Naruto: How The Rasengan And Chidori Are Linked To Each Other, Explained

This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.

Summary

The Rasengan was created by Minato Namikaze to protect Kushina.
The Chidori was a failed attempt to advance the Rasengan.
Kakashi evolved the Chidori into the stronger Raikiri by splitting a lightning bolt.

In the world of Naruto, there are two techniques that instantly come to mind when discussing iconic moves. These are the Rasengan and the Chidori. It’s no secret that these jutsu, beyond being incredibly powerful, hold a unique significance for both the author and fans. This is because they serve as the signature abilities of Naruto and Sasuke respectively.

Just like Naruto mastered the Rasengan under Jiraiya’s guidance, it’s common knowledge that Sasuke learned the Chidori from Kakashi. What many don’t realize is that these two powerful jutsu share a connection. In truth, the Chidori originates from the Rasengan, a relationship revealed by Masashi Kishimoto in the Naruto narrative.

How The Rasengan Was Created By Minato Namikaze

The Rasengan Was Created To Protect Kushina
Minato Observed A Tailed Beast Ball

During the Third Shinobi World War, Minato Namikaze studied a Tailed Beast Ball’s technique and developed his own jutsu based on it. This skill, which he honed over years of training with Jiraiya, eventually became known as the Rasengan. Originally, Minato created this jutsu to equip Kushina Uzumaki for self-defense in case the war escalated into Jinchuriki combat and she was deployed to the battlefield. Given his knowledge of other Jinchuriki’s fighting styles, Minato understood the need to protect Kushina. After its creation, it was Kushina who gave it the name Rasengan.

The technique I’m about to show you is something that was passed down from the Fourth Hokage. It’s a unique skill.” — Jiraiya to Naruto.

Regardless of whether Kushina mastered the Rasengan or not, what we do know for certain is that Jiraiya learned it from Minato, who later passed it down to his own son, Naruto. The Rasengan thus became a familial legacy, handed down to Naruto as a means of self-protection. This is why the technique holds such significance and value.

How The Chidori Was Created

The Chidori Is A Failed Attempt At Advancing The Rasengan

In contrast to the Rasengan, which forms a potent spherical Jutsu with intense compression and rapid spin, the Chidori functions as a swift-moving piercing method for attacking enemies. The inventor of this technique is none other than the brilliant Kakashi Hatake in the Naruto universe.

I guess it’s time to pass the torch. He has surpassed me. — Kakashi on Naruto Uzumaki

Kakashi is often recognized for inventing the Chidori, but fewer people realize it was modeled after the Rasengan. Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, originally taught Kakashi the Rasengan. However, Minato himself was striving to perfect the Rasengan, though his time was limited. Those close to him who knew the technique, including Kakashi, were also working on completing the Jutsu.

Over time, Kakashi Hatake attempted to blend nature energy into his Rasengan technique, leading unintentionally to the formation of the Chidori. Essentially, the Chidori came about as an inadvertent outcome during Kakashi’s efforts to refine the Lighting Release: Rasengan.

The Chidori Evolved Into Raikiri

Kakashi Split A Lightning Bolt With It

In time, Kakashi Hatake refined the Chidori ability and developed a Jutsu called Raikiri. Although they share similarities, the Raikiri is considered a stronger variation, earning an S-Rank as opposed to Chidori’s A-Rank. The specifics of how Kakashi enhanced the technique remain unknown, but it is believed that he perfected it to such a degree that he was able to cleave a lightning bolt, which gave it the name Raikiri, or Lightning Cutter.

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2025-04-13 01:54