Midway up the mountain, Drake appeared.
At first glance, his eyes locked onto the closest pair — a dark-skinned brute and his subordinate.
Kneeling stance, bent posture, palms pressed to the ground…
"Stone ninja, huh?" Drake muttered. Just from their posture, he'd already identified them.
At the same time, Huangtu of Iwagakure recognized Drake as well. Thanks to the intelligence gathered at Kannabi Bridge, he already knew everything about Team Nine.
"Brat, you're from Konoha," Huangtu said in a low voice.
Drake didn't even dignify him with a glance. Instead, his gaze shifted toward the two Sand ninja on the other side.
"Huh?"
The faces looked familiar.
That's right… if he remembered correctly, these were Maki and Pakura from Sunagakure.
"You… why are you here?" Maki stammered, disbelief clear in his tone.
Konoha actually sent this guy to investigate?
"Watch your mouths," Drake replied indifferently.
Finally, he turned to the pair standing furthest away.
"And you two as well."
A faint curve formed on his lips.
Today really was his lucky day.
Step.
He walked straight past the Stone and Sand ninja, heading directly toward the notorious AB duo.
"Bro… it's that kid again," Killer B whispered, his heart pounding wildly.
"Why is he coming for us specifically?!"
"He was fighting Iwa last time… how the hell did he end up in the Land of Water?" A muttered, sweat almost forming.
They weren't afraid of many things.
But they were terrified of one thing — Drake deciding to trade his life for theirs.
"You look pretty nervous," Drake said calmly as he stopped in front of them.
Then, casually:
"Last time, you ran away. This time, go all out. Let me beat you to death properly."
The instant those words left his mouth—
Maki and Pakura exchanged glances, then nearly burst into laughter internally.
Huangtu also froze for a second — then secretly rejoiced.
Just that single sentence was enough.
It confirmed that Cloud had already clashed with Drake before… and had fled.
Step!
At that moment, Minato and the rest of Team Nine arrived.
The moment they reached the mountain ridge, they were greeted by a bizarre standoff.
"Huangtu… son of the Third Tsuchikage?"
"Maki and Pakura from the Sand?"
"And the son of the Third Raikage…"
Minato recognized them instantly, his expression turning serious.
Without hesitation, he flashed forward and appeared beside Drake.
"The Yellow Flash of Konoha…" A's pupils shrank.
The pressure doubled instantly.
One Drake was already terrifying.
Now add Minato Namikaze to the mix?
The atmosphere turned suffocating.
If anyone looked closely, they'd notice Maki, Pakura, Huangtu and his subordinate slowly edging backward, quietly trying to remove themselves from the battlefield.
"Such a lively gathering."
A raspy, aged voice echoed from above.
Everyone turned.
An old man clad in Mist robes descended from the mountain peak step by step.
"That crest… It's the Hozuki Clan," Minato murmured.
"It's Hozuki Gengetsu," A named him immediately.
"You think interrupting means I won't kill you?" Drake glanced over with cold annoyance.
If Minato hadn't shown up so fast, fists would already be flying.
"Don't think we're afraid of you!" Killer B snapped, trying to salvage some dignity.
Immediately, A clamped his hand over B's mouth.
"Good spirit. Don't run later," Drake grinned. He'd already decided how he wanted to snap B's neck.
The Accusation
Hozuki Gengetsu's arrival temporarily prevented a bloodbath.
"Everyone here knows why you've come," he said coldly. "But before that, I have a question. Over a hundred of our Mist patrol ninjas have been slaughtered. Who's responsible?"
The response?
Cloud duo stared at the sky.
Sand duo admired the scenery.
Stone ninja stretched their sore backs.
Only Team Nine whispered among themselves.
"Obviously Cloud ninja. Just look at their faces — definitely villains," Obito muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cloud duo clenched their teeth.
"I think it's Iwa. They're so dark, must be from doing too much evil," Anko pointed casually.
Huangtu looked like he'd swallowed a rock.
"Our skin is dark because of the terrain! What does that have to do with morality?!"
"And hey, maybe it's Sand," Rin added thoughtfully.
"They invaded our Land of Fire before — killing Mist ninja wouldn't surprise me."
Maki and Pakura smiled painfully.
Then—
Clap!
Drake brought his hands together loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"The truth is clear."
He smiled beautifully, teeth bright and innocent.
"The ones who murdered your Mist ninja are these three factions."
He gestured broadly to Cloud, Stone, and Sand.
"Elder Hozuki, want me to capture all the murderers for you?"
"Thi—this…" Gengetsu was stunned.
The most unbelievable part?
None of the three factions dared to refute it.
This kid… is dangerous.
Suppressing the storm in his heart, Gengetsu shook his head slowly.
"Let's put that aside. I wish to propose a deal."
"Oh?" Drake gestured for him to continue.
Every other force stayed silent, instinctively acknowledging Drake as the spokesman.
"Our Hidden Mist is currently undergoing internal turmoil. If you assist us in suppressing the rebellion, we will fully cooperate with your investigation."
Internal rebellion?
Drake and Minato exchanged looks.
The others frowned as well.
What a coincidence.
They came to verify the rumour that Uchiha Madara was manipulating the Mist from the shadows… and suddenly the village plunged into chaos?
Minato spoke first.
"In this situation, we cannot interfere."
Even without him saying it, Drake had zero intention of helping.
Because there was no profit.
Hidden Mist would use them as tools to crush their enemies — and once stability returned, any "evidence" could be conveniently blamed on the losing side.
Mist benefits.
Everyone else bleeds.
Only an idiot would agree.
Under Hozuki Gengetsu's hopeful gaze, Drake casually picked his nose.
Then said flatly:
"Your Hidden Mist civil war… what does that have to do with us?"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage