In Naruto, there are three main types of Jutsu: ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. Ninjutsu typically requires chakra and hand signs, and it usually utliizes the five basic elemental natures of fire, earth, water, air, and lightning. There are thousands of ninjutsu techniques, and they can be used for offensive and defensive purposes. Taijutsu is pretty straightforward because it focuses on various types of martial arts and physical traits. Normal taijustu does not use chakra, but more advanced techniques can use it. Genjutsu does use chakra, but unlike ninjutsu, its effects are not real.
At its core, genjutsu produces sensory illusions that can only be seen by the individuals who are being targeted by the jutsu caster. Genjutsu may not produce real threats, but it is still highly effective during combat. A well-timed genjutsu can turn the tide of battle in the caster's favor, and in certain scenarios, it seals the target's fate. There are not many genjutsu specialists in Naruto, but the specialists who do exist are usually feared. Genjutsu can be terrifying at times, but there are ways to negate its effects.
Genjutsu Is Used To Control & Immobilize Others
Known Genjutsu Users: Gengetsu Hozuki, Tayuya, Obito Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, Kurenai Yuhi, Danzo Shimura, Kahuya Otsutsuki
According to the Second Mizukage, genjutsu is part of Yin Release - a nature transformation that exists outside of the five basic elemental natures. In principle, Yin release uses spiritual energy to create things out of nothing, but it can also be used to control imagination itself - which is the essence of genjutsu. When a ninja successfully uses genjutsu on a target, they take control of the chakra flow that leads to the target's cerebral nervous system. When this happens, the genjutsu user can manipulate their target's five senses. In most cases, the genjutsu user creates false images, but they can also trick their target's body into believing it has experienced some type of physical sensation. Most of the time, the target believes they are experiencing real pain.
Genjutsu can affect any human, but it can also be used on other mammals like ninja dogs. Even the Tailed Beasts can fall under the effects of a genjutsu. That being said, insects like the Kikaichu that are traditionally used by the Aburame Clan cannot be affected by genjutsu because insects are already dominated by their senses. When somone is placed under a genjutsu, their real body will usually fall unconscious. In this scenario, the target's body is left in a vulnerable state, which means that the genjutsu user can end the fight almost immediately. There is another type of genjutsu which allows the target to keep moving. In this instance, the target can only move their body in accordance with the genjutsu.
When this version of genjutsu is used, the target can attack someone who is not really there, or they can be tricked into walking off a cliff. Genjutsu can also be used to gain information from others. For example, Sasuke Uchiha learned about Killer B's appearance, weapon status, and location by placing a Cloud Village ninja under a genjutsu. Itachi Uchiha would cast a genjutsu whenever meeting someone. He would use specific images and then gauge the person's reactions to better understand them. No matter the scenario, it takes a great deal of intelligence and chakra control to pull off a convincing genjutsu. Even someone as strong as Jiraiya had difficulty with genjutsu, but certain ninja like Kurenai Yuhi are able to specialize in it.
There Are Several Forms Of Genjutsu
Examples of Genjutsu Techniques: Tsukuyomi, Izanagi, Izanami, Ephemeral, Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, Temple of Nirvana Technique, Kotoamatsukami, Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, Demonic Illusion: Steaming Multistoried Building, Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant, Infinite Tsukuyomi
Like ninjutsu, genjutsu comes in several forms, and they are all effective when used properly. The most common type of genjutsu is visual, and it typically involves some type of illusion - whether it be a fake person, a fake murder of crows, or a monstrous figure that is not really there. Certain forms of visual genjutsu are more direct, as the user can literally take control of someone's mind and actions. For example, Obito Uchiha used the Sharingan to place the Nine-Tails in a genjutsu, and he then ordered it to attack the Hidden Leaf Village. Some genjutsu, like the Tsukuyomi, can deal severe mental and physical harm through simple eye contact. The Tsukuyomi alters the target's perception of time. Depending on the illusion, the target can theoretically endure hours worth of torture in just a few seconds.
Kotoamatsukami is another powerful visual genjutsu, and it is proof that genjutsu can be used to control the minds of others as long as they are in the user's field of vision. Such a genjutsu causes the target to believe that every action they make is part of their own free will. It can be used to sway the minds of the Five Kage, as well as an entire ninja clan. It can also free a resurrected ninja from the effects of the Reanimation Jutsu. Under normal circumstances, a genjutsu does not have the power to affect the physical world, but a visual genjutsu like the Infinite Tsukuyomi can trap every single person on the planet in a heavenly dream world. Once humanity gets trapped, their physical bodies are drained of life energy until they die or become White Zetsu. Izanagi is another type of genjutsu that can alter the physical world because the user can alter reality itself - to the point that they can reverse their own death.
Tayuya of the Sound Four was able to cast genjutsu with her demonic flute - which proved the existance of sound-based genjutsu. The most effective sound-based genjutsu was used against Pain of the Akatsuki. It produces harmonized music that seals the target's mind and movements behind a barrier of water. Sound-based genjutsu are considered very dangerous because they can affect multiple people over long distances. In the anime, Orochimaru proved that genjutsu can be performed through scientific and physical means. He developed something called the genjutsu pill. This pill would paralyze the target's body as soon as they fell asleep, and they would have no recollection of what happened while they were under the genjutsu's effects.
There Are Various Ways To Counter Genjutsu
Characters Who Have Countered Genjutsu: Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Shikamaru Nara, Chiyo, Gyuki
Genjutsu can be very effective in battle, but most ninja avoid using it. They avoid using genjutsu because it is a difficult skill to master, and it does not help that genjutsu can be countered in multiple ways. In most cases, the genjutsu caster's influence can be negated if the target's chakra flow is disrupted. When the target realizes they are in a genjutsu, they can disrupt their own chakra flow. An ally can negate a genjutsu that they are unaware of by emitting their own chakra into the target's body. If the target happens to be a Jinchuriki, their Tailed Beast can use their chakra to break the genjutsu. The Tailed Beast method will only work if the Tailed Beast wants to actually help their Jinchuriki.
Pain may be the most common genjutsu sensation, but it can also be used to counter a genjutsu. In this instance, the target can break free of a genjutsu if something outside of the genjutsu causes them enough pain. In rare cases, a strong smell like the one produced by Chilli Pepper Bombs can snap someone out of a genjutsu illusion. In theory, someone can counter a genjutsu with their own genjutsu, but this method will not work if the original genjutsu is more complex. Ocular genjutsu like those produced by the Sharingan can be countered if the caster's vision is obstructed. Concealing ninjutsu like the Hidden Mist Technique are very effective in this regard. For the most part, a Sharingan user is naturally immune to genjutsu because their eye can detect a genjutsu's flaws and influence. Even if they are not the target, a Sharingan user can insert themselves into the caster's genjutsu and dispel it. Some ninja, like Deidara of the Akatsuki, can even train their eyes to break through genjutsu.
Genjutsu has been around for centuries, and it is arguably the most difficult jutsu category to master. Every single genjutsu has a weakness that can be exploited, and most of them can be countered through simple means, but that does not mean that genjutsu is a pointless skill. It may be complicated to use, but genjutsu is still a highly effective weapon. It can be used to immobilize a single opponent, and certain techniques can affect multiple targets at once. In the right hands, a genjutsu can be used to destroy a major ninja village, and in certain cases, it can even be used to subdue an entire planet.
