Jutsus

Jutsus

In the manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto, a jutsu (術?, lit. "technique" or "skill") refers to the abilities ninja can use. The series occurs in a fictional universe in which different countries fight for power using ninja soldiers. The Naruto storyline follows a group of young ninja from the village of Konohagakure (Hidden leaf village). In this series, ninja use jutsu by manipulating a form of energy known as chakra, a combination of the physical and mental energies into either of the other two main jutsus.

Series creator Masashi Kishimoto developed the concept of jutsu to explain the supernatural feats ninja perform in the series, and also to provide an original image of ninja in manga. The incorporation of jutsu into the series has received both praise and criticism from several anime and manga publications. T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews asserted that jutsu were the primary focus of Naruto and the source of its "highest accolades", but criticized the overly repetitive use of certain jutsu in fight scenes. Anime News Network agreed with this sentiment, calling the fights "repetitive to a fault", but praised the visual presentation of jutsu in both the anime and manga.