38

Hagoromo looks around at the group, his expression weary but resolute. "Hamura and I… we can fight. But together, we might only be as strong as a Brown Zetsu—maybe an evolving one. That's not enough to deal with Isshiki and his forces," he admits, his voice heavy with the weight of the situation.

Hamura stands beside him, nodding in agreement. "The power we once held is nothing compared to what we're facing now. Even if we fight together, our strength is limited."

Hiruzen, ever the strategist, steps forward with a thoughtful expression. "We may need to use Naruto and Sasuke's relationship with Kaguya to our advantage. If we can convince her to intervene, it might give us the edge we need. The Golden Zetsu are strong, but if Kaguya sends more of them, we could stand a chance."

Madara raises an eyebrow, his sharp gaze calculating. "But there's a better chance if we get to Isshiki before he fully recovers. If we act fast enough, we might only have to deal with Golden Zetsu and a handful of Brown Zetsu at most. The less time Isshiki has to regain his strength, the better."

The room falls silent as everyone processes the gravity of the situation. Hashirama looks around at the gathered ninjas, the weight of their next steps pressing down on them all.

Tsunade, her eyes hard, speaks next. "We don't have time to waste, then. We need to move quickly. If getting to Isshiki is the key, we have to make sure we're prepared to fight him when the time comes."

Naruto, ever optimistic despite the challenges, clenches his fists. "We'll find a way to stop him. We have to."

Sasuke, more reserved, stands beside him. "It's not just about stopping him. We need to be strategic. We can't afford to make mistakes."

The tension is palpable, but Naruto's determination shines through, even as Sasuke remains focused on the task at hand. The group knows that every decision they make from here on out will be crucial, and they cannot afford to waste any more time.

Madara, leaning against the wall, watches them with a calculating gaze. "We'll need to act fast, and that means we need every resource we can get our hands on. No more waiting. If Isshiki has recovered enough to fight back, it'll be too late."

As the discussion continues, the plan takes shape. The battle against Isshiki is no longer a matter of "if"—it's a matter of when. The fate of the ninja world hinges on how quickly they can mobilize and whether they can keep Isshiki from reaching his full strength. The pressure is on, and every moment counts.