo could potentially impersonate Madara perfectly.
After all, among the living, Danzo probably understood Madara better than anyone else.
"Any other news?" Drake asked.
"The Third Hokage seems to be suspicious of Liuli's identity," the White Zetsu clone replied.
"Oh?"
"Wait—what did you say?" Minato suddenly interrupted. "Liuli?"
What happened to Hozuki Liuli's identity?
Why would the Third doubt her?
"Ah, right. Sensei, you don't know yet," Drake explained casually.
"Liuli died. I just had White Zetsu impersonate her."
"…What?"
Minato was completely dumbfounded.
Liuli… dead?
He had never heard of this at all.
"You killed Liuli?" Minato asked carefully.
"Huh?" Drake looked innocent.
"I did exactly what you wanted, Sensei."
"Me? What I wanted?" Minato froze.
When did he ever tell Drake to eliminate the ANBU vice-captain?!
"Did you forget?" Drake reminded him.
"You said Team Nine had to secure its footing in ANBU."
"Secure its footing… so you killed the ANBU vice-captain?!"
Minato nearly fainted.
"Yeah," Drake nodded seriously.
"Doesn't that stabilize things immediately?"
"Drake… I truly can't figure you out anymore…"
Minato completely surrendered.
On the Return Journey
Teacher and student headed back together.
Passing through the Land of Grass, Drake sent news of the Iwa annihilation to Kenjiro.
Upon hearing it, Kenjiro jumped three meters into the air and smashed straight through the inn's roof.
At noon, Drake and Minato continued their journey.
Along the way, they encountered three figures coming from the village.
"Kakashi? Obito? Yamato?"
Drake was genuinely surprised.
"You finally made it back," the three of them sighed in relief.
"Heading out on a mission?" Minato asked.
"No," Obito replied.
"We were heading to the Land of Grass to support you."
"Danzo defected," Kakashi explained.
"We were worried Iwa would move against you after getting the news."
"So, Captain… you didn't negotiate with Iwa, right?" Yamato asked.
"No," Drake shook his head.
"Good thing," Yamato said.
"Otherwise you might've been surrounded."
Minato's expression turned strange.
Indeed—there was no negotiation.
Because the Iwa forces were all dead, and only one man returned to report.
After regrouping, Team Nine headed back toward the village together.
Before they'd gone far, they were stopped by a Sarutobi clansman.
"By order of the Hokage," the man announced firmly,
"Minato Namikaze and Drake are to return to the village immediately."
Drake stepped forward, sizing him up.
"Why do you look familiar?"
Sarutobi Yaomaru: "..."
Obito suddenly exclaimed,
"That's the chūnin team captain! During our ANBU assessment, he said you ambushed him!"
Kakashi nodded.
"I remember—his name was Sarutobi Yaomaru."
Yamato added,
"Yeah! Captain, you even said, 'If I don't hit you, I'd be disrespecting that name.'"
Drake suddenly realized.
"Oh! That festive-name Sarutobi Yaomaru!"
He smiled brightly.
"Your name really is excellent."
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