Used by the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki,to create the tailed beastsinNaruto, Yin-Yang Release is a type of nature transformation that merges Yin and Yang Release. As these two styles of ninjutsu exist beyond the realm of the five basic elemental natures, Yin-Yang Release is a unique type of transformation that very few in the world ofNarutocan perform, with techniques themselves being so advanced that these individuals have come to be revered as gods.
Chakra is essentially composed of spiritual and physical energy which are combined, molded, and channeled into different jutsu by shinobi. Since Yin Release uses spiritual energy and Yang Release consumes physical energy, the combination of these two exists in all types of jutsu. Hence, virtually all ninjutsu techniques have some sort of root in Yin-Yang Release, although the actual depth of this connection can vary considerably. Nevertheless, Yin-Yang Release is the nature of immensely powerful ninjutsu such as the Sage of Six Paths' Creation of All Things Technique, or theSix Paths — Chibaku Tensei. The latter was used by Hagoromo and Hamura to seal their mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, and later, by Sasuke and Naruto for the same purpose.
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What Is Yin-Yang Release?
While most jutsu are rooted in some sort of elemental release corresponding to either Earth, Air, Fire, Water, or Lightning, there are two other classes — Yin and Yang Release — beyond these that infuse chakra in a more abstract way. Although it is possible to combine some of these classesthrough kekkei genkai or other techniques,for the most part, they are used independently. Since Yin-Yang Release is the ancient progenitor of all chakra natures, its capabilities extend far beyond the confines of traditional ninjutsu.
At its core, Yin-Yang Release is a means tomanipulate chakra in its most fundamental form, without adhering to its relation to any natural element or form of energy. In this vein, Yin-Yang Release channels chakra in any form that it wishes to, and can be used in techniques that elude other forms classification. As such, Yin-Yang Release affords access to techniques such as reality manipulation, advanced healing, or the power to nullify all ninjutsu. It can be applied in techniques that yield both tangible and intangible results, which opens up a host of possibilities.
This can be seen inNaruto Uzumaki’s use of Yin-Yang Releaseafter he gains access to Six Paths Sage Mode, where he was able to restore Kakashi Hatake’s eye, and revive Might Guy as he was on the brink of death after releasing the Eighth Inner Gate against Madara Uchiha, who at the time, was the Ten Tails jinchuriki. There are some prerequisites to using Yin-Yang Release as it is not a class of jutsu that is readily available in every shinobi’s arsenal.
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Who Can Use Yin-Yang Release?
Yin-Yang Release requires an intensive understanding of chakra at its basest level, and users of Yin-Yang Release techniques must be able to mold chakra freely without any constraints. There are fairly well established linkes between Yin-Yang Release, Six Paths Sage Mode, the Ten Tails chakra, and the Otsutsuki clan as evidenced when going through the very limited number of shinobi who can use it. The majority of users have possessed either on or more of these abilities, by gaining access to Six Paths chakra, orbecoming the jinhcuriki of the Ten Tails.
So far,the only known users of Yin-Yang Releaseinclude Hagoromo and Hamura Otsutsuki, Asura Otsutsuki, Kaguya Otsutsuki, Madara and Obito Uchiha — after becoming the Ten Tails jinchuriki — and Naruto Uzumaki, was given access to Six Paths Sage Mode by Hagoromo in the Fourth Shinobi World War. This list features some of the strongest shinobi and beings in history, which is a testament to how much power and chakra control an individual must attain in order to be able to use techniques that fall under the category of Yin-Yang Release.
Yin-Yang Release Techniques
On the topic of techniques that fall under the banner of Yin-Yang Release, the most hallowed among them is the Creation of All Things Technique used by Hagoromo to split the chakra of the Ten Tails into the nine tailed beasts. In this case, Hagoromo used Yin-Yang Release to first divide the chakra of the Ten Tails, and subsequently give it life and form. This technique has gone on to become known as the pinnacle of this form of ninjutsu, which elevated Hagoromo’s stature in the shinobi world to that of a divine being. Izanagi,one of the Mangekyo Sharingan abilitiesused by the Uchiha clan, is derived from this technique, giving users the ability to rewrite reality as they see fit, although it might not necessarily be categorized as Yin-Yang Release.
Next, Truth-Seeking Balls, regarded as the height of all ninjutsu, combine all five basic nature transformations and Yin-Yang Release to create compressed spheres of chakra that can destroy anything they touch and even nullify all ninjutsu. They can even be used to inflict irreversible damage on theregenerative bodies of Edo Tensei shinobirevived by the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation jutsu — something that no other attack is capable of doing. Yin-Yang Release also has incredible healing properties, as seen in how Naruto healed both Guy and Kakashi, but it cannot regenerate all injuries and is limited by user’s chakra reserves.
Finally, the Six Paths — Chibaku Tensei is the ultimate sealing technique derived from Yin-Yang Release,capable of subduing even Kaguya Otsutsuki. When first used by Hagoromo and Hamura, they were able to trap their mother in the newly created moon, seal away her Rinne Sharingan, and extract all of her chakra, rendering her unable to break free or take any action against them. Naruto and Sasuke used this technique to similar effect at the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, sealing Kaguya away once again in her own dimension.
