Clan Name: Hōzuki | 鬼灯
Location: Kirigakure


The Hōzuki Clan (鬼灯一族, Hōzuki Ichizoku) is a group of ninja that settled in Kirigakure after the ending of the Warring States Period and since then have become a major political force within the Land of Water. Their unique ability to turn themselves into a liquefied state, surrounded by the constant source of mist to keep the ninja hydrated allowed the Hōzuki Clan to supplement their powerful clan abilities and truly make a name for themselves as potent ninja of the mist, solidifying their positions as spies, medics, scouts and many other roles within the ninjas' borders.

Having produced no less than four Mizukage, the Hōzuki Clan has reason to be proud of their heritage, and have become famous internationally. Several famous members of the Clan have been immortalized in Kirigakure history, such as Suigetsu, who wielded the legendary Kubikiribōchō, one of the nations' seven swords. As a swordsman his name became legend. But his legend paled in comparison to his brother Mangetsu, who mastered all of Kirigakure’s legendary seven swords in his time as the captain of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, including the notoriously picky and living Samehada. Finally, and perhaps most famous of them all, was the Second Mizukage of the Kirigakure no Sato, Gengetsu Hōzuki. A master of Genjutsu techniques, he was one of the most powerful ninja to have ever walked the Earth, and able to single handedly stave off armies unbeaten with his techniques even while attempting to give his opponents the knowledge and means to defeat him.

All in all the Hōzuki Clan have earned their rightful place in Kirigakure’s history as some of the strongest and most durable shinobi in the world.

Members:

• Gengetsu Hōzuki † ⋆
  
• Mugetsu Hōzuki † ⋆
  
• Mangetsu Hōzuki † ⋆
  
• Suigetsu Hōzuki † ⋆
  
• Hangetsu Hōzuki †
  
• Shingetsu Hōzuki †
  
• Chigetsu Hōzuki
  
• Sangetsu Hōzuki
  

† = Deceased
⋆ = Canon

The Hydrification Technique

Members of the Hōzuki clan are able to use the Hydrification Technique, which allows a Hōzuki member to turn portions of, or their entire body into a liquefied or semi-solid state of pure chakra enhanced water. In this state they cannot take physical damage, even if it is from chakra-based techniques, and can instead only be damaged by effects which would change the molecular state of water. Freezing or boiling are prime example of this, which would fatally slow down or speed up the water molecules within a Hōzuki. The flow of an electrical current through water causes electrolysis, which causes the decomposition of water molecules into its base components. Any source of damage that would damage the water molecules will similarly be able to damage a liquefied Hōzuki, not just the example provided.

Their fluid nature also makes it easy for them to pass their entire body through small cracks or holes in a wall and set up surprise attacks in or around water with astounding results. The Hydrification Technique is not truly a technique as such, but instead a living part of the Hōzuki Clan's genetic composition. Liquefying is as natural as breathing to the Hōzuki, and can be activated effortlessly and at will.The Hydrification Technique is so well integrated into their biology it will even occur as a reflex and without needing conscious thought on the part of the user. Activating in response to any physical damage Hōzuki members would sustain, the Hyfriciation Technique forces its use to prevent any harm, consuming the necessary Chakra against the individual’s will. Hydrification allows for the Hōzuki Clan member to liquefy not only their physical form but the clothing, items, armor, and weapons they own and are in contact with, and theoretically anything that they’ve thoroughly saturated in their chakra.

Limbs or body-mass removed from a Hōzuki Clan member maintains the state of its gel-like liquefied form without requiring any additional chakra be spent. This means the limb’s owner is able to recollect lost mass through physical contact while in use of the Hydrification Technique, recombining with the mass though taking a full post to restore the wound or limb to its rightful shape and position. Naturally, lost mass scattered far and wide being far more difficult to recover than a simple dismemberment. Any damage which would cause a Hōzuki Clan member to lose a limb or any other body mass during hydrification can be re-attached through the user making contact with the separated liquid.

While great potential is contained within the genetics of the Hōzuki Clan, this is not simply a power that is handed to them. Just as any part of the body must be trained to grow strong, diligent work must be done in order to achieve the true potential of the Hydrification Technique. However, training higher ranked versions of the Hydrification Technique does not eliminate the ability to use lower ranked versions. Once the cost for hydrification is paid that rank of the Hydrification Technique may be used freely during that post, activated and deactivated as many times as the user wishes.

While using the Hydrification Technique, the affected portions of the Hōzuki’s body transform entirely into chakra saturated water. They are still able to operate normally despite having all of their bones and organs transformed into water, not requiring their functions to survive while the Hydrification Technique is active. No heartbeat is required, nor is a brain in order to think while they are transformed into water, and the need for oxygen is completely bypassed without lungs (although air can still be brought into their body and then exhaled to mimic a voice while in this form). Should portions of their body be separated while liquefied this will not drastically affect them either. For example, if a sword were swung at their neck in an attempt to decapitate them, and only their neck was liquefied, having their head separated from their body in this manner would not harm them or prevent the function their body or head in any way. Should their limbs, or any other part of their body, be removed while the Hydrification Technique is active, those parts may still be maneuvered freely. In the prior example of the head and body, both the head and body would be able to move freely as if they were still attached as normal.  Additionally, despite not having any musculature while liquefied they are still able to move and sense through their liquid form just the same as they would normally.

