Pure chakra
Chakra is the moulding of physical energy present in the cell of the body and spiritual energy gained from the mind. Once moulded, it can be channelled through the chakra circulatory system, which is to chakra as the regular circulatory system is to blood, to any of the 361 chakra points (called tenketsu) in the body. Through various methods, the most common of which is hand seals, the chakra can then be controlled and manipulated to create an effect that would not be possible otherwise, such as walking on water, exhaling fireor creating illusions.
By moulding different ratios of the two energies, new colours and much stronger types of chakra can be formed. Most ninja have a natural affinity to one type of chakra, but they have the capacity to create elemental chakra apart from their own affinity. There are five basic types, each stronger and weaker to another, but their relations, weaknesses, and strengths to each other are all explored. There is also the dealing of Yin and Yang and the balance of mental and physical energies. In addition to these five elements, certain kekkei genkaican mix elemental chakrato form new natures, for example it is possible to mix waterand windinto ice. While many ninja can use more than one type of chakra, very few are able to use them simultaneously.
Nature manipulation
It is an advanced form of chakra control. It entails the moulding and defining of one's chakra into an innate type of chakra nature, altering its properties and characteristics. Nature transformation is one of two necessary techniques for creating a technique, its counterpart being shape transformation.
Handseals
They are used to perform many ninjutsu, genjutsu, and other secret arts other than taijutsu. The exact amount of chakranecessary to perform a technique is manipulated through hand seals. [1]There are different sequences of hand seals for every technique, requiring memorisation.
While techniques may require a number of hand seals to work, a skilled ninja can use less or even one to perform the same technique. An example of this is the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, which requires a total of 44 hand seals to activate. [2] Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, only needed to use one hand seal to complete the technique, a testament to his skill. [3]In fact, by Part II, Sasuke Uchihahas managed to master the Chidorito the point of not needing a single hand seal to invoke it and could use Fire Releasetechniques with only one hand seal.
Although rare, it is possible for a shinobi to be able to do hand seals with just one hand. The only shinobi seen so far capable of this are Haku, Minato Namikaze, and Guren.
Basic Hand Seals
There are twelve basic seals, each one named after an animal of the Chinese zodiac.
1.Bird (酉,Tori)
2.Boar (亥,I)
3.Dog (戌,Inu): This hand seal is commonly affiliated with the movie only Ice Releaseand with Danzō's Wind Release.
4.Dragon (辰,Tatsu)
5.Ox (丑,Ushi)
6.Tiger (寅,Tora): This hand seal is commonly affiliated with Fire Release. [4]
7.Snake (巳,Mi): This hand seal is commonly affiliated with Earth Release [5]and with Wood Release.
8.Rat (子,Ne): This hand seal is commonly affiliated with the special Shadow Techniquesof the Nara clan.
9.Horse (午,Uma)
10.Monkey (申,Saru)
11.Hare (卯,U)
12.Ram (未,Hitsuji)
Other Hand Seals
Besides the twelve basic hand seals, there are unique hand seals used for certain techniques. These hand seals are rarely seen, and can be considered unique to specific techniques.