Chapter 197

The chat group was alive with excitement as they watched the scoreboard. The numbers flickered and updated rapidly, revealing Tobirama's impressive standing.

"With a growth like this, it's no wonder Second Hokage ranks second in the world ranking!" Naruto exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Tsunade nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the broader implications. "This is the power of technological advancement. Grandpa's ability to innovate forbidden ninjutsu has always been remarkable, but seeing how it translates into such a large number of points is truly something."

Madara, who had been observing quietly, spoke up with a tone of contemplation. "It seems that when I return, I'll need to prioritize developing the technology in my world as well. The potential is undeniable, and if I'm to keep pace, I can't afford to ignore it."

Tobirama, who rarely showed emotion, allowed a small, satisfied smile to cross his lips. "Technology is a tool, but like any tool, its power lies in how you wield it. It's not just about the advancements themselves, but about applying them strategically."

"Absolutely!" Obito chimed in, his eyes fixed on the rapidly increasing numbers. "The score has increased at an impressive rate! It's a testament to his innovations and the systems he's put in place."

Hashirama, ever the idealist, couldn't help but chuckle. "I've always focused on the people, but maybe I've underestimated the impact of these innovations. Tobirama, you've shown us that there's more than one way to protect and strengthen our world."

Everyone nodded in agreement, acknowledging the rapid progress in Tobirama's world. It finally made them realize one crucial thing: technological development is essential.

Not only does it strengthen their world's defenses, but it also improves the overall quality of life. With each subsequent evaluation, the scores are bound to keep rising, thanks to these advancements.

The group was genuinely pleased with the results; it revealed a promising new path to dramatically increase their world's strength!

The most striking part was that Tobirama's world, which didn't even make the top three last time, had now skyrocketed to second place. It was a testament to how remarkable the technological advancement and unification of the world had an impact on rankings.

As for Tobirama himself, he remained as composed as ever. While his demeanor didn't show it, the past six months had been exhausting for him. Unlike the other Hokages, who didn't have to engage in research, Tobirama had been tirelessly working on several projects.

Tobirama was in a league of his own. He was the most accomplished scientific researcher in the entire world, and if he didn't handle the research himself, who would? On top of that, there were countless responsibilities he had to juggle as Hokage. Balancing these two demanding aspects meant he often had to rely on his Shadow Clones just to keep up with everything. The toll on him was significant, and the strain of managing it all was immense.

Once this round was over, Tobirama knew he needed to take a well-deserved break. The past six months had been incredibly taxing.

At that moment, the other Hokages looked at him with admiration. Hashirama even patted him on the shoulder, grinning.

"Brother! You're incredible! So, what's your next plan?"

Tobirama couldn't help but smile wryly. He knew his brother all too well—Hashirama wasn't one to concern himself with the details of governance. Tobirama could already guess that Hashirama typically left those matters to others. Even if Tobirama shared some of his strategies, they'd likely go unused. But he didn't voice these thoughts.

As Tobirama surveyed the progress his world had made, he felt a renewed sense of determination. The rapid development this time around had been impressive, and it served as a reminder to stay vigilant—because nothing else mattered as much as keeping up this momentum.

Last time, he didn't even make it into the top three, but now he has jumped to second place. His score has increased by hundreds of points! In comparison, although his world isn't ranked number one, the gap has closed.

From a progress standpoint, Ryan's rate of improvement isn't as fast as Tobirama's world. After this meeting, I need to be more vigilant and push for faster development in my world. Without a sense of urgency, it's possible someone could easily catch up next time, and that's not something he wants to see happen.

If I do get overtaken, it would mean that the efforts of the past six months haven't been as effective as they should have been. I'd rather avoid that outcome entirely.

As everyone was discussing, the voice of the chat group rang out again, and the screen in the center changed.

[Selection completed!]

[Third Place: Seventh Hokage Uzumaki Naruto's World!]

When Naruto saw that his world had taken third place, he finally let out a sigh of relief. It was too close for comfort. Luckily, he managed to stay in the top three this time; otherwise, it would've been embarrassing, especially considering he was in second place last time and scored 1500 points.

With such a high base score, if progress had been slow, it would have indicated a serious flaw in Naruto's governance. Fortunately, this score was proof enough that his world was moving forward steadily. Although he was caught up in Tobirama's world, his strong foundation meant there were still excellent opportunities ahead to secure a top ranking. Naruto reassured himself with this thought.

The others quickly offered their support.

As expected of Naruto! Well done!" Hashirama Senju exclaimed, his voice brimming with pride. "You've truly lived up to the legacy of our village!"

"Yeah, Naruto! Not bad at all!" Tsunade Senju added with a grin.

Minato, Naruto's father, and the Fourth Hokage, couldn't help but smile with deep pride. "You've done exceptionally well, Naruto. I always knew you had the potential to achieve great things, but seeing it unfold like this… I'm beyond proud. You've surpassed even my expectations."

Everyone was encouraging Naruto, recognizing his accomplishments. After all, Naruto was the youngest of them, both in age and in experience at the Hokage meetings. As the most recent addition, he still commanded a sense of grace and respect from the others.

At that moment, the voice of the chat group echoed once more.

[Do you want to display Wrold's Strength?]

Seeing the prompt on the screen, Naruto immediately chose to display the process. There was no reason to hide anything. With his confirmation, the chat group began showing the national power of Naruto's world.

[After the Hokage meeting, you returned to your world. You began special research and development in technology.]

[At the same time, you also gained valuable information from the chat group members and your father.]

Seeing these developments, no one was surprised. It seemed that Naruto's overall strategy was sound, following a path of normal and steady growth. With a strong foundation and continuous progress, achieving third place was entirely expected.

[In your world, however, the Ōtsutsuki clan launched an attack during the Chūnin Exams. You called for reinforcements and successfully averted the crisis.]

[Since the world has returned to the era of peace.]

As the Hokages read this description, they all nodded in understanding. They were well-acquainted with this particular event, having been involved themselves. When Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Kinshiki invaded Konoha, Naruto immediately called for help, and all of them responded, decisively defeating the Ōtsutsuki clan. During that time, they also observed the level of development in Naruto's world.

What caught everyone off guard was that the attack had occurred during the Chūnin Exams. The mention of the Chūnin Exams brought back memories for the group.

The Hokage chat group was quiet for a moment, the weight of past experiences hanging in the air, until Kakashi Hatake, the Third Hokage in this timeline, broke the silence with a weary sigh. "The Chūnin Exams always seem to bring trouble," he remarked, his voice tinged with the fatigue of someone who had seen too much.

The others nodded in agreement, each reflecting on their memories of the exams.

"Yeah, it's rarely peaceful during the exams," Tsunade Senju said, her tone resigned but not surprised. "There's always some unexpected challenge that turns everything upside down. It's like the exams are cursed to never go smoothly."

Madara Uchiha, with his characteristic intensity, couldn't help but smirk slightly. "Trouble follows strength. Konoha is strong, and that attracts challenges. The Chūnin Exams are just another battleground where we prove our strength."

Kakashi, appreciating the camaraderie despite the shared frustration, leaned back and chuckled softly. "Perhaps it's just the fate of our Konoha Village. At least we've learned to expect the unexpected."

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