Hearing the system's prompt, Lihuo stopped devouring food and felt a surge of delight. He began to think.
In the original story, "Bloodline Web" was an ability that surpassed both "Kekkei Genkai" and "Kekkei Tōta."
It was formed by combining the nature transformations of fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, yin, and yang. It was a genuine power of the Sage, one that only a Sage could possess—or, in other words, Otsutsuki Power.
Now the system had named a hidden quest "Bloodline Web." Lihuo had no idea what it meant, but just as he was wondering, the system promptly explained.
"Quest details: Meet certain conditions to exchange for the corresponding Kekkei Genkai or Kekkei Tōta. If you possess both a Sage Body and a Sage Eye and meet certain conditions, you can exchange for Bloodline Web."
"Doesn't this mean I can obtain any Kekkei Genkai I want?!"
"Kekkei Genkai are part of this world's underlying logic. I've never seen a ninja with a Kekkei Genkai fail to make a name for themselves."
"With a Kekkei Genkai, I'll have what it takes to contend with the Shinobi World!" Lihuo thought, thrilled.
"System, exchange for Wood Release!"
"Wood Release: 20 Earth Release jutsu of B-rank or higher, 20 Water Release jutsu of B-rank or higher, Sage Body, headpats: 162/1,500."
Seeing the steep requirements, Lihuo immediately lost interest. As expected, great power wasn't so easy to obtain.
For the rest of the time, Lihuo studied the exchange system. He found that the requirements for exchanging for a Kekkei Genkai generally fell into two categories.
The first was having a supply of jutsu corresponding to the two chakra natures. The second was reaching a certain number of headpats. The more powerful the Kekkei Genkai, the more headpats it required.
There was also another category of highly unusual requirements, which Lihuo classified as special requirements.
For example, Wood Release required a Sage Body, Byakugan required Byakugan, and Sharingan required Sharingan.
It sounded like a joke, but after careful study, Lihuo noticed something. Take Sharingan, for example: as a member of the Uchiha Clan, Lihuo already possessed the Kekkei Genkai of the Sharingan.
Kakashi and Danzo, on the other hand, had gained their Sharingan through transplants later in life and couldn't use them freely.
If Kakashi had the system, he could use its power to truly turn the Sharingan into his own Kekkei Genkai.
Likewise, Ao of Kirigakure had been implanted with a Byakugan, but he had never been able to bring out its full potential.
But if Lihuo had a Byakugan transplanted into him, the system's power would let him truly master all of its uses.
After carefully weighing his options, Lihuo finally found an extremely powerful Kekkei Genkai.
"System, I'll exchange for..."
Just then, a wail came from outside.
"Lihuo! Please don't be hurt!"
Lihuo: (･_･;
The person who arrived was Obito. He hurriedly pushed open the door and saw Lihuo crouching beside the fruit basket. Tears of excitement streamed down his face.
"Lihuo, I thought you were going to die! (ToT)/~~~"
Looking at his friend, Lihuo felt his temper flare.
"Uchiha Obito, I've heard of people being late for school, but I've never heard of anyone being late to visit a sick friend."
"Teacher Oshima and the others left in the last chapter! Why are you only showing up now?"
Obito gave an awkward smile, then grabbed an apple and started munching.
Lihuo didn't mind and continued.
"Obito, what did you learn from this exam?"
"What was there to learn? That you're really strong?"
"No. That you really are weak."
"(￣∇￣)"
"Your basic knowledge and practical skills are both nowhere near good enough..."
"Okay, okay, I get it. I finally come to visit you, and all you do is lecture me."
"I know you're recovering. Grandma and I are both worried about you, so we bought you some nourishing food. Remember to eat it."
With that, Obito left without looking back.
Lihuo didn't know whether Obito had taken his advice to heart.
But Obito knew that from then on, he made time every afternoon to train hard.
Watching Obito leave, Lihuo continued choosing a Kekkei Genkai.
"System, I'll exchange for Dark Release!"
That's right—it was the Dark Release used by Hiruko, the villain in the movie. Its signature technique was Dark Release: Inversion Hole.
(This book uses the Dark Release wielded by Hiruko in the movie, not the Dark Release used by Chukichi during the Fourth Shinobi World War.)
"The user releases absorbed chakra in the form of blue flames to attack."
Lihuo had chosen it mainly for its ability to absorb chakra. In the movie, Hiruko had even boasted, "Ninjutsu is completely useless against me!"
Lihuo envied this ability to devour ninjutsu and turn it into an attack, and its exchange requirements weren't too demanding.
"Dark Release: 2 Earth Release jutsu of B-rank or higher, 2 Water Release jutsu of B-rank or higher, Sage Body, headpats: 162/150."
"Exchange successful!"
The instant the system's voice sounded, Lihuo's whole body began to ache intensely.
"It's been a while. I'd almost forgotten this pain of growing stronger."
The pain came and went quickly. Knowledge of how to use Dark Release naturally appeared in Lihuo's mind, along with its signature jutsu, Hole Absorption!
In addition, two diamond-shaped seals appeared on the palms of Lihuo's hands. They were the foundation for using Hole Absorption.
As for Dark Release, Lihuo felt as though he had practiced it countless times. He had already mastered it completely!
Lihuo thought to himself, Simplified Sage Mode, activate!
Thanks to the advantages of Simplified Sage Mode—its mild side effects and quick activation—Lihuo could enter Sage Mode in an instant. It was this rapid burst of power that had let him save Lu Miao at a critical moment.
In Sage Mode, Lihuo's sensory abilities increased noticeably. He sat cross-legged and circulated his chakra. Yamanaka Secret Technique: Perception activated as he carefully sensed his surroundings.
After confirming that the area was safe, Lihuo raised his right hand and spread his palm toward the space in front of him. "Hole Absorption."
An invisible force of suction radiated from Lihuo's palm. He opened his left hand, and a pale blue Rasengan instantly formed, giving off a dangerous aura.
Without hesitation, Lihuo pressed the Rasengan against the seal on his right palm. The Rasengan couldn't touch the Hole Absorption seal at all; it was reduced to chakra and absorbed by the seal.
"This seal is incredible!" Lihuo exclaimed.
Lihuo ended the experiment, satisfied.
I can use this jutsu as my trump card and catch my opponents off guard! Lihuo thought.
Suddenly, Lihuo sensed a familiar figure in the hospital corridor, slowly approaching his room. It was Uchiha Aotian.
Lihuo quickly stopped using Hole Absorption, restored the room to its original state, and waited for Aotian to arrive.
Aotian pushed open the door and set down all the gifts he had brought.
"Lihuo, how are you feeling?"
"Thanks, Aotian. The doctor said it's nothing serious."
Unlike Lihuo's other friends, Aotian didn't sit down and chat with him as if they were old friends. Instead, he stood there silently.
"Aotian, is something wrong?" Lihuo asked, puzzled.
"Lihuo, you're strong, and you're getting stronger fast. I'd planned to challenge you once I was completely confident I could win."
"But I'm afraid that if I wait any longer, I'll never catch up to you. So I want to challenge you!"
Lihuo understood. Ever since he had beaten Aotian, Aotian had trained day and night—far harder than the fool Obito.
And Aotian had told Lihuo from the start that his goal was to surpass him!
So Lihuo wasn't surprised by this at all. He gladly accepted.
"Sure! I accept. I can finally see how much you've improved over the past two months!"
"Then it's settled. Once you've recovered, we'll have a proper match!"
Before you continue