"Jiraiya-sama is right. The enemy shouldn't know our exact situation—otherwise, they would've already attacked," Hyūga Hiashi said, his calm tone carrying weight.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. If they knew we were gathered here, they wouldn't waste time waiting."
Seeing everyone side with him, Jiraiya gave a small nod of satisfaction. His authority during wartime was firm, and the trust of his allies mattered most now.
The two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane, exchanged uneasy looks. They once had influence, but compared to Jiraiya—the Toad Sage—their voices carried far less weight in the field.
"Now then—"
"Wait," Nara Shikaku suddenly interrupted, standing up sharply. His serious tone made everyone turn toward him.
"There's another possibility," he said, eyes narrowing. "The enemy might be waiting for us to gather here—so they can strike elsewhere. If that's the case, we could be the distraction."
Everyone frowned, trying to follow his line of thought.
"What are you getting at, Shikaku?" Jiraiya asked.
"I'm saying Iwagakure's forces might be divided. The army we know of may just be one front—while another attacks from a different direction," Shikaku explained, pointing to the map on the table.
The air in the tent grew heavy.
"You mean there could be another strike force?" Homura asked grimly.
Shikaku nodded. "Yes. They could be moving through another route."
Lock finally spoke up, his calm voice breaking the tension. "That seems unlikely. I already scouted the entire border of the Land of Grass—there weren't any hidden Iwa camps left. Every movement was under my watch. If they're attacking from somewhere else, it must be beyond Grass territory."
"Exactly." Shikaku pointed at the map again. "There are two alternate routes—the Land of Rain or the Land of Taki. The Rain route seems impossible; Hanzo of Amegakure wouldn't allow Iwa forces to pass. That leaves the Land of Taki—bordering the Land of Sound.
And with the Cloud forces gathered near the Land of Sound, if Iwa and Kumo coordinated even slightly… it could form a devastating pincer attack."
The realization hit everyone at once. The area Shikaku pointed to was exactly where Orochimaru was stationed.
"You think Iwa and Kumo are working together?" Koharu asked skeptically. "They've never trusted each other."
"It's just a theory," Shikaku admitted. "But if it's true, then this location—our camp—might only be bait."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke clenched his fists. "We can't sit here guessing. If they're moving, we'll know soon enough. We need to prepare for battle regardless."
Everyone agreed. Even if Shikaku's theory was off, an Iwa offensive was still likely.
"I'll check the situation myself," Lock said, stepping forward.
"Be careful, Lock," Jiraiya warned. "If Shikaku's right, the enemy may already be on the move."
Lock gave a faint smile. "Don't worry, Sensei. Iwa-nin can't catch what they can't see."
Without another word, he vanished—his body fading into nothingness as he activated his stealth technique.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke watched in awe. "An invisibility jutsu like that… he really is the best choice for recon."
Jiraiya slammed his hand on the table. "Alright! Everyone, prepare the defensive lines. We'll have our answer soon—Lock doesn't take long."
Hiashi stepped forward. "I've brought ten Hyūga clan members with me—all veteran fighters. I'll deploy them with the main forces for wide-range surveillance."
The Byakugan would indeed be critical in this kind of battle. Even a small number of Hyūga could cover wide terrain and spot enemy movement with precision.
Meanwhile, Lock was already gone. Using his speed-enhancing dagger technique, he crossed several kilometers in under a minute, moving through the forests and over the border of the Land of Grass.
Not long after entering, he felt it—a warning tingle down his spine.
In an instant, Lock leapt back just as dozens of kunai and earth-style jutsu exploded from the ground. The place he'd just stood was reduced to rubble.
"Tch. An ambush already?" he muttered, eyes narrowing.
He slammed a seal tag into the ground.
Sentry Seal — True Sight Formation.
A shimmering pulse spread from the tag's center, invisible to the naked eye but sharp in Lock's senses. Within a kilometer, every chakra source flickered in his perception—like stars lighting up in the dark.
The "Sentry Guard" wasn't a tool from some foreign system—it was a sealing formula Lock developed through his unique training. It didn't grant sight, but it allowed him to feel chakra presence across the field, just like a sensory-nin.
The seal would last for weeks and required no chakra upkeep—perfect for long-term recon. Though it couldn't move like a ninja sensor, it remained undetectable and stable, a hidden eye in enemy territory.
Lock's lips curved slightly. "Let's see who's hiding out there..."
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