Silence.
For a moment, nobody understood what they had just read.
Then the village erupted.
"People without chakra can become Ninja?!"
"Is that possible?"
"Bloodline abilities?"
"This thing can give us Ninja Arts?"
"Is it really giving rewards?"
Some people looked excited. Others looked terrified. But the clans... The clans were different.
The Inuzuza Clan leaders did not celebrate. Neither did the Karasu, Yukiju, or Kuma Clans.
They watched. They listened. They waited for an attack.
"This could be enemy Ninja Art."
"Or some form of Genjutsu."
"Could another village have created this?"
"No known Ninja Art can do something like this."
"Then what is it?"
Nobody had an answer.
Meanwhile, Koga stood beneath the enormous screen with his mouth hanging open. His excitement had vanished.
"What..."
He stared at the words.
"This doesn’t look like a System for me."
His mind raced.
He looked at the direction of the center of the village. Since the messages were like this, it means the people were seeing it too. Everyone was seeing it. The entire village was reacting to it. Not just him.
Immediately, Koga’s stomach tightened, but he forced his thoughts to settle and calmed himself down.
He was a transmigrator. That meant he should have an advantage. He knew this world. He knew its history. He knew many of the major events. He knew things other people could not possibly know.
If these missions and games were connected to the Ninja World, then perhaps he could still use his knowledge to gain an advantage.
Koga’s eyes narrowed.
"Maybe this isn’t bad."
He finally calmed down completely. Whatever this thing was, he could still adapt. But something bothered him. A cold feeling crawled up his back. This System did not feel like it belonged to him. It felt bigger. Much bigger.
Koga stared at the sky with unknown worry.
Next, the screen flickered again. The entire village became silent.
New words appeared.
BEGINNING GIFTS.
The next line slowly formed.
THE FIVE STRONGEST WARRIORS OF KOYAGAKURE WILL RECEIVE GIFTS.
People gasped.
THESE FIVE WARRIORS HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO BECOMING THE BACKBONE OF THIS VILLAGE. THEY SHALL BE RECOGNIZED AS THE FIVE OVERLORDS OF KOYAGAKURE.
The crowd erupted again.
"The five strongest?"
"Who are they?"
"Could it be the clan heads?"
"Who is ranked fifth?"
Even Koga became curious.
He knew the four great clans. He knew the village had several powerful Ninja. But knowing their names was one thing. Knowing who stood at the top was another.
Koga looked up.
The screen flashed.
THE FIFTH OVERLORD SHALL RECEIVE THE FIRST GIFT.
A strange silence spread across Koyagakure. Everyone waited. The Inuzuza wolves growled softly. The Karasu vultures circled above. Snow Leopards raised their heads. The Ninja Bears stood completely still. Then the screen displayed a single name.
YUKIJU KEN!
The Yukiju Clan exploded with excitement.
"Ken!"
"He’s fifth!"
"Clan Head Yukiju Ken!"
A tall man stood among the Yukiju Clan. Yukiju Ken lifted his head. His expression was calm, but his eyes were filled with surprise. He had a Ninja Snow Leopard standing behind him. The massive feline was almost as tall as a grown man.
Its eyes were eyeing the sky screen oddly. Its sharp pressure was emitted slightly as it stared at it.
Ken frowned.
"What kind of reward..."
The screen flashed.
GIFT: UNKNOWN.
Ken’s eyes widened. The crowd fell silent. Then a thunderous cry echoed across the village.
"NNGGRAYAAWWW"
A powerful gust of wind slammed into the ground. Dust exploded around Yukiju Ken. His existing Ninja Snow Leopard had something spread behind it. The people nearby raised their arms to protect their faces.
"What is happening?!"
Ken turned and stared behind himself.
The air seemed to twist. A dark shape slowly appeared behind his first partner. At first, it was only a shadow. Then feathers began to form. A wing emerged. Then another. A strange massive body part that shouldn’t belong in that feline body took shape.
The ground trembled beneath its weight.
Ken’s eyes widened.
The shadow became solid. And then the Snow Leopard opened its enormous wings.
Yukiju Ken now stood in front of the newly emerged wings from his partner.
The gift of the Overlord Ranking. It just gave his partner a pair of wings.
The entire Hidden Wilderness Village stared in stunned silence. And above them, the enormous Sky Screen remained.
They were all anticipating what the reward was. Then the Sky Screen flickered. A new message appeared.
FIFTH OVERLORD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY YOUR REWARD TO THE WHOLE VILLAGE OF KOYAGAKURE?
The entire village immediately became quiet.
Everyone looked toward faceless Yukiju Ken on the screen.
Ken stared at the words for a few seconds.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
The answer was simple and the screen immediately flickered.
CONFIRMED.
The people immediately started murmuring.
"What did he get?"
"Why did he refuse?"
"Was the reward really that valuable?"
"Maybe it was a secret technique."
"Could it be a bloodline?"
Ken calmly turned toward the people around him.
"Why are you all staring at me?"
