For Ōnoki, there were only two matters of paramount importance now.
The first was selecting a qualified preferably exceptional successor. This was a decision that would determine the future of the entire Hidden Stone Village, and there could be no room for error.
The second was his alliance with Menma.
At first glance, it might have seemed as though Ōnoki had been easily persuaded into cooperation. In reality, both men understood the truth perfectly well: this alliance was founded on mutual benefit.
Ōnoki wanted to see whether Menma could truly inflict significant damage upon Konoha. If he could, then the arrangement would become an extremely profitable investment.
Despite his advanced age, the Third Tsuchikage had never abandoned his ambition. Deep within his heart remained the desire to lead Iwagakure to supremacy over the shinobi world.
Otherwise, more than a decade ago, he would never have mobilized tens of thousands of Iwa shinobi in an attempt to crush Kumogakure during the Third Shinobi World War.
If self-preservation had truly been his only goal, then once the Cloud shinobi retreated, Iwagakure could have declared victory and ended the conflict. There would have been no need to continue pressing the offensive against the Third Raikage.
The truth was obvious.
Ōnoki had hoped to exploit the momentum of victory, further weaken Kumogakure, and potentially secure even greater gains.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated the terrifying strength of the Third Raikage.
Facing an army of ten thousand Iwa shinobi alone, the legendary Raikage held the line through sheer power and endurance. Although he ultimately fell in battle, the casualties he inflicted upon Iwagakure were staggering.
As a result, the victorious Iwa forces lost the ability to continue expanding their achievements and were forced to withdraw back into their own sphere of influence.
Otherwise, with Ōnoki's personality, he would undoubtedly have continued the offensive until Kumogakure was forced to surrender even more concessions.
No one understood better than Ōnoki who Iwagakure's greatest rivals truly were.
To be precise, ever since the First Shinobi World War, the balance among the Five Great Shinobi Villages had already taken shape.
Only two villages possessed the qualifications to compete with Konoha for dominance:
Kumogakure and Iwagakure.
Sunagakure had been declining steadily since the First Shinobi World War, much like Takigakure. Kirigakure suffered from severe internal instability and numerous structural weaknesses. It was capable of preserving itself, but lacked the foundation to pursue true supremacy.
If Iwagakure had successfully crippled Kumogakure during the Third Shinobi World War, its sights could have been turned directly toward Konoha.
That failure remained one of the rare strategic miscalculations in Ōnoki's long career.
He had never imagined that the Third Raikage could withstand an army of ten thousand shinobi and still inflict such devastating losses before his death.
It was because of that battle that the long-debated legend that the Third Raikage could fight the Eight-Tails on equal footing became widely accepted throughout the shinobi world.
A shinobi capable of holding off ten thousand enemies for three days and three nights possessed strength that few could even comprehend.
At the very least, the Iwa shinobi acknowledged it.
Otherwise, denying the Third Raikage's strength would only diminish the significance of their own victory.
After that war, Ōnoki became noticeably more cautious.
Whether it was the Nine-Tails Attack twelve years ago, the Hyūga Affair between Konoha and Kumogakure years later, or even the recent Konoha Crush, Ōnoki had consistently adopted the same approach:
Remain unmoved and observe.
As he often said, he would never act unless the chances of success justified the risk.
The potential rewards had to outweigh the dangers.
Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose old age had gradually made him overly conservative, Ōnoki had not become timid.
He had simply become more cautious.
If a worthwhile opportunity appeared, he would still strike with thunderous decisiveness.
His alliance with Menma was proof of that.
The Third Tsuchikage intended to use Menma as a weapon against Konoha. At the same time, he was fully prepared to personally lead a force to capture Menma if circumstances turned unfavorable.
After all, Menma was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
The strongest tailed beast in existence.
Such a prize was more than enough to justify taking risks.
Menma understood this perfectly.
During the past several months, while maintaining communication with Ōnoki, he had also gone to great lengths to conceal his true movements and plans.
His presence within Takigakure would inevitably be exposed someday.
As an ally, Ōnoki would likely discover clues before anyone else.
Still, every extra day of secrecy was valuable.
Menma was not yet strong enough to confront the true monsters standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Likewise, Takigakure was not prepared to participate in conflicts involving the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Without Menma himself, Takigakure remained a comparatively weak village. In the eyes of the Five Great Nations, it was little more than prey.
Even the currently weakened Sunagakure could still exert pressure upon Takigakure if it chose to do so.
Time.
That was what Menma needed most.
Time to grow stronger.
Time to strengthen Takigakure.
Time to prepare for the future.
And after more than two months of instruction, preparation, experimentation, and planning, that future had finally taken its first major step forward.
Under Menma's leadership, Takigakure was about to establish a village-wide sensory barrier.
A project that would fundamentally transform the village's defensive capabilities.
Because of its significance, the moment Menma informed Shibuki that preparations were complete, the leader of Takigakure personally rushed to oversee the operation.
His excitement was impossible to conceal.
Not only did he bring Ajun, but also Fūsui, Dōran, and several other senior Taki shinobi to witness the event.
The ordinary villagers knew nothing about the plan.
However, Takigakure's upper leadership had been aware of it for some time.
To be honest, very few of them genuinely believed Menma could accomplish such a feat.
Even Ajun remained skeptical.
A sensory barrier large enough to encompass an entire shinobi village was not something ordinary people could construct.
Barrier techniques were among the most sophisticated fields of shinobi arts.
Even among the Five Great Villages, only Konoha truly excelled in them.
