The Sky Screen remained bright above Koyagakure. The villagers and the Ninja waited for its next revelation. Even the four great clans watched without speaking.
Koga stood on the grassy field with the tiny Ignilion beside him, his eyes fixed on the enormous words floating across the sky. His heart was full of worry, thinking the sky screen would reveal his new beast.
Then the message changed.
THE SECOND LEGENDARY BEAST REWARD SHALL REMAIN SECRET.
Koga blinked at the message.
"Secret?"
The Sky Screen continued.
THE OVERLORD RANKING HAS ALREADY REVEALED IGNILION TO THE PEOPLE OF KOYAGAKURE. THEREFORE, THE SECOND LEGENDARY BEAST SHALL NOT BE DISPLAYED.
Koga’s shoulders immediately relaxed.
"Oh..."
He let out a long breath.
"Thank goodness."
He had already experienced enough embarrassment from having the entire village watch his tiny newborn Ignilion get introduced as some terrifying legendary beast. He did not want another creature appearing above the village while everyone stared at him.
Koga rubbed his chest.
"At least that stays hidden."
Then another message appeared.
AFTER ALL, THIS REWARD WAS ALSO A PART OF ONE OF THE FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS.
Koga’s expression froze.
"...Five?"
The Sky Screen continued.
THERE SHALL BE FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS.
THE NUMBER IS SMALL COMPARED TO THE MANY REWARDS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE OVERLORD RANKING. BUT IT WAS STILL PLENTY. AND THE BEST PART? IT’S NOT LIMITED TO THE NINJAS!
Koga stared at the words. His relief vanished. "Ultimate missions?"
He frowned.
"What kind of missions?"
The Sky Screen did not answer.
Instead, it continued explaining the rewards.
The villagers immediately became excited.
"Five Ultimate Missions!"
"So there are five enormous rewards?"
"Maybe each one gives something incredible!"
"Maybe we can get legendary weapons!"
"Maybe we can get bloodlines!"
"Maybe we can become Ninja!"
The Villager Chat exploded.
Villager Mina: FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS!
Villager Toma: DOES EVERYONE GET TO PARTICIPATE?
Villager Kaze: OF COURSE! IT LITERALY SAYS WE ARE INCLUDED.
Villager Haku: WHAT ARE THE REWARDS?!
Villager Sora: CAN WE GET CHAKRA FROM THEM?
Villager Mina: I WANT A NINJA ART!
Villager Toma: I WANT A BIG HOUSE!
Villager Haku: THAT’S YOUR FIRST WISH?
Villager Toma: YES.
Villager Haku: AIM HIGHER.
Villager Toma: A BIGGER HOUSE.
The villagers laughed. The excitement spread through the village. For ordinary people who had spent their entire lives watching Ninja stand above them, the possibility of receiving power was almost impossible to ignore.
One farmer stared at the Sky Screen with tears in his eyes. "If these missions can really give people power..."
His wife looked at him.
"Then?"
He clenched his fists.
"Maybe our children won’t have to spend their whole lives being ordinary villagers."
Nearby, a young woman whispered to her friend.
"I could become a Ninja?"
"Maybe."
"I could actually learn chakra?"
"That’s what the System said."
The woman stared at her hands.
"I never thought that could happen."
The Ninja were just as excited, although their reactions were more complicated.
The Ninja Chat filled with messages.
Genin Raku: FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS!
Chunin Sora: This could change the village completely.
Jonin Taro: More importantly, the rewards might change the balance of power between the clans.
Genin Raku: You always have to make everything serious.
Jonin Taro: Because it is serious.
Chunin Sora: He’s right.
Genin Raku: Fine. But I’m still excited.
The clan Ninja began discussing possibilities.
Karasu Ninja: If one of these missions grants a powerful bloodline, everything could change.
Yukiju Ninja: If it grants a powerful summon, the same thing could happen.
Kuma Ninja: If it grants a forbidden technique, we could become much stronger.
Inuzuza Ninja: If it grants chakra resources, ordinary villagers could become Ninja.
The chat became increasingly chaotic.
Then the Top Overlord Chat appeared. The remaining Overlords stared at the announcement.
Yukiju Ken: Five Ultimate Missions.
Karasu Moira: That is a considerable opportunity.
Inuzuza Kiza: We should not underestimate them.
Kuma Rai’s name was still among the current top positions. But he watched from below with an unpleasant expression.
"This village is becoming troublesome."
One of his clan members asked:
"Clan Head?"
Rai crossed his arms.
"If these missions provide rewards stronger than ordinary Overlord rewards, every village will fight over them."
The others nodded.
Nobody said the obvious thought aloud. If they could obtain those rewards... They could potentially dominate neighboring villages. And if another village obtained them first... They could become their enemy’s nightmare.
The Top Overlord Chat remained polite.
Yukiju Ken: Congratulations to everyone.
Karasu Moira: Indeed.
Inuzuza Kiza: This is an opportunity for Koyagakure.
But behind their calm words, each Clan Head was already thinking.
Who could participate?
How could the missions be completed?
Could the rewards be obtained by force?
Could the System be manipulated?
