Jutsu and abilities

The shinobi world holds various jutsu and abilities, each of them having their own strengths and weaknesses...

Jutsu Types

Jutsu (abilities/strategies) are the magical art a ninja will use in a fight. To utilize a method, the ninja should utilize their chakra. To play out a strategy, a ninja will bring out and discharge the two energies of chakra. By framing hand seals, the ninja can show the ideal technique.

As a result of the broad number of hand seals and various mixes, there are a great many possible techniques to be found.

There are three fundamental sorts of strategies: ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. Subcategories exist, including fūinjutsu, juinjutsu, and senjutsu.

Without legitimate control of their chakra, a ninja will create an inadequate or debilitated strategy which will prompt them to run out of chakra right off the bat in a battle.

To control their chakra all the more effectively, hand seals can be utilized. With these hand seals, shinobi can handle their chakra and procedure with higher proficiency. Various procedures require diverse hand seals.

Kotoamatsukami

Genjutsu

Genjutsu affects an opponent’s five senses instead of dealing physical damage like Ninjutsu or Taijutsu. Genjutsu techniques are generally used to trick and deceive an opponent, but strong genjutsu users can also completely take out their opponents with extreme mental torment.

Naruto Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu techniques are performed with the user’s chakra and are always physical. Both offensive and defensive Ninjutsu are used in combat, with each technique consisting of different natue types. The majoirty of ninjutsu techniques require hand seals before they can be performed.

Rock lee

Taijutsu

Simply put, taijutsu is hand-to-hand combat that doesn’t require chakra. Because of this, every shinobi is able to use taijutsu, although there are experts like Rock Lee or Might Guy that can maximize their taijutsu abilities. It is also possible to enhance your taijutsu by using chakra.

Jutsu overview

Find out more below about Taijutsu, Nintaijutsu, Ninjutsu, Nature Releases, and Summoning Techniques.

Taijutsu

Strongest Taijutsu users

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Might Guy

Might Guy is a jōnin of the Hidden Leaf Village. A true expert in taijutsu, Guy makes sure to teach his Team 13 squad all he knows about using taijutsu in combat.

naruto senjutsu

Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto Uzumaki is a shinobi of Konohagakure’s Uzumaki clan and the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Beast. Naruto works super hard to pursue his dream of becoming a Hokage

hashirama senjutsu

Hashirama Senju

Hashirama Senju was a member of the famous Senju clan. Hashirama was hailed as the “God of Shinobi” for his unmatched ninja abilities.  He would later become the First Hokage of Konohagakure. 

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Madara Uchiha

Madara Uchiha was the legendary leader of the Uchiha clan. Madara allied with the Senju Clan to do something special. He and his childhood rival/friend Hahirama Senju, founded the Hidden Leave Village to unite one another and start a foundation of peace.

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Rock Lee

Rock Lee/Bushy Brow is a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village and a member of Team Guy. Lee is a special shinobi because he can’t use ninjutsu in any shape/form. Lee undergoes very hard taijutsu training from his sensei Might Guy in hopes of becoming a splendid ninja.

Nintaijutsu

raikage lightning cloak

Nintaijutsu [ Ninja Body Techniques) is a fighting style and this term is used to explain the combination-style of fighting that incorporates both taijutsu and ninjutsu. The most notable users are from the Hidden Cloud Village, the 3rd and 4th Raikage for example.

Nintaijutsu users from the Hidden Cloud Village enhance their stamina, speed, power, and reflexes enormously by surrounding themselves with Lightning Chakra Armour.

 

Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu [Ninja Techniques] is one of the three main jutsu categories. Ninjutsu is the haziest of the three, and can most simply be described as anything other than genjutsu or taijutsu.

Chakra and hand seals are required for most ninjutsu, but this isnt always the case. The simple use of weapons is also called ninjutsu

Before ninjutsu, there was ninshū, the first real understanding of chakra. It was created by the Sage of Six Paths to lead the world into an era of peace. However, his son Indra used this knowledge to create ninjutsu, a weaponized version of ninshū to use in combat.

