Steel Release Kekkei Genkai

In the world of Naruto, everyone knows that bloodlines are everything.

Think about it: the Sharingan, the Byakugan, Senju Hashirama's Wood Release, Uchiha Madara's Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, the reincarnations of Indra and Asura, and even the alien Ōtsutsuki clan.

Everything boils down to special abilities passed down through families.

Some people even joke that the Naruto series is just a story about the Ōtsutsuki family, which says a lot about how important bloodlines are in this world.

This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the huge gap it creates between those with special bloodlines and those without.

Ordinary people often feel like they have no chance, like they're completely powerless.

It's not just about having a weapon or not; it's like comparing someone with a gun to someone else who has a spaceship. The difference is massive.

But things don't necessarily have to stay this way.

Over the past thousand years in the Ninja World, especially after the Warring States Period, we've seen amazing talents emerge.

Take the Second Kazekage, Shamon, for example. He was just a regular person, but he took the Magnet Release ability of Shukaku, The One-Tailed Beast and developed his own version that human ninjas could use. This led to the Third Kazekage, known as the Strongest Kazekage, making a name for himself, and then Rasa inherited it.

The Second Tsuchikage, Mu, was also an ordinary person. He combined three different types of chakra to create a Kekkei Tōta, a Bloodline Elimination that was even stronger than a regular Kekkei Genkai! He taught this ability to his student, the current Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.

Even Senju Tobirama, who came from the Senju clan, created many Forbidden Techniques that ordinary ninjas could use. These techniques had the power to change the Ninja World. Later on, people like Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto learned these techniques.

If you ignore the advantages of family background, clan, and intelligence, you still have inspiring figures like Might Guy and Rock Lee, who are both ordinary and extraordinary.

Sarutobi Ryo inherited his father Sarutobi Hiruzen's talent as a Ninjutsu Doctor and the Sarutobi clan's natural Divine Power.

But, compared to the many overpowered characters with strong bloodlines, he seems somewhat average.

And to become Hokage and change this world, he needs to be strong.

"Ice Release..."

Sarutobi Ryo murmured softly.

He remembered the hint he received about Ringo Ameyuri during the last mission to Land of Whirlpools.

Ice Release... possibility.

In other words, the Ice Release ability might also be something that ordinary ninjas can create, by combining different types of chakra, even if they're not from the Yuki clan.

"Heh, if I tell you, will you let me go?"

Seeing Sarutobi Ryo's interest, the captured ninja tried to make a deal.

But Sarutobi Ryo simply waved his hand, signaling Yamanaka Hui to come over.

Yamanaka Hui, who had been waiting impatiently, walked excitedly towards the ninja.

The smiling girl reached out her fair right hand and placed it on top of the ninja's head.

"Ah~!!!"

The scream before the mental invasion was a shrill cry of terror.

The ninja's body struggled desperately, trying to resist the Yamanaka clan's Secret Technique.

Having someone invade your brain and mess with your thoughts is a terrifying experience.

As Yamanaka Hui used her technique, the scream suddenly stopped.

"Hah... hah..."

Sarutobi Ryo watched the female ninja, her body twitching uncontrollably, her eyes rolling back in her head. His expression was unusually cold.

"Traitors must die."

She had betrayed the Land of Fire and its one hundred million people.

Every time someone betrays the Land of Fire, it's always the ordinary people who suffer.

They end up paying for it in the end.

The people's taxes supported her, so Sarutobi Ryo couldn't let her go unpunished.

Yamanaka Hui's eyes flickered as she quickly gathered information from the ninja's mind.

The Yamanaka clan's Secret Technique works best when the target's willpower is weak or when they're seriously injured and defenseless.

If the ninja had been unharmed, Yamanaka Hui wouldn't have been able to do it so easily.

But because she was in a vulnerable state, Yamanaka Hui's technique immediately overwhelmed her brain, turning it into a jumbled mess.

After all, Yamanaka Hui doesn't have any humanitarian ideas.

Like a cook who creates terrible food, every time she uses her technique, it's a disaster.

"Okay..."

Soon, Yamanaka Hui had finished getting all the information she needed.

And, of course, the ninja was now an idiot.

This was the result of using overly rough methods.

"Young Master, the combination of attributes needed for Steel Release is Earth Release and Yang Release."

It's not unusual for a Jonin to have two chakra natures, as having multiple chakra types is one of the requirements for becoming a Jonin.

The Twelve Guardian Ninja are not under Konoha's direct control, but they still have to meet certain basic standards.

