Chaspter 246 Chasing a Shadow

Inspired by Ryan's overwhelming strength, the Hokages reflected in silence after their conversation.

Many of them couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt deep down. Had they not been pushing themselves hard enough? Evidently, the power gap between them and Ryan had grown significantly over time.

When they first joined the chat group, their strengths were not all that different from Ryan's. Yet now, that gap had widened to the point where they couldn't even glimpse his shadow on the horizon of power. The realization left them uneasy.

After all, each of them bore the title of Hokage, a symbol of strength and leadership. Every one of them had aspired to be the strongest among the strongest. To watch Ryan forge ahead on this path while they lagged was a bitter pill to swallow.

The shame of falling short hung heavily over them, and several made silent vows at that moment. At that moment, several of them made silent vows. They were not ordinary individuals—they were monsters and geniuses, each forged through trials that would break normal minds.

I won't let this continue.

They swore to train harder, to do everything in their power to improve. Even if they couldn't match Ryan's level, they would close the gap. None of them wanted to be the weakest link—a burden on their comrades.

But in their determination, they overlooked a crucial factor.

Ryan's meteoric rise in strength wasn't simply the result of effort. It was bolstered by the extraordinary rewards he had received from the chat group. The Saiyan bloodline he had acquired, and the removal of limiters on his latent potential—were monumental advantages that allowed his strength to grow exponentially, even without effort.

While the others resolved to push themselves, Ryan continued to grow stronger with each passing moment. For him, power came as naturally as breathing.

It wasn't just hard work that had brought Ryan to where he was now. No amount of effort could bridge such an immense gap. The bonus features provided by the chat group were the true game-changer, the critical factor behind his exponential growth.

As the Hokages reflected on this, the Screen before them flickered, displaying the next segment of content.

[Analysis: Following the end of the Ōtsutsuki threat, your world has entered a phase of unprecedented technological advancement. Key sectors such as engineering, energy systems, and aerospace technologies have experienced exponential growth. Resources and knowledge, previously constrained by limitations, are now being utilized at an optimal efficiency rate, driving rapid progress with materials and blueprints from other worlds.]

[Update: Space travel has reached a state of complete operational maturity. A successful spacecraft launch—personally piloted by Namikaze Minato—serves as empirical proof of your world's technological capabilities.]

[Conclusion: Your world has surpassed expectations, establishing itself as a leader in technological innovation.]

The Hokages stared at the screen, utterly dumbfounded.

It was astonishing—no, unbelievable. The pace of technological advancement in Ryan's world was mind-boggling.

"Just half a year..." Naruto muttered, breaking the stunned silence.

In that short time, Ryan's world had gone from rudimentary prototypes of spacecraft to full-fledged, functional launches. And to top it all off, Ryan himself had piloted one into space.

The speed of development wasn't just extraordinary; it was incomprehensible.

In comparison, if the technological progress of other worlds was like running on foot, Ryan's world was akin to riding a supersonic jet. The difference was so vast that others couldn't even hope to eat its exhaust.

The Hokages erupted into a mix of awe and conversation.

 "I'm completely convinced now," Hashirama said, laughing but with a hint of frustration. "Ryan's world is like a forest that never stops growing!"

 "Unbelievable, yes. But also infuriating," Tobirama muttered, his arms crossed. "We're Hokage, damn it. And yet, compared to his world our world is practically standing still. It's unacceptable."

 "I feel like we're falling further and further behind," Minato admitted with a quiet sigh, his fingers tapping the table restlessly. "I can't help but wonder if there's something we've missed... some way we could accelerate like he has."

"Stop whining, Minato," Tsunade said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She clenched her fist in frustration. "If Ryan can do it, so can we. We just have to work harder. Sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves won't change a damn thing."

"Could it have something to do with the technology in One Punch Man?" Kakashi mused, his eyes narrowing in thought. He scratched the back of his head. "I mean, his world's advancements do seem... out of this world."

"Maybe... but it also seems like it's his world's unique development too," Naruto chimed in, furrowing his brows. His voice was firm, his usual optimism now mixed with a fierce edge. "He's always been ahead, hasn't he? But that doesn't mean we should give up! We're Hokage—there's nothing we can't catch up to!"

"Catch up? Hah," Obito scoffed, his voice low and dangerous. His Sharingan flashed as he stepped forward, exuding the quiet intensity that had defined his entire life. "It's not about catching up; it's about surpassing him. And that means finding out exactly what fuels his progress and outdoing it."

