In that instant, Drake's speed surged to its absolute limit.
Power condensed into his fist as he charged straight at Uchiha Madara.
BOOM!
One punch.
The figure was blasted apart on the spot.
"…Shattered?"
Drake's instincts screamed — something was wrong.
In the next moment, he tilted his head and narrowly avoided a kunai that sliced past his cheek.
"Impressive reflexes."
Several meters away, the aged Madara stood calmly on a tree trunk, genuine admiration in his voice.
"Oh? And what about yours?" Drake grinned as he turned his head.
"Hmm?"
Madara froze, disbelief flickering across his ancient face.
From the ground, thick branches suddenly burst forth, coiling tightly around his legs.
"Wood Release?!"
Confusion, shock, and disbelief all blended into his voice.
Wasn't this boy supposed to counter Wood Release?
How could he actually use it himself?!
Wood Release – Hundred Bindings Technique!
Drake's chakra roared through his body and poured violently into the earth.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Hundreds of wooden tendrils erupted like serpents, surging toward Madara from every direction.
"You truly are unexpected, Drake… I'll remember you."
Madara's tone held honest astonishment — almost as if he were bidding farewell.
Slash!
Suddenly, his body was pierced through by a kunai. Minato appeared behind him in a flash.
But to everyone's surprise, no blood flowed.
The body collapsed… and turned into mud.
"Earth Clone?" Minato frowned.
"He got away." Drake sighed, releasing the Wood Release.
"So this is the true advantage of ninjutsu… running away really is convenient."
He cracked his neck lightly.
"And my biggest weakness right now is still speed. It hasn't doubled yet."
By the time Kakashi arrived, the battle was already over.
On the tree branch, Drake squatted quietly, staring at the dead white humanoid creature in front of him.
Minato observed his student with a complex expression.
Kakashi walked over, clearly wanting to ask something but hesitating.
"Go ahead… about my Wood Release…" Drake shrugged.
"So when you asked me about the origin of Wood Release that day…" Minato smiled helplessly, "…you already had it, didn't you?"
"I didn't even know why I could use it, that's why I asked," Drake replied honestly, his eyes still fixed on the corpse.
Minato then shifted the subject.
"Who was that man just now?"
"Uchiha Madara."
"…Who?" Minato's tone jumped an octave.
"Uchiha Madara," Drake repeated calmly.
At that moment, Minato's mind went completely blank.
Madara was supposed to be long dead.
A legend. A myth. A ghost of history.
"And the tree told me he was spying on me," Drake added casually, once again throwing the blame onto the trees.
Minato fell silent, deep in thought.
Drake crouched beside the white creature, expression strangely solemn.
"Honestly, I should thank this guy. If he hadn't shouted, I wouldn't have locked onto Madara so quickly."
He conveniently avoided calling it by name.
Because this "White Zetsu"… had, oddly enough, helped him.
Which raised a troubling question.
Why would it help me?
Minato studied the corpse carefully and voiced his suspicion.
"This creature… it may contain plant cells."
"Plant cells?" Drake murmured — then suddenly understood.
His Wood Release Trait.
Ability: Wood Release – Advanced Mastery (Trait: Intimacy)
So that was it.
No wonder White Zetsu had reacted so strangely — it was being influenced by his affinity.
"That thing was probably created by Madara," Minato continued, "a fusion of human and plant matter."
He paused, then added thoughtfully:
"He never could have predicted that you could communicate with plants… and even suppress Wood Release itself. Your existence caused his own creation to betray him."
Drake let out a quiet breath.
Minato's insight was terrifyingly accurate.
With just fragments of information, he'd almost pieced together the whole truth.
"And if that really was Madara," Minato went on, "then hiding around Kannabi Bridge makes perfect sense."
"How so?" Drake asked.
"This place is isolated, undisturbed… yet close enough to monitor all major nations. The perfect observation point."
After the analysis ended, Drake waved at Kakashi.
"Oi, stop spacing out. Help me with something."
"…Huh? Oh." Kakashi nodded blankly.
Drake carried the White Zetsu body to the base of the tree and dug a hole.
"I'll try planting it… maybe it'll grow."
"...You're serious?" Minato stared.
"No idea. But what if it survives?" Drake shrugged.
Kakashi's brain fully shut down.
After that, Drake began planting the other wooden remnants produced by his techniques.
"You really didn't have to, you know…" Kakashi muttered.
"These are living things. If I plant them, they'll grow into towering trees one day," Drake replied sincerely.
His words drew soft rustling responses from the surrounding forest.
"It's been so long since we've seen such a kind human…"
"He is our friend…"
"His name is Drake. Remember it well."
"If he ever needs us, we will answer."
Leaves swayed gently in unison, as if the forest itself approved.
Meanwhile… deep underground…
Madara Uchiha sat heavily in his ancient stone chair, his brow tightly furrowed.
Too many questions.
Too many anomalies.
"How did that boy detect me?"
"Why did White Zetsu betray me?"
"And how did he know my name?"
"Most of all… how does he possess Wood Release?"
Each doubt gnawed at his mind.
For the first time in decades…
Madara felt as though someone, somewhere, was pulling the strings around him.
And that feeling disturbed him greatly.
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