NOVEL NEXT Chapter 120: Gradual Change
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"The most important factor in constructing and maintaining a barrier is a stable output of chakra," Menma began, his tone calm but commanding, his gaze steady. "This is the foundation. Without it, the barrier will fail before it even takes shape."
He paused, ensuring that his words sank in. "Therefore, chakra control is our top priority. During the initial stages of this training, each of you will focus on improving your chakra control to its utmost. This is non-negotiable. Those who fail to meet the standards will be dismissed."
Menma's sharp eyes swept across the assembly of Takigakure shinobi, gauging their reactions. Most of the younger ninja leaned in attentively, their faces lit with determination. In contrast, some of the older shinobi seemed less enthusiastic, their expressions betraying either skepticism or complacency. Menma smirked inwardly. He had no time for those who lacked ambition.
"Now," he continued, his voice cutting through the murmurs, "we'll start with the basics. Study these principles and diagrams thoroughly. Once you've grasped the fundamentals, we'll move into practical application. Mastery doesn't come from talent alone—it comes from understanding and discipline."
The group nodded as scrolls were distributed, each containing detailed instructions and chakra flow charts for basic barrier formations.
Menma had taken on the task of teaching Takigakure shinobi the art of barrier techniques—an area where their village had little expertise. Before they could learn advanced jutsu like Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Formation) or Gojō Kibaku Fūda (Five-Seal Barrier), they had to master the basics. Only then could they create a large-scale sensory barrier capable of safeguarding their hidden village.
The younger Taki-nin, filled with hope and ambition, embraced the training with vigor. Unlike some older shinobi, they dreamed of elevating Takigakure's status, not just returning it to its former glory but surpassing it entirely. Their vision was clear: to compete with the Five Great Nations and have their leader recognized as the Takikage—not as an empty title like Hoshigakure's self-proclaimed "Hoshikage," but as a true equal on the global stage.
For these ambitious young ninja, Menma's proposal represented a tangible step toward that dream.
Still, Menma couldn't ignore a few disinterested faces in the crowd. Some of the shinobi clearly yearned for flashy ninjutsu or genjutsu training, dismissing barriers as secondary. He understood their mindset but wasn't swayed by it. They would either adapt or be left behind.
The sole outsider among them, Hōzuki Suigetsu, stood out as usual. Arms crossed and an air of impatience about him, Suigetsu seemed uninterested in the lesson, but Menma knew better.
"Don't look so bored, Suigetsu," Menma remarked, a wry grin tugging at his lips. "You might actually learn something useful for once."
Suigetsu scoffed, his sharp teeth flashing. "Barrier techniques? Please. Just point me toward something I can cut, and we'll call it a day."
The younger Taki-nin glanced nervously at Suigetsu. They had heard the stories about the Hōzuki clan's terrifying techniques and Suigetsu's ties to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. His presence unsettled many of them.
Menma's grin didn't falter. "You'll get your chance. But until then, you're my second-in-command for this operation. So try not to scare the locals too much."
Suigetsu muttered something under his breath, but he didn't argue. Menma knew that, for all his bluster, Suigetsu was dependable when it mattered. With Karin assigned elsewhere, Menma had no better option for leading the team.
The theoretical session concluded, and the Taki-nin dispersed to study the scrolls. As the group thinned out, Shibuki, Takigakure's leader, approached Menma with a measured expression.
"You've taken on quite the task," Shibuki remarked, his tone polite but cautious. "Do you really think they can master this?"
Menma met Shibuki's gaze, his golden eyes unwavering. "They will. I'll make sure of it."
Shibuki nodded, though uncertainty lingered in his expression.
As the shinobi prepared for the next phase of training, Menma turned his attention back to the diagrams in his hand. This village has potential, he thought. It just needs someone to unlock it.
"Lord Menma, I really don't think I'm cut out for this," Suigetsu muttered as he approached, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. "I barely grasped half of what you were saying about barriers. And honestly, it doesn't sound like my kind of thing."
