Sure enough, Konoha's reinforcements arrived at the border by noon the next day. They immediately took position in the fortified town Jiraiya had prepared in advance.
As a border garrison settlement, the town wasn't large — a few thousand civilians at most during peaceful times. But with war raging, most of the villagers had already been evacuated. Only a handful remained to maintain supplies and logistics for the shinobi forces.
Over two thousand Konoha ninja now fill its streets. It was crowded, but manageable. With the supply caravans from the village, they were well-stocked to hold out for some time.
The Third Hokage's strategy was clear: hold the border and grind Iwagakure down in a prolonged battle of attrition. Konoha's supply network and endurance far surpassed Iwa's. If the enemy couldn't break through quickly, their resources would collapse long before Konoha's would.
But not everyone was pleased with how things were going.
"What the hell was the old man thinking? Sending them here? Is he trying to make trouble for me, or does he not trust me anymore?"
Lock looked up from his desk as Jiraiya stormed into the command room, irritation practically radiating off him.
"Teacher Jiraiya," Lock asked, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't reinforcements supposed to be good news? Why are you angry instead?"
"Good news, my ass!" Jiraiya snapped, throwing up his hands. "The old man didn't just send troops — he sent those two fossils with them! Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane! They've been barking orders since the moment they arrived — changing deployments, questioning my commands, lecturing me like I'm some academy student!"
He slumped into a chair, fuming. "Am I the commander here, or are they?"
Lock immediately understood. The Third Hokage hadn't just sent reinforcements — he'd sent his two oldest advisors to oversee Jiraiya.
Whether it was Sarutobi's idea or their own meddling, it made little difference now. They were here — and they outranked nearly everyone.
Politically, Mitokado and Koharu held immense authority within the village. They weren't front-line fighters anymore, but their status meant their words carried weight. And from the moment they arrived, they'd acted as if their word was law.
Lock sighed inwardly. Sending them to a battlefield was like assigning bureaucrats to lead soldiers — technically powerful, but tactically useless. "You can't ignore them entirely, but… why not lean on someone who actually understands warfare?"
"Like who?" Jiraiya asked.
"Lord Shikaku," Lock replied instantly. "He's here too. He's the sharpest strategist in the entire Nara clan. Make him your military advisor. Let him handle the planning and reasoning with those two — you focus on command."
Jiraiya's expression shifted from irritation to a grin. "That's… actually a damn good idea. I'm on good terms with Shikaku — and if he's the one running strategy, those two won't have much to complain about. After all, I'm the commander-in-chief here, not them."
Normally, Jiraiya didn't care much for politics or authority. But this time was different. This was war — his battlefield — and he refused to let it turn into a farce of interference and mixed orders.
"I'll go find Shikaku right now," he said, already standing.
Lock chuckled at his teacher's energy — but suddenly froze mid-laugh. His expression hardened.
"Wait. Jiraiya-sensei… hold on."
The shift in his tone made Jiraiya stop instantly. "What's wrong?"
Lock's pupils unfocused slightly, his senses reaching outward. "…Iwa-nin are moving. They're leaving the stronghold… no. Something's wrong."
Jiraiya's face turned grim. He didn't interrupt, waiting for Lock to focus.
"I'm bringing my scout down lower for a better view," Lock murmured. His eyes flickered as he synchronized his vision with his high-altitude bird familiar — his "messenger," known casually as Xiao Fei among their forces.
A few seconds later, Lock's face tightened. "Damn it! They spotted him!"
"What happened?" Jiraiya demanded.
Lock let out a sharp breath. "They took it down. My link's gone."
He clenched his fists. "That's not all — it wasn't just a patrol. Right before the feed cut off, I saw something. The Iwa-nin force…It's massive. Way more than what I reported earlier."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "How many?"
"At least two to three thousand," Lock said grimly. "Maybe more. They were hidden near the old stronghold — underground or camouflaged somehow. I can't tell where they came from, but they're on the move now. Full force."
That was all Jiraiya needed to hear. He bolted toward the door, barking to the guards outside, "Sound the alert! Gather all commanders — now!"
Within minutes, the war council assembled inside the command tent. Six senior shinobi entered one after another.
Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane arrived first, followed by Nara Shikaku — calm and calculating as ever — and two younger officers Lock didn't recognize. Both looked to be in their twenties, hardened but sharp.
The last to arrive drew Lock's attention immediately — the dignified figure of Hyūga Hiashi, still young but already bearing the quiet confidence of a clan head in the making.
The air inside the tent grew heavy.
The enemy was on the move.
And this time… they weren't hiding anymore.
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