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Seals ( , In, English TV: Hand Signs) are used to perform many ninjutsu, genjutsu,
and other secret arts other than taijutsu. Invented by Indra Ōtsutsuki[1] in the anime, !
they are designed to aid people in properly summoning and moulding chakra
necessary to perform a technique.[2] There are diTerent 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.[3] Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, only needed to use one hand seal to
complete the technique, a testament to his skill.[4] In fact, by Part II, Sasuke Uchiha 305 Members Online
has managed to master the Chidori to the point of not needing a single hand seal to
invoke it and could use Fire Release techniques with only one hand seal. By reading
the hand seals of the opponent, a ninja can predict the nature of the technique to be MEMBERS ONLINE

performed, which is virtually unavoidable if read by the Sharingan.[5][6] #Necroxis

a...

Although rare, it is possible for a shinobi to be able to do hand seals with just one Akaikage diAngelo
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hand. Shinobi seen capable of this include Haku,[7] Fudō,[8] Guren,[9] Minato Namikaze,
[10] antaress, over heaven.
Naruto Uzumaki,[11] Sasuke Uchiha,[12] Shojoji,[13] Koji Kashin,[14] Kawaki,[15] and
Arkus
Boruto Uzumaki.[16]
Bezczelny
BISHOP-ネ ‼
It is also possible for shinobi to form hand seals with one of their hands while using Bluecrack
the hand of another person as a substitute for the opposite one. This can happen BravoBigBirdZ
voluntarily, like when Naruto and Sasuke joined hands to dispel the Inbnite c...
Tsukuyomi,[17] or forcefully, such as Anko Mitarashi using Orochimaru's hand for the Hangout with people who Join Discord
[18] get it
Twin Snakes Mutual Death Technique, or (in the anime) Obito Uchiha using Kakashi
Hatake's for the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.[19]

Even rarer than one-handed hand seals, are shinobi who have abandoned this
Recent Images
traditional practice altogether, usually because their bghting style revolve around
speed and quick refexes and have developed techniques that require no hand seals
to complement this bghting style.

Certain elemental releases often end in the hand seals they are agliated with. For
example, Fire Release often ends with Tiger, Earth and Wood Releases often end with
the Snake hand seals.
Kara Koji Kashin
8 hours ago 16 hours ago
Contents [ hide ]

1. Basic Hand Seals

2. Other Hand Seals

Others Like You Also Viewed
2.1. Elemental Hand Seals

2.2. Seal of Confrontation

2.3. Seal of Reconciliation

2.4. Manga Hand Seals

2.4.1. Clone Seal

Rinnegan Kekkei Jutsu
2.4.2. Clap Hands Genkai
2.4.3. Slam Surface

2.4.4. Haku's Seals

2.4.5. Crossed Tiger

2.4.6. Mirrored Ram

2.4.7. Jin Seal

2.4.8. Five Elements' Seal

2.4.9. Akimichi Seal

2.4.10. Yamanaka Seals

2.4.11. Twin Snakes Mutual Death Seal

2.4.12. Mangekyō Sharingan Activation Seal

2.4.13. Sasuke's Snake Seal

2.4.14. Daytime Tiger Seal

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2.4.15. Great Shark Bullet Seal

2.4.16. Tearing Earth Turning Palm Hand Seal

2.5. Other Hand Seals

2.5.1. Hoshigakure Hand Seal Popular Pages

2.5.2. Byakugan Seals

2.5.3. Water Formation Wall Seal Naruto Uzumaki

2.5.4. Fūma Curse Mandala Seals

2.5.5. Guren's Unknown Crystal Seals

Sasuke Uchiha
2.5.6. Curved Tiger

2.5.7. Covered Snake

2.5.8. Tornado Lightning Seal Boruto Uzumaki

2.5.9. Land of the Sky's Seal

2.5.10. Land of Demons' Seals

Mangekyō Sharingan
2.5.11. Hiruko's Storm Release Seal

3. Trivia

4. References Obito Uchiha

Basic Hand Seals

There are twelve basic seals, each one named after an animal of the Chinese zodiac.

j. Rat ( , Ne): This hand seal is commonly agliated with the special Shadow
Techniques of the Nara clan.
k. Ox ( , Ushi)
l. Tiger ( , Tora): This hand seal is commonly agliated with Fire[20] and Earth
Release.[21]
m. Hare ( , U)
n. Dragon ( , Tatsu)
o. Snake ( , Mi): This hand seal is commonly agliated with Earth,[6] Lightning,[22]
and Wood Release.[21]
p. Horse ( , Uma)
q. Ram ( , Hitsuji)
r. Monkey ( , Saru)
js. Bird ( , Tori): This hand seal is commonly agliated with Wind Release.[22]
jj. Dog ( , Inu): This hand seal is commonly agliated with Water Release[22][21][23]
and the movie-only Ice Release.
jk. Boar ( , I)

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
specibc techniques.

