Nijika stood beside the ruins, looking at the Hokage Rock in the distance. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"Nijika-senpai, are you okay?"
Ikuyo came closer.
"I'm fine."
Nijika showed a bright smile. As the leader of the Kessoku Band, though she was the smallest, she was the most mature of the four.
"Th... there won't be any danger, will there..."
Bocchi cowered behind her, holding Ditto, her entire body curled into a ball.
"Don't worry. If anything happens, we'll just sell our bodies to Makoto-sama and let him protect us."
Yamada Ryo said expressionlessly.
Bocchi: "I... I'd rather think of another way..."
They had been training with Makoto during this time, exchanging information, and had heard about his deeds in the Naruto World.
They were mentally prepared for this world jump.
"Let's help out first. Don't worry, as long as we stay in Konoha, Makoto will protect us."
Yui came up and said, like a reliable big sister.
But it startled Bocchi, who hoped she hadn't heard Yamada Ryo's comment just now.
The four Kessoku Band girls nodded and also joined the reconstruction efforts, even letting their Pokémon out to help.
"Let's do our best in this world for now."
Nijika patted Pikachu's head.
Pikachu, sitting on her shoulder, nodded firmly.
"Pika pika!"
"Are these your Summoned Creatures? They're so cute!"
Just then, the native characters like Tenten came over to chat.
One by one, they curiously squatted down, their eyes sparkling as they stared at these 'little animals' they had never seen before.
Ichika also came up to the bewildered Mai and gently patted her back.
"Don't worry, this is Makoto's territory. It's very safe."
The two had worked together on the film set for several months and were already friends.
"Yeah."
Mai nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, trying to calm her racing heart.
After hearing Ichika's explanation, she managed to somewhat accept her current situation.
But now she was more curious about one thing… had her mother also been transported to this world?
She subconsciously looked for that familiar figure among the crowd.
When she saw a woman in an OL suit in the distance, talking to some Ninjas, her eye twitched.
Although she had heard from Ichika that Makoto was currently the ruler of this village, he wasn't with her mother.
That meant, he hadn't attacked her 'spawn point' yet... right?
While many of the transported individuals were either joining the reconstruction efforts at the natives' call, or still reading the Reincarnation System's introduction and absorbing information about this world, a shout came from Makoto in the direction of the Hokage's office building directly below the Hokage Rock.
"Everyone, gather at the Hokage Building!"
The voice reached everyone's ears clearly, like a reassuring pill.
Hearing Makoto's voice, a wave of relief washed over all the players.
Even veteran players like Utaha and Eriri felt it.
Although many of them possessed considerable strength, that man was always their most reliable umbrella.
Moreover, after communicating with the Kessoku Band, they also knew that every time the Reincarnation Game pulled them into another world, they might not necessarily end up with Makoto.
When they had first returned to the Naruto World, they were also a little worried… what if Makoto hadn't been pulled in this time?
What if they could only rely on themselves this time?
Now, hearing Makoto's voice, they were finally at ease.
Soon, both players and Konoha's natives alike put down what they were doing and gathered at the entrance of the Hokage Building.
When they saw the face of the thirteen-year-old Makoto standing on the rooftop, many new players secretly exclaimed.
"Thank goodness, Makoto-sama is here too... we might be able to go back alive, right?"
"Keep your voice down. Didn't you hear the system tell us not to reveal we're players?"
"I didn't expect Makoto-sama to look so young..."
"He's kind of cute. I want to give him a hug..."
"Satsuki, are you crazy?"
Seeing his childhood friend Momoi acting all 'dreamy', Aomine couldn't help but roll his eyes.
'Have some sense about who you fawn over.'
Looking at her mother not far away, gazing at Makoto with an infatuated expression, Mai sensed big trouble.
'Damn it.'
She felt like her 'spawn point' had already been compromised.
Makoto stood atop the Hokage Building, sunlight spilling over him, gilding his silhouette.
"I have decided that Tsunade-sama, known as one of the [Legendary Sannin] and also the granddaughter of the First Hokage, will take on the role of the Fifth Hokage."