This requirement was relaxed after Might Guy's famous battle showed that Jonin didn't necessarily need to have two chakra attributes. So, people with only one chakra attribute, or even none at all, were allowed to become Jonin.

"Earth Release and Yang Release, huh..."

Most ninjutsu that change the physical body are related to Yang Release.

Yang Release is the foundation of Medical Ninjutsu.

The Akimichi Clan's Secret Techniques also use Yang Release.

According to the official data book, the Senju clan even inherited the Sage of Six Paths' Yang Release.

So, Yang Release is widely used in the Ninja World.

As Yamanaka Hui explained, Sarutobi Ryo learned the specific method for training in Steel Release.

This woman, who had been one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, had saved up a lot of money and started trying to create a Kekkei Genkai to save her own life.

Unexpectedly, she actually succeeded.

Was it the fear of death? The desire to live? Whatever it was, it allowed her to create a life-saving Kekkei Genkai.

If someone else had been sent to deal with her, like Hakumo Hayama or Yamanaka Hui, they might not have been able to capture her.

But she happened to run into me.

Even with the initial protection of Steel Release, she still ended up getting captured.

Of course, this was also because she hadn't been training her Steel Release for very long.

"I remember, in the movie, Hiruko also uses Steel Release..."

Hiruko's Steel Release turns his body into a black metallic form. He has to activate it manually, and it's not always in effect.

The woman's Steel Release, on the other hand, hardens her skin. She uses chakra to constantly change her skin, which is like a permanent "passive" ability. As long as she keeps training, she can become stronger and stronger.

The training steps for this Steel Release are:

First, combine Earth Release and Yang Release in a certain proportion to create "Steel Release attribute Chakra."

Second, circulate the Steel Release Chakra through the surface of the skin. Use the power of vibration to constantly vibrate the skin, changing its properties. Eventually, any attack that hits the skin will be deflected and weakened.

The final result is uncertain.

But currently, this woman has already trained to the point where she is unharmed by ordinary Body Art.

I was able to defeat her so easily because of my own extraordinary strength, combined with the violent Body Art that Orochimaru gave me.

An ordinary ninja who isn't from the Akimichi Clan would never be able to do this. They would have to rely on Ninjutsu or powerful weapons to break through her defense.

"Immunity to ordinary Body Art gives her an advantage in fights, especially in melees..."

The value of Steel Release lies in three key aspects. First, It is a Kekkei Genkai and doesn't belong to any of the five basic elements. So, it's not easily countered by a specific element. Secondly, It doesn't require Hand Seals! The advantage of not needing Hand Seals is obvious. Battles are always a race against time. And Lastly, It can also slightly reduce the damage from sharp weapons, which is more valuable than many things.

Even a Sage of Six Paths-level powerhouse can be killed by a small kunai.

Because there are different types of Sage of Six Paths-level powerhouses: ordinary Earthling Sage of Six Paths-level, Moon person Sage of Six Paths-level [T/N: like Toneri], Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Sage of Six Paths, and Ōtsutsuki alien Sage of Six Paths.

Not all Sage of Six Paths-level powerhouses are resistant to sharp weapons.

Sarutobi Ryo felt a surge of excitement. He couldn't wait to start training in Steel Release, so he could acquire this Kekkei Genkai.

Once he manages to create a Kekkei Genkai through his own efforts, it will be like opening a new world, or rather, the beginning of his plan to change this world!

Power... and authority.

Defeating this woman counts as capturing the mastermind and extracting intelligence. The Anbu assessment is complete.

As for what happens next, that's something for Danzo and the other higher-ups to worry about.

Before training, there was one more piece of information that made Sarutobi Ryo decide to make some arrangements.

The Kirigakure Ninja who was in contact with this woman was none other than Ringo Ameyuri of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!

The next meeting between the two sides is scheduled for "one week later," and the location is a small island nation near the Land of Whirlpools Ruins: the "Land of Waves"!

After thinking for a moment, Sarutobi Ryo made a decision.

"Ah Hui, go write a report for Yakushi Nonou, and have her send a message to Danzo... tell them I won't be coming back for now, and I'll be staying here for a week..."

Sarutobi Ryo raised his hand, making a gesture of refining chakra.

"I'll train for a week, trying to learn Steel Release as much as possible. In the meantime, Control the Yakuza at the Dock, let them operate normally to provide goods for disguise, and then... I'll go meet Ringo Ameyuri!"