Tōshirō raised his ears in surprise.
Why was it called 'Bloodline Selection (Kekkei Tōta)'? He had never seriously considered this question before.
The concept of 'Bloodline Limit (Kekkei Genkai)' was easy to understand, but the term 'Selection' always felt mysterious, like a riddle shrouded in mist.
Given that 'Bloodline Selection' consists of two Kekkei Genkai, why did neither the Second nor the Third Tsuchikage demonstrate this ability in the original story?
Is it possible that Kekkei Genkai isn't as powerful as Kekkei Tōta, so they didn't see the need to use it?
Or maybe...?
Was the author just lazy and didn't bother thinking it through?
Like Madara Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan technique, which we never saw until his death.
Could it be just a rumor to hype up ninjutsu techniques...right?
As Tōshirō was lost in thought, old man Itachi spoke up, "In the past, when people developed ways to surpass Kekkei Genkai, they were very careful in naming them. In fact, besides the well-known term 'Kekkei Tōta,' there was another lesser-known name for it."
Another name? Tōshirō wondered, surprised, "What is it?"
Old man Itachi paused for a moment, then spoke with a serious tone: "Bloodline Evolution."
Tōshirō's eyes widened, and he took a deep breath in astonishment.
"When two Kekkei Genkai are combined, it doesn't just create an entirely new technique like the fusion of chakra elements, but instead, one of the Kekkei Genkai undergoes an evolution."
"Evolution?"
"Yes, exactly, it's evolution," old man Itachi explained. "That's why Kekkei Tōta is considered a power beyond the bloodline limit."
"But I don't understand. What does this have to do with the word 'Selection'?"
Old man Itachi sighed sadly, "Survival of the fittest, and the weaker is eliminated. This principle also applies to Kekkei Genkai. In the process of merging, one Kekkei Genkai will disappear, becoming nourishment for the other, helping it evolve."
"However, even though one of the bloodlines will vanish, it doesn't disappear completely. If there are descendants, this bloodline might still be inherited under certain conditions."
(Note author: Onoki's granddaughter has the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, and she appeared in the story at the age of 18. Given her talent, it's hard to believe she developed this herself; the chance of inheritance is much higher.)
"For the fusion to succeed, the chakra properties of the two bloodlines must be compatible, or there will be a repulsion. This is why Kekkei Tōta relies on the fusion of three chakra elements. That's what we've learned from the experiences of those before us."
"That's why I asked you to train in the elements of water and fire. You have a natural affinity for fire, and the Uchiha clan specializes in fire techniques, so you'll find plenty of resources for training. As for water, I chose it because the wind and fire elements are similar in function, both being primarily offensive."
Tōshirō nodded, feeling grateful to have someone guiding him.
Old man Itachi was truly a kind person.
He paved the way for you, and all you had to do was follow it step by step, avoiding unnecessary detours.
Old man Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, a faint glint of cunning shining through.
In truth, he hadn't told him everything. While it was true that wind and fire were similar, wind also enhances fire's power. The real reason he chose the water element was that the Land of Water was his own domain, and he had many resources available for Tōshirō's training.
Tōshirō lamented, "After all that effort to merge Kekkei Genkai, and in the end, one disappears."
Having an extra technique could significantly expand combat options, especially one at the level of a Kekkei Tōta.
When the fire and water elements merge, the result would be the Boil Release. Though it didn't appear much in the original story, it left a lasting impression.
Boil Release: Strength Enhancement.
Raising chakra to the boiling point and releasing it all at once was a technique that enhanced physical strength in an instant, potentially stronger than Tsunade's superhuman strength.
Moreover, this technique could be applied to the entire body, making the blood boil and significantly increasing physical capabilities.
This technique is one of those arts that enhances physical prowess using Kekkei Genkai.
Old man Itachi shook his head, offering a different perspective: "Strength doesn't come from the quantity of techniques but their quality. There's a saying: one force can defeat a thousand ways. The power of Kekkei Tōta surpasses that of ordinary Kekkei Genkai."
"My words may not be clear to you yet, so let me give you an example."
There are very few ninja who possess Kekkei Tōta, and the first that comes to Uchiha Madara's mind is one of his past opponents.
"For instance, a ninja known for having a bloodline limit was the Second Tsuchikage. Before he could merge Kekkei Genkai to develop Kekkei Tōta, he had two Kekkei Genkai: the Lava Release and the Split Release."
"Lava Release and Split Release?" Tōshirō was taken aback.
He knew about Lava Release, but what was Split Release?
Old man Itachi patiently continued his explanation: "Lava Release is the result of combining the fire and earth elements, allowing the user to release lava. Split Release, on the other hand, is the result of combining earth and wind elements, and its primary ability is to split things."
"Split?"
"In simple terms, it's the ability to divide objects, including the user themselves."
Tōshirō felt this technique was somewhat similar to Dust Release. Could it be that Dust Release is the evolved version of Split Release?
Old man Itachi continued: "When he successfully merged his Kekkei Genkai, the Lava Release disappeared, and Split Release evolved into what we now know as Dust Release."
"Before, Split Release required a few seconds to divide the target, and there were limits to the size of objects it could split. But after evolving into Dust Release, its power became immense; once it hits the target, it collapses in moments, making it extremely lethal."
At this point, old man Itachi gave Tōshirō a meaningful look, smiling slightly: "You were born with the talent to control the Ice Release, and in the future, if you can develop Kekkei Tōta, your Ice Release may evolve."
"And at that point, you'll have to give yourself a new name for your new Kekkei Tōta release, haha…"
Old man Itachi's words intrigued Tōshirō greatly, and he listened intently, lost in thought.
If he could develop a Kekkei Tōta, would he be able to reach a level similar to Aokiji from One Piece?
He might even freeze the entire ocean in an instant!
At this thought, Tōshirō clenched his fist slightly, his eyes glowing as he said in a deep voice: "Frozen Release."
"Frozen Release, it's a truly fitting name…"
(If you have a better name, write it.)
Uchiha Madara, who had been watching from behind the scenes, murmured to himself.
In a way, developing Kekkei Tōta was similar to when he gained the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Now, his Mangekyō Sharingan had evolved by merging his eyes with those of his brother Izuna, and since they had been fused, he was supposed to retain his brother's ability.
However, that didn't happen. Instead, his eyes retained only his original abilities.
But in exchange, his visual power increased dramatically, and the side effects that had limited his ability to use the eyes were eliminated. Even the shape of his eyes changed noticeably.
The Mangekyō Sharingan is considered a Kekkei Genkai, but his current eyes were no longer classified as such. They could be said to have become a Kekkei Tōta.
Tōshirō's strong desire for progress didn't go unnoticed by old man Itachi, who smiled slightly, satisfied with his guidance: "Anyway, developing a Kekkei Tōta is no easy task. Consider it your long-term goal and work hard to achieve it."
As the sun began to set, old man Itachi looked at the sky and coughed a little: "It's getting late; I should head back now."
Tōshirō, feeling grateful, kindly asked: "Would you like me to walk you home?"
"I haven't reached the point where I can't walk yet," old man Itachi stubbornly replied. "If you have time for that, you'd be better off dedicating it to training. That's the best way you can repay me and our family."
Tōshirō took his advice and nodded seriously.
After bidding farewell to old man Itachi, Tōshirō continued his training for a while longer before returning home after night had fully fallen.
He bathed, then lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time, contemplating something.
(End of Chapter)
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