The ten seconds passed in the blink of an eye. The countdown flashed rapidly, and in the final three seconds, a pounding thump-thump echoed—
Making the tension skyrocket.
[Answer Time Over. Correct Answer: 4 — A Remote Border Town.]
[Those who answered correctly are: Konoha's Hokage Tsunade, Hyūga Neji of Konoha, and Tsuchikage Ōnoki.]
[Tsunade receives: Comprehensive Enhancement Serum — greatly increases strength, speed, and chakra, while enhancing all physical attributes.]
[Hyūga Neji receives: Hyūga Branch Family Caged Bird Seal Removal Scroll.]
[Ōnoki receives: Rejuvenation — 20 years younger.]
The moment the rewards were announced—
Everyone erupted.
Power.
Lifespan.
These were the ultimate desires of all.
Tsunade: "Shikaku, as expected of Konoha's smartest shinobi—you actually calculated it!"
Nara Shikaku: "Haha… I finally didn't fail my duty. Now I can relax."
Akimichi Chōji: "Shikamaru, your dad is amazing—Sugoi!"
Nara Shikamaru: "With Konoha in this situation, we can't afford to take anything lightly anymore."
Shikamaru looked at the ruins of Konoha.
The once-thriving village was gone.
Countless homes reduced to rubble.
Who knew how many people were still buried beneath it?
At a time like this—
If they didn't get serious, it would all be over.
Tsunade carefully examined the silver-white vial in her hand, sparkling faintly like starlight.
"So this is the Enhancement Serum… Can it really do everything it claims? Increase strength, speed—even chakra?"
She held it tightly.
As Hokage—
She had watched helplessly as the village was destroyed.
Watched as civilians died before they could even cry for help.
Watched as shinobi fell one after another.
That feeling of powerlessness—
Was worse than death.
Without hesitation—
She drank it in one gulp.
In an instant—
It felt like her entire body was engulfed in heat.
Every cell trembled violently.
As a medical ninja, she could clearly sense—
The energy within each cell multiplying.
Power surged endlessly through her body.
Even her nerve responses felt faster.
Tsunade was already among the strongest—
Even Hashirama wouldn't casually take a direct hit from her.
But now—
She had reached an entirely new level.
Her previous weakness—having strength but lacking matching speed—
Was now greatly improved.
If she faced Pain again—
And he dared speak arrogantly in front of her—
She would smash him with a single punch!
Meanwhile—
Inside the Tsuchikage's conference hall—
Gasps of shock filled the room.
Everyone stared at Ōnoki in disbelief.
If they hadn't witnessed everything firsthand—
They would have thought he had been replaced.
He had become twenty years younger.
What did that mean?
Ōnoki had been seventy-eight—
Nearly eighty.
But now—
White hair darkened.
Even his bald crown sprouted new growth.
"Old man… you really got younger!" Kitsuchi exclaimed.
"Geezer, if you get any younger, I won't even recognize you!" Kurotsuchi said, eyes wide.
Ōnoki tugged at his beard—
And found it had turned black!
Overjoyed, he burst into laughter.
"My back doesn't ache anymore! My bones aren't creaking! Hahaha!"
Even his voice was stronger.
"Too bad I didn't get a revival item…" Ōnoki muttered, shaking his head. "If that brat Deidara could be revived, I'd teach him a proper lesson!"
"That kid's got problems—always shouting about 'art'!"
"And that Uchiha Itachi… truly infuriating!"
Deidara, once a talented shinobi of Iwagakure, had been highly gifted.
But after losing to Itachi—
He joined the Akatsuki.
Kurotsuchi pouted.
"My senior is obsessed. The village couldn't keep him. Maybe only the Akatsuki suits him."
"But still… I'd like to see that annoying face again."
"Though this time… the Hyūga branch family being freed from the Caged Bird Seal—that's something no one expected."
Outside Konoha—
Along a forest path—
Neji, who had not yet returned from a mission, gripped the scroll tightly, his hands trembling with excitement.
The Caged Bird Seal.
A nightmare since he was three years old.
Even a genius like him—
Was destined only to protect the main family.
To die for them.
But now—
His fate could change.
The fate of the entire branch family could change.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
"Neji, you must think of the bigger picture. After the viewing ends, hand it over to me!!!"
Hyūga Hiashi, upon hearing the news, had initially been delighted.
After all, someone from the Hyūga clan had finally received a reward.
But when the nature of the reward was revealed—
His face turned pale.
Shock.
Anger.
And an unquestionable authority filled his voice.