44

Brown Zetsu watches the group, his tone suddenly more measured. "If you don't piss off Kaguya, you won't have to fight the Zetsu," he says, a smirk creeping onto his face. "So, don't worry too much about them for now. But once you step into that territory, don't expect her creations to just sit idle."

The room falls silent as everyone processes his words. While Kaguya may have allowed them some leeway, the underlying threat of her army—especially with the new Diamond Zetsu—remains.

Just as the tension builds, the door slams open with force, and Shikamaru strides in, his face grim but relieved.

"Ishiki has been located," he says, cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter. "The scouts found him. We can move out now."

The group springs to life as the news sinks in. Naruto, his expression lighting up with determination, quickly nods to Sasuke. "We've got a chance to end this now," he says. "Let's move, Sasuke."

Sasuke is already preparing, his Sharingan flickering to life. "We need to be ready. Ishiki won't be easy to deal with."

Tsunade turns to Shikamaru, her voice urgent. "Where is he? How far are we from his location?"

Shikamaru's brow furrows slightly as he pulls out a map. "He's holed up near the old Otsutsuki temple—far from here, but we can teleport close enough. We'll need to move quickly before he recovers too much."

Minato steps forward, ever calm. "I can teleport us there. I'll take everyone who's ready."

Naruto cracks his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. "Let's go, then! No more waiting."

Before anyone can say more, Madara raises his hand, cutting through the rising excitement. "We can't just rush in," he says, his voice low and calculating. "We need a strategy. We know what Ishiki is capable of, and the longer we wait, the stronger he becomes."

Hagoromo and Hamura exchange looks, both of them knowing the risks involved. "It's not just about getting to him. We need to make sure we're ready to handle his power," Hagoromo adds gravely.

Hashirama steps in, his usual confidence returning. "We'll make sure we're ready. Together, we can handle this."

Shikamaru, his usual level-headedness not missing a beat, offers a rare, confident smile. "I've already thought ahead. We've got everything set up for the next move. You just need to get there."

Brown Zetsu leans against the wall, his arms crossed, observing the room with cold amusement. "Do what you want, but remember, if you cross paths with Kaguya, I'll be waiting to see how you handle her Zetsu."

With the decision made, the group, united in purpose, prepares to move out. Minato steps forward, his eyes scanning the group, ready to teleport them to Ishiki's location. The air is thick with anticipation as the final battle draws near.