list of kekke genkai
Posted on: April 5, 2007, at 02:41:38pm

Byakugan
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Neji Hyuga's Byakugan.The Byakugan (白眼, Byakugan? literally "White Eye", Viz "Evil Eye") is a special pupil condition (瞳術, Dōjutsu?, literally "eye technique") that naturally occurs in members of the Hyuga clan (and thus only characters from the Hyuga clan possess it). Byakugan users are characterized by their lavender, pupil-less eyes. When the Byakugan is activated, their pupils appear and the veins near their temples bulge.

A person with the Byakugan has a nearly 360 degree field of vision except for a small blind spot behind the first thoracic vertebra (near the back of the neck), which is its only known weakness. Byakugan users can detect anything around them within a 50-meter radius (although Neji Hyuga manages to increase the radius to over 800 meters during the timeskip), making them close-range combat experts. The Byakugan also gives the user the ability to see through basically any matter over extremely long distances. This seems to be a combination of x-ray and thermographic vision, as Hinata notes in the Bikochu filler arc that objects can be difficult to see if their temperature is the same as the objects around them. A small degree of telescopic vision is also present, as a Byakugan user can focus on a single object at any point within their range of vision. The degree of focus seems to be dependent on the skill of the user. The Byakugan's sight cannot be blocked, except in the case of something like Ranmaru's kekkei genkai ability, unlike the Sharingan, which can be blocked by any sufficiently non-transparent substance. It is however, possible to impede it slightly through the use of certain powerful seals. The Byakugan's insight capacity makes it useful for searching, tracking, and identifying targets.

One of the most powerful aspects of the Byakugan is the ability to see the inner chakra coil system, which is the key aspect of using Gentle Fist to attack said system. If sufficiently developed, the Byakugan is able to see individual chakra points, potentially allowing the user to shut off the opponent's chakra flow completely, such that the opponent cannot perform techniques that require chakra. Seasoned Byakugan users are even capable of killing with a single blow.

Protection of the Byakugan ability is very important to the Hyuga clan, and has led to the development of an elaborate family hierarchy. The Hyuga clan is divided into two houses: the main house (宗家, sō-ke?) and the branch house (分家, bun-ke?). The branch house's main purpose is to protect the main house and the secrets of the Byakugan. Branch house members' abilities and freedom are restricted through the means of a cursed seal that is placed on every branch house member's forehead. Through the means of a special technique that only main house members know, the seal can be activated, destroying the brain cells of the person branded with the seal. This allows the main house to make the branch house subordinate to its wishes. In addition, whenever a branch house member dies, the cursed seal will also seal the Byakugan ability so that enemies will not be able to discover the secrets of the bloodline limit if Konoha's hunter-nin are unable to find and dispose the body before the enemy finds it.

There are several techniques developed specifically for Byakugan users, which complement and make use of the Byakugan's abilities – most notable among which are the defensive barrier technique Eight Trigram Palms Heavenly Spin and the high-speed precision attack Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.


[edit] Hyoton

Young Haku manipulating water in the anime.Haku's kekkei genkai, Hyoton (氷遁, Hyōton?, literally "Ice Release", dubbed "Haku's Secret Arts of Water" by Viz) allowed him to combine wind and water-based chakra to create ice, which he could manipulate through willpower alone, as seen in the anime from a flashback where he was manipulating water in his hands and again when he uses water to create a field of icicles through his house by freezing water.

Using his special ability, Haku developed a number of powerful techniques. His most powerful technique, Demonic Ice Mirrors, allowed him to surround an opponent with an array of ice mirrors and attack them at an incredible speed. He also developed Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death, which only required one hand to perform the seals. With it, he could create a thousand needles out of water and send them flying at his opponent.

In the first Naruto movie, several of the Yukigakure ninja also had the ability to use Hyoton techniques. However, this was not the product of a similar kekkei genkai, as demonstrated by Kakashi's ability to replicate one of these jutsu with his own kekkei genkai, the Sharingan.


