Under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, the very caster of the jutsu—
Yamato—was sent flying by his own rebounding Wood Release.
Bizarre. Absurd. Impossible to comprehend.
For a moment, the entire crowd was frozen in stunned silence.
"What just happened? Did the jutsu malfunction?"
The Third Hokage frowned in confusion. That sudden change in trajectory wasn't something the caster could have done.
"Did Drake use some kind of hidden ability? He didn't even move…"
Even Danzo couldn't make sense of it.
"Now that's unexpected," Minato chuckled softly.
In his judgment, his student might have awakened some kind of Wood Release immunity.
But the specifics would require further testing.
"HEY! Did you see that? That kid totally let him win!"
Obito pointed furiously at the fallen Yamato, his grievances overflowing.
When it was Drake, the wood conveniently swerved away.
When it was him? Straight-up ambush.
Anyone with eyes could see something was off!
"That wasn't mercy. That was Drake's ability," Kakashi said, his expression complicated.
He remembered clearly—on their last mission, Drake had said trees were cute.
"Maybe he's friends with the trees… and even Wood Release doesn't want to hurt him?"
Yugao voiced her theory timidly.
"That actually makes sense," Kakashi nodded.
Weird.
But somehow… plausible.
Yamato rose shakily to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"I don't believe it! That's Wood Release! How could it miss you?!"
Refusing to accept reality, he formed seals once more.
Wood Release — Four-Pillar Prison!
Chakra surged into the ground as the earth trembled.
Dozens of wooden stakes burst up around Drake, rapidly forming a cage.
Just as the enclosure was about to seal—
The familiar scene repeated itself.
Drake glanced up calmly.
The wooden pillars quivered violently…
then slumped outward, collapsing.
At that moment, everyone understood.
This wasn't a problem with Wood Release.
The problem was Drake.
"He… he's immune to Mokuton?"
"I've never seen an ability like this!"
Absolute counter to Wood Release… this is insane!"
"Today's unbelievable. First a Wood Release prodigy, now someone who completely shuts it down…"
The murmurs sounded like a marketplace on fire.
But the commotion ended quickly as the Third Hokage raised his hand, dismissing the crowd.
Soon, only Konoha's higher-ups and Team Nine remained.
"Drake… how did you develop this ability?"
Hiruzen asked gently.
Drake tilted his head, thinking seriously.
"…By chatting with my jujube tree."
Dead silence.
A jujube tree?
"Explain the process," Danzo interjected coldly.
"After my parents died, I got lonely… so I talked to the jujube tree in my yard a lot.
Then on our last mission, I suddenly felt that trees were really cute."
"Maybe that's why?"
The leaders exchanged strange looks.
"He's telling the truth," Kakashi added calmly.
"I can vouch for it," Yugao stepped forward as well.
"Ah—ah, we're not doubting you! But Drake… how long have you been talking to that tree?"
The Third Hokage asked, tone gentle but wary.
"About… six years."
"..."
"Well. That explains it," Danzo muttered, lips twitching.
"You really can talk."
Minato was trying very, very hard not to laugh.
In their eyes, Drake's ability was… honestly kind of useless.
Across the entire shinobi world, the only person this truly countered was Yamato.
Which made it incredibly niche.
The only one truly suffering here was the owner of Wood Release.
"Good thing he wasn't born in the First Hokage's era… otherwise the man would've been hard-countered to death!"
Danzo casually dropped that bomb.
Even Hiruzen nodded in agreement.
If this power had existed in Madara's time, the entire shinobi world might already belong to the Uchiha.
"See? Choosing Team Nine was the right call," Danzo said smugly.
Wood Release in Team Nine… and Drake just happened to be its natural predator.
Perfect balance. Fate itself.
The higher-ups soon departed, and Yamato was officially shoved into Team Nine.
"Get acquainted," Minato said, then vanished in a blur of speed.
Now only Team Nine remained.
The six-year-old Yamato immediately scurried over to Drake and stared at him relentlessly, as if afraid he might escape.
"What kind of ability is that?"
He couldn't accept it. Nothing about it made sense.
"Wanna learn it?" Drake smiled mysteriously.
"Yes!" Yamato nodded fervently.
"Not for free. What can you offer in exchange?"
"Exchange?"
"Well, I'm not teaching you for nothing," Drake shrugged.
Yamato thought hard. He didn't really own anything valuable.
Then his eyes lit up.
"I'll trade you my Wood Release secret techniques!"
His eyes sparkled. After all, only he could use them anyway.
With a troubled sigh, Drake reluctantly agreed.
Thus, a surreal scene unfolded.
Under Drake's guidance, Yamato stood in front of a tree talking to it like a lunatic.
"Feel it with your heart! Observe every detail!"
"If the leaves droop, it's thirsty. If they are yellow, they need nutrients. If there are holes… bugs!"
"You must treat the tree as a friend. Open your soul."
Yamato nodded vigorously, fully absorbing every word.
Then he handed Drake a manual filled with Wood Release techniques.
"Do your best! I believe in you!"
Drake accepted the booklet, patted Yamato encouragingly on the shoulder, and walked away.
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