"How's the situation? Did you find anything useful?"
After a brief exchange of lighthearted chatter, Jiraiya's tone turned serious as he looked across the table at Lock.
Lock straightened, setting aside his joking expression. "I found one of Iwagakure's forward bases. But something doesn't add up. From what I saw, there were only a few hundred Iwa-nin there — a thousand at most. Not nearly the number you reported."
He leaned forward, his voice calm but precise. "I didn't dare get too close — too much risk of being spotted — but from the layout and patrol routes, it's definitely just a temporary encampment. After checking several nearby regions, I didn't find any additional strongholds, only scattered Iwa patrols."
He paused, then added, "Also, I noticed something else — Grass-nin. They were mixed in among the Iwa troops. Looks like Kusagakure has joined forces with them."
Jiraiya frowned deeply. "It's no surprise that the Grass Village would cooperate. They can't stop Iwa's army, and it's either surrender or be crushed. But what you're saying about the numbers… that's impossible. According to every report I've gotten, Iwa has at least several thousand soldiers stationed across this front."
"Are you sure you didn't miss another camp?"
Lock shook his head firmly. "I'm sure. I scouted a radius of several dozen miles — even beyond the Grass Country border. There's no sign of any other Iwa stronghold."
Jiraiya's brows furrowed. "That's strange. With the number of shinobi Iwa has deployed, there's no way they could disappear like this. If you couldn't detect them, it means they're either moving… or hiding something big."
Lock nodded. "That's my guess, too. When I was in Iwagakure before, I saw the size of their forces firsthand. Their entire village runs like a fortress — guards posted every few meters, constant patrols. The Third Tsuchikage isn't the type to gamble on a small force. If he's sending troops here, he's planning something larger — something we can't see yet."
He tapped his pouch. "But don't worry. I left my bird watching the area from above. I didn't let it fly too low — didn't want to risk exposure — but it's keeping an eye on the region. If Iwa moves a large force, we'll know before they reach us."
"That's enough," Jiraiya said with a nod, satisfied. "You've done well, Lock. Your reconnaissance work is far more reliable than any intel squad could pull off."
Lock smiled faintly.
"By the way," Jiraiya asked, curious, "what's the story with that bird of yours? I've been meaning to ask. Where did you even find it?"
Lock chuckled. "It's not a summoned beast like the ones you're thinking of. I found it during a mission — just an ordinary bird at first. But I noticed it had some strange abilities, so I kept it. Over time, it became incredibly intelligent. It's not bound by a summoning contract, but it's completely loyal."
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "What's special about it is its vision. Everything it sees, I see — in real time. It's not ninjutsu; it's just the way it was born."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Sounds like fate to me. That kind of companion is rare — cherish it. Still… if it's not a proper summoning beast, do you have one right now?"
Lock shook his head. "Not anymore. When I worked under Lord Orochimaru, he tried to get me to sign a contract with one of his snakes — but that didn't last long."
Jiraiya made a face. "Figures. Snakes — ugh. I can't stand those things. Listen, I've got a contract with Mount Myōboku. Their toads are strong, loyal, and great in battle. If you want, I could help you sign with them."
Lock's eyes flickered with genuine interest before he shook his head politely. "Maybe later. For now, I'd rather not. I have enough to manage as it is."
"Suit yourself," Jiraiya said with a grin. "Anyway, I got word from the old man — reinforcements are on the way. They'll be here by tomorrow at the latest."
He leaned back, visibly relieved. "Two thousand ninja in total. With the troops we already have, that gives us over four thousand on the border. Finally, we'll have a fighting chance."
Even for Jiraiya — one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin — commanding an army that large was a rare experience. Half the village's standing forces were now under his direction.
Lock whistled softly. "Two thousand reinforcements… that's nearly a third of the registered shinobi in the village. Lord Hokage must be under serious pressure to move that many so fast."
He wasn't wrong. With both Iwagakure and Kumogakure launching simultaneous offensives, Konoha's situation was dire. The Third Hokage couldn't afford to lose ground anywhere.
Gathering thousands of shinobi in such a short time required massive coordination — supplies, logistics, and sheer willpower. Food, gear, medical tents, weapon stockpiles — everything had to move at once.
Jiraiya crossed his arms, his tone softer now. "Yeah. The old man's doing everything he can. This war… It's testing everyone."
Lock nodded silently, looking out toward the distant horizon.
He could already feel the storm brewing beyond the border — and soon, all of them would be caught in it.
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