Basic Types:
Nature transformation (性質変化, Seishitsu Henka; "Change in Chakra Nature") is an advanced form of chakra control. It entails the molding and defining of one's chakra into an innate type of chakra nature, altering its properties and characteristics. Nature transformation is one of two necessary techniques for creating a technique, its counterpart being shape transformation. Few shinobi can use both shape manipulation and nature manipulation.
There are five basic types into which the nature of chakra can be transformed, called the Five Elements Nature Transformations (五大性質変化, Godai Seishitsu Henka). These five types are also called elements and are not only the origin of the names of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, but also the foundation of all elemental ninjutsu. The five basic natures are all connected to each other in a circle, each being weaker than one and stronger than another.
These elements allow for elemental ninjutsu to be performed:
Basically, this means that if an elemental technique is put against another elemental technique of the same level, but of a stronger nature, then the technique with the superior nature will prevail. However, a technique with a weaker nature can overpower a technique with a stronger nature if the former is of a higher level, for example a technique that employs only Water Release cannot extinguish a wind-enhanced fire technique.
Counter Balancing:
For relationships between chakra natures, there is a principle known as counterbalancing (相殺, Sōsai). This principle states that two techniques of the same nature would cancel each other out if the same amount of chakra was put into them.
However, if one of the techniques had more chakra put into it, it would overcome the other technique. Not only that, but the stronger technique would absorb the weaker one, and the user of the weaker technique would receive more damage than the original amount, as he/she will have added to the technique.
Affinity:
In general, every person has chakra that has an affinity towards one of these types, a characteristic that seems to be genetic, since whole clans sometimes share the same affinity.
To find out what affinity someone has, pieces of paper made from a special type of tree (that are grown and fed with chakra) are used that react to even the slightest hint of chakra in any of a number of ways, depending on the nature latent in the chakra.
This affinity makes it easier to learn how to create and control the nature in question, although even with an affinity this process will usually take any number of years. Shinobi are not limited to the nature they have an affinity to, though. By the time they reach the rank of jōnin, most shinobi have mastered two or three natures.
Because of the difficulty of mastering a nature and the time required to learn it, it is almost impossible for any one person to master all five natures through natural methods. However, those who possess the Rinnegan cane use all five elements.
Nature transformation (性質変化, Seishitsu Henka; "Change in Chakra Nature") is an advanced form of chakra control. It entails the molding and defining of one's chakra into an innate type of chakra nature, altering its properties and characteristics. Nature transformation is one of two necessary techniques for creating a technique, its counterpart being shape transformation. Few shinobi can use both shape manipulation and nature manipulation.
There are five basic types into which the nature of chakra can be transformed, called the Five Elements Nature Transformations (五大性質変化, Godai Seishitsu Henka). These five types are also called elements and are not only the origin of the names of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, but also the foundation of all elemental ninjutsu. The five basic natures are all connected to each other in a circle, each being weaker than one and stronger than another.
These elements allow for elemental ninjutsu to be performed:
- Fire (火, Hi) natured chakra allows for Fire Release (火遁, Katon), which is strong against Wind but weak against Water.
- Wind (風, Kaze) natured chakra allows for Wind Release (風遁, Fūton), which is strong against Lightning but weak against Fire.
- Lightning (雷, Kaminari) natured chakra allows for Lightning Release (雷遁, Raiton), which is strong against Earth but weak against Wind.
- Earth (土, Tsuchi) natured chakra allows for Earth Release (土遁, Doton), which is strong against Water but weak against Lightning.
- Water (水, Mizu) natured chakra allows for Water Release (水遁, Suiton), which is strong against Fire but weak against Earth.
Basically, this means that if an elemental technique is put against another elemental technique of the same level, but of a stronger nature, then the technique with the superior nature will prevail. However, a technique with a weaker nature can overpower a technique with a stronger nature if the former is of a higher level, for example a technique that employs only Water Release cannot extinguish a wind-enhanced fire technique.
Counter Balancing:
For relationships between chakra natures, there is a principle known as counterbalancing (相殺, Sōsai). This principle states that two techniques of the same nature would cancel each other out if the same amount of chakra was put into them.
However, if one of the techniques had more chakra put into it, it would overcome the other technique. Not only that, but the stronger technique would absorb the weaker one, and the user of the weaker technique would receive more damage than the original amount, as he/she will have added to the technique.
Affinity:
In general, every person has chakra that has an affinity towards one of these types, a characteristic that seems to be genetic, since whole clans sometimes share the same affinity.
To find out what affinity someone has, pieces of paper made from a special type of tree (that are grown and fed with chakra) are used that react to even the slightest hint of chakra in any of a number of ways, depending on the nature latent in the chakra.
- Fire: the paper will ignite and turn to ash.
- Wind: the paper will split in two.
- Lightning: the paper will wrinkle.
- Earth: the paper will turn to dirt and crumble away.
- Water: the paper will become wet/damp.
This affinity makes it easier to learn how to create and control the nature in question, although even with an affinity this process will usually take any number of years. Shinobi are not limited to the nature they have an affinity to, though. By the time they reach the rank of jōnin, most shinobi have mastered two or three natures.
Because of the difficulty of mastering a nature and the time required to learn it, it is almost impossible for any one person to master all five natures through natural methods. However, those who possess the Rinnegan cane use all five elements.
Besides the five basic nature types, there are several more advanced types. By initiating more than one basic chakra nature transformation simultaneously, one can create a completely new nature of chakra with unique properties, and is referred to as an "elementally-recomposed nature type". Doing this requires a special ability and such abilities are rarely seen outside a kekkei genkai or kekkei tōta. Those with the ability to utilise advanced natures possess an affinity for the chakra natures they must simultaneously activate.
So far, several advanced natures are known:
So far, several advanced natures are known:
- The Ice (氷, Kōri) nature, is created by simultaneously combining the Water and Wind natures. This nature allows for the use of Ice Release(氷遁, Hyōton) ninjutsu. Used through a advanced release. Ninja were able to use a different kind of Ice Release, by drawing on already-existing ice, snow, and cold. This was not a kekkei genkai, as it could be copied with the Sharingan or copying Doujutsu. Also, while the ice techniques had unusual effects, this type of Ice Release focuses on more obvious effects of ice, such as freezing.
- The Wood (木, Ki) nature, is created by simultaneously combining the Earth and Water natures. This nature allows for the use of Wood Release (木遁, Mokuton) ninjutsu. Used through a advanced release only acquired from a Senju Head, Kage Leveled Senju, or a Kage Leveled Shinobi with Senju DNA, One with Senju DNA can only acquire Wood by naturally consisting of the basic Water and Earth nature.
- The Lava (溶岩, Yōgan) nature, is created by simultaneously combining the Fire and Earth natures. This nature allows for the use of Lava Release (熔遁; 溶遁, Yōton).
- The Crystal (結晶, Kesshō) nature, is possibly created by simultaneously combining the Earth nature and another unspecified nature. This nature allows for the use of Crystal Release (晶遁, Shōton) ninjutsu.
- The Blaze (炎, Honō) nature, originates from the flames of Amaterasu and allows the use of Blaze Release (炎遁, Enton) ninjutsu. It is unknown what this nature entails.
- The Storm (嵐, Arashi) nature, is created by simultaneously combining the Lightning and Water natures. This nature allows for the use of Storm Release(嵐遁, Ranton) ninjutsu. Used through a advanced release.
- The Boil (沸騰, Futtō) nature, used by Mei Terumī, is created by simultaneously combining the Water and Fire natures. This nature allows for the use of Boil Release (沸遁, Futton) ninjutsu. Used through a advanced release.
- The Dust (塵, Chiri) nature, is created by simultaneously combining the Fire, Earth and Wind natures. This nature allows for the use of Dust Release (塵遁, Jinton) ninjutsu. Used through advanced release.
- The Metal (金属, Kinzoku) nature, allows the use of Metal Release (金属, Kinzoku) ninjutsu. This nature entails a more advanced use of the Earth nature. Used through advanced release.
- The Dark (冥暗, Meian) nature, allows the use of Dark Release (冥遁, Meiton) ninjutsu. It is unknown what this nature entails, however the forces of Yin is needed. Used through a advanced release.
- The Swift (迅速, Jinsoku) nature, allows the use of Swift Release (迅遁, Jinton) ninjutsu. This nature entails a more advanced variation of the Wind and Lightning nature. Used through a advanced release. This release will also leave the sight of the sharingans eyes, excluding the mangekyou, paired with the eight gates, it'll leave the mangekyou's physical tracking site, excluding the Eternal Mangekyou.
- The Explosion (爆発, Bakuhatsu) nature, allows for the use of Explosion Release(爆遁, Bakuton) ninjutsu. This nature entails a more advanced variation of the Fire, Lightning, and Earth nature. Used through a advanced release.
- The Scorching Heat (灼熱, Shakunetsu) nature, allows for the use of Scorch Release (灼遁,Shakuton) ninjutsu. This nature is a fairly high variation of the fire nature, just below the top ranking of the Amaterasu. Used through a kekkei genkai (Sharingan).
- The Magnetism (磁力, Jiryoku) nature, allows for the use of Magnet Release (磁遁, Jiton) ninjutsu. This nature entails a more advanced use of the Metal and Lightning nature. Used through a advanced release.
- The Black Lightning (黒い稲妻, Kuroi inazuma) nature, allows for the use of Black Lightning Release (黒雷リリース, Kuro kaminari rirīsu) ninjutsu. This nature entails a more advanced use of the Dark and Lightning nature. Used through advanced release.
- The Radiation (放射線, Hōshasen) nature, allows the use of Radiation Release (Hōshasen hōshutsu, 放射線放出) ninjutsu. This nature entials a more advanced use that requires Lightning and the other advanced nature Metal.
- The YinYang (陰陽, In'yō) nature, Aside from the five basic types of nature transformation, there is also a sixth type: the Yin (陰, In), the basis of imagination and spiritual energy, used to perform Yin Release (陰遁, Inton); and the Yang (陽, Yō), the basis of vitality and physical energy, used to perform Yang Release (陽遁, Yōton). Together, they are used to perform Yin–Yang Release (陰陽遁, Onmyōton). The Yin and Yang are the source of non-elemental techniques such as the Doujutsu, Shadow Imitation Technique, Multi-Size Technique, medical ninjutsu, genjutsu, etc. The transformation of the Yin and Yang seemingly has to do with altering the amounts of and balance between spiritual and physical energy in chakra. (The Full Manipulation Of YinYang can only be acquired by the one with the Doujutsu's : Jiku-me OR Eternal Mangekyou.)