At that moment, all eyes turned toward the glowing screen at the center of the celestial chamber.
Tension hung in the air like mist before a storm.
The Roundtable of Hokage, gathered across timelines and legacies, fell silent. No quips from Kakashi. No chuckles from Hashirama. No growls from Tobirama. Just quiet anticipation as the chat group system prepared to unveil the quarterly world rankings.
No one needed to say it aloud. Every single one of them wanted the top spot.
Even second or third place would be a worthy badge of honor, proof that their world was growing, that their leadership mattered. For three months, they'd thrown themselves into governance, reform, military readiness, and spiritual stability. Some worlds had expanded their borders. Others had bolstered their shinobi forces or refined chakra control tech.
This was no longer a game of brute force. It was about whose world could thrive under pressure and evolve.
Tobirama, ever methodical, had dedicated every hour to dissecting dimensional anomalies, automating village systems, and advancing sealing arts. His pride wasn't in medals or parades. It was in the silent machinery of progress.
Hashirama, less concerned with structure, had doubled down on diplomacy, bringing rebel-like clans into the fold, restoring forests, and healing and treating the land itself with his unique Wood Release.
Even those less inclined toward administration had risen to the challenge. Naruto had taken his job as Hokage seriously, shadow-cloning himself through endless council meetings, rebuilding bridges (literal and metaphorical), and somehow still finding time for Himawari's tea parties. They'd all fought hard.
Now, it was time to see who had won.
A low chime rang out. The screen flickered. And then: [First Place: Fourth Hokage Ryan's World]
A heavy silence followed.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Hashirama groaned, slapping a palm to his forehead. "Again?!"
Tsunade shook her head, lips twitching into a dry smile. "Well, I was planning to celebrate tonight. Guess I'll just drink."
"Not even surprised anymore." Kakashi closed his book, an actual one this time, not Icha Icha. "Still stings, though."
Minato chuckled, though it was tight. "I pushed the sealing research division to the limit... thought we finally had a shot."
Naruto let out a dramatic wail, throwing his hands in the air. "I literally installed ramen subsidies across every district! Doesn't that count for something?!"
"Apparently not enough," Sasuke muttered from his seat, arms crossed and expression unreadable.
Obito scoffed. "At this rate, we might as well rename this whole event Ryan's World Rankings."
Despite the complaints, no one looked truly surprised. Ryan's World had become the gold standard. His nation had order, innovation, stability, and force. The entire system seemed to move with frightening efficiency.
And while the others respected that, albeit begrudgingly, they couldn't deny the frustration.
Tobirama's jaw tightened. "I've modernized infrastructure, recalibrated our spatial networks, tripled efficiency on mission protocols. Still not enough?"
Even Madara looked displeased, his arms resting on the table with forced calm. "Tch. It's one thing to dominate the battlefield. But to dominate civilization-building? Infuriating."
Tsunade, quietly observing until now, offered a thoughtful frown. "It's not just strength. Ryan understands how to cultivate order."
A curious voice broke the silence. Naruto, ever the loudest even when quiet, asked, "Is he really that unbeatable?"
Minato glanced sideways at his son, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "You're asking that now, after knowing him ?"
All eyes turned to Tsunade, who gave a rueful snort.
"I fought him," she muttered. "Didn't even dent his defenses."
"You mean he countered you?" Minato asked.
"No," Tsunade replied flatly. "He just stood there. Took everything. Didn't move. I was the one who tapped out."
A stunned silence fell.
Ryan hadn't even needed to retaliate. His presence alone had nullified her assault. And that wasn't just strength. That was dominion.
"I was there," Kakashi said quietly. "The whole place trembled when Tsunade struck... and Ryan didn't even flinch."
"He's like a wall," Naruto muttered. "Except worse, because walls break eventually."
Hashirama scratched his head and then leaned toward Tobirama. "Maybe you should invent something that breaks the laws of reality next. Might even the odds."
Tobirama didn't smile, but his eyes gleamed faintly. "Already halfway there."
Still, no one was giving up. Not a single one of them.
Their pride wouldn't allow it. Not when the rankings were a reflection not just of strength but of legacy.
As the system began to load the names of second and third place, the room stirred again.
Chairs creaked. Eyes sharpened. Spines straightened.
Because no matter how many times Ryan claimed first, the others would keep fighting.
Keep innovating. Keep building.
