When Hagoromo Otsutsuki taught humans how to mold chakra, centuries prior to the start of Naruto's main storyline, he intended for it to serve as a means of communication that transcended the constraints of traditional language. Ninshu, as he called it, was an art that would allow people to learn more about themselves and others, solely through the medium of chakra.

However, as most fans of Naruto must already know, Hagromo's dream would not be realized as he intended, and Ninshu was weaponized into a style of combat known as ninjutsu. In time, ninjutsu became a core facet of the battle between rival shinobi clans, nations, and later, hidden villages, as humanity's endless thirst for conflict ruined the memory of Hagormo's original teachings. But how exactly did this come to pass?

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Ninshu's Idealistic Origins

After defeating and sealing his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, with the aid of his brother Hamura, Hagoromo began to unravel the mysteries of chakra, and he sought to bring peace to a world that was being ripped apart by war. For this very purpose, he devised a means for people to exchange their spiritual energies with one another, by sharing chakra as a means for this interaction. This, in essence, was the earliest form of ninshu, and Hagoromo preached it by distributing his own chakra among his disciples.

Chakra, in this case, was a medium through which people could grasp each other's feelings and truly connect in a way that words would not allow them to. With ninshu, Hagoromo could also heal many ailments and illnesses, as a result of his near-divine mastery of molding chakra at the most fundamental level. For him, ninshu was an avenue through which humans from all over the world could connect with one another and bring forth lasting peace.

Indra and Asura's Sibling Rivalry Leads to Something Special

Eventually, Hagoromo's ideals were passed down to his two sons, Indra and Asura Otsutsuki, who were taught ninshu from an early age. On one hand, Hagoromo's elder son, Indra, proved himself to be a natural prodigy, who was soon able to grasp the basic tenets of molding chakra and developed his own techniques, according to the version of their story told in the Naruto anime. Indra also manifested the Sharingan as a child after saving his brother's life, which further augmented his prodigious talent.

At first, Indra's exploits with ninshu, such as his ability to create fire with his chakra, were directed towards improving the lives of his fellow villagers. He was also quite modest about his talents, despite earning consistent praise from all his peers. Indra was quite headstrong and independent, but also cared deeply for his family and the well-being of others. By contrast, Asura had little natural aptitude for Ninshu, and lived in his brother's shadow for most of his life, despite having inherited some of his father's gifts. Asura was more open to relying on others, which was the main trait that distinguished him from his elder brother.

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When the siblings reached adulthood, Hagoromo was tasked with choosing a successor to continue his teaching of ninshu, and he gave both of his sons an assignment which involved rehabilitating the conditions of remote villages that had been affected by the spread of the God Tree. While Indra accomplished his task and returned almost immediately, Asura took his time and spent nearly a year living and working alongside the residents of his village, forming strong bonds with them in the process.

Upon his return, Hagoromo appointed him as his successor, due to how Asura prioritized cooperation above individual talent, which he believed was the true path to peace. This act provoked Indra, who began to resent his father, having been subtly manipulated by Black Zetsu into believing that he was the Sage of Six Paths' worthy successor.

The Weaponized Art Of Ninjutsu

Hagoromo is often credited with the creation of ninjutsu, but this is a misconception, as it was actually Indra who weaponized the art of ninshu as a tool for war. After Asura was appointed as Hagoromo's successor, Indra abandoned his family and heeded the words of Black Zetsu, who convinced him of how he was unfairly overlooked by his father. Subsequently, Indra attacked Hagoromo, Asura, and his village in retribution, but was defeated and forced to flee by Asura, who had awakened his latent potential.

In the centuries that followed, Indra and Asura's wills were reincarnated in their descendants, the Uchiha and the Senju, continuing the feud between the brothers. Similarly, the vast majority of humanity eschewed Hagormo's teachings of peace and understanding, and instead followed Indra's example, by internally connecting their own physical and spiritual energies to mold chakra in battle. Thus, the art of modern ninjutsu was born, as the twisted evolution of ninshu.

Essentially, this process went against everything Hagoromo stood for, especially his belief that no single person should possess a massive amount of chakra, due to how great power can corrupt even the most kind-hearted individuals. Modern ninjutsu would go on to ravage the earth for centuries after the deaths of Hagoromo and his sons, as the world of shinobi took on its current shape, fueled by war, hatred, and the search for more powerful ninjutsu techniques.

Naruto is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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