-Uzukage Building -
Stepping into his grandfather's office, Akashi was immediately struck by the unusual gathering. The spacious room, usually dominated by Ashina's imposing presence, was now filled with the solemn faces of the Uzumaki elders and even the familiar visages of his parents.
"Welcome back, Akashi. I see your mission bore fruit," Gramps said, his gaze sweeping towards Hiro, a silent acknowledgment of the Hagaromo Clan's arrival.
"Yes, Grandfather," Akashi replied, a wry smile touching his lips as he rubbed the back of his head, "even if we encountered a few… unexpected detours along the way."
"Indeed, we heard," Ashina's voice held a serious undertone, "and that is precisely why we summoned you here. Akashi, is it true that you engaged the Third Raikage's son in combat and, in the process, awakened a Dojutsu?"
The directness of the question, and the knowledge it implied, took Akashi by surprise. How could they have learned of the battle so swiftly, even before his return?
"Don't wear such a bewildered expression, Akashi," Ashina chuckled knowingly. "You know as well as I do that news travels with remarkable speed in our interconnected shinobi world."
Akashi couldn't help but concede the point. Even without the convenience of modern technology, the intricate network of spies, traveling merchants, and even rumors carried on the wind ensured that significant events rarely remained secret for long.
"Yes, Grandfather, it is true," Akashi confirmed, his gaze meeting Ashina's. "Amidst the intensity of the battle, I felt a sudden surge of heat within my eyes, almost as if my chakra was being intensely focused. And then… it happened."
His confirmation sent a palpable ripple through the room. A flurry of hushed discussions erupted, each elder voicing their own opinions and interpretations of this momentous development.
"This is magnificent!" Elder Denki exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "With Akashi awakening a new Dojutsu, our Uzumaki lineage will now boast another formidable Kekkei Genkai! All that remains is for him to begin producing heirs!" Several other elders nodded in enthusiastic agreement, visions of a future Uzumaki clan wielding the Mind's Eye, Adamantine Chains, and a unique Dojutsu dancing in their minds.
While Denki was lost in his celebratory pronouncements and the enthusiastic discussion of potential marriage partners for Akashi, he failed to notice the subtle but ominous shift in the atmosphere. Mina, Akashi's mother, her fiery red hair beginning to float around her head in tell-tale agitation, fixed the oblivious elder with a glare that could melt steel.
"Hey, you old coot!" she shouted, her voice sharp and laced with protective fury. "Who do you think you are, trying to auction off my Akashi to any random woman? I will only accept a truly exceptional girl for my son, not some… hussies you want as mere breeders!" Behind her, Takeshi, Akashi's father, stood firmly, offering his wife silent but unwavering support. Elder Denki, finally registering the raw intensity of Mina's anger, visibly paled, hastily reconsidering his overly enthusiastic matchmaking plans.
Ashina, who had observed the entire exchange with a knowing glint in his eye, decided it was time to intervene before Mina's protective instincts manifested in physical violence. "While Denki's enthusiasm may have been… premature, Mina, he does raise a valid point. Akashi is a Kekkei Genkai Progenitor. You understand the implications of that, don't you?" Ashina's serious tone compelled Mina to take a deep breath, her fiery aura subsiding slightly.
"Gramps, what exactly do you mean by Kekkei Genkai Progenitor?" Akashi interjected, his curiosity piqued. He had a vague understanding of the term, but he knew his grandfather possessed a far more comprehensive knowledge of such matters.
"A Kekkei Genkai Progenitor, Akashi, is the originator of a new bloodline ability," Ashina explained, his gaze meeting Akashi's. "They are the first to manifest a unique power that has the potential to become a hereditary trait, leading to the formation of entirely new clans built around that specific ability. There are two primary types of Progenitors. The first, and most common, are those born with a novel Kekkei Genkai, a spontaneous mutation within their lineage. The second, far rarer, are individuals who train two elemental affinities to such an extraordinary degree, pushing them beyond their natural limits, that it triggers the birth of a new, combined ability. In fact, both the Second and Third Hokages possessed the potential to become Progenitors of this latter type had they focused solely on two elements and driven them to their absolute peak. Instead, they both pursued mastery over all five basic elements."
Akashi found this information fascinating. The idea that pushing two elements to their extremes could birth a new Kekkei Genkai was intriguing. With his own affinity for wind and lightning, a seed of possibility began to sprout in his mind. Could I, one day, unlock another unique ability? However, he quickly grounded himself in reality. He had barely scratched the surface of his current abilities.
"Gramps, if that's the case, why don't more shinobi focus on creating Kekkei Genkai through elemental mastery?" he asked.
Ashina sighed softly. "It's not for a lack of trying, Akashi, but because of the sheer, almost insurmountable difficulty. Some even argue that achieving the strength of a Kage is an easier feat than mastering two elements to such a profound level that they combine to form a new ability. The chakra control required, the intuitive understanding of elemental interaction… it's a monumental undertaking."
"Has anyone accomplished it recently?" Akashi pressed.
"Well," Ashina mused, stroking his beard, "from what our records indicate, the Second and Third Tsuchikages are the only individuals in recent history known to have successfully trained their elements to such an extent, resulting in the creation of the Particle Style. What makes their achievement even more remarkable is that they reportedly combined three distinct elemental affinities."
Ah, that explains it, Akashi thought. He had always wondered how both Mu and Onoki possessed the same unique Kekkei Genkai despite not sharing a direct bloodline. Mu must have been the original Progenitor of the Particle Style, and perhaps he had passed down the technique, or the method of achieving it, to his eventual successor.
"Now, regarding those born with a new Kekkei Genkai, like yourself, Akashi," Ashina continued, drawing Akashi's attention back to the present, "they are the more common type of Progenitor. These spontaneous manifestations can appear in the most unexpected lineages. While seemingly random, this method offers the highest probability of the ability being passed down as a true bloodline trait."
"I understand, Grandfather," Akashi nodded, the implications of his newfound Dojutsu becoming clearer. "So that's why everyone is so… enthusiastic about me having children." He couldn't suppress a slight grimace at the thought. Twelve was hardly the age for such responsibilities, even in the accelerated world of shinobi. "While I won't be starting a family anytime soon, being twelve and all, I promise to do my part for the clan in the future." A flicker of curiosity sparked within him. Would his Dojutsu, a gift that felt almost external, passed down through his lineage? Kami had said his abilities would be adapted to this world, so it was a distinct possibility.
"You are a good boy, Akashi. I am proud of the strength and maturity you have shown," Ashina said, a rare smile gracing his stern features. "Now, your new Kekkei Genkai deserves a name. Have you given it any thought?"
Akashi considered the question. He couldn't exactly call it the Emperor's Eye in this world. It needed a name that aligned with the established nomenclature of other Dojutsu. After a moment of contemplation, a fitting name came to mind.
"Teiōgan (帝王眼)," Akashi declared, the syllables resonating with a quiet authority.
(Author's notice: "Teiōgan" translates to Sovereign Eye, a name I felt appropriately captured the essence of the Emperor's Eyes.)
As the name left his lips, his eyes spontaneously reacted. The crimson rings surrounding his pupils intensified, glowing with an inner light that silently exuded a palpable pressure, a subtle wave of power that washed over everyone in the room. Several of the Chinoike elders instinctively activated their own Ketsuryūgan in response to the unfamiliar force.
A collective gasp of awe filled the office as the elders witnessed the manifestation of Akashi's Teiōgan. They understood the significance of this moment, the dawn of a new era for not just the Uzumaki clan, but for the entire Village Hidden in the Whirlpools. This was another monumental step on their path to becoming the Sixth Great Hidden Village.
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End of the 30th Chapter
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(Author's notice: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know the concept of creating Kekkei Genkai through elemental mastery isn't strictly canon, but I wanted to explore the possibilities and offer a potential explanation for how new bloodlines might arise in the Naruto universe.)