Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation

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Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation[1]

Hokage reincarnated
Kanji 口寄せ・穢土転生
Rōmaji Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei
Literal English Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation
Viz manga Summoning: Worldly Resurrection
English TV Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation
Games Forbidden Jutsu: Return from the Dead
Other Reanimation Jutsu
Manga Chapter #117
Anime Naruto Episode #69
Game Naruto: Ultimate Ninja
Appears in Anime, Manga and Game
Classification Ninjutsu, Kinjutsu, Reincarnation Ninjutsu, Space–Time Ninjutsu
Rank S-rank
Class Supplementary
Hand seals Tiger → Snake → Dog → Dragon → Clap hands
Other jutsu
Parent jutsu
Derived jutsu




Kabuto Demonstrates Edo Tensei

The seal for the ritual.


Fu sacrifice

Torune being reincarnated with Fū as the sacrifice.

Next, a living sacrifice is required for the soul of the reincarnated to use as a vessel.[3] Once all prerequisites for the technique have been met, the acquired DNA of the person is smeared on a special scroll and once the scroll is activated, the remains spread out in the form of a special seal with the living sacrifice in the centre. Then dust and ash encase the sacrifice's body, giving them the same appearance that the reincarnated had at the time of their death. The process is apparently somewhat painful as seen when Fū was used to reincarnate Torune. The person is then reincarnated and the end product is usually stored in a casket until summoned by the user. The user can theoretically reincarnate a limitless number of people in this way, so long as they have enough sacrifices, chakra and DNA to perform the technique.[3] Despite this, this technique also has limitations, such as the individual having limitations that inhibited them in life such as Nagato's lack of mobility and depending on the summoner's mastery of the technique, the reincarnated individuals might not be brought back with the full power they had in life. However, reincarnating an individual with full power provides a potential risk to the user as the reincarnated can resist the restraining properties before they can have a talisman implanted into their brains. Although, this has only happened twice.[10] Any chakra of the sacrifice used for the reincarnation is completely overridden with the chakra of the one being reincarnated, thus a sensor type would only sense the chakra of the reincarnated soul and won't sense anything of the victim's original chakra signature. Even though destroying a shinobi's clothing causes it to regenerate, if it was taken off willingly without destroying the clothing, it will not reform on the reincarnated. Also, any unique anatomy will be restored with the reincarnated such as Hanzō's poison gland.

It is possible for a reincarnated shinobi to be revived into a real living body again. However, any modifications to the reincarnated that already exists elsewhere will be removed as a result. Madara, for example, was resurrected without his Rinnegan, because they already existed elsewhere and were not with him when he died.[11]



Edo Tensei 2

Deidara being "activated" after being reincarnated.

When first summoned, the body of the reincarnated is stored in a coffin; their body will appear grey and in a state of minor "decay": marred by cracks and other imperfections, and the individual will also appear to be "disengaged". After inserting a talisman, their bodies become "rejuvenated", regaining their original complexion and their eyes lose their glassy state; however, their sclerae take on a grey colouring, however this has no affect on the ability of the reincarnated and they can be left in this "decay" state if the summoner chooses to give them free reign. They retain their personality, memories, and all abilities they had in life, including kekkei genkai, kekkei tōta and summoning contracts.[12] When the reincarnated is conscious and their personality is suppressed, their sclerae becomes black and gain white irises.[13] Also, any conversation the reincarnated has with others, including other reincarnations, will not be heard by the user that is controlling them from a distance.




Edo Tensei Tag

The talisman used to control the reincarnated.


Different talismans can be used to enact different degrees of control. Orochimaru's talismans completely eliminated the personalities of the summoned, turning them into mindless killing machines under his command. Kabuto prefers to use a weaker controlling talisman on certain individuals, allowing them to retain some degree of their own personality. The latter method is useful for psychological warfare,[21] and can also allow the summoned individual to tap into their own emotions, memories, or creativity to enhance their effectiveness in combat,[22] but also carries a host of drawbacks; it takes more effort to retain control with the weaker binding which can make it possible for the hearts of the summoned to be swayed by strong emotions, which can result in the soul breaking free and returning to the Pure World,[17] or the reincarnated contradicting orders that they are given.[23] Reincarnated shinobi with their personalities still intact have their movements limited to certain actions, and are basically on "auto-pilot" to react to enemy techniques.[24] Once they recognise an enemy technique their bodies are programmed to counter it with an appropriate method.[25] The individual can also control their movements to a degree such as making poor combat decisions. While the Third Raikage was forced to fight the Fourth Division of the Shinobi Alliance Army he was able to distance himself from Gengetsu, to increase the Fourth Division's ability to seal them off. Gengetsu went on to comment if it wasn't for that, they wouldn't have been sealed off. Also, if a reincarnated isn't the type to control their emotions very well and get excited over a battle, they can actually end up being an even bigger threat despite wanting to be defeated.


