In theory, everyone in the ninja world has the possibility of awakening Wood Release, but in reality that possibility is extremely small—basically impossible.
Makoto's soul was not a native product of the ninja world. It was something special, and that was the key reason he could utilize white natural energy.
However, his body was no different from that of a native human of the ninja world.
He had not crossed over in his original body; he had been reborn into the ninja world.
Even though the white natural energy had already washed through him and kicked the foreign-will chakra out of his body, the essence of his body should not have changed.
In other words, the seed of Wood Release should still exist within his cells—it was simply very difficult to find.
Makoto was not in a hurry. He was only curious about Wood Release and did not need it to strengthen his combat power. Even if he never found it, it would not matter.
But Yamato, standing nearby, did not see it that way. He thought Makoto had run into a difficulty.
After thinking seriously for a while, he made a decision and said hesitantly, "Um…"
Makoto saw his hesitation. "Just call me Makoto. I call you Yamato—surely you're not actually planning to be my little brother?"
Yamato: Actually, having an older brother doesn't seem so bad.
But the two had only known each other for a short time and were not yet familiar. Even if he was willing, some forms of address were still hard for him to say. Makoto's words let him relax a little.
"Makoto, do you need my help?"
Makoto thought for a moment and asked, "Yamato, the ninjutsu you use seems to create wood. Can you create trees—living ones?"
"I can." After speaking, he stretched out his palm.
"Wait a moment. I need to use chakra to sense it more clearly. Is that okay?"
For a ninja, allowing someone else's chakra to enter their body is extremely dangerous—it is equivalent to placing one's life in another person's hands.
Ironically, the Sage of Six Paths originally spread chakra so that people could connect with one another, understand each other's hearts, and reduce conflicts between people.
But that original intention had long since been abandoned by the ninja.
Yamato did not hesitate. "That's fine."
Makoto extended his hand and supported Yamato's hand with his palm. With chakra and perception working together, he carefully explored the process by which Wood Release was formed.
On Yamato's hand, as chakra gathered, a small sapling slowly grew out—fresh and tender, no different from the saplings outside.
In the original timeline, the Wood Release Yamato often used was mostly wood—making people think he could not create living trees like the First Hokage. But in fact he could; he simply rarely used it.
Now, to show it to Makoto, he used it. But watching a tree grow directly out of a human body was somewhat horrifying.
Fortunately, the place where the roots connected to his palm transformed naturally and was not bloody. Otherwise, it would not merely be horrifying—it would be a direct hit to one's sanity.
Makoto analyzed it carefully. He could sense that when Yamato used Wood Release, the Earth-attribute chakra and Water-attribute chakra in his body became exceptionally active.
That activity was not violent fluctuation, but a kind of activity full of vitality.
When they became entangled and fused within the chakra pathways, somehow, without any clear reason, they suddenly turned into Wood Release.
"What does it feel like when you use Wood Release?"
"A feeling? There's no particular feeling. It's kind of like instinct."
His Wood Release had been obtained through the fusion of Hashirama's cells, so he had naturally come to know how to use it. Yamato himself really could not explain it clearly.
Seeing him bite his lip tightly, Makoto asked curiously, "Is there a big difference between wood and living trees? You look like you're having a bit of a hard time."
"A little."
"Then stop quickly."
Yamato miraculously absorbed the sapling he had produced back into his body and explained, "The difference in chakra consumption between producing wood and producing a living tree is not that great."
"But when living wood is produced, it's not just a matter of chakra consumption. There's also a kind of… how should I put it? Anyway, it makes me feel weak more easily."
"Like kidney deficiency?"
Yamato said, "What is kidney deficiency?"
"That? When you grow up and marry a few more wives, you'll understand."
So women were that scary? Young Yamato silently took note of this and decided that in the future, he should stay a little farther away from women.
"Did you find the key point in how Wood Release is formed?"
"No."
"Then do you want me to use Wood Release one more time?"
"No need. I've already memorized the fluctuation patterns and property transformation characteristics of the two kinds of chakra, Earth and Water. That's already a huge gain. From here on, I can slowly develop it on my own. Go to sleep early."
"All right."
Yamato had simply had the misfortune of falling into the hands of Orochimaru and Danzō, but in essence, he was an honest and kind child, without much scheming.
