Shikadai looked up, his expression grim. "They've probably used the tracks they found earlier to work out that we're hiding somewhere in this stretch of forest."
"Next, they'll probably conduct a more systematic sweep that'll be even harder to evade. They might even bring in more people and surround us."
Boruto immediately grew anxious. "Then what do we do? This forest is big, but at this rate, they'll find us sooner or later! We can't keep using the Scientific Ninja Tools forever!"
Shikadai didn't answer at once. He hugged his knees and buried his face in his arms, his mind racing so fast it felt ready to smoke.
Every clue, every piece of intelligence, the rules of this world, and their own circumstances whirled through his mind like scattered fragments. He had to piece them together into their one path to survival.
His father Shikamaru's advice echoed in his ears: "The more desperate the situation, the more you need to break out of conventional thinking. Look for a way through in your opponent's blind spots—or in something about yourself you've overlooked."
Their blind spots... Something about us we've overlooked...
Suddenly, an idea struck Shikadai like a bolt of lightning!
He jerked his head up, his eyes shining with startling intensity, and looked at Boruto. "Boruto! Remember what Jackie Chan called you when we met him in that Uchiha dungeon?"
Boruto blinked and searched his memory. "Uh... I think he said I was a spy for the Hyuga? Then he wanted to kill me to rally his troops."
"Exactly! A spy for the Hyuga!" Shikadai slapped the ground, so excited he could barely keep his voice down.
"Why the 'Hyuga'? Why would this world assign you an identity tied to them?"
Without waiting for Boruto to answer, Shikadai rushed on, answering