Some people can only be seen clearly when death is staring them in the face.
Like now.
In Obito's eyes, Drake had always been lazy, sharp-tongued, and weak.
Yet when everything fell apart… the one who stepped forward was him.
In Rin's eyes, the person she admired had always been the genius Kakashi.
But now, she suddenly realized that her heart was filled with Drake's towering silhouette.
As for Kakashi, he said nothing — his gaze locked firmly on the mountains below.
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion echoed from down the slope, smoke roaring into the sky.
Moments later, figures sprinted wildly through the forest, all chasing toward the southeast.
"He really drew them away…"
Kakashi clenched his fists.
This wasn't luck.
This was Drake gambling his life to create an escape route for Team Nine.
"We move!"
Escape
Deep within the forest, Team Nine pressed onward in silence.
Twisted terrain, dense branches, and jagged undergrowth slowed them drastically — especially with Meinazu on a stretcher.
Rin's hands were sliced open in several places.
Obito tripped again and again.
Even Meinazu was covered in mud from head to toe.
"Can you still hold on?" Kakashi asked, turning back.
Rin and Obito nodded.
"Once we pass the next ridge, we can circle back to the main road. The Daimyo's residence won't be far."
But neither of them showed the slightest excitement.
At the Daimyo's Palace
Inside the grand hall, Kawashiro sat atop the throne, irritation written all over his face.
This was only his third day as the new Daimyo —
and the mountain of paperwork was already driving him insane.
"So being Daimyo is this annoying…?"
Just as the thought formed, his expression froze.
"Did I just hear screaming?"
BOOM!
The palace doors exploded outward.
Three masked figures walked in calmly. One of them had long crimson hair.
Flash! Flash!
Two ninja rushed forward to intercept.
"That speed? Lightning release?"
The red-haired ninja chuckled — her female voice unmistakable.
"Too bad you ran into me."
Scarlet chakra burst forth.
"T-This chakra…?!"
The two lightning ninjas paled in horror.
In the next instant, two massive crimson chakra hands formed and crushed them.
"You're a Jinchūriki! Konoha has no honor!"
"Oh? You talk too much."
Crack!
Their bodies fell limply to the floor.
Kawashiro tried to flee — but the chakra hand seized him mid-air.
"Trash like you dares to rebel?"
Mockery echoed.
Three days into his reign, Kawashiro's rule ended just like that.
Outside the palace, the woman removed her mask.
"Kushina, honestly, you didn't even need to come for this," one ANBU said.
"I had my reasons," she replied, brushing her hair aside.
Yet confusion lingered.
She expected resistance upon entering Hot Water Country —
but only a handful of chūnin had guarded the border.
With strength this pathetic, how did the rebels even manage a coup?
And more importantly…
Where was Team Nine?
Meinazu was the sole heir of the Daimyo.
Where had they escorted her?
Deciding to investigate, Kushina left the palace.
Reunion
Rustle rustle...
From the wilderness emerged a disheveled Kakashi, hair resembling a bird's nest.
Behind him came Obito, Rin, and Meinazu.
They looked less like ninja… and more like wandering beggars.
Even Meinazu had a lump on her head.
"Kushina-senpai?!" Kakashi blurted out.
"We're saved…"
Obito and Rin collapsed to the ground in relief.
"Kushina!" Meinazu cried, half-limping toward her.
"I nearly died, you know."
"Oh? Then I suppose it was a valuable life lesson," Kushina replied lightly.
"What about the rebel leader?"
"Disposed of."
After speaking with Meinazu, Kushina turned back to the team.
"Wait… one person's missing."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Kakashi. Where's Drake?"
Kakashi lowered his eyes, unable to answer.
"Kushina-senpai! We were ambushed by dozens of enemy ninja as soon as we entered Hot Water Country. Drake… he stayed behind alone to draw them away…"
Rin's voice trembled.
Kushina's expression froze.
So that's why only a few chūnin guarded the border…
Most of them had been dragged away by Drake.
But why him?
He was the one who couldn't even master the Three Basic Techniques — the ultimate dead last!
If it had been Kakashi… or even Obito or Rin, she would have understood.
But Drake?
"The weakest member went to draw the enemy away… while the rest of you escaped safely?"
Disappointment clouded Kushina's eyes.
"Even though the mission succeeded, the one who truly completed it…"
Her voice turned heavy.
"…was Drake alone."
Meanwhile…
Inside a massive natural crater.
Drake stood casually at the edge, one hand on his hip, the other pinching an explosive tag.
Below him, dozens of ninja struggled to climb out — yet none dared move too rashly.
"I'm telling you right now," Drake said lazily, shaking the tag.
"My hand's really shaky."
Try to chase me?
Look at you now — all packed nicely into one big pit.
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