Shakugan (Kuzashi Clan)(Kekkai Genkai)

Kekkei Genkai Name: Shakugan | Burning Eyes – Doujutsu

Physiological Attributes: The colour of the eye will change to emerald during the initial stage. Most members of the Kuzashi clan already have green eyes so this is usually indistinguishable, however their eyes will also continuously glow while the Shakugan is activated. During the second stage though the users eyes will turn completely black with an overlay of what looks like green fire. They will still glow, but with a much more distinguishable appearance. In the final stage they will appear exactly the same as the second stage, but instead of green they are blue. The glow is still present.

Special Abilities: The Shakugan gives the user the unparalleled ability to control fire. Whether it is natural fire or fire created from a Jutsu (regardless of the release type). This does not however work well on enemy Jutsu because the fire created by those techniques is already infused with someone else's chakra. It would require great strain on the user to manipulate fire jutsu used by an opponent. The practical uses of this Doujutsu are to expand a standard Fire Release to increase its area of effect and the amount of damage it can cause. It is especially useful in a forested or grassy area since the user can create fire and use that one flame to pursue and hopefully burn the target. The more chakra used the larger the Doujutsu can make the fire.

This ability however also works in reverse. As stated before, the user with great strain can manipulate fire created even by the enemy. This is not normally used however because it often requires less chakra to simply negate the attack with one of their own. This ability can extinguish flames as well. Putting out teammates who were unlucky enough to get hit by a fire technique or quickly reducing the flames in a burning house or forest. As would be expected though, the larger the fire, the more chakra is required to contain it.

At the most advanced level this kekkei genkai is even capable of creating fire from nothing but the users chakra. This allows them to take their fire manipulation to a completely new level because they no longer have to use a jutsu to unleash fire based attacks. While the flames created in this way are rudimentary and nothing more than a controlled blaze, they can be incredibly effective if used correctly.

The doujutsu accomplishes these tasks by consuming the user's chakra and infusing already existing fire with it.

Stages: This doujutsu has two primary phases and one advanced phase:

Phase One – Shakugan
This is the intial release of the Shakugan. Most members of the Kuzashi clan are capable of accomplishing this release before they become chuunin. The eye appears completely green with no pupil. In this release the user is capable of manipulating already existing fire in the ways mentioned above.

Phase Two – Honō Shakugan
This is the last known state of the Shakugan and is available to only the most skilled in the Kuzashi clan. The users eye takes on the appearance of the picture above. It has all the powers of the first stage but it is also able to extinguish fire solely through the use of the Doujutsu. This is an extremely useful technique and is revered in the clan and praised as their most powerful (keeping in mind that no one is able to use the Souzou Shakugan).

Phase Three (Advanced Phase) - Sōzō Shakugan
This is a lost state of the Shakugan, last seen over a century ago. There is currently no known way to activate this phase. The appearance of the eye is exactly the same as the second phase, except instead of emerald green, it appears sapphire blue. When activated the user has the abilities of the first two phases but gains the ability to create fire from nothing. The kinds of fire it can create vary depending on mastery, but a true master is capable of creating any kind of fire in existence, at the expense of a large amount of chakra. This fire can be controlled easily with this phase activated.

Method of Obtainment: Each different stage has a unique way of being activated. They are as follows:

Stage One - The initial phase of the Shakugan is usually awakened during the Bath of Fire ritual performed by the clan. However it can also be unlocked by the mastering the Katon element. Once a user becomes adept enough at using Fire Style jutsu, they will find themselves able to awaken their talents with this doujutsu as well.

Stage Two - The Honoo Shakugan can be awakened in one of two ways. The first way can be considered the easiest, though it is by no means easy. When a Kuzashi who has already activated the initial phase of the Shakugan is exposed to a blaze that can inflict life-threatening burns on them the Honoo Shakugan will manifest itself in the user. This is difficult because of the Kuzashi’s natural resistance to heat and flames as well as their faster than average healing of burns.

The second way is much more difficult but also possible. If the user has mastered the initial phase of the Shakugan, it is possible for them to gradually train their eye to absorb chakra infused flames. The difficulty behind this is that the eye does not naturally do this and thus can become permanently damaged in the process. This would cause the user to lose not only their ability to use the Shakugan, but their sight as well. This kind of training is usually performed alone in a controlled environment and is often continuously excruciating because of the strain involved.

Stage Three – The final phase of the Shakugan, known as the Sōzō Shakugan currently has no way of being unlocked. The secrets to this power were lost over a century ago with the death of the strongest members of the clan.

Limitations/Drawbacks: For precision control the user of this doujutsu must not only focus directly on the fire but has to be willing to part with enough chakra to properly control the blaze. This is easy enough with small fires but often for useful techniques one must create a larger fire. To control any fire the user must constantly expend chakra to keep it moving according to their will and this puts a considerable drain on chakra reserves which are often better used for creating their own techniques.

Putting out fires causes the greatest disadvantage however. When reducing a flame to nothing something must be done with the extra energy. This energy is absorbed through the doujutsu (an advanced user can do this with only one eye, limiting the negative effects). Depending on the size of the blaze this will often cause the eyes to burn and temporary blindness to occur. Members of the Kuzashi clan have the natural ability to regenerate burned tissue so one would only lose sight for anywhere from several hours to possibly weeks, depending on the size of the fire. However if this doujutsu were to be used by someone who does not possess this natural ability it could mean permanent blindness.

The final drawback to this technique refers to use of the Sōzō Shakugan. To create fire from nothing requires as much chakra as a normal jutsu would use, but unlike with a jutsu where the technique will move on it’s own once it is used, chakra must continuously be expended to control the size, movement and speed of the blaze. While this fire can be created without handsigns and can be used rather quickly, this drawback makes it very limited unless the user has mastered it and has massive chakra reserves to expend.

Additional Information: This kekkei genkai is available to all members of the Kuzashi clan.