As Tobirama's words echoed through the chat group, a chorus of laughter followed.
"Of course, it's you, Tobirama," Hashirama said with a grin, shaking his head. "When it comes to arrogance, no one does it quite like you, little brother."
Tobirama himself wasn't surprised by the result. After all, he had placed second last time, and his focus on research and technology had always been his strength. Not only had he employed several top-tier scientists to advance his world's development, but he'd also thrown himself into the work, dedicating countless hours to research.
Unlike some Hokage, who balanced their time between missions, governance, and family, Tobirama's life had been a relentless cycle of study and innovation. He had spent almost every waking moment in his office or laboratory, working tirelessly to improve his world. His commitment had paid off, and the gap between his efforts and others' was noticeable.
Still, there was a sense of disappointment. First place had eluded him, Ryan's world was still ahead, an achievement that seemed impossibly far out of reach.
Just then, the familiar chime of the chat group signaled another update.
[Is it a display of world progress?]
Without hesitation, Tobirama issued the command, his voice steady and authoritative.
"Show world progress."
As soon as his words left his lips, the chat group shifted to display the details of his world's progress. The screen flickered and revealed the national calendar of Tobirama's world.
[Upon returning to your world, you delegate part of your research to your scientists, while keeping some for your studies. Develop at the fastest pace.]
[With the technological advancements borrowed from other worlds, your world will experience accelerated growth.]
The Hokages in the chat group nodded in unison.
"That's second Hokage for you," Minato said, a note of respect in his voice. "Steady, focused, and always pushing for rapid development."
"Exactly," said Hashirama. "He's got a talent for scientific research that none of us can match."
Tsunade, observing the conversation, added, "You're right. No one else could replicate his approach. That kind of scientific mind... It's rare."
Naruto sighed, his voice full of frustration. "I wish I could develop like that. But... I don't even know where to start. Research? Those stacks of paperwork give me a headache."
The group couldn't help but laugh at Naruto's words. Even after becoming Hokage, he still hadn't changed his carefree, somewhat lazy demeanor. But that was part of his charm.
As they shared the moment of laughter, the chat group continued to reveal more.
While developing your world's technology, you've also been handling other documents. However, it seems there's something unusual happening in your surroundings.
Everything looks calm, but an undercurrent of tension is rising. You sense something off. The display cut off abruptly, leaving the group hanging.
"Wait a minute," Tobirama muttered, furrowing his brow. "Is that it? What happens next?"
"Yeah! What's going on?" Minato asked, clearly eager for more information. "There's no way it ends like this!"
The Hokages voiced their dissatisfaction in a chorus of frustrated comments. Something was clearly about to happen, but the message had cut off just before the real action began.
"Ugh, this is killing me!" Naruto groaned, his impatience mirrored in the faces of others. "I can't stand suspense like this!"
Everyone sat in tense silence, wishing the screen would show more. The absence of the next part of the story left them all on edge, itching to know what would happen next.
Everyone in the chat group turned their attention to the Second Hokage, their curiosity piqued.
Tsunade leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "What the hell was that? Why did it cut off there?"
Obito crossed his arms, the flicker of a frown pulling at his brow. "Hmph. Don't tell me the system glitched. That felt intentional."
Naruto, bouncing slightly in his seat with unrestrained curiosity, added with a grin, "C'mon, that was just getting good! We all wanna see what happens next!"
Tobirama, however, wore a helpless expression.
"I caught a glimpse of something," he began, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I'm not sure what's going to happen next."
He paused for a moment, his tone slightly apologetic. "After all, we only had three months for this. If it had been six months like last time, we might have seen the full picture."
At his words, the group fell silent, a realization dawning on them.
"That makes sense," Minato said, nodding. "We're only seeing part of the story because of the time limit."
"Exactly," Tobirama replied. "If I'd had more time, something might have already happened, but with just three months, things are only starting to build."
The Hokages understood now. It wasn't that the situation had been cut off intentionally; it was simply a matter of timing. The second Hokage's world was on the brink of something significant, but it hadn't fully unfolded yet.
"Seems like we'll have to wait until the next session to find out," Hashirama mused, his voice lighthearted. "I bet we'll get a full update then."
"Definitely," Naruto added, grinning. "I can't wait to see what happens next!"
"Yeah, it's like watching a cliffhanger," Kakashi said, his eyes gleaming. "I can almost feel the tension in the air."
Everyone exchanged knowing glances, their interest in Tobirama's world growing by the second. This was no longer just about the ranking. It had become a mystery they all wanted to solve.
As they discussed the events, it became clear: Tobirama's world had developed rapidly thanks to its long period of peace. Technological advancement had been the key, but with the undercurrent of unrest starting to bubble up, the next challenge was inevitable. No one knew exactly what would happen, but there was a sense that the calm would soon be shattered.
"I'm curious to see what the next ranking will look like," Minato mused. "But we can all see now why Tobirama's world advanced so fast. Peace breeds innovation."
Tobirama didn't seem concerned, however. He knew that the upcoming troubles were part of the future, and that was something he didn't need to address right away. With the rewards he had earned, his strength would continue to grow, and his confidence was unwavering. Even if trouble came knocking, he felt prepared to deal with it quickly.
"Let them come," he thought with a small, confident smile. "I've already secured second place, and with these rewards, I'll be more than ready. Any threats that arise? I'll deal with them in no time."
His smile deepened as he imagined the other Hokage trying to catch up to his success. "They can dream all they want," he mused. "There's no way they'll surpass me."
Calm and composed, the Second Hokage was ready for whatever came next. As the national power display finally ended, the group was left in anticipation of the next chapter in this strange, competitive journey.
...
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