With hundreds of techniques populating Naruto's narrative, it's fairly common for jutsu to often get sidelined after their initial novelty fades. Sai's Super Beast Scroll technique falls under a similar premise, as this largely underrated technique has spent much of its time in the shadows while other flashy techniques take center stage. With the power to animate ink into beasts of varying strengths, the technique presents limitless value in battle, both offensively and defensively.

As Sai's signature technique and a hiden jutsu with undefined origins, Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll has tremendous potential, and its usage throughout Naruto and Boruto's run testifies to this fact. Despite its seemingly simple workings, Super Beast Scroll runs on highly intricate principles, and the obscurity that shrouds it further adds a layer of mystery to its power.

Related

Boruto: How Strong Is the New Ino-Shika-Cho Trio?

Carrying on the Ino-Shika-Cho legacy, the new generation trio has proven to be an exceptional bunch.

What is Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll?

Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll possesses the ability to manifest beasts and animals through mere ink, bringing drawings to life with a flick of a brush. On the surface, the technique seems rather simple, with the user merely weaving a hand sign to bring their drawings to life. The beasts created through the jutsu act on the user's will, meaning verbal commands are not required to direct the ink manifestations.

The creations brought to life through the Super Beast Scroll aren't limited to simple animals, as these beasts can also be laced with explosives for a more offensive maneuver. However, the true potential of the jutsu lies in its versatility, as these beasts can double as sensory relays, swift transportation, and even as a sealing jutsu.

The Workings of the Technique

While it may appear that these beasts are a result of weaving a hand sign by the user, the true source of these beasts’ power lies in chakra-infused ink. Through this specialized ink, users can instantly produce a beastly drawing that leaps out the moment the brush leaves the scroll. However, this indicates that regular ink is ineffective for the technique, and users must source this specific ink.

Apart from the ink, Super Beast Scroll is heavily dependent on the user's will to draw. Any drawings made without passion will splatter and dissipate immediately. Inojin has been witnessed struggling to manifest his beasts after he lost interest in drawing, clearly indicating the need for a strong passion for drawing. The intensity of passion the user wields directly impacts the quality of the manifestations.

Super Beast Scroll Has Many Applications

The technique opens up a myriad of uses for the user, and Sai's complete reliance on this jutsu is proof of its versatility. With just a single technique in his arsenal, Sai was able to stand on par with the rest of Konoha 11, even surpassing many of his counterparts. While the primary usage of the technique lies in drawing beasts to attack the opponent head-on, the jutsu has a few other avenues that are just as potent.

Sai and Inojin rely on creating owls and hawks to cover large distances, even serving as reconnaissance shinobi at different times. However, the true ingenuity of the technique lies in using tiny creatures for relaying information. Sai has been witnessed using a fish to deliver a message, yet he's also capable of bringing words to life which can reform on a scroll to relay crucial information to far-off allies. Lastly, Sai can seal off opponents using Sealing Jutsu: Crouched Tiger Bullet.

Users of the Technique

Super Beast Scroll has a total of two users in Naruto and Boruto — Sai and his son, Inojin. The generational differences in their techniques are striking, with Inojin’s drawings accurately representing the new era. Apart from the clear variation in colors, Inojin’s drawings also have a unique aesthetic.

Related

Naruto: Every Character Who Has Defeated 1000 Ninja

Defeating 1000 ninja in battle is an impossible feat, yet these select few have attained such a revered achievement.

In terms of strength, however, Inojin’s drawings pale in comparison to Sai, though it’s only natural with the latter being a former Anbu member. The types of beasts and their forms also differ, reflecting the users’ personalities.

Sai Has Many Creatures In His Arsenal

With over twelve variations of the Super Beast Scroll, Sai’s arsenal of beasts remains unrivaled. Each beast is useful in a specific situation, ranging from snakes for restraining opponents to tigers for sealing enemies.

Sai’s art style is quite traditional, with a heavy use of round designs. The black-and-white theme of his drawings also reflects his emotionless persona from his Anbu days.

Inojin’s Technique Has Many Innovations

Representing the new generation of Naruto, Inojin’s Super Beast Scroll technique has undergone many modifications. From the bright pop of color to the sharp corners and designs, Inojin has truly made the technique his own personalized jutsu.

His variants are rather limited, however, with only six different creatures that he regularly uses in battle. Considering his age and experience, Inojin has a reasonable grasp over the technique, and his growing versatility of its usage reflects his steady growth as a ninja.

Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.

More

The 21 Best Fights in Naruto, Ranked

The Naruto series is filled with amazing fights. These stand out as the absolute best ones shown throughout its run.

Naruto

A popular shonen anime based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga, Naruto follows its eponymous shinobi's journey as he goes from his town's outsider to its hero.

Watch on Amazon