On the way back,
Drake, Kakashi, and Yugao moved through the forest at a steady pace.
What felt strange, however, was the way Drake kept glancing toward the trees lining the roadside, as if he'd noticed something unusual.
It made the other two instantly more alert, splitting up to investigate.
"There's no one in the woods," Kakashi reported after circling back, clearly confused.
"Nothing on this side either," Yugao added.
That only raised more questions.
If there was nothing there… then what exactly was Drake staring at?
In the end, Kakashi couldn't help asking.
"Drake, did you sense something in the forest?"
"Hm?" Drake tilted his head. "Don't you think the trees look kind of… cute today?"
"…Cute?"
Kakashi nearly choked on that word.
Yugao was just as lost.
This was the first time in their lives they'd heard someone describe trees as "cute."
But to Drake, the trees really did seem different today.
Not only did they look pleasant — they even felt like they were softly rustling, greeting him.
"So what's wrong with me? I take one nap and suddenly I've turned into a tree-loving weirdo?"
Even he found it bizarre.
Then a thought struck him.
"Could this be because my attributes doubled again?"
He realized he hadn't checked his status panel yet today.
Name: Drake
Age: 12
Strength: 458[overtake]
Constitution: 2304[Sage-Level]
Agility: 186[Kage-Level]
Spirit: 640[Ultimate Immunity]
Chakra Capacity: 3588
Skills: None
Ninjutsu: Chibaku Tensei (S-Rank)[Qualitative Evolution]
Ability: Wood Release – Beginner Control
Trait: Affinity
Overall Evaluation: Genin
His eyes paused at the ability section.
"Wood Release… doubled?"
"Beginner control? Affinity trait?"
He frowned slightly.
He'd always assumed Wood Release was just Wood Release, something that couldn't evolve like his physical stats. Yet here it was — upgraded.
After thinking for a moment, realization dawned.
"So before, it was only 'awakened'… and now it's more like a furnished apartment?"
"In other words… Yamato-level?"
As for that "Affinity" trait, it probably explained why the trees felt unusually friendly.
But what did that even do?
Was it just mutual appreciation between man and vegetation?
"Still, better tree affinity than some weird freak affinity…"
At the outer fortifications.
Twelve genin stood in silence.
In the center lay several corpses, motionless and cold.
Minato said nothing, but regret and helplessness flickered faintly in his eyes.
He'd warned them — the area was riddled with traps.
And yet, some still paid with their lives.
"Ninjas need to go through hardship… but when it costs your life, you only get one chance," he sighed inwardly.
"They really were too careless," Obito murmured.
In just a few days, he'd matured considerably.
The carefree loudmouth from the academy was long gone.
"Moonlight Hayate's wound wasn't even that serious… and yet he still died," Ibiki said darkly.
Hayate had concealed his injury, and in the end, it killed him.
"At least they still have bodies…" Rin whispered. "But what about Drake?"
To her, the one leading the infiltration team was the most tragic of all — missing, fate unknown.
Just then—
Rustle, rustle.
Three figures emerged from the distance.
"It's Drake! Their squad's back!"
"They made it back alive!"
"I knew it! There was no way they'd die!"
Obito and Rin practically lit up with relief.
Anko scoffed lightly.
Ibiki gave Drake a firm nod.
"You're back?"
"Yeah. We're back."
Minato's question was brief. Drake's answer is even shorter.
Yugao rushed to Hayate's body, her sobs finally breaking free.
Kakashi stared at the fallen comrades in silence.
Then Minato handed Drake a bloodstained piece of paper.
"This… was left for you by Moonlight Hayate."
He also passed another to Yugao.
"Young Hayate wrote these before he died."
Drake glanced at the corpse, confused.
Hayate left him a letter?
If he had time to write… couldn't he have tried saving himself instead?
Unfolding the crumpled paper, he saw crooked handwriting mixed with dried blood.
"Drake, I hesitated… and stepped on an explosive tag. I think I'm going to die."
"Your parents died in battle. Mine did too. Yugao's as well. Guess we're the same kind of people."
"Back at the academy, you were the only one who never called me by that nickname. And I never called you 'dead-last' either."
"If you're reading this, it means you and Yugao survived."
"Here's some good news — right before dying, I awakened a bloodline limit. Turns out, I was a genius after all."
"I wanted to protect Yugao… but I won't make it. So I'm entrusting that will to you."
"Oh, and Obito said you have a huge bathhouse? If that's true… I can die in peace…"
Drake finished reading without much change in expression.
Honestly, he felt the real focus of this letter was that last line.
Everything else just felt like emotional padding.
Unmoved, he folded the paper and turned toward Minato to report on the mission.
On the rooftop.
Drake and Minato sat beneath the eaves, overlooking the battlefield camp.
After hearing the entire account, Minato let out a genuine sigh of admiration.
This student had truly grown.
Stronger. Calmer. Sharper.
Especially his taijutsu — it had reached an alarming level.
Then Minato recalled something.
"The two Cloud shinobi you fought… one should be the son of the Third Raikage. I'm not certain about the other."
"And the Cloud vanguard's withdrawal… was probably because of you."
Drake blinked.
Because of him?
"That's impossible. I only exchanged a few blows with them."
He couldn't believe that one encounter with the AB duo could scare an entire army into retreating.
Minato smiled faintly.
"You still don't realize how terrifying your taijutsu has become."
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