Being one of the most popular shounen anime of all time, theNarutoFranchise isrenowned for several distinctive aspects, yet the series’ famed Jutsu hand signs are arguably its most popular element. Hand signs were initially shown as gateways to kneading chakra, opening up different chakra gates within the body to create all sorts of techniques – a concept that became one ofNaruto’siconic features.
While hand signs were a common sight throughout the initial part of the series, fans couldn’t help but notice their usagedecreasing dramatically inShippuden, and now becoming almost non-existent in theBorutosequel. Once an integral part of the concept of ninjutsu, seeing hand signs slowly dissipate is certainly odd, especially considering the significance attributed to them in the first part of theNarutoseries. The creators may have their own reasoning for such a deliberate inconsistency, yet it’s still worth exploring other plausible factors behind the gradual eradication of hand seals.
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Higher Mastery Over Jutsu
One significant aspect of hand signs was clearly explained in the initial parts of the series, linking their usage with thecaster’s mastery over the jutsu. The number of hand signs required to cast a jutsu are determined by the mastery over that specific technique, a fact that perfectly explains why hand signs became less apparent as the characters grew stronger. The first part of the series saw the most usage of hand seals, indicative of how the main characters were still Genin at the time, with limited mastery over most jutsu.
After the timeskip inShippuden, most characters received a significant boost in their power, thus requiring lesser hand signs.Sasuke’s Chidori is a prime example, as he initially required several hand signs before casting the deadly lightning blade. However, as he began to master the technique, hand signs became entirely obsolete for the jutsu, as Sasuke was shown using it without even using a single hand seal. Sasuke’s Fireball Jutsu underwent similar changes, as the jutsu went from requiring upwards of eight hand signs to barely needing any.
Techniques Without Hand Signs Became More Common
Another reason as to why hand signs started receiving less screen time could be attributed to a high number of techniques without hand seals becoming more common. Several of these techniques already existed in the initial part of the series, such as the Rasengan or the Hyuga Clan’s Eight Trigram: Palm Rotation, yet their number was significantly less than their counterparts. Most jutsu revolved around using hand signs as a necessary prerequisite to mold chakra, a concept that was further cemented by Kakashi andZabuza’s iconic forty hand seal Water Dragon technique.
However, Shippuden saw the rise of new jutsu and unique techniques, ones that no longer required molding chakra through hand signs. Visual techniques dominated the series andthe Sharingan and Rinnegantook precedence. Since these abilities required little to no hand seals, the concept of hand signs faded into the background as the series put the spotlight on all-powerful ocular techniques.
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This became even more prominent during the Fourth Great Shinobi War arc, where a number of new jutsu were revealed, yet almost all of them required no hand signs. Even the famed battle between the Five Kage and Madara took place without weaving any hand signs. A few examples includeTsunade’s Mitotic Regeneration Jutsu, Onoki’s Particle Style, Gaara’s sand-based ninjutsu, and A’s lightning-based Taijutsu. The battles in the later part of the arc were quite similar, especially with the two Ten-Tails Jinchuriki; Obito and Madara, as their truth-seeking orbs served as both their offense and defense, therefore, requiring no hand signs.
Drawing Hand Signs Became Redundant
The most plausible reason for hand signs becoming less prevalent in the series is the redundancy that came with drawing the same hand seals over and over again for every panel. Hand signs initially had a distinctiveness to them, making their appearance a must with every jutsu, yet the constant need for drawing separate panels simply to showcase each hand seal became a hassle for the creators, resulting in their usage becoming less and less. From an illustration point of view, constantly recreating the same panel with different hand signs is quite redundant, wasting not just time but also panel space.
As the series went on, the focus shifted on the storyline itself rather than ancillary aspects such as hand seals. Coupled with factors such as higher mastery and techniques requiring little to no hand signs, the concept simply faded into the background as more significant matters took precedence. Although hand signs were still noticeable during the later parts of the series, their decrease in usage and significance is clearly indicative of a drastic shift within theNarutoFranchise,one that favored ocular techniquesabove all else, making them the source of all power.
