Everyone eagerly awaited the ranking result, their hearts pounding excitedly and nervously. Whether they claimed the coveted first place or managed to secure a spot in the top three, it didn't matter much—they all knew it would be a monumental achievement. After all, the bonus points earned could be exchanged for some truly jaw-dropping rewards. Each participant silently hoped for a good ranking, their eyes glimmering with anticipation.
Suddenly, the chat group's system notification reverberated in their minds, the familiar authoritative voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
[Attention! Please take note!]
[This reward is based on the number of enemies defeated and their corresponding strength.]
[The top three will receive additional rewards!]
[First place will receive even more special prizes!]
As the rules were announced and the weight of the system's words settled over the group, the Hokage chat buzzed with animated discussion. The leaderboard gleamed tantalizingly in the background, but that didn't stop the group from bantering in their usual style.
Madara Uchiha, ever the prideful warrior, smirked. "So, it's just as we expected. Strength and the quality of your opponents determine rankings this time, too. A fitting way to separate the worthy from the weak."
Hashirama Senju chuckled warmly, attempting to ease the tension. "Madara, don't get too carried away. It's not always about strength—you still have to keep your head in the fight, you know!"
Tobirama Senju, ever the tactician, spoke with calm clarity. "The opponents we fought against really matter for this ranking. That makes strategy and preparation all the more important. If anyone simply rushed in, they'd pay the price."
Obito Uchiha, with his ever-present air of quiet contemplation, nodded in agreement. "It's true. This system isn't just about raw power—it rewards those who make careful decisions and take calculated risks. I like it. It's efficient."
Road-to-Shinobi Tsunade leaned back, a teasing grin playing on her lips. "Efficient? Sure. But if there's no bonus for entertainment value, then it's already flawed. Guess I'll have to take first place next time to fix that."
From his corner, Kakashi Hatake, the Goro Goro no Mi user, tilted his head thoughtfully. "It's just like in the One Punch Man world, right? Remember how rankings there also depended on public perception and the impact of your battles? This is kinda similar—just swap the crowd for the system's judgment."
Naruto, ever the optimist and the loudest in the room, jumped into the fray with a wide grin. "This system is actually pretty interesting! You gotta admit, it makes everything feel more real. Let's see who got the top spot—I bet I'm up there!"
Madara raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Let's hope your 'interesting' strategy wasn't just blind luck again, brat."
The group's chatter continued, their personalities shining through in every word, as their excitement and curiosity about the results built with each passing second.
Many voices chimed in, all filled with excitement. Among them, a few had a confident look in their eyes. They knew, deep down, that the opponents they faced were formidable, and they had battled more enemies than others. With such rules in place, they had a good chance of making it into the top three.
As they reflected on it, the anticipation only grew. They could already feel the rush of being recognized for their efforts. But then others couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
Despite understanding how the rewards would be distributed, they knew they hadn't fought as many enemies. The luck hadn't been on their side. While others had already dealt with most of the enemies, they had spent too much time searching for them. By the time they'd engaged, the battle had already been won.
As a result, they understood all too well: this time, they probably wouldn't be getting any high rewards.
Ryan's strength was undeniable to everyone. Time and time again, during other world missions, he had displayed a level of power that left no room for doubt. His dominance was evident, and everyone knew it well.
If, in the past, the question of who the strongest Hokage was sparked heated debates, there was no longer any need for discussion. It was clear, without question, that Ryan was the strongest of them all.
As the conversation around the room continued, the chat group chimed in with a new message.
[Next, the opponents Ryan faced will be revealed!]
At the sound of the prompt, the group fell into a tense silence. Every eye focused on the screen as anticipation crackled in the air. They all knew Ryan had taken on some of the most fearsome enemies imaginable, but now, they would see the full extent of his accomplishments.
Who exactly had Ryan defeated? And how many points were tied to those victories?
The system didn't keep them waiting.
[Ryan's opponents:]
Vengeful Spirits: Kuchisake-OnnaSpecial Grade Curse Spirits: Jogo, Mahito, HanamiExorcists: Gojo Satoru, Yuta Okkotsu
[Total value: 2 million points!]
The Hokage chat group fell silent, their collective shock tangible as they processed Ryan's mind-blowing feat. Two million points? The magnitude of it hung in the air like a thunderclap, leaving even the most composed members momentarily speechless. But that silence didn't last long.
Madara Uchiha's voice was the first to cut through the stillness, sharp and incredulous. "Two million?!" he barked, his tone laced with both disbelief and begrudging respect. "What kind of monsters did he face to rack up a total like that?"
Hashirama Senju, always quick to marvel, let out a booming laugh. "Two million points! Ryan must've taken on someone stronger than Boros!"
Tobirama frowned, his analytical mind already dissecting the announcement. "It's not just the number—it's the quality of the opponents. Special-grade spirits and top-tier jujutsu sorcerers like Gojo Satoru and Yuta Okkotsu... Even for someone as strong as Ryan, the difficulty of defeating them is staggering. This isn't a simple victory; it's a masterclass in strategy and strength."
Road-to-Shinobi Tsunade whistled low, leaning back in her chair with an amused grin. "I'll admit, I didn't think anyone could reach that kind of score. Two million points is practically unheard of. Even Saitama or Boros weren't worth that much."
Tsunade tilted her head thoughtfully, his calm demeanor barely masking his surprise. "It's not just about strength—it's about how he managed to take them all down without faltering. I'd like you guys to see how Ryan handled Gojo. That fight alone was something to behold."
Naruto, predictably, couldn't contain himself. "TWO MILLION POINTS?!!! That's nuts! Ryan, you're insane! What kinda training did you do to pull that off? I need tips! Teach me!"
The room buzzed with disbelief and excitement, their personalities clashing and mingling as they processed the staggering achievement. Even the typically stoic Madara allowed himself a faint smirk.
"Ryan…" he muttered under his breath, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "You might just be worth fighting someday."
Ryan had faced six enemies—each one more formidable than the last. This was unprecedented. Everyone recalled that, in the previous world, Ryan's total points had barely reached two million. But now? Just from the ranking rewards alone, the total had already hit that mark. It was as if the points were inflating at an alarming rate. This kind of number was unheard of, and it set a new, staggering precedent.
After the events of the One Punch Man world, where such over-the-top data had first appeared, no one could fathom this kind of difference. The points gap was so vast that it left no room for the others to even compete. The disparity would only grow larger and more absurd with time.
Ryan, however, remained calm. He hadn't expected the points to skyrocket to two million, but to him, it didn't feel like anything out of the ordinary. After all, he had defeated five powerful opponents—three special magic spirits and two elite Jujutsu Sorcerers. All of them were among the strongest entities in their respective worlds, their power at the peak of the strength spectrum. To defeat such opponents and earn these points? It made perfect sense.
While the others were still processing the overwhelming number, Ryan's thoughts turned inward. Deep down, he felt a surge of satisfaction. His points were steadily increasing, bringing him closer to his goal, faster than he had expected.
Ryan could feel it in his bones: it wouldn't be long before he gathered even more massive points. The path ahead was clearer now. The chat group system, it seemed, wasn't stingy at all. It rewarded strength, plain and simple. If you were strong enough, you earned what you deserved.
The two Tsunades, who had been by Ryan's side throughout the ordeal, were particularly shocked. They stood frozen, still trying to process the sheer scale of Ryan's points now.
---
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