Kabuto controlling the revived

The pebbles and grid Kabuto uses to monitor the reincarnated shinobi.




Unlike while they were still alive, the reincarnated have unlimited chakra[31] and stamina; able to fight continuously as neither Kimimaro, Itachi nor Hayate showed any fatigue from their illnesses as they did in life, and Itachi was even able to use multiple Mangekyō Sharingan techniques without showing exhaustion, while minor uses caused fatigue in life. The reincarnated are impossible to kill by normal means. Any damage they receive will easily regenerate, be it lost limbs or complete disintegration. Not even killing the summoner gets rid of them.[32] It is also shown even if part of the head of a reincarnated shinobi is destroyed, if enough of the head remains, they are still capable of performing techniques to counter the enemy.

Gojō Kibaku Fuda 1

Tobirama using the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.


The reincarnated can also have their bodies modified and experimented on. While the technique usually reincarnates one as they were upon death, the reincarnated can also have various points from their life combined to get the best possible results as seen with Madara Uchiha, having been brought back "beyond his prime" despite dying a withered old man. In addition to regaining his physical youth with peak health and combat prowess, he also retained the Wood Release and Rinnegan abilities he had in his old age.[37][38][39] Madara also lost no chakra from using any of his techniques because of the technique, giving him even greater power. In the anime Kabuto also experimented on Blue B who had Gyuki's chakra added to his reincarnated body through cells cultivated from the horn that was broken in the tailed beast's last rampage.[40] Tobi also modified the eyes of the reincarnated jinchūriki to match his own, though this was only due to the use of the Six Paths of Pain technique which caused his eyes to be reflected in theirs,[41] as well as resealing the tailed beasts back into their respective hosts.[42] It also appears that despite gaining many enhancements, the reincarnated shinobi cannot gain full access to the new abilities, unless they are brought back to the world of the living as a living being; like in the case of Madara Uchiha. Similarly, while the reincarnated shinobi can access any abilities from any points of their life if modified for such, should the target be brought back to life, any lost anatomy from life will return as such; for example, Madara losing his eyes once revived since he had transplanted them to Nagato while alive.

Weaknesses and Methods of Countering


  1. Seal away the soul of the reincarnated individual.
  2. Have the summoner end the technique. As they are unlikely to do this voluntarily, using a genjutsu to trick them into cancelling the technique is ideal. The sequence of hand seals for cancelling the technique is Rat → Ox → Monkey → Tiger → Dragon → Boar and saying "release" (解, kai) (when demonstrating the technique to Tobi, Kabuto lied that the seals to release it are Dog → Horse → Tiger).[43][44] If the summoner dies before the technique is deactivated, however, then this method is no longer a viable option.[45] This also does not work if the summoned managed to sever the contract's link before the summoner undo the technique.[31] Hagoromo was able to release reincarnated souls despite not being the caster of the technique.[46]
  3. The reincarnated individual is affected in some emotional way that gives them closure;[47] Kankurō notes that human emotions are not so easily restrained.[48] However, this method cannot work if the summoner eradicates the personality of the reincarnated individual before their soul is freed of its bonds.[17]
Itachi's soul

Itachi Uchiha's soul ascending.



  2. If the reincarnated still retain their personalities, they can speak against the user or themselves by providing hints and advice to the opponents, even in the midst of involuntarily fighting them.[51][52] With considerable strength of will, the summoner's authority can even be completely overridden, albeit briefly,[53] although in one case the reincarnated was completely able to resist the restraining properties of this technique with relative ease and in another case the reincarnated was able to resist the restraining properties before it was strengthed.[54]
  3. Itachi Uchiha was able to use Kotoamatsukami to layer another order on top of the one established by this technique overriding the user's control.[55] This can be remedied if the user can place a stronger binding talisman into the said reincarnated person, thus re-establishing control.[56]
  4. What Madara describes as "the one risk of the technique". If the reincarnated knows the specific seals, one can release the Impure World Reincarnation's summoning contract, severing the bond between themselves and the summoner. In the anime, the seals are Snake → Ram → Boar → Dog → Tiger.[57] This leaves the individual free of the summoner's control in all aspects while retaining their essential immortally.[31] An additional effect of the individual's free reign is temporarily removing the cracks on their bodies, restoring them to the appearance they had in life, but for unexplained reasons the cracks reappear later on.

