Naruto stands as one of the greatest shonen titles of the modern era, and it's easy to see why, from this series' wonderful worldbuilding to its timeless themes and its resonant and sympathetic characters. It also features one of shonen's best combat systems, based mainly on ninjutsu, or ninja techniques.
Over time, the Naruto world expanded greatly upon the concept of jutsu, which goes far beyond shadow clones and transformation. The series features bloodline trait abilities, or kekkei genkai, as well as jutsu known as "hiden." These hiden jutsu are almost like kekkei genkai, but not quite -- they can be taught, not just inherited, and that makes all the difference.
The Essentials Of Hiden Jutsu In Naruto
In the world of Naruto, most jutsu techniques can be taught to someone, while others are merely awakened, such as the Byakugan Eye and certainly the Sharingan and Rinnegan, among other kekkei genkai. Other techniques can be taught to anyone, such as the substitution jutsu or the clone jutsu, and hiden jutsu fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. Hiden jutsu can be taught to nearly anyone in theory, but shinobi clan politics prevent that. No shinobi family can afford to give away its secrets so easily, even during peaceful times in the Hidden Leaf Village, let alone in Madara's and Hashirama's blood-soaked era.
A hiden jutsu is more specialized than the likes of clone or substitution jutsu, and these techniques often involve bodily mutations or unusual chakra releases to function. Many hiden jutsu are performed with yin or yang chakra releases rather than one of the five elements, and that alone makes them unusual and difficult to learn. Most importantly, hiden jutsu techniques are closely-guarded secrets by the shinobi families who use them, and these clans rarely, if ever, have occasion to teach such techniques to outsiders. Keeping them a secret is how those ninja families keep their competitive edge.
Hiden jutsu don't rely entirely on bloodline traits, although some hiden techniques are easier to learn and use if a shinobi's parents also use that jutsu, especially where bodily modifications or mutations are concerned. Then, a child in the ninja clan will be taught the family's hiden technique during their upbringing, and they may practice it almost to the exclusion of other, more universal jutsu. Ninjas often take great pride in their hiden techniques, and it's conceivable that a hiden-using ninja would destroy their own body or at least take their own lives rather than be captured and allow their hiden jutsu to fall into enemy hands. Alternatively, hunter-nin might rescue or destroy a captured ally whose hiden jutsu is in danger of being studied by the enemy.
Hostile ninjas can't easily copy or steal these hiden jutsu, but they could analyze their captive and figure out how to counteract it, which could spell trouble later on. Notably, hiden jutsu cannot be copied with the Sharingan or imitated through ordinary observation, which helps keep these techniques exclusive to the clans who practice them.
The Best Hiden Jutsu In Naruto
Many heroes of the Hidden Leaf Village either have a kekkei genkai, such as Hyuga Neji's Byakugan, or wield a hiden technique, which includes several notable members of the Konoha 11 squad. A few other jutsu are not true hiden, such as the fireball technique, but the fireball jutsu is primarily associated with the famed Uchiha clan, and few non-Uchiha ever use it. Thus, it's a partial hiden, while other jutsu are true hiden.
Aburame Shino of Team 8 wields a hiden technique based on chakra beetles, and he was actually born with a symbiotic relationship with these tiny insects. The beetles remain inside his body and feed off his chakra, and in exchange, they follow his commands during battle and will devour the enemy's chakra for him. No ninja outside the secretive Aburame clan will be seen using the beetle technique, even if they observe it with the Sharingan. Another noted user of this jutsu is Torune, a member of both the Aburame clan and the Root/Foundation organization led by Danzo. His beetles were almost like bacteria, as Obito noted during their fight.
Nara Shikamaru and his father use the famed shadow possession jutsu -- a hiden based on capturing and immobilizing their target with manipulated shadows, which makes it an excellent support jutsu for any team. Meanwhile, Shikamaru's teammates Akimichi Choji and Yamanaka Ino both use hiden jutsu as well -- the expansion jutsu and mind transfer jutsu respectively. Choji's hiden is taijutsu-based and grants him immense strength, durability and a giant body, while Ino and her father Inoichi can take control of a target with a genjutsu and even extract intel from them. Only a Yamanaka could ever do that.
