Jiraiya said nothing and only nodded.
He watched Tsunade disappear into the woods, then turned to glance again at the crack taking shape on the training ground.
Black and red light shone on Sasuke Uchiha's face, illuminating his expression with particular clarity.
It was already late at night when Shikaku Nara received the summons.
He entered the Hokage's Office. Tsunade and Jiraiya were both there.
A huge map of Konoha lay spread across the desk, with several red circles marking key locations around the village's outskirts.
"I called you here so late because some things can't wait any longer." Tsunade dispensed with pleasantries and went straight to the point.
Shikaku approached the desk, glanced at the markings on the map, and frowned slightly.
The red circles marked relatively weak points in Konoha's defenses, as well as the spots most likely to cause problems during a large-scale evacuation.
"You're worried Isshiki's people will come," Shikaku said.
He did not even need to ask for details. One look at the map told him why Tsunade had sent for him.
"How could I not be worried?"
Tsunade's voice was firm. "The very fact that Isshiki sent someone to Konoha means he's already set his sights here."
"No matter how strong the people he sends are, it means he's already begun to act."
"Of course, we might just be worrying over nothing."
"But what if we're not? What if the enemy is preparing to strike Konoha or the Shinobi World? It'll be too late to think about this then."
Shikaku fell silent for a while, his gaze sweeping over the red circles on the map.
"If it's just an ordinary attack, we can still handle it. But if Isshiki comes in person..." He left the sentence unfinished.
Tsunade finished it for him. "If Isshiki