Hearing the system prompt, Riku's frantic eating came to a halt. A wave of ecstasy washed over him as he began to think.
In the original story, "Kekkei Mōra" was an ability that surpassed both "Kekkei Genkai" and "Kekkei Tōta."
It was a fusion of all seven nature transformations: fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, yin, and yang. It was a power that only true Sages could possess, or as it was also known--the power of the Otsutsuki.
Riku wondered about the system's intention in naming a hidden mission "Kekkei Mōra." Just as he was pondering this, the system provided a timely explanation.
"Mission Content: Fulfill certain conditions to exchange for corresponding 'Kekkei Genkai' or 'Kekkei Tōta.' Possessing both a Sage Body and Sage Eyes and meeting certain conditions will allow you to exchange for 'Kekkei Mōra.'"
"Doesn't this mean I can get any Kekkei Genkai I want!"
"Kekkei Genkai are the underlying logic of this world. I've never seen a ninja with one who failed to make a name for themselves."
"With a Kekkei Genkai, I'll have what it takes to contend with this ninja world!" Riku was incredibly excited at the thought.
"System, exchange for Wood Release!"
"Wood Release: 20 B-rank or higher Earth Release jutsu, 20 B-rank or higher Water Release jutsu, Sage Body, Headpats: 162/1500."
Seeing the steep requirements, Riku's interest immediately waned. Sure enough, powerful abilities weren't so easy to obtain.
For the next while, Riku studied the exchange system. He discovered that the requirements for Kekkei Genkai generally fell into two categories.
The first was a reserve of ninjutsu corresponding to the two chakra natures. The second was meeting a certain standard for the number of headpats. The stronger the Kekkei Genkai, the more headpats were required.
There was also a category of highly unusual requirements, which Riku classified as "special requirements."
For example, Wood Release required a Sage Body, the Byakugan required a Byakugan, and the Sharingan required a Sharingan.
It seemed like a joke at first, but after careful study, Riku saw the nuance. Take the Sharingan, for instance. As a member of the Uchiha clan, Riku already possessed the Sharingan Kekkei Genkai.
But people from the original story like Kakashi and Danzō, who had a Sharingan transplanted into them, couldn't use it to its full potential.
If Kakashi had the system, however, he could use its power to truly transform the Sharingan into his own "Kekkei Genkai."
Similarly, Ao of the Hidden Mist had a Byakugan transplanted but could never unleash its full power.
But if Riku were to have a Byakugan transplanted, he could use the system's power to truly master all its uses.
After a careful selection process, Riku finally found an extremely powerful Kekkei Genkai.
"System, I want to exchange for..."
Just then, a series of wails and howls came from outside.
"Riku! You have to be okay!"
Riku: (?_?;
The newcomer was Obito. He hurriedly pushed open the door and saw Riku squatting next to a fruit basket, tears of excitement streaming down his face.
"Riku, I thought you were going to die! (ToT)/~~~"
Riku looked at his friend, a surge of irritation rising within him.
"Uchiha Obito, I've heard of being late for school, but I've never heard of being late to visit someone in the hospital."
"Oshima-sensei and the others left in the last chapter! What took you so long?"
Obito smiled sheepishly, then picked up an apple and started munching on it.
Riku paid him no mind and continued.
"Obito, what did you learn from this exam?"
"Learn what? That you're really strong?"
"No. That you're really weak."
"(￣?￣)"
"Whether it's basic knowledge or practical combat, you're lacking by more than just a little..."
"Alright, alright, I get it. I come all this way to visit you while you're sick, and all you do is lecture me."
"I know you're recovering. My grandma and I are both really worried about you. We bought you some supplements. Make sure you take them."
With that, Obito turned and left without a second glance.
Riku didn't know if Obito had taken his advice to heart.
But Obito knew that from that day forward, he would spend every afternoon training hard.
Watching Obito's retreating figure, Riku went back to choosing his Kekkei Genkai.
"System, I'll exchange for 'Dark Release'!"
That's right, the Dark Release used by the movie villain Hiruko. Its signature technique was "Dark Release: Inhaling Maw."
The user can release the absorbed chakra as an attack in the form of blue flames.
The ability to absorb chakra was the main reason Riku chose it. In the movie, Hiruko even boasted, "Ninjutsu is useless against me!"
Riku greatly envied this ability to devour ninjutsu and turn it into an attack. Plus, its exchange conditions weren't too demanding.
"Dark Release: 2 B-rank or higher Earth Release jutsu, 2 B-rank or higher Water Release jutsu, Sage Body, Headpats: 162/150."
"Exchange successful!"
The moment the system's voice sounded, a sharp pain coursed through Riku's entire body.
"It's been a while, this pain of getting stronger."
The pain came and went quickly. Knowledge of how to use Dark Release, along with its signature ninjutsu, Inhaling Maw, flowed naturally into his mind.
Correspondingly, two diamond-shaped formulas appeared on the palms of his hands. These were the basis for using Inhaling Maw.
Riku felt as if he had already practiced Dark Release countless times, having achieved a state of complete mastery!
Riku silently chanted in his mind, "Simple Sage Mode, activate!"
Thanks to Simple Sage Mode's minimal side effects and quick activation, Riku could enter Sage Mode rapidly. It was this burst of speed that had allowed him to save Shikamizu at the critical moment.
Upon entering Sage Mode, Riku's sensory abilities sharpened significantly. He sat cross-legged and circulated his chakra. "Mind Body Secret Art: Perception," he activated, carefully sensing his surroundings.
After confirming the area was safe, Riku raised his right hand, palm open and facing forward. "Inhaling Maw."
An invisible suction force emanated from his palm. With his left hand, he formed a light blue Rasengan in an instant, which pulsed with a dangerous aura.
Without the slightest hesitation, Riku pressed the Rasengan against the formula on his right palm. The Rasengan was absorbed as pure chakra by the formula before it could even make contact.
"This technique... it's so strong!" Riku exclaimed in amazement.
Satisfied, Riku stopped his experiment.
"I can use this as a trump card for a surprise attack!" he thought.
Suddenly, within his perception, a familiar figure appeared in the hospital corridor, slowly walking toward his room. It was Uchiha Aoten.
Riku quickly deactivated Inhaling Maw and returned the room to its original state, waiting for Aoten to arrive.
Aoten pushed open the door and set down all the get-well gifts he had brought.
"Riku, how are you feeling?"
"Thanks, Aoten. The doctor said it's nothing serious."
Unlike Riku's other friends, Aoten didn't sit down and chat casually. Instead, he just stood there silently.
"Aoten, is something wrong?" Riku asked, confused.
"Riku, you're strong. And you're getting stronger fast. I was going to wait until I was absolutely confident before I challenged you again."
"But I'm afraid if I wait any longer, I'll never be able to catch up. So, I want to challenge you!"
Riku understood. Ever since he had defeated Aoten, the other boy had been training day and night, far more diligently than that idiot Obito.
And Aoten had told him his goal from the very beginning--to surpass him!
So, Riku wasn't surprised by the situation at all. He gladly accepted.
"Alright! I accept. I'm curious to see how much you've improved these past two months!"
"Then it's settled. Once you've recovered, we'll have a proper fight!"