"Duy stays, you deal with Satori!"
"Me?!"
Duy pointed at himself.
Shikaku nodded: "Duy, your Eight Gates can theoretically open the infinite Gate of Death, providing high mobility that can keep up with Satori's flight."
"Furthermore, you are someone whose spirit remains eternally positive; I have never seen you complain about your circumstances."
"You are the most suitable candidate to deal with Satori."
An Edo Tensei body is not without emotional fluctuations, they are just very small. If Hiruko were to go up and fight Satori, he would definitely be seen through.
Because Hiruko's obsessions are too heavy; even in death, he seeks resurrection, thinking all day about making big news and becoming a great figure.
Such thoughts are written all over his face.
Satori doesn't even need to look to see that he's too desperate for progress.
Among the group of Edo Tensei body, the one with the least darkness is Duy.
Presumably, the only people he ever killed in his life were the four members of the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist he kicked to death after opening the Eight Gates.
His mental outlook is even better than that of the living, always maintaining the appearance of a 'Youth Guy'. Youth will not perish; protecting what is most important to you is when youth burns most intensely.
And the most important thing to Duy is Guy.
After a brief analysis, Shikaku felt that Duy was the optimal choice to deal with Satori.
But Duy lacked some self-confidence because he was only a Genin until the day he died.
Sakumo patted Duy's shoulder: "Duy, what's wrong? Has your youth been tinged with a layer of worry?"
"How could that be?"
Duy immediately flashed a bright, sunny smile, showing his pearly whites to Sakumo, and then said to Shikaku: "Shikaku, thank you for believing in me. Don't worry, I will definitely stop Satori!"
Everyone looked at Duy's smile; even a gloomy person like Danzo was somewhat moved.
A dead man was actually smiling more brightly than they were?
Is this what youth is?
The Third Hokage said with some guilt: "I'm sorry, Duy. I never discovered your talent until after you passed away!"
Duy rubbed his head and said sheepishly: "Hokage-sama, it's not your fault. It's just that I'm a bit slow and could never pass the Chunin Exams."
Duy was too specialized; he only knew Taijutsu, whereas Guy at least knew the Summoning Jutsu.
Duy was just like Rock Lee, specializing in Taijutsu.
Moreover, his head was filled only with youth and he was a bit dim-witted. Lacking good teammates, he failed the written portion of every Chunin Exams he ever took.
The questions in the Chunin Exams could only be answered by top students; even if one wasn't a top student, they needed means or Ninjutsu to cheat.
Only top students and those with flexible minds could pass. Honest people would remain Genin for life!
Just like in reality, the rich and the delinquents enjoy the good life, while nice guys are ranked behind dogs!
Duy had nothing; his exam paper was covered in nothing but youth.
Even now, he probably still believes that the written portion of the Chunin Exams was meant to be passed through sheer academic effort.
Without passing the Chunin Exams, he couldn't become a Chunin. Without becoming a Chunin, he could only take Genin missions like finding cats and dogs. Unable to take high-level missions, he couldn't showcase his brilliance.
The Eight Gates was Duy's family inheritance and was not common knowledge.
The Third Hokage only learned of the power of the Eight Gates after Duy opened the Gate of Death to defeat the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist.
Taijutsu also has a way forward.
It's just that the price for such a path is far too heavy.
Shikaku then deployed the next step of the operation: "Hokage-sama, Duy will restrain Satori. I want the Uchiha Clan to restrain Ryou's clones."
"The best way to deal with a Sharingan is with another Sharingan!"
The Third Hokage nodded: "Very well, you shall command the Uchiha Clan."
Danzo said: "Tie up Itachi. If Uchiha Ryou doesn't step aside, kill his nephew!"
Jiraiya criticized: "Danzo, we are the Shinobi Allied Forces fighting for the future of the Shinobi World. How can we do something so classless?"
Mifune nodded: "Indeed, Lord Danzo. Itachi is also a member of the Shinobi Allied Forces. How can you sacrifice Itachi to deal with Ryou?"
Fukasaku pointed at Danzo and said: "Danzo, do you even have a say here? Go stand to the side."
Danzo fell silent, marginalized by everyone.
Shikaku continued his arrangements: "Lord Mifune, please stay behind to lead the First Division. Have the elite Shinobi look for an opportunity to infiltrate the Hidden Rain Village!"
"Yes!" Mifune nodded.
After relaying everything Tobirama had entrusted to him to the Allied Forces, Kato Dan prepared to leave.
The Third Hokage asked him: "Dan, does Orochimaru truly want to eliminate Ryou? Or does he want to seize Ryou's longevity jutsu?"
"..."
Kato Dan remained silent for a moment.
Dan was not on Orochimaru's side; he could not agree with Orochimaru's philosophy that power is everything.
Seeing Dan's silence, Jiraiya understood that even more than Madara, Orochimaru wanted Ryou.
Either it was his Forbidden Jutsu, or it was his talent.
He said: "We really need to control Orochimaru!"
The Third Hokage sighed. He had never been able to see through Orochimaru; sometimes he really felt like he was a venomous snake, ready to replay the story of the Farmer and the Viper at any moment.
The Third Hokage stopped focusing on the inscrutable Orochimaru and asked about Hashirama's whereabouts: "Is the First Hokage also at Ryūchi Cave?"
Kato Dan shook his head: "No, the First Hokage is not at Ryūchi Cave. He is in Shikkotsu Forest. The Second Hokage said he is practicing a Ninjutsu that can counter Madara."
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts jolted. A Ninjutsu that could deal with Uchiha Madara.
Excellent. With the First Hokage taking action, everything is now secure.
It was not without reason that Hashirama was hailed as the God of Shinobi; he pacified the Sengoku era and established the foundation of the Five Great Nations.
The high-ranking officials of the Shinobi Allied Forces all believed that only Hashirama could deal with Madara.
Kato Dan said: "Third Hokage-sama, time is up. I must leave this place to report back to the Second Hokage!"
The Third Hokage nodded.
Jiraiya said to Kato Dan: "Dan, give Orochimaru a message for me. If we are all defeated, even if he can achieve Possession of Ryou's body, it will all be for naught."
Kato Dan nodded: "I will deliver your words."
Kato Dan then transformed into a streak of white light and moved toward the direction of the main body.
The battle above the great river was quickly decided as Minato broke through the Magnet Release blockade of the Third and Fourth Kazekage.
A flying stone flew toward Sasori like a cold light; that stone bore a Flying Thunder God Ritual Formula.
Because Minato's Flying Thunder God Kunai were made of steel and were countered by Magnet Release, Minato had carved the Flying Thunder God Ritual Formula onto stones instead.
In the heat of battle, he found the right moment to throw the stone. With the help of the Flying Thunder God, Minato also broke through the joint blockade of the two Kazekage and drew close to Sasori.
A blue Rasengan condensed in his hand, aimed directly at Sasori's small head.
If it struck, Sasori would die.
But Minato did not strike.
"..."
After a brief silence, Minato dispelled the Rasengan above Sasori's head and turned to walk back toward the Shinobi Allied Forces.
His back was completely undefended, yet Sasori did not continue to attack Minato.
Fish Ball grew anxious upon seeing this and plotted loudly: "Sasori, what are you doing? Hurry up and ambush him!"
Sasori ignored Fish Ball. He still had plenty of chakra and could continue fighting, but Minato's thrust just now had already declared Sasori's defeat.
Sasori was a deviant, but as a powerhouse, he also had his dignity.
A loss was a loss; one must accept their own failure.
Minato Namikaze—what a man, Minato Namikaze. You won brilliantly; you won beautifully.