Elemental Hand Seals

To use an elemental technique through the Kote, one
must seal the technique in a scroll and put it inside
the device.[24] Depending on the technique's chakra
nature, the user must then form one of bve one-
handed seals to release the technique. These seals
are:

The bve one-handed elemental

j. Fire Release: A fat hand with all bngers seals.
extended.
k. Water Release: A fat hand with all bngers extended except the index
bnger, which is put under the thumb.
l. Wind Release: Thumb and pinky are extended, the other bngers lie on the
palm.
m. Earth Release: Index and middle bnger are extended, the other bngers are
curled into the palm. Known as Seal of Confrontation.
n. Lightning Release: Index and little bnger are extended, the middle and ring
bnger are held down with the thumb.

Seal of Confrontation
The Seal of Confrontation ( , Tairitsu no In, English TV: Spar Sign), which
looks like a half-tiger/ram, is the symbol of combat and is a universal sign of
engagement between shinobi. It represents half of a seal that might be used to
activate a ninjutsu. This motion is often used to concentrate chakra, and many
shinobi are seen initiating simple, basic techniques as well as few complex ones after
making this seal. Deidara also often used this when he detonated his explosive clay,
and Sai and Inojin used it for their Super Beast Imitating Drawing. Madara Uchiha's
and Hashirama Senju's statues at the Valley of the End are both forming the Seal of
Confrontation whilst facing each other.

Seal of Reconciliation
The Seal of Reconciliation ( , Wakai no In, English TV: Unison Sign) while not
used in battle or for techniques, is used in Traditional Shinobi Sparring as a
demonstration that the two opponents are still comrades after sparring.

Manga Hand Seals

Clone Seal
This seal is most commonly associated with the creation of clones using techniques
such as the Shadow Clone Technique, its derivative and the Multiple Wood Release
Clone Technique, separate from the basic twelve seals, where index and middle
bngers from both hands are crossed.[25] This hand seal is also used in performing the
Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique. In Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy
Sky, prior to receiving his prosthetic arm, Naruto adapted this seal for one-handed
use, creating the seal's cross with his left hand's index and middle bngers.

Clap Hands
This is more of an initiation of a technique rather than a hand seal where the user
simply claps their hands together as exemplibed when Naruto Uzumaki, for example,
summons chakra or is breaking genjutsu. The hand seal sequence for powerful
summoning kinjutsu like the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation and the Dead
Demon Consuming Seal end with this motion; similarly, Jiraiya prepares to enter
Sage Mode (summoning Shima and Fukasaku) by performing this motion and
sustaining it, Hashirama uses it to enter Sage Mode as well, Gaara uses it for
Quicksand Waterfall Flow at his bght against Kimimaro. It is also used to perform the
Chibaku Tensei technique. Once the seal sequence is completed, the user's hands are
held in this position until the desired eTect is achieved. While entering its third
transformation, the Ten-Tails has been observed to make this particular seal.

Slam Surface
Used in techniques such as the Summoning Technique and several Earth Release
techniques, this is also more of an initiation of a technique than a seal. The user
presses their hand to the surface that is aTected.

Haku's Seals
The seals used for Haku's Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death, are quite diTerent
than the basic twelve seals, and are also performed with one hand.

Crossed Tiger
Haku's Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals technique can be done with a special seal,
which resembles Tiger with middle bngers crossed over the index bngers.
Interestingly, Orochimaru also uses this seal when giving the Cursed Seal of Heaven
to an individual.[26]

Mirrored Ram
The basic Ram seal is mirrored. To form the seal, the hands are joined together where
the right hand thumb is on top of left hand, and the forebnger and middle bngers are
facing vertically. This seal is used by Obito and Madara for Six Paths Ten-Tails Cogn
Seal,[27] and also for Sage Art: Yin Release Lightning Dispatch.[28]

Jin Seal
This is another one of the seals that are used in normal techniques, yet isn't one of
the basic twelve seals. The "Yang Water" ( , Jin) seal is used in techniques such as
the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique and the Shrine Seal. In the anime,
this seal is formed similar to the Dog seal, but the left hand is under the right, and the
left's palm is facing up.[29]

Five Elements' Seal

The fūinjutsu Five Elements Seal used by Orochimaru uses a single special seal,
which consists in both hands' thumbs and little bngers touching each other tips, with
left index and middle bngers and right index bnger raised, with the latter touching
the left middle. The left ring bnger is placed over the right ring bnger, with both the
latter and the right middle folded down (just like the Ox seal in the left hand).[30]

Akimichi Seal
The Akimichi clan use a certain seal in their Multi-Size Technique, which also
resembles the Bird seal from frontal view. However, it is conbrmed that this is a
diTerent seal, as the Bird seal has been seen in a side view in techniques such as
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique and the Shadow Sewing Technique.
The index and little bngers are raised up, the middle and ring bngers are each folded
on top of the hand opposite itself and interlocked with each another, and the thumbs
are pressed together at their end segments.

