The Fourth World – Extra Chapter 番外

"The Naruto world was really important for Lin Yuan," Jiuchong Ring whispered. Its body glowed faintly, full of mystery.

Jiuchong Ring had always held a complex sentiment towards Lin Yuan, this young mission executor. He wasn't some chosen one, nor a time traveler who could defy fate. He was merely an ordinary person selected by destiny in a certain time and space. Jiuchong Ring had seen countless hosts, some high - spirited, some scheming. And Lin Yuan was different. What separated him from others was that he consistently retained the innocence and emotions of an everyday individual, a minor player in the grand narrative.

"But precisely because of this, he needs even more tempering," Jiuchong Ring thought to itself.

At first, Jiuchong Ring didn't plan to bring Lin Yuan to the world of Naruto. In the first three novice mission worlds, Lin Yuan mostly dealt with ordinary and simple life tasks. Jiuchong Ring believed that this was only a "preliminary enlightenment" for a mission executor. In those worlds, there were no powerful enemies, no complex interpersonal relationships, and not even a decent battle. Lin Yuan had done quite well, but Jiuchong Ring knew that such experiences were not enough to make Lin Yuan become a qualified mission executor.

So, it decided Naruto world would be a real test.

The complexity of the world of Naruto was indescribable: powerful enemies, storylines filled with both slaughter and warmth, various challenging interpersonal interactions, and extreme tests of combat skills and strategies... All of this could enable Lin Yuan to learn much more.

However, Jiuchong Ring also noticed that although Lin Yuan had gone through three mission worlds, he still retained that immature naivety and stubbornness. Even though it lent Lin Yuan a more down-to-earth quality, this way of thinking had the potential to be a life-threatening liability. "He's got a long way to go. I need to guide his growth in my style," Jiuchong Ring pondered.

...

The mission in the world of Naruto went relatively smoothly. Lin Yuan gradually integrated into Konoha Village, learned many combat skills, and also learned how to cooperate with others. However, Jiuchong Ring knew that the completion of the mission didn't mean the end of growth. Especially after Lin Yuan established deep feelings with the people in Konoha Village, his mentality became more complex, and there was even a faint hint of reluctance.

The real completion point of the mission was after Jiuchong Ring replicated the chakra of Naruto at the age of 19 and the chakra of the nine tailed beasts. By this time, the Naruto world mission was over. But Jiuchong Ring didn't tell Lin Yuan the truth. Instead, it told a white lie.

"Oh? When he first came to this world, his first thought was to stay and witness Naruto and Hinata's wedding?" Jiuchong Ring smiled. "Well, let him think that's the case."

It didn't deliberately deceive Lin Yuan. It just felt that in this short remaining time, giving him a warm ending would be much better than directly revealing the truth of the mission's completion. After all, this was the most "human - touch" world that Lin Yuan had ever experienced.

After the wedding, Jiuchong Ring brought Lin Yuan back to the system space.

Lin Yuan stood in the void, a palpable weariness and sense of reluctance written across his face. Gently rubbing the spot on his forehead where Ino's "fist-teaching" had landed, he mumbled inaudibly.

"Jiuchong, can we say that this mission was successfully completed?" Lin Yuan asked.

Jiuchong Ring flashed. "Congratulations, Lin Yuan! The mission is perfectly finished, and you have successfully completed the missions in four worlds. The transmission to the next dimension will start soon."

"What?" Lin Yuan frowned. "Can't I have a break? At least give me a chance to catch my breath! Every time I finish a mission, we start the next one immediately. I finally understand. I'm just your cheap labor, right?"

Hearing Lin Yuan's complaints, Jiuchong Ring didn't argue. It replied indifferently, "Real mission-executors don't get rest. But don't worry, the next dimension could be more fun."

"More interesting?" Lin Yuan rolled his eyes. "Jiuchong, your idea of 'interesting' has never made things easy for me! Don't try to fool me. Tell me, what's the next world?"

"The next world..." Jiuchong Ring played for time, deliberately remaining silent for a moment before slowly saying, "You'll know when you get there."

Lin Yuan sighed helplessly but didn't say anything more. He knew that complaining wouldn't change anything. Mission executors were fated to journey on unceasingly. Surely, he wouldn't stop in his tracks. "Initiating transmission."