Could the missions be used to strengthen their clans?
Nobody trusted something that had appeared from nowhere.
Then the Sky Screen spoke again.
GREAT, RIGHT? THE PEOPLE OF KOYAGAKURE ARE FORTUNATE.
The villagers immediately became quiet.
OTHER NINJA VILLAGES HAVE NOT RECEIVED THESE FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS.
The entire village gasped.
"What?"
"They don’t have them?"
"We’re the only ones?"
The System continued.
THE FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS WERE CREATED BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL.
The villagers immediately knew who it was.
Koga froze.
"No."
He slowly pointed at himself.
"Me again?
"Sky Screen, are you seriously putting in a difficult situation?"
The Sky Screen answered.
INUZUZA KOGA.
Koga’s expression became miserable.
"Please stop."
The System continued.
THE EXISTENCE OF INUZUZA KOGA CAUSED THE OVERLORD RANKING TO ENCOUNTER CONDITIONS IT HAD NEVER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED. THE FIVE ULTIMATE MISSIONS ARE A RESULT OF THAT ANOMALY. KOYAGAKURE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR HIS EXISTENCE.
The villagers became excited again. Then someone typed into the Villager Chat.
Villager Mina: THANK YOU, INUZUZA KOGA!
Another message immediately followed.
Villager Toma: THANK YOU, NUMBER ONE OVERLORD!
Villager Haku: THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THESE MISSIONS!
Villager Sora: WE OWE YOU ONE!
Koga stared at the messages.
"What?"
The chat continued.
Villager Mina: BECAUSE OF YOU, ORDINARY PEOPLE MIGHT BECOME NINJA!
Villager Toma: I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!
Villager Haku: PLEASE BECOME EVEN STRONGER!
Koga’s face twitched.
"Why are you thanking me?"
He had not done anything. He had not created the missions. He had not asked for the System. He had not even understood why he was ranked number one. Yet the villagers were treating him like some legendary hero.
The Ninja Chat became even louder.
Genin Raku: THANK YOU, INUZUZA KOGA!
Chunin Sora: THIS COULD CHANGE THE FUTURE OF KOYAGAKURE!
Jonin Taro: Whatever your true identity is, you have given this village an opportunity.
Inuzuza Ninja: THANK YOU, KOGA!
Yukiju Ninja: OUR VILLAGE HAS NEVER RECEIVED AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS!
Karasu Ninja: WE WILL NOT WASTE IT!
Kuma Ninja: THANK YOU!
Koga’s face became increasingly uncomfortable.
"Stop."
Nobody heard him but more messages appeared.
Villager Mina: KOGA IS THE HERO OF KOYAGAKURE!
Genin Raku: LONG LIVE THE NUMBER ONE OVERLORD!
Villager Haku: HE’S ONLY SIXTEEN!
Chunin Sora: AND HE’S ALREADY CHANGED THE VILLAGE!
Koga covered his face.
"This is getting worse."
The four Clan Heads watched the messages.
Inuzuza Kiza stared at the name.
Her expression was thoughtful.
"So..."
She slowly spoke.
"This unknown Koga has already changed the fate of the village."
Karasu Moira nodded.
"It seems so."
Yukiju Ken crossed his arms.
"And we still don’t know who he is."
Kiza looked toward the Sky Screen.
"We will."
The System suddenly interrupted.
THE FIRST ULTIMATE MISSION SHALL NOW BE REVEALED.
The villagers became silent.
Koga slowly lowered his hands.
The Sky Screen flickered.
ULTIMATE MISSION NUMBER FIVE.
Everyone blinked.
"Five?"
"Why is it starting with five?"
"Maybe the missions are numbered in reverse just like the Overlord ranking!"
The System continued.
MISSION TITLE: THE SECRET OF INUZUZA KIZA.
The Inuzuza Clan immediately became silent.
Kiza’s eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
The next words appeared.
QUESTION: WHO DOES INUZUZA KIZA, MATRIARCH OF THE INUZUZA CLAN, LIKE THE MOST?
The entire village froze.
Koga’s eyes widened.
The Sky Screen continued.
WHY HAS INUZUZA KIZA NEVER FORMED A FAMILY? WHY HAS SHE DEDICATED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO THE INUZUZA CLAN?
The Inuzuza Clan became completely silent.
Kiza stared at the enormous words.
Nobody dared speak.
Then a villager slowly typed.
Villager Mina: Wait...
Another message appeared.
Villager Haku: We’re supposed to find out who she likes?
Then:
Villager Toma: THIS IS THE ULTIMATE MISSION?!
The Villager Chat and the Ninja Chat followed.
Genin Raku: THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
Chunin Sora: Don’t say that.
Genin Raku: Why?
Chunin Sora: Because Kiza is probably reading this.
Genin Raku: Oh.
Koga stood on the grass field, staring upward.
He had expected a mission involving some terrifying monster. Maybe a dangerous battlefield. Maybe a world changing treasure. Or Worse, about himself again.
But instead, the System had chosen to expose the private life of one of the strongest women in Koyagakure.
Koga’s mouth opened slightly.
"What is this?"
"What kind of Ultimate Mission is this?"