In a forest far from any human settlement.
Neji, who was scouting the path ahead, stopped to survey his surroundings. The forest seemed forgotten by time, quiet and profound.
Sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy, scattering patches of light and shadow through the occasional gaps. Ancient trees towered overhead, their branches and leaves intertwined into an endless green ceiling.
Clearly, this was an undeveloped area. Forget a map—even finding someone nearby who could guide them through it would be next to impossible.
"This forest is huge. Naruto said there was a lake and a cavern or something, but it looks like finding them won't be easy."
Neji looked up at the darkening sky, then headed back from his scouting trip.
Meanwhile, Naruto was asking the Nine-Tails for more details.
"...So all you know is that there's a cavern somewhere in this general direction that leads to the moon? You don't remember anything else?"
Naruto looked helplessly at the Nine-Tails floating before him.
"I didn't need to remember all that back then. Besides, you searched from the sky that time. Now you've plunged straight into the woods. Of course everything looks completely different."
The Nine-Tails grumbled.
"Then, Kurama, how did you scout from the sky back then?"
Hinata, who had also just returned from scouting, was curious. Thanks to their Byakugan, members of the Hyuga Clan generally served as their teams' observers.
And being able to observe from the air would be an enormous advantage when scouting.
"It was Sai's Jutsu. He only discovered this place because he was tracking the enemy at the time."
"Sai?"
Hearing an unfamiliar name from the Nine-Tails left Naruto puzzled, though he did remember the Nine-Tails mentioning this person at some point.
"It's Super Beast Imitating Drawing. Uncle Sai and Inojin both know it,"