Samehada, Shark Skin

Weapon Name: Samehada [Shark Skin]
Weapon Type: Greatsword
Rank: S
Current Wielder: Hoshigaki Akihiko

Description:
Samehada is a large sword, roughly as tall as a full-grown man and comparable in size to the Kubikiribōchō. Though usually wrapped in bandages, Samehada's construction is atypical in that its actual blade is comprised from a series of downward-facing scales running along the entirety of its length until its hilt, at the base of which is a small skull. Samehada grows larger in proportion to the amount of chakra it absorbs, causing its scales to become so long that they ultimately resemble shark fins and its mouth, located at the tip of the blade, to become even more pronounced with visible teeth. Keeping Samehada wrapped in bandages apparently helps to inhibit this growth to a certain extent.

Samehada is unique for being a sentient weapon that gains nourishment from the chakra of others and, as such, the blade is at its happiest when engorged with chakra that possesses both a distinctive and pleasant flavour. However, it has shown displeasure towards fire-natured chakra, stating that it's far too hot. Being capable of conscious thought, Samehada chooses its own user, an exclusive process that has often resulted in it being thought of as notoriously picky. If someone it disapproves of attempts to wield it, spikes protrude from the handle in order to force them to release their grasp, at which point Samehada will make efforts to return to its chosen owner. To further exemplify it being a sentient being, it was able to mourn a previous wielder's death.

As the blade is made up of scales, it inflicts injuries through shredding or shaving what it comes into contact with, rather than just cutting the object in question. This flaying effect is similar to a shark's skin, hence the sword's name. While it ordinarily remains rigid, Samehada's hilt is able to stretch and bend to great extent, allowing the weapon to be used like a flail. To supplement the blade's offensive capabilities, it is able to extend its scales to spikes, and protrude spikes from its handle. Samehada can also be used in conjuncture with Water Release, leading to the sword glowing with chakra.

Samehada shares a symbiotic relationship with its wielder, similar to that of the kikaichū. Although it continually consumes the chakra of its owner, its largest meals come from fights, where it absorbs the chakra of the opponent by slicing through it, preventing them from performing the technique in question. This is particularly useful when fighting jinchūriki, as Samehada can quickly deplete their large chakra supplies as well as remove their chakra cloaks. However, it seems to be unable to automatically absorb ambient chakra, as in all instances where it has absorbed chakra are when either the opponent had a visible aura around them or when direct physical contact had already been established. Samehada is even capable of slicing through chakra that is transformed. The more chakra it absorbs, the larger it can become. Due to its voracious appetite, Samehada is drawn to those with large chakra supplies, allowing it to be used as a quasi-sensor. Samehada can produce a mist veil through the wielder's blood. This enables it to absorb the chakra of anyone near through their open wounds.

While the ability to absorb chakra is useful in defeating opponents, it is also beneficial to the user as well. Samehada has the ability to transfer the chakra it has absorbed to the wielder by partially fusing with them, so it can be used to either revitalise the wielder's chakra and stamina or instantly heal even fatal injuries. This makes the user of this sword extremely difficult to defeat conventionally. A Hoshigaki can take this fusion one step further by completely merging with Samehada. Doing so causes them to become much more shark-like in appearance, growing fins and webbed hands that allow them to move through water with considerable ease. The user also receives some of Samehada's abilities while in this form, such as being able to extend spikes from their body for offence, and absorbing chakra when others come into direct contact with them, as well as the ability to track chakra and avoid sensors. It will fuse with a weakened or inexperienced wielder on its own accord, taking them over and causing them to go on a rampage until they are separated.

Abilities
Samehada drains chakra from everyone, including the wielder. The wielder of Samehada receives a -1 penalty on their Maximum Chakra Capacity. All A-Rank and lower Ninjutsu that come into contact with the blade are also absorbed, unless used by the wielder.

Attempting to wield Samehada when it rejects you causes spikes to portrude from the handle, and the weapon will always attempt to travel back to its current wielder. However, due to the weapons own sentience, its "current wielder" can change at a moment's notice.

• The following Abilities require Weapons Mastery at Grandmaster
Samehada can extend itself via the handle by up to 20 feet. Samehada is also capable of eating 1 S-Rank jutsu every 3 posts. Samehada will grow larger the more chakra it consumes. Samehada will also urge the wielder to go in the direction of the strongest source of chakra nearby, as it's always hungry for more. The wielder can also heal injuries and restore chakra by fusing with Samehada, causing them to be able to absorb the chakra directly, portrude spikes from their body, and sense chakra through their skin. Exceptionally strong chakra signatures can call Samehada and its wielder from hundreds of miles away.

• The following Abilities require the Wielder be a Member of the Hoshigaki clan
The wielder gains the ability to Absorb Chakra, albeit not as effectively as Samehada can do so, even if they're not actively holding the weapon. The wielder's and Samehada's chakra signatures become indistinct from one another. Hoshigakis also do not pay the chakra cost to wield Samehada regardless of their weapon affinity. Finally, the wielder can also hide inside of Samehada, indistinguishably.