"Immediately dispatch all rescue forces and search for survivors with full effort! Medical teams, prioritize treating injured heroes!" The minister, suppressing his excitement, issued a series of commands, then took a deep breath and looked at the other high-ranking officials present at the meeting.
"Gentlemen—"
His voice still trembled slightly. "The crisis is temporarily resolved. Now, we must discuss an important issue—regarding Uzumaki Naruto's hero ranking."
The conference room immediately fell silent; everyone understood the sensitivity of the topic.
"Uzumaki Naruto's contribution to this God-level disaster is immeasurable. One could say he saved the world single-handedly," a cadre began, his tone filled with admiration. "His strength has far exceeded our previous assessments. I believe he must be given a ranking that reflects his true power!"
"I agree!" another cadre echoed. "Previously, he was ranked at the bottom of S-Class primarily based on his achievements in resolving Dragon-level disasters like Vaccine Man and Deep Sea King, and—a conservative estimate of his unfathomable strength. But after this battle, his power has been fully revealed; it is truly a force capable of rivaling God-level disasters!"
"However—"
A relatively conservative Advisor raised an objection: "Ranking is not solely based on strength. Blast has been elusive for years, but his past achievements and his recognized status as the 'ultimate weapon' are unshakeable. Miss Tornado's Psychic Power (Psionics) is also a crucial strategic force for the association, and she has been active for a long time with outstanding merits. Although Mr. Naruto is powerful, his seniority is still shallow, and his style of conduct is rather casual. Would directly raising his rank too high cause dissatisfaction among other S-Class Heroes? Especially Miss Tornado?"
At the mention of Tornado, everyone fell silent for a moment.
That tsundere psychic girl was not an easy person to deal with.
Aside from her, no S-Class Hero was weak.
"As for Tornado—" the minister mused, "According to feedback from the scene, she witnessed the entire battle between Naruto and Boros. Given her personality, while she might not admit it verbally, she must certainly be aware of Naruto's strength internally."
"Then, how about a compromise?" another strategist suggested. "Raise Uzumaki Naruto's ranking from his current position to S-Class Rank 3."
Ranked third, only below Blast and Tornado.
This suggestion was also acceptable.
"Good! Then it's settled!"
Above the ruins of City A.
Tornado floated in mid-air, arms crossed. Her thin black dress clung tightly to her body, and her green curly hair moved without a breeze. Her emerald eyes burned with intense curiosity and—the flame of competitiveness.
She scrutinized Naruto from head to toe, as if examining an interesting toy.
"Hey, you," Tornado began, her tone still bearing her characteristic arrogance, but mixed with a hint of uncontrollable excitement, "I saw the battle just now. I didn't expect someone who looks so ordinary to hide such power."
Naruto calmly replied, "Thank you for the compliment, but this isn't the time for small talk, is it? There are still many people down there who need saving—"
"Enough talk!" Tornado interrupted him, her fighting spirit soaring in her eyes. "I'm very interested in that body of yours that can withstand an alien monster, and that strange mixed energy! Come fight me! Let me see just how strong you really are!"
Naruto frowned: "I'm not interested in fighting you. The most important thing right now is rescue and reconstruction work."
The main point was that fighting Tornado would yield no benefits; he wouldn't gain experience or get any equipment drops.
"Hmph, leave those trivial matters to the association people!" Tornado dismissed it completely. In her view, verifying a strong person's power was far more important than disaster relief. "Are you scared? Or perhaps, the previous battle has left you exhausted?"
With that, without waiting for Naruto's reply, her powerful Psychic Power (Psionics) erupted!
"Boom—"
The entire sky above the ruins of City A seemed to be instantly enveloped by an invisible force!
The shattered skyscrapers below, and even the entire ground, began to vibrate and tremble violently!
Tornado's Psychic Power (Psionics) was a terrifying force capable of easily twisting the topography of an entire city!
"Since you won't make a move, I'll force you to!" Tornado shrieked, clenching her hands in the air.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!"
Below, over a dozen shattered hundred-meter-tall buildings were uprooted by her Psychic Power (Psionics) and hurled towards Naruto in the sky from different directions, like giant projectiles.
At the same time, the ground cracked, and countless massive rocks and metal fragments shot skyward like an inverted waterfall, combining with the buildings to form an inescapable net, intending to completely engulf Naruto!
This sight was like a natural disaster revisited, even more terrifying than the destructive power of many Dragon-level Monsters.
Naruto's expression finally darkened.
He understood the competitiveness of the strong, but he was annoyed by Tornado's reckless behavior, which disregarded the occasion and consequences.
The city had just suffered a devastating blow, and countless people were awaiting rescue, yet she was causing further destruction to satisfy her own curiosity!
"You're too reckless!"
Naruto's voice turned cold, and an equally immense Psychic Power (Psionics) spread out from him!
"Since that's the case, I'll use your own power to defeat you."
Unlike Tornado's violent, macro-control-oriented style, Naruto's Psychic Power (Psionics) was more condensed and precise, carrying a sense of absolute control.
He didn't directly confront the flying buildings and debris but moved his will!
"Psychic Power (Psionics) · Space Solidification!"
"Hum—"
Centered on Naruto, the space within several hundred meters instantly seemed to turn into the hardest transparent crystal.
The roaring buildings, rocks, and debris, upon entering this area, suddenly slowed to almost zero, as if embedded in solidified amber, eerily frozen in mid-air!
Tornado's pupils contracted: "What?! You can use Psychic Power (Psionics) too?!"
"How can you solidify such a large area of space so precisely?!"
Unwilling to concede, she increased her Psychic Power (Psionics) output, attempting to forcefully crush this solidified space.
Two invisible, terrifying Psychic Power (Psionics) forces, capable of shaking continental plates, collided and rubbed fiercely in the air, emitting a grating, sizzling sound!
The space itself began to subtly warp, and light refraction became strange!
The heroes and rescue workers below looked at the sky in horror, seeing it as if split in half: one side was the chaotic torrent of flying debris controlled by Tornado, and the other was the eerie domain where Naruto stood, with everything frozen.
Although the two were not directly engaging in hand-to-hand combat, this Psychic Power (Psionics) showdown, in its danger and spectacle, was no less intense than the battle with Boros earlier!
Naruto said with a cold face: "Since you want to fight, I'll humor you. But don't blame me if I spank you when you lose."
"Hehehe, come and try if you dare, provided you can beat me!"