Jiuchong Ring flashed and vanished with Lin Yuan.

===================

"火影世界,对林远来说是一次极其重要的历练." 九重戒低声喃喃着,戒身微微闪烁着神秘的光泽.

对于林远这个年轻的任务者,九重戒一直抱着一种复杂的心情.他并不是什么天选之子,也不是什么逆天改命的穿越者,仅仅是一个在某个时空里被命运选中的普通人.九重戒见过太多宿主,有的意气风发,有的心机深沉,而林远,他与众不同的是,他似乎一直保持着那种作为普通人,小人物的纯粹和情感.

"但也正因为如此,才更需要磨砺." 九重戒心里暗道.

起初,九重戒并不打算把林远带到火影世界.林远在前三个新手任务的世界里,更多是应对平凡又简单的生活任务,九重戒认为这对任务者来说只能算是 "初步启蒙".那些世界里没有强敌,没有复杂的人际关系,甚至连像样的战斗都没有.林远完成得还算不错,但九重戒知道,这样的历练不足以让林远成长为一名合格的任务者.

于是,它决定,火影世界将是一次真正的历练.

火影世界的复杂性是无法用言语形容的:强大的敌人,充满杀戮与温情并存的故事线,各种充满挑战的人际互动,以及对战斗技巧与策略的极限考验... 这一切,都能让林远学到更多.

但九重戒也观察到,林远虽然经历了三个任务世界,却依旧带着那种不成熟的天真与执拗.虽然这让林远更有人情味,但在某些时候,这种心态反而会成为致命的软肋.

"他需要更多时间去成长,而我,也必须用我的方式去推动他." 九重戒想着.

...

火影世界的任务进行得相对顺利,林远一步步融入了木叶村,学会了许多战斗技巧,也学会了如何与其他人配合.然而,九重戒知道,任务的完成并不意味着成长的结束.尤其是在林远将自己与木叶村的众人建立深厚感情后,他的心态变得更加复杂,甚至隐约流露出了一种不舍.

而任务真正的完成点,是在九重戒复制了鸣人19岁时的查克拉,以及九只尾兽的查克拉后.此时,火影世界的任务已经彻底结束了.但九重戒并没有选择告诉林远真相,而是留了一个"善意的谎言".

"喔?刚来到这个世界,他的第一个想法是想留下来见证鸣人和雏田的婚礼?" 九重戒笑了一下,"好吧,就让他以为是这样好了."

它并不是故意欺瞒林远,只是觉得,在这短暂的最后时光里,给他一个温馨的结局,会比直接揭开任务完成的真相要好得多.毕竟,这里是林远经历过的最有 "人情味" 的一个世界.

婚礼结束后,九重戒带着林远返回了系统空间.

林远站在那片虚无的空间中,带着些许疲惫与不舍的神情.他摸了摸头上因为井野的 "拳头教育" 而留下过的额头,嘴里还嘟囔着什么.

"九重,咱们这次任务算是圆满完成了吧?" 林远问道.

九重戒闪烁了一下,"恭喜你,林远!任务完美结束,你已经成功完成了四个世界的任务.下个位面传送,即将开启."

"什么?" 林远皱起眉头,"就不能休息一会儿吗?好歹让我喘口气吧!每次一完成任务就立刻开工,我算是明白了,我就是你的廉价苦力,对吧?"

九重戒听着林远的吐槽,却没有争辩,只是淡淡地回应了一句,"真正的任务者,哪里有什么休息时间?但放心,下个位面或许会更有趣哦."

"更有趣?" 林远翻了个白眼,"九重,你的 '有趣' 就没有让我轻松过!别忽悠我了,说吧,下一个世界是什么?"

"下一个世界..." 九重戒卖了个关子,故意沉默了片刻,才缓缓说道, "等你到了就知道了."

林远无奈地叹了口气,但终究没有再说什么.他知道,抱怨也改变不了什么.任务者的旅程,注定是不断前行的,而他的脚步,也不会停下.

"传送开始."

九重戒闪过最后一抹光芒,与林远一同消失在系统空间里.