How powerful is Sasuke's Kirin in Naruto? The ability, explored

Modified Aug 18, 2024 04:30 GMT

Sasuke Uchiha is one of the most important characters in the Naruto series, and he transformed from a talented prodigy to becoming one of the strongest ninjas in the world. He had been in constant search of power all his life and ultimately learned many jutsu.

One of his many powerful techniques, Kirin stands out for its sheer potential. Not used as much as some of the other techniques or jutsu that he has used, Kirin proves the genius of Sasuke in harnessing natural forces for combat.

This strike of lightning-based jutsu made its mark in Naruto, begging questions regarding its actual power and how it works.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Boruto series. Opinions expressed belong to the author. Individual opinions may vary.

How strong is Sasuke's Kirin in Naruto, explained

Sasuke Uchiha as seen in anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Kirin no jutsu is one of the most eye-catching and destructive techniques in Naruto, portrayed by Sasuke Uchiha of the Uchiha clan. Kirin draws upon natural energy through the use of a thunderstorm, thereby letting Sasuke manipulate and guide a huge bolt of lightning down to the ground with precision.

What differentiates Kirin from other lightning techniques is a speed bordered close to instant and power overwhelming, hence making it nearly impossible to evade or counter.

Sasuke used Kirin for the first time during his battle with his brother, Itachi Uchiha. With his created thunderstorm, he poured the whole power of the technique directly on his brother, blowing apart the space and creating a big crater. He used Kirin once more during the final battle against Naruto at the Valley of the End, but it was countered.

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The real power of Kirin does not come from just the overall potential for destruction, but also the fact that it draws off natural lightning, generally much more powerful than any chakra-based lightning technique.

It is one of Sasuke's most powerful jutsu because of the speed and magnitude of the technique's impact, being able to turn the tides of battle instantly.

What are the limitations of Sasuke's Kirin in Naruto

While extremely powerful, Sasuke's Kirin comes with several limitations, making it quite restrictive for use. The most important is that it requires natural lightning, which needs specific weather conditions.

He first has to create a thunderstorm or wait for one so that enough natural lightning builds up, making Kirin situational and hard to use in most battles, and the time needed to set up the conditions leaves Sasuke open to attack.

Along with this, Kirin is a one-time attack— the natural lightning source exhausts with just one strike. Thus, it cannot be repetitively used in a battle, and if it misses or is countered, the opportunity is lost.

Final thoughts

From all the techniques in Naruto, Sasuke's Kirin remains unique and phenomenal, pointing out the might of using natural forces against others. Having been used a few times, its effects are truly devastating, and it's pretty close to instantaneous as well.

However, since the technique can only be executed under certain environmental conditions and is single-use by nature, it is impractical for most battles.

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Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay