How should he put this?
Although before the meeting began, Black Zetsu had thought he would certainly gain some position within the Allied Forces, he never expected he would become something called a 'Peace Ambassador'.
You must understand, since the rift between Asura and Indra, through the era of numerous clans to the current warfare among the Shinobi Villages… while he couldn't claim to have manipulated every single event from behind the scenes, he was undeniably connected to them.
For such a person to be appointed as the 'Peace Ambassador' by the Allied Shinobi Forces was, without a doubt, incredibly ironic.
However…
'Although receiving such a position is ironic, Sarutobi Hiruzen truly is an old fox!' Black Zetsu quickly regained his composure from the mood of wanting to mock everyone in the Shinobi World, seriously contemplating the Third Hokage's intention behind this move.
Peace Ambassador, whose duty is to mediate internal conflicts within the Allied Forces… such a role would grant him considerable influence within the alliance. If he performed well, earning everyone's trust wasn't impossible.
But it would merely make people consider his opinions; whether they would agree or even take them seriously was another matter entirely.
In other words, he would have a certain degree of influence but no actual authority.
As the initiator of the Allied Forces and the provider of the Sky Castle's blueprints, Zetsu had made immense contributions. He was bound to have a place within the Allied Forces.
However, although he presented himself as the successor to the Akatsuki, his origins were too mysterious. Furthermore, he had provided the Sky Castle's blueprints, which the nations of the Shinobi World had once searched for everywhere without success, and which only the now-defunct Land of Sky possessed… This added another layer of mystery to his origins.
For someone of such unclear origins, Hiruzen naturally couldn't trust him. Thus, giving him this seemingly prestigious position that couldn't interfere with the Allied Forces' internal affairs was killing two birds with one stone.
But Black Zetsu wasn't annoyed by Hiruzen's move; on the contrary, he was pleased.
Because he wasn't interested in so-called authority or the post-war distribution of benefits. Everything he did was to free his mother from her seal.
The position of Peace Ambassador was actually more suitable for him to sow chaos within the Shinobi World.
After all, using information asymmetry and persuasive speech to sway people was his greatest skill.
These thoughts flashed through his mind. Zetsu turned to Hiruzen and nodded slightly. "Since the Hokage recommends it, I'll humbly accept."
"The harmony within the Allied Forces is entrusted to you."
"I'll do my best."
Satisfied, Hiruzen nodded, then looked at the others. "Next is strategic deployment. But before that, I'd like to introduce someone to you."
As he spoke, he looked back. A middle-aged man with a pineapple-shaped ponytail, wearing a green vest, stepped forward.
Hiruzen nodded to him, then looked back at the others. "Nara Shikaku. He is our Konoha's military strategist. You shouldn't be unfamiliar with him."
"Not just unfamiliar; his name is well-known!" The Raikage said in his deep voice.
Back when Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kusagakure attacked Konoha simultaneously from two fronts… Facing enemies with more than double their manpower, Shikaku's strategy of stealing the beams and replacing the pillars and advancing secretly by an unknown path allowed Konoha to resolve the crisis with only half their losses.
Although there was the factor of Iwagakure and Kusagakure stabbing Kumogakure in the back, even without that unforeseen event, the outcome wouldn't have changed.
This strategic mind made the Raikage, even now, still feel a sense of lingering fear.
"It was just luck."
Hearing the renowned Raikage praise him so, Shikaku modestly replied.
"If mere luck could defeat our Kumogakure, then we would have perished long ago in previous wars."
Finished, the Raikage turned to Hiruzen and asked, "Hokage, do you intend for him to be the military strategist for this operation? If it's him, I have no objection whatsoever."
"I feel the same!"
Onoki surprisingly voiced his opinion again.
Although in the subsequent war with Konoha, he played steadily without revealing any weaknesses, Shikaku's tactics still gave Iwagakure's main forces a massive headache. What was initially an advantageous situation gradually turned into a disadvantage.
Although the difference in comprehensive strength between the two villages played a role, the other's strategic mind couldn't be underestimated either.
Yagura, holding his coral staff, smiled. "Although I haven't personally experienced his capabilities, if even the proud Raikage is completely convinced, I also have no objection."
"Good." Hiruzen gave a slight nod, turning to Shikaku. "In that case, you will proceed with the strategic deployment."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Shikaku nodded, walked to the central strategic sand table, and pointed at the Floating Continent, which clearly exceeded the area representing the four Sky Castles. "Before deploying strategy, I must explain the prerequisite for victory in this war…"
As he spoke, he looked around. Seeing everyone listening attentively, he nodded slightly and continued, "The prerequisite for victory in this war is to capture the Mechanical City, or the entire Floating Continent."