Hand seals and chakra are required to use ninjutsu, although skilled shinobi can sometimes perform ninjutsu without hand seals. 

Jutsu Types

Nature transformations Naruto

Nature Transformations

Nature Transformation is one of the two most required components for altering or creating a jutsu, the other key element is shape transformation. Nature Transformation is an advanced skill of chakra control that entails the molding and defining of the nature of one’s chakra, altering its properties and characteristics for use in techniques.

Summoning Jutsu

Summoning Jutsu

Summoning Jutsu allows the user to transport a target to their location. The summoned target is usually an animal, but it can also be a scroll or ninja tools. A contract has to be signed before the animals are able to be summoned by a shinobi.

Sensory Jutsu

Sensory Jutsu

Sensory Jutsu allows it’s user to detect other shinobi’s chakra. This enables them to detect and track down targets/objectives through their chakra signatures. Not every ninja is able to learn sensory techniques, as it requires specific genetics or the use of Senjutsu.

 

Space time jutsu

Space Time Jutsu

Space-Time Ninjutsu [Teleportation Technique] is a technique that allows manipulating the space-time continuum by its users. A pinpointed point of space gets manipulated by a user, the user can “warp” through anything that gets targeted into the dimensional void and can instantly teleport this target into a different dimension.

Healing jutsu

Medical Jutsu

Medical Ninjutsu is a variety of ninjutsu that involves healing. This technique can manipulate the user’s body and another body as well. Shinobi who practice this form of ninjutsu are called “medical-nin”.

An advanced level of chakra control is required for the use of medical ninjutsu. A considerable amount of medical knowledge on medicines, herbs, poisons, and the human body as well.

Sealing Jutsu

Sealing Jutsu

Sealing Techniques [Fūinjutsu] are used to seal living beings, objects, along with an extensive selection of other things that can get sealed within another object.

Sealing Jutsu could also be utilized to unseal objects instead of sealing an object, and it can restrict movement from within something or someone.

Genjutsu

Best Genjutsu Techniques

These are one of the top Genjutsu in the Naruto (Shippuden) Series. Not ranked in terms of power.

kotoamatsukami shisui

Kotoamatsukami

This dōjutsu is said to be the strongest genjutsu of all time, as it gives the user complete control of an opponent.

Kotoamatsukami enables you to control someone’s mind without the other person ever noticing, as it makes opponents feel that their actions are out of free will.

itachi tsukuyomi

Tsukuyomi

A genjutsu casted with Itachi’s mangekyou sharingan. Tsukuyomi places it’s targets in an illusion where they are tortured to extreme levels. Because their perception of time changes, days world of torture in the Tsukuyomi world are actually only seconds in real life.

Hashirama Senju

Bringer of Darkness

The Bringer of Darkness technique is used by the Hashirama in his fight against the Third Hokage. It’s a genjutsu that makes opponents see nothing but darkness, essentially leaving them blind and very vulnurable to attacks.

Hagoromo

Izanagi/Izanami

These are actually two genjutsus. Izanagi is a genjutsu so powerful that it creates an illusion for reality itself (as opposed to an oppoonent).

Izanami places an opponent in an infinite loop. Despite being aware that you’re in a genjutsu, you’re still unable to escape the loop. According to Itachi, you can only escape Izanami if you accept fate.

Jiraiya

Toad Confrontation Chant

This genjutsu is based on sound instead of ocular powers. The toad sages from mount Myōboku are the only ones able to perform this genjutsu.

Best Genjutsu Users

These shinobi are ranked based on their genjutsu ability alone.

second mizukage

5. Gengetsu Hōzuki

The second mizukage put his opponents under genjutsu by using his giant clam summoning. The clam releases a mist that creates illusions for his opponents so that he can hide is real location. The genjutsu was so strong that shinobi still had trouble locating Gengetsu, despite him telling them how his genjutsu worked.

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4. Obito Uchiha

Obito is a very skilled genjutsu user, despite not having a signature technique to use. He was able to use Izanagi, a forbidden genjutsu, and has extremely powerful dōjutsu with both the sharingan and the rinnegan.

