Chapter 463: Ninja Way Origins Research Society’s Founding Ceremony (Part 8)

In truth, Madara had already accumulated several arguments capable of refuting Shinichi Higashino.

From the fundamental nature of chakra, to the greed and attachment buried deep within human nature, to why the Infinite Tsukuyomi alone was the true solution, every single point could tear apart the young man’s grand speech today.

Yet all of those arguments still lay scattered throughout his mind, lacking any coherent structure; they had not yet reached the point where they could be presented.

More importantly, now was not the time.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi could not be exposed, and without revealing it, Madara Uchiha truly had not yet figured out what words he could use to refute Shinichi Higashino.

After all, Shinichi Higashino held half of the Sage of Six Paths’ original ideals.

Genjo glanced at him but said nothing more.

"If you, senior brother, aren’t going, then this humble monk shall."

The moment Genjo finished speaking, cries of astonishment erupted from the surrounding audience as his entire body rose into the air and drifted toward the main stage.

Flight!

Countless eyes throughout the venue widened simultaneously.

The Shinobi World was vast, yet there were only a handful of ninja capable of flight.

The third Tsuchikage, Onoki, was one of them.

Shinichi Higashino, who had created his own Wind Style Nintaijutsu, was another.

Beyond those two, it was nearly impossible to find a third.

And now, another party capable of walking through the sky had appeared.

Moreover, he was a young monk so extraordinarily handsome that he scarcely seemed mortal.

When he first appeared at the venue, he had already attracted no small amount of whispered discussion simply because his face was far too beautiful.

Now, as he strolled through the air, his transcendent bearing, something that seemed to belong only in paintings and legends, left no one able to take their eyes off him.

As they watched him approach the main stage, every member of Konoha’s upper leadership frowned simultaneously.

Danzo Shimura’s gaze instantly turned cold, and his lone hand rose slightly as he prepared to issue an order to the Root operatives awaiting his command.

But before he could speak, the young man on the stage spoke first.

"Quite an impressive ability."

Shinichi said while looking toward the white-robed figure steadily approaching through the air, genuine admiration in his voice.

Danzō’s raised hand paused midway before slowly lowering again.

Meanwhile, under the gaze of tens of thousands of spectators, Genjo landed steadily at the edge of the platform, pressed his palms together, and smiled faintly at Shinichi.

"My respects, benefactor Shinichi Higashino."

"This humble monk is Genjo. Having traveled here during my wanderings, I listened to the benefactor’s magnificent discourse just now below the stage, and it left me deeply moved. You spoke of the Sage of Six Paths’ original purpose in founding Ninja Creed."

"You spoke of chakra existing to connect people’s hearts rather than to slaughter one another. You spoke of how ninja, beyond serving merely as weapons, could also bring food, warmth, and peace to the world. This humble monk wholeheartedly agrees."

"Since descending from the mountains, this humble monk has traveled through many nations. Everywhere I have gone, I have seen nothing but war, famine, and refugees displaced from their homes. Today, seeing the benefactor use chakra to cultivate rice and provide the common people with enough to eat, even though I am a monk, I too wish to contribute what little strength I have to this undertaking."

With that, Genjo smiled as he lightly pinched his fingers together.

The next moment, before the utterly astonished eyes of everyone present, especially the Konoha Council, whose expressions changed almost simultaneously, green vines and branches suddenly began emerging all around the young monk.

The vines and branches poured forth from empty space, twisting and stretching through the air.

Tender buds sprouted from their tips at a speed visible to the naked eye. Leaves unfurled. Flower buds formed, bloomed, and withered in an instant, completing the entire life cycle of a plant from germination to fruition before everyone’s eyes.

The entire process was tranquil and effortless, utterly devoid of any worldly spectacle. It almost seemed like an illusion.

But no one with any real knowledge believed what they had just witnessed was an illusion.

Wood Style!?

The third Hokage’s grip on his pipe suddenly tightened while a sharp flash of disbelief crossed Danzo Shimura’s eyes.

Beside him, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were likewise stunned, their faces filled with utter disbelief.

Tsunade shot to her feet, staring fixedly at the white-robed young monk upon the stage.

Wood Style!

It was the unique Kekkei Genkai of the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

It was the power that had pacified the age of warring states, and it was the very foundation upon which Hidden Leaf Village had been built.

Ever since the first Hokage’s death, Konoha had devoted immeasurable effort to recreating that power, yet they had never succeeded.

And now, without the slightest warning, Wood Style had appeared in the hands of an impossibly young monk of completely unknown origin.

Even Madara was stunned.

Although, upon seeing the prayer beads created with Wood Style in Genjo’s hands earlier, he had already harbored a few suspicions, the moment those emerald vines truly emerged from around the young monk’s body and spread their branches beneath the morning sunlight, he still felt an indescribable shock.

Hashirama’s Wood Style...

The unique Wood Style belonging to the only man he had ever acknowledged, yet ultimately gone separate ways with... had truly been mastered by someone else?

And beyond his disbelief, there also arose within him a faint sense of joy that even he himself could neither explain nor fully understand.

While everyone remained immersed in shock, Shinichi on the stage also seemed momentarily taken aback before asking,

"The technique monk Genjo just used... Was that Wood Style?"

"Indeed." Genjo nodded.

"I see."

Shinichi nodded calmly.

Instead, Genjo became curious.

"Benefactor Shinichi Higashino, aren’t you going to ask this humble monk where my Wood Style came from?"

"What you, monk Genjo, really mean to ask is why I haven’t questioned whether your Wood Style has anything to do with the first Hokage, isn’t it?"

Shinichi smiled.

"There is no need. The first Hokage’s Wood Style was, in essence, a Kekkei Genkai formed by fusing Light, Earth, and Water chakra natures. Theoretically speaking, any ninja who masters all three chakra natures could potentially create their own Wood Style. The first Hokage was able to do it, and there is no guarantee there won’t be others after him. I only have one question: did you, monk Genjo, cultivate this Wood Style through your own efforts?"

"This humble monk comprehended it himself through the three paths of Light, Earth, and Water."

With his palms pressed together, Genjo answered without the slightest change in expression.

"Then that settles it. The first Hokage was able to create it; you were able to create it; and in the future, there may well be others who create it too. Those chakra natures have always existed. No one can monopolize Light, Earth, or water. Since they were all realized through one’s own understanding, what is there to keep questioning?"

After a brief pause, Shinichi continued, "On the other hand, since you’re willing to contribute to hybrid rice research, you are naturally welcome here. With your Wood Style, you will undoubtedly be able to play an irreplaceable role in areas such as shortening breeding cycles and directing crop improvement."

At that, he suddenly smiled.