Above Mount Myōboku—
A colossal earthen sphere floated in the sky.
Below it, the once-sacred land had been reduced to ruins. Only fragments at the outer edges remained intact.
Drake found Minato, who had taken temporary shelter at a safe distance.
Drake sighed.
"Sensei… I couldn't save Jiraiya."
"You already did what you could," Minato replied gently.
He had seen Drake try to grab Jiraiya before the gravitational pull intensified.
To Minato, that was enough.
He understood—
Drake had acted out of consideration for him.
That thought moved him deeply.
Drake looked up at the massive satellite.
"Jiraiya-senpai died a martyr," he said solemnly. "His contribution to the destruction of Mount Myōboku was tremendous."
Minato blinked.
"…You're serious?"
Drake nodded seriously.
"Think about it. If he hadn't stolen the scrolls, would Mount Myōboku have been destroyed?"
Minato paused.
"…That's… technically true."
The chain of events had begun with Jiraiya delivering those scrolls.
Drake continued calmly:
"Since he's gone, we should preserve his reputation."
Minato looked at Drake with complicated emotion.
His student had changed.
More composed.
More… considerate.
"Drake. You're too kind."
"As Hokage," Drake replied with a faint smile, "there are things I must consider."
He then added casually:
"Also, we should send someone to bring Tsunade-senpai back. And Orochimaru. They were the Three Legendary Sannin. Since Jiraiya died in battle, they should attend the memorial."
Minato's expression turned strange.
"Tsunade, maybe. But Orochimaru?"
Drake nodded calmly.
"We should try."
"And Danzō too. We can invite him back as well."
"Stop." Minato rubbed his forehead. "Drake… you're Hokage. Orochimaru and Danzō will not return. And even if they did, they'd be executed."
Drake sighed regretfully.
"…Then just bring Tsunade back."
"That's reasonable," Minato agreed.
They searched the ruins briefly.
Nothing remained of the seven scrolls.
"They were destroyed," Minato muttered.
"Doesn't matter," Drake replied.
His strength doubled daily.
Soon those scrolls would be outdated anyway.
They rested on a hillside as night fell.
Dawn
Minato noticed movement first.
"Drake. Something's coming."
Drake stood and looked up.
"That's… Rashōmon?"
Indeed—
A colossal gate was approaching from the sky.
And it was filled with people.
"…Why are they here?" Drake muttered.
"I signaled them earlier," Minato admitted. "When we were surrounded by the four giant toads."
"Ah."
Drake nodded.
While waiting, he glanced at his status panel.
Spirit: 81,920 (Six Paths-Level Immunity)
His eyes brightened.
His spirit had doubled.
The enhancement was massive.
Spiritual willpower amplified everything—
Flight bestowal.
Sentient awakening of trees and stone.
Summoning constructs like the flying Rashōmon.
Even tail-beast manipulation.
All of it stemmed from spiritual authority.
BOOM!
The Rashōmon landed a thousand meters away.
Obito was the first to sprint over.
"Drake!"
He stopped when he saw Drake unharmed.
"…You're fine?"
Drake smirked.
"You seem disappointed."
"Idiot. I'm relieved!"
He punched Drake lightly in the shoulder.
"Any enemies left? I'll handle them!"
"Next time."
Obito sighed.
"…I rushed here for nothing."
Soon more shinobi surrounded Drake.
"The Fourth is safe!"
"As expected!"
"Not even injured!"
Uchiha Fugaku approached, slightly ashamed.
"Drake, I mobilized the village without formal approval."
"You did well," Drake said sincerely. "You marched overnight to rescue us. That proves you value your comrades."
His gaze shifted to Kakashi.
"In my eyes, a shinobi who values comrades is a true shinobi."
Kakashi lowered his head slightly.
"…Drake."
Several clan heads stepped forward.
"Who dared attack you?" Hiashi demanded angrily. "We'll wipe them out!"
"Mount Myōboku," Drake replied calmly.
"…One of the Three Great Sage Lands?" Hiashi stiffened.
Fugaku's face changed.
"…This mountain isn't…"
"It is," Drake confirmed.
"Obito! Shisui! Defensive formation!" Fugaku ordered instinctively.
Drake raised a hand.
"Relax. Mount Myōboku has already fallen."
He briefly explained the events.
The surrounding shinobi were stunned.
According to Drake—
Mount Myōboku had essentially destroyed itself.
Jiraiya had even… played a role.
Drake cleared his throat.
"I propose we hold a memorial ceremony."
"For the comrades lost at the front."
"And for Jiraiya-senpai as well."
No one objected.
Drake added:
"After returning, send a team to find Tsunade and bring her back."
Fugaku nodded.
"You've thought this through."
The forces began returning to Konoha.
Meanwhile — Konoha Village
Sarutobi Hiruzen completed his mission and returned.
The moment he stepped through the village gates—
He froze.
Behind him—
Two gate guards spat lightly on the ground.
Even with his back turned—
He heard it.
"…I, the Third Hokage… being spat at by gatekeepers?"
His grip tightened on his pipe.
Something had changed in Konoha.
And not in his favor.
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