Jutsu (Naruto)
In the
anime and
manga series
Naruto a
jutsu (", "Technique" or "Skill") is a general term referring to any technique a
ninja might use that not any ordinary human could naturally imitate. Jutsu rely on the manipulation of
chakra by various methods, the most common of which is hand seals. In some cases the line between a simple action and a jutsu is blurred and vague, allowing for some humor (
Uzumaki Naruto: "What? How did you get loose?!" Uchiha Sasuke: "Rope Untying Jutsu. It's basic stuff.")
Jutsu are usually the product of channeling chakra to a certain part or parts of the body (through the Keirakukei ["inner coil system"], also called the chakra circulatory system, which is to chakra as blood vessels are to blood) and then manipulating it to create an effect which wouldn't be possible otherwise. If the inner coil system malfunctions or is blocked in any way, it is impossible to perform any jutsu at all.
The English version of the
Naruto manga has English names for the attacks, which are often stated with the attacks' Japanese names in translations starting in 2005. The North American
Naruto fanbase typically prefers the Japanese names. In the English TV dub, a different set of attack names is used.
Generally speaking, jutsu are divided into three categories:
taijutsu (body techniques),
genjutsu (mind techniques), and
ninjutsu (techniques that rely on sources beyond those). Besides these main categories there is another, more specific category:
fūin jutsu (sealing techniques). Some jutsu are also known as "Hiden" (秘伝, "Secret"). Hiden jutsu are jutsu passed down from generation to generation within some clans, but are still classed in the three main categories.
There is technically another category called kinjutsu (禁", "forbidden technique"); however, it doesn't refer to the type of the jutsu, but to the fact that it is forbidden (or, at the very least, frowned upon) to learn or perform it. A technique can be categorized as kinjutsu if it either causes great harm to the user if overused, such as
Rock Lee's
Lotus techniques, or if the techniques are dark or sinister in nature, such as many of Orochimaru's skills. However, just because a jutsu is categorized as such doesn't necessarily mean it's completely forbidden to learn it, such as Guy's and Lee's Lotus techniques.
There are also
kekkei genkai. These are not really jutsu, but special, genetically-inherited abilities that are only possessed by specific clans. Kekkei genkai abilities that work via the user's eye are called dōjutsu (瞳", "pupil techniques"). Some jutsu are based on kekkei genkai, like
Tsukuyomi.
Depending on the difficulty or skill necessary to perform a jutsu, they will be ranked differently. There are six different ranks in jutsu:
*
E-rank: Academy student level
*
D-rank: Genin level
*
C-rank: Chūnin level
*
B-rank: Jōnin level
*
A-rank: Kage level
*
S-rank: Secret: extreme level
Jutsu relying on
kekkei genkai or other unique abilities of the users, including Hiden jutsu, do not have a formal rank.
See also: NinjutsuNinjutsu (忍", "ninja techniques") in the fictional
anime and
manga series
Naruto, is hard to define; it is basically any technique that does not fall under either
taijutsu or
genjutsu, which means that it uses sources outside those naturally available to the body or the mind to accomplish its task. Ninjutsu relies on chakra and, most of the time,
hand seals (each hand seal showing a different animal in the zodiac). The hands are put in sequential positions that are put in order to mold chakra in the necessary manner to perform a jutsu. This is not always consistent, however, and some of the simpler jutsu seem to become second nature to experienced ninja, after which they can perform them at will. Most ninja tend to focus on a specific set of complementary jutsu and make them their specialty, since only so many can be used in combination effectively, as is the case with
Naruto and his signature cloning technique. Also, ninjutsu can sometimes be classified as an elemental style jutsu, in those cases where a specific element (wind, water, fire, earth, lightning) is used.
Genjutsu (幻", "Illusion Techniques") are techniques that use the chakra in the victim's nervous system to create illusions; an advanced intellectual ninjutsu. Genjutsu techniques are notably easier to execute and counter for users of high intelligence, like
Nara Shikamaru, good chakra controllers, like
Haruno Sakura, and Sharingan users, like
Uchiha Sasuke. The most commonly seen genjutsu is simple creation of phantasms that cause the targeted person to
hear,
see,
smell,
taste and
feel things that are not actually there in order to manipulate them; other applications of genjutsu are rare.
See also: TaijutsuTaijutsu ("", "Body techniques", or more figuratively hand-to-hand combat) refers to any techniques involving the martial arts or the optimisation of natural human abilities in general. In some cases, chakra is involved to enhance the techniques, but generally speaking a taijutsu user can fare well without much chakra available compared to a genjutsu or ninjutsu user.
Fūin jutsu (封印", "Sealing techniques") are jutsu that 'seal' something inside objects or living beings.
Juin jutsu (呪印", "cursed seal techniques") are jutsu that use a special 'cursed seal' to put someone under the control of the user.
Kekkei Genkai (血継限界, "Bloodline Limits") are abilities passed down
genetically in specific clans. Most clans have developed special jutsu related to their kekkei genkai (like
Hyūga Neji's
Hakkeshō Kaiten or
Kaguya Kimimaro's
Sawarabi no Mai). Kekkei genkai and their related jutsu can't be taught or copied by others, as they require the specific trait to work. Kekkei genkai abilities that work via the user's eye are called dōjutsu (瞳", "pupil techniques").
# First Official Data Book (秘伝・臨の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK, "Hiden: Rin no Sho Character Official Data Book")# Second Official Data Book (秘伝・闘の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK, "Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book")# Jump's 2nd Great Hero Book's Mini Data Book (秘伝・"の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini, "Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini")# Naruto
manga chapters# Based on character's ability and status
