Outside Amegakure's gates.
The Konoha ninja, moving in separate squads, arrived one after another. Seeing the army halted there, they voiced their doubts. "What's going on? Weren't we heading out for a joint military exercise with Iwagakure?"
Just then, Shikaku and Konan approached together from Amegakure's entrance!
A member of the Aburame Clan exclaimed in shock, "That woman is a member of the Akatsuki! She attacked us with Pain! Why is Mr. Shikaku standing with her?"
Shikaku walked to the front of the Konoha ninja and said gravely, "Everyone, please quiet down. I'm going to announce the truth behind this exercise!"
Shikaku Nara spoke in a steady, solemn tone.
Indra, the Ten-Tails, the God Tree, and... the Infinite Tsukuyomi!
"How can we take anything that missing-nin Naruto Uzumaki says seriously?"
"A plot! This is an Amegakure plot! He must be planning to attack our village while our defenses are thin!"
"Mr. Shikaku, you've always been so wise. Don't let yourself be fooled by a trick anyone could see through!"
The ninja who so deeply misunderstood Naruto erupted in outrage.
"Where's the Sixth? Where did Kakashi go? Why isn't he here at a time like this?"
"Phew..." Shikaku Nara drew a deep breath. "Kakashi has already gone to the battlefield!"
Everyone immediately fell silent!
Then Uzuki Yugao stepped forward, holding Huahua in her arms. "While Lord Hokage was on his way here, he answered a great ninja's summons and went to the Land of Lightning to fight the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki alongside him!"
The Konoha ninja exchanged glances. "Impossible... could this really be true?"
"Lord Hokage has already gone to fight. Is it really okay for us to stay here?"
"That's right! We should be on the battlefield!"
But a dissenting voice rang out again. "I still don't believe it! Lord Hokage