At this very moment—
Obito was overflowing with confidence.
Battle intent surged from him like steam, as if all the humiliation he'd endured finally burst out at once.
"Drake! I want to challenge you!"
Obito locked eyes with him, shouting the desire buried deepest in his heart.
Drake looked at him calmly.
"You sure?"
"Yes!" Obito said firmly.
"I'm not challenging you because I want to be captain! I just want to prove myself!"
"I'll prove my hard work wasn't wasted!"
"I'll show you I'm no longer dead last!"
"I—Uchiha Obito—am the strongest of Squad Nine!"
"Drake! Do you dare accept my challenge!?"
While Obito was passionately delivering monologues worthy of a shōnen protagonist…
Squad Nine was already gathered at a distance, eating melon seeds and spectating.
Even Minato stood with his arms crossed, waiting to watch this "dead fish flips skyward" comeback battle.
"Didn't expect that near-death experience to awaken Obito's Sharingan and Wood Release."
Anko clicked her tongue.
"He should thank Drake. Without Drake helping his white shoulder fully merge, he wouldn't have changed so drastically."
Kakashi said bluntly.
Everyone understood.
Obito's miraculous one-night transformation was because of that white Zetsu shoulder.
Minato smiled.
"So, who do you think wins—Drake or Obito?"
"Obviously Drake."
Anko answered instantly.
"Not necessarily. Obito might win."
Kakashi shook his head.
"Oh?" Minato raised a brow.
"You think Obito can win?"
"Don't forget," Kakashi reminded, "The Uchiha's Sharingan specializes in genjutsu."
"Ah!"
A chorus of realization washed over the group.
Right.
If Obito can use genjutsu properly…
He really might beat Drake.
"I think Drake will win." Rin said firmly.
"Not sure." Yamato shook his head.
Danzo had warned him many times—Uchiha genjutsu is terrifying.
"Well then," Minato chuckled, "let's enjoy the show."
Battlefield
Facing Obito's dramatic challenge, Drake merely shook his head.
"You scared?" Obito raised his voice.
"It's fine, Drake. Even if you can't beat me, I won't hurt you."
"…I was just thinking whether I should let you keep your hands and feet."
Drake said calmly.
Obito nearly choked on his own breath.
"Drake!!! That line is obviously MY line!!!"
"Alright, come on," Drake waved lazily.
He folded his arms.
"Quit stalling and attack."
"You asked for it! I'll bind you with Wood Release!"
Obito clapped his hands together.
Chakra flooded into the ground.
A low growl left Obito's chest.
Boom!
A wooden tendril burst from the soil and raced toward Drake, splitting into two, aiming to restrain him—
But then—
It suddenly swerved and turned back toward Obito.
"AH! I forgot!"
Obito panicked.
He forgot Drake counters Wood Release.
He hurriedly released the technique.
Only then did he breathe out.
"Done testing your Wood Release?"
Drake asked lazily.
"Quick, test your Sharingan too. I'm getting sleepy."
"You—!"
Obito activated his Sharingan again, staring directly at Drake.
"Genjutsu—!"
"Yaaawn~"
Drake let out a long, bored yawn.
Obito froze.
"You weren't immobilized?"
"What do you think?" Drake walked right up to him.
"You—!!"
"Any other moves?"
"…No." Obito deflated instantly.
"Obito, the most important thing in life is to understand your own limits. Agree?"
"Ah? Yes! You're totally right!" Obito nodded vigorously.
But then something struck him.
"…Crap!"
His face paled.
"Hm?"
"My heart! Uchiha Madara implanted something in my heart!"
Minato flashed over instantly.
"What did he put in?" he asked tensely.
"I—I don't know. It looked like… a piece of paper!"
"A paper? Some kind of sealing talisman?" Minato muttered.
Drake touched his chin.
He already understood.
He placed a hand on Obito's shoulder.
"Huh?" Obito blinked.
"Bring the talisman out," Drake ordered calmly.
Suddenly—
A bizarre scene unfolded.
Zzz… zzz…
Obito's chest began writhing, like countless insects moving under his skin.
"It tickles! Ahhhh it's so itchy!!"
Obito screamed.
Then—
Pop!
A talisman wriggled out of his chest.
Everyone: "????"
Obito: "WHAT!?"
"Just like that… it came out!?"
"Ah, I see." Minato nodded.
He already understood Drake's method.
Return Journey
Kakashi walked beside Minato.
"Sensei… did Drake use the white shoulder to remove the talisman?"
"No, it's more complicated than that." Minato shook his head.
Kakashi frowned. "Then how?"
Minato organized his thoughts.
"Drake can control White Zetsu's body. Obito was transplanted with a White Zetsu shoulder."
"After their cells fused, Obito awakened Wood Release and the Sharingan."
"But the fusion didn't just give Obito power—"
"His body has now been flooded with White Zetsu cells."
"In other words…"
Minato exhaled.
"Drake can directly control Obito's body."
Kakashi fell silent.
So in conclusion—
Obito didn't "rise above."
He "rose into Drake's hand."
He didn't flip the script;
He flipped straight back into being owned.
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