Highlights

  • Lightning Release in Naruto allows users to control lightning through powerful jutsu, like Chidori and Raikiri.
  • Unique abilities like Black Lightning and Lightning Release Chakra Mode make certain characters stand out in battles.
  • Techniques like Hell Stab, Purple Electricity, Kirin, and Indra's Arrow showcase the immense power of lightning release.

Lightning Release is one of the most powerful nature transformations in the Naruto series. As the name suggests, it allows the user to manifest and produce lightning and control it in many ways through their unique jutsu. One of the most iconic lightning release techniques is Chidori, which was invented by Kakashi, and later on, became the signature technique of Sasuke Uchiha.

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While Chidori is a very powerful lightning release technique, it is certainly not the strongest and there are many others that far surpass it in terms of what they can do.

7 Raikiri

User: Kakashi Hatake

Kamui Raikiri

Raikiri, also known as Lightning Cutter, is quite similar to the Chidori itself. However, there is a fine distinction between these two techniques as Chidori is only considered to be an A rank jutsu, while Raikiri is considered to be an S Rank jutsu.

Kakashi famously split a lightning bolt in half with it, earning it the name. It is believed that the Raikiri is a strengthened version of the Chidori, although their functioning is quite similar. Sasuke himself also believes these two Jutsu to be separate.

6 Lighting Release: Double Black Panther

User: Darui

Darui's Black Lightning

When it comes to lightning release, black lightning is something that only a few individuals can utilize. While Six Paths usage usually turns lightning release into black, naturally, only the Third Raikage and Darui can utilize black lightning. It isn't known what exactly black lightning is and how strong it is compared to regular lightning, however, a fair assumption would be that it is several times stronger.

Darui is one of the few individuals who can utilize this power and his Double Black Panther is a dangerous ability that sees him create two lightning panthers and launch them at his enemies to deal great damage.

5 Lightning Release Chakra Mode

User: 3rd and 4th Raikage

Killer B and A using Lightning Release Double Lariat

Lightning Release Chakra Mode is one of the most dangerous abilities introduced in Naruto and it was utilized primarily by the 3rd and the 4th Raikage. This technique sees the user envelope themselves in an armor of lightning that is nearly impossible to penetrate. The more chakra the user puts into this armor, the stronger it gets. In fact, Sasuke tried to utilize a powerful Chidori against the lightning armor of the 4th Raikage, and barely managed to pierce it, however, to no avail.

The third Raikage’s armor was even tougher, as even a Rasenshuriken from point-blank range was not able to pierce it. In all his life, only his own hit was able to pierce through his lightning armor.

4 Hell Stab

User: Third Raikage

The Third Raikage prepares to use the Hell Stab technique during Naruto: Shippuden's 4th Great Ninja War.

Hell Stab is a very dangerous ability that was utilized by the Third Raikage. Essentially, this lightning release technique was a piercing ability that got stronger the fewer fingers the Raikage used in the attack.

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His strongest Hell Stab came with just a single finger and it was so strong that it could even pierce his own lightning armor. In fact, it was the only thing to have ever pierced it.

3 Purple Electricity

User: Kakashi Hatake (Primary)

kakashi purple electricity boruto

Purple Electricity was a substitute for Raikiri that was developed by none other than Kakashi Hatake. After losing his Sharingan, he could no longer utilize the power of the Raikiri, and, as a result, he came up with the Purple Electricity.

As the name implies, this lightning is purple in color due to some unknown phenomenon. It can be utilized just like Chidori from close range, or it can be fired from a distance. In both ways, it causes great damage.

2 Kirin

User: Sasuke Uchiha

Sasuke Using Kirin

Developed by Sasuke, Kirin is an incredible technique that utilizes the natural energy present in the surroundings of the user. Essentially, Kirin is difficult to pull off since it can't be simply launched at the opponent. Instead, Kirin needs some preparation, as seen during Sasuke's fight against Itachi.

Kirin needs the formation of thunderclouds, which Sasuke usually pulls off through his usage of fire release techniques. Once the clouds are formed, Sasuke then causes a discharge with his own lightning release and this launches a powerful lightning strike from the sky that hits the target in the blink of an eye.

1 Indra's Arrow

User: Sasuke Uchiha

Indra's Arrow

By far, the strongest lightning release technique that fans have seen in Naruto is Indra's Arrow. This technique sees Sasuke at the pinnacle of his abilities, and after absorbing the chakra of the Tailed Beasts inside his humanoid Susanoo, Sasuke then utilizes this chakra to create a giant arrow of electricity, which he launches at his enemies.

The power of this technique was such that it could match two of Naruto's Six Paths Ultra Big Ball Rasenshuriken. It is, by far, one of the most incredible Jutsu to have existed in the Naruto world. Sadly, it was used just once.

Naruto
Naruto

Creator
Masashi Kishimoto
Studio
Pierrot
Number of Episodes
220
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix , YouTube
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