For Takigakure a village lacking even a dedicated Barrier Team the very concept sounded absurd.
Yet reality was about to provide an answer.
No matter how much they doubted Menma, none of them believed he would risk humiliating himself by staging such a public failure.
If he failed, his reputation would collapse overnight.
Ajun understood this.
So did everyone else.
Compared with Ajun, however, Fūsui and Dōran harbored deeper reservations.
They viewed Menma's rapid rise as part of Elder Wu's political maneuvering a means of strengthening Shibuki's authority while weakening theirs.
As a result, their opinion of Menma had never been particularly favorable.
Power struggles existed everywhere.
No one welcomed losing influence.
Menma understood these dynamics perfectly.
Yet he wasn't concerned.
If the barrier failed, everything else would become irrelevant.
But if it succeeded…
Then the village would grow stronger.
And when everyone benefited from a stronger village, many internal conflicts would naturally diminish.
A capable leader maintained balance.
An exceptional leader expanded the size of the pie itself.
As long as the benefits available to everyone continued growing, dissatisfaction would become increasingly difficult to justify.
Anyone who attempted sabotage under such circumstances would quickly become a public enemy.
This sensory barrier was merely the beginning.
The first step toward convincing Takigakure that following him would lead to prosperity.
Because before people could dream of a brighter future, they first needed to feel secure.
"Point One ready."
"Point Two ready."
"Point Three is still calibrating the instruments."
"Point Four has completed the barrier formula inscriptions."
"Point Five ready."
"Point Six ready."
The reports continued arriving one after another.
At twelve designated positions surrounding Takigakure, the Taki shinobi personally trained by Menma carried out their final preparations.
Menma stood at the center.
He was the core of the entire system.
The twelve external points served as auxiliary anchors, stabilizing and supporting the barrier.
Once completed, the shinobi stationed at these points would be responsible for long-term maintenance and monitoring.
The number had not been chosen randomly.
Too many anchors would unnecessarily complicate the structure.
Too few would reduce stability.
Twelve was the optimal balance Menma had determined after extensive calculations and testing.
Still, despite all his preparations, Menma could not honestly claim absolute certainty.
This was his first attempt at constructing a barrier on such a scale.
Everything before today had existed only in theory and small-scale experimentation.
There was always the possibility of unforeseen complications.
Nevertheless, none of those concerns appeared on his face.
His expression remained calm and confident.
"Very good. Complete final confirmation procedures immediately. Once the central formation activates, every position must synchronize perfectly. No delays. No mistakes. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Menma!"
The responses came back instantly.
Nearby, Shibuki could barely contain his anticipation.
"Menma-kun, can we begin?"
"Almost. The final calibrations are complete. We can proceed shortly."
"Excellent. Then I'll leave everything to you."
"Please rest assured, Shibuki-san."
The natural familiarity between the two caused subtle changes in the expressions of Ajun, Dōran, and the others.
The trust Shibuki placed in Menma was obvious.
Yet none of them voiced their concerns.
Instead, they watched in silence.
Perhaps…
Perhaps this young man truly could change Takigakure's future.
A short while later, the final confirmation arrived.
"Lord Menma! All positions are ready!"
The young Taki shinobi delivering the report bowed respectfully.
Menma nodded.
"Transmit the final order."
"Yes, sir."
Moments later, confirmation arrived from all twelve locations.
Menma stepped into the center of the massive barrier formation.
This was the true core.
The heart of the entire system.
Taking a slow breath, he glanced toward Karin and Suigetsu.
"Karin. Suigetsu."
"Understood."
"Yes, Menma-sama."
Both immediately responded.
The next moment, Menma formed a sequence of hand seals.
His chakra surged.
"Barrier Technique: Sensory Barrier Formation!"
Boom!
An immense wave of chakra poured into the central formula.
The formation activated instantly.
A brilliant pillar of light erupted skyward.
The entire village saw it.
Gasps spread everywhere.
"What is that?"
"Is it a ninjutsu?"
"Look at the sky!"
"So beautiful!"
More pillars of light emerged from the twelve anchor points.
One after another.
Twelve beams converged toward the central column.
Above Takigakure, the lights intertwined.
Everyone held their breath.
Shibuki.
Ajun.
Dōran.
Fūsui.
Even Menma himself.
Then
"Condense!"
Menma completed the final seal.
The converging chakra network stabilized.
A massive transparent dome expanded outward from the center, connecting all twelve anchor points.
The sensory barrier had formed.
Successfully.
The instant Menma sensed the barrier locking into place, a faint smile appeared on his face.
From this moment onward, nearly anyone entering or leaving Takigakure would be detected by the village's sensory network.
His first major contribution to the village had succeeded.
Behind him, Shibuki's expression was overflowing with joy.
Still wanting confirmation, he immediately asked:
"Menma-kun, has it succeeded?"
Menma turned around and smiled.
"Yes, Shibuki-san. The sensory barrier has been successfully established."
Further testing quickly confirmed the results.
Every crossing of the barrier produced accurate feedback.
The system functioned exactly as intended.
Only then did Shibuki finally relax completely.
"Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Takigakure's security has advanced by an entire level. You worked hard for this, Menma-kun!"
"No. This is simply what I should do. I am a member of Takigakure as well."
"Haha! Well said!"
Shibuki laughed heartily.
Meanwhile, Ajun, Dōran, Fūsui, and the others exchanged complicated glances.
Whether they liked it or not, one fact had become undeniable.
Menma had accomplished something none of them thought possible.
And from this day forward, his influence within Takigakure would never be the same again.