Exactly what it sounds like. I've been rereading sections of the manga, and I've found some really interesting things. Some of which shed light on some of the questions and debates we've had in the past, and some of which seem to have gone totally forgotten.
So, this is what I ran across today.
Naruto's Breakthrough: The Rasengan
Fanon has popularized the idea that ramen has a connection with . This is mostly because a number of fics ran with the idea that Naruto either came up with the Rasengan on his own (obvious AU, ramen typically is what inspired him), or the idea that he realized what he had to do when training with Jiraiya while staring at a bowl of ramen he was eating (spin the chakra, like the noodles swirl in the bowl).
Well, Naruto's breakthrough did come from liquid swirling in a bowl, but it wasn't ramen. His breakthrough actually came about from watching a toilet flush.
Also of interest is that Naruto says Jiraiya told him there's "No need to bind the seal." In the context of their prior discussion, he seems to be referring to the fact that Jiraiya told him there was no need for handseals. However, I find his wording of it rather odd. I've checked several translations, and it's the same general wording. My guess is that the term 'bind' is interchangeable with the term 'mold.'
Ninja Ranks: Canon Subgrades
Fanon and fan fiction has popularized the notion that there are degrees of difficulty and danger beyond those generally referred to in Naruto canon. Things such as SS-Rank, SSS-Rank, and other such nonsense. And for the most part, it is just that; nonsense.
However, there does appear to be a second, rarely talked about ranking system that overlaps the traditional one (E-Rank D-Rank C-Rank B-Rank A-Rank S-Rank).
Jiraiya's wording here is ambiguous, and can be read a few different ways. However, no matter which way you read him, it provides some very interesting information.
A.) The standard letter ranks are divided up into a subcategory, referred to as grades. That is to say, someone could be B-Rank Grade 3, or A-Rank Grade 1. This particular system is never really mentioned anywhere else, though in all fairness, there hasn't ever been much call to talk about it, either.
B.) If there is no sub-grading system, and Jiraiya is referring to the letter grades themselves (A, C, D, ect), then this is confirmation that not only are there ranks above S-Rank, but that there are five ranks higher than S-Rank.
If Minato really was "six grades higher" than A-Rank, then that means the system looks like this:
E-Rank
D-Rank
C-Rank
B-Rank
A-Rank
S-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank <- Minato
The first is an interesting insight into the details of the ranking system, and strongly implies that Minato was an S-Rank ninja (and was intending the Rasengan to ultimately become an S-Rank technique). The second interpretation. . . SWEET NINJA JESUS ON A POGO STICK.
I'm personally inclined to go with the first one, if only because we have yet to meed a ninja formally introduced as Double Dutch Cross Your Heart XXX S<sup>7</sup>-Rank. Though that being said, if there really is a third part to the Naruto manga after Shippuden, we may very well meet someone who is. . . (and be assured that if we do, not only will people be bitching that it's an asspull, but that I'll be pointing at this and shouting NO IT WASN'T).
Also, as an aside, this is a slap in the face to the people who whined that the Rasengan being incomplete was an asspull. No it wasn't. Jiraiya told us it was incomplete as far back as the chapter after it was introduced. He says right there that it was the "technique the Fourth abandoned/left behind."
And before you ask, yes, I read the kanji. Painstakingly. It can be read as either abandoned or left behind. I'm assuming the translators went with left behind, because at the time, it made more sense.
Chakra Rotations: Everyone's is Different
Or: HOLY SNAP MY MECHANIC THEORY WAS RIGHT, KINDA SORTA
When Naruto was trying to burst the water balloon by spinning his chakra, he couldn't manage it, because he was only spinning it in one direction. That is mostly common knowledge.
But apparently, there's a second step here involved that pretty much everyone seems to have forgotten. Just. . just read:
:huh: was my first reaction. Then I read it again a few times, and noticed that Jiraiya tells us a lot of interesting little details about chakra that seem to have been almost universally forgotten.
1.) Chakra naturally rotates when you combined mental and physical energy together. And this natural rotation can be easily determined by looking at someone's hair, of all things.
2.) My allegedly unsupported theory that everyone's chakra is different is partially substantiated by this to a degree. It doesn't prove that everyone's chakra is unique, but it does prove that there are two main kinds of chakra users: people who's chakra naturally spins left, and people who's chakra naturally spins right.
This is JUST A HYPOTHESIS, but I find it someone plausible that some Kekkei Genkai, particularly the ones that involve using chakra in unusual ways:
May involve a line of ninja who specifically bred themselves to have chakra that naturally moves in unique and complex pattern when channeled. This may potentially account for why it's commonly believed that only people with Kekkei Genkai can use combination elements.
It would also explain why people who can combine two specific elements couldn't combine more (that's a different pattern), and it would mean that it is not strictly something that only an individual with a Kekkei Genkai can do. However, if you were to try and duplicate it, you would
A.) Have to know EXACTLY what you're doing.
