Ready Player Three

Margaret silently thought things through.

She had trained tirelessly, honing her skills to perfection. Just what were these players thinking?

She had finally acquired wood style, a rare and powerful Kekkei Genkai in this world, and had even developed much of Tsunade's techniques—including going as far as obtaining a never-before-seen custom Sage Mode.

Yet she wasn't being recognized as the best?!

Frustration simmered inside of her. She had worked harder than anyone else, so she believed.

How could they possibly think that she was weaker than Jasper?

She looked at Alice, who was smiling at her little boyfriend. He was strong, no doubt about it, but he lacked the raw power that Margaret possessed.

How could no one else have voted for her?

She felt a pang of jealousy. She had always been confident in her abilities, but now she was questioning everything.

Was she truly not the strongest player, or were the others just idiots? Maybe both.

Nevertheless, she wouldn't let their opinions dictate what she believed.

The last thing she wanted was to feel guilty, so she ran a finger through her red hair, accepting the idea that she wasn't the strongest in their eyes. At least for now.

"I'm still not convinced," Jada suddenly announced. This shocked Margaret for a second. "But before I explain my vote, Alex, why do you think Will's the strongest after saying you could fight a Sannin?"

"Haha," Alex laughed. "I guess I can explain."

He went on to say that while William didn't possess the innate genetic advantages of some of his peers, his exceptional chakra reserves did help compensate things.

Chakra was a vital resource in this world. The more of it a ninja had, the greater the likelihood that they would be able to survive a prolonged battle.

On top of this, William's perfection of the Shadow Clone technique allowed him to overwhelm opponents with sheer numbers and develop other techniques at an accelerated pace.

Some of the players were already equipped with Shadow Clones, but they lacked the necessary chakra reserves to produce the amount that William could. He was like a walking Naruto without the Nine-Tails!

Why Alex had voted for him was because of what William could become; not what he currently was.

"He does have the Rasengan, too," Margert remembered. "Tell us, Will, did you already learn the Rasenshuriken or get Toad Sage Mode?"

"Not quite," he stammered. "But I'm really close. Like really, really close!"

The Rasengan was the pinnacle of shape transformation. Unlike many techniques that rely on hand signs, this one didn't.

It was just a spherical shape, combined with its intense rotational force, to create a devastating impact upon contact.

As many knew, it was created by Minato after he studied the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Because of its versatility, it can be further enhanced by combining it with different nature types, such as wind or water, creating even more potent variations.

While perfecting the Rasengan requires exceptional chakra control, its potential for further development is immense. Users can increase its size, number, or even manipulate its shape to create more unique attacks.

Literally, it's what allows this world to flow.

"That can't be all that makes this twat strong," Jasper argued. "The dude lost to Sasuke in the exams, or did you all forget?"

"He caught my be surprise!" William defended.

"What surprise?" Jasper smirked. "The Sharingan? Yeah, that's one big surprise…"

Their bickering stopped when Margaret pointed out that William didn't deny having a Sage Mode. That made Jasper quiet down a little.

There was only one Sage Mode William could possess, and that was the same as Jiraiya's, Minato's, and Naruto's older self's—Toad Sage Mode.

Alex further added that while William may not possess the same level of genetic prowess as some, his knowledge of this world had allowed him to overcome challenges that many here wouldn't have been able to withstand. He was essentially walking in Naruto's shoes.

"Okay, fine," Jasper yielded. "The guy's strong, too… But I'm still not ranking him even close to number one."

"I… I'm okay with that, actually," William confessed.

"So," Margaret said, changing the topic. "Jada… Why do you think Alex is the strongest?"

Everyone hinted at the way she had asked that question. It was if she was suggesting a romantic interest.

"It's not like that!" Jada answered in protest.

Alex, calm and able to quell the situation, quieted the room by stating that Jada was her own person and had a fair right to dictate who she believed to be the best—it had nothing to do with romance.

Because of his bold statement, Margaret could have sworn she saw Jada blush for a second. Nonetheless, the latter went on to reveal why she voted for Alex.

"Him and I sparred a few times, and…" She paused.

"Go on," Jasper pressed.

"And I could never land a single hit."

She continued to describe Alex as a tactical genius with a near-perfect level of taijutsu that few could match. And that was without using his Byakugan.

It's one thing to perceive everyone's chakra pathway system, but it's another to hardly need it in a real fight.

William, who's faced Alex before in a friendly sparring match, went on to add that every time the two practiced, the latter would always strike vital points. It wouldn't matter if William saw it coming or not, Alex's attacks always landed.

Jasper laughed and confessed that was the same when he had also fought Alex.

"The dude's Gentle Fist is actually faster than mine," he complimented. "And that's with me using my Byakugan alongside my Eight Gates."

"You two fought before?" Margaret asked.

"I mean, we sleep in the same house, girl…"

"I bet he Gentle Fists you, then" she countered. Everyone laughed.

Truly, Alex wasn't a player worth making an enemy out of. Some felt sorry for Arthur, believing that he had chosen the wrong side.

It wasn't just that Alex had perfected every Hyūga technique known in his clan; he also had the ability to incapacitate his opponents with a single touch.

Even Hiashi, his own clan head, showed him an unnatural level of respect.

"What else does Alex have?" Alice wondered.

"Now, now," he said. "I'm just like you guys. Keep training and—"

"His chakra control is also crazy!" Jada interrupted.

This was true. Anyone able to manipulate seals, and not just any seal but Orochimaru's own curse mark, highlighted their intelligence.

Coupled with Alex's determination to better this world, it made him a force to be reckoned with. Practically everyone in the Leaf Village spoke about his brilliance.

"Guys," he said, trying to humble himself, "ya don't have to—"

"I'm changing my vote," William interrupted.

