Tsuande sighed once again, there really didn't seem to be a good option here. Unleashing a third giant felt like playing with fire. So far the village had been lucky enough to survive, but could it really stay that lucky?

On the other hand she had to consider her role as Hokage. There was the possible risk of a ninja from another village starting to grow, one that would be less sympathetic to Leaf. That was a terrifying thought unto itself. There could be no doubt that by this point other villages, at least if they survived to this point, were looking in to creating their own giants. She had to grow someone who could take control of the situation, and that would be restrained enough to protect the village until she could finally come up with a solution.

Based on the gathered ninja, she really only had one option. "Shikamaru, I'm putting the trust of the entire village, if not world, in you. Do whatever it takes to get the others to stop growing and hold still until I find a way to reverse the process, and be careful to guard yourself so you don't get lost to this as well."

Kiba looked ready to protest, but Tsuande shot him a glare that shut it down. He was to wild, uncontrolled for what she needed here. In fact she was even tempted to wait until one of the Jounin like Kakashi or Genma could be found, but the risks in that seemed likewise high.

What the Hokage didn't know is that she wasn't the only one planning a response. Someone else was eying the growth chemical Tsuande held. She stepped towards Shikamaru...