Having spent some time under Menma's leadership, Suigetsu had figured out that he could speak relatively candidly with him. Menma wasn't like Orochimaru; he didn't demand constant deference. As long as Suigetsu followed orders, Menma seemed indifferent to the formalities.
Even so, Suigetsu couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that came with being around him. Much like Orochimaru, Menma exuded an aura of danger—calculated, quiet, and impossible to ignore. It gnawed at Suigetsu's nerves.
"I'm not asking you to become a barrier master," Menma replied, his voice calm but firm. "What I need from you is to lead the team. You're the only one I brought from outside this village. That should tell you something."
Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, his arms crossing. "Yeah? And what's that supposed to tell me?"
Menma's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable. "This village is vital to my plans, and these people are the first step. I trust you to keep them in line. That's all."
Trust? Suigetsu barely suppressed a scoff. He didn't believe that for a second.
"I don't want your trust, alright?" he said, his voice sharp. But as soon as the words left his mouth, Suigetsu cursed silently. Talking too much around Menma always felt like digging his own grave. There was something twisted about the way Menma phrased things, as if every word was calculated to trap him.
Forcing a smile, Suigetsu reluctantly replied, "Fine. I get it. I'll handle it, Menma-sama."
Menma's faint smile didn't falter. "Good. Remember, when this is all over, you'll be free to do as you please. Whatever it is you're after—whether it's a person, an object, or a dream—I can help you achieve it."
The words were calm, but Menma's eyes seemed to pierce through Suigetsu, as if searching for something hidden.
Suigetsu felt a chill run down his spine. His instincts screamed at him to leave, but his pride wouldn't let him show fear. Meeting Menma's gaze briefly, he quickly looked away.
Does he know what I want? That thought lingered in Suigetsu's mind, unsettling him.
But no matter how uneasy Menma made him, Suigetsu wasn't easily swayed. His ambitions were clear—to reclaim the legendary swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and surpass his brother Mangetsu's legacy. Those dreams were the only thing keeping him tethered to this situation.
Menma placed a hand on Suigetsu's shoulder, his touch light but deliberate. "That's all for now. Get some rest. Focus on training—I'll handle the defense shifts."
Suigetsu nodded stiffly. "Understood, Menma-sama."
As Suigetsu disappeared down the corridor, Menma's faint smile turned into a thoughtful expression. He didn't expect Suigetsu to fully commit, not yet. All he needed was to plant the seed. Hope, after all, was a powerful tool. It could keep someone tethered far better than fear or force.
And Suigetsu? Menma knew exactly what drove him. The swords, the legacy, the ambition—it wasn't impossible to give him what he wanted. At the right time, of course.
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Back in his lab, Menma meticulously reviewed the diagrams and notes for the sensory barrier. Failure wasn't an option—not when he had made promises to Takigakure's leader, Shibuki. This barrier would serve as both a symbol of his capability and a tangible step toward earning the village's trust.
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Meanwhile, the rest of the ninja world was in flux.
In Sunagakure, after months of deliberation, the elders had appointed a Fifth Kazekage. Unlike the original timeline, where Gaara rose to the position, things had taken a different turn. Without Naruto's influence to temper Gaara's ruthlessness, the elders deemed him too volatile and inexperienced to lead.
Instead, they chose Baki, a skilled jonin and former aide to the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. Though not the strongest candidate, Baki had the backing of village veterans like Chiyo and Ebizo. His first major act as Kazekage was to reaffirm Sunagakure's alliance with Konohagakure, a decision that rippled across the ninja world.
With two of the Five Great Nations united, the balance of power shifted.
In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage, A, reacted predictably, bolstering his forces along the Land of Hot Water's border. Known for his aggressive stance toward Konoha, A was already preparing for potential conflict, his disdain for the Hidden Leaf an unspoken tradition passed down through generations.
In Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, remained indifferent. To the elderly Kage, the machinations of other villages were nothing more than ripples in a vast ocean. Onoki sat unmoved, confident in the stability of his own position.
Amid these shifting alliances and power plays, the seeds of future conflict were quietly being sown. But for now, in the heart of Takigakure, Menma's focus was singular: the barrier, the village, and the first step in a much larger plan.
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