In the anime, there are several "variations" to this seal, likely mistakes. Sometimes, it
is formed like the Half Tiger, with the little bngers also raised. Other times, it is formed
more similarly in fashion to the Bird seal instead, with index and little bngers raised,
and with the thumb and middle and ring bngers are folded in and pressed against
each other.

This seal is therefore very controversial, as this seal was used instead of the
Bird seal multiple times in the anime or in movies, likely a mistake.

Yamanaka Seals
The Yamanaka clan uses diTerent seals to activate
their techniques, such as the Mind Body Switch
Technique[31] and the Mind Body Disturbance
Technique.[32] Another seal was used to release the
Mind Body Switch Technique and return to the original
body. This seal resembled both hands' bngers
The Yamanaka clan's Mind
straightened and crossed into an "X", similar to the Ox
Body Switch Technique.
seal (however not a "+"), but without the left middle
and ring bngers down.

Twin Snakes Mutual Death Seal

A hand seal involving both the user and the enemy is used in the kinjutsu Twin
Snakes Mutual Death.

Mangekyō Sharingan Activation Seal

Probably another seal used to gather and focus chakra, it was used by Kakashi in his
brst battle with Deidara, when he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan to use Kamui for
the brst time seen in the series. It is formed like the Tiger seal, except with the index
bngers' end segments pushed down against each other, forming a house-like shape
in the user's point of view. When Kakashi used it, he positioned it in front of his left
eye.

Sasuke's Snake Seal

Sasuke used a seal, similar to the Akimichi seal, in his battle with Deidara, when he
used either Hidden Shadow Snake Hands or Binding Snake Glare Spell.

As with the Akimichi seal, this technique also draws controversy with the Bird
seal, as it seems similar from a frontal view. However, side view comparisons of
this seal and the Bird seal in Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique
and/or Shadow Sewing Technique show that this is a diTerent seal.

Daytime Tiger Seal

This seal is used in Daytime Tiger. It does not release chakra, but rather keeps it
inside the body to use as energy and strength. This creates a missile type of
technique which is not a body of chakra. This seal is actually based oT one of the
original Kuji-In seals, the seal of the Outer Lion. In this case, the hands are meant to
resemble a tiger. The index bngers (the "eyes" of the Tiger) glow green with the
evaporating green sweat of the user (result of releasing the Gate of Wonder).

Great Shark Bullet Seal

Kisame's Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique requires this seal. Possibly a
comparison to Guy's Daytime Tiger seal, which resembles a tiger, this hand seal is a
thrust, but with both hands touching at the wrist and right hand above the left. The
bngers are also folded in a way that vaguely resembles shark's teeth. This overall
placement of the hands resembles a shark with an open jaw.

Tearing Earth Turning Palm Hand Seal

When Sumashi uses Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm, he uses a special seal
that is formed by cupping the left hand and turning it so that it faces the ground and
placing the right hand next to it with the index and middle bngers raised.

Other Hand Seals

Hoshigakure Hand Seal

The signature technique of Hoshigakure Mysterious Peacock Method uses a hand
seal that has the middle and other index bnger pushed down and touching, with the
right index bnger and pinkie touching together to form an arch.

This seal looks similar to the Bird hand sign on a frontal view, but is in fact a
diTerent hand sign from opposite angles.

Byakugan Seals
In the anime, certain variant seals to aid in the activation of the Byakugan are seen.
Most are some of the basic twelve seals, but several are diTerent. In the manga, seals
are indeed used several times, but of course, they cannot be seen with detail.

Water Formation Wall Seal

In the anime, a special seal is used instead of what is seen in the manga for the Water
Release: Water Formation Wall Technique.

Fūma Curse Mandala Seals

In the anime, the Fūma clan used various unknown hand seals for their secret
techniques, the Curse Mandala.

Guren's Unknown Crystal Seals

Several "unknown" seals are used in Crystal Release: Crystal Encampment Wall.

Curved Tiger
In the anime, the Moon Shadow Technique is performed with a seal that resembles
the Tiger seal, but with the right index and middle bngers curving in front of the left
index and middle bngers, also curved the same way.

Covered Snake
In the anime, some jutsu feature a seal similar to the Snake seal, but with the right
hand bngers all on top of the left instead of interlocking.[33][34]

Tornado Lightning Seal

In Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel, Ranke uses an unknown hand seal
to activate her Tornado Lightning. However, considering that neither she nor her
comrades knew what chakra is, her technique is unlikely to be ninjutsu, and her
"hand seal" is likely merely an attack gesture.

