Ryosuke returned.
Yamanaka Inoichi was still spacing out in the chair. When he saw Ryosuke's gaze cast over, he shivered, raised a finger, and signaled to rest a bit longer.
Ryosuke waved his hand, letting him continue to rest, then opened the system interface to check Killer Queen's status.
[Killer Queen: Bites the Dust]
[Six stars]
[Level: Level 5 (maximum 6)]
[Stand Owner: Kira Yoshikage]
[Abilities:
First Bomb: Can turn objects touched by the hand into bombs. When the right thumb is pressed down, it will detonate and make it explode.
Second Bomb: Sheer Heart Attack.
Third Bomb: Bites the Dust]
[Activation conditions:
First: extreme despair.
Second: choose a target to bury the bomb in, nicknamed the "bomber man," and tell them the secret that "Ryosuke is a transmigrator."]
[Once both conditions are met, Bites the Dust can be activated, rewinding time to one hour earlier.]
Other than Ryosuke himself, no one remembers the events within that erased one hour. Only the "bomber man" will remember the fact that Ryosuke is a transmigrator.
Once someone asks the "bomber man" about Ryosuke's secret, or the "bomber man" takes the initiative to reveal Ryosuke's secret, Bites the Dust will be triggered, and time will rewind one hour earlier.
When casting Bites the Dust, Killer Queen cannot be used, and it occupies one Stand slot. Using other Stands will be restricted.
[Note 1: Meow]
[Note 2: The regret medicine has arrived. But, medicine is three parts poison. Have you really thought it through?]
———
Ryosuke finished reading Killer Queen's introduction.
'As for my secret, this is reasonable. Other than being a transmigrator and having a system, I don't have anything shameful… Actually, even these two things aren't shameful.'
Ryosuke's friends wouldn't distance themselves from him just because he had a system.
His enemies also wouldn't treat him kindly just because he came from another world.
Whether transmigrator or system.
What people followed or hated was still Ryosuke himself.
''Casting Bites the Dust cannot use Killer Queen', this part is the same as Kira Yoshikage, makes sense.'
'After all, when the third bomb is triggered, Killer Queen has already drilled into the bomber man's eye.'
'The key is the 'Stand slot'…'
Ryosuke could only use two five-star Stands simultaneously for about 3–4 seconds.
After Killer Queen upgraded to six stars, the time might shorten by 2–3 seconds.
'This means, once I maintain in 'Bites the Dust' state, Stands like Star Platinum: The World, Aerosmith, I can only summon for a short while, and time stop at most only lasts 4.99 seconds.'
This, for Ryosuke, was not a small weakening.
'But… thinking carefully, I'm not Kira Yoshikage. In the future, will there really be a scenario where I must hide my identity for a long time, to the point of always maintaining Bites the Dust?'
In Ryosuke's plans, the only use for Bites the Dust was in a true desperate situation, using it to rewind an hour and reverse some mistakes and tragedies.
And that's it.
Ryosuke then consumed 6000 soul fragments to raise it to max level.
The planting speed of the first bomb increased from 0.5 seconds to 0.3 seconds, the explosion range from 3 meters in diameter to 5 meters in diameter.
With a planting time of 0.3 seconds, even though Killer Queen at level six reduced Aerosmith's simultaneous existence time, originally firing 8 bombs in 4 seconds, now it became firing 10 bombs in 3 seconds, the power instead increased.
It's just that Killer Queen's finger pressing the detonation switch would probably start smoking.
Second Bomb: Sheer Heart Attack, the little tank, though Ryosuke hadn't used it yet, its speed, precision, explosion power, and durability were all improved.
At this point, the savings he had accumulated in recent days were all spent in one go.
'Although I told Oda Ieyasu that the joy from spending is temporary, still…'
Ryosuke squinted his eyes, sat in the chair in a more comfortable posture, lifted the iced green tea on the table, took a big gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"It's really very joyful."
———
To celebrate, that evening Ryosuke invited Jiraiya and the others to eat at a restaurant.
In Morioh Town, Ryosuke had eaten who knows how many meals of Kawajiri Shinobu's. His mouth and stomach were dry and tasteless. He just wanted to eat some big fish and meat, something spicy and refreshing.
After asking around, the Japanese cuisine in the Naruto world was still on the light side.
Later, on Naruto's strong recommendation, the group decided to go to Ichiraku Ramen.
Not many people came to eat noodles together. Tsunade was working overtime, Yamanaka Ino supported her pale-faced father home to rest, friends had left, and Sakura was too embarrassed to stay, so she also left.
In the end, the ones who joined this simple celebration banquet were only Ryosuke, Sasuke, Rei, Jiraiya, and Naruto.
Ichiraku Ramen was Japanese-style tonkotsu ramen. The broth was thick, the ingredients plentiful. A bite of noodles with a bite of meat, plus the autumn air turning cool, eating a steaming hot bowl of noodles warmed you from inside to out. If you got tired of it, there was still bamboo shoots.
'But to really cut the greasiness, you need a bite of garlic.'
While waiting for the noodles to be served, Ryosuke was musing, when he noticed Sasuke, Naruto, and Rei, the three half-grown kids, huddled together whispering, occasionally pointing at Naruto's belly.
"When did these three little brats get along so well?"
"Ramen's here! Everyone please enjoy!"
Smiling Teuchi brought two bowls of noodles over, placing them before Ryosuke and Jiraiya.
Jiraiya poured Ryosuke a cup of sake and asked, "Do you know, for a true ramen connoisseur, is the first step to drink the soup, or to eat the noodles first?"
Ryosuke, who had just picked up his chopsticks, froze.
"There's a distinction?"
Seeing Jiraiya's serious expression, Ryosuke had to think carefully, "Definitely drink the soup first, let the broth adjust the taste buds, then eat the noodles with a bit lighter taste, to feel the chewiness of the ramen."
Jiraiya crossed his arms and slowly shook his head.
"The first step is to appreciate the ramen well. To take in the whole bowl, breathe the steam, and carefully admire it."
Ryosuke was dumbfounded.
'So many formalities over such a little thing…'
"Don't listen to his nonsense."
Teuchi, seeing the two not starting to eat, quickly came over to explain, "Jiraiya is old, his teeth aren't good, he has to soak the noodles soft before eating. To save face, he made up this nonsense… Don't learn from him."
Jiraiya laughed heartily.
Bowl after bowl of noodles were served. The five of them ate with loud slurps.
When the noodles were done, Sasuke and the other two went out to buy ice pops.
Only Ryosuke and Jiraiya were left, drinking cup after cup with some side dishes.
Jiraiya's nose turned red. Clearly, he was a little drunk.
For a trained ninja to get drunk, it could only be two reasons.
Truly happy enough to put down all defenses.
Or some matter weighed in the heart was mixed into the alcohol, invisibly deepening the potency.
"Ryosuke, I really envy you, and envy the Land of Water."
The changes in the Land of Water, smart people had all seen.
Right now it wasn't great, but as long as it kept moving forward at the current pace, it would only get better and better.
But such things could only be envied, not forced.
First, once in a hundred years comes someone like Oda Ieyasu, with such management talent, wholeheartedly helping the common people of Ryosuke.
Second, Jiraiya pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his chest, placed it on the table, and slid it to Ryosuke.
"Recently in the Land of Fire, things haven't been so peaceful. There's a group of people…"
He raised his head, looking at Ryosuke.
"They're coming for the 'Awakening Trend.'"
Ryosuke picked up the paper, his brows slowly furrowing.
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