"It's not just his technology," Sasuke said coldly, his arms folded tightly across his chest, his gaze icy. "It's his ability to adapt and exploit every opportunity. That's what we're missing—strategy. And I intend to change that."

"Then stop talking and start acting," the rogue version of Kakashi said bluntly, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. His one eye gleamed with sharpness. "Ryan isn't waiting for us to catch up, and neither should we. Every second we waste is another step he gains. Let's move."

Their voices mingled with a shared sense of amazement and unease. Ryan's technological advancements were unlike anything they had imagined—so rapid, so far ahead of their own.

Even as they tried to process it, none of them could have predicted such a reality, not even in their wildest dreams.

The Hokages were truly stunned this time but it also ignited their spirit. They didn't even know how to react to Ryan anymore. It was one thing to fall behind in terms of strength—but now, even the pace of technological development was leagues beyond their reach. The gap between their worlds was becoming absurdly vast.

Compared to Ryan, they weren't just behind—they were utterly crushed in every conceivable way. It was almost laughable how one-sided the comparison had become.

Naruto and a few others had entered this ranking session full of hope, believing they might claim the top spot. But after witnessing the breakneck speed of technological advancement in Ryan's world, they were forced to confront reality.

Their earlier confidence now seemed like a childish fantasy.

The technological progress of their worlds? It wasn't even worth mentioning. Nothing they had achieved could remotely compare.

At this point, there was nothing to do but accept the truth. The difference was insurmountable, and the only thing left was begrudging admiration.

Ryan's accomplishments made their efforts seem laughable. Every eye turned to Ryan, now filled with a mixture of respect and resignation. And then, as if to drive the point home, the Screen flickered again. New content appeared before their eager, apprehensive gazes.

[System Update: Fourth Hokage Ryan's world national strength has been evaluated.]

[Final world Strength Score: 2500 points.]

[Note: First-level world evaluation: Points range from 10–1000.

Second-level world evaluation: Points range from 1000–10,000.

Third-level world evaluation: Points range from 10,000 and above.]

[Reminder: Each world's national strength score impacts available technology, resources, and the potential for development, with higher-level worlds offering significantly greater advantages.]

"There it is. The first world to break 2000 points... and not just break it, but completely shatter it," Kakashi said, his voice tense with a mixture of admiration and frustration. "Ryan's world is on a completely different level."

"Exactly!" Hashirama exclaimed, his booming voice filled with awe. "That's a full 500 points beyond the threshold! This is unprecedented!"

"Maybe it's about their technology," Kakashi mused, his brow furrowed. "That kind of score doesn't come from just ordinary development. There's something different about Ryan's world."

"Could be," Tsunade said sharply, looking at the others. "But we've been Hokage for how long? It's not just about technology or resources—it's about what we do with them. We can't just sit here and watch while someone else breaks the mold."

2500 points.

Another new record!

The last time Ryan's world was evaluated, the score had just barely crossed into the 2000-point range—a monumental achievement, but still sitting right at the edge of the milestone. This time, however, was a completely different story.

Ryan's world skyrocketed to 2500 points, an astounding increase of 500 points compared to the last evaluation.

Such a leap was utterly unprecedented. While other worlds typically saw incremental improvements—tens or, at best, a hundred points at a time—Ryan's world had shattered expectations.

For most, even a 200-point increase within half a year would signify exceptional development. But Ryan's world had advanced by 500 points in that time, an accomplishment so extraordinary it defied comparison.

"Worthy of being my student!" Tsunade declared proudly, her voice brimming with satisfaction.

The rest of the group joined in, offering their congratulations. After all, this wasn't just an isolated achievement—nearly every groundbreaking milestone in the chat group's history had been set by Ryan.

The first world to surpass 1000 points? Ryan's world. The first to reach 2000 points? Again, Ryan's world. And now, the record had been broken once more.

As the implications of the new score settled in, everyone came to the same realization:

The rewards this time would undoubtedly come from a second-level world.

Second-level world rewards were on an entirely different level compared to first-level ones. Even if the rewards weren't immediately useful, they could always be converted into points—a lucrative opportunity no one wanted to miss.

This was a moment of triumph, not just for Ryan but for the entire group. With rewards like these on the horizon, everyone's spirits soared, their anticipation building as they awaited the next announcement.

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