Drake stretched lazily and slipped out of Mainese's warm embrace.
Walking out of Happy Hot Springs, he habitually glanced at his status panel.
Spirit: 20480 (×)
"So today's doubled stat is Spirit," Drake murmured.
To be honest, the increase didn't feel very obvious.
The only difference was that a strange new willpower seemed to have formed in his mind.
"What exactly is this willpower supposed to do?"
"I don't even know how to use it…"
He felt a bit helpless.
"Drake!"
Suddenly, Suzune's voice came from behind.
Drake turned around and saw her stepping out as well.
"You're up early too?"
"I'm always up this early," Suzune replied.
Then she remembered something.
"You promised—you're visiting the Hyūga clan today."
"Isn't this a little too early?" Drake said, startled.
Who visits someone else's house at the crack of dawn?
"It's fine. Our clan wakes up early anyway," Suzune said, tugging on his arm and pulling him forward.
"Hey—pulling like this in public isn't very proper," Drake said seriously.
"Hmph, fake seriousness," Suzune pouted.
You didn't say that when you were touching my chest.
Hyūga Clan Compound
When Drake entered the Hyūga grounds, he realized they really did wake up early.
"Suzune!"
A woman greeted her, then looked at Drake curiously.
"And this is…?"
"His name is Drake," Suzune said, still holding his arm.
"Oh! So you're Drake!"
The woman's face lit up with excitement.
"I'm taking him to see the clan head," Suzune said proudly, straightening her chest.
"Ah—yes, of course," the woman replied awkwardly and stepped aside.
Drake's expression turned strange.
He could tell immediately—
there was clearly some friction between these two women.
And judging from the result, Suzune had won.
Clan Head's Room
Soon, Drake was led into a spacious hall.
"Drake!"
A smiling figure stepped out.
"Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi," Drake greeted politely.
"Sit, sit!" Hiashi gestured warmly, then turned to Suzune.
"Have breakfast prepared immediately."
"Yes."
Suzune withdrew.
Conversation
The atmosphere was relaxed.
"You may not know this, but I once teamed up with your teacher," Hiashi said with a smile.
"I really didn't know that," Drake replied honestly.
"That was a long time ago. Even back then, Minato was already very strong," Hiashi said wistfully.
"Though compared to you… he still falls a little short."
Drake chuckled softly.
He could tell—
Hiashi was indirectly expressing goodwill toward him.
"However," Hiashi continued, suddenly serious,
"there is something you must be careful about."
"Oh? Please enlighten me," Drake said solemnly.
"Genjutsu."
Drake nodded seriously.
His gaze flicked to his Spirit stat again.
Spirit: 20480 (×)
"Genjutsu really is my weak point," Drake admitted.
Hiashi continued explaining.
"Genjutsu is essentially a low-level application of Yin Release.
If you want to counter it, you should study Yin Release–based techniques."
"Yin Release?" Drake asked with interest.
"Yes," Hiashi replied.
"Our clan's Byakugan, the Uchiha's Sharingan, and the Nara clan's Shadow Techniques—
they all fall under Yin Release."
He stood up, retrieved a booklet from the shelf, and handed it over.
"These are some basic genjutsu techniques. Take them back and study them."
Drake accepted it without refusing.
Then he asked,
"Clan Head Hiashi, you mentioned the Nara clan's Shadow Techniques—do you understand them well?"
He wasn't asking casually.
He wanted to understand the mysterious willpower in his mind.
"Shadow Techniques…"
Hiashi thought for a moment.
"In essence, they mix chakra into the shadow's Yin force,
turning something illusory into a tangible form."
"That's why the Nara techniques consume so much chakra."
Drake froze.
"Yin force… chakra… illusion… reality…"
Muttering to himself, everything suddenly clicked.
He finally understood what that willpower in his mind truly was.
"Clan Head Hiashi, I'll take my leave!"
Drake stood up abruptly and rushed out.
Watching his back, Hiashi smiled wryly.
"…Eh? Why did Drake leave so suddenly?"
When Suzune returned carrying breakfast, she found him gone.
"It's fine. He probably realized something important," Hiashi said calmly.
Then he looked at her and asked,
"Suzune… what do you think of Drake?"
Back Home
Drake stood beneath the jujube tree in his yard.
"If my hypothesis is correct…"
"This will be a groundbreaking discovery."
His eyes gleamed as he placed his hand on the tree.
Jujube Tree:
"Lord Drake! What are your orders?"
Drake said calmly,
"I want you… to walk."
The willpower in his mind surged outward.
At the same time, chakra poured into the tree.
The Miracle
The jujube tree's leaves rustled violently.
Its trunk trembled.
POP!!
The tree ripped itself straight out of the ground.
In the courtyard—
Its roots spread across the ground like countless legs,
and the tree began walking.
"Lord Drake! I can really walk now!"
The jujube tree was ecstatic, like a child discovering a miracle.
"I want to walk too!"
A small sapling nearby sent out a signal.
Drake repeated the process.
The sapling toddled around on its short little roots, running happily.
Soon, both trees grew tired.
"My roots are too hot… and I'm thirsty. I need to go back into the soil."
The jujube tree returned to its pit, roots burrowing back underground.
The sapling followed, absorbing nutrients and water.
Drake stroked his chin, deeply satisfied.
"As expected of me…"
"I really am a genius."
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