Chapter 282 Hidden Mission

To tell the truth. When the previous task rewards were issued, everyone assumed the extent of it would be traveling to other worlds in search of something valuable. Most thought it would involve retrieving an artifact or acquiring knowledge.

But no one expected this. Now, they knew the truth.

There were extra tasks—additional objectives beyond the primary mission. And what's more, collecting items from those worlds? That was just a bonus, an afterthought compared to the true reward. Plus, this will give lucky people an edge as others can't compete in these missions.

Because the real prize… was tied directly to completing this mission.

Everyone could feel it deep in their hearts. Every mission completed brought rewards related to that task. And this time would be no exception.

The moment Ryan finished the mission, he would receive something unique—an exclusive reward meant only for him.

Although Ryan had often ranked first in past missions, there was no competition this time. He would complete every task. He would claim every reward.

Just the thought of it sent a ripple through the group.

Eyes filled with envy turned toward Ryan.

"No wonder the rewards this time are different," Tobirama murmured. "A special prize like never before… It turns out this is the real benefit!"

Tobirama, usually composed, couldn't help but show his admiration and envy. This kind of reward… was exactly what he wanted.

Leaving aside the guaranteed additional rewards, there was another aspect that intrigued him.

Three extra days to return and visit the world of Jujutsu Kaisen again.

For him, this was nothing short of paradise.

On every mission, Tobirama had been the most proactive in collecting items from different worlds, scouring every inch for anything of value. Compared to everyone else—except Ryan—he had gathered the most resources.

And now, the thought of being able to return and collect even more…

Tobirama's fingers clenched slightly. He wanted this reward more than anything. At this moment, with such a great opportunity before him once again, how could he not want to go? What a pity. This time, he was only second. No chance to go. All he could do was watch helplessly.

Right now, the others were deep in discussion.

Obito narrowed his eyes. "There's a new mission?"

Minato crossed his arms. "Not sure why."

Tobirama, ever the tactician, mused, "When we went to this world before, it wasn't part of the three official missions."

Naruto furrowed his brows in curiosity. "Logically speaking, whenever we travel to another world for a task, the missions should be assigned directly. But this time… it seems like the mission was already completed, and instead, Ryan got an extra opportunity?"

That part didn't make sense to him.

At that moment, Tsunade, after thinking for a moment, spoke up. "I get it." She looked at the others. "Do you remember? Across the last three missions, how many missions were issued each time in the worlds of the Pirates, Shinigami, and Heroes?"

Her words made everyone pause, their expressions turning thoughtful. They searched their memories.

Indeed, in all their previous missions, there had always been three. And the pattern remained the same—defeat the chosen 'child of luck' in that world, obtain the strongest abilities or artifacts, and so on.

No deviation. Realization dawned on Naruto.

"I see!" His eyes lit up. "So, in normal missions, the structure remains constant—same number, same difficulty. But in this world, there were additional tasks. Meaning, these extra missions are actually a reward?"

As soon as Naruto finished speaking, silence filled the room.

For a moment, no one said a word. Then, all at once, they nodded in agreement.

And just like that, a heated discussion broke out!

Obito's eyes gleamed with realization. "So that's how it is!"

Minato nodded. "This has never happened before!"

Tobirama stroked his chin. "Every world seems to have its unique quirks."

Hashirama grinned. "Maybe future worlds will offer similar rewards!"

Tobirama, always the strategist, folded his hands. "If these hidden opportunities exist, then perhaps we've been thinking about missions too rigidly. Instead of just completing what's assigned, we should also be looking for extra chances like this."

"Exactly!" Naruto clenched his fist. "If Ryan got an extra opportunity, then maybe one of us can too. And if we push it further…" His eyes gleamed with excitement. "We could use these extra missions to climb higher in the rankings when no one else can compete!"

Tsunade smirked. "So you're saying that with the right approach, one of us could have a real shot at becoming number one?"

Before anyone could respond, a deep chuckle echoed through the chat.

Madara.

"Hah! You fools are overcomplicating it," Madara said with amusement. "In the end, it all depends on two things—being at the top three already and sheer luck." His tone turned mocking. "Which means you, Hashirama, and your little granddaughters should just forget about ever being number one."

Hashirama immediately scowled. "Oi! What's that supposed to mean, Madara?!"

Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "You wanna say that again?"

Madara smirked. "I don't need to. You two lack the natural luck factor. You weren't even aware of these extra mission opportunities before, which means you're already behind. Only those who are already in the top three can seize the lucky draw and can ever hope to be number one."

"Ah, Tsunade, still refusing to accept reality?" Madara sneered. "Should I remind you what happened the last time you drew a lucky draw in this chat group?"

Tsunade's expression darkened immediately.

Madara smirked. "That's right. You wasted your chance and ended up with a single Gyō Sharingan. One. Just one. Completely useless on its own."

Naruto choked back a laugh. "Pfft—wait, seriously? A single eye?"

Minato sighed. "That was… actually tragic."

Tsunade grits her teeth. "Shut up!"

Hashirama chuckled awkwardly. "Well, at least it was a Sharingan…"

Madara continued, his voice dripping with amusement. "If that's the kind of luck you have, you should abandon any thoughts of competing for number one. Unless, of course, you enjoy wasting points on trash rewards."

Tsunade clenched her fists, veins bulging on her forehead. "You bastard—!"

Tobirama sighed. "Enough. Big brother, Tsunade, if you're serious about competing for the top spot, you should start looking for items in the shopping mall that can increase your luck. If this ranking system has any chance connection, then the best way to manipulate it is by improving your odds before anyone else does."

