Chapter 492: A Noble Person Beyond Words

Deep within the valley where snowstorms raged, the world was filled with swirling white.

A group dressed very differently from ordinary samurai or ninja stood quietly waiting in the snow, surrounding a black carriage adorned with gold patterns.

No one knew how long they had been waiting there.

The curtains around the carriage flapped loudly in the wind, while the accompanying guards used their bodies to shield it from the gale, doing their utmost to prevent the carriage from being directly battered by the snowstorm.

At the very front of the group, a white banner bearing an ancient crest appeared and disappeared amid the wind. The crest was solemn and archaic; the emblem had been passed down through generations of shrine maidens in the Land of Demons.

As captain of the guard, Hotei stood at the forefront with a hand resting on his sword. His sharp eyes constantly swept the surroundings, never relaxing for even a moment despite the endless expanse of white around him.

Her Highness the shrine maiden had made the decision to attend this international humanitarian convention on a whim.

Even coming here had been a sudden decision made after entering the Land of Iron, changing course at the last minute to wait in this snow-filled valley.

No one knew why Her Highness had suddenly decided to come here, nor did anyone know how long they would have to wait or whom they were waiting for.

Yet no one in the Land of Demons asked a single question, because they all knew that Her Highness possessed the power to see the future.

Presumably, she had foreseen something, which was why she had suddenly decided to personally attend this conference during the final half month before its convening and had then suddenly decided to come here.

According to Hotei's own speculation, this was most likely related to the True Lord whom Her Highness had seen in a prophetic dream.

Speaking of this True Lord, more than half a year had passed since Her Highness ordered him to lead people in searching for the individual.

Yet whether in the Land of Demons or in the neighboring countries surrounding it, they had not found the slightest information related to the True Lord during these six months. Perhaps this True Lord was in some more distant nation elsewhere in the Shinobi World.

However, Hotei was also somewhat puzzled by this.

Although Her Highness had never explained exactly what she had foreseen or what kind of existence the True Lord was, judging from the seriousness of her attitude, even if this True Lord was not an overwhelmingly powerful expert, he should at least be some extraordinary person possessing special abilities.

A person like that should have emerged into the public eye and gained a certain reputation even if he were in another country.

Surely it couldn't be that this True Lord had not yet grown up, or had not even been born yet?

After all, Her Highness had never told him when exactly the event she foresaw would take place.

In any case, when Her Highness asked about the progress at the beginning of the month, Hotei truthfully reported everything and requested punishment for his failure to accomplish the task.

Yet Her Highness said nothing further, and after pondering briefly, she suddenly instructed him to contact the Land of Iron and inform them that the Land of Demons would also attend the conference, with her personally leading the delegation, and ordered him to make preparations immediately.

Thinking of this, Hotei subconsciously raised his eyes toward the depths of the snowstorm, a faint suspicion forming in his heart.

Perhaps the True Lord foreseen by Her Highness was connected to this conference, and even if they did not meet the True Lord himself here, they might at least discover some clues.

Inside the carriage, Miroku was also quietly waiting. In truth, ever since that dream half a year ago, she had never again dreamed anything related to the True Lord.

She had personally come this time because an inexplicable intuition had arisen within her, as though something important was hidden within this conference and waiting for her to confirm it with her own eyes, so she had followed that intuition and come.

"Who exactly is the True Lord who slew Moryo? Could it be Shinichi Higashino?"

While waiting, Miroku could not help repeatedly pondering the True Lord's true identity.

In that vague prophetic dream, she could not discern the exact time, nor could she clearly see the True Lord's appearance. However, after calculating with her secret technique, she determined that the event would occur within the next few years.

As for the True Lord whose face she could not see, but judging from his voice, physique, and bearing, he should not yet be twenty years old and might even be only fifteen or sixteen.

Several years from now, with such an age and such strength, throughout the current Shinobi World, only Shinichi Higashino of Konoha, the genius hailed as the greatest prodigy in history, seemed the most likely candidate.

Shinichi Higashino was only eleven years old now, yet he had already displayed brilliance that drew the attention of the entire Shinobi World.

A few years from now, perhaps he truly would possess the power to slay Moryo.

Moreover, his name also happened to contain the character "Shin" (True).

And even more coincidentally, the initiator of this conference that had suddenly inspired her to come personally was also Shinichi Higashino.

Even if that True Lord was not Shinichi Higashino himself, he was very likely connected to him in some close way.

Still, Miroku did not dare be completely certain.

Perhaps only after seeing Shinichi Higashino with her own eyes at this conference would she be able to make a proper judgment.

Just as she was thinking of this, Miroku's heart suddenly stirred, and she abruptly raised her head.

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the thick carriage curtains, through the endless snowstorm, and toward a distant point on the other side of the valley.

At the same time, among the Konoha group advancing through the snowstorm, Genjo suddenly stopped walking, raised his head, and looked through the layers of falling snow toward that very same direction.

The gazes of the two people seemed to ignore everything between them and met across the distance.

"What is it, Monk Genjo?"

Minato Namikaze keenly noticed the anomaly and asked.

"Benefactor Minato, there are people waiting ahead."

Genjo replied with a gentle smile.

"Oh?"

Shikaku Nara, serving as the chief adviser of the delegation, calmly took over the conversation.

"Monk Genjo, your perception is truly remarkable. To detect them before any of us in weather like this is no small feat. I wonder who exactly is waiting ahead."

Among their party were elite sensory ninjas from sensory clans, and even Minato himself possessed outstanding sensory abilities.

After all, mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique required extraordinarily powerful perception to precisely lock onto spatial coordinates.

Yet despite that, none of them had noticed anything unusual ahead, while Monk Genjo had revealed it with a single sentence. Such powerful perception was truly astonishing.

This Monk Genjo was becoming increasingly unfathomable.

Among everyone in the group, Shikaku Nara was undoubtedly the person most uneasy about this mysterious young monk of unknown origin.

"A noble person, a noble person beyond words. Perhaps we share a certain karmic connection."

Genjo said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the probing hidden within Shikaku's words. He then turned toward Shinichi, who remained silent, and added, "Benefactor Shinichi, I imagine you noticed them long ago as well."

Shinichi nodded, his expression calm.