Land of the Sky's Seal

In Naruto Shippūden the Movie: Bonds, an unknown seal is used to focus chakra in
preparation for attacking from the Flying Destruction Machine. The seal is formed by
pressing the knuckles of each hand together, with the back of the hands facing
outwards.

Land of Demons' Seals

In Naruto Shippūden the Movie, the shinobi agliated with the Land of Demons use
unique seals unused by the usual shinobi seen throughout the series.

Taruho used the Shadow Mirror Body Changing Method, which used hand seals
like:

Tiger, but with little bngers pressed inwards instead

Tiger/Ram with left hand, and right hand with thumb up "punching" the
left
Boar, but with left hand pointed upwards instead
Right hand facing down above left, left hand facing up below right; Each
hand's index and middle bngers folded, and ring and little bngers straight.

Also, the Shrine Seal used by Shion (Yomi also used a technique by repeating
the same seal names, although he only held his palm forward the whole time)
uses a numerous amount of diTerent seals with diTerent names as followed:

Hatsu: Right palm facing forward, bngertips directing to the right

Jin: Right hand Tiger/Ram facing down, placed under the eyes pointing
towards the left
Kai: Right hand Tiger/Ram, pointing up with arm straight, facing forward

After completing the brst three seals, Shion begins to levitate, the seal lights
up, a barrier is formed around the seal, and the spheres inside the seal move
around the circle (Yomi did not have to do this)

Min: Both palms pushed forward, bngertips pointing about 45 degrees

up/forward
Shin: Both palms pressed together (like a clap)
Gan: Left bst "punching" right palm
Reppyō: "Rep" seems identical to the Snake/Earth seal. "Pyō" Each hand
in half Tiger/Ram, arms stretched with bngertips pointing forward
Shōzen: Both hands in bsts, left above right; looks similar to the Rat seal
Mika: Seems identical to Min
Dan: Each hands revolves around one another into Tiger/Ram, right hand
behind left
Raku: Left hand raised up facing down with middle and ring bngers folded
and index and little bngers straight pointing towards the left, right palm
pushed down facing down pointing forward
Shō: Left palm facing down in front with bngertips pointing right, right bst
punching left palm from below

After completing these 9 seals, the stone tablets in the shrine will arise in front
of Shion.

Fu: Hold Shō

Sai: Hold Shō
Dan: Hold Shō
Gika: Hold Shō
Ragu: Left hand pointing diagonally up/right 45 degrees, right hand
middle and ring bngers folded index and little bngers straight pointing
diagonally up/left placed in front of left forearm
Bagi: Right palm facing left with bngertips pointing up in front of user, left
forearm behind right seal and left bst placed above right elbow

The brst four of these are unseen and it may be that she only shouts these words
while holding Shō. Yomi did not use these last six seals.

Hiruko's Storm Release Seal

In Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire, Hiruko uses a special seal for the
Storm Release: Thunder Cloud Inner Wave, which resembles Tiger, but only with the
middle bngers raised.

Trivia
Hand seal usage is not limited to shinobi. Shima and Fukasaku as well as the
Ten-Tails have been observed to make hand seals, and Madara Uchiha's
Susanoo has also been seen making seals while pulling a meteorite toward the
earth.
In the anime, a kunoichi known as Hanare could use a mind reading technique
that required the use of her eye by "weaving seals" with her right eye. How she
does this exactly is unknown. This was not a dōjutsu kekkei genkai as it could be
copied with the Sharingan.
In the tenth Naruto: Shippūden opening sequence, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai
perform a technique using three-handed seals.
In Hinduism and Buddhism, hand seals are called mudrā ( , Sanskrit: मुद्रा) and
are used in everyday life, but also in religious practices and even in dances. The
one most signibcant with synonymous association with ninja would be the Kuji-
In set of Mudra.
The usage of hand seals in the arts of ninjutsu in Naruto is likely a reference to
the powers of Hōriki, being fantastical powers said to be gained in esoteric
Japanese Mikkyō Buddhism through intense meditation to become in tune with
one's Buddhahood. In the lore of ninja and ninjutsu, the secrets of Hōriki were
said to be gained from its beginnings in ancient Hei'an era nobility, then revived
in practice and was responsible for their mythical powers.

References
j. ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 465
k. ↑ Naruto chapter 90, page 5
l. ↑ Naruto chapter 15, page 8
m. ↑ Naruto chapter 120, page 4
n. ↑ Naruto chapter 333, pages 16-17
o. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Naruto chapter 361, page 13
p. ↑ Naruto chapter 24, page 4
q. ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 59
r. ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 104
js. ↑ Naruto chapter 664, page 11

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