As the thought crossed everyone's minds, the reward session was about to begin.
The Hokages' expressions noticeably brightened as a wave of anticipation swept through the room. Excitement buzzed in the air, yet no one spoke in haste. Instead, they remained seated, their gazes fixed on the central screen in the middle of the room.
The silence was filled with unspoken curiosity. What would the chat group reward them with this time? Since the inception of the chat group, each reward had been nothing short of spectacular, exceeding their expectations and leaving them thoroughly satisfied.
No one doubted that this time would be any different. If anything, the rewards seemed to improve with every round. And now, with their accomplishments reaching new heights, there was no telling how incredible this next reward would be.
For the moment, the room was still. The voice of the chat group had yet to announce itself, leaving the Hokages murmuring among themselves, unable to contain their excitement.
"Practical? Hmph." Madara's scoff drew their attention. "If these rewards are anything less than extraordinary, it would insult my capabilities." He leaned back, his arms resting casually, though his purple Rinnegan flickered with anticipation.
Hashirama chuckled, clapping a hand on Madara's shoulder. "Madara, you're always so serious! Lighten up a little—it's supposed to be fun! Besides, haven't you been racking up points like crazy too? I bet you'll get something great!"
"Fun?" Madara muttered, shooting Hashirama a sidelong glare. "You're too easily amused, Hashirama. This is about power and potential, not some... game."
"Power and fun," Naruto interjected, grinning wide. "I mean, come on, why can't it be both? We've all been working hard, so we deserve something cool! Like—maybe a giant Rasenshuriken launcher!" He laughed, imagining it.
"A Rasenshuriken launcher?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his book still in hand. "Creative, but maybe aim for something a bit... less destructive, Naruto. Or at least something that doesn't blow up half the village."
Naruto pouted, crossing his arms. "You're no fun, Kakashi-sensei. I bet you're just hoping for some boring new smut book or something."
The conversation was alive with optimism and anticipation, but it was cut short by the sudden, familiar chime. The voice of the chat group finally echoed throughout the room.
[Ding! Reward Settlement Completed!]
[Announcing Rankings...]
[First Place: Fourth Hokage Ryan's World!]
[Analyzing World Strength Score...]
[The evaluated strength score of the first-place world: 2500 points.]
[Classification: Second-Level World.]
[Activating Secondary World Tier Reward Pool...]
[Drawing Rewards...]
[Congratulations! The top world has set a new benchmark for excellence. Keep striving for greatness!]
The room erupted with excitement as the announcement rolled in. It was exactly what they had hoped for—a reward drawn from the prestigious secondary world tier.
Ryan, sitting at the forefront, rubbed his hands together with a mix of anticipation and glee. His gaze never left the screen.
"This is it," he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with eager expectation. "This reward better be worth the wait."
Everyone shared his enthusiasm. The room brimmed with eager energy, every Hokage leaning forward, their collective gaze fixed on the screen as they awaited the outcome of the draw.
Finally, Ryan's reward materializes on the central screen.
[Ding!]
[Rank 1 Achieved: Fourth Hokage Ryan's World!]
[Reward Pool Unlocked!]
[Optional Rewards Available: Choose Three Out of Five.]
Kokugan
Sukunahikona
Daikokuten
[A Random Bloodline]: Unlock the latent potential of an uncharted bloodline. Destiny awaits in this roll of the dice.
[A Random Stand-in Ability]: Gain a mysterious power from another world—a strength unknown until chosen.
[Make Your Selection Wisely!]
[Timer: Selections Must Be Finalized Within 120 Seconds.]
The room erupted into a flurry of chatter as the rewards were displayed.
Tobirama's sharp eyes narrowed as he stared at the glowing text floating before them. "What kind of rewards are these?" he muttered, his voice laced with curiosity and skepticism.
Madara's crimson eyes glimmered with intrigue as he studied the list of rewards projected before them. "The first reward is the Kokugan," he mused, his voice calm but brimming with authority. "It must be an evolution of Rinnegan, one that surpasses even the standard Rinnegan. If these rewards are structured as they seem, the next two must be abilities inherently tied to it."
Tobirama, standing rigid with his arms crossed, scoffed slightly. "You mean Sukunahikona and Daikokuten. Both seem dangerously potent, and their connection to the Rinnegan is unmistakable."
Obito tilted his head slightly, his Rinnegan scanning the list. "That ability name..." he began, voice low and thoughtful. "It sounds familiar. Something about it reminds me of that guy from Ōtsutsuki clan in Naruto's world."
Tsunade crossed her arms, golden eyes narrowing as she considered the possibilities. "Those Ōtsutsuki freaks? It wouldn't surprise me. Their powers always bordered on the absurd. If these rewards are tied to them..." She let the thought hang ominously.
The Hokages debated among themselves, their voices filled with both curiosity and astonishment. While the exact details eluded some, their collective knowledge of the Ōtsutsuki clan's powers lent them a sense of recognition.
For those who had faced the Ōtsutsuki or studied their abilities, the connection was clear. These rewards bore the unmistakable marks of their alien techniques, unparalleled in power and potential.
Meanwhile, Ryan's excitement was palpable. He leaned forward, his eyes glued to the screen, a grin spreading across his face.
"This is unreal," he muttered, his voice rising with enthusiasm. "Exactly what I wanted—no, what I needed!"