E-Rank

The passive ability that all of the Hōzuki are born with. When used at this rank tiny amounts of the body may be liquefied. An area of the body around the size of an index finer may be liquefied, along with incredibly simple thing to liquefy such as the hair, the tongue, the eyes, and fingernails. This level of Hydrification can be maintained indefinitely without any chakra usage and activates in response to impact from E-Rank damage, preventing lasting harm to the user.

D-Rank

At D-Rank, a member of the Hōzuki Clan is able to complete a 2000-word training thread and paid 250 ryo to attain this stage of the Hydrification Technique. When activated at this rank the user can liquefy a surface area roughly the size of their forearm, as well as any armor or equipment that covers that area. This level of Hydrification can be maintained for five chakra each post.

C-Rank

At C-Rank, a member of the Hōzuki Clan is able to complete a 2000-word training thread and paid 500 ryo to attain this stage of the Hydrification Technique. When used at this rank, the user can liquefy a surface area roughly the size of an arm or leg, as well as any armor or equipment that covers that area. This level of Hydrification can be maintained for ten chakra each post.

B-Rank

At B-Rank, a member of the Hōzuki Clan is able to complete a 2000-word training thread and paid 750 ryo to attain this stage of the Hydrification Technique. When used at this rank, the user can liquefy a large amount of their body, such as their torso into liquid, as well as any armor or equipment that covers that area. Reaching this proficiency with the Hydrification Technique lowers the cost to use the lesser versions by five chakra, down to a minimum of zero chakra a post. This level of the Hydrification Technique can be maintained for ten chakra each post.

A-Rank

At A-Rank, a member of the Hōzuki Clan is able to complete a 2000-word training thread and paid 1000 ryo to attain this stage of the Hydrification Technique. When used at this rank, the entire physical composition of the Hozuki, as well as any items they own and are in contact with, can turn into liquid. This level of the Hydrification Technique can be maintained for fifteen chakra each post.

Water Affinity

The affinity that the Hōzuki with the Suiton element runs back generations. The development of the Hydrification Technique is an obvious expression of this affinity, but beyond this their other Suiton techniques are known for having an impressive ferocity. All Suiton techniques cast by a Hōzuki will require five less chakra to be activated and require 20% less word count to be trained. However, this affinity is a double edged sword. The affinity for Suiton is so ingrained into Hōzuki genetics that their chakra systems have been colored blue with the elemental chakra. The Hōzuki begin with Suiton as their only element, and cannot untrain Suiton under any circumstances. In addition to this, all of their chakra is considered Suiton aligned by default, and techniques that they use that have no elemental nature will be treated as if they were Suiton aligned.

The same bonuses are applied in reverse to the elemental natures that run contrary to Suiton. Katon and Raiton techniques are incredibly difficult for the Hōzuki to use, and merely learning them requires an additional 20% word count, while their use requires an additional five chakra.

In addition to this, Hōzuki are treated for all purposes as if they were Suiton aligned. This causes them to gain the same elemental advantages and disadvantages when interacting with jutsu and items. This will mean that they will take +1 damage from elements that have an advantage against Suiton, and -1 damage from elements that have a disadvantage against Suiton.

Hydration

Should a Hōzuki take any damage from an attack with a heat based descriptor of their own rank or higher they will suffer additional negative effects from becoming dehydrated. This increases the cost of all ranks of the Hydrification Technique by an additional five chakra. This dehydration effect can stack up to three times, but can only be afflicted once per post. This dehydration effect may be removed through submerging the affected Hōzuki in water, or otherwise drinking at least half a liter of water.

Members of the Hōzuki Clan require constant hydration, as their Hydrification Technique greatly dehydrates them with use. Starting after the first post in the thread that any rank of the Hydrification Technique is used they will begin to feel the effects of this dehydration. Three posts after using the Hydrification Technique the effects of dehydration will set in, and the user will suffer minus one tier to Strength and Speed. Every two posts after this will increase by another minus one tier, up to a total of minus four tiers in both Strength and Speed. This dehydration effect may be removed through submerging the affected Hōzuki in water, or otherwise drinking at least half a liter of water.

Conductive

Rather than Doton, Raiton is what the Hōzuki fear the most. Their bodies are poorly suited to handling electricity and incredibly conductive. The Suiton that the Hōzuki use is altered to be weak elementally to Raiton rather than Doton. This applies to the chakra-based techniques that a Hōzuki should use as well as their nature Suiton alignment. Suiton aligned items that they possess do not share this trait.

If a Hōzuki should ever take damage from an attack with an electricity descriptor of their rank or higher they will become paralyzed and unable to move their body except to speak for the next post. This will cause the Hōzuki’s body to collapse down into a semi-solid, almost gelatin like state. In this state the Hōzuki is treated as if they had the full body version of the Hydrification Technique active without the need to spend chakra.

I would like to see clarification in the ranks as to whether the damage that activated it needs to be physical or if it applies to jutsu. Also could be descriptor based (Ie including jutsu that is cutting/piercing/slashing damage)