After dinner.
Perhaps because her image had completely collapsed, Tsunade darted straight into her room and refused to come out.
Konan cleaned up the dishes.
Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki gestured to Drake and led him out of the main hall.
Under the night sky, the two headed toward the back mountain.
"Senior Kushina, what's so important that we had to come here?" Drake asked, confused.
"It's not me… it's Kurama. He said it's important."
"Oh?" Drake was surprised. "The Nine-Tails wants me?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
"You can place your hand on me and channel chakra to connect to the Nine-Tails' consciousness," Kushina instructed.
"No need." Drake shook his head.
His spiritual will surged forward and slipped directly into Kushina's body.
Inside the Seal
At the massive sealed gate inside Kushina's mindscape, Drake's spiritual form manifested.
Through the gate, he saw the enormous figure of the Nine-Tails.
"Brat, you finally came." Kurama opened his eyes.
"Speak. Why did you call me?"
"I sensed the Ten-Tails' husk," Kurama said gravely.
Drake blinked. "That's it?"
He thought it would be something more serious. It turned out to be about the Ten-Tails shell — which, amusingly, was sitting on the mountain right now.
"The Ten-Tails' husk shouldn't be in this world. Its presence brings disaster," Kurama warned.
"Anything else?" Drake asked calmly.
He understood the Nine-Tails' worry. But he'd already neutralized that threat. Soon, he would use the Dragon Vein to return to the past — but first, he had to finish things here.
"Wait!" Kurama called out. "Can you… let me out?"
"Give me a reason."
"You freed the Isobu and even gave it flight and transformation. I'm stronger. I can be your summoning beast."
"How do you even know about the Three-Tails?" Drake asked.
"We tailed beasts share a special mental channel."
That made sense — the tailed beasts could meet in their own shared space.
"You don't need to be my summon," Drake replied after a moment. "But I'll release you."
He had no reason to fear Kurama now. His power far surpassed the beast's.
"Really? Thank you!" Kurama was ecstatic.
"But remember — no destruction. If you wreck the village, I'll stuff you back into the Ten-Tails' shell."
Kurama shivered. "I promise."
Releasing the Beast
Drake withdrew his spirit and faced Kushina.
"I'm going to release the Nine-Tails. You'll be fine."
"Really?" Kushina was shocked. Removing a tailed beast normally killed the host, but she trusted Drake's power.
"Go ahead." She took a breath and lifted her shirt, revealing the sealing pattern on her abdomen.
Drake stared at it for a moment.
"…I just realized I don't know how to undo seals."
"What?!"
He'd never studied sealing jutsu. The pattern just looked like a circle to him.
"I'll undo it myself, then."
"Works for me."
The Release
A violent burst of orange chakra erupted across the back mountain.
A deafening roar echoed through the village.
The entire village was alerted.
A massive form burst into existence — red chakra swirling, nine tails whipping violently.
"I'm finally out!" Kurama howled.
"Not good! The Nine-Tails is free!" Fugaku Uchiha shouted.
He rushed toward the mountain with Obito Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha.
Across the village, shinobi mobilized.
Even the visiting Kage watched from rooftops.
"With Drake here, the Nine-Tails won't do anything," Killer B remarked calmly — guided by the voice of the Gyūki.
One Punch
BOOM!
The mountain trembled.
The Nine-Tails crashed to the ground.
When Fugaku arrived, he exhaled in relief.
Kurama lay flat on the ground, eyes wide with fear.
Drake stood beside him, fist lowered, supporting Kushina with one hand.
"Next time, don't make such a big scene," Drake said flatly.
"U-Understood!" Kurama stammered.
He was terrified.
Just now, he'd almost been killed in a single punch.
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