6. Kekkei Genkai, Clans, and Releases

[Wolfy]

Throughout the world of Naruto, one will note that there exists certain groups labeled 'Clans. Clans are renowned for their Secret Techniques and Kekkei Genkai, or 'Bloodline Limits', which give their users just that: powers that they are born with, unique by blood, and are able to be developed and refined over time.

It should be noted, however, that a character may never be apart of two clans simultaneously. Likewise, this also means that a user may never naturally possess two separate Kekkei Genkai (this means that a Sharingan user could not possess the Lava Release kekkei genkai, and so on and so forth). In some situations, interesting combinations can be formed via the medical transplanting procedure.

[/b] refers to a family or group of shinobi who form a basic unit of a hidden shinobi village. A majority of these clans were known to have started out as mercenary military forces even before the First Shinobi World War, but over time grew with influence and power once their Secret Techniques came to be known. The first known clans across history agreed to settle and form a shinobi village, facilitated by creating agreements with the daimyō of the land they inhabit. Many clans would follow the example of these pioneers, later establishing the initial Five Great Shinobi Countries as they are known today, as well as the Lower Nations.

Membership in a clan is usually determined by blood relations and genetics, which is vital in the usage of secret techniques, though the blood relation is more for family and does not grant them any special powers. These attributes and abilities made many clans feared and renowned throughout many villages. While clans may be composed of many individuals and extended families, many clans mentioned and seen in the series were somewhat limited to a nuclear family.

Beyond this, there are some clans which, in addition to very unique and powerful jutsu, possess special and wholly unique traits:

[/b], or "Bloodline Limit", consists of abilities passed down genetically in specific clans from a parent to their children, to the point only those sharing such blood could control the aforementioned special powers. Kekkei Genkai abilities that work via the user's eye are called Doujutsu. Other Kekkei Genkai include mixing one type of basic elemental chakra with another, creating a new one unique to the clan, which is usually impossible for normal ninja; these include things such as the Wood Release, Lava Release, and several others.

Kekkei Genkai and their related techniques cannot be taught to or copied by others due to their blood uniqueness. However, Kekkei Genkai can still given to others and assimilated through the proper methods. Dōjutsu, or other Kekkei Genkai isolated to a single organ, can be transplanted into the body of another. However, because it is not natural to the recipient, use of these organs requires much more chakra than someone born with the kekkei genkai.
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[Wolfy]

Releases are the elemental manifestations of the shinobi world, source of power the ninja can use to help them in battle. Each ninja has the potential to better utilize one of these styles and potentially more. A special elemental detecting paper is used to determine ones type by the village's Kage, but a person usually becomes aware of their inherent or primary release rather quickly. The five elements themselves form a cyclical strong and weak relationship against each other, in an effort to restore the homeostasis of nature.

[/u][/b] Katon, or Fire, takes the form of fire and flame attacks. These can be fire balls or extended flame throwing. Fire is typically a specialized offensive element.


-Fuuton (Wind): Fuuton, or Wind, takes the form of wind based attacks. These can be huge gusts or sustained wind storms. Wind is typically a specialized offensive element, good for close to mid-range attacks.


-Raiton (Lightning): Raiton, or Lightning, takes the form of electrical and lightning based attacks. When used in conjunction with metal based weapons, the power becomes amplified. Lightning is good for middle to long-range attacks.


-Doton (Earth): Doton, or Earth, takes the form of earth and mud based attacks. These can be walls made from mud or the ninja maneuvering himself below ground to attack his opponent from below. Earth can change the hardness composition of objects, making something hard as steel or soft as clay.


-Suiton (Water): Suiton, or Water, takes the form of water based attacks. These can be walls of water used as shields or water formed into large striking jets. In this regard, Water is very diverse when it comes to shape modification.
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With everything basic comes something advanced. Essentially, by combining elements to form new ones, the user no longer has corresponding strong/weak relationships. The ability to mold these advanced releases is a genetic trait passed down from one to another, though there appears to be no need for a relationship between users (there is no distinct /clan/).

[/b][/u]Hyouton (Ice): Hyouton, or Ice, takes the form of Ice based attacks and defenses.Due to the versatility of ice and snow, most attacks of this release have an area-of-effect to them. Hyouton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Water and Wind styles.


-Mokuton (Wood): Mokuton, or Wood, takes the form of wood attacks and defenses. Hard, solid, and ever present, wood provides a plethora of defensive techniques, and even extreme shelter. Mokuton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Water and Earth styles.


-Youton (Lava): Youton, or Lava, takes the form of melting attacks and defenses. Extremely offensive, the molten rock and magma produced by the Lava release is enough to decimate most defenses. Youton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Fire and Earth styles.


-Saton (Sand): Saton, or Sand, takes the form of Sand based attacks and defenses. Given the loose, adaptable nature of sand, and the precise control a Sand master can wield over each grain, this releases is excellent for both defensive and offensive warfare, as long as enough sand is present. Saton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Earth and Wind.


-Ranton (Storm): Ranton, or Storm, takes the form of laser-like attacks. Extremely offensive, this release delivers laser like ninjutsu strikes meant to shock and devastate the target, making it extremely offensive. Ranton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Water and Lightning styles.


-Bakuton (Blast): Bakuton, or Explosion Element, takes the form of explosive attacks. Though extremely offensive, this style of attack has little regard for those around, and tends to destroy large areas rather than specific targets. Bakuton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Wind and Fire styles.


-Shakuton (Scorch): Shakuton, or Scorch Element, takes the form of evaporating attacks. By using fire and adding a rapidly enhancing element, a regular flame is turned super in a near-instant. Shakuton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Wind and Fire styles.


-Futton (Boil): Futton, or Boil Element, takes the form of boiling attacks and defenses. Although it has been mistaken for Lava in the past, it's must quicker and more versatile, retaining more of a liquid property in order to provide quick, hot attacks. Futton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Fire and Water styles.


-Shouton (Crystal): Shouton, or Crystal, takes the form of Crystal attacks and defenses. Given the density of the crystals, this release provides excellent defensive capabilities, and with the sharpness of the special rock, it can also provide offensive devastation. Shouton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Fire and Earth styles.


-Jiton (Magnet): Jiton, or Magnetic Element, takes the form of small metal attacks and defenses. By magnetizing non-metallic items via touch, they gain control over them just as well as if it were true metal, resulting in a highly dangerous defense and offense. Jiton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Lightning and Earth styles.
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Beyond the advance releases exists another category of chakra manipulation, the likes of which is unprecedented in complexity and power. These elite category of elemental manipulation, known as the Kekkei Touta (Blood Limit Expansion), involves the combination of three elements to form a new, fourth, element. Currently, there exists only one.

[/b][/u]Jinton (Dust): Jinton, or Dust Element, takes the form of small and large vaporizing attacks. By creating energy-based constructs, the user entraps their opponents and causes their interior to fill with incredibly powerful explosions, pulverizing their enemy into nothingness. Jinton is formed through the simultaneous usage of Fire, Earth and Wind styles.
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[Wolfy]

Acquiring a release is a simple procedure and part of the Shinobi life, as the Six Path Sage and history books has shown us that we all have the hidden potential for manipulating nature. While not everyone has the same skills, each chakra wielding shinobi can use their unique talents in a way to fulfill a higher purpose. In this case, through hard work and practice, more than one release can be acquired.

However, before all that, you must understand the rules:

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