A new day began once again at Happy Hot Springs.
Morning
Drake glanced at the still-sleeping Minai and chose not to wake her.
After all… last night's "workload" had been just a tiny bit intense.
Rustle… rustle…
Light footsteps came from outside the room. Kushina pushed the door open and poked her head in.
"Obito is missing."
That single sentence sent Drake flying out the door.
Outside the Shop
Seeing Drake rush out, Team Nine instantly forgot their complaints.
"Drake, Obito is gone," Kakashi said in a low voice.
"Did you check his clan?" Drake asked.
"We did. He's not in the Uchiha compound."
"What about the village?"
"We searched all the places he usually hangs around. Nothing."
After a brief exchange, Drake headed straight for the Uchiha district.
The others followed closely.
Uchiha Compound — Southeast Corner
Inside Obito's room, Drake looked around thoughtfully.
Messy. Dirty. Chaotic.
This was Obito's natural habitat.
But one thing Drake was certain of — Obito had vanished last night.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Urgent footsteps echoed as Uchiha Fugaku entered.
"I've had the clan search the entire village. Still no sign of Obito."
As the newly appointed clan leader, Fugaku had done all he could.
But there were no results.
Walking out into the courtyard, Drake rested a hand on a nearby tree.
"Obito… where are you?"
Rustle… rustle…
The leaves swayed, but Drake still sighed.
Leaving Fugaku behind, Drake led Team Nine toward the rear mountain.
On the Way
"Kakashi, go notify Sensei. Tell him to meet me at the back mountain," Drake instructed.
"Got it." Kakashi vanished in a flash.
"Did the tree tell you where Obito went?" Rin asked.
"The trees said Obito came to the back mountain last night… and never returned," Drake replied honestly.
"The back mountain?" Red Bean blinked.
"That's the only place we haven't searched yet!" Yugao realized.
"Maybe he trained there all night?" Rin guessed hopefully.
"I hope so," Drake muttered.
Back Mountain
When Minato arrived, he saw Drake standing beneath a tree with a bucket beside him.
"You found something?" Minato asked.
"Last night, Obito stood here. He even watered this tree," Drake said slowly.
"And then?"
"A man in a black robe appeared and abducted him."
Minato's expression instantly turned grave.
"Do you know who it was?"
"…Most likely Uchiha Madara."
The moment that name was spoken, tension froze the air.
"Madara? Why would he kidnap Obito?" Rin couldn't understand.
"If he wanted someone, shouldn't he take Drake instead?"
Even Minato found it difficult to comprehend.
Obito? Was he really worth Madara's effort?
"He hasn't even awakened the Sharingan yet. What's the point?" Kakashi voiced the most logical concern.
Drake, however, was running calculations at lightning speed in his mind.
Drake's Inner Thoughts
"According to the original timeline, Madara shouldn't have taken Obito yet…"
"Did I expose his hideout at Kannabi Bridge too early?"
"Ninjas are swarming that place now… He must've been forced to relocate."
"So this wasn't just revenge on Konoha — this was a kidnapping mission as well."
Then Drake's thoughts reached one critical name.
Rin.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Madara wouldn't entrust one of his plans to a useless pawn. If he took Obito, it's to mold him into a successor."
A successor to what?
Drake didn't say the full truth, but he understood clearly.
To awaken Obito's Sharingan, Madara would need a powerful emotional trigger.
And what could provoke Obito the most?
Family? Already gone.
That left only one thing.
Love.
Drake smiled faintly.
"If I protect Rin properly, Obito won't awaken his eyes."
"In that case… Madara's carefully crafted successor plan will fail completely."
Just imagining Madara's frustration made Drake almost laugh.
Present
The atmosphere should have been heavy, full of worry and sorrow.
Yet Drake suddenly chuckled.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
In a situation like this… how could he laugh?
"Looks like you figured something out," Minato said, relieved.
"I've deduced Madara's objective," Drake replied calmly, then explained his reasoning while carefully omitting the Moon Eye Plan.
Drake's Analysis
"Madara is old and nearing death. He needs a successor. That's why he took Obito."
"A successor?" Minato was shocked.
But after thinking it through, it made sense.
"Obito… as Madara's heir?" Kakashi stared in disbelief. "Why not someone competent like me?"
Drake twitched. "That's exactly why Madara lost to the First Hokage. His taste is terrible."
Then he continued seriously:
"The true power of the Uchiha lies in the Sharingan. To cultivate Obito, Madara must force him to awaken it."
"And the only way for that to happen is through extreme emotional shock."
He raised two fingers.
"Family… or love."
The answer was obvious.
Everyone's gaze slowly shifted.
And finally, all eyes landed on one person.
Rin froze.
Minato's Decision
"Drake," Minato spoke with unprecedented seriousness,
"From this moment on, you will personally protect Rin. At all times."
"Eh?" Drake blinked.
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