Drake was dragged away by Sensei Minato.
"Sensei, I was about to go freeload dinner," Drake said suspiciously.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere important," Minato replied, offering no explanation.
Nara Clan Underground Chamber
The moment Drake stepped into the secret chamber, he froze—genuinely shocked.
Nara.
Akimichi.
Yamanaka.
Aburame.
Hyūga.
Uchiha.
Kurama.
Scanning the room, Drake realized that almost every major clan leader in Konoha was present.
"…So," Drake muttered,
"Is this a rebellion summit?"
"DON'T SAY THAT!"
Minato panicked and slapped a hand over Drake's mouth.
He was truly impressed by this student—
Drake said anything, with zero fear of consequences.
The others' expressions stiffened.
They didn't even know how to react to him anymore.
"Ahem! He's here. Let's begin," Minato said quickly, changing the topic before Drake could cause a diplomatic incident.
Nara Shikaku Speaks
Nara Shikaku stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Everyone," he began calmly,
"The Third Hokage has repeatedly compromised with foreign enemies—ignoring the village's interests and the lives of our clansmen."
"We can no longer allow him to remain in power."
"Even if we win this war, the Third Hokage will still choose concession."
"Then tell me—what was the point of our resistance?"
"What was the meaning of our clans' sacrifices?"
"If this continues, enemy villages will not restrain themselves—
they will only grow bolder."
"We must force the Third Hokage to step down."
"And choose a Hokage who truly puts the village and the clans first."
Drake listened quietly.
He had to admit—
Shikaku wasn't wrong.
Hiruzen's appeasement policy had broken the trust of the clans
and encouraged even more aggression from rival villages.
"I've said my piece," Shikaku concluded.
"Now, candidates may speak."
He scanned the room.
"Anyone present may run for Fourth Hokage."
"But you must clearly state your strengths—and what you can bring to the village."
The meaning was obvious:
If you couldn't offer something greater than the Third,
then you had no right to stand here.
Though this was technically an internal selection—
Everyone understood it was the final decision before openly confronting Hiruzen.
Drake Starts Eliminating Candidates
Drake didn't step forward.
He crossed his arms and watched.
Step.
Hyūga Hiashi was the first to come out.
He cleared his throat, preparing to speak—
"Hold on."
Drake interrupted.
"…?"
Hiashi froze.
"So," Drake said seriously,
"I think Clan Head Hiashi can return to the line."
Hiashi: "???"
He hadn't even said a word yet.
"Drake," Hiashi frowned,
"Do you have a problem with me?"
"Personal friendship aside," Drake replied calmly,
"you're not suitable to be Hokage."
"Why?" Hiashi demanded.
"You want to be Hokage," Drake said flatly,
"yet your clan still enforces a rigid Main House–Branch House system."
"Fix that first."
Then come back and run.
The room went silent.
Hiashi was speechless.
Others began nodding instinctively.
"He's right," Fugaku said bluntly.
"If you can't even ensure equality within your own clan,
what happens when you rule the village?"
Just like that—
Hiashi's entire speech, which filled a full page,
was never read.
He was eliminated on the spot.
"I even treated you to dinner once," Hiashi muttered as he stepped back.
"I'll treat you next time," Drake replied casually.
With the amount of money he had now,
treating a clan—or ten—meant nothing.
Uchiha Fugaku Gets Shut Down
Next candidate.
Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward.
He adjusted his throat and picked up his speech—
"Hold it."
Drake spoke again.
Fugaku's hand trembled.
His speech fell to the floor.
"…You again?" Fugaku said darkly.
"Drake," Minato sighed, rubbing his forehead,
"Do you have an objection again?"
"Of course," Drake nodded.
"Clan Head Fugaku," Drake said evenly,
"The Hokage must possess sharpness.
He must possess domineering will."
"Do you have that?"
"I…"
Fugaku froze.
After a long silence, he bent down, picked up his paper—
And returned to the line without a word.
The room erupted in confusion.
That was it?
No explanation?
Yet Shikaku nodded thoughtfully.
A Hokage could not be indecisive.
There was too much uncertainty at stake.
Lowering his voice, Fugaku muttered as he passed Drake:
"I've bought you drinks before."
"I'll buy next time," Drake replied.
Kurama Clan — Also Rejected
After two failures, silence filled the room.
Finally, the Kurama clan head stepped forward.
He had no speech prepared.
He cleared his throat, glanced at Drake—
Seeing no immediate reaction, he relaxed slightly.
"I—"
"Wait."
Drake spoke again.
The Kurama clan head snapped.
"Just say it," he said stiffly.
"Why am I not suitable?"
"Being Hokage is exhausting," Drake replied calmly.
"Train your taijutsu a bit more and try again next term."
The others nodded in agreement.
The Kurama clan's physical constitution was indeed too weak.
If he became Hokage, he'd end up hospitalized
before finishing a year in office.
Three candidates.
Three instant rejections.
The chamber fell into dead silence.
No one dared step forward anymore.
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