"Why can't we just destroy it?"
Someone asked, uncomprehending.
Even those without war experience knew that destruction was easier than occupation.
Moreover, their side had seven Jinchuriki and the main cannons of four Sky Castles. Even if the target was a 5,000-square-kilometer Floating Continent, destroying it wasn't impossible.
"This involves the danger level of objects falling from high altitude…" Shikaku glanced at the person who asked and explained, "The higher the object falls from, the more dangerous it is. Even a pebble the size of a thumb falling from a thousand-meter height has enough force to split a person's head open, let alone a 5,000-square-kilometer Floating Continent."
"You mean if the Floating Continent crashes from high altitude, it would cause an irreversible disaster, right?"
"Correct!" Shikaku nodded. "According to intelligence, Sunagakure completed its relocation half a year ago. Everyone moved to the Mechanical City, and the Floating Continent has been hovering at an altitude of three thousand meters. A fall from such height… although precise calculations aren't possible, rough estimates suggest the shockwave from the impact would be sufficient to cause extinction for the organisms on this continent."
"Gasp!"
Everyone present couldn't help but gasp in shock.
Although many among them knew the crash of the Floating Continent would cause a difficult-to-reverse disaster, they had never specifically calculated the extent of the disaster.
Now hearing Shikaku's explanation, they only felt their spines turn cold.
"If that's the case, then if, towards the end, Sunagakure sees the situation turning unfavorable and chooses to crash the Floating Continent to perish together, doesn't that mean the Allied Forces have no chance of victory?" The leader of a small village said.
Hearing this, the others all looked at Shikaku.
Shikaku looked back at the Third Hokage, nodded, then faced everyone again. "Therefore, besides the main battlefield, we must form a team with high mobility, proficient in stealth, skilled in reconnaissance, and powerful strength to secretly infiltrate under the cover of battle and seize control of the Mechanical City's control core."
"Requiring high mobility, stealth, reconnaissance, and strength… where can we find such a team?"
"Even if such a team exists, it's a huge risk, right? After all, we know nothing about the Mechanical City."
"Yes, it's too risky!"
Everyone discussed heatedly, but most felt it was too risky.
They weren't opposed to the idea, just felt it wasn't secure enough, hoping Shikaku could think of a more secure method.
"Everyone…"
At that moment, Hiruzen suddenly called out.
Everyone stopped discussing and looked up.
"Regarding the risk of the Floating Continent crashing… about this matter, there's no need to worry so much. Since Shikaku formulated this plan, he naturally considered the risks involved. If the risk were too great, he wouldn't have made such a decision."
After speaking, he turned to look at Konoha's Sky Castle.
Everyone followed his gaze. At the entrance of the Sky Castle stood two men with their arms crossed over their chests.
They wore armor from the Warring States Period, one red, one blue.
One had black hair reaching his waist, the other had white spiky hair.
"This is!?"
Onoki initially thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He hurriedly rubbed them and looked again, his face changing dramatically. "The First Hokage, the Second Hokage… how? Didn't you die long ago? How are you here?"
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't this the kid who followed Mu back then? How did you get older than me?"
Hearing this voice, Onoki's body instinctively trembled, his pupils sharply contracting, triggering distant memories.
Ignoring Onoki lost in unpleasant memories, Hashirama and Tobirama slowly walked towards the central platform.
Hashirama spoke as he walked. "Leave the risk of the Floating Continent crashing to me. An impact disaster that can extinguish a continent… I've never faced something so terrifying before!"
"You exaggerate, First Hokage-sama. In reality, it's not as powerful as imagined."
Shikaku explained, "The shockwave from the Floating Continent's crash causing extinction for continental organisms… that's a calculation based on ordinary people or creatures. In reality, the shockwave wouldn't even spread across half the continent. It's just that the secondary disasters it causes would lead to extinction."
"In other words, as long as we block the initial impact, there won't be secondary disasters."
As he spoke, Tobirama and Hashirama arrived on the platform together.
Tobirama looked at Hashirama beside him. "Brother, can you withstand a high-altitude falling object that can generate such a shockwave?"
"I don't know." Hashirama gently shook his head. "But, although I don't know if I can completely withstand it, I will definitely slow its speed to a level that can't endanger the land."
"That's enough." Tobirama turned to look at the Allied leaders. "Did you hear? My brother says he can withstand it. So you really don't need to worry so much. Hmm? Why are you all standing there dumbfounded? Speak your minds!"
His words snapped everyone back to reality. They looked at the two with incredulous expressions.
"Am I seeing things? That's the First and Second Hokage!"
"It's real. I saw them from afar when I visited Konoha as a child. I could never forget such imposing presence."
"But… aren't they dead?"