Konoha — Chūnin Exams Arena
A handsome young man stood high in the viewing stands, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked down at the battlefield below, where the next match was about to begin.
"Once this round ends, the Chūnin Exams will reach their final stage…"
"And that's when Orochimaru should make his move."
Ren Kazuki's gaze drifted toward the highest platform.
There, the Third Hokage sat beside the so-called Fourth Kazekage.
But Ren Kazuki knew better than anyone that the man in Kazekage robes was no Kazekage at all.
It was Orochimaru.
As for the real Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, he had already been murdered in secret.
Several years earlier, Ren Kazuki had arrived in this world and become an ordinary resident of Konoha. On paper, he was nothing special—just another orphan of the Nine-Tails' attack, the son of shinobi who had died for the village, living an unremarkable life in its shadow.
The arena was already packed. Shinobi and dignitaries from every nation had taken their seats, all waiting for the exam matches to continue. At the highest platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the disguised Kazekage calmly watched the field below.
But Ren Kazuki had not come here merely to watch.
He had come for something far more important.
Today, in front of the entire shinobi world, he was going to expose the truth.
[As long as the host creates a ranking list, corresponding rewards will be granted!]
That was the system ability he had only just awakened.
After careful thought, Ren Kazuki had prepared his first ranking long ago and chosen this exact moment to reveal it.
Today—
the entire world would see it.
"Ding! The first ranking list has been successfully created! Preparing for release!"
"Release progress—20%."
"50%."
"80%."
As the system's notifications sounded in his mind, Ren Kazuki casually lowered his gaze toward the arena.
At that same moment, the proctor stepped into the center, ready to announce the start of the next match.
Then the system's voice rang out again.
"Ding! Progress at 100%! The host's ranking list has been released!"
"The first ranking—[Sinister Ranking]!"
Boom—!
A deep, bell-like sound exploded across the sky above Konoha, rolling through both the living world and the Pure Land.
The earth shook violently.
Countless people lost their footing and stumbled in alarm, their faces filled with confusion and fear.
Then, as the sound slowly faded, a gigantic golden scroll appeared out of nowhere, suspended high above Konoha and wreathed in endless violet light.
And it did not affect Konoha alone.
That thunderous sound swept across the entire shinobi world.
No matter where someone stood, no matter what realm they were in, it rang in their ears like a divine summons.
Nor did it stop with the living.
Under the influence of that mysterious phenomenon, every soul sleeping in the Pure Land awoke.
Though the ranking hovered over Konoha, it could be seen clearly from anywhere—whether in the world of the living or within the Pure Land itself.
For one brief moment, the entire world was shaken.
The Pure Land
The land of the dead was never truly silent, but now it erupted into complete chaos.
In this realm, souls could communicate freely, their intentions understood without barriers. And now, every awakened spirit stared at the enormous golden ranking in shock.
[Madara Uchiha: This voice… this light… what is it? Why have I awakened? And what is that ranking?]
[Hashirama Senju: I don't know, Madara!]
[Madara Uchiha: Hashirama!? You're awake too? Do you know what's going on?]
[Hashirama Senju: No idea! Tobirama, you're awake too? Do you know anything?]
[Tobirama Senju: Big brother… I don't know either.]
[Mito Uzumaki: Since we all woke because of this, it must be connected to that ranking somehow.]
[Hashirama Senju: My wife makes an excellent point! I agree!]
[Tobirama Senju: …Yes. Sister-in-law's reasoning does make sense.]
Everyone quickly accepted Mito's conclusion.
Then, as though he had only just realized something, Hashirama suddenly turned to Tobirama with wide eyes.
[Hashirama Senju: Huh? Tobirama… why are you here in the Pure Land? Don't tell me you're dead too?]
[Madara Uchiha: Hashirama! If he's here, then of course he's dead!]
[Hashirama Senju: Madara's right! Tobirama, looks like you're dead too!]
[Tobirama Senju: …Isn't that obvious? If I weren't dead, how would I be here?]
[Hashirama Senju: Hmm, good point. Then who's Hokage now?]
[Tobirama Senju: The current Hokage is my finest student—Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
[Tobirama Senju: Along with my other students—Danzō, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and the others—I entrusted Konoha's future to them. I believe they will carry on the Will of Fire and protect the village.]
Tobirama spoke with unmistakable pride.
[Hashirama Senju: Good! I trust your judgment, Tobirama!]
Meanwhile, in the world of the living—
Every major power was stunned by the appearance of the massive golden ranking.
Sunagakure
Chiyo narrowed her eyes and stared at it in silence before speaking in a low voice.
"Konoha made this? As expected of the strongest village…"
Kirigakure — Mizukage's Office
Mei Terumī arched a brow.
"With a display like this… is Konoha trying to flaunt its power?"
Behind her, Chōjūrō stared at the ranking with a grave expression.
Iwagakure — Tsuchikage's Office
Ōnoki rubbed his lower back and snorted.
"Konoha's new technology? Hmph. The so-called strongest village really does live up to its name."
Kumogakure — Raikage's Office
The Fourth Raikage, A, stared at the golden ranking with open suspicion.
"Hmph. What kind of trick is Konoha playing now?"
Beside him, Killer B immediately broke into a rap.
"Yo! Over Konoha's sky—
A ranking flying high! Yo!"
Back in Konoha
"Hahaha! Konoha's technology is amazing! We can even make something like this?!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke said nothing, but his gaze remained fixed on the ranking, his eyes burning with ambition.
The other Konoha genin were no different. Every one of them stared up in excitement and awe.
All around the arena, spectators whispered among themselves while throwing admiring looks toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Clearly, they all believed this miracle had been created by the Third Hokage.
Only Hiruzen himself knew the truth.
Seated stiffly in place, he stared upward in utter shock.
He was completely dumbfounded.
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