The Otsutsuki Branch Family hadn't changed its deployments, which meant Shinji could use the same approach he'd used to infiltrate the castle last time.
So he wasted no time. Following the same plan, he hid in the forest and waited for the right moment. When a squad of Tenseigan puppets switched shifts, he seized one and used the Tenseigan Chakra inside it to slip through the protective barrier.
"It looks like the battle during my last escape actually helped conceal my route in."
After infiltrating the castle, Shinji used the Byakugan controlled by the Susanoo Lamp to survey its interior, all the while feeling secretly relieved.
The battle last time with an Elder of the Otsutsuki Branch Family had damaged parts of the castle. That damage had likely concealed traces of Shinji's infiltration, making it difficult for the Otsutsuki Branch Family to determine exactly how he had gotten inside.
That might also have been why they hadn't recklessly changed their guard deployments.
As he crept through the castle corridors, Shinji began recording its layout.
From what he could see with his Byakugan, the massive castle had more than a dozen floors, and the underground levels were entirely made up of passages used by puppets.
The first through tenth floors were where the puppets operated.
Last time, he'd been in a hurry and had only taken a cursory look around. This time was different. By observing carefully, he discovered that the castle's puppets came in all kinds.
Some were dedicated to combat, while others served as attendants.
Each type of puppet also had a strictly designated area of operation. For example, the puppets patrolling outside the castle could only move through the underground levels, while those guarding the interior were restricted to specific areas inside the castle.
Hidden in a corner,