B.) Have mastered the ability to control the movements of your own chakra to perfection.
C.) Have the affinities in question.
So it could be done, but it would be a beyond-Herculean task to do so, and would require incredibly detailed, intimate knowledge of a secret that you would probably be murdered for if it got out that you knew it.
Or in laymen's terms, yes, it's impossible. Don't waste your time trying. Unless you're a Shonen Protagonist, and can accomplish the impossible with burning blood.
3.) Having your chakra move and flow in certain ways can and does have a physical effect on how your body develops. This may not seem like a big deal by itself, but when you take a look at some people:
It becomes an elephant-in-the-room kind of question. "You look different." "Clans specialize in inborn traits and using chakra differently." "Chakra flow can affect your appearance."
thus
"Do you look different because your clan's chakra flows differently from everybody else's?"
and also:
"Is that why you have those marks on your face?"
Changing How Your Chakra Moves Changes It's Fundamental Properties
No, really. Read Naruto's dialogue:
Rotating your chakra to the left creates different chakra than rotating it to the right.
Also, just in case any of you noticed, the Rasengan can be formed with seals. This is huge news, because Jiraiya all but states "If you're good enough, you don't need the handseals, and it's better for you to learn how to do it sealless anyway." This is HUGE, because it's a canon confirmation that you can, in fact, learn how to do jutsu seal-less.
This is all but canon validation for my handseal and jutsu theory, and directly implies that if someone knew the string of seals needed to mold the chakra, anyone could create a Rasengan, and likely skip most of the training Naruto went through in the process. Granted, like Jiraiya said, it would require a long, complicated string to get the chakra to work the way it needs to, and it's better to learn how to do it manually, but still. That's huge news.
Also, for those of you doubting the idea that rotating and channeling chakra into different patterns causes the chakra itself to take on different properties, I'd like to point you to the dialogue in these panels:
Which supports the idea. ("You must combine your Water Walking chakra with your Wall Walking chakra to get the principle chakra you need.")
I'd also like to remind you that:
A.) The very definition of a handseal is something a ninja uses to shape and mold their chakra for them, and they work by channeling chakra into the hands while making different hand poses. This directly implies that changing the shape of chakra changes it's properties.
B.) If this wasn't true, then Fuuinjutsu would do jack-shit, because it's all about channeling chakra into complex runic patterns inscribed into a surface.
So yeah. Some weird stuff, some interesting stuff, and some stuff we really shouldn't have forgotten about in hindsight.
Thoughts?
So, this is what I ran across today.
Naruto's Breakthrough: The Rasengan
Fanon has popularized the idea that ramen has a connection with . This is mostly because a number of fics ran with the idea that Naruto either came up with the Rasengan on his own (obvious AU, ramen typically is what inspired him), or the idea that he realized what he had to do when training with Jiraiya while staring at a bowl of ramen he was eating (spin the chakra, like the noodles swirl in the bowl).
Well, Naruto's breakthrough did come from liquid swirling in a bowl, but it wasn't ramen. His breakthrough actually came about from watching a toilet flush.
Also of interest is that Naruto says Jiraiya told him there's "No need to bind the seal." In the context of their prior discussion, he seems to be referring to the fact that Jiraiya told him there was no need for handseals. However, I find his wording of it rather odd. I've checked several translations, and it's the same general wording. My guess is that the term 'bind' is interchangeable with the term 'mold.'
Ninja Ranks: Canon Subgrades
Fanon and fan fiction has popularized the notion that there are degrees of difficulty and danger beyond those generally referred to in Naruto canon. Things such as SS-Rank, SSS-Rank, and other such nonsense. And for the most part, it is just that; nonsense.
However, there does appear to be a second, rarely talked about ranking system that overlaps the traditional one (E-Rank D-Rank C-Rank B-Rank A-Rank S-Rank).
Jiraiya's wording here is ambiguous, and can be read a few different ways. However, no matter which way you read him, it provides some very interesting information.
A.) The standard letter ranks are divided up into a subcategory, referred to as grades. That is to say, someone could be B-Rank Grade 3, or A-Rank Grade 1. This particular system is never really mentioned anywhere else, though in all fairness, there hasn't ever been much call to talk about it, either.
B.) If there is no sub-grading system, and Jiraiya is referring to the letter grades themselves (A, C, D, ect), then this is confirmation that not only are there ranks above S-Rank, but that there are five ranks higher than S-Rank.
If Minato really was "six grades higher" than A-Rank, then that means the system looks like this:
E-Rank
D-Rank
C-Rank
B-Rank
A-Rank
S-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank
??-Rank <- Minato
The first is an interesting insight into the details of the ranking system, and strongly implies that Minato was an S-Rank ninja (and was intending the Rasengan to ultimately become an S-Rank technique). The second interpretation. . . SWEET NINJA JESUS ON A POGO STICK.
