After hearing Drake's report, Minato immediately proposed something bold.
"I'm a toad now. Perfect for infiltration."
"I can monitor Orochimaru and the Third."
Drake refused at first.
"You don't need to."
But Minato insisted.
"My strength hasn't declined."
"If anything—it's increased."
To demonstrate—
He hopped before a massive stone.
Bang!
One amphibian palm strike—
The boulder exploded into fragments.
Minato's hand remained unharmed.
Drake raised an eyebrow.
"Natural energy reshaped you into a weapon."
"It enhanced my taijutsu drastically."
"And with Flying Thunder God—"
"I'm stronger than before."
He wasn't finished.
"Watch this."
Whoosh.
He vanished.
Drake turned toward the stream.
Minato's body had merged seamlessly with a green stone in the water.
Not concealed.
Not hidden.
Integrated.
Even Drake's sensory perception almost failed to detect him.
"Impressive," Drake admitted.
Minato remained perfectly still.
Drake casually beckoned.
The stone trembled and rolled out of the stream.
Minato leapt free.
"You can control stone too?"
"Only that one. I had previously infused it."
Minato coughed awkwardly.
"My point is—my concealment is ideal for reconnaissance."
Drake considered.
Minato clearly wanted to leave the village.
His current appearance made ordinary life… uncomfortable.
Finally—
Drake nodded.
"But first."
He placed his hand on Minato's head.
Reinforcements
"Genjutsu immunity," Drake said calmly.
A vast surge of mental force flowed into Minato's body.
He didn't stop there.
Another seal embedded itself.
Minato blinked.
"There's a second one."
"Wood Release," Drake replied.
"Specifically—Top Transformed Buddha: True Several Thousand Hands."
Minato stared.
"You're serious?"
"You know the name."
"Of course. Kushina mentioned it."
"And the toad sage released that scroll before dying."
Drake nodded approvingly.
"Good. Your brain still works."
Minato croaked in irritation.
Before departure, he retrieved the summoning contract scroll.
"Write your name."
"If I discover something, I'll reverse summon you."
Drake signed.
The scroll vanished into Minato's mouth.
"My embryo is in your hands."
With one final leap—
Minato merged into a tree.
Not climbed.
Not hidden.
Merged.
Drake watched carefully.
Minato traveled underground through root networks.
A natural camouflage technique far superior to White Zetsu.
"This is essentially becoming nature itself…"
Drake murmured.
Natural energy was no joke.
Land of Lightning — Mountain Graveyard
A barren wasteland.
No trees.
No grass.
Only cracked earth and skeletal hills.
Danzō stood staring into the empty landscape.
Madara's aged voice echoed behind him.
"Enjoying the scenery?"
"I came for air."
Danzō frowned.
"Why choose such a lifeless place?"
Madara chuckled faintly.
"You still don't understand."
"Drake can see through trees."
Danzō stiffened.
"…Explain."
"I once raised Obito."
"He planted a single sapling."
"And Drake traced it—from Konoha to the border."
Danzō's expression darkened.
"One tree was enough?"
"Yes."
Danzō finally understood.
Drake's Wood Release wasn't merely combat power.
It was surveillance dominance.
Madara turned toward the cave entrance.
"Rest time is over."
"Back to digging."
Danzō's jaw tightened.
But he obeyed.
Because even he now understood—
Against Drake—
Every root could betray you.
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