As the final results of the reward analysis played out, the entirety of the ninja world had yet to awaken from the shock. Then, as abruptly as they had appeared, the live broadcast screens scattered across every village vanished—disappearing into nothingness, as though they had never existed at all.
Their sudden disappearance conveyed a single, chilling message to all onlookers: the space was now preparing to issue exclusive rewards.
The meaning was obvious.
And as realization dawned, unrest spread. Across the shinobi world, countless dissatisfied voices rose in speculation. With no screen left to watch, many began theorizing wildly, their imaginations filling the void. What kind of unimaginable personal reward would the space offer? Especially when the previous team rewards had already been so mysterious, and so overwhelmingly powerful?
Could individual excellence truly surpass the might of such collective boons?
Inside the examination space, the signature white mist began to surge and swirl again. It was clear to all present: whatever happened now would be hidden from the eyes of the rest of the world. This moment belonged only to them.
Nagato's gaze swept across the other contestants. Then he reached out and calmly took hold of the golden token floating at the center of the space.
It was a lone Make-up Order—an object connected directly to the rules of the examination space. For Nagato, someone who sought absolute control to achieve peace, there was no possibility he would allow it to fall into another's hands.
Fortunately, neither Orochimaru, Jiraiya, nor Black Zetsu spoke a word. Despite the glimmer of desire in their eyes, they understood well: the current balance of power left no room for challenge.
Whoever dared reach for that brand would be signing a death sentence—facing not only Nagato's wrath, but the collective force of Pain and the entirety of Akatsuki.
Nagato's voice echoed solemnly, "Exam space—issue the exclusive rewards."
At once, the ethereal voice replied:
> [Exclusive Reward: "Scarlet Doctrine"; Recipient: Uzumaki Nagato]
[Exclusive Reward: "Gate of Time"; Recipient: Uchiha Itachi]
[Additional Reward: "Water of Life"; Recipient: Angel Konan]
[Note: Exclusive rewards can only be used by the recipient.]
In that moment, detailed knowledge of the rewards flooded the minds of the three recipients.
For Uchiha Itachi and Konan, their gifts took shape with crystalline clarity. But for Nagato—what appeared in his mind was a direct mental infusion… a vision.
The words resounded like scripture:
> "Murder cannot resolve conflict.
War cannot forge peace.
Ninjutsu is the primary productive force.
To cultivate peace, one must begin with the young.
Learn—for the sake of the world."
The vision began to play out in his mind's eye. And though only the prologue had begun, the words alone sent chills surging through Nagato's entire body.
A deep, almost prophetic instinct welled up within him—somehow, he knew. This so-called Scarlet Doctrine contained the path he had always sought… a method to realize true peace in the shinobi world.
His breath caught in anticipation.
Then the vision expanded.
From darkness, a vast starry sky unfurled. One lone celestial body lit up the void—a shimmering blue planet, quietly rotating.
It was beautiful.
Then, as if diving through the cosmos itself, Nagato found himself plummeting toward the surface of the blue world. Had it not been for the persistent whisper in his mind reminding him that this was only a memory projection and held no danger, Nagato might've unleashed Shinra Tensei from sheer instinct.
Suddenly, the scenery shifted again.
Towering buildings. Educational institutions. Streets teeming with vehicles and pedestrians. Orderly movement. Urban peace.
Nagato was dumbfounded.
He stared with wide eyes at the unfathomable civilization around him. The people were calm—some walked with purpose, others with ease. But what stunned him most was what he didn't see.
No fear.
No anxiety.
No haunted expressions or cautious glances.
Instead, in their eyes, he saw something foreign to him: confidence. Stability. Even… pride?
A soft murmur escaped his lips: What is this place…? Is there truly no war here?
He couldn't even find the right words to describe this world.
Yet deep inside, one truth burned clearly: This was the peace he had always imagined—and it was even more beautiful than he had dreamed.
But the dreamscape shifted again.
This time, he sat inside a classroom. Before him, an elderly teacher banged his cane on the blackboard, saliva flying with every word.
"Don't daydream during lecture! Yes, you, the new kid—don't look away!"
"Tch, worst class I've ever seen…"
"Lesson one: Tomorrow can be better."
Nagato stared, jaw hanging open.
For a moment, the God of Pain… was dazed.
---
Elsewhere in the exam space, Uchiha Itachi stood still, his attention fixed on a miniature door floating before him—no larger than his palm.
He hadn't expected this. That the exam space would issue a personal reward for his performance… was beyond him.
> [Gate of Time: Allows user to return to any moment in their past for 5 hours. Events altered will affect the present timeline.]
As this terrifying truth unraveled in his mind, Itachi's breath hitched.
Time travel…? Modification of the past…?
He froze.
This wasn't some genjutsu or experimental ninjutsu. It was the power to bend reality—on par with the most forbidden techniques of the Sage Era.
His hands trembled involuntarily.
In an instant, his Sharingan whirled into the Mangekyō pattern.
He closed his eyes, steadying himself with slow, practiced breaths.
This… this is too dangerous.
If such a door fell into the hands of certain people—people like Danzo, or even Madara—the consequences could be cataclysmic.
But Itachi… had his own reasons.
His mind flashed to the night of the Uchiha massacre. To the masked man who claimed to be Madara. To the secrets within the Uchiha stone tablet and the inconsistencies that lingered even now.
He had to go to Konoha. Had to confirm whether the masked man truly was Madara… and whether something had been altered in the clan's domain.
Regardless of when—or even if—he used this reward, preparations would have to begin now.
---
Meanwhile, Konan stood silently, a small green vial in her hands.
> [Water of Life: Fully restores all injuries.]
One sentence.
That was all it took to make her grip falter, her hands trembling.
Her lips quivered as she asked softly, "Exam space… can this be used for Nagato?"
> [Only exclusive rewards are restricted. All others may be shared.]
!!
Tears welled up in Konan's eyes.
She couldn't hold them back.
At last... there's hope.
Since Nagato's legs were destroyed, they had tried countless treatments. Each time, they were left devastated. Every promise ended in failure.
Nagato's despair grew deeper with every attempt.
But now…
Now, there was a chance for his body to heal. To walk again. To be free again.
Konan clutched the vial like it was the most precious thing in the world.
And indeed—it was. The power to heal any wound? A single whisper of such a miracle could ignite frenzy across the entire ninja world.
Because what shinobi didn't carry scars—on their body or soul?
Even more than healing… this was the promise of renewed life.
---
As the personal rewards settled, several giant leaderboards unfurled in the sky above the space.
But curiously, they only revealed the top entries before freezing:
> [Ninjutsu Ranking: #1 – Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion (Ōkashō Rinbo)]
[Taijutsu Ranking: #1 – Eight Gates Released Formation (Hachimon Tonkō no Jin)]
[Fuinjutsu Ranking: #1 – Planetary Devastation (Chibaku Tensei)]
[Spiritual Ranking: #1 – Demonic Statue of the Outer Path (Gedō Mazō)]
---
Simultaneously, within the void, the unseen host of the quiz space received their own notifications:
> [Rewarding Host with Standard Shinobi Chakra]
[Rewarding Host with the Three Basic Techniques (Henge, Bunshin, Kawarimi)]
[Rewarding Host with 5 D-Rank Ninjutsu]
[Rewarding Host with 1 C-Rank Ninjutsu]
[Rewarding Host with Intermediate-Level Taijutsu Skill: Moon Step]
[All other pending rewards have been withheld.]