[edit] Kurama clan's kekkei genkai
Every few generations a member of the Kurama clan will be born with an incredible talent for genjutsu. The clan member's talent in that field is such that their genjutsu is completely irresistible, so much so that only knocking a person out cold has any chance of awakening them from it. Furthermore, the genjutsu is so powerful that it literally convinces the brain to copy anything that happens to the victim within the genjutsu, making it possible for the clan member to kill their opponents with genjutsu. Such frightening power is not without its drawbacks, however. The user can rarely control the full extent of their abilities, and as such their subconscious will often regulate that power, leading to the creation of a second personality in control of that power. This personality then overwhelms the original, turning the individual into a monster that's a danger to everyone around them.


[edit] Mokuton

The First Hokage utilizing a Mokuton technique.The Mokuton (木遁, Mokuton? literally "Wood Release") techniques are initially used by the First Hokage, and it is said that because of his unique ability he was chosen as the First, and that he used his wood type techniques to create Konoha village. Yamato, who received DNA from the First as a result of an experiment done by Orochimaru, also demonstrates the ability to use Mokuton jutsu. Mokuton techniques are performed by combining earth and water-based chakra simultaneously, thus causing trees to grow from any location the user wishes (including himself, as demonstrated by Yamato's ability to branch wood clones off of himself). The shape can also be controlled to a fine degree, allowing makeshift structures to be grown quickly in battle. During a mission with Team 7, Yamato actually grew the team a log house using his Mokuton ability for camping purposes.

A secondary, and not necessarily related, skill is the First's ability to control tailed beasts, which Yamato also gained. With this ability, Yamato can forcibly reverse Naruto's Demon fox transformation. Tsunade's incredibly valuable necklace, which Naruto currently possesses, is said to help enhance this particular skill.



[edit] Ranmaru's kekkei genkai

RanmaruRanmaru has a kekkei genkai ability similar to the Byakugan and Zetsu's spying technique, but arguably better than both. Its powers allow him to see through solid objects and create illusions with chakra circulatory systems, which allows him to fool Neji's Byakugan. It also allows him to interfere with the workings of the Byakugan, and has other vaguely defined powers regarding vision. When activated, Ranmaru's eyes momentarily glow red. Not much else is known about his bloodline limit.



[edit] Sharingan

Kakashi's Sharingan.The Sharingan (写輪眼, Sharingan? literally "Copy Wheel Eye", Viz "Mirror Wheel Eye") is a special type of pupil condition that naturally occurs in all members of the Uchiha clan, though not all of them gain the ability to use it. Itachi hints at some dark ultimate purpose behind the Sharingan, which both he and Sasuke apparently know, but the series has yet to reveal exactly what that purpose is. The Sharingan is thought to be descended from the Byakugan, but grants the user different abilities and a different insight.

The Sharingan's first and most well known ability is to memorize any technique that it witnesses. It can memorize ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu with perfect accuracy, allowing the user to use the techniques as his own. In order to reproduce copied jutsu, however, one must have the necessary skill or ability to perform them. A prime example is Rock Lee's Strong Fist taijutsu. While Sasuke was able to copy some of Lee's moves, they put a much more significant strain on him since he hasn't trained nearly as hard as Lee has. In addition to physical skill, the Sharingan cannot allow the user to reproduce other kekkei genkai since the Sharingan user doesn't possess the same genetic trait. Additionally, Sharingan users cannot summon a creature which they have not made a contract with.

The Sharingan also grants the user incredible clarity of perception, allowing them to track fast-moving objects with ease and even predict the subsequent movements of those objects. The ability to track and predict movement is largely based on individual skill, as unskilled users have much more trouble tracking fast-moving objects. A fully-evolved Sharingan eye can track all but the quickest opponents, even if the user can't move at the same speed. This perception is also great enough to see through genjutsu, depending upon the skill of the user, and the ability to observe the movement and flow of chakra, but not to the same extent or clarity as the Byakugan. Additionally, the Sharingan grants the user exceptional analytical powers, allowing them to instinctively pick up on various visual clues with little difficulty. In one instance, Kakashi had to shut his eyes to avoid accidentally reading Naruto's lip movements while he was spoiling the ending of one of Kakashi's Icha Icha books. Sasuke was also able to reproduce answers on another person's test by watching their pencil movements during the Chunin Exam.

