Footsteps approached outside the conference room.
Not one person's footsteps—but many.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and gestured toward the door.
A Sarutobi clansman braced himself and stepped forward, blocking the entrance.
"Stop! The Five Kage Summit is in progress. No one is allowed to enter!"
"Get lost."
SLAP—
Drake struck him casually.
PUFF!
The man's head flew off and landed squarely on the conference table.
Drake stepped inside.
"Oh? Everyone's here?"
"That saves me the trouble of hunting you down one by one."
His gaze swept across the room, a cold smile on his face.
"Drake, do you even know what you're doing?" Sarutobi Hiruzen growled, fists clenched.
"Of course I do," Drake replied calmly.
"I'm more worried that you don't know what you're doing."
He picked up the treaty documents from the table.
At that moment, Minato Namikaze and the clan heads entered as well.
Step.
Uchiha Fugaku walked up to the Fourth Mizukage and looked down at him.
"Didn't you see that the Fourth Hokage is standing right here? Move aside."
"…Huh?"
Yagura looked utterly confused.
Fourth Hokage?
Which one was he talking about?!
"No need."
Drake waved his hand and tossed the treaty onto the floor.
His expression carried faint regret as he walked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"As Hokage, you sold out the village's利益."
"Drake, are you trying to rebel?" Hiruzen stared at him coldly.
"Rebel?"
Drake laughed and grabbed Hiruzen by the collar.
"I can crush you with one hand, and you think this is rebellion?"
WHOOSH—BANG!
Hiruzen was flung across the room and slammed into the wall.
The conference room fell into dead silence.
The Third Raikage glanced at Hiruzen, then at Drake, then looked toward the Kazekage.
The Kazekage did the same.
The Mizukage was too busy being stared down by Fugaku to exchange glances.
Only Ōnoki stood with arms crossed, enjoying the show.
Drake sat down in the Hokage's seat and tapped the table.
"All four of you—turn around and face me."
The four Kage immediately complied.
Behind Drake, Minato and the clan heads were all rubbing their temples.
"Yep… this is Drake's usual style," someone muttered helplessly—but with excitement.
Drake cleared his throat.
"I now officially announce—
Sarutobi Hiruzen has stepped down."
"I, Drake, am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha!"
The Fourth Kazekage hesitated—then stood up.
"Drake, you think you can depose the Third Hokage just like that? Are we Four Great Villages a joke to you?"
"…Huh?"
Drake looked genuinely surprised as he turned toward the Kazekage.
"You little bastard… I thought the Raikage would jump out first. Didn't expect you."
"What did you say?" the Kazekage narrowed his eyes.
The Raikage was about to speak—
—but Drake vanished.
BOOM!!!
A single punch.
The Kazekage's head exploded.
No jutsu. No reaction.
The distance between them had been less than one meter.
Drake's speed completely exceeded the Kazekage's neural response.
Before anyone could even blink, Drake had already returned to his seat—his afterimage merging back into him.
"You… you killed the Kazekage?!" the Raikage shouted in shock.
In a single blink, the Kazekage was dead.
"…Looks like these talks are over," the Mizukage stood up, preparing to leave.
Unfortunately—
Uchiha Fugaku blocked his path.
"Clan Head Fugaku, don't stop him," Drake said calmly.
"If he wants to leave, let him."
"Really?" Fugaku hesitated.
"Of course."
Then Drake changed tone.
"Tomorrow, we march on Kirigakure and flatten the Mist Mountains."
The Mizukage's foot froze mid-step.
He silently returned to his seat.
The Raikage turned his head away, staring at Sarutobi Hiruzen in the corner.
At that moment—
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up.
"Drake, killing the Kazekage without authorization will plunge the village into massive danger."
"Third," Drake sighed,
"if you don't speak, no one thinks you're useless."
His mental will erupted, crashing down onto Hiruzen.
"Kneel. Shut up."
THUD!
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed to his knees, mouth opening—but no sound came out.
