Chapter 3: The Bloodline Anomaly
An empty space had been cleared in the center of the shrine. A triangle with an intricate pattern was drawn on the floor, and a transparent wall of light enclosed the space—a barrier formed by three shinobi standing at each of its corners.
"This is a type of barrier ninjutsu. It will protect you from any outside chakra influence," A explained, gently patting Dana's head.
The other clan members offered encouraging smiles. A few of the elders even promised him candy if he tried his best.
Dana nodded repeatedly, a knot of nervousness tightening in his stomach. As someone from another world, the concept of chakra was something he still couldn't fully grasp. At his core, it felt fundamentally impossible.
Because of this, he worried he wouldn't be able to draw it out at all.
He shot a resentful look at A. His father had thrown him into this without any warning, giving him no time to prepare. He hadn't even had a chance to perform some kind of purification ritual.
At least let me wash my hands for good luck!
Under the watchful eyes of the clan—some stern, some encouraging—Dana walked resolutely into the barrier and plopped down on the floor.
"Dana," A began to instruct, his voice echoing slightly within the barrier. "Chakra is born from the fusion of physical and spiritual energy. Close your eyes, feel deep inside your body..."
A guided him personally, reciting the foundational theory of chakra molding.
In his previous life, every single word of this explanation would have sounded more unbelievable than a scam text message. But in this world, those same words were the key to unlocking superhuman power.
Working with the principle of "if it exists, it must be logical," Dana forced himself to believe in the method. He mentally brainwashed himself, pushing aside all doubt and focusing intently on the sensations within his body.
As Dana closed his eyes, A finished explaining the basics. After confirming Dana understood, he fell silent, waiting patiently.
"Do you think it will be successful?" a few of the elders whispered among themselves.
"As the pinnacle of the Yotsuki bloodline, he shouldn't fail at something as simple as molding chakra."
"But the boy has a Kekkei Genkai disease. No one can say for sure..."
"Doesn't the disease itself prove he has the talent to be a shinobi? Otherwise, how could his body be so affected by chakra?"
"Let's hope so. Perhaps after he becomes a ninja, his condition might improve."
The clan elders murmured amongst themselves.
The minutes ticked by. Dana remained inside the barrier with his eyes closed, and the clansmen outside slowly began to relax.
"We were too impatient. Even A took three hours to mold chakra for the first time. It's only been ten minutes..."
"Heh, it took me three days to succeed..." The atmosphere in the shrine lightened.
Just then, a sharp crackle of electricity erupted around Dana.
"Is it a symptom of the disease? Or something else?" the crowd wondered aloud.
The crackling grew more frequent. Tiny arcs of lightning flickered across Dana's body, appearing almost constantly. Everyone realized this was far more intense than his usual, sporadic discharges.
Dana felt like he'd evolved from a Pikachu into a string of firecrackers.
"Dana!" A called out urgently. "How do you feel? Can you feel your chakra?"
With his eyes still closed, Dana considered the question for a moment before answering, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I think so, but it feels... really small. Just a tiny bit..."
He knew that the amount of chakra a ninja possessed largely determined their potential. Right now, what he felt inside him was next to nothing. Lacking any frame of reference, he couldn't be sure, but compared to the capacity of his body, the amount he'd produced was like a single soccer ball on a massive soccer field.
His body was the field.
The chakra he'd created was, at best, the ball.
He almost wondered if he was feeling chakra at all, or if his leg had just fallen asleep.
"Keep trying," A instructed. "If you feel like you can't produce any more, then stop."
Dana nodded and continued his absurd task: trying to fill the entire soccer field with a single soccer ball.
It was a frustrating feeling. He felt like he could sit here until next year and never get anywhere.
"He molded chakra for the first time in only ten minutes... but why is the amount so small?"
A could also sense that something was wrong with Dana's chakra. It was far too little, barely a whisper of energy. In stark contrast, the electrical arcs enveloping his son were growing more numerous and more powerful.
They illuminated half of the shrine.
Is the Kekkei Genkai disease causing his chakra to dissipate? A wondered. Although he was powerful, he wasn't a sensory-type ninja. He turned to several specialists he had summoned for this very occasion. They were all shinobi who were either exceptionally sensitive to chakra or possessed sensory ninjutsu.
One of them, a man with bandages wrapped around his head, had kept his eyes closed and his brow furrowed. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. "My sensory technique is telling me the Young Master's chakra is gathering in his back... and then it's being absorbed!"
"His back?" A's expression darkened.
"Dana, don't let it affect you. Focus on molding your chakra."
With that, A strode forward. Braving the crackling arcs of lightning, he pulled off Dana's shirt.
The thin, deep-purple line of his spinal column was starkly visible against Dana's frail back. Normally a dull, bruise-like color, the spine was now emitting a faint glow. On closer inspection, tiny bolts of lightning could be seen coursing just beneath the skin.
It looked like a violet dragon, or perhaps a great purple tree branching across his back.
The strange phenomenon left everyone speechless. They all wanted to press their faces closer for a better look but didn't dare get too close for fear of disturbing Dana.
"It's appeared... the Kekkei Genkai of our Yotsuki clan. I wonder what it does?"
It was a known fact that a Kekkei Genkai disease was still a Kekkei Genkai. No matter how deadly or severe the sickness, the effects of the bloodline would still manifest.
The Yotsuki had been practicing their secret arts for over a century. While their bodies had become increasingly attuned to their lightning techniques, they had never developed a true bloodline ability. That was why Dana was so precious. He represented a new generation that could change the clan's history.
A decision had already been made in private. The moment Dana reached the absolute minimum age for reproduction, he was to produce heirs. As many as possible, as quickly as possible.
Let's just underline minimum age for reproduction.
And while we're at it, let's underline as many as possible.
Don't think about it. Just don't think about it!
An elder so old he barely had any teeth left stood up excitedly, eager to see the Yotsuki clan's brand-new Kekkei Genkai in action. He wobbled and had to sit back down, by which time his prime viewing spot had been taken. Blocked by a wall of people, the old man could only glare and huff in frustration.
"Everyone, quiet!" Only A remained calm. At this moment, he was not just the clan head and the Third Raikage, but a father. He was prepared to intervene at a moment's notice to protect his son from harm. "Dana, do you feel any discomfort?"
"No, Father. Everything's fine. It actually feels... kind of nice," Dana reported honestly. He was still trying to fill the soccer field, and though it felt like a futile effort, a pleasant warmth was spreading through his body.
So this is chakra? It feels amazing.
Dana continued to diligently mold his chakra, unaware that for a child his age, simply succeeding was a great achievement. Most would be completely exhausted after only a few minutes. For him to continue for nearly an hour was highly abnormal.
Even more abnormal was the fact that he didn't feel "full" at all.
This wasn't him being humble; it was the truth. The sensory ninja next to him could confirm it. Although Dana had been producing chakra for a long time, almost all of it was being channeled directly into his back and absorbed.