The battle on the Mist Front ended far faster than expected.
On the return trip, a massive iron gate flew through the sky, packed with people standing atop it.
Yet many of them were confused.
Because Drake did not take the Three-Tails with him.
Instead, he had released it—returning it to the open sea.
Minato Namikaze opened his mouth several times, then closed it again.
He still couldn't read this student of his—but Minato was certain of one thing:
If Drake chose to release the Three-Tails, then there had to be a reason.
Evening — Konoha
The group finally returned to the village.
"Wait a second…" Obito frowned.
"Doesn't it feel like something's missing?"
"…You're right," Minato murmured, gazing toward the rear of the village.
"The Hokage Rock is gone."
"…The back mountain collapsed?"
Uchiha Fugaku stared in disbelief.
They'd only been gone for a single day.
And yet—not only had the rear mountain fallen, but nearby buildings were badly damaged as well.
Even the Hokage Building had been reduced to ruins.
"Looks like something big happened," Drake muttered, rubbing his chin.
He clearly remembered awakening the back mountain before.
Logically speaking—it shouldn't have collapsed.
Passing through the streets, Drake saw countless villagers rebuilding homes.
Even the Hokage Building was under reconstruction.
Ignoring the bustle, Drake headed straight toward the back mountain.
The Truth of the Back Mountain
Rustle—rustle—
The moment Drake arrived, nearby trees began to sway.
He placed his hand against a tree trunk, letting his will trace what had happened.
Moments later—
He laughed softly.
"So that's how it was…
The jujube tree saved Might Guy, then got chased by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—so it asked the mountain for help?"
"…Trees can communicate with stone and mountains."
"I actually overlooked that."
Walking up to the collapsed stone wall, Drake placed his hand against it, approval flashing in his eyes.
"You did well."
"You protected the trees."
"That alone makes you worthy of more."
A New Trait — 'Walking'
HUM—!!!
Drake's will surged.
He engraved a third trait onto the back mountain.
'Walking.'
RUMBLE—!!!
The stone wall shook violently.
Fragments of rock fell as massive stone chunks gathered together—
Forming two enormous stone legs.
BOOM!
With a deafening quake, the back mountain stood upright.
Drake stood atop the mountain and stopped supplying chakra.
At the same time—
The half-rebuilt Hokage Building was struck by another tremor and collapsed again in less than a second.
"What the hell?! The mountain stood up?!"
Villagers stared in shock, eyes nearly popping out.
A collapsed mountain?
They could accept that—it had already fallen twice before.
But—
A mountain growing legs and standing up?
That was beyond absurd.
"You can sit down now."
Drake sent the command through his will.
Then—
Whoosh!
He vanished from the mountaintop.
Panic in the Village
The entire village exploded into discussion.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi personally led a team to investigate the back mountain.
Drake's Courtyard
The jujube tree stood quietly, branches spread wide to shade its master.
Drake lounged in his wooden chair.
Before him sat a huge chest filled with money.
"…So much money," he muttered.
"How am I even supposed to spend this?"
For the first time, Drake felt that having too much money was pointless.
This courtyard was already enough for him.
Shun—!
Minato suddenly appeared.
The first thing he saw—
was the chest stuffed with hundreds of millions of ryō.
"You've really struck it rich," Minato laughed.
Then he asked calmly:
"The back mountain… that was you, wasn't it?"
"I just helped it stand back up," Drake shrugged.
"I knew it," Minato replied, unsurprised.
After seeing Drake make the Three-Tails fly, this barely registered as shocking anymore.
"I'm here to buy flight abilities," Minato explained, pulling out money.
"No need," Drake waved him off.
"Others pay. You don't."
Custom Traits for Minato
Drake personally engraved three traits for Minato:
Floating
Flight
Extreme Speed
After testing them, Minato was extremely satisfied.
"This ability of yours…"
"…it's truly unbelievable."
Descending from the air, he couldn't help but praise Drake again.
No wonder so many ninja were pooling money.
Anyone would want this power.
Bad News
"All done?" Drake stretched lazily.
"I'm heading to sleep."
"There is one thing," Minato said gravely.
"Drake—I've received word.
The Third Hokage may be planning to deal with you."
"…Really?"
Instead of concern—
Drake looked thrilled.
Minato stared at him, baffled.
"Sensei, hurry," Drake urged.
"How exactly does he plan to deal with me?"
"He contacted multiple clans, trying to isolate you politically," Minato explained.
"But every clan leader bought your flight ability—so no one responded."
"…That's it?" Drake looked disappointed.
"There's more," Minato added.
"The Third secretly sent several clan members out of the village. Their destination is unknown."
Drake sighed.
That was it?
"…That's all he's got?"
The Decision
"Sensei," Drake said calmly,
"you should start preparing."
"…Preparing?" Minato blinked.
"Yes."
"For what?"
"The Fourth Hokage."
Minato's Turmoil
Even after leaving Drake's courtyard, Minato couldn't calm down.
He never imagined—
That Drake planned to remove the Third Hokage tomorrow.
And the method?
Blunt. Direct. Ruthless.
Cripple him.
Then force him into medical retirement.
Minato still struggled to accept it.
Threatening resignation was one thing.
But beating the Third Hokage into retirement?
"That's… excessive…"
"…Am I really qualified to become the Fourth Hokage?"
Walking through the village, Minato kept questioning himself.
If strength alone mattered—
Drake was the obvious choice.
"In power, strategy, and vision… I can't compare to him."
"If I become Hokage, I can protect Konoha."
"But if Drake becomes Hokage…"
"…He could unify the entire shinobi world."
"And he doesn't even realize how much prestige he already has in the village…"
Minato stopped walking.
His resolve solidified.
"To end the endless wars of the shinobi world—
only Drake can do it."
With his mind made up—
He decided to visit every clan personally.
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