Drake awoke to the soft patter of rain outside.
He sat up slowly on the narrow massage bed and glanced sideways at Mikoto, still asleep.
He shook his head faintly.
"Your massage technique needs work," he muttered lightly, "though you certainly compensate with creativity."
He didn't wake her.
Instead, he left quietly.
On the Street
A light drizzle fell across the village.
Drake opened his status panel.
Physique: 36864 (*) — Six Paths Level
His brows lifted.
"It doubled… and reached Six Paths tier?"
He felt it immediately.
A warm, vibrant force circulating inside his body—
Life energy.
"So this is Yang Release…"
He stopped in front of a flower shop.
Green potted plants lined the storefront, leaves glistening beneath the rain.
Drake crouched and placed his palm gently over one plant.
A thin stream of Yang energy flowed outward.
The effect was immediate.
The leaves withered and fell—
Then, within breaths, fresh new leaves sprouted.
Drake stood up, understanding dawning.
"So that's how it works."
Later That Morning — Memorial Stone
Shinobi gathered in solemn lines.
Today was the memorial for those fallen on the frontlines.
As Fourth Hokage, Drake stood at the front and bowed deeply.
Every name carved in stone—
Genin or elite—
Was a hero of the village.
After the ceremony, people gradually dispersed.
Drake frowned.
"...Kakashi."
"In!" Kakashi appeared instantly.
"Where is Sensei?"
"Hm? Wasn't he here?" Kakashi looked genuinely confused.
The crowd had been large.
He hadn't noticed.
"Go find him."
Drake felt something was off.
He hadn't seen Minato since last night.
At first, he assumed rest.
Now—
It felt wrong.
Minato's Residence
Meanwhile, Kushina rushed into the house.
The front door was shattered.
Inside—
Chaos.
Furniture overturned.
Clothing torn.
But no sign of Minato.
"He's in trouble!"
Moments later, Drake arrived.
He scanned the damage carefully.
"Calm down, Kushina-senpai."
"This looks like a fight!" she insisted.
Drake shook his head slightly.
"If it were a real battle, the destruction wouldn't stop at the house."
He glanced outside.
Then asked:
"Was your Flying Thunder God kunai activated?"
"No."
That meant one thing—
Minato had not called for help.
Which suggested—
This was deliberate.
Village Entrance
Drake placed his hand against a tree.
"Did Minato leave the village?"
The tree answered through natural resonance.
"No."
"Are you certain?"
"Let me ask others."
After a moment—
"He did not leave."
Drake nodded.
"He's still inside the village."
Kushina looked baffled.
"If he's here… why can't we find him?"
Drake's eyes narrowed.
"Concealment barrier."
Only a specialized concealment technique could evade his sensory range.
He turned to her.
"Where does he usually train?"
"Training grounds."
"Show me."
Training Ground No. 9
Rain drizzled softly.
The field stood empty.
Drake walked slowly across the grass.
Then—
He stopped beneath a familiar tree.
The same tree where Minato had once hidden the scrolls.
He crouched.
Hands came together.
Clap.
Wood Release activated.
A thick tree trunk burst from the soil—
Its branches coiled tightly around—
A toad.
Kushina blinked.
"There was a toad under the tree?"
Drake's eyes fixed on it.
Blonde hair.
On its head.
"…Sensei."
The branches loosened.
The bloated, warty toad jumped down, then tried to crawl back toward the hollow.
The branches snapped forward—
Pulling it back.
"Sensei. I know it's you."
"Can you speak?"
Kushina stared in disbelief.
The yellow tuft of hair…
It was unmistakable.
The toad froze.
Its bulging eyes flickered toward Kushina.
She instinctively stepped behind Drake.
Sadness flashed through the creature's gaze.
Finally—
It spoke.
In Minato's voice.
"…I have no face to see you."
Rain fell quietly over Training Ground No. 9.
And the truth began to surface.
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