TurrinB
Jōnin Strategist 🧠
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- Sep 19, 2012
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Intro
So I haven't done a big theory thread in a while and I think it's about time. This thread was inspired when I did a quick search for Shikkotsurin and end up on a page talking about Aokigahara Forest.What is Aokigahara Forest?
For those who don't know about this legendary Japanese local here's a description of it:"Aokigahara Forest, which is located at the foot of Mt Fuji in Japan, is one of those places that few wish to visit. Most people who do enter the 35 km2 forest never return due to its reputation for having the second highest suicide rate in the world (first place goes to San Fransisco’s Golden Gate Bridge). An average of 70-100 bodies are found there every year, and many are left undiscovered. The forest was created when Mt. Fuji – an active volcano – erupted 1,200 years ago and the trees emerged on top of the dried lava. The forest is known by many names: Aokigahara (青木ヶ原), Jukai (樹海) which translates in English as The Sea of Trees), Suicide Forest, the Cursed Forest, the Black Forest, and finally the locals I asked in Japan called it ‘NOOO, don’t go there!’ while they made the shape of an X with their arms. Sadly, the forest has long been associated with death and evil spirits (even before it became a popular place for suicide) as ubasute is believed to have been practiced in it’s woody depths, which is an old Japanese tradition where the elderly and sick are carried up a mountain or into a forest and left to die"
Aokigahara the Inspiration for Shikkotsurin
The Translation of Shikkotsurin = Damp/Humid Bone Forest. Not only is Aokigahara know for it's humidity, but due to the mass amount of suicides it's not uncommon for anyone willing to venture into it's depths to stumble on human bones lying on the ground or even dead bodies.Also in context with the manga; Kishimoto consistently draws inspiration from myth for legendary Jutsu, Places, etc... So his inspiration coming from Aokigahara which is famous in Japan and has many myths surrounding it fits well with Kishimoto's style.
Aokigahara home to the Yurei
The most prominent myths and folklore surrounding Aokigahara is the forest being haunted by especially evil (& powerful) Yurei. For those who don't know what a Yurei is, here's a description:"Yūrei are often Onryō, a ghost seeking vengeance and tied to the physical plane by strong emotions, usually anger. Kayako from The Grudge (seen above) is a perfect example of Onryō. Unlike Western ghosts which may have limited ability to interact with the physical world, Yūrei seem to have no problem passing through the boundary between the land of the dead and the living"
Shiki Fuujin Summons a Yurei
Kishimoto's inspiration for the dead demon summoned by Shiki Fuujin is obviously Yurei. Here's a pic of traditional Yurei:
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Here's a pic of Shiki Fuujin:
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The physical resemblance is pretty obvious, right down to even the gastly orbs appearing around Shiki Fuujin. But the similarities extend beyond that:
"The Yūrei’s hair will also often be able to change length at will, growing or shrinking as needed"
Here we see a Yurei binding some poor soul with it's hair:
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But the similarities of course continue:
"Yūrei typically arise from murders or suicides" " As a Yūrei is not bound to the physical plane, they can be solid or completely immaterial as they wish" "They do often have a precursor, a smell or sound that can alert a potential victim of their approach" "Yūrei curses are often so potent that even those who had nothing to do with their vengeance are pulled into the curse and punished"
All of this fits perfectly with the mechanics of the Dead Demon Seal. The caster has to suicide himself to use it. The Dead Demon's attacks seemingly have the ability to be completely immaterial. The Dead Demon can not be detect. The Yurei's attack is describe as a curse, similarly the Dead Demon's attack is described in the Data-book, "On the arm of the Death God which holds the rosary surfaces a Cursed Seal"
That should be more than enough to show Dead Demon = Yurei.
Shikkotsurin Has to Do With The Death God
If Shikkotsurin is inspired by Aokigahara, the place of Yurei, than it shouldn't be hard to image that Shikkotsurin would have some relation to the Dead Demon summoned by Shiki Fuujin. It's as simple as that.Foreshadowing 101
So far this has all been based on myth, legend, & just general geography, but now I'll start talking about the actual context of the manga.Kishimoto had Kabuto mention Shikkotsurin, so it's obvious that we are going to see Shikkotsurin in the future. Why? Because there would be no point to Kishi having Kabuto mention a new legendary place like Shikkotsurin if it was never addressed.
Additionally, considering Shikkotsurin was foreshadow during a portion of the story focused on Sasuke's story line, it's likely that readers will learn about Shikkotsurin through Sasuke's storyline. Well that and Orochimaru who would also know about Shikkotsurin is with Team Taka.
Also Kishimoto had Suigetsu mention Orochimaru missing his arms. Again this wouldn't have been mentioned if Orochimaru wasn't going to get his arms back or at least attempt it through some method.
So we can be pretty sure future Sasuke development will have major themes to do with Shikkotsurin & Orochimaru getting his arms back.
Putting it all Together
So with everything you read so far in mind, this is the scenario I submit for you guys. What if in coming Sasuke centric chapters Team Taka's ultimate destination is
Now I'm sure there will be more too it than that, but traveling to the land of the Dead Demon
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Anyway at the very least to me this would be an awesome turn of events and this is now my main theory going forward for Orochimaru/Sasuke scroll.
PS: I just want to be clear that the deceased characters that Sasuke meets don't have to be the Hokage, because Shikkotsurin could allow for the person to meet all sorts of dead souls. Who knows. Also I know that Orochimaru said that Sasuke would be traveling to a place he knows well and he doesn't know Shikkotsurin (to our knowledge), but this can be easily resolved by the entrance to Shikkotsurin being in a place Sasuke knows well.
reputation deserved
