Kagune Release

## Overview

Kagune Release is a type of manifestion-ninjutsu transformation only sustained in the Uchiha Clan. A kagune is an uchiha's predatory organ and functions as their personal weapon and claws. It is usually as red as blood, but colors can vary. It's flexible like the flow of water, but firm and sturdy. When released, an uchiha's physique is strengthened, they are more resilient, and their mobility heightens. A kagune is composed of Rc cells, which flow just like blood, can become as solid as teeth and can be described as "liquid muscles." Rc cells can be created through the Mangekyo Sharingan. The Rc cells are released from a kakuhou, an area on the body assigned where the kagune manifests, piercing the skin, and the released Rc cells form the kagune. The kagune are voluntary muscles as ghouls can control them whenever they want and repeatedly harden and soften them at will. Kagune size depend on the Rc cells' quality and quantity while the shape depends on the creativity and intellect of the user.

The healing of wounds tend to be delayed if the wounds are inflicted by a kagune. It is also evident that in order to counter a kagune in battle, one must also have a kagune, if not, then another way is to intercept the user with a genjutsu.

## Formation

Research conducted by the Nohara Laboratory Division resulted in identifying three stages of kagune formation. At their current knowledge, the stages are the same for every Uchiha capable of manifesting kagune.

### Formative Stage

At the point base of the kagune where the Rc cells erupt from the kakuhou, the erupted Rc cells will form bonds with each other. They will organize themselves in the structure best fit for their Rc type in a repeated web. This repeated action of the cells will occur instantaneously and lead to the next stage.

### Fixative Stage

The bonded Rc cells will retain the resulted form for a fixed length of time. The basic shape of the kagune is seen at this stage. During this time, the defensive and offensive capabilities and weaknesses will take on their respective properties to the ghoul's Rc type. The manifested kagune's appearance is usually hereditary, taking on the shape and characteristics of their genetic predecessors, additionally, kagune size also depends on the Rc cells' quality and quantity while the shape depends on the creativity and intellect of the user. In relation to this stage is the user's manual control of the kagune's movement and actions, which can include crystallization if the Uchiha acquires the Crystal Release from a Nara. It can also increase in length, dexterity, sharpness, and concentration.

### Disintegrative Stage

After time has elapsed, the bonds between the cells begin to break apart. At this point, the kagune loses its solidity and deteriorates.

## RC Types

The kagune's appearance and the place of emergence on the body depend on the **Rc type** of the Uchiha. There are four different Rc types: ukaku, koukaku, rinkaku, and bikaku. As a guideline, each type can characteristically subdue another type, although it may be different for two specific opponents. Each Rc type has a set of strengths and weaknesses, each one unique to its type.

### Ukaku

An **ukaku** kagune is spread out like feathers and is released from the shoulder area, it specializes in high speed attacks, most of the users seeming to have highly enhanced speed. The kagune is lightweight and can be used to deliver high-speed attacks against an adversary. The primary method of this kagune's attack is based of the Nara clan's infamous Crystal release, which crystallizes their kagune to deliver a high speed torrent of spike-like projectiles, however whilst crystallized they are much stiffer and cannot be used for short range combat; at least one ukaku-type can generate powerful lightning-like bolts, a possible rare ability. While the kagune is suited both for short-distance and long-distance attacks, short-range is considered their weakness. They may use their kagune as a shield and several are capable of shaping them into sharp blades reminiscent of a koukaku to aid in close quarters. Many ukaku-types are able to increase the flexibility of their kagune for short-range combat, though this makes it ill-suited for their distinctive long-range attacks.

### Koukaku

A **koukaku** kagune is released below the shoulder blade. Due to its high density of Rc cells, it is heavy and extremely robust, giving it the greatest sturdiness and making them very well suited for defense. Normally, they are generally shaped into armors or shields, but on the offense, they can be shaped like melee weapons such as drills, hammers, blades, and swords. Due to its high weight, a koukaku's speed is inferior to all other Rc types and the kagune is difficult to wield. A koukaku can fend off an ukaku onslaught using its guarding capabilities. However, a rinkaku kagune can deliver severe strikes against the slow koukaku, breaking their kagune and breaching their defenses.

### Rinkaku

A **rinkaku** kagune has an appearance similar to scaled tentacles and is released at the back around the waist. A rinkaku wielder has powerful regenerative abilities and some could even survive the most critical of damage. Its peculiar appearance and structure yield a superior striking power and they excel in brute strength. Some rinkaku users are able to manipulate the shape of their kagune, such as changing its usual tentacle form into swords or claws. This type's regenerative power is a result of the Rc cells easily binding together. Their Rc cells are similar to liquid. However, this means that the binding force among the Rc cells are weak, therefore making the kagune very soft and easy to break. But because their Rc cells bind so easily, some rinkaku can bind their multiple tentacle-like kagune together to make a larger, stronger kagune. So far the number of tentacles that rinkaku users can create are from one to eight tentacles.

### Bikaku

A **bikaku** kagune typically has a tail-like appearance and is released around the tail-bone/coccyx. It is good for medium-distance attacks and has decent offense, defense, and speed. Thus, they have no notable strengths or weaknesses like the kagune based on other Rc types, meaning the kagune itself is treated as a surprise "trump card." The number of tails a bikaku user can create is usally one, but some can create more. A bikaku has better speed and durability against the brute-force, breakable rinkaku, allowing them to cut off the rinkaku's kagune. However, a bikaku will be overwhelmed by the faster ukaku-user and will lose against the ukaku's long-range attacks.

## Unique States

### Chimera

When Uchihas with different Rc types have children, there is a small chance they will inherit abilities from both parents and be born with a chimera kagune. This trait appears to be extremely rare, with only two known examples appearing in the series who are Zavyer Uchiha, and Kanaya Uchiha.

### Detachment

Though the method has still not been explained, some Uchihas possess a rare ability to detach part of their kagune. This detached piece maintains its traits for some time, and continues to function separate from the main body. Detachment can be used in several ways:

* **kagune wall**, which buries into the ground and sprouts like a thorn bush or other organic barriers. It extends itself to fill the entire area, making passage impossible.

* **kagune trap**, which can be buried within any surface, and coils up on itself. These traps will lie in wait until nearby movement triggers them, bursting from their hiding place to impale what has set them off. It appears to be possible to set more than a half-dozen traps at a time, though the exact limitation is unknown.

* **kagune signal**, which is able to transmit data similar to a distress signal. How the information is transferred as well as received is unknown, but a small piece of kagune can reveal the owner's location. It has only been shown to work one-way so far.

### Kakuja

The "Kakuja" state is a unique kagune state that can be acquired by cannibalism on the same blood. When Uchihas repeatedly cannibalize other Uchihas, they (rarely) develop an abnormal kagune apart from the common predatory kagune. This kagune typically takes an armor-like shape, and ghouls with such a kagune are called kakujas.

This abnormal transformation kagune also takes after the Rc types.