Chapter 274 Behind the Numbers

The room was still buzzing with excitement after the announcement of the reward. But as the noise died down, Madara's cold, calculating voice cut through the chatter.

"One hundred thousand points, you say?" His tone was heavy with measured curiosity, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the magnitude of the reward. "It's a substantial sum, but when you consider the caliber of those Jujutsu Sorcerers, it seems... fitting. We weren't simply fighting weaklings—these were powerful individuals, each one carrying their deadly domain expansion."

Hashirama, always the more optimistic one, leaned forward, grinning with a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Yeah, I gotta admit, it feels good to see such a reward! But you're right, Madara. If we're getting this much, the next missions are going to be even crazier, huh? No way they're just handing out these points for no reason."

Ryan, standing to the side, listened intently to their words before adding his own thoughts. His tone was calm and steady, his gaze never wavering as he spoke. "It's easy to get caught up in the excitement, but let's not forget the bigger picture. We've faced some real monsters in this mission, and we've seen their strength firsthand. Saitama, those sorcerers... these are not ordinary opponents. It's not just about the points—it's about how the system is calibrating these rewards based on the magnitude of our actions bring in that world."

That statement hung in the air for a moment, and the group couldn't help but reflect on the monumental challenge that mission had been. The points awarded then were justifiable, given that they'd faced and defeated the strongest being in that world—Saitama, the unshakable ceiling of power.

But this was different.

To receive such a staggering reward for defeating the Jujutsu Sorcerers? It was unexpected, to say the least, and only added to the group's astonishment.

Naruto grinned, his usual enthusiasm shining through despite the serious nature of the conversation. "The second mission earned us this much, huh?" He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "If we're talking about how the points keep getting bigger, then the third one is definitely going to be bigger than this!"

Sasuke, ever the calculating one, raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "You're right," he said coolly, his tone more measured.

The Hokages in the room, each a seasoned strategist in their own right, nodded in agreement. The rewards this time were clearly exceeding expectations, and anticipation for the third mission grew rapidly.

"The sorcerers in this world," Sasuke began, his tone calm and analytical, "seem to be stronger than the Cursed Spirits."

His observation caught the group's attention, and several nodded in agreement. It made sense.

The point distribution alone suggested as much. Defeating the Jujutsu Sorcerers had proven to be a far greater challenge, even if the group hadn't necessarily felt it at the moment.

Truthfully, the mission hadn't required much effort from most of them. Many had handled their battles with ease, dispatching their opponents swiftly and decisively. Yet, the points awarded reflected the overall scale of the mission rather than the individual difficulty.

The reason behind their success? It was no secret.

All eyes subtly shifted toward Ryan.

"He's the main reason we pulled this first mission off so smoothly," Tsunade muttered, and there were murmurs of agreement.

Indeed, Ryan had been instrumental in their victory, his strength and strategy ensuring that the mission was completed with minimal complications. The group knew this in their hearts, even if no one outright voiced it.

As they waited for the next notification, anticipation hung heavy in the air. The rewards were climbing higher, and everyone was eager to see just how far the chat group was willing to go.

If it hadn't been for Ryan taking down the most troublesome opponent among them, this mission would have been far from easy. His intervention made all the difference, turning what could have been a grueling battle into a much simpler task.

Of course, there was another factor at play. By the time they reached the final Jujutsu Sorcerer, the group hardly broke a sweat.

They all knew, deep down, that while these sorcerers were powerful in their own right, they were no match for the strength that had already been cultivated within the group.

Their combined strength had reached a level no one could have predicted. With all the rewards and experience they'd gained from previous missions, they were a force to be reckoned with. Anyone from other worlds would find themselves outclassed.

Minato nodded thoughtfully. "180,000 points for two missions is impressive."

Tobirama added, "True. Where to spend points for the best outcome for our world, but we should be strategic in how we use them. Wasting them would be a mistake."

Tsunade leaned forward, serious. "We've earned this, but we can't let spend them on slot machines or ramen or pon anymore."

Tsunade from the Road to Ninja World gave a sly grin as she glanced at the others, her tone teasing. "Well, at least we're not blowing our points on slot machines, ramen, or... porn this time, huh?" Her eyes flicked to both Hashirama, Naruto, and the two Kakashis with a knowing look.

Hashirama chuckled heartily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey, those were strategic investments in morale! Besides, I'm not entirely opposed to a good bowl of ramen now and then."

Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed but trying to hide it. "Yeah, I've definitely spent a few points on ramen before. Can't blame me, it's the best food ever!"

Both Kakashis exchanged a glance, the original Kakashi sighing. "I suppose it's good that we're maturing. No more wasting resources on distractions."

The second Tsunade from the alternate timeline, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward with a raised eyebrow. "Wait, wait... you guys actually spent points on ramen and porn?!" She crossed her arms, a bemused look crossing her face. "That's... surprising. I thought you all had better priorities."

Tsunade from the Road to Ninja World smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Well, we've got more important things ahead. Let's make sure we put these points to good use and prepare for what's coming."

Minato nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We've earned this, but our real challenge is yet to come."

Hashirama grinned. "Right, Tsunade. Let's enjoy the rewards but stay ready. The stakes are high, and we do this for Konoha."

The others nodded in agreement. They'd all realized how valuable these points were. Not just because of the quantity, but because they could be used to enhance their already formidable abilities.

However, no one was rushing to make any exchanges just yet. Most of them didn't need the standard rewards anymore. Their power had already surpassed the usual upgrades. What they sought now was something stronger—something to push them even further.

So, instead of jumping at the opportunity to trade, they all sat in quiet anticipation.

What would the rankings look like this time? How many points did they earn?

The higher their score, the faster they could accumulate millions—or even tens of millions of points—unlocking the top-tier rewards. The possibilities were endless.

Of course, everyone was well aware of their own strength. They all knew that reaching tens of millions of points was no small feat. It would likely take several more worlds before they could achieve such a lofty goal.

Though they were already in the fourth world, the points accumulated so far still hadn't reached that staggering level. However, hitting a million points was certainly within reach for most.

Those who had consistently placed in the top three could expect even higher scores. But among them all, the one with the most points was clear—Ryan. His total was still a long way from tens of millions, but everyone wondered if this time, he'd be granted an outrageous amount of points. Could this be the moment he surpassed everyone else and reached the milestone first?

The thought alone piqued everyone's curiosity. They were all eager, almost impatient, to see how the rankings would unfold. The suspense was unbearable.

As the excitement simmered down, everyone fell silent. They instinctively knew it was time to wait and watch for the next announcement.

A sudden chime echoed through the group chat, and a new prompt appeared in everyone's mind:

Mission 3: Defeat Gojo Satoru and Yuta Okkotsu!]

[Mission Completed Perfectly!]

[Reward: 120,000 Points per Person!]

The members of the Hokage chat group couldn't help but express their amazement at the points they were earning.

"One hundred and twenty thousand?!" Naruto's voice echoed through the chat.

"That's insane!" Minato replied, his tone full of awe. "We're really raking in the points this time."

Tobirama spoke up, always more analytical. "It's clear the missions are scaling in difficulty. The cursed spirits and jujutsu sorcerers weren't a match for these two."

Hashirama grinned. "Those two—Gojo and Yuta—definitely earned it. Their strength is something else entirely."

"True," Tsunade said, nodding. "I've never seen such raw power. 120,000 points for just two of them—it makes sense."

Kakashi chimed in, sounding thoughtful. "What's interesting is the pattern of the rewards. The stronger the opponent, the higher the points. It's not just about the number, it's about how formidable they are."

Ryan's voice cut through the conversation, calm but piercing. "Those two are the most terrifying in their world. Gojo especially. No one comes close to his level of power. The points are justified."

"Yeah, they definitely earned those points," Naruto said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "But what's next? We've got 300,000 points in total now. What will the next mission bring?"

"More than we can imagine, I'm sure," Tsunade from the Road to Ninja world said with a slight smirk. "But it's good to see how much we've accomplished already."

"Agreed," Hashirama said. "Let's stay sharp. The next world might be more terrifying than this one, and we may buy some items or abilities."

Then, it hit them. Despite the overwhelming power of these two individuals, they had still been defeated. And who was it that defeated them? Ryan.

It became crystal clear in their minds. The reason the mission had been completed so effortlessly was simple. Ryan had never even needed to face these two powerhouses directly. The third task had, in reality, been entirely solved by him alone.

The scale of Ryan's strength was undeniable. Everyone thought about it, still in awe. Even if Ryan could ask for help, he didn't need it. He tackled the task solo, handling the two strongest individuals in the world with ease.

It was clear—his strength was on another level. And honestly, it looked like the last world had been the same.

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