One of the best things about Naruto is how it combines elements with chakra to produce some of the most complex and visually stunning jutsu. In particular, the Lightning Release is quite easily the flashiest, thrilling fans with a dazzling display of speed, precision and destructive power.
8 Best Lightning Users in Anime, Ranked
Lightning users are fast and destructive. These characters represent some of the best lightning users in anime.
Even the most powerful shinobi in the Naruto, like Sasuke and Kakashi, are masters of lightning release, having been able to perform various types of lightning jutsu throughout the series. However, not all lightning jutsu get the attention they deserve. Some lightning jutsu remains underratedovershadowed by more popular ones like Chidori and Kirin.
Lightning Style: Spider Web
Spider Web jutsu is one of the most unique lightning release applications. First used by the Kumogakure ninja, Motoi, he first kneads the chakra in his body and transforms it into lightning before releasing it into the ground. The technique unleashes a web of electrically charged chakra threads that look like a spider's web, which can shock and ensnare anyone it comes in contact with.
Using spider web jutsu, Motoi managed to temporarily capture Blue B in his version 2 form. The jutsu quickly contained Blue B's movements by stunning him upon impact, though the former jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails was still able to push back with his immense power.
Lightning Style: Coordinated Thunder Bomb
Now this is a fascinating lightning jutsu, as the Coordinated Thunder Bomb requires multiple shinobi to perform. In the anime, this technique was performed by Omoi, Yukai, and the Thundercloud unit against the 2,000 white zetsus that surrounded them from every corner, all while avoiding the poison cloud on the battlefield. Connecting the tips of their weapons, Omoi, Yukai and the Thundercloud unit generated a massive, explosive lightning wave, sending it out across the battlefield to deal with the White Zetsus at once.
The cloud ninja's combined electric discharge instantly immobilized and severely injured White Zetsu as it hit the ground. The charge was almost instantaneous, denying the enemies a chance to react. Most likely, the effectiveness of this type of lightning style still depends on the timing and coordination of the users.
Lightning Style: Four Pillar Bind
To activate the Four Pillar Bind, a shinobi must also be an Earth release user, just like Zo, who performed the lightning jutsu and its more powerful version, the 16 Pillar Bind. The first step is to summon four giant stone pillars with Earth Release around the enemy, effectively limiting their movement.
When successfully activated, the four giant stone pillars instantly emit powerful bolts of lightning that shock and paralyze anyone caught in the formation. As shown in the anime, one of Pain's summons was immobilized the moment it was surrounded by the giant stone pillars.
Lightning Style: Emotional Wave
Just like the Four Pillar Bind technique, the lightning style: emotion wave jutsu is a fusion between two elements. This time it's water and lightning, allowing the user to shoot electrified waves that can paralyze the target or anyone caught in the flow.
Since water is a good conductor of lightning, the technology's destructive potential is greatly enhanced. Darui used Emotion Wave (Wave of Inspiration in some translations) in the series by mixing a large wave of water with lightning, shocking multiple targets at once.
Lightning Style: False Darkness
When Kakuzu fought Kakashi, one of his masks showed lightning skill. The mask, which took the form of a deformed biped, unleashed the jutsu: False Darkness, which allowed it to shoot a deadly spear of lightning from its mouth. The lightning spear looked like a laser beam and could cut through the air with deadly speed and precision.
False Darkness also allows its user to fire multiple lightning spears at once, making it very effective at hitting multiple enemies at once. The release of this flash has high killing potential, as the technique moves with such speed and accuracy that avoidance is nearly impossible.
Lightning Style: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang
Once again, Kakashi surprised fans with an unpredictable lightning jutsu against Pain with Lightning Beast Tracking Fang. Some fans describe it as Kakashi summoning a wolf to fight Pain, with some saying it's even more impressive than Sasuke's Kirin. Although the jutsu was only used once and failed miserably in the fight with Pain, the technique still showed Kakashi's creativity and mastery of lightning release.
Lightning Beast Tracking Fang allows Kakashi to unleash a massive bolt of lightning in the form of a beast that relentlessly and unpredictably attacks enemies on sight. Depending on Kakashi's amount of chakra, the beast can either continue its hunt for an extended period of time or disappear quickly.
Lightning Style: Shadow Clone
The lightning clone jutsu is rarely used in Narutomostly because of the risk that comes with it. Unlike regular shadow clones used by most ninjas in the series, a lightning clone permanently consumes the chakra it shares. Once the lightning claw is destroyed, the chakra does not return to the user, making it a double-edged sword.
Kakashi Hatake rarely used lightning clone jutsu in battle, as his chakra reserves are limited. He used it when fighting Pain in Konoha, but the Asura Orb ended up extinguishing it, resulting in the Asura Orb taking considerable damage from the lightning claw technique. After all, when a Lightning Claw is destroyed, it shocks everyone nearby.
Naruto
- Release date
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2002 – 2007-00-00
- Showrunner
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Directors
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Hayato Date
- Author
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Masashi Kishimoto
