Genjutsu (Overview)

[Taiken Uchiha]

Genjutsu

Genjutsu (Literally meaning "Illusionary Techniques") are techniques that are employed in the same fashion as ninjutsu, requiring chakra and hand seals. However, the primary difference between the two is that the effect of genjutsu is illusory; instead of attacking the victim's body, Genjutsu techniques manipulate the flow of chakra in the victim's brain, thus causing a disruption in their senses.

This is often used to create false images or to cause pain from trauma (because the body is led to believe it is in pain); however, there are plenty of other uses depending on the situation. They are not used as often as ninjutsu because they don't physically harm the opponent, but are still a vitally important aspect of shinobi, and perhaps the most artistic form of jutsu.

Genjutsu is created when a ninja extends their chakra flow through the cerebral nervous system of their opponent to control their mind's chakra, thereby affecting their five senses. Those with special abilities like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan or with high intelligence have an easier time executing and countering genjutsu, as attention to detail is key. Those under the influence of genjutsu either freeze in place or lose consciousness, depending on how capable they are in recognizing and defending against it.

Genjutsu attacks usually require a lot of skill, and, if performed incorrectly, will not work; even Sannin level ninnja can have trouble performing such techniques. Genjutsu is most often used by ninja with very precise chakra control and very high intelligence.

[Taiken Uchiha]

Combating Genjutsu

To combat the effects of genjutsu, there are several options.

The first option is for the ninja to stop the flow of chakra in their body, and then apply an even stronger power to disrupt the flow of the caster's chakra; this is called Genjutsu Release (Genjutsu Kai). This can also be done by an unaffected ninja by applying a sudden surge of chakra into the affected person.

The second option is through intense pain not caused by the genjutsu and utilizing the resulting pain to bring their senses back in order (of the two options, the latter seems more effective in most situations, or at least is the easiest). This can involve breaking one's finger or by simply applying huge amounts of stress on it.

The third option is accessible only to Sharingan, Rinnegan, or Byakugan wielders. Members of these bloodlimits can break or see through genjutsu using their dojutsu (Eye Techniques). Breaking High Level Genjutsu is possible with an ordinary dojutsu, but it requires a lot of skill.

Fourthly, some tailed-beast hosts who can control or cooperate with the tailed beast inside of them can break genjutsu, as they allow the tailed beasts more feral brain waves to take over and overwhelm the illusion.

People can also counter genjutsu by deceiving or attacking the user directly. This may involve the use of shadow clones (unaffected by genjutsu) to trick the user, and getting allies to smack the user while he is performing genjutsu.

Finally, one can prevent a person from casting genjutsu using obstructive jutsus like the Hidden Mist jutsu to prevent one from seeing the opponent in the first place.

In spite of these methods, some forms of genjutsu, like the advanced forms of high level Sharingan or Mangekyou Sharingan, may not be broken easily, either due to their near-instant effect, or their ability to render one unconscious and paralysed altogether. In addition, one must realize that he or she is under the effects of genjutsu before attempting to break out of it. This can be done by observing the changes in one's own chakra.

[Taiken Uchiha]

The Disciplines


Avoidance - The Avoidance discipline employs illusions to create quick diversions, artful misdirection, and colorful escapes rather than creating intricate fantasies.


Deception - The Deception discipline is most useful for misleading other ninjas for one reason or another.


Disguise - Disguise GenJutsus often alter a target's features, making him appear like someone else. GenJutsus that trade or alter physical features belong in this category.


Fascination - The nature of the fascination discipline leads to two basics sort of GenJutsus: those involving mesmerization, which inspire a child like wonder or awe, and those involving obsession, which invariably leads to dangerous fixations that can lead to a sinister end.


Invisibility - GenJutsus in the Invisibility discipline conceal someone or something from sight.


Message - The message discipline is used to communicate with others- either through speech through chakra, text, or dreams.


Shadow - GenJutsus frm the shadow discipline fall into two categories. Either they are related to darkness and shadows, or they use energy from chakra to give partial substance to illusions. Typically, these are the only illusions with a tactile element to them.


Terror - The GenJutsus in the terror discipline strike at the victim's subconscious, driving his most dreaded innermost fears to the surface. Nightmares and madness also fall into this discipline.


True Illusion - Finally, the true illusion discipline contains those GenJutsus that create false images, sounds, etc., in a straightforward manner. These GenJutsus are the backbone of GenJutsus.


Sensory Effects

This serves as a handy visual reference of which senses each GenJutsu can affect and which of several important descriptors apply to the technique. Each statement is explained in more detail below.


Sight-Affecting This GenJutsu acts upon a creature's sense of sight. This aspect of the GenJutsu will not affect a blinded creature or a creature with no sense of sight.


Hearing-Affecting This GenJutsu acts upon a creature's sense of hearing. This aspect of the GenJutsu will not affect a deafened creature or a creature with no sense of hearing.


Smell-Affecting This GenJutsu acts upon a creature's sense of smell. This aspect of the GenJutsu will not affect a creature with no sense of smell or one whose sense of smell has been deadened.


Touch-Affecting This GenJutsu acts upon a creature's sense of touch. This aspect of the GenJutsu will not affect a creature with no sense of touch or one whose sense of touch has been deadened.


Thermal-Affecting This Genjutsu acts upon a creature's ability to sense heat and cold. This aspect of the GenJutsu will not affect a creature with no ability to sense heat and cold or one whose sense to do so has been deadnened.


Mind-Affecting This GenJutsu has the mind-affecting descriptor. This has no game effect in and of itself, but there are many types of creations that are immune to mind-affecting GenJutsus such as puppets.


Fear This GenJutsu has the fear descriptor. This has no game effect in and of itself, but there are many creatures that are immune to fear techniques such as Puppets. This only works however to the perspective of what one would be afraid of as well. One must take into consideration that every creation has some sort of fear.

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[Taiken Uchiha]

Genjutsu Breakdown by Rank

E Rank Genjutsu

Can barely effect the minds perception of an event, academy/genin level genjutsu.


D Rank Genjutsu

Can mentally effect and control one of the body's five senses.

C Rank Genjutsu

Can mentally effect and control two of the body's five senses, even combining the sensory effects to increase the power of the illusion.

B Rank Genjutsu

Can mentally effect and control three of the body's five senses, even combining the sensory effects to increase the power of the illusion.

A Rank Genjutsu

Can mentally effect and control four of the body's five senses, even combining the sensory effects to increase the power of the illusion.

S Rank Genjutsu

Can mentally effect and control all five of the body's five senses, combining to complete reshape reality against an opponent.