Makoto announced.
"I'm leaving this task to one of the Sannin, the [Pervy Sage]. Got it?"
Hearing Makoto's words, the players were completely baffled.
'Pervy Sage? What kind of name was that?'
The natives like Kakashi and Yuhi Kurenai, however, simultaneously looked towards a silver-haired, white-maned, lecherous-looking figure in the crowd.
"Who are you calling Pervy Sage?!"
Jiraiya's face flushed deep red, a vein bulging on his forehead.
"Ah, sorry, it's a habit..."
Makoto apologized insincerely.
The natives had no objections to Tsunade becoming the Fifth Hokage.
After all, most of the Ninjas present owed Tsunade a debt of gratitude from the previous Great Ninja Wars, or even the war before that.
It was no exaggeration to say that without Tsunade, many of them wouldn't be standing here.
However, just then—
A voice of protest suddenly rang out.
"What's so great about Tsunade? Why does she get to inherit my grandfather's position? It should be you, Aniki!"
At these words, both players and natives turned to look.
There stood a little squirt, about eight or nine years old, shouting very defiantly.
He had his hands on his hips, his chin raised high, his face bright red.
"Who's he?"
Marin whispered to Eriri beside her.
She was a new player on her first world jump, with no powers and little knowledge of this world. After learning that her good friend Eriri had already traveled to this world before, she immediately latched onto her bestie.
"Konohamaru."
Eriri explained.
"He's the grandson of the village's previous head, the Third Hokage, who just died in battle."
Marin blinked, looking at the defiant Konohamaru, and whispered, "He kind of reminds me of Ishigami-kun."
Hearing this, Eriri was also a bit speechless.
True.
Thinking about it carefully, her man really did have quite a few 'underlings'.
Not just in the real world, but in other worlds too.
Ace in the One Piece World, and now Konohamaru in the Naruto World.
"Aniki is the strongest! Aniki should be Hokage!"
Konohamaru's voice grew louder, his small fists clenched tightly.
Then, Yu also stepped forward.
"Yeah, Senpai, if you don't sit in the Hokage's seat, who will?"
Beam, Four Gay Bros, and the others also looked on with crazy fanatism.
"Chainsaw-sama banzai!"
"That's right!"
"Boss! Boss! Boss!"
Four Gay Bros' voices grew louder and more synchronized, like an army chanting slogans.
Ace also responded.
"Makoto-sama, your abilities and prestige are unmatched in this village."
Then, the new player Kise enthusiastically waved his hand and joined in.
"Exactly! If Makoto-sama doesn't become Hokage, who will?!"
The other basketball club's members looked blankly at Kise, 'Wait, why are you getting involved?'
Kise looked at his teammates with frustration at their lack of understanding.
'Idiots, if not now, when would you suck up?'
And many of Konoha's native inhabitants also joined in.
Though mainly younger ones who hadn't seen Tsunade before…
But Makoto had already raised his hand to signal them to quiet down.
"Princess Tsunade is truly the person best suited for this position."
"I don't care about this seat. As long as I can serve Konoha, whether as a Genin or anything else, it doesn't matter to me."
As he spoke these words, the sunlight shone down, radiating a brilliant glow as if draping a layer of brilliance over Makoto.
That composed and indifferent demeanor, that air of 'I could, but I choose not to'—
Struck everyone present.
"So dazzling!"
"It's the sun!"
"No—" "It's the Makoto-sama!"
"It's Makoto-sama!"
"Makoto-sama!"
"Nishikawa-sama!"
The calls rose and fell, growing louder and more unified.
Everyone instinctively squinted, lowering their heads, not daring to look directly.
Yes, how could mortals dare to look directly at the sun?
With these words from Makoto, not only players, but also many natives were moved to tears.
Kurenai stood among the Jonin, her hands covering her mouth, tears streaming silently down her face.
"What a good child..."
"His beloved teacher is dead, but he... for Konoha... has sacrificed so much... yet asks for nothing in return..."
Asuma stood beside her, completely bewildered.
He inexplicably felt that his head was a bit heavy.