The morning in Konoha felt unusually heavy.
Almost everyone already knew the news—Danzō had defected during the night.
On the streets, villagers whispered among themselves, anxiety spreading with every rumor.
Hokage Office
A loud crash echoed through the room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had smashed his desk to pieces. Documents were scattered all over the floor.
"Why… why would Danzō defect?!"
He had learned the news the previous night and had spent the entire night thinking about it.
Even now, he still couldn't understand Danzō's motive.
"He already had status. He already had power. Just because of a single Uchiha ambush… he defects?"
Hiruzen couldn't accept it.
Who among those at the peak of power hadn't been ambushed or assassinated before?
"There must be another reason."
Forcing himself to calm down, Hiruzen picked up Root's report from the night before.
According to Root's account, Danzō had returned to the Root base last night.
The moment he arrived, he ordered all Root members to defect with him.
The "righteous" Root ninja refused and fought him on the spot.
Danzō was defeated and fled the village.
Hiruzen's gaze froze on one particular line.
Root pursued Danzō to the village entrance, where he rendezvoused with others.
Hiruzen's heart sank.
"Others… who were they?"
"They definitely weren't from Konoha."
"Sand? Stone? Cloud?"
No matter which village it was, the result would be disastrous for Konoha.
"Someone, come here."
Summoning a subordinate, Hiruzen issued an urgent order.
"Go to the Land of Grass immediately. Bring Minato and Drake back at once."
"Yes!"
Watching the messenger leave, Hiruzen could no longer sit still.
Negotiations were clearly off the table now.
Once the Stone Village learned of Danzō's defection, another large-scale assault was inevitable.
"At least Minato is reliable… far more reliable than those clans."
"He is Jiraiya's student, after all."
Hiruzen had completely forgotten that, not long ago, he himself had been deeply dissatisfied with Minato.
Nara Clan – Secret Chamber
Several clan heads had gathered in silence.
"First Orochimaru defected. Now Danzō as well. The Third Hokage bears full responsibility."
"One was his student. The other his long-time partner."
"Once the other villages hear of this, they'll definitely launch new attacks."
"And Danzō's defection alone will severely damage the morale of our ninja."
Voices of dissatisfaction filled the room.
"That's enough," Nara Shikaku concluded.
"Minato isn't in the village right now. We'll talk after he returns."
ANBU Headquarters
Kakashi and the others stood together, expressions grim.
"Drake must be with Minato, negotiating with Iwagakure," Kakashi said.
"Then… won't they be in danger?" Anko asked worriedly.
"Of course they will. Once Iwa hears about Danzō's defection, negotiations will collapse."
"Then let's go save them!"
All eyes turned toward Anko.
"Anko," Kakashi sighed, "Drake was right. You really need to recognize your own limits."
In the end, Kakashi decided to form a three-man team with Obito and Yamato, heading to the Land of Grass to support Drake.
Konoha Military Police Headquarters
Standing by the window, Uchiha Fugaku gazed at the village below.
"It seems… Konoha is about to undergo drastic change."
Kannabi Bridge
Drake looked up as Minato Namikaze embedded a kunai into a nearby tree.
"Nice escape route, Sensei," Drake commented casually.
"You're far too reckless," Minato replied helplessly. "I have to prepare a way out."
He tossed another kunai toward Drake.
"If we encounter danger, I'll teleport to you first, then bring us back here."
"Probably won't need it," Drake muttered, pocketing the kunai.
"Let's go."
Whoosh—whoosh.
The two dashed onto the bridge at high speed.
After crossing it, they accelerated even further.
"Ten kilometers ahead is the Land of Earth," Minato reminded him.
"According to Kenjirō's intel, the nearest Iwa outpost is on Earthmound Hill. That'll be our target."
"No problem," Drake replied.
Soon, the two entered the Land of Earth and headed straight for Earthmound Hill.
Earthmound Hill was a key passage deep into the Land of Earth.
Because of its elevated terrain, the Iwa ninja had established an outpost there.
Moments later, Drake and Minato stood at the foot of the hill, gazing at the watch post above.
"They've noticed us," Minato warned.
"Of course they have," Drake said indifferently.
"If they didn't notice us in terrain this open, that would be strange."
"Drake, I suggest we wait until ni—"
Whoosh!!!
Before Minato could finish, Drake had already charged up the slope.
"…As expected, I still can't predict you," Minato sighed, rubbing his forehead as he followed.
"Enemy attack!"
Alarm signals rang out from the hilltop.
More than a dozen Iwa ninja rushed out and lined the slope.
"The enemy is approaching at high speed!"
"Don't underestimate them! Prepare Earth Release!"
"Understood!"
The Iwa ninja formed seals and slammed their hands onto the ground.
"Earth Release — Earth Rift Collapse!"
"Earth Release — Earth Rift Collapse!"
"Earth Release — Earth Rift Collapse!"
The ground trembled violently.
Cracks tore through the earth as massive rocks and soil broke loose, rolling downhill.
With gravity and momentum, the boulders accelerated rapidly.
"Drake, dodge!" Minato shouted.
But his expression froze mid-sentence.
Drake didn't slow down at all.
He charged straight toward the avalanche of rock.
Then—
He threw a single punch.
BOOM!!!
The sheer compression of air detonated, forming a terrifying shockwave.
A violent gust surged outward.
Minato felt a powerful suction force and nearly got dragged toward Drake.
"What kind of monstrous strength is this?!"
Minato was stunned.
It was just one punch—
Yet the pressure alone had almost swept him away.
BOOOOM—
The shockwave slammed into the falling rocks.
In an instant, massive boulders were blown away like toys.
Whoosh!
Drake surged upward, eyes locked onto the Iwa ninja at the top of the slope.
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