Hi there, Junko from Japan here! What is Chakra in NARTO?
In the NARUTO world, Chakra is the energy for using Ninja techniques, which is consumed like MP in RPG video games.
Chakra Made from Two Energies
What makes Chakra unique is that it’s not simple psychic energy but it must be generated by connecting and mixing your physical energy and spiritual energy. You need two power resources to form and use Chakra properly.
In original Japanese, this action to generate Chakra is called CHAKRA WO NERU, literally meaning “knead Chakra.”
Physical energy is generated from human body cells while spiritual energy accumulates along with training or experiences.
What If You Use Up Chakra?
Since Chakra is equivalent to your life energy. You’ll end up dying if you run out of Chakra.
Some Ninja techniques, such as TAJU KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique) are forbidden since they cost too much Chakra on users and risk their lives.
Can Anyone Use Chakra?
Yes, everyone has Chakra. More precisely, everyone has both physical and spiritual energy. But you need to mix them to generate Chakra, and it requires a training.
Therefore, ordinary people other than trained Ninja can’t use Chakra. But they have potential. Actually, Sakura isn’t from a Ninja family but she can use Chakra thanks to training.
Are There Any Types of Chakra That Are Rarer?
I think KEKKEI GENKAI (Bloodline Limit) applies to the rare Chakra type.
Kekkei Genkai is a special ability inherited by blood, and it’s divided into two types. One is special constitutions and eyes such as Sharingan of the Uchiha clan and Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.
The other is Ninja techniques performed with two Chakra natures. For example, Haku’s Hyoton, the ice Ninja technique, is generated from Water and Wind natures.
The upper-ranked version of Kekkei Genkai is called KEKKEI TOTA, which requires three natures of different Chakra.
What Are 5 Chakra Natures?
Chakra has 5 types of Nature: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water. Which nature of Chakra one has is determined by birth. For example, the Uchiha clan that Sasuke belongs the Fire type, and Uchiha Ninja members are good at Fire Ninja techniques.
You can obtain other natures by trainings, and advanced Ninja can handle seveal types of Ninja techniques. But it requires much more time to master them compared to your original nature.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, can use all the 5 types of Chakra and all the Ninja techniques that exist in the Hidden Leaf Village. Therefore he’s praised as “professor.”
The Features of 5 Natures
Each Chakra nature has a feature.
- Fire: Specializes in attacking
- Wind: Good at tearing apart something. Superior to close and middle-range attacks
- Lightning: Easy to diffuse. Superior to middle and wide-range attacks
- Earth: Can control the hardness and ingredients of objects
- Water: Can change various forms such as mist and tidal wave
Additionally, each type has superiority and is inferior to the other. For example, Fire loses Water while it wins Wind.
WATER > FIRE > WIND > LIGHTNING > EARTH > WATER
But the final strength of the Ninja technique is up to the user’s own abilities. It’s one of the important elements but is not the only factor that determines who comes out on top.
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