Kage Bunshin No Jutsu
"technique" or "skill") is a general term referring to the supernatural abilities ninja can use. The series takes place in a fictional universe in which different countries vie for power using ninja, and the Naruto storyline follows the adventures of a group of young ninja from the village of Konohagakure.
In the series, ninja use jutsu by manipulating a form of energy known as chakra, a combination of the physical and mental energies in the body. Jutsu are classified into three categories: ninjutsu, general techniques that do not fall into the latter two categories; genjutsu, techniques that produce illusions; and taijutsu, physical attacks that usually use only the body's physical energy.
Series creator Masashi Kishimoto created the concept of jutsu to explain the supernatural feats ninja perform in the series, and provide an original image of ninja in manga. The incorporation of jutsu into the series has received praise and criticism from several anime and manga publications.
Anime Reviews asserted that jutsu were the primary focus of Naruto and the source of its "highest accolades," but criticized the overly repetitive use of certain jutsu in fight scenes. Anime News Network agreed with this sentiment, calling the fights "repetitive to a fault," and praised the visual presentation of jutsu in both the anime and manga.
Creation and conception
The concept of jutsu was developed by Masashi Kishimoto in order to explain the superhuman feats that ninja performed in the series. Kishimoto's design for the ninja in Naruto was intended to dispel preconceived notions about ninja popularized by other manga and bring an original take to the presentation of ninja in manga.
The use of hand seals was a substitute for the incantations for magic found in other sources, and was based on the motions of ninja in various role-playing games. The hand seals are based upon the characters of the Chinese zodiac, which is a longstanding tradition in Japan, and Kishimoto used them specifically to draw upon that tradition.
Although the concept of chakra is found in Indian mythology, Buddhism and other belief systems, in an interview, Kishimoto claimed that none of these influences were the basis for his use of chakra in Naruto. He further asserted that it was a term to apply a concrete definition to ninjas' ability to use jutsu in Naruto, and was comparable to the Force in Star Wars or magic points in role-playing games.
Chakra
Simplified diagram of chakra generation mechanics
Physical energy (身体エネルギー, shintai enerugī?) is a vital force generated within the cells of living organisms.
Combined with psychic energy (精神エネルギー, seishin enerugī?), or force of will and mental fortitude, it can be harnessed to a variety of uses, such as the production of the superhuman stamina used in taijutsu. It can also be used for formation of the energy known as chakra (チャクラ, chakura?), essential to the use of even the most basic of jutsu.
Once created, chakra moves about the body to any of its release (Chakra) points, utilizing a network of passages not unlike the circulatory system.
By various means -- hand seals being the most common -- it can then be manipulated to create effects otherwise impossible by normal people, such as walking on water. The quality of chakra can be altered with what is called nature manipulation (性質変化, seishitsu henka?). There are six kinds of nature manipulation, five of which have been identified. They are Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Lightning, also commonly referred to as the five elements. Each element has a strength and a weakness to another element; for example, Lightning is effective against Earth, but is easily countered by Wind.
Most Jōnin are able to use two different elements, while Kakashi Hatake has been shown to use four of the five.
Certain shinobi have the innate ability to mix two different elements into a new element. Examples are Haku's Ice jutsu, mixing Water and Wind, and the First Hokage's and Yamato's Wood (Mokuton) jutsu, mixing Earth and Water..
However these shinobi don't have access to any of the other 'standard' elements outside the two they combine.
Hand seals
The most common way to manipulate chakra to perform jutsu is through the use of hand seals. The origin lies in traditional Iengei or mundra, which are part of Taoist and Buddhist religious, and mystical practices.
These hand seals consist of a combination of twelve-animal symbols that derive from the Chinese zodiac.
Eight Gates
The Eight Gates (八門, Hachimon?, English TV: "The Eight Inner Gates") are eight specific points on a person's chakra circulatory system. The basis for the idea of the chakra gates comes from the body's limits on the functions within it.
This makes the body much weaker, but it keeps the body from expiring too soon. By opening these gates, the user can surpass their own physical limits at the cost of various levels of damage to their own bodies depending on how many gates are opened.
Might Guy, who taught Lee the skill, is able to open at least six and Kakashi is able to open at least one.
Jutsu types
Generally speaking, jutsu are divided into three categories: genjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu. There are a total of six ranks (from E to S), plus two informal ranks for special circumstances.
The overall effectiveness of any given jutsu is largely based on individual skill. Unlike genjutsu, which makes the opponent see illusions, the effects of ninjutsu are quite real.
These elemental ninjutsu can be classified as such: earth (土遁, doton?), fire (火遁, katon?), lightning (雷遁, raiton?), water (水遁, suiton?), wind (風遁, fūton?). Those with special abilities like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan or those with high intelligence have an easier time executing and countering genjutsu, as attention to detail is key.
The most commonly seen genjutsu is the simple creation of phantasms – causing the targeted person(s) to hear, see, smell, taste and/or feel sensations that are not actually there in order to manipulate them. In other words, genjutsu affects the five senses, though other applications of genjutsu exist.
Alternatively, should they fail to cancel the genjutsu, intense pain (though not that caused by the genjutsu) can snap them out of it. "body techniques" or "hand-to-hand combat") refers to any techniques involving the martial arts or the optimization of natural human abilities in general.
Most clans have developed special jutsu related to their kekkei genkai and their related jutsu cannot be taught or copied by others, as they require the specific genetic trait to work. When the Byakugan is activated, their pupils somewhat appear and the veins near their temples bulge.
It can alternatively be used to damage the opponent's internal organs, to which the chakra circulatory system is closely tied. Because the chakra circulatory system is invisible, the Byakugan is required for this style to be used effectively and thus it is exclusive to the Hyuga clan.
Due to the high concentration of electricity the attack creates, it emits a sound that is reminiscent of chirping birds (hence the name). Once the attack is formed the user rushes at their opponent and thrusts their arm into a certain part of the body, such as the heart.
Sasuke Uchiha, has used the fundamentals behind the Chidori to create a number of lightning-based attacks.
Lotus
Lotus (蓮華, Renge?) is a taijutsu frequently used by Rock Lee, Might Guy, with variations of the technique used by other characters like Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha. The technique forces the opponent into the air, where a final blow drives them into the ground.
After the First's death, Orochimaru injected Yamato with the First's DNA in an attempt to replicate the ability. Their mind slowly corrodes while the seal is active, opening them to Orochimaru's influence and simultaneously advancing the seal to its second state.
Advancement to the second level of the cursed seal mark is a long process, so long in fact that Orochimaru developed a special drug to speed up the process.
It can memorize any standard form of jutsu with perfect accuracy, allowing the user to use the techniques as his own. When used in conjunction with the aforementioned aspects of the Sharingan, this allows the user to perfectly mimic every move their opponent makes, even before they do, making it appear as if the user can see the future. It also allows for other forms of hypnotism, such as putting an opponent to sleep, replaying memories to someone else, creating various illusions to fool an opponent, or even controlling them.
It is possible to transplant Sharingan eyes from one person to another, as occurred with Kakashi and his deceased teammate Obito Uchiha. However, transplanted eyes do not work as well in a non-Uchiha body; Kakashi's eye is always active, causing him great strain when he uses it and forcing him to recuperate for extended periods of time after a battle.