Alex finally caved at that. He remained calm and let them speak on his behalf. Perhaps he didn't think he was the strongest, but that wasn't going to change their opinion of him.

In the end, he had the highest number of votes, followed by Jasper and Margaret tied for second, Alice, William, and then Jada.

Everything had been taken into account, from their potential to what they could currently do.

They all agreed that although Jada had all the greatest perks from the Uchiha clan, her level of skill with them was too immature to be considered a threat to the other players.

Alice herself was often training with Jasper when she wasn't doing her own thing, to which he claimed that Alice was always able to keep up with him. That alone made her a frightening player. And to also be ranked above an Uchiha and an Uzumaki said a lot.

The meeting ended with a sense of purpose, but Margaret secretly disliked this ranking.

As for what she thought of Arthur, not once did she have the desire to mention his name. He had tricked her, played her for an idiot, and killed off some of her favourite characters.

If anything, she thought he was bold but also an ignoramus type of guy. Maybe the two would cross paths again. Should that ever happen, the odds would be in her favour for certain.

The next day, Margaret woke up with a late start.

The afternoon sun was already filtering through her blinds. She was in a daze after staying up all night engrossed in Jiraiya's infamous novel, "Make Out Paradise."

To her surprise, the book, although scandalous, was quite the read. Now she understood why it was so popular and why Kakashi liked it so much.

When she noticed that it was wide open by her bedside, she blushed and quickly closed it, tucking it away beneath her pillow.

The last thing she wanted was for her roommates to know that she was reading something not meant for children. After all, she was still eighteen.

Her attention was drawn to the kitchen outside. She knew what was likely waiting for her. Jada, ever the considerate roommate, had prepared a simple yet satisfying meal.

A warm sense of appreciation was felt by Margaret as she sat down to eat.

After this afternoon breakfast, she decided to indulge in a little pampering. The Leaf Village had a number of luxurious bathhouses, and she had been eager to return to them after their reconstruction finally ended.

Walking toward the most expensive one, she was greeted by many citizens who thanked her for her duties as a kunoichi. This was a common thing now considering she did help prevent the Hokage's death.

Upon checking in and entering the bath, she soaked in the warm, bubbly water, feeling a sense of contentment.

This was soothing.

About an hour later, she emerged from the bathhouse, refreshed and rejuvenated. Afterwards, she bumped into Jada near the hospital.

It was somewhat rare to spot another player in the Leaf. This village was huge, and everyone was always doing their own thing. Her friend seemed preoccupied with a serious expression on her face.

"Hey," Margaret greeted in a casual tone.

"Oh, hey," Jada replied, her attention still focused on something else. "I've got some news."

Margaret raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's up?"

"I've been offered a promotion to become a Chūnin," she revealed.

Margaret's jaw dropped as she exclaimed, "Seriously? That's excellent news!"

Jada nodded, saying, "But I turned it down. I'd feel more comfortable if I earned it in the exams."

Margaret was impressed by her commitment. She knew that Jada was capable of great things, and she was proud to call her a friend.

"Well, if you need any help with that or change your mind, just let me know," Margaret offered. "The elders really like me and would definitely reconsider you if I put in a good word."

Jada smiled gratefully and said, "Thanks; I might take you up on that if things go south."

It's then that she revealed an idea she'd been thinking of.

Itachi Uchiha was more or less on his way to the village. Because Orochimaru attacked the Leaf, Pain, Itachi's leader, allowed Itachi and Kisame to check up on the Nine-Tails. That's how the story was written from the original tale.

Margaret's heart skipped a beat when she discovered that Jada was planning to confront Itachi about being a double agent.

Itachi was a legend in this world, easily being the most favoured character by many fans.

"Did you tell anyone else about this?" Margaret asked.

"No," Jada answered. "Please keep it between you and me for now. I don't want anyone worrying for my safety."

Margaret tried to understand her, but Jada's mindset was a little too confusing. Instead, she decided to accompany her friend on a peaceful stride across the village to put her worries at ease.

"I guess I should mention that Kakashi-sense helped me figure out what my Mangekyō could do."

"Really?!" Margaret stopped. "Tell me more!"

Jada's Mangekyō Sharingan possesses an ability centered around teleportation and summoning.

Her right eye allows her to summon individuals whose names are spoken by others. This ability transcends dimensions and seals, making it a formidable tool in any situation.

However, this ability is contingent on the summoning target being aware of their name being spoken and possessing the freedom to accept or decline the summon.

Her left eye offers a similar ability but relies on written words rather than spoken ones. By inscribing a name on any surface, she can initiate the summoning process.

This provides an alternative method for summoning individuals, particularly in situations where speech is impossible or impractical.

When used in conjunction, both eyes grant her complete control over the summoning process. She can directly contact individuals without relying on someone else's assistance.

This ability comes with a significant drawback: the closure of one eyelid for the duration of the summon. This physical limitation reflects Jada's selfless nature, as she willingly sacrifices her own well-being to aid those in need.

"That's so flippin' cool!" Margaret said. "You're like a walking flying raijin now, huh?"

This made Jada laugh, so Margaret furthered things by asking her to summon Arthur.

"That's not how it works," her friend corrected. "It's a consent thing, so the person has to willingly accept the summon."

"What a bummer," she sighed, raising her arms over her head. "I would have loved to slug him down."

It's then that she understood why Jada was trying so hard in this game: her friend wanted to overwhelm Arthur with everything she had.

"Well," Margaret added, "just be sure you don't slack off on your training. It would suck if you got every cool technique but didn't use them right."

That almost felt like an insult, so Jada countered by asking her how her perverted reading was going. That made her run for the hills in sheer embarrassment, clearly regretting her recent comment.