At the entrance of Konoha Village, Drake removed his hand from the tree trunk.
He turned and walked toward the Hokage Tower.
Inside the Hokage office, Uchiha Fugaku stretched his stiff arms with satisfaction.
His mood was excellent.
The arrest of Danzo, Hiruzen, and Orochimaru had made the Uchiha clan extremely happy.
Some members had even secretly celebrated.
In their eyes, the Uchiha revival had begun.
And all of it—
Was thanks to the Fourth Hokage.
Just then—
Drake stepped into the office.
"Fourth, you're here?"
Fugaku immediately stood up.
He was a little confused.
It was already getting late—why had Drake suddenly come here?
Drake spoke directly.
"Clan Leader Fugaku, bring Orochimaru here."
"Understood."
Fugaku disappeared instantly.
Paperwork and the Chūnin Exam
Drake walked to the desk.
"Fugaku really is responsible. Almost all the documents are finished."
Only a few files remained.
He casually picked them up.
"Hm?"
"A list of participants for the Chūnin Exams."
Drake stroked his chin.
Then calmly picked up a pen.
He added his own name to the list.
After finishing that document, he signed the remaining approval forms.
Most of them were simply exam procedures requiring the Hokage's confirmation.
Orochimaru Arrives
Footsteps approached the office.
Fugaku returned—
With Orochimaru.
Drake blinked.
"…Where are his arms?"
Fugaku answered calmly.
"To prevent him from using ninjutsu to escape, I cut them off."
"I see."
Drake waved his hand.
"You can leave."
Fugaku departed.
Now only Drake and Orochimaru remained.
Drake's Request
Drake went straight to the point.
"Orochimaru."
"You've mastered Edo Tensei, correct?"
"Only partially," Orochimaru replied honestly.
"I have a task for you."
"I want you to use Edo Tensei to summon Minato Namikaze."
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
"…Minato is dead?"
He found that hard to believe.
Minato had the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Who could kill him?
Drake answered calmly.
"Yes."
"Minato was killed by Madara."
Orochimaru frowned.
"That's impossible."
"You already killed Madara several times."
Drake grew slightly impatient.
"You don't need to understand the details."
"I'm asking whether you can perform the Edo Tensei."
Orochimaru gestured at his missing arms.
"I could before."
"Now I cannot."
Drake replied simply.
"I can attach new arms for you."
"Then I can try."
Orochimaru agreed immediately.
If he proved useful—
He might survive.
Night — Drake's Courtyard
Later that night, Drake transplanted White Zetsu arms onto Orochimaru.
Then he removed the mental suppression placed on him.
Orochimaru flexed his new arms.
But he didn't feel happy.
He knew Drake could control White Zetsu cells.
Which meant Drake could control him.
Still—
He had no choice.
Requirements for Edo Tensei
Orochimaru explained the requirements.
"To resurrect Minato, I need two things."
His flesh or genetic material
A living sacrifice
Drake nodded.
"Minato's body is… unusual."
"Would frog tissue work?"
"Yes," Orochimaru said.
"The flesh only serves to summon the soul."
"The living body becomes the vessel."
Drake summoned a White Zetsu.
"We'll use this as the sacrifice."
"As for Minato's body…"
"It's on the way."
Orochimaru's Question
The waiting period was tense.
Orochimaru finally spoke.
"Fourth Hokage…"
"You said Madara killed Minato."
"Does that mean Madara has another way to revive?"
Drake answered calmly.
"I can tell you."
"Madara came here from the past."
Orochimaru's eyes widened.
"…Time travel?"
He had never heard anything like this.
Then Orochimaru asked a logical question.
"If he can travel through time…"
"Couldn't he go back and kill you as a child?"
Drake glanced at him approvingly.
"You're very clever."
Orochimaru hurriedly explained.
"I'm only speaking theoretically."
Drake replied calmly.
"He can't go back anymore."
Orochimaru quickly understood.
Madara from the past had come to the present—
And Drake killed him.
But then a paradox appeared.
"You killed the Madara in the present…"
"And the Madara from the past."
"Isn't that contradictory?"
Drake shook his head.
"No."
"Madara in the past still exists."
His smile turned cold.
"To erase him completely…"
"I need to travel back."
"And kill his entire family."
Orochimaru felt a chill run down his spine.
Drake was serious.
He planned to wipe out Madara's bloodline in the past.
"What a terrifying man…"
Orochimaru swallowed nervously.
Drake's Insurance
Drake suddenly spoke again.
"Oh, right."
"Since you now know this secret…"
"I need to place an insurance on you."
He smiled.
Then placed his hand on Orochimaru's head.
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