Summary
Of the three categories of jutsu practiced by ninja inNaruto, genjutsu is an art that relatively few in the shinobi world have delved into, and even fewer have truly mastered. Although there have been several specialist genjutsu users in the series, their full strength and range of abilities was not always explored, save for a select set of individuals from the series' core cast. That being said, some of thestrongest shinobi in history have excelledat genjutsu, indicating its usefulness in most combat scenarios.
Debates on the best users of certain abilities are ubiquitous within the series’fandom, and genjutsu is no exception to this rule. While genjutsu users have received their fair share of the spotlight, evaluating their proficiency with these techniques is no easy feat, considering the limited information that can be used, since many of them did not engage in direct combat with one another. Hence, determining the best genjutsu user inNarutois an endeavor that can only be approached with a strict set of parameters, obtained by breakingdown the underlying limitations of such techniques, along with their applicability in different contexts.
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What Is Genjutsu?
Diverging from thephysical effects rendered by ninjutsuand taijutsu, genjutsu encompasses the domain of illusory techniques used to trap and confound victims, incapacitating them in a trance like state. This state is induced by altering the flow of chakra inside a victim’s brain and nervous system, which tricks their senses into falling for the illusion and making them lose their grip on reality for as long as the technique is active. Victims of a genjutsu may either lie unconscious or move about normally under the influence of the illusion.
Genjutsu targets the forebrain of a victim, and most if not all shinobi — save for jinchuriki — are susceptible to its deception to varying degrees. The depth of the illusion can range from small alterations in perception to full-blown hallucinations, where the victim is transported to another realm. Naturally, the latter class of techniques can only be performed by a select few, due to their innate complexity and the amount of chakra consumed by their activation. Certain techniques such as the Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash of Lightning Pillar alsocombine genjutsu with nature transformationsto great effect.
Since genjutsu involves the subtle manipulation of a target’s chakra, the caster must possess a high level of refinement in their own chakra control. This is one of the reasons whymany shinobi favor traditional ninjutsuand taijutsu techniques, alongside the lack of tangible real world effects. Additionally, the illusion itself must be convincing enough to deceive the target and neutralize them.
In spite of this, there are quite a few powerful shinobi who specialize in genjutsu from each of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. TheUchiha clan were famed for the genjutsutechniques that could be performed by their Sharingan and Mangekyo Sharingan. Moreover, certain shinobi such as Gengetsu Hozuki rose to the rank of Kage while relying on genjutsu as their primary approach in combat.
Narrowing The Competition
To evaluate those in contention forthe title of the best genjutsu userinNaruto, the parameters used must be able to narrow down how well each contender can use and control all the genjutsu techniques they have knowledge of. Hence, this investigation will evaluate shinobi based on the range of genjutsu techniques in their arsenal, the relative strengths of said techniques, the efficiency with which an individual can cast illusions, as well as how effective they are at deploying, controlling, and maintaining them in a given combat situation.
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Such a study will also delve into the realm of chakra control and chakra reserves, as they are also important to a genjutsu specialist. It might not come as a surprise that there are quite a few members of the Uchiha clan who are among the front-runners, due to the Sharingan’s ability to cast low to moderately powerful genjutsu in a quick and effective manner. The names of Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, and Obito Uchiha are natural favorites in this race. EvenKakashi Hatake was able to use the Sharingan’s genjutsuquite effectively to deceive his opponents, which was seen as early as his fight against Zabuza Momochi.
Besides this, a case must also be made for the likes of Kaguya Otsutsuki, who was the first caster of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the most powerful of all genjutsu.Additionally, Hashirama Senju, Gengetsu Hozuki, Kabuto Yakushi, Fukasaku and Shima, Tayuya of the Sound Four, C of Kumogakure, and Kurenai Yuhi also deserve mention for their proficiency with genjutsu. Broadly, this covers the list of some of the strongest genjutsu users in the series, based on the aforementioned parameters.
Discerning The True Master Of Illusions
To begin with, the shinobi with some of the strongest genjutsu techniques at their disposal include Itachi Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Kaguya Otsutsuki, Madaraand Obito Uchiha in their Ten Tails' jinchurikiforms, followed by Hashirama Senju, Gengetsu Hozuki, Kabuto Yakushi, as well as Shima and Fukasaku. Certain individuals within this group utilize either one or a select few genjutsu techniques, as they generally specialize in other shinobi skills.
As a result, some of them, including Kabuto Yakushi, Hashirama Senju, Kakashi Hatake, along with Shima and Fukasaku, can be eliminated quite early on due to the fact that genjutsu is not their primary area of focus. Instead, they acquired a powerful technique either through kekkei genkai or other means. On the other hand, despite how strong they are as genjutsu specialists when compared to the majority of shinobi, Kurenai Yuhi, C, and Tayuya might not really make the cut since they wouldstruggle against shinobi of Kage level or higher.
This leaves Gengetsu Hozuki, Itachi, Sasuke, Madara, Obito, Shisui, and Kaguya. Without a doubt, Gengetsu’s technique, the Demonic Illusion: Steaming Multistoried Building is a formidable prospect for opponents of most skill levels, and only those capable of leveling entire battlefields to destroy his Giant Clam can really overcome the all encompassing power of his illusions. The sole reason he might lose out to the Uchiha and Kaguya is due to the muchmore efficient genjutsu casting capability of the Sharingan.
Whencomparing the Uchiha and Kaguya, the main point of evaluation is in the diversity of the techniques they possess, as well as the efficiency and degree of control they have over them. Sasuke could be eliminated at this juncture since his specialty is not genjutsu, although he is extremely proficient at it, being able to ensare even the tailed beasts in an illusion with his Rinnegan. Furthermore, since Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami — due to its immense power — can only be used sparingly as a consequence of the time needed to recharge it, which means that he can also be discounted, as genjutsu is not his main focus in combat either.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi is undoubtedly the most powerful genjutsu in existence, which gives Kaguyaalong with Madara and Obitoin their Ten-Tails' jinchuriki forms a slight edge over Itachi. However, they lose out due to the degree of preparation involved in casting the jutsu, as well as its applicability in conflicts at various scales. Hence, there is only one clear winner, although it was seldom ever in doubt.
Possessing a wide array of genjutsu techniques that he can cast at a moment’s notice, even without the need for eye contact, Itachi Uchiha is easily the most versatile and efficient practitioner of genjutsu in the world of shinobi. With Tsukuyomi,his Mangekyo Sharingan ability, Itachi could trap opponents in an illusion where he freely manipulates time to enact days of torture in less than an instant, rendering nearly all of his victims unable to recover from the trauma of the ordeal.
A genjutsu specialist par excellence,Itachi lived and breathed this approach to combat, and would often cast a genjutsu on anyone he met to gauge their motives while remaining at a safe distance. This measure aligned with his pacifistic outlook and would often confound and intimidate his victims into a state of paranoia. Paired with his intelligence and incredibly refined chakra control, these attributes single out Itachi as the undisputed best genjutsu user inNaruto.