I'm personally inclined to go with the first one, if only because we have yet to meed a ninja formally introduced as Double Dutch Cross Your Heart XXX S<sup>7</sup>-Rank. Though that being said, if there really is a third part to the Naruto manga after Shippuden, we may very well meet someone who is. . . (and be assured that if we do, not only will people be bitching that it's an asspull, but that I'll be pointing at this and shouting NO IT WASN'T).
Also, as an aside, this is a slap in the face to the people who whined that the Rasengan being incomplete was an asspull. No it wasn't. Jiraiya told us it was incomplete as far back as the chapter after it was introduced. He says right there that it was the "technique the Fourth abandoned/left behind."
And before you ask, yes, I read the kanji. Painstakingly. It can be read as either abandoned or left behind. I'm assuming the translators went with left behind, because at the time, it made more sense.
Chakra Rotations: Everyone's is Different
Or: HOLY SNAP MY MECHANIC THEORY WAS RIGHT, KINDA SORTA
When Naruto was trying to burst the water balloon by spinning his chakra, he couldn't manage it, because he was only spinning it in one direction. That is mostly common knowledge.
But apparently, there's a second step here involved that pretty much everyone seems to have forgotten. Just. . just read:
:huh: was my first reaction. Then I read it again a few times, and noticed that Jiraiya tells us a lot of interesting little details about chakra that seem to have been almost universally forgotten.
1.) Chakra naturally rotates when you combined mental and physical energy together. And this natural rotation can be easily determined by looking at someone's hair, of all things.
2.) My allegedly unsupported theory that everyone's chakra is different is partially substantiated by this to a degree. It doesn't prove that everyone's chakra is unique, but it does prove that there are two main kinds of chakra users: people who's chakra naturally spins left, and people who's chakra naturally spins right.
This is JUST A HYPOTHESIS, but I find it someone plausible that some Kekkei Genkai, particularly the ones that involve using chakra in unusual ways:
May involve a line of ninja who specifically bred themselves to have chakra that naturally moves in unique and complex pattern when channeled. This may potentially account for why it's commonly believed that only people with Kekkei Genkai can use combination elements.
It would also explain why people who can combine two specific elements couldn't combine more (that's a different pattern), and it would mean that it is not strictly something that only an individual with a Kekkei Genkai can do. However, if you were to try and duplicate it, you would
A.) Have to know EXACTLY what you're doing.
B.) Have mastered the ability to control the movements of your own chakra to perfection.
C.) Have the affinities in question.
So it could be done, but it would be a beyond-Herculean task to do so, and would require incredibly detailed, intimate knowledge of a secret that you would probably be murdered for if it got out that you knew it.
Or in laymen's terms, yes, it's impossible. Don't waste your time trying. Unless you're a Shonen Protagonist, and can accomplish the impossible with burning blood.
3.) Having your chakra move and flow in certain ways can and does have a physical effect on how your body develops. This may not seem like a big deal by itself, but when you take a look at some people:
It becomes an elephant-in-the-room kind of question. "You look different." "Clans specialize in inborn traits and using chakra differently." "Chakra flow can affect your appearance."
thus
"Do you look different because your clan's chakra flows differently from everybody else's?"
and also:
"Is that why you have those marks on your face?"
Changing How Your Chakra Moves Changes It's Fundamental Properties
No, really. Read Naruto's dialogue:
Rotating your chakra to the left creates different chakra than rotating it to the right.
Also, just in case any of you noticed, the Rasengan can be formed with seals. This is huge news, because Jiraiya all but states "If you're good enough, you don't need the handseals, and it's better for you to learn how to do it sealless anyway." This is HUGE, because it's a canon confirmation that you can, in fact, learn how to do jutsu seal-less.
This is all but canon validation for my handseal and jutsu theory, and directly implies that if someone knew the string of seals needed to mold the chakra, anyone could create a Rasengan, and likely skip most of the training Naruto went through in the process. Granted, like Jiraiya said, it would require a long, complicated string to get the chakra to work the way it needs to, and it's better to learn how to do it manually, but still. That's huge news.
Also, for those of you doubting the idea that rotating and channeling chakra into different patterns causes the chakra itself to take on different properties, I'd like to point you to the dialogue in these panels:
Which supports the idea. ("You must combine your Water Walking chakra with your Wall Walking chakra to get the principle chakra you need.")
I'd also like to remind you that:
A.) The very definition of a handseal is something a ninja uses to shape and mold their chakra for them, and they work by channeling chakra into the hands while making different hand poses. This directly implies that changing the shape of chakra changes it's properties.
B.) If this wasn't true, then Fuuinjutsu would do jack-shit, because it's all about channeling chakra into complex runic patterns inscribed into a surface.
So yeah. Some weird stuff, some interesting stuff, and some stuff we really shouldn't have forgotten about in hindsight.
Thoughts?
( sorry for the low quality)