One of the younger Ninja hesitated.
"Clan Leader, everyone wants to know what you received."
Ken gave him a flat look.
"And?"
The young Ninja swallowed.
"Well..."
Ken folded his arms.
"As Ninja, what is the most important thing?"
The young man thought for a moment.
"Strength?"
"Wrong."
"Chakra?"
"Wrong."
"Experience?"
"Closer."
Ken looked toward the massive Sky Screen.
"Information."
The surrounding Ninjas of the Yukiju Clan immediately understood.
Ken continued.
"We have no idea who created that thing. We do not know whether other villages can see it. We do not know whether this Ranking is trustworthy. We do not even know what it wants from us."
He paused.
"So why would I reveal a new ability to everyone?"
Several Ninja nodded.
"That makes sense."
"There could be spies from other villages."
"Exactly."
Ken glanced toward his Snow Leopard. The beast stood beside him. Its white fur was covered with black spots, and two enormous wings had grown from its back.
Ken’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He still could not fully understand what had happened.
But one thing was obvious.
A Snow Leopard with wings was not something he wanted enemy villages to hear about before he understood it himself.
The Sky Screen flickered again.
THE FIFTH OVERLORD OF KOYAGAKURE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO DISPLAY HIS REWARD.
The crowd erupted.
"What?"
"He refused?"
"Why?"
"What did he get?"
"Is it really that powerful?"
The villagers began talking over one another.
Koga stood on the grass field, watching everything unfold. He was not surprised.
He had spent an entire past life reading stories about Ninja. He knew that information was often more valuable than strength.
A powerful technique was dangerous. A secret powerful technique was even more dangerous.
Still...
Koga sighed.
"That’s disappointing."
He had wanted to see the reward. He wanted to know exactly what kind of power the Sky Screen could give. Instead, he got nothing. Then one of the older Ninja nearby spoke loudly.
"Enough."
The surrounding villagers slowly quieted down.
The Ninja pointed toward the Yukiju Clan compound direction.
"The clan leader is right. To Ninja, information is everything. If he does not want to reveal his reward, then there is probably a reason."
Another Ninja nodded.
"We should respect that."
The murmuring slowly died.
Koga watched the crowd settle.
Then the Sky Screen changed again.
THE FOURTH OVERLORD SHALL NOW BE REVEALED.
The villagers immediately raised their heads.
"Who is fourth?"
The answer appeared.
KARASU MOIRA.
The Karasu Clan instantly became the center of attention.
A tall woman stood among them.
Several Vultures were perched around her, their sharp eyes watching the enormous screen.
Karasu Moira slowly raised her head.
"Me?"
Her expression remained calm.
A younger clan member immediately approached her.
"Clan Leader, your reward!"
Moira looked at the Sky Screen. Then she smiled faintly.
"I will not display it."
The crowd groaned.
"Again?"
"Why are they all hiding their rewards?"
"This is torture!"
Moira simply turned away.
"Information is valuable."
The villagers could only sigh. Then the Sky Screen changed once more.
THE THIRD OVERLORD.
The name appeared.
INUZUZA KIZA.
The reaction was immediate. The Inuzuza Clan became noisy.
"Inuzuza Kiza!"
"She is third!"
"That makes sense."
The strongest Matriarch of the Inuzuza Clan stood calmly with her Ninja Wolf beside her. The wolf’s ears twitched. Kiza looked toward the screen. "I am satisfied with the reward."
The Sky Screen displayed the question.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY YOUR REWARD?
Kiza’s eyes narrowed.
"No."
The villagers groaned again.
"You too?"
"Why does everyone keep hiding everything?"
Kiza did not even bother explaining. She simply turned toward her clan. "Do not ask."
Her tone ended the discussion.
Then the Sky Screen changed again.
THE SECOND OVERLORD.
The villagers held their breath.
The name appeared.
KUMA RAI.
A massive man stepped forward. He was enormous. His shoulders were broad enough to make most men beside him look small. A giant Ninja Bear stood behind him. The beast was covered in thick dark fur and looked capable of crushing a tree with one paw.
Kuma Rai looked up at the screen.
The message appeared.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY YOUR REWARD?
Rai scratched his beard.
"No."
The villagers nearly screamed.
"Again?!"
Kuma Rai laughed.
"Why would I show my cards?"
He turned around.
"My enemies would love that."
The villagers had nothing to say to that. One by one, the strongest people in Koyagakure had received rewards. And one by one, they had refused to reveal them.
The villagers were frustrated. But their frustration quickly disappeared. Because something far more important remained. The number one spot. Everyone looked toward the Sky Screen. The four great clans became completely silent.
Koga stood among the crowd. His heart began beating faster. "Number one..." He whispered.
Who could it be?
He knew the strongest people in Koyagakure. Or at least, he thought he did.
The Sky Screen flickered.
The words appeared slowly.
FINALLY...
The village became silent.
THE NUMBER ONE OVERLORD OF KOYAGAKURE SHALL BE REVEALED.