Chapter 139: It Is Our Lifetime's Good Fortune to Follow Lord Hagoromo
In the Lockfront Village, things have been quieter than usual since the clan leader brought back a significant artifact recently.
The adults were off to the former Sky Ninja Village, now called Angkor Fortress, where they worked on repairs and assigned new residences. Meanwhile, the children eagerly joined in, excitedly exploring the sky city.
Hagoromo Gengetsu, also present, spotted a reckless boy leaning out over the edge of the fortress and shouted into the sky. He pulled the boy back, sending him and his companions scurrying away in fear. Ignoring the energetic children, Gengetsu unrolled a large scroll he had brought with him.
With a puff of white smoke, precious barrier materials appeared. Barriers, like sealing techniques, were complex and could only be managed by a few powers. Currently, only the five great ninja villages could set up comprehensive village-wide barriers. Other groups, like the Tsuchigumo Clan or the Fire Temple, either had limited space or relied on the great ninja villages to set up basic barriers for their homes.
Lockfront Village had a barrier, but it was of limited capability and quality. Now, with Hagoromo Gengetsu's return and the establishment of Angkor Fortress as the new home for the Hagoromo Clan, the barriers would be significantly upgraded.
Thanks were due to Danzo and the Root organization. Gengetsu, along with three shadow clones positioned at the four corners of the fortress, began setting up the barrier with materials scavenged from the Root. While he could activate a barrier technique himself, such barriers would be short-lived. Long-term barriers required materials and precise arrangements, and maintaining them was costly, which was why many small villages didn't bother with barriers.
Lockfront Village, however, had sufficient funds due to its active role as an intelligence organization, so future maintenance wouldn't be an issue.
Within moments, Gengetsu and his clones had etched barrier scripts within a twenty-meter radius, and the corresponding materials were in place. They swiftly formed hand seals, and the ground glowed with a brilliant light. Gigantic beams of light shot up from the four corners of the fortress.
With a final hand seal and a shout of "Barrier Technique: Four Extremes Hidden Array!" from Gengetsu, a massive, colorful barrier formed around the fortress, interweaving chakras of earth, fire, wind, and water. The vibrant display lasted for a moment before the colors faded, and everything seemed normal again.
Those in the Lockfront Village, looking up, would see that the fortress had vanished. The "Four Extremes Hidden Array" was an enhancement of the "Four Extremes Array," adding invisibility to the barrier's defensive capabilities. This allowed the fortress to remain hidden while protecting it from elemental ninjutsu attacks.
Previously, to avoid detection, the fortress operated under cover of darkness unless the sky was overcast. Now, it could remain hidden at all times. Gengetsu, after confirming the barrier's success, planned the gradual relocation of Lockfront Village to the fortress, ensuring that the village's intelligence operations would continue smoothly.
As Gengetsu left the fortress, Shinno, who had witnessed the entire barrier setup, spoke to the bewildered Sky Ninjas: "See! This is just a glimpse of Lord Hagoromo's power. I've told you many times that the greatest skill I've learned over these fifty years is knowing when to adapt! It is our lifetime's good fortune to be under Lord Hagoromo's wing!"
The Sky Ninjas, seeing their leader's deference and having witnessed Gengetsu's power, had no more complaints and quickly settled into their new roles. Shinno, pleased, instructed them to train the Lockfront ninjas in using flying devices.
Meanwhile, back at the ground base of Lockfront Village, Gengetsu continued his training and experiments. His clones, known for making a name in the Land of Fire, were now recuperating in nutrient tanks, while a Mangekyō Sharingan, taken from Shisui, soaked in a container on Gengetsu's desk.
"The decision to have clones with Uchiha cells house the Mangekyō Sharingan to accelerate yin chakra research has proven effective," Gengetsu mused. His battle with Guy had not only refined his control over the Mangekyō Sharingan but also deepened his understanding of yin chakra nature transformation, leaving him very satisfied.
Reflecting on the substantial gains in yin chakra and his progress in yang chakra, Gengetsu felt an urge to test something new. He slowly extended his hand...