Beneath the tree at the village gate—
Drake narrowed his eyes.
"I finally found you… Obito."
The moment he said this, Kakashi and the others froze for a second—
Then their expressions erupted with joy.
"You found Obito?!"
"Where is he?!"
"Let's go save him!!"
Everyone was extremely excited.
Obito had been abducted for so long—
Finally, they had a clue.
"He's at a cliff. He fell off," Drake replied calmly.
Then he said:
"Kakashi, you take the team and handle the mission. I'm going to get Minato-sensei. We're rescuing Obito."
Before anyone could react—
FWIP!
Drake vanished.
"Hey!"
Kakashi just managed to shout, but Drake was already gone.
Kakashi turned toward Anko.
"Anko! You take charge of the team. I'll go after Drake and Sensei!"
FWIP!
Kakashi disappeared.
Anko's face puffed up angrily.
"Seriously?!"
Then her eyes slid toward Yugao.
"Don't say it! I'm going too!" Yugao declared before Anko could speak, and sprinted toward the village.
"…Should we just go together?" Yamato whispered nervously.
He was terrified the responsibility would eventually fall on him alone.
"Fine, we're all going," Anko declared.
Minato's Home
When Drake burst into the room, Minato set down his scroll, eyes widening.
"You're in quite a rush. Something urgent?"
"Sensei, I found Obito," Drake said without hesitation.
"…What? Where?"
Minato immediately stood straight, expression tightening.
"Do you have a map?"
"Yes, I'll get it."
They spread the map on the table.
Drake pointed at the coastline border.
"Here."
"Obito's there?" Minato asked.
"Yes. There's a cliff at this location. According to the information from the trees, Obito grabbed onto a branch—but still fell."
Minato's breath caught.
"When did he fall?"
"Just now," Drake answered.
Minato stared at him as if seeing a completely new person.
"You're telling me… from INSIDE the village…
You sensed Obito falling off a cliff at the BORDER?"
"…Yes."
Minato inhaled sharply.
This wasn't normal sensory ability.
This was terrifying.
"Drake… is your sensing linked through the tree roots across the land?" Minato asked.
"Yes! Sensei, Obito's dying! Can we go now?!"
Drake practically dragged him out.
Minato quickly grabbed a pouch of ninja tools, and the two rushed outside.
Just as they stepped through the door—
Squad Nine stood waiting outside.
"You all—?"
"Drake! Obito is a member of Squad Nine. Of course I'm going," Kakashi said firmly.
"We're going too," Anko added.
"You're going nowhere! Kakashi, follow. Everyone else—stay in the village!"
Drake barked.
Then he and Minato leaped onto the rooftop and vanished.
Kakashi nodded.
"You heard him. Stay here."
He jumped after them.
Anko clicked her tongue.
"You heard him. Stay here."
And she also sprinted away.
"…I think—" Yamato began timidly.
"Enough! We're going!!" Yugao declared.
And the remaining three jumped onto the rooftops and followed.
Inside the Cave
Obito was hanging on by a thread.
His broken leg had been reattached—
But his shattered shoulder couldn't be saved.
CHOP!
Madara sliced off a chunk of White Zetsu's shoulder and grafted it onto Obito.
"Lord Madara, let me help," another White Zetsu said, wrapping Obito in bandages until he resembled a giant rice dumpling.
Once finished, Madara sat down, expression dark and unreadable.
"Brat. I wanted you to become stronger. But you've disappointed me greatly."
"Ghh— gghh—"
Obito could only gasp for breath.
"You like planting trees—I let you."
"You liked training alone—I didn't interfere."
"I thought you were sensible."
Madara stood, holding a curse seal talisman.
"For your own good… to stop you from doing something stupid… I'll have to use certain measures."
Obito's eyes widened.
Not at Madara—
But at the talisman.
STAB!
Without warning, Madara pierced Obito's chest—
Planting the curse talisman directly into his heart.
"Ghh—!"
Obito wanted to curse at him—
But he couldn't.
"White Zetsu. Wrap him again."
Madara waved a hand and sat back down.
Obito was mummified once more.
Only his left hand remained exposed—
Still tightly gripping a handful of leaves.
Later, near sunset
Madara awoke from his nap and glanced at Obito.
The brat had survived the worst.
"Lord Madara, I checked earlier," White Zetsu reported.
"At his current recovery speed, he'll need half a month for the initial integration."
"Half a month?"
Madara nodded.
Not too long.
Just enough time for Iwa and Kumo to attack Konoha.
Then everything could begin—
and the boy's Sharingan would awaken fully.
"As long as he falls into despair, he will understand—only the Eye of the Moon can create a new world."
But mid-musing—
Madara froze.
The brat was staring straight at him.
And silently mouthing insults.
"You ungrateful brat. I saved you, and you curse me silently?"
Zzzt—
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"Lord Madara, the alarm trap near the cliff was triggered."
"…Hmm?" Madara frowned.
"This place is deserted. How could anyone come near the cliff?"
"Haa… haa…"
Suddenly—
Obito's breaths grew rapid.
His eyes shone with desperate light.
His fingers clenched tighter around the leaves.
Someone was coming.
Someone he believed in.
Someone he still hoped for.
Drake.
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