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3. Madara Uchiha

Madara has powerful dōjutsu as well with both the sharingan and the rinnegan. Even though he didn’t have a signature genjutsu as well, he was still able to perform the infinite tsukuyomi.

With someone as powerful as Madara we doubt anyone would be able to place him under a genjutsu.

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2. Itachi Uchiha

Itachi is not only a powerful genjutsu user, but genjutsu is also an essential part of his fighting style. This makes him different and more versatile from other Uchiha’s.

His mangekyou sharingan also enables him to use Tsukuyomi and Izanagi, two of the most powerful genjutsus in the world.

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1. Shisui Uchiha

Shisui was hailed as the greatest genjutsu user of his clan. Even without his mangekyou sharingan, he was ale to trap his opponents in a powerful genjutsu. The jutsu that puts him above all others: Kotoamatsukami. A technique stored in both his eyes that gives him complete control of his opponent.

Senjutsu

Senjutsu is diffferent from ninjutsu because it uses natural energy as a power source. This is a huge advantage because you can get strength from the life energy around you, instead of by exhausting your own chakra.

Not everyone is able to use it, because a large chakra reserve is needed for someone to be able to learn senjutsu. It is known to be thought at two locations: Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi cave. Only members of Jugo’s clan naturally absorb natural energy.

People who have mastered the use of senjutsu can enter sage mode, which makes them extremely powerful.

Notable Senjutsu Users

Naruto Sage mode

Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto learned to use senjutsu at Mount Myōboku. He was very talented and quickly learned how to balance natural energy with his own chakra and enter a complet sage mode.

Hashirama Senju Sage Mode

Hashirama Senju

The place Hashirama learned to use senjutsu isn’t known yet, but he was able to enter a complete sage mode. In sage mode, he was able to defeat a Madara Uchiha with an eternal mangekyou sharingan and a Kyuubi under his control.

Kabuto senjutsu

Kabuto Yakushi

Kabuto was able to learn senjutsu at Ryūchi Cave some time after Orochimaru’s death. Because of his research on Jugo’s senjutsu ability, Kabuto was able to permanently maintain his sage mode form. 

Hagoromo

Hagoromo Otsutsuki

Hagoromo was the most powerful senjutsu user of Naruto. With his six paths senjutsu he could manifest up to ten truth-seeking balls.

Jiraiya

Jiraiya

Jiraiya learned to use senjutsu at Mount Myōboku as well, but he wasn’t as talented as Naruto at controlling it. Therefore, his sage mode was imperfect and he required Fukasaku and Shima to be fused to his body to control it.

Six Paths Naruto

Six Paths Senjutsu

A special form of senjutsu that Hagoromo uses. He is able to pass it on to others, which is why Naruto and his son Asura can use Six Paths Senjutsu as well. Another way to obtain it is by becoming the jinchūriki of the Ten Tails.

Your physical ability, healing factor, ability to sense chakra and durability all increase drastically when using Six Paths Senjutsu. Ninjutsu attacks also get nullified, so you’re only vulnurable to taijutsu and senjutsu attacks.

People who use Six Paths Senjutsu also obtain truth-seeking balls, orbs made of a combination 6 different nature types.

Kekkei Genkai

(Bloodline Limit)

Shinobi with a kekkei genkai are able to use a jutsu that’s unique to their clan. However, there have been cases where people outside of a clan were able to use kekkei genkai techniques, such as Kakashi and Ao. Kekkei genkai techniques are generally way more powerful and difficult to control than normal jutsus.

Different types of kekkei genkai

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Dōjutsu

A dōjutsu kekkei genkai gives a user special ocular abilities. Examples of this are the byakugan and sharingan. Dōjutsu like the sharingan have to be activated first, while others like the byakugan are present from birth.

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Nature transformations

Kekkei genkai based on nature transformations combine two nature types to create a unique jutsu. Some examples are ice release, lava release, boil release and wood release. 

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Body Manipulation

Some kekkei genkai allow users to manipulate their body in ways normal people aren’t able to. For example, Kimimaro could grow and harden his bones and Sakon and Ukon could merge their bodies.