But what concerned Makoto was that the difference between forming ordinary wood and living wood was actually that great. It seemed that producing living wood required not only chakra, but also something else.
...
Yamato had been trained by Root, and his basic qualities as a ninja were not a problem, so there was no need to train him again.
What he lacked was ordinary common sense about life and normal interpersonal relationships.
That was something that needed time to make up for.
The Third Hokage and Kakashi had dumped him on Makoto and then stopped caring. They did not even say how his work should be arranged, which gave Makoto a headache, so he could only bring him along to work.
Inside the Anbu activity room, Yūgao pointed at Yamato. "Makoto, who's this guy? Could he be a new member who just joined?"
Makoto could only say, "More or less."
"But neither our team nor Genma's team is short on people." As she spoke, Yūgao suddenly brought her face close to Yamato's. "Come to think of it, have we met somewhere before? Your build looks really familiar."
Yamato thought that Anbu really was different from Root. The people here did not have that cold feeling. They were very warm and should be easy to get along with.
But as for the girl in front of him… honest Yamato recalled Makoto's words from the previous night and silently moved two steps back, widening the distance between himself and Yūgao.
Soon, both Yūgao and Hayate recognized Yamato from the details.
Hayate looked somewhat surprised. "Makoto, how did he end up here?"
"Don't ask too much. In short, from now on he's our teammate."
"Then our squad will have four people. Including sensei, that makes five. Isn't that over the limit?"
"It isn't." Kumomi walked in from outside. It seemed he already knew about Yamato. "As you all know, I'm very busy with work now, so it's impossible for me to continue acting as your jōnin leader and carry out missions with you."
"Besides, with your current strength, you no longer need a jōnin leader. From today onward, the Kumomi squad is disbanded. Makoto will serve as the captain of the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard, responsible for arranging the work of the six members including Kinoe, Hayate, and Genma."
Makoto asked, "Is Yamato joining the Shadow Guard as well?"
After noting down the name, Kumomi replied, "That's right. From now on, the work of the Shadow Guard will be handed over to you. Any problems?"
"No problem."
"Good. Later, just submit Yamato's file to me."
As for Hiruzen placing the Wood Release treasure he had seized into the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard, Makoto considered it a good thing. At least it proved that the old man had already realized the problem and was paving the way for the Fourth Hokage to return to power.
As for the Shadow Guard's six-man team turning into seven people, that was not a big issue.
It was common knowledge that the Four Great Demon Kings numbered five. Likewise, it was naturally common knowledge that the six little powerhouses of the Shadow Guard numbered seven.
...
Inside Minato's home, Kushina now had all her attention focused on Naruto. The Fourth Hokage had turned into a warm, domestic husband, wholeheartedly enjoying a peaceful family life with his wife and child.
He seemed to be enjoying it so much that he had almost forgotten he was still the Hokage.
In the study, Minato called Makoto over and asked, "The child outside—he's the Wood Release ninja Kinoe that you discovered in Root, right?"
"That's right. But now he's called Yamato. His Anbu codename is Horned Owl. Did Kakashi-senpai tell you?"
"Not only Kakashi. The Third Hokage also came to talk to me about it last night."
"Is that so? It seems the Third Hokage has really changed this time. That's a good thing."
"Hahaha." Minato laughed cheerfully and scratched the back of his head. "Right now, I actually hope the Third Hokage will continue working for a few more years. That way I can have time to take care of Naruto. It's a bit hard for Kushina to handle alone."
"So for Minato-senpai, your wife and child are more important than the position of Hokage, right?"
"They're equally important. They're both things I must protect with all my strength. So while I still have a few years of time, I also need to work harder. I've already made arrangements with the two sages of Mount Myōboku. Starting today, I'll go there during the day to train. So the security here will be up to you all. Makoto."
"You can rest assured about that. But Minato-senpai, you prepared so many dishes this morning. Aren't you going to cook before leaving? Won't Kushina-sensei have an opinion?"
Minato gave a strange smile. "I heard from your mother that someone's cooking skills seem to be quite good."
Makoto: "…"
Minato was indeed a scheming man. May you spend every day at Mount Myōboku eating piles of insects.
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