Land of Hot Water.
Inside a lively casino—
A voluptuous blonde woman walked out with a gloomy face.
Beside her, Shizune held a pink pig, staying silent.
Rin Nohara followed behind, her expression somewhat awkward.
After stepping outside, Rin quickly approached the woman.
"Lady Tsunade… about the Fourth Hokage asking you to return to the village…"
"Not going." Tsunade waved her hand impatiently.
It was all Rin's fault!
Ever since this unlucky girl showed up, her gambling luck had completely collapsed.
Not only had she lost everything—
She now owed over ten million ryo.
Seeing Tsunade refuse, Rin decided to use her trump card.
"…Jiraiya is dead."
Tsunade froze.
She slowly turned, disbelief filling her eyes.
"You're saying… Jiraiya is dead?"
"Yes," Rin nodded.
"He died while destroying Mount Myoboku."
Tsunade's Shock
Tsunade frowned deeply.
"Why would he attack Mount Myoboku?"
She knew Jiraiya better than anyone.
Without Mount Myoboku—
He would never have become one of the Sannin.
Attacking it?
Impossible.
Rin explained:
"I don't know the full details. I only heard that Mount Myoboku planned to destroy Konoha."
"So Jiraiya took forbidden techniques there… and perished along with them."
Tsunade fell silent.
This explanation—
Barely made sense.
"…Still, under the Third Hokage, the village wasn't worth protecting," she muttered.
Rin quickly corrected her.
"The Third is no longer in power."
"It's the Fourth Hokage now."
Drake's Name Revealed
"What? The Third stepped down?"
Tsunade was surprised.
"Who's the Fourth? Danzo? Orochimaru? Minato?"
"None of them."
"It's Drake."
"…Drake?"
She frowned.
"Who is that?"
"He's Minato-sensei's student. Leader of Team Nine," Rin explained.
Tsunade grew suspicious.
Minato's student?
That would make him—
Barely a teenager.
"Here—these are his records."
Rin handed over scrolls.
Tsunade opened them.
Her expression changed rapidly:
Confusion → Surprise → Shock.
Finally—
She sighed.
"This kid's talent… rivals my grandfather."
Still Refuses… Until
Despite everything—
"I'm still not going back," Tsunade said.
If Jiraiya were injured, she might return.
But dead?
There was no reason.
Rin turned to leave—
"…What a pity. Drake said he'll soon put the Third on trial and restore justice to the Senju clan."
Step one.
Step two.
Step three—
"Wait."
Tsunade stopped her.
"You said… he's going to judge the Third?"
"Yes."
Tsunade fell into deep thought.
If true—
Then someone must represent the Senju clan.
And the only one qualified…
Was her.
"…Going back isn't impossible," she said slowly.
Then she glanced at the casino.
"…But I owe a lot of money. Will the village pay it?"
Rin froze.
"That… probably not…"
She knew Drake himself lived modestly.
He wouldn't use village funds like that.
"…But Drake personally has a lot of money," Rin muttered.
Tsunade's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Yes. I've seen several hundred million stored in his house…"
"Then what are we waiting for?!"
Tsunade straightened instantly.
"We're going back!"
"The Fourth Hokage personally invited me—I can't refuse such sincerity!"
(Definitely not because of money.)
Meanwhile — Hokage Office
Drake finished writing a mission scroll.
"Hanzo…"
"The entire shinobi world is attending the Chunin Exams."
"And yet… Amegakure is absent."
"…Then don't blame me."
He rolled up the scroll and left.
Konoha — Back Mountain
Drake found Minato Namikaze lying lazily on a tree branch.
He tossed the scroll over.
Minato caught it.
"What's this?"
"A mission."
Minato opened it—
Then paused.
"…Eliminate Hanzo?"
"Yes."
"Reason?"
"He disrespected Konoha."
Drake spoke calmly.
"Everyone else came for the exams."
"Amegakure didn't."
Minato nodded.
He understood immediately.
If they weren't allies—
They were enemies.
Minato's Confidence
"The Salamander… I've always wanted to fight him."
Minato stood up and stretched.
The powder on his face began falling off again.
Soon—
His Edo Tensei cracks were fully exposed.
Drake extended his hand.
"Want me to seal another technique inside you?"
"No."
Minato refused firmly.
He looked at Drake—
Confidence blazing in his eyes.
"I have an immortal body."
"Unlimited chakra."
"That means I can use Flying Thunder God endlessly."
"And Hanzo's poison doesn't affect me."
He paused—
Then smiled.
"Drake… if I still lose under these conditions…"
"I don't deserve to be your teacher."
Drake nodded.
"Then I'll be waiting for good news, Sensei."
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