In the courtyard, Orochimaru had just taken the two captives away when Minato Namikaze arrived.
"I searched the village but couldn't find Madara Uchiha," Minato said.
"Sensei, it's already taken care of," replied Drake with a faint smile.
"Already… taken care of?"
Minato stared in disbelief. It had only been a few minutes.
Drake briefly explained what had happened.
Minato's expression went from shock to admiration. "Drake, you figured out the time-travel rule on your own?"
"I just guessed," Drake shrugged.
"You've always been humble," Minato chuckled.
After a brief pause, Minato turned serious. "Drake, I think Madara won't be the only one from the past. Others may come too."
"No matter," Drake replied. "In three days, we'll head to Rōran."
"You plan to use the power of the Ryūmyaku?" Minato's eyes widened.
"Yes."
Minato frowned. "If time is like a river, then going back upstream is difficult."
Drake shook his head. "I was wrong before. Time isn't like a river—it's more like a waterfall."
He knelt and drew a simple diagram on the ground.
"Traveling from the past to the present is like falling from the top of a waterfall to the bottom—it's easy. The Dragon Vein provides the energy needed."
He tapped the lower part of the drawing.
"But if I go to Rōran now, I'll probably be sent forward into the future, because from that future's point of view, we're still upstream."
Minato nodded slowly. "Then… going backward in time is far harder."
"It is," Drake agreed. "But there's a way."
Minato offered, "I can go to Rōran and guard the Dragon Vein. If anyone arrives, I'll know."
"No need. I've already sent White Zetsu to monitor it."
Just then, footsteps sounded. Obito Uchiha burst in.
"Drake! The written exam has started, and you're here chatting with Sensei?"
"Coming," Drake said, then turned back to Minato. "Sensei, I'm leaving the paperwork to you."
He vanished in a blur.
The Written Exam
Inside the exam hall at the Konoha Ninja Academy, the moment Drake entered, the entire room went silent.
"That's the Fourth Hokage?" whispered one candidate.
"He's the one who defeated the Four Kage alone."
"Then what are we even doing here?"
"Are you brave enough to drop out?"
Their voices were low, but the unease was palpable. Everyone knew Drake's presence made the exam… a formality.
"Everyone's here. Begin the written test," the proctor announced.
Drake took his seat.
Obito blinked in confusion. He checked his squad number, then looked at Drake, seated three rows away.
He raised his hand. "Sir! The Fourth Hokage is sitting in the wrong seat!"
"No mistake," the examiner replied. "The Fourth is assigned to Squad Nine. You're in Squad Twelve."
Obito stared in disbelief. "What?"
Drake glanced back. "Don't disrupt the exam."
"…Fine."
Obito looked around. His neighbors were from Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure.
Meanwhile, Drake's desk was surrounded by familiar faces from his own group.
The test papers were handed out.
"The rules are simple," the examiner said. "Only the first half of submissions will be accepted — provided your answers are correct."
Instantly, everyone began scribbling.
Except Drake.
He glanced at the paper, crumpled it casually, and pulled out a completed answer sheet.
Three seconds later, he stood up and handed it in.
"HEY! The Hokage is cheating!" someone shouted.
Two proctors immediately dragged the student out of the room.
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