Overview
- Seal the souls of reanimated ninja to neutralize them.
- Engage with these souls to provide them closure from their past lives.
- Utilize genjutsu to manipulate the user into terminating the Edo Tensei.
Table of Contents
The jutsu known as Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, or Edo Tensei, is a remarkable and perilous technique within the Naruto universe. Developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and later refined by Orochimaru and Kabuto, this technique allows its practitioner to temporarily resurrect and command deceased individuals.
During the 4th Great Ninja War, Kabuto employs Edo Tensei to summon formidable ninjas, augmenting his forces with their immense power. This jutsu stands out not only for its effectiveness but also for its sustainability, remaining active until the caster decides to cease its use. Killing the user does not counteract this jutsu, leaving many to ponder how it can be halted effectively. Fortunately, several methods exist to counteract Edo Tensei.
Removing the Soul from the Body
Seal the Soul, Stop the Zombie
The fundamental approach to combat the undead ninjas posed by the 4th Great Ninja War is to seal their souls. Essentially, Edo Tensei is a technique that binds a deceased individual’s soul to a living body. Therefore, sealing their soul results in the immediate deactivation of the reanimated body.
This tactic was effectively utilized by the Third Hokage during Orochimaru’s assault on Konoha when he summoned the three previous Kages to fight alongside him. The Third Hokage executed the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, an ancient sealing technique from the Uzumaki clan, sealing away the previous Hokages’ souls at the cost of his own life. Similarly, Itachi Uchiha employs his Blade of Totsuka to seal Nagato’s soul, showcasing the effectiveness of sealing techniques against Edo Tensei.
Recognizing the urgency of countering Kabuto’s undead army, the Ninja Alliance formed a dedicated Sealing Squad, ensuring that each frontline team had access to skilled sealers. However, successfully pinning down these top-tier zombie ninjas can prove challenging. Nonetheless, with determination, sealing them proves achievable, affirming the Sealing Squad’s indispensable role in the 4th Great Ninja War.
“It’s the Totsuka Blade. You’ll be sealed away soon. Any last words?”—Itachi Uchiha, Chapter 551
Providing Closure to the Soul
Allowing the Soul to Pass to the Afterlife
In addition to sealing, another profound approach to counter Edo Tensei is to engage with the reanimated ninja for emotional closure. Although the ninjas are compelled to act without free will, they possess the ability to think and communicate, retaining their memories and personalities unless their minds are intentionally suppressed by Kabuto.
Many of these returning warriors grapple with guilt and regret, binding them to the realm of the living. By providing them with closure through conversation, their souls can release these burdens, enabling them to peacefully transition to the afterlife.
An exemplar of this is Sasori’s interaction with Kankurou. Through heartfelt dialogue, Sasori recognizes that true immortality resides in the legacy he leaves behind through his puppets. Kankurou’s assurances grant Sasori the closure he needs, ultimately severing Kabuto’s control over him and freeing him to pass on.
“Your art, the puppets you’ve created, will live on forever. As long as there are future generations of puppet masters to inherit the soul that lives within them!”—Kankurou, Chapter 519
Using Genjutsu to Force the User to Release Edo Tensei
Control the User to Control the Jutsu
The only individual with the authority to dissolve the Edo Tensei is its user. Should the user perish without deactivating it, the jutsu will persist indefinitely. Recognizing this dilemma encourages strategizing to control Kabuto through genjutsu, compelling him to end the jutsu.
Itachi Uchiha aims to implement this strategy during a confrontation with Kabuto. However, Kabuto’s Sage Mode grants him heightened agility, rendering Itachi’s Sharingan ineffective—or so Kabuto believes.
During their battle, Itachi employs a forbidden Uchiha jutsu—Izanami. This technique traps Kabuto’s consciousness in a loop, leaving his body immobile. With Kabuto incapacitated, Itachi capitalizes on this opportunity, commanding him to release the Edo Tensei, liberating the battlefield from the clutches of reanimated ninjas.
“I’m going to keep him trapped so it’s easier for me to cast my usual genjutsu on him. I shall now stop the Edo Tensei Jutsu.”—Itachi Uchiha, Chapter 587
Using Genjutsu to Overwrite User’s Commands
Taking Control from the User
While Kabuto maintains control over the movements of the reanimated ninjas, they retain their capacity to think and communicate. This is managed through talismans he implants, which dictate their behavior to protect his interests. Thus, should someone succeed in overwriting these commands, the undead ninjas can regain their autonomy.
Itachi effectively accomplishes this by using Shisui Uchiha’s legendary Mangekyou Sharingan to overwrite Kabuto’s commands with a new directive, compelling him to prioritize the protection of Konoha. This strategic use of genjutsu ultimately liberates Itachi from Kabuto’s grasp, demonstrating the potential of high-level abilities in such conditions.
“Easy, I’m no longer being controlled. I used a new genjutsu against the enemy jutsu. The Edo Tensei is undone.”—Itachi Uchiha, Chapter 550
The Reanimated Corpse Revoking the Contract
Only Works if You are Uchiha Madara
Finally, one of the most extraordinary methods to counteract Edo Tensei involves the reanimated entities themselves revoking Kabuto’s influence. Uchiha Madara is the only figure known to successfully execute this feat, showcasing unparalleled mastery over the jutsu.
Madara asserts that if one is knowledgeable about the hand seals and technique behind Edo Tensei, they can dissolve the contract binding them. This ability allows Madara’s spirit to persist in the physical world even after Kabuto dismisses the Edo Tensei. The complexity of this method suggests a deeper understanding of the jutsu that even its original creator, Tobirama Senju, might not possess.
“So long as one knows the signs to weave, a reanimated dead person can actually rescind the Edo Tensei summoning contract from their end.”—Madara Uchiha, Chapter 591
Itachi famously noted that every jutsu has its inherent weaknesses, no matter how formidable. By carefully scrutinizing techniques like Edo Tensei, one can identify exploitable vulnerabilities. The methods outlined, while reserved for select individuals or circumstances, underscore that multiple strategies exist to counteract this ostensibly unbeatable jutsu.
For fans eager to explore more of the Naruto saga, the series is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
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