Chapter 489: Phantom Haven Base & Possible Future Expansions

Fujin's words caused the 12 members to feel excited. All of them knew how rare Fuinjutsu Grandmasters were. Even Major Villages would treasure them. To be able to control the seals created by a Fuinjutsu Grandmaster was a huge honor.

In addition, everyone was anticipating how majestic the main base would be. Even though the mini base looked simple, none of them doubted that it would look grand once they improved the aesthetics. And, with all the protective seals along with the locations of the bases, they no longer had to worry about someone trying to hunt them.

In a few minutes, the group reached the deepest point of the valley. Shigeki looked around. The place looked exactly how it was when he and Fujin had gone there the first time. Everyone was looking around as well. Mitsuo asked, "So, where is the base hidden?"

Fujin made the confrontation hand seal and said, "Watch your feet."

In the next instant, the ground under their feet disappeared, surprising all 12 of them. Fortunately, they could see another layer of ground below them as they fell and landed safely on it. It was 25 meters deeper than the land they were standing on initially.

Shigeki asked in surprise, "What was that?"

Fujin answered, "A barrier. Look up."

Everyone looked up. The sky looked normal. Suddenly, a brown net appeared 25 meters above them. Fujin explained, "I created a barrier on the top of the base. As you saw, it looks just like the ground and stays consistent with the terrain. It also guards against all forms of sensory skills. So, it is impossible for anyone to sense anyone who is hiding in this base even if they are standing above it.

Of course, if another Fuinjutsu Grandmaster appears here, then he or she might be able to find the barrier. I have prepared a few escape routes with several traps to slow down the enemies in that scenario. I'll show them later."

Everyone marvelled. They truly were speechless. Mitsuo muttered, "Even our village isn't this well protected."

Hayato added, "Yeah. This is truly a hidden base. If anyone finds us here, then it only means that even the Gods want us dead!"

Shigeki was more focused on the defense of the base as he would be the leader in Fujin's absence. He asked, "Shiden, how strong is that barrier?"

Fujin answered, "Not very strong. While normal animals and humans won't be able to do anything to it, a few rank A jutsus will easily destroy the barrier. So will a bombardment from lower-ranked jutsus or even explosive tags. Of course, that is under normal circumstances.

If you guys provide chakra to it, then it'll be just slightly weaker than the Four Violet Flames Formation. In that case, it'll only be destroyed once you run out of chakra. Though it is weaker than the Four Violet Flames Formation, it is more practical for our base.

As many as eight people can provide chakra to the barrier and all eight will have to run out of chakra for the barrier to collapse, unlike the Four Violet Flames Formation. In addition, the people providing chakra to the barrier can be swapped with others inside the base. So, if our size grows large enough, only something like a Tailed Beast Bomb or an assault by a large ninja army would break it.

That said, once you provide chakra to the barrier, any decent sensor will be able to detect the barrier. So, don't do it unless we are under attack.

There is another thing you need to keep in mind. The brown net 25 meters above us indicates that the barrier is active. If the brown net doesn't exist, it means that the barrier is turned off."

The former Tanigakure ninjas just helplessly exchanged glances. They didn't even know what to say. For a moment, they couldn't help but wonder, 'Such level of preparation... It's as if he is preparing to take on all 5 major villages in this valley!'

Fujin ignored their glances and added, "The barrier surrounds the base from all the other sides as well. It ends 100 meters under the ground from here, completely enclosing the base. So, any construction you plan on doing here can be done in two ways.

One, on this ground, but it'll be restricted in terms of height by the barrier above us. Alternatively, you can dig and carve buildings and houses in the ground but pay attention to ventilation. I have already done so for the official building, the academy, library, training facilities, meditation center and staying quarters. Apart from the library and the meditation center you can make changes to the rest. Feel free to check out the base as much as you want to. Meet me in the library in half an hour."

Fujin could feel that all of them were overwhelmed by the base. As a result, he decided to give them some time to cool down. Even though they were mature and hardened ninjas, it was a no-brainer for them to be surprised at seeing such a high level of Fuinjutsu. It was even more so for Shigeki who knew how barren the place was merely 10 days ago!

Hayato looked at Shigeki and asked, "Shigeki, how did you even meet this guy?"

His question brought Shigeki out of his thoughts. He looked towards him and answered, "I was just lucky. When I was escaping from the ninjas Kanji sent, I ran into him. Otherwise, I would have long been dead."

Hayato thought for a few seconds and replied with a sigh, "You were very lucky. When you approached us, I felt that you had gone insane. The only reason why I agreed to come with you was because Kanji was killed. However, with such an expert supporting us, the goal you spoke of isn't merely a talk.

At the very least, we should be able to maintain peace in the Land of Rivers when no Great Ninja Wars are happening. That said, moving beyond this country would be impossible. All of our neighbors have very strong armies and leaders."

Shigeki nodded. The Land of Rivers was surrounded by the Land of Wind to the west, the Land of Fire to the east, the Land of Rain to the north and a sea to the south. Their respective hidden villages were in an entirely different league when compared to Tanigakure.

However, Shigeki wasn't worried as he thought, 'This isn't the only base. Shiden said that he has created several other such bases. So our responsibility should be only limited to this country. I'm sure he has his plans for the remaining countries as well.'

Unfortunately for Shigeki, he would never know how much he was lied to by Shiden. That said, from Fujin's perspective, the situation wasn't that restricted. Once Nagato and Konan fell, the Land of Rain would no longer be as strong as it had been since Hanzo rose to power.

If Fujin developed any intentions of expanding the Phantom Haven Society in the future and making it a formidable force, then he could expand to the north without stopping by creating bases in the Land of Rain, Land of Grass and finally the Land of Waterfall, who would have lost their only Jinchuriki by then.

If that happened, then the Phantom Haven Society would stand directly between the Land of Fire and the Lands of Wind and Earth, becoming the new but hidden buffer zone. Of course, Fujin would need to create another similar organization to create bases in the countries between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning to spread his influence further and potentially raise a force greater than any of the 5 major villages.

That said, it was a matter for the future. For the time being, Fujin's attention was focused only on the events leading up to the Fourth Great Ninja War. Until Kaguya's threat was resolved, he didn't see any point in making plans for the time beyond it.

The group spent some time looking around the base. It was much larger than the mini base as it covered the entire plane in the deepest layer of the valley. The academy Fujin had constructed could hold more than a thousand students. The living quarters were even larger. The training facilities were inspired by Anbu Training facilities though there weren't any elemental training rooms.

As such, the base would have no issue in holding close to ten thousand people if managed well. The only real drawback was that there wasn't much space for things that would need a lot of space. For instance, there were no training grounds inside the base. However, that wasn't much of an issue as the entire valley outside the base could be used as Training grounds.

Another issue was that there were no farmlands. While it wasn't an issue for the time being thanks to the wildlife in the valley, food would need to be bought in large quantities once the population inside the base increased. It could raise some suspicions. Fortunately, there was abundant drinking water in the valley.

After looking around the base for a while and making some plans about future renovations and aesthetics, the 12 Phantom members walked towards the Library, where Fujin was waiting for them.

Once everyone arrived, Fujin glanced at everyone and said, "I'll now explain to you guys my plans for this base and what you need to do."