Finally, the Sharingan is capable of a unique brand of hypnosis that involves suggesting actions and thoughts to the opponent. When used in conjunction with the other aspects of the Sharingan, this allows the user to perfectly mimic every move their opponent makes, even before they do, making it appear as if the user can see the future.


Sasuke's evolving Sharingan.The Sharingan does not automatically appear from birth in a user; instead, it will usually appear when the user is in a life-threatening situation, where the power of the Sharingan could save the user. After this first appearance, the user can then call up the Sharingan any time he or she pleases. (Due to its unique nature, Kakashi's Sharingan cannot be deactivated, and thus he usually covers it to conserve chakra.) The power of the Sharingan is judged through the number of tomoe in the eye, known as the "tomoe seal". It is not unheard of for a Sharingan user to have different amounts of tomoe in each eye. For example, Sasuke's Sharingan initially had two tomoe in one eye and one in the other. Upon his first regular activation of it, it had evolved to two tomoe in each eye. He evolved it to three in each eye during his battle with Naruto at the Valley of the End. A fully-matured Sharingan has three tomoe in each eye.

It is possible to transplant Sharingan eyes from one person to another, as occurred with Kakashi and his deceased comrade Obito Uchiha. However, transplanted eyes do not work as well in a non-Uchiha body, causing more strain on the user, as is the case with Kakashi – extended use of his Sharingan will cause him to collapse. Uchiha clan members are not burdened with this weakness; while activation of the Sharingan does consume chakra, the drain is so small as to be almost insignificant. Itachi in particular seems to have no trouble keeping his Sharingan activated near-constantly.

Characters who currently possess the Sharingan include Sasuke Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi's eye was given to him by Obito Uchiha, one of his teammates in his original three-man ninja team. Obito developed it in a battle against a camouflaging Rock shinobi. During this battle, Kakashi lost his left eye when he was attacked, hence his scar. Near the end of the battle, Obito's right side was crushed under a giant rock, and as his last act Obito had Rin, a medical ninja, remove his left eye and implant it in Kakashi's empty eye socket, thus allowing Kakashi to use the Sharingan even though he does not have Uchiha blood. This is also why only his left eye is a Sharingan eye.


[edit] Mangekyo Sharingan

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan.The Mangekyo Sharingan (万華鏡写輪眼, Mangekyō Sharingan?, literally "Kaleidoscope Copy Wheel Eye") is a heightened form of Sharingan. The Mangekyo Sharingan is distinguished from a normal Sharingan through its appearance, which changes the form of the tomoe seal. However, unlike the Sharingan, it may have a different appearance between the users, as Kakashi's version is significantly different than Itachi's. Those who have the potential to obtain it must make a great sacrifice in order to obtain it—according to Itachi, they must kill their closest friend. Itachi does in fact do this to obtain his version, but Kakashi has noted that everyone he cared about had died long before the start of the series, so how he developed his own variant is unknown. It has also been implied in the manga that use of the Mangekyo Sharingan may deteriorate the user's normal eyesight.

In the long history of the Uchiha clan, only a few have been able to obtain the Mangekyo Sharingan. At present, there are only two people who can use the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi being one and Kakashi being the other. According to Itachi, if his younger brother Sasuke obtained it, the number of people who could handle the Mangekyo Sharingan (including himself) would be three. Itachi's statement may suggest that there is (or was at that time) another Mangekyo Sharingan user somewhere; however, Itachi uses the verb atsukau (扱う) which means "to handle" or "to deal with", which could also mean that there are only three people left who are capable of acquiring the Mangekyo Sharingan. Given that Itachi had just killed every other member of the Uchiha clan, this statement could simply be taken as a matter of fact: Kakashi, Sasuke, and Itachi were the only known characters left alive with Sharingan eyes, so no one else had the potential to obtain it.