First place wasn't the end. It was just the next objective.
No one said anything. Not because they lacked words, but because there were no words. Not for this.
Even in something beyond raw strength, they couldn't keep up.
Ryan had outpaced them all. Again.
And it wasn't just about battle prowess anymore. It was about leadership, development, and vision. The kind of strength that built civilizations and held them together.
Several eyes turned toward Tobirama.
If there was anyone who could potentially close the gap, maybe even surpass Ryan in time, it would be the Second Hokage. Methodical, ruthless, visionary. His world still had room to grow, but it was promising. He was, perhaps, their best hope.
There might still be variables at play.
A few quiet conversations circled the table. Nothing formal, just murmured assessments and muttered complaints. Eventually, the rest calmed down. They were waiting now for the next results to appear.
After all, not everyone could be first.
But there was still a second. Still third. And those mattered.
The top three came with substantial rewards. Not as grand as first place, of course, but still valuable. Recognition, rare resources, even cross-world influence.
For some, that was more than enough.
Excitement began to flicker again as anticipation took root. Two spots remained.
Who would claim them?
The air felt thick with hope and the weight of expectations.
Naruto leaned forward, eyes lit with curiosity. "That's right! Let's get to it already!"
He slapped the table, unable to hold back his energy. "I wanna see how much my world's caught up!"
He grinned, but there was something sharp underneath the enthusiasm. He'd worked hard. Really hard. And though he was loud about it, the desire to measure himself, to close the gap between his world and Ryan's, was genuine.
"If I can see the difference," he added, "I can fix it."
Tsunade gave him a look. "Assuming you pay attention this time."
"Hey, I took notes!" Naruto protested. "Shadow clones can multitask!"
"Sure," Kakashi murmured behind his book. "Until they poof in the middle of a budget meeting."
Naruto ignored him, already focusing back on the screen.
Maybe next time, he thought, I'll be the one in first.
Meanwhile, Ryan leaned back in his seat, a subtle smirk tugging at his lips.
"First place again."
The thought settled into his mind with a pleasant warmth. It wasn't just a title. It was proof. That every move he'd made, every decision, had paid off.
The grand prize always came with surprises. And he had no intention of missing out this time, either.
He glanced toward the glowing curtain as the system chimed in once more.
[Do you want to display your world progression?]
The voice of the system echoed clearly across the chamber.
Ryan didn't even hesitate. He nodded once, his tone calm, decisive.
"Go ahead. Display it."
The moment the words left his mouth, the curtain flared to life.
Brilliant light swept across the room as the screen began its transformation. The others leaned in, some curious, others wary. All of them focused.
[Commencing World Progression Display]
[Countdown Initiated: 3... 2... 1...]
[World Progression Display: BEGIN!]
The visuals shimmered, revealing the inner workings of Ryan's world. It was like watching a documentary and a revolution rolled into one.
[Upon returning from the chat group, the Fourth Hokage prioritized technological advancement above all else.]
[Scientific divisions were granted unrestricted access to interdimensional samples.]
[Using resources acquired from alternate timelines, Ryan provided researchers with unprecedented tools and relics.]
[Thanks to the Kokugan, vast amounts of data and artifacts were transported without damage.]
The Hokage leaned in, some with narrowed eyes, others already scribbling mental notes.
"Interdimensional tech development," Tobirama muttered, eyes sharp. "He's weaponized the Kokugan for infrastructure."
Minato gave a thoughtful hum. "Not just weaponized. He's turned it into a foundation for progress."
Obito scowled slightly. "Figures. Give Ryan a divine dōjutsu, and he builds a better postal system."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, he gave everything to his science division? Even the rare loot from the other timelines?!"
"He's investing in his world's future," Kakashi said calmly, finally closing his book. "Smart move. Annoyingly smart."
Ryan, for his part, said nothing. His gaze fixed on the glowing curtain, arms folded, expression unreadable. But there was a quiet pride there. The kind that didn't need words.
The world he'd built was blooming with progress, cities floating on chakra grids, barrier systems powered by clean energy, shinobi working alongside scholars, and sealing arrays integrated into public utilities.
It wasn't just strong.
It was stable. Efficient. Alive.
And for the Hokage at the table... that was perhaps the most intimidating kind of power.
But even so, none of them were discouraged.
Not entirely. Because the show wasn't over yet. And second and third place were still up for grabs.
---
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