The Great Hall of Minas Tirith echoed with the somber mood of the gathered company. At the head of the table stood Gandalf, his face etched with concern. Around him, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Éomer, Liv, David, Haldir, and the Leaf Shinobi—Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, Sai, Ino, Shikamaru, Temari, Rock Lee, Neji, Tenten, Tsunade, Itachi, Kiba, Shino, and Choji—stood in tense silence, their eyes fixed upon the wizard as he spoke.

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," Gandalf said, his voice heavy with worry. "The darkness is deepening."

Aragorn stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it. He would not have remained silent."

Gandalf's gaze hardened. "It is not Sauron himself we must fear, but the armies he commands. The Ring may be lost, but the war is far from over. It is only a matter of time before he regroups and strikes again."

"He's suffered defeat, yes," Gandalf continued, his voice grim. "But behind the walls of Mordor, our enemy is regrouping, building strength once more. The Ring is lost, but Sauron's will is not."

Liv spoke up, her voice resolute. "Which is why we need more fighters. We cannot stand idle while our enemies gather their strength."

Gimli crossed his arms, his voice laced with bitterness. "Let him stay there. Let him rot. Why should we care what happens to him now?"

"Because ten thousand Orcs stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," Gandalf replied sharply, his eyes narrowing. "If we do not act, Frodo's mission will fail. And we will all be doomed."

"I've sent him to his death," Gandalf admitted, his voice thick with regret.

The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled over them. Gimli's jaw tightened as he thought on Gandalf's confession, but before he could respond, Shikamaru, who had been leaning lazily against the wall, spoke with a weary sigh.

"God, this is such a drag. I could be playing shogi right now," he muttered, clearly uninterested in the dire conversation unfolding before him.

"Shikamaru, not now," Temari scolded, her arms crossed and a disapproving frown on her face.

Liv, balancing Gabby in one arm while keeping an eye on Lily, shot Shikamaru a look. "She's right. Don't kill the vibe."

"The vibe is already dead, Liv," Sasuke remarked dryly, his eyes fixed on Gandalf.

Aragorn turned to them, his gaze unwavering. "No," he said firmly. "There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time. He needs safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

Gimli, who had been puffing his pipe, choked slightly. "And how, exactly, do you propose we do that? We can't exactly just waltz into Mordor."

Aragorn's expression hardened as he spoke. "We do not achieve victory by strength of arms alone, Gimli. We draw Sauron's forces to us. We empty his lands, force him to focus his attention on us. While he is blind to Frodo's movements, we can give him the time he needs."

Éomer stepped forward, his brow furrowing. "You cannot be serious. We would march right into the jaws of Mordor itself."

"Not for ourselves," Aragorn clarified. "But for Frodo. If we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us, if we keep him focused on our movements, we may just give Frodo the chance he needs."

Legolas, standing tall beside Aragorn, turned to him thoughtfully. "A diversion," he said quietly, understanding the strategy.

"We can stop them together," Sakura added, her voice filled with confidence. "Our combined strength should be enough to turn the tide in our favor."

Liv nodded. "Exactly. Together, we stand a better chance."

Shikamaru, who had been absentmindedly toying with his kunai, raised an eyebrow. "And the diversion? That'll be me, right?"

Aragorn nodded. "Yes, Shikamaru. Your skills in strategy and misdirection will be crucial."

Legolas turned to Liv, his brow raised in mild disbelief. "Does he know what he's talking about?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge of skepticism.

Liv smiled, her confidence unwavering. "Trust me, Shikamaru has some of the best analytical skills in the Hidden Leaf Village. If anyone can lead this plan, it's him."

Gimli chuckled darkly. "Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" He took another long pull from his pipe, clearly ready for action.

Gandalf, ever the pragmatist, was quick to caution, "Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait so easily."

"Oh, I think he will," Aragorn said with quiet confidence. "He knows he must crush all resistance if he is to claim the power he seeks. We will give him no other choice but to focus on us."

Sasuke, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, regarded the room with an unreadable expression. "If we fail, it will cost us everything," he murmured, his voice low but steady.

"Failure is not an option," Tsunade said, her gaze sharp and commanding. "We fight to the end, and we give Frodo the chance he needs."

Hinata, standing beside Naruto, clenched her fists. "We will not let him fail. We will do whatever it takes."

Naruto, always the optimist, grinned. "That's right! We're not just going to stand around while Frodo is out there fighting alone!"

"Then it's decided," Gandalf said, his voice firm once more. "We prepare. We draw Sauron's forces out. We make our stand, and we give Frodo the chance he deserves. The path is perilous, but it is the only one left."

As the plan began to take shape, each member of the group began to understand their role. The Hidden Leaf Shinobi, with their incredible teamwork and tactics, would be instrumental in carrying out the diversion. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli would lead the charge on the battlefield, while Éomer and Haldir's warriors would bolster their ranks. The people of Minas Tirith, though few in number, would not be left behind in this final stand.

The hall was silent as each person contemplated the task ahead. There was no turning back now.