At the village gates—
Sarutobi Hiruzen pretended not to notice the guards spitting behind him.
He understood one thing well:
When something abnormal happens, there is always a cause.
As he walked toward the Hokage Tower, he frowned.
"…Why is the village so empty?"
Drake had recalled the frontline forces earlier.
So where was everyone?
Passing by the Military Police headquarters, Hiruzen suddenly stopped.
A public notice board stood outside.
On it—
Asuma's portrait.
Below it, several lines of exposed crimes.
Hiruzen stepped closer and read.
His pupils shrank.
"…They exposed everything?"
No wonder the guards had shown disrespect.
There was no way this was merely the Police acting independently.
This had Drake's approval written all over it.
The Police were merely a blade.
The wielder was Drake.
Inside the Police Headquarters
Hiruzen entered without obstruction.
Only a few Uchiha guards were present.
"Third Hokage-sama?" a young voice called.
It was Uchiha Itachi, looking innocent as ever.
"Itachi… where is Asuma?"
"In the holding cells."
"Take me there."
Inside the prison—
Hiruzen looked at his son briefly.
Said nothing.
Then turned and left.
"…You're leaving already?" Itachi asked curiously.
Back at his desk, Itachi quietly wrote in a notebook.
"Shisui-senpai said to record anyone who visits Asuma."
He wrote carefully.
Hokage Office
Hiruzen pushed open the door.
Nara Shikaku sat behind the Hokage desk.
"…Why are you sitting there?"
"Temporary duty," Shikaku replied with a polite smile.
"Where is Drake?"
"Out on business."
"And the village's shinobi?"
"On a mission."
Hiruzen stared for a long moment—
Then turned and left without another word.
Behind him, Shikaku narrowed his eyes slightly.
Interesting.
Sarutobi Compound
Upon returning home, Hiruzen finally learned the truth.
"Clan head," a clan member reported, "most of the village's shinobi went to rescue the Fourth Hokage."
Hiruzen's heart leapt.
"…Drake encountered a life-threatening crisis?"
A full-village mobilization meant grave danger.
He almost smiled.
"Whoever did it… I hope you succeeded."
If Drake died—
He could reclaim the Hokage position.
Experience in governance still mattered.
"Clan head… there's another matter," the subordinate hesitated.
"Speak."
"Every major clan sent reinforcements… except ours."
"…Irrelevant."
If Drake did not return, nothing else mattered.
"In addition… many shinobi are discussing our clan."
"Discussing?"
"They're saying Asuma committed murder… and you shielded him…"
Hiruzen chuckled softly.
So.
Drake was steering public opinion.
Amateur tricks.
"Let them talk. We remain still."
Just then—
He felt it.
A massive chakra signature returning.
He looked toward the sky.
His face darkened.
"…He came back?"
"He didn't die?"
Hokage Office — Later
Drake sat in his familiar chair again.
Shikaku finished the handover and practically fled.
He knew Drake's temperament.
The Fourth Hokage was not generous when crossed.
"Shikaku works so hard," Drake muttered. "I was going to praise him."
He summoned Kakashi.
"Kakashi. I appoint you Commander of the ANBU. Expand recruitment as you see fit."
"…Understood."
"And send someone to locate Tsunade."
"Yes."
Kakashi vanished.
Moments later—
Hiruzen entered.
"Drake. I completed your mission. Why are you still targeting my clan?"
Drake waved casually.
"Let's discuss the mission first."
Hiruzen placed a scroll on the desk.
Drake read it—
Then flung it back at his face.
"You call this mission completion?"
Hiruzen's jaw tightened.
"You failed to locate the Three-Tails after escorting the Daimyō."
"It wasn't in the Land of Hot Water."
"So you stopped looking?"
Drake's tone turned icy.
"You return empty-handed and expect praise?"
"Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?" Hiruzen's voice lowered.
"I asked for a result."
Drake leaned forward.
"Not excuses."
Hiruzen's composure cracked slightly.
"I never offended you. I accepted your assignment. Why persecute my clan?"
Drake tilted his head.
"…Persecute?"
He looked at Hiruzen as though examining something dull.
"Third Hokage… I'm merely learning from you."
Hiruzen frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Drake's smile was faint, sharp.
"Didn't the Second Hokage pass the position to you?"
"And under your rule… what became of the Senju clan?"
Silence fell.
Drake's gaze grew colder.
"You handed the position to me."
"It's only natural I follow your example."
Hiruzen's breath halted.
He understood.
Completely.
Drake was equating the Sarutobi clan—
To what the Senju clan had once become.
Drake intended to cripple them politically.
"Even if the Senju declined under me… what does that have to do with you?"
His voice strained.
"Why target my clan?"
Drake leaned back lazily.
"You're mistaken."
"I'm not targeting them."
He smiled.
"I'm allowing them to experience… fairness."
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