As Drake's words fell, figures began emerging from the shadows.
One ninja suddenly turned pale.
"You… you're Konoha's Drake!"
Drake smiled.
"You recognize me?"
"I've seen intelligence reports," Hirakawa Mokujī said, voice trembling.
"You infiltrated the Land of Earth and wiped out over a thousand elite Cloud nin alone!"
The cave fell silent.
"A thousand elites?"
"That's impossible…"
Drake shook his head.
"Your information is outdated."
White Zetsu stepped forward.
"Listen carefully. Lord Drake is now the Fourth Hokage of Konoha."
Shock rippled through the chamber.
"A child… Hokage?"
Hirakawa swallowed.
"It's true. Lord Yahiko mentioned yesterday that Konoha appointed a very young Fourth Hokage."
Drake took a seat at the stone table.
"Where are your leaders?"
"They went to Amegakure," Hirakawa answered respectfully.
"Lord Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were summoned by Hanzo."
Drake's expression shifted slightly.
Hanzo.
That name mattered.
Analytical Realization
Drake thought quickly.
Even without Danzō's manipulation…
Madara still needs Yahiko dead.
Only Yahiko's death could push Nagato fully into awakening the Rinnegan's potential.
Therefore—
Whether Hanzo intended to or not—
Madara would ensure it happened.
Drake stood immediately.
"Do you know the meeting location?"
"No."
"That's enough."
He left the cave.
"If your leader returns, tell him to come to Konoha."
Tracking Through Nature
Outside, Drake placed his palm on a tree.
The forest responded.
Information flowed through roots and branches.
Moments later—
He launched himself toward Amegakure.
Rainfall Mountain — Battlefield
The ground was devastated.
Dozens of corpses.
Konan supported an exhausted Nagato as they approached Yahiko's body.
Yahiko's breathing was fading.
"I was… too naïve…" he whispered weakly.
His chest stopped rising.
He died.
Nagato knelt.
Konan wept.
Then—
BOOM.
A figure descended from the sky.
Drake.
He surveyed the battlefield calmly.
"How long has he been dead?"
"Just now," Nagato answered urgently.
Drake placed his hand on Yahiko's chest.
Yang Release chakra surged.
A heartbeat echoed.
Konan froze.
Nagato's eyes widened.
Another beat.
Then another.
Yahiko gasped—
—and opened his eyes.
"…Wasn't I dead?"
"Lord Drake saved you!" Konan cried in relief.
Nagato stared.
"You can reverse death?"
Drake exhaled heavily.
"This Wood Clone is nearly out of chakra."
In truth—
Yahiko hadn't fully crossed into the Pure Land.
If even a little more time had passed—
It would've been impossible.
Still—
The revival consumed nearly ninety percent of this clone's chakra.
Drake turned to Nagato.
"Hold still."
Yang Release flowed into Nagato's crippled legs.
Muscles regenerated.
Nerves reconnected.
Bones strengthened.
Within seconds—
Nagato stood upright.
Shock filled his eyes.
Then—
The clone collapsed into a piece of wood.
Silence returned.
Aftermath
The three stood quietly in the rain.
"Should we go to Konoha?" Konan asked softly.
"Yes," Yahiko answered firmly.
"Definitely," Nagato agreed.
They knew Drake's reputation.
Wood Release Drake.
The man who repelled the combined aggression of four great villages alone.
And yet—
He came personally to save them.
They suspected why.
Jiraiya.
Their teacher.
And Drake—
Was Jiraiya's successor.
The rain continued to fall.
But for the first time—
Their future had changed.
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