Kekkei Tōta

(Bloodline Selection)

Kekkei tōta combines three nature types instead of two. The only known example of this is the Dust release technique used by Mū and Ōnoki. Dust release is a nature release type jutsu that combines wind, earth and fire.

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DLC TAKES

Find out our takes on different jutsu and their impact on the story.

Top 5 Kekkei Genkai

shikotsumyaku

5. Shikotsumyaku

Kimimaro’s kekkei genkai remains one of the most intriguing techniques of the entire story. His potential was said to be equal to Sasuke’s, so who knows how powerful he could have become. He was also the sole survivor of the Kaguya clan, so perhaps there are even more powerful variations of Shikotsumyaku.

 

wood release

4. Wood Release

Wood release isn’t just a nature release meant for combat. The technique enables you to create structures and even living organisms like trees.

Wood release also has a lot of mystery to it, as Hashirama is the only shinobi who naturally possesses this kekkei genkai. Attempts to replicate this technique failed and caused many people to die. Only Yamato survived, but the power of his wood release was nothing compared to Hashirama’s.

Hyuga Neji

3. Byakugan

Possessing the byakugan gives a user a unique set of abilities. Unlike with other dōjutsu, an entire fighting style has been developed with the abilities of the byakugan.

Little is known about the potential of this dojutsu compared to for example the sharingan of rinnegan. We’ve only seen a glimpse of its potential with the appearance of the tenseigan.

Shisui Uchiha

2. Sharingan

Some of the most exciting and iconic jutsus were created with the use of the sharingan. Susanoo, kamui, amaterasu and tsukuyomi are just some examples of techniques this dōjutsu has produced.

Nagato

1. Rinnegan

Possessing a rinnegan immediately makes you more intimidating than any other kekkei genkai. We knew we were in trouble when we first saw Pain’s menacing glare, and after seeing his abilities he only became more frightning.

The sheer power and scale of the techniques the rinnegan gives you are enough to put this kekkei genkai on top of our list.

 

Top 5 Forbidden Jutsu

The techniques below are not allowed to be performed. “Kinjutsu” are forbidden for different reasons: they harm the user or require sacrifice, they violate the laws of nature or they cause mass desctruction. 

5. Rasen Shuriken

The iconic variation of the original rasengan: Rasen Shuriken. Naruto means business when he’s using this technique. Over time, he learned to control this technique better and infuse it with different types of chakra. For example, Naruto has combined the Rasen Shuriken with Senjutsu, Tailed Beasts’ Chakra and Six Paths Chakra. 

Rasenshuriken

4. 8th gate

Opening the Gate of Death gives you power that matches Madara and perhaps even the Hagoromo. The premise of the technique is actually quite simple: you receive immense power but sacrifice yourself in return. However, Guy battling Madara as steam came out of his body is of the best and most iconic moments of the entire Fourth Shinobi World War.

8 gates Guy

3. Reaper Death Seal

Arguably the most frightening jutsu in all of Naruto, shiki-fūjin summons a shinigami to consume both the user and the opponent’s soul. The sealed souls will be trapped in the Death God’s stomach for eternity. This is one of the many sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan, who knows how many more are hidden…

Reaper Death Seal

2. Cursed Seal of Earth and Heaven

This technique is like a visual representation of hatred and evil in your heart. It gives you power, but not the kind of power you’d want. Still, in your quest for vengeance you will use any power you can, and so did Sasuke.

Both stage one and stage 2 of the Cursed Seal of Earth and Heaven give the user a fearsome look. We would have loved to see more of the jutsu later on in the story.

Cursed seal of heaven

1. Edo Tensei

Firstly, a human vessel is needed for the technique to work, which is already evil enough to put it on this list. Secondly, the summoned soul must obey the commands of the summoner, which is degrading and dehumanizing. Senseis were forced to fight their former students, Kages were forced to fight their own villagers, and souls who had finally found peace were forced to experience war again. Edo Tensei is dark, cruel, and everything a forbidden jutsu should be.

 

Edo tensei

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