def METHOD_NAME():
    """
    Ensure ext_pillar returns an empty dict when called during pillar
    template rendering to prevent a cyclic dependency.
    """
    mock_version = Mock()
    mock_vault = Mock()
    extra = {"_vault_runner_is_compiling_pillar_templates": True}
    with patch.dict(
        vault.__utils__, {"vault.make_request": mock_vault, "vault.is_v2": mock_version}
    ):
        assert {} == vault.ext_pillar(
            "test-minion", {}, conf="path=secret/path", extra_minion_data=extra
        )
        assert mock_version.call_count == 0
        assert mock_vault.call_count == 0