In the courtyard.
After finishing his explanation, Orochimaru looked at Drake with anticipation.
He believed he had already demonstrated his value. Logically, Drake shouldn't execute him anymore.
"You've done well, Orochimaru," Drake nodded in approval.
"I'm willing to serve you from now on!" Orochimaru immediately declared.
"Oh? That works." Drake smiled faintly.
Then, he summoned a White Zetsu from underground.
"Orochimaru… loyalty isn't proven by words. It depends on actions. Don't you agree?" Drake said calmly.
"I completely agree, Fourth Hokage!" Orochimaru nodded firmly.
The next moment—
He froze.
Drake placed his palm on Orochimaru's head again.
"I've decided to give you a new body. Your original body will be disposed of… and you'll continue serving me in a new form."
"I—"
Orochimaru stood there, stunned.
He never expected Drake to be this cautious.
He was already under control… and now Drake wanted to replace his body with a White Zetsu?
That meant—
He would never have any chance of rebelling again.
"What's wrong? Judging by your expression… you don't want this?" Drake withdrew his hand, sounding slightly disappointed.
"I… I'm willing," Orochimaru forced himself to agree.
Because the alternative—
Was death.
Soul Extraction
Drake's spiritual power surged outward.
He reached directly into Orochimaru's head.
A bizarre scene unfolded.
"That's… Orochimaru's soul?" Minato said in shock.
A semi-transparent soul was forcibly pulled out of Orochimaru's body.
Without hesitation—
Drake stuffed it into the White Zetsu body.
Moments later—
The White Zetsu opened its eyes.
"I… changed bodies just like that?" Orochimaru examined himself, disbelief written all over his face.
No ritual.
No seals.
No complex jutsu.
Just… done.
"Get used to this body. Soon enough, you should be able to use Wood Release," Drake said casually.
"Wood Release?!"
Orochimaru's eyes lit up with excitement.
He had spent years researching it with little success.
And now—
Just by switching bodies—
He could use it?
"Thank you, Lord Drake!" Orochimaru bowed deeply, his tone filled with genuine excitement.
Minato's Realization
At the side, Minato shook his head silently.
"Orochimaru doesn't even realize it…"
"In his subconscious, he's already acknowledged Drake as his master."
White Zetsu naturally obeyed Drake.
And now—
Orochimaru was a White Zetsu.
Which meant—
His loyalty was no longer a choice.
Suddenly, Minato froze.
"Wait…"
"If Orochimaru got a White Zetsu body… then what about mine?"
Minato's Concern
"Alright, you can leave," Drake dismissed Orochimaru.
Then he turned to Minato.
"Don't worry, Sensei. I haven't tampered with your body."
"…So you can control it if you want?" Minato asked, speechless.
"Only in special situations," Drake replied.
"…I knew it," Minato sighed, his face full of resignation.
"Sensei, you should put some powder on your face. It'll hide the cracks," Drake suggested.
Minato's current body still had the characteristic cracks of Edo Tensei.
"Fine. I'll head home first."
With that, Minato disappeared in a flash.
Fugaku Arrives
Footsteps echoed.
Uchiha Fugaku entered the courtyard.
The first thing he saw—
Was Orochimaru's corpse.
"He's dead?" Fugaku asked in surprise.
"I thought you were going to interrogate him."
"Dispose of it," Drake said calmly.
Then he looked at Fugaku.
"You came for something?"
"There are three youths outside. They said they're here to see you."
"Let them in."
The Arrival of Yahiko's Group
Soon—
Three figures entered.
Yahiko looked nervous.
Konan curiously observed Drake.
She was surprised—
The Fourth Hokage looked even younger than her.
Nagato, now blindfolded, stood quietly without moving.
Drake's gaze swept across them before stopping on Nagato.
"By now… you should understand."
"The Rinnegan you had… wasn't originally yours."
"It was secretly implanted by Madara."
"I figured as much," Nagato said quietly.
From the moment he met Madara—
He already suspected the truth.
The Truth About the Rinnegan
"But why would Madara give him such powerful eyes?" Konan asked.
"The answer is simple."
"Nagato… was nothing more than a vessel to nurture the Rinnegan."
"That's disgusting!" Konan's face filled with anger.
To treat someone as a tool—
Unforgivable.
Restoring Nagato's Eyes
"Come here. I'll give you a pair of normal eyes," Drake said.
With his mastery of Yang Release chakra, creating eyes was trivial.
Nagato stepped forward and removed his bandages.
Drake's palm gathered radiant chakra—
Then touched his eye sockets.
The next moment—
Black pupils formed instantly.
"What kind of ability is that?! You just created eyes out of nothing?!" Konan was completely stunned.
"That's nothing," Yahiko said calmly.
"He literally brought me back to life."
Compared to that—
Creating eyes was nothing special.
"Thank you, Fourth Hokage," Nagato said sincerely.
"No need."
Drake waved it off.
Then he looked at all three of them.
"You three should join Konoha."
"Perfect timing—the Chunin Exams are coming up."
"I can sign you up."
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