Suggestions for Konoha's Grand Barrier

Sunlight slowly streamed into the room, and the Sealing Team's ninja gradually arrived for work as well.

When they entered the laboratory and saw Minamoto Takuya, none of them seemed surprised. After greeting him, they each went about their own tasks.

What surprised them, however, was that Minamoto Takuya actually emerged from his experimental state at this time.

Normally, he would be conducting experiments before they arrived and still be experimenting after they got off work. Why was this time different?

"Carry on. I'm going to the Hokage Office." Minamoto Takuya gave the order and left. Minato Namikaze should be starting work around now as well.

"Yes!"

Inside the Hokage Office, Minato Namikaze looked at the towering pile of documents before him and could not help but smile bitterly.

Before becoming Hokage, he had not thought much of it. But after becoming Hokage, all these major and minor matters had truly left him mentally exhausted.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in." Minato Namikaze sighed, then sat upright behind his desk.

When he saw that it was Minamoto Takuya, he relaxed somewhat and teasingly asked, "So it's Senior Takuya. What could possibly make you leave the Sealing Team's Sealing Jutsu research to come see me?"

"Hokage Lord, you're already the Hokage. Just call me Minamoto Takuya." Hearing that form of address, Minamoto Takuya reminded him once again.

However, Minato Namikaze merely smiled without answering. Minamoto Takuya could only give up. It was not the first time he had brought it up, and Minato Namikaze did not address only him that way. He called practically everyone he acknowledged "senior."

For example, Senior Shikaku for Nara Shikaku, Senior Hiashi for Hyuga Hiashi, and so on...

But those people were at least clan heads of major families. As for him, he was merely the head of a small Sealing Team, and Minato Namikaze had even handed that position to him. What right did he have?

Since Minato Namikaze had no intention of changing, he stopped wasting time on the matter.

"Well, since you chose me as the head of the Sealing Team, I have to produce some results, don't I?"

"It's fine. Kushina and I both know your level of Sealing Jutsu. You are absolutely qualified to lead the Sealing Team." Minato Namikaze did not care much about it.

"But your trust doesn't mean everyone else will trust me. I came because I've brought a modification proposal for the barrier outside."

As he spoke, Minamoto Takuya handed a scroll to Minato Namikaze. It contained the revised formula for the Sealing Jutsu, along with several suggestions.

Minato Namikaze accepted the scroll and began reading. His expression soon turned serious.

The revised formula was not especially complicated, and Minato Namikaze quickly worked out that the modification to the Sealing Jutsu was effective. More importantly, though, were the suggestions afterward.

The password for entering and leaving the barrier needed to be changed at regular intervals.

This did not mean that someone without the password could not enter. Rather, if they entered without it, the sealing sphere would immediately flag and record them, making it easier to assign Anbu to monitor them.

It was unrealistic to expect a barrier large enough to cover all of Konoha to possess overly powerful functions.

Minamoto Takuya estimated that Minato Namikaze had finished reading the contents and said, "At present, the password for entering and leaving the barrier is never changed. This will obviously lead to a problem: Konoha's rogue ninja know the password too. If they lead others in, then the barrier may as well not exist, since it cannot serve its purpose of providing advance surveillance."

As he spoke, he once again thought of how Uchiha Itachi had been a rogue ninja for so many years, yet had openly led that shark-headed man through the barrier and right up to Konoha's gates.

"Indeed. I hadn't considered that before."

Minato Namikaze spoke with a nod. Every ninja village had rogue ninja; even Konoha was no exception.

So Minamoto Takuya was right. Using the password would not allow large numbers of people to enter the barrier, as that would be too conspicuous. Even with the password, it would draw the Sealing Team's attention. But what if a rogue ninja only brought a few people in?

Wouldn't that seem perfectly normal? And what if those people were all Jonin?

Every Jonin was an elite. If they hid in the village and caused trouble, the potential damage would be immense.

No matter how powerful his Flying Thunder God was, he could not directly identify them and root them all out.

"Senior, do you have any suggestions regarding the intervals for updating it?" Minato Namikaze asked. He already had some ideas in mind, but he did not voice them.

Minamoto Takuya could not help glancing at Minato Namikaze. The man had gradually become accustomed to his high position. He clearly already had an idea, yet he still asked those below him to state their opinions first.

He was likely worried that his own proposal might have flaws, or that it might be completely inferior to his subordinates' suggestions.

Minamoto Takuya organized his thoughts. Since he had raised the matter, he naturally could not claim to have no recommendations.

"There should be two situations. First, if there is a large number of rogue ninja, change it immediately. Second, it would be best to change it during the New Year, when most ninja are in Konoha."

"Mm, then we'll do that. When we hold a meeting with the advisers later, you should attend as well." Minato Namikaze nodded. It was more or less what he had been thinking. Changing it too frequently would not be a good thing either, so this compromise was quite suitable.

Minamoto Takuya immediately fell silent for a moment before asking, "Can I not attend?"

Minato Namikaze looked at Minamoto Takuya and, under his helpless gaze, said, "No. Since you were the one who proposed it, you must be present."

"Fine, then." Minamoto Takuya sighed, wearing an utterly lifeless expression.

"Stop complaining. I'm the one who envies you, Senior, for being able to conduct the research you enjoy. Unlike me, I'm driven to distraction by so many documents every day." Minato Namikaze said with a faintly amused smile. Since work had just begun, they could chat for a while.

Minamoto Takuya glanced at the massive pile of documents before Minato Namikaze and said, "You could also find an assistant to help."

"That's true, but who could I find?" Minato Namikaze asked with some distress.

"I don't know about that." Minamoto Takuya naturally knew that Nara Shikaku was more than capable of the job, but he did not want Shikaku to become Minato Namikaze's assistant. Shikaku was far too clever. It would be troublesome if he discovered something.

In the end, Minato Namikaze looked at Minamoto Takuya and asked, "How about giving it a try, Senior?"

"Hokage Lord, don't joke around. I'm not suited for that position." Minamoto Takuya rejected it outright. Although the position held considerable authority, he had been the one to suggest it, so he needed to avoid suspicion.

More importantly, if he became Minato Namikaze's assistant, he would spend far too much time with him every day. There would be many things he could no longer carry out.

Minato Namikaze was not surprised by Minamoto Takuya's rejection. He had merely asked. Becoming the head of the Sealing Team was already Minamoto Takuya's limit. If he rose any higher, the advisers would start raising objections again.