He recalled his past battles, especially his one-on-one encounter with an Ōtsutsuki. That clash had left a deep impression on him. The raw power, the unique techniques—it was an experience he had wanted to replicate ever since.
And now, the chance was here.
Ryan scanned the options, his decision practically made before he'd even begun. The last two—A Random Bloodline and A Random Stand-in Ability—held no appeal for him. Compared to the powers associated with the Ōtsutsuki, these options were insignificant.
"Forget the random stuff," Ryan said confidently. "It's the first three that matter—these are the real prizes!"
The first three options—Kokugan, Sukunahikona, and Daikokuten—perfectly aligned with what he needed. Each carried immense potential, granting abilities that could reshape the battlefield entirely.
With no hesitation, Ryan made his choice.
"Ōtsutsuki Issiki's abilities in my hands? This is going to be legendary," he declared, his grin widening. His anticipation for the battles to come was almost as thrilling as the rewards themselves.
The abilities of the Ōtsutsuki clan were undeniably impressive. Even though Ryan had defeated one of their members with ease, that only highlighted the individual's lack of skill, not the weakness of their powers. The defeated Ōtsutsuki's abilities were exceptionally potent—arguably more powerful than some of the other abilities Ryan had already acquired.
At this point, Ryan had amassed an arsenal of formidable techniques. For instance, he possessed Kaguya's abilities, which required no introduction. Among her skills was the power to traverse dimensions effortlessly—a capability that alone placed her strength among the very best.
Then there was the Momoshiki's ability, which granted the power to absorb both ninjutsu and chakra. Not only could Ryan easily nullify his enemies' attacks, but he could also re-release the absorbed energy, turning their strength against them. It was a perfect blend of offense and defense.
However, the abilities of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki—surpassed even these. Unlike Momoshiki's straightforward absorption and redirection, Isshiki's dojutsu was far more refined and versatile.
Isshiki's abilities centered around control over matter itself. He could shrink any inanimate object released by his opponents, effectively nullifying their attacks before they could pose a threat. These shrunken objects were then stored in a personal dimension—Daikokuten—allowing Isshiki to retrieve and deploy them at will.
From a tactical standpoint, this gave him unparalleled dominance. Imagine shrinking a massive boulder in the middle of a battle, storing it away, and then hurling it back at an unsuspecting opponent when the time was right. The sheer flexibility and lethality of this ability were unmatched.
Additionally, Isshiki's power extended beyond shrinking objects; he could enlarge or reduce them at will, granting him a god-like presence in combat. The ability to reshape the battlefield and manipulate objects so freely elevated his techniques to a level beyond anything Ryan had encountered before.
Ryan couldn't hide his excitement. This was the kind of power he thrived on—the kind of ability that turned battles into playgrounds for his skill and strategy.
"Now this," Ryan muttered, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction, "this is a real game-changer."
He had already proven himself a cut above most opponents. With Isshiki's abilities added to his arsenal, he was ready to dominate at an entirely new level. Every new power he acquired was another step toward absolute mastery—and Ryan had no intention of slowing down.
At this moment, Ryan carefully examined the details of his newly acquired abilities, each more astonishing than the last.
First Ability: Sukunahikona
The name might seem cryptic at first, but its purpose was clear—it was the foundation of an incredible power. Sukunahikona allowed Ryan to shrink anything non-living within his line of sight. Whether it was a massive structure or a simple tool, if his eyes could see it, he could shrink it.
Moreover, the ability wasn't limited to objects; Ryan himself could shrink to a minuscule size, offering incredible versatility in both combat and reconnaissance. Restoring anything that had been shrunk was just as seamless—it could be done in an instant.
Second Ability: Daikokuten
This was perhaps the most fascinating of the three. Daikokuten granted Ryan access to a mysterious, pocket-dimensional space where anything he had shrunk could be stored. The unique aspect of this space was that time stood still within it. Items stored there would remain in the exact state they were in when they were first placed, making them perfect for preserving materials, weapons, or even enemy attacks.
The potential applications of this ability in battle were staggering. Imagine being able to release an opponent's attack back at them, multiplied by surprise and precision. Or summoning a barrage of objects stored beforehand to overwhelm an enemy.
It wasn't just a utility skill—it was a weapon, a shield, and a tactical advantage all rolled into one.
Kokugan
This was, without question, the crown jewel of his rewards. Unlike the traditional Rinnegan with its purple hue, the Kokugan was unique, adorned with intricate patterns that radiated an aura of mystery and authority.
These Kokugan weren't just for show—they were the key to unlocking and utilizing the divine techniques granted by his other powers. They exuded power, setting him apart from any other wielder of the Rinnegan.
Ryan could barely contain his excitement. "This is insane… Everything I could have hoped for and more," he muttered, his voice tinged with awe.
His original strength was already immense—bordering on invincible. His endurance and power were nearly unmatched, and his immortality made him a formidable force on any battlefield. But now, with these three abilities added to his repertoire, his status had been elevated to an entirely new level.
The room fell silent as the other Hokages watched him with a mix of envy and admiration. They could see the raw potential of these abilities, and it only emphasized the gap between Ryan and themselves.
"Someday," Madara muttered, almost to themselves, "my Rinnegan will reach that level too."
Ryan, however, was already lost in thought, considering the infinite possibilities now at his fingertips. With a confident grin, he confirmed his choices, sealing his place as an unparalleled force in the ninja world.