From the research on the cell of the First Hokage, to experimenting with all kinds of forbidden jutsu, it’s safe to say that Orochimaru is one of the most influential characters in Naruto. Because whether you like it or not, the snake man has his hands on a lot of important stuff. Be it good or bad, he is behind all kinds of crucial things that happen in the series.
One of the characters whose life is heavily influenced by Orochimaru is none other than Sasuke Uchiha. And one of the most useful yet also nefarious things that Orochimaru has given to Sasuke is his cursed seal. This seal has been the source of great pain to Sasuke, but it is also part of his hidden power that has helped Sasuke on numerous occasions. This is everything that you need to know about Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal.
The Origin of The Cursed Seal
Orochimaru’s cursed seal technique, also known as Juinjutsu, is actually just a more sinister take on a preexisting Jutsu. The main principle behind this particular technique is actually similar to the usual cursed seal jutsu, which is the user imbues their target with their chakra in order to cause certain long-term effects on the target, which will leave a certain kind of mark on the body of the target. Most people use the palm of their hands, or the tip of their fingers as the medium to imbue the chakra, but Orochimaru uses his teeth/fangs instead, just like a snake.
What makes Orochimaru’s cursed seal different from the others is the fact that Orochimaru adds Jugo’s cell into his seal. Jugo has a unique innate ability that allows him to freely absorb the natural energy (Senjutsu), and then morph his body into forms that are best suited to face his enemy. Jugo’s clan, or even his last name for that matter, was never mentioned in the story. So we don't know whether it is an inherited trait from his clan, or if it is just some strange mutation that happens only to him.
One thing for sure, Orochimaru does all sorts of experiments in order to harness Jugo’s unique ability. So long story short, Orochimaru’s cursed seal is the result of mixing his own chakra and Jugo’s cell into the standard Juinjutsu, which upon branded onto the target’s skin, can display all sorts of effects.
Different Kind of Cursed Seals
Before we talk about the numerous effects of Orochimaru’s cursed seal, let’s briefly discuss the different kinds of cursed seals within Orochimaru’s arsenal.
- The first one is the experimental version of the cursed seal, which is simply called the Animal Cursed Seal. This seal was given to a former Konoha shinobi named Mizuki. Since this is basically an imperfect version of the cursed seal, the users will suffer from quite a few negative effects, ranging from excruciating pain to losing his sanity.
- The second one is the new and improved version of the Animal Cursed Seal. In a way, this is the stable version of Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal. The story never mentioned its official name, which is why most people simply refer to this version as the Sound Four’s Cursed Seal, because they are the ones that use these seals during Sasuke’s kidnapping saga. The design of the seal is different for each member of the Sound Four, but the effect is relatively the same.
- And finally, the perfected form of Orochimaru’s cursed seal, The Cursed Seal of Heaven that he gave to Sasuke and Anko, and the Cursed Seal of Earth that was given to Kimimaro. Just like the Sound Four’s Cursed Seal, the Heaven and Earth cursed seal also has different designs, but the overall effects of the seals are actually quite similar. Both are equally deserved to be called Orochimaru’s strongest cursed seal. The difference between the two, however, is the fact that the Cursed Seal of Heaven is better suited for those who are attuned to spiritual energy, while the Cursed Seal of Earth is better for those who are attuned to physical energy.
The Effect of The Cursed Seals
Orochimaru’s cursed seals, especially the stable and perfected ones, can display numerous effects on the user’s body. The followings are some of the most notable ones:
- The first one is an unbroken connection to Orochimaru. As mentioned above, Orochimaru imbued his own chakra into the cursed seals, which makes it possible for Orochimaru to influence those who have been branded by his seal. Bear in mind that it doesn’t have the ability to totally control the user’s mind, but it will at least make them more susceptible to Orochimaru’s words. That is why Orochimaru only gives this cursed seal to those that he deemed strong enough, or to those who has been selected as the candidate for his immortality ritual.
- The next effect of the cursed seal is made solely for the benefit of the users. Because when they activate the cursed seal, it will enhance the overall powers of the user. From the enhanced physical prowess to the increased power of their Jutsu, every single aspect of their body is improved to the highest degree. Not only that, the users’ body will also undergo strange transformation, thanks to Jugo’s Senjutsu. That being said, the power of the transformation highly depends on the users’ innate chakra and ability, which is why some people will be stronger than the others, despite having the same cursed seal.
- The final effect of the Cursed Seals is to act as a container for Orochimaru’s chakra. This means every cursed seal contains a little part of Orochimaru. Think about it like Voldemort’s Horcrux. But in the case of Orochimaru, he will be able to rise back from the dead through the chakra from the cursed seals. As a matter of fact, that is how Orochimaru is revived during the 4th Great Ninja war. So just like Voldemort, if people want to truly kill Orochimaru, then they have to destroy every single cursed seal that he has given to countless people. So yes, the cursed seal is without a doubt one of Orochimaru’s strongest and most versatile jutsu.