The Raikage's pupils shrank violently.
"One sentence… suppressing the Third Hokage?!"
"Mental will—this is mental will!" the Mizukage gasped in fear.
No wonder the Three-Tails had been controlled.
With this level of mental pressure, even a Hokage couldn't resist.
"I knew it'd end like this," Ōnoki sneered.
"You still wanted to negotiate benefits? Funny."
Drake tapped the table again.
The remaining three Kage instantly turned their heads.
Satisfied, Drake spoke:
"Sunagakure started the war.
As Kazekage, Rasa bears undeniable responsibility."
"He refused to repent and even tried to interfere with Konoha's internal affairs."
"So tell me—how should I deal with him?"
The three Kage were speechless.
You already killed him—what's the point of asking?!
Ōnoki was the first to respond.
"I believe the Kazekage was the true instigator of the war.
He deserved death."
The Raikage and Mizukage stared at him in disbelief.
Have you no dignity as a Kage?!
"Excellent answer," Drake praised.
Then he looked at the Raikage.
"And you?"
"I—"
The Raikage hesitated.
Drake sighed and stood up.
"Ah… so you were his accomplice."
"WAIT!"
The Raikage panicked.
"Last words?" Drake smiled.
"…The Kazekage was guilty! If Sunagakure hadn't started the war, things wouldn't have reached this point!"
Drake nodded and sat back down.
Finally, he looked at the Mizukage.
Before Drake spoke, Yagura rushed out:
"I also believe—"
"Stand up when you speak."
Drake stared at him ominously.
"…He is standing," Fugaku reminded.
"Oh?" Drake blinked in surprise.
Ōnoki coughed awkwardly.
"Yes… he is."
Ōnoki silently swore:
Next time I attend a meeting, I'm floating.
After sentencing the Kazekage, Drake moved on.
"Obito!"
"I'm here!"
Obito rushed in.
Drake extended his hand.
A kunai was placed into it—no words needed.
"Alright," Drake smiled.
"Time for the Justice Alliance."
"What?"
"You three—stab the Kazekage's corpse a few times."
Silence.
Ōnoki went first.
Then the Raikage.
Finally, the Mizukage.
Minato and the others watched with complicated expressions.
"This isn't his first time doing this," Shikaku muttered.
"No… definitely not," Minato sighed.
Drake then revised the treaty with a pen.
When he finished, he tossed it over.
"Take a look."
The Kage read it—and their faces turned green.
Everything was the same.
Except—
The compensation party had changed.
Now, the Four Great Villages were paying Konoha.
"…Fourth Hokage," Yagura swallowed.
"Kiri will compensate… but please return the Three-Tails."
Drake smiled gently.
"I allow you to say that again."
Yagura glanced at the Kazekage's corpse—and shut up.
"We… accept compensation."
The Raikage's heart sank.
If Drake could capture a Tailed Beast—
what about the others?
"We… will compensate as well," the Raikage said stiffly.
"That's only step one," Drake replied calmly.
"What?" the Raikage bristled.
"You've occupied the Land of Hot Water for years.
Its hot spring industry collapsed."
"…"
"I'll pay!" the Raikage snapped.
"Wise choice."
Finally, Drake looked at Ōnoki.
Ōnoki leaned forward.
"Before coming here, I mobilized over ten thousand Iwa ninja.
They should already be behind Kumogakure's main army."
"…Oh?"
The Raikage exploded.
"ŌNOKI! YOU BACKSTABBED US?!"
"Backstab?" Ōnoki smiled.
"We're allies with Konoha. Of course we hit you."
"And Sand too."
Unfortunately, the Kazekage was already dead.
The negotiation was over.
Before leaving, Drake crouched before kneeling Hiruzen.
"Third… if you try anything clever, you know what I'll do."
He patted Hiruzen's face.
"Minato—take him back."
"One more thing," Drake added.
"Third. Report to the office tomorrow."
"I have lots of missions for you."
THUD.
Hiruzen collapsed.
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