お前が開眼すれば... オレを含め万華鏡写輪眼を扱う者は三人になる
Omae ga kaigan sureba... Ore o fukume Mangekyō Sharingan o atsukau mono wa sannin ni naru
"If you activate it... Including me, the number of people who can handle the Mangekyo Sharingan will become three" - Itachi to Sasuke (Original Japanese version)


[edit] Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan
Itachi Uchiha gained the Mangekyo Sharingan by killing his best friend, Shisui Uchiha. With the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi is able to use the two most powerful jutsu of the Uchiha clan, Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu of unrivaled power and effectiveness, and Amaterasu, a ninjutsu capable of burning through even the strongest of materials.


[edit] Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan

Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan.Kakashi Hatake developed his own version of the Mangekyo Sharingan during the timeskip. Unlike Itachi's version, which is used to destroy a target, Kakashi uses his to create a localized interdimensional space-time warp, allowing him to target any object and send it to another dimension, achieving the same result. Kakashi used this new jutsu to warp a segment of Deidara's right arm into a different dimension. He immediately aimed at Deidara's head for a second attack, but missed. He subsequently uses it again in Chapter 278 to counter Deidara's ultimate move, which would otherwise level the entire forest they were fighting in. The attack requires considerable effort to aim precisely and appears to leave Kakashi's chakra significantly drained; he collapses after using the technique three times (compared to his other original move, Lightning Blade, which he can use four times a day).

The appearance of the pupil and tomoe in Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan differ from that of Itachi's; Kakashi's looks more like a pinwheel. Before this was shown, it was thought that one had to kill their best friend to acquire the Mangekyo Sharingan. This clearly isn't the case with Kakashi, who stated long before developing his Mangekyo Sharingan that everyone close to him was already dead. The only known now-deceased person that could be described as his "closest friend" was Obito, who died shortly after giving Kakashi his Sharingan eye. While Kakashi may have felt responsible for Obito's death at the time, he certainly didn't kill Obito himself, and it wouldn't explain why it took him so many years to obtain the Mangekyo Sharingan. Thus, the means behind its development and the actual meaning of the "requirement" are currently unknown.


[edit] Shikotsumyaku

The Kaguya Clan's kekkei genkai.Shikotsumyaku (死骨脈, Shikotsumyaku? literally "Dead Bone Pulse")2 is the kekkei genkai of the extinct Kaguya clan, which gave them the frightening ability to manipulate their own skeletal structure. They had free control over the cells responsible for bone growth and replacement, allowing them to manipulate their bones at will. They could protrude their bones out through their skin, change their bone density, and could even completely regenerate a lost bone. All this makes their bodies virtually indestructible, and any point of contact on the body could become as sharp as a spear tip, giving them a nearly perfect defense. The Kaguya clan utilizes this ability in their many sword dances, named after flowers or plants, usually creating a variety of bone weapons that were used in conjunction with powerful and graceful taijutsu movements. The ability seems to be rare amongst the clan members, as Kimimaro Kaguya was the only one to exhibit it out of his entire clan.


[edit] Souma no Kou

Sakon and Ukon.Sakon and Ukon of the Sound Four have the ability to unify some or all of one's body with the other's body with Souma no Kou ("Attack of an Evil Spirit Pair"). Typically, Ukon is dormant in Sakon's body, with his head protruding from the back of Sakon's neck. In heated battles, Ukon can literally lend his arms or legs to add force to Sakon's physical attacks, and even split completely into two bodies. They can also merge with an opponent's body with Parasite Demon Demolition Technique, gradually killing their new host. The brothers can switch places if need be, but Ukon notes that it is not something he is used to and thus makes them weaker.





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