Fūra stood with his arms crossed, gazing up at the towering mountain ahead.
He was certain of one thing—
Minato Namikaze's squad was hiding up there.
"Captain Fūra, no chakra signatures detected," a sensor ninja reported after opening his eyes.
"Heh." Fūra sneered.
"Looks like the poison has fully taken effect. Minato's chakra has been completely dissolved."
This outcome didn't surprise him in the slightest.
In fact, it was excellent news.
It meant Minato and the others had lost all ability to escape.
Even if they hadn't been found yet, as long as this mountain was searched thoroughly, they would be caught sooner or later.
"Continue advancing toward the summit," Fūra ordered, motioning with his hand as he headed toward the mountainside.
At the Summit
"The Sand ninja have crossed the mid-slope," Chōza Akimichi returned with grim news.
"They're already past the mid-slope…" Minato Namikaze murmured.
That meant the enemy was now only a few hundred meters away.
If not for the dense forest on the mountain, they would have been discovered long ago.
"Minato, if we don't break through now, we won't get another chance," Shikaku Nara said gravely.
The search perimeter was tightening—delay only meant facing more enemies.
But Minato shook his head.
"Shikaku, our chakra barely sustains basic movement. A breakout would be meaningless."
"We can't just surrender," Shikaku frowned.
"Let's wait a little longer," Minato insisted.
"Wait for who?" Inoichi Yamanaka finally spoke up.
"The Sand ninja are almost here—are you still not going to say it?"
"I'm waiting for Team Nine," Minato said with a faint smile—his face green as a leaf.
"Team Nine?"
"Drake's Team Nine?"
Inoichi's mind immediately jumped to repeated failures of his lie-detection jutsu.
He'd tested Drake multiple times—every attempt had gone wrong.
That alone had left a deep impression.
"Even if they arrive, what then?" Shikaku sighed.
"Kakashi is strong, but against this Sand puppet force, it's like throwing eggs at a rock."
"I'm not waiting for Kakashi," Minato said.
"…Then Drake?" Shikaku asked.
"Exactly."
Shikaku shook his head.
"Wood Release Drake sounds impressive, but that's all.
He can't even perform the Three Basic Jutsu.
If the Sand ninja get close, he'll die instantly."
"Shikaku," Minato said calmly,
"don't underestimate my student."
Rustle—
Minato suddenly froze and looked downslope.
The others followed his gaze.
Branches were shaking roughly a hundred meters away.
"They're moving fast," Chōza muttered.
"At this rate, they'll reach us in less than ten minutes."
The tension was suffocating.
"Looks like you won't get your wish," Shikaku sighed, preparing for a final stand.
"Yeah… seems like I won't," Minato murmured, gripping his kunai.
One Hundred Meters Away · Sand Search Unit
"Stop."
Fūra raised a hand, halting the unit.
"Fūka—sense again," he ordered cautiously.
At critical moments, recklessness meant death.
The sensor extended his perception—
And instantly went pale.
"What is it?" Fūra demanded.
"Chakra! A massive chakra signature is approaching—terrifyingly strong!"
"From where?"
"From the east! It's moving incredibly fast!"
"Stronger than mine?" Fūra frowned.
"There's no comparison! It's on the level of a Tailed Beast!"
Fūra's expression changed instantly.
The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki—Kushina Uzumaki?!
"Damn it! Konoha actually deployed their jinchūriki?!" he cursed.
"Signal everyone! Rush the summit and capture Minato now!"
"It's too late!" the sensor cried.
"That chakra is already at the mid-slope!"
"What?!" Fūra was stunned.
It had just been detected—how was it already there?!
"Fire the signal flare, damn it!"
WHOOSH!
The signal shot into the sky.
"…He's at the summit," the sensor whispered, collapsing to the ground.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
"That speed… is this even human?!" Fūra gasped.
"Is the Third Raikage here?!"
But that was impossible.
At the Summit
Drake appeared as if teleporting, standing directly in front of Minato.
"You finally made it," Minato said, letting out a long breath.
"Sensei… why are you so green?" Drake stared in shock.
Only Drake could even recognize him.
"I'm poisoned. Color's not the point," Minato replied weakly.
"I'll clean up the enemies first," Drake said, already sensing numerous Sand ninja below.
"Keep your distance," Shikaku warned.
"Do not let them get close!"
Drake glanced at him, surprised.
"Close? I hope they get close."
Casually replying, he walked to a nearby tree and placed his hand on the trunk.
Then, calmly, he issued an order.
"Bind every Sand ninja."
RUMBLE—!!!
Instantly, the surrounding forest erupted.
Trees trembled as if awakened, branches bursting outward and surging downhill.
"What—? Wood Release?!"
Shikaku and the others stared in disbelief.
Drake's Wood Release—
Did it activate just by talking?
Without hand seals? Without visible chakra?
"Wind Release: Gale Severing Dance!"
A roar echoed from a hundred meters away.
Violent winds tore through the forest, slicing trees apart.
Large swaths of woodland collapsed, opening a vast clearing.
With the cover gone, Drake saw the Sand ninja clearly.
"Heh. So this is Wood Release?"
"Pathetic."
Fūra looked up at Drake with disdain.
As long as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki wasn't here, he was confident.
After all—
He had once competed with Rasa for the title of Fourth Kazekage.
"…This guy is really putting on a show," Drake muttered, stroking his chin.
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