Hashirama rubbed the back of his head. "Huh, I never really considered that. Do we even have items like that in the shop?"

Tsunade scoffed. "Sounds like a waste of points. And besides, how would we even know if they actually work?"

Tobirama remained serious. "Joking aside, the shopping mall has a wide variety of items. Some of them might directly affect probability or fortune. If there's even a chance of improving your luck stat, it's worth investigating."

Naruto grinned. "Man, if I could boost my luck, I'd spam lucky draws until I got something broken!"

Madara snorted. "Unlike you, Naruto, some people actually think before gambling away their resources."

Tsunade scowled. "You have no room to talk about gambling, Madara."

Minato chuckled. "Well, looks like we have a new strategy to test out. If luck-enhancing items exist, someone has to try them eventually."

The chat group fell silent for a moment as everyone processed his words.

Excitement spread among them like wildfire.

At the same time, anticipation began to build.

If this kind of reward existed in one world, then there was a possibility-no—, a chance—that future worlds would grant even more. Perhaps next time, the top three participants would receive such a reward instead of just one.

The mere thought sent a ripple of excitement through the group.

Even though their next mission—whether another meeting or an assignment in the heavens—was still far off, they were already looking forward to it.

Naruto clenched his fists, his excitement barely contained. "Man, I can't wait any longer! Just thinking about the next mission is driving me crazy!"

Sasuke crossed his arms, his Sharingan flickering to life for a brief moment. "Tch. Half a year? Feels like an eternity. If there's a way to speed things up, we should find it."

Obito let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I swear, if I have to sit around any longer, I'm going to lose it. Let's just get to the next mission already!"

The room buzzed with eager voices, everyone sharing their anticipation.

Watching this unfold, Ryan couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head in amusement.

This group of Hokages… They're a little too optimistic.

His mission hadn't even been clearly explained yet. There was no mention of what kind of rewards the future might hold. And yet, here they were, already fantasizing about what he could gain from the next mission.

It could only be described as the Will of Fire—unyielding optimism, burning bright in all of them.

Just then, the voice of the chat group echoed in their ears.

[Task 1: Collect all the fingers of Curse King Sukuna!]

[Task 2: Awaken Sukuna and defeat him!]

[Note: This task is not mandatory.]

[If you lack confidence in your own strength, you may choose to decline.]

[Declining will not affect your current rewards.]

[Completing this mission will grant additional rewards.]

After seeing the chat group prompt, the people who had been talking nonsense just moments ago suddenly fell silent.

All eyes turned toward the glowing light curtain in the center of the room, their expressions shifting from confusion to intrigue. Now that they could see everything more clearly, an eerie stillness settled over the crowd. They exchanged glances, surprise evident on their faces, but curiosity burned just as strongly.

Tsunade crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "We've been to the Jujutsu Kaisen world before, but we never encountered anyone named Sukuna. If he's the so-called 'Cursed King,' why didn't we hear about him back then?"

Tobirama nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. "It doesn't add up. We faced powerful sorcerers and cursed spirits, but there was never any mention of a 'Sukuna.' Either he was in hiding, sealed away, or someone intentionally kept his existence a secret from us."

Hashirama frowned. "If he's resurfacing now, does that mean something-or—or someone—released him?"

Tsunade shook her head. "That's what bothers me. Being strong enough to be called the King of Curses should've been impossible to miss. Either we weren't paying attention, or something was preventing him from acting."

Naruto clenched his fists. "Damn it! If we had fought him back then, we wouldn't be asking all these questions!" Then, with a frustrated huff, he added, "And if I had defeated him, wouldn't I be in the top three already? That kind of opponent sounds like just the thing to boost my rank!"

Madara chuckled. "Hah! Keep dreaming, brat. Even if you had, luck plays a role too. You think just defeating a single enemy would be enough to push you to the top?"

Tobirama raised an eyebrow. "Actually, given the way ranking works, it's possible that taking down a threat like Sukuna would have given a massive boost. If he's as strong as they claim, then Naruto does have a point."

Hashirama laughed. "Well, too bad we didn't get the chance, huh? Guess Ryan will just have to deal with him now."

A flurry of voices broke out at once. Speculation spread like wildfire, and everyone was eager to unravel the mystery behind this unknown figure.

Amidst the chatter, Tobirama finally spoke, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"It seems this Sukuna must be incredibly powerful." His words carried weight, and the room quieted slightly as they listened. "Otherwise, the system wouldn't single him out like this."

He gestured toward the screen. "Two separate missions have been issued regarding him. That alone speaks volumes." The moment Tobirama finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement.

Minato nodded thoughtfully. "The Second Hokage makes a good point. If this Sukuna is strong enough to be a threat now but wasn't on our radar before, something doesn't add up."

Madara smirked, eyes gleaming with interest. "Now I'm even more curious about him. If he truly is as powerful as they claim, then fighting him should be an exhilarating challenge."

Hashirama stroked his chin in thought. "Brother, do you have any guesses? If someone that strong was hiding in that world, what could have kept him from making a move before?"

Tobirama's expression remained sharp. "Several possibilities. Either he was sealed, waiting for the right moment to emerge… or something—someone—recently awakened his power."

Excitement and speculation filled the room once more. Everyone wanted to know more about this mysterious figure—the man with two faces. What secrets did he hide?

Yet, amidst the buzzing discussion, Ryan remained silent. He observed their reactions, piecing things together in his mind.

He had just realized something interesting. For now, he would keep it to himself.

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