The score for Ryan's world this time was undeniably record-breaking, and it brought with it some exciting news. This achievement means that everyone's rewards will be drawn from the second-tier world prize pool, which is superior to the first-tier rewards. The Hokages were visibly thrilled.
"Finally, the second-tier prize pool!" Obito exclaimed.
"Not surprising, right?" Kakashi chimed in. "A world's strength can only rise, after all. If we face anything world destroying we can always ask for help."
Everyone nodded in agreement, eager to see what rewards they might draw. At this point, drawing their prizes was the most important thing on their minds—far more significant than rankings and scores. Of course, the chat group's rules wouldn't change, and the announcement of ranking was next up.
A hush fell over the group as the rankings began to be revealed. Everyone held their breath, anxiously awaiting the announcement of second place. Even Naruto, Hashirama, and Tobirama felt a twinge of nervousness; with how quickly their worlds had been progressing, second place could very well belong to one of them.
There's no doubt about it—while it might not be as good as first place, where you can select three rewards, getting to choose two rewards is still pretty impressive! With the right choices, those two rewards could significantly boost their strength, possibly even to the point of a rapid and profound transformation. It's not out of the question.
Soon, the chat group's voice echoed with the results.
[Selection completed!]
[Second Place: Second Hokage Tobirama's World!]
Madara's eyes widened as the score was revealed. "Tobirama?! Has he progressed this fast?"
Hashirama chuckled, shaking his head in mild disbelief. "It's hard to believe, even for me. My brother's always been a genius, but this rate of progress... it's almost unbelievable!"
Tsunade crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "I guess that's what happens when you mix an obsession with technology and a mind like Grandpa's. Still, even I didn't expect him to come this far so quickly."
The announcement of second place left everyone in the room stunned. No one had expected Tobirama's world to claim this spot. Was it even reasonable?
After all, in the previous ranking, Naruto's world had secured second place. At that time, Naruto's impressive debut had left a strong impression on everyone. Many had a gut feeling that Naruto's world might take second place again, given how difficult it was to catch up in such a short time.
But now, Tobirama's world had emerged as the dark horse, defying all expectations.
No one saw this coming. Tobirama had accomplished something truly extraordinary, yet he remained composed, his expression as calm and measured as ever.
"So it's my world?" he remarked, almost nonchalantly. "Not surprising. I have developed a lot of technology, after all."
Though slightly surprised by the ranking, Tobirama's reaction was far less exaggerated than that of the others.
[Would you like to showcase your world's power?] the chat group inquired.
Without hesitation, Tobirama responded, "Go ahead. Show the world's strength."
As his voice trailed off, the chat group began to display the technological advancements of his world.
[During this period, your primary focus has been on technology.]
[Not only have you urged your scientific teams to push the boundaries of technological development, but you've also contributed significantly to these advancements yourself.]
[Your world's rapid progress is a testament to these efforts.]
As they read this, the other Hokages began to understand, nodding in agreement.
Minato nodded in agreement. "That makes sense!"
Obito chimed in, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Exactly! That's how it should be."
Hashirama added with a grin, "No wonder Tobirama's world has progressed so quickly! It's all about technological development."
Madara, with a hint of frustration, muttered, "Ryan has been saying for a while that advancing technology is highly effective."
Glasses Tsunade sighed, shaking her head. "It's a shame I didn't focus on it sooner. When I return, I need to make sure Orochimaru takes technology research seriously. If I had, maybe I'd be in second place right now."
The Hokages exchanged thoughts, realizing the potential they'd overlooked.
Tobirama's reliance on technology to secure second place was met with general acceptance. No one was surprised by the outcome, and for good reason. Among all the Hokages present, Tobirama's talent in research and development was unmatched. The others combined couldn't hold a candle to his capabilities. After all, Tobirama was a ninja who pioneered many advancements on his own. His passion and confidence in this field were unparalleled.
It could be said that, in the history of the Hokage world, Tobirama holds the title of the most scientifically adept shinobi. Few could rival him in this regard.
[After Kumo attacked Konoha, you retaliated decisively, forcing Kumo to submit. As a result, they quickly agreed to join the unified ninja world, bringing about peace.]
As they read this, the other Hokages nodded in agreement. Tobirama's success in unifying the ninja world had undoubtedly earned his world a significant boost in points. After all, in their eyes, one of the most crucial aspects of the current world rankings was the unification of the ninja world and the establishment of lasting peace. The difference in scores between a unified world and one still divided was substantial, and everyone was keenly aware of this.
With this in mind, they all understood why Tobirama had secured second place. It was a well-deserved achievement, and no one had any objections to the ranking. One by one, they offered their congratulations to Tobirama.
""Congratulations, Grandpa!"" Both Tsunade exclaimed, their voice full of pride.
"Yeah, Second Hokage! Well done this time!" Minato added with a nod of approval.
"As expected of my younger brother!" Hashirama continued a broad smile on his face.
Obito nodded in agreement. "Ryan's been saying for a while that technological advancement is key. It's a shame I didn't put more emphasis on it. If I had, maybe I'd be in second place right now."
The praises came one after another, and Tobirama couldn't help but look away at the compliments.
"Oh, it's nothing really. Let's not make too much of it," he replied, trying to downplay his accomplishment.
[With your ninja world fully at peace,] the chat group continued, [it has entered a phase of rapid development. Your previous technological advancements have played a crucial role, allowing your world to progress by leaps and bounds.]
[However, hidden dangers remain. Uchiha Madara has begun to notice Konoha's rise.]
Reading the chat group's description, everyone understood that while Tobirama's world had made incredible strides, there were still significant challenges ahead. The journey to complete stability and security was far from over.
"Looks like there's still a lot of work to be done," Sasuke muttered, recognizing that despite the progress, Tobirama's world still faced considerable threats, particularly from Madara.
Uchiha Madara's disruptive phase would certainly occupy him for some time. However, given the current strength of Tobirama's world and its rapid development, it seemed unlikely that Madara could significantly alter the balance of power.
After the display of Tobirama's world power, everyone eagerly awaited the final score, curious to see how well his world had fared.
At that moment, the screen revealed the current national strength score of Tobirama's world.
[Second Hokage Tobirama's world national strength is displayed.]
[Final national strength score: 1700 points!]
This was an exceptionally high score. If this score had been achieved in the previous meeting, it would have undoubtedly secured the second place. Compared to the score of Naruto's world when it first joined, this was an impressive 200-point increase. An outstanding achievement indeed!