Shinichi understood very clearly that at this point in time, it was unsuitable to talk about revolution or overthrowing old systems. Doing so would attract enormous resistance and upheaval.

The best method was to package every idealistic vision as a return to and revival of ancient orthodoxy.

Raising the banner of the Sage of Six Paths and using returning to the essence as the slogan was far easier for people to accept and also carried greater moral legitimacy than openly overturning tradition.

The six classics annotate me? I annotate the six classics!

The moment his words fell, the entire hall descended into a shocked silence.

A moment later, Jiraiya became so excited he nearly jumped to his feet. His blazing eyes stared fixedly at Shinichi, his voice filled with unprecedented eagerness and expectation.

"So, Shinichi! You mean? Your answer is?"

"That’s right!"

Facing Jiraiya’s gaze, Shinichi’s voice was firm, like a declaration and also like a rallying cry, clearly spreading throughout the silent hall: "Ninjas should not be tools for killing!"

"To liberate ninjas from the endless slaughter and cruel fate of being weaponized, to return to the essence and mission originally bestowed upon ninjas, and to follow the original wish of our common ancestor, the Sage of Six Paths!"

"This should be the direction that I, Shinichi Higashino, strive toward!"

"And it should also be the goal of all of you! Every ambitious individual here! Should strive together!"

"And furthermore, it should become what every kind-hearted Konoha ninja who longs for peace, and even ninjas throughout the entire Shinobi World, ought to pursue and realize in the future..."

"The true path that belongs to ninjas!"

At the instant his words fell, within dimensions imperceptible to mortals, in a mysterious, unknowable place on the moon, an aged phantom dressed in ancient white robes and holding a monk’s staff, alongside a figure wearing a white coat with six black tomoe patterns upon his chest, the bodies of both trembled almost simultaneously.

Then, at the same time, they opened their eyes and directed their gazes toward the Shinobi World, toward the Land of Fire, toward the Konoha.

’What’s going on?!’

Both Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki, beings who had transcended the mortal realm, felt a strange and intense surge of emotion coursing through their hearts at that moment.

This sudden sensation was absolutely abnormal, especially for Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, who was proficient in prophecy and perceiving causality.

In an instant, both of them understood that some immensely important event, deeply connected to themselves, must be unfolding at this very moment.

Thus, guided by an unseen pull, their gazes pierced through countless obstructions and focused on the source of that palpitation.

"It’s... Him?"

When both Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki saw that young and vaguely familiar face, both of them were momentarily dazed almost at the same time, before suddenly recalling it.

One summer five years ago, Hagoromo Otsutsuki had suddenly sensed a slight deviation in the ripples of fate within the Shinobi World, one that had never appeared before.

Out of instinctive vigilance regarding his two sons and the future direction of the Shinobi World, he had swept his consciousness across the entire world at the time, paying particular attention to Konoha, the crucial node of destiny. On the Ninja Academy training ground, he had once glimpsed that child struggling through training while carrying a massive boulder on his back.

And on that very same day, Hamura Otsutsuki, who resided on the moon and was likewise observing the changes within the Shinobi World, had also scanned the world in his own way.

Slightly later than Hagoromo, he had seen the same child at the same place, sweating profusely as he meticulously practiced basic swordsmanship alone.

But at that time, both Hagoromo and Hamura had more urgent anomalies to confirm. After only a single glance, they had hurriedly departed without giving it any further thought.

Unfortunately, Shinichi did not know there was such a reason behind it. Otherwise, he would probably have inwardly complained about why these two old seniors had not taken a few more looks back then and paid a little more attention.

Now that they had seen this face again, Hagoromo and Hamura finally remembered that the boy causing this palpitation in their hearts was someone they had already seen once before all those years ago.

Inside the moon, within a space existing between reality and illusion.

A beautiful woman with skin pale as snow, cascading white hair, twin horns upon her forehead, and an exquisitely beautiful yet expressionless face slowly opened her eyes.

As those flawless white eyes opened, the ferocious crimson Rinne Sharingan at the center of her forehead suddenly emerged as well.

Perhaps it was the natural blood connection between mother and sons, perhaps some higher-level pull of fate, or perhaps some force that even she herself could not fully comprehend; her gaze followed that unseen pull as well, piercing through layer after layer of seals and spatial barriers, turning toward the Shinobi World, toward Konoha, toward... that boy who was speaking eloquently.

At this moment, the strongest family of three in the entire Shinobi World, and arguably the entire universe, simultaneously locked their gazes onto that spot, focusing on the same mortal boy.

At the same time, on the surface of the moon, within Hamura’s shrine.

This was the sacred hall dedicated to the ancestor, Hamura Otsutsuki, and also the place where every member of the Otsutsuki Clan, whether from the main or branch clan, would offer up their Byakugan after death, jointly forming the core of the Tenseigan (Energy Vessel).

At this moment, however, the atmosphere within the shrine was extremely tense.

The main house head, Nobunaga Otsutsuki, and the branch house head, Nobuhiro Otsutsuki, these brothers who had argued endlessly for years due to ideological differences and had nearly come to blows several times within the past year, erupted into another fierce dispute today.

As their words grew harsher, the clan members supporting each side gradually formed opposing lines behind their respective sides. Chakra faintly surged in the air, and the verbal argument was on the verge of escalating into violent conflict.

But right at this critical moment...

Buzzz!!!

Deep within the shrine, the enormous Tenseigan floating above the gigantic sealing array suddenly began trembling violently without warning, dazzling golden light surging like waves.

Nobunaga Otsutsuki and Nobuhiro Otsutsuki: "...!?"

Nobunaga Otsutsuki and Nobuhiro Otsutsuki simultaneously had a drastic change of expression. Their argument abruptly stopped as they both turned toward the source of the disturbance.

"What’s going on? Why is the Tenseigan (Energy Vessel) suddenly shaking?!"

Nobunaga Otsutsuki shouted sharply, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

Nobuhiro Otsutsuki also furrowed his brows tightly while staring fixedly at the Tenseigan (Energy Vessel) as he temporarily stopped his dispute with his elder brother.

Nobunaga Otsutsuki stepped forward several paces, rapidly forming several hand seals. Golden radiance flowed across the surface of the Tenseigan like rippling water.

Immediately afterward, an unknown force projected a clear image into the empty space within the shrine.

"It’s him?" Nobunaga Otsutsuki raised his brows slightly, a surprise expression appearing on his face.

"So it’s this Shinichi Higashino again!" Nobuhiro Otsutsuki revealed undisguised disgust on his face.

Nobunaga Otsutsuki did not reply, while Nobuhiro Otsutsuki temporarily suppressed his emotions as well.

In an instant, the tense atmosphere between the two sides eased somewhat.

Whether in the main house or the branch house, everyone eagerly wanted to know why this Shinichi Higashino had caused the Tenseigan (Energy Vessel) to react.

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