It should be noted that the reincarnated are still vulnerable to any technique that could affect them while they were alive, but their bodies heal instantly along with their chakra. Furthermore, while the reincarnated can't be destroyed and feel no pain which originates from bodily harm or mutilation,[58][59][60][61][62] they are still vulnerable to the drawbacks from their own techniques or weaknesses. Such examples include Hanzō's poison acting as a paralysis agent, along with the Second Mizukage being left weakened after using certain techniques, and Itachi's eye bleeding on the activation of his Mangekyō Sharingan. The First to Fourth Hokage were also limited by how many clones they could make while maintaining the Four Red Yang Formation.[63] In some instances, small, self-inflicted harms will produce blood so that the summoned can use summoning techniques,[64] for an example, although greater harms won't make the summoner bleed.[65]

According to Madara and Tobirama, the reincarnated body created by this technique cannot access the fullest potential of the person's original living body, as Madara only managed to break free of the Sage Art: Gate of the Great God and Sealing Technique: Tiger Vision Staring Bullet when he forced Obito to revive him into a body of living flesh, despite all the enhancements Kabuto gave him beforehand.[66] Also, the corpse vessel created by the Impure World Reincarnation cannot be used as a host for the Ten-Tails.[67]

Known Reincarnated

Reincarnated by Orochimaru
Name Village of origin Reason for reincarnation
Hashirama Senju Konohagakure Hokage
Hiruzen Sarutobi[9] Konohagakure Hokage
Minato Namikaze[9] Konohagakure Hokage
Osoi (Anime only) Kumogakure Failure; intended to reincarnate Toroi
Tobirama Senju Konohagakure Hokage
Yota (Anime only) Unknown Testing the technique
Reincarnated by Kabuto Yakushi
Name Village of origin Reason for reincarnation
A Kumogakure Kage
Ameyuri Ringo Kirigakure "Renown"
Asuma Sarutobi Konohagakure "Renown"
Blue B (Anime only) Kumogakure Jinchūriki
Chen (Anime only) Konohagakure "Renown"
Chiyo Sunagakure "Renown"
Chūkichi Kirigakure "Renown"
Dan Katō Konohagakure "Renown"
Daimaru (Anime only) Sunagakure Failure
Deidara Iwagakure Akatsuki
Takigakure Jinchūriki
Fuguki Suikazan Kirigakure "Renown"
Gari Iwagakure "Renown"
Gengetsu Hōzuki Kirigakure Kage
Ginkaku Kumogakure "Renown"
Haku Kirigakure "Renown"
Han Iwagakure Jinchūriki
Hanzō Amegakure "Renown"
Hayate Gekkō (Anime only) Konohagakure "Renown"
Heiji (Anime only) Amegakure Failure; intended to reincarnate Hanzō
Hizashi Hyūga Konohagakure "Renown"
Inabi Uchiha (Anime only) Konohagakure "Renown"
Itachi Uchiha Konohagakure Akatsuki
Jinin Akebino Kirigakure "Renown"
Jinpachi Munashi Kirigakure "Renown"
Jirōbō (Anime only) Otogakure "Renown"
Kakuzu Takigakure Akatsuki
Kidōmaru (Anime only) Otogakure "Renown"
Kimimaro Otogakure "Renown"
Kinkaku Kumogakure "Renown"
Kushimaru Kuriarare Kirigakure "Renown"
Madara Uchiha Konohagakure Blackmailing Tobi/"Renown"
Mangetsu Hōzuki Kirigakure "Renown"
Iwagakure Kage
Nagato Amegakure Akatsuki
Osoi (Anime only) Kumogakure Failure/Stalling Allied Shinobi Forces
Pakura Sunagakure "Renown"
Rasa Sunagakure Kage
Rōshi Iwagakure Jinchūriki
Sakon and Ukon (Anime only) Otogakure "Renown"
Sasori Sunagakure Akatsuki
Shin Konohagakure "Renown"
Tatewaki (Anime only) Land of Iron "Renown"
Tayuya (Anime only) Otogakure "Renown"
Tonika Village Head (Anime only) Tonika Village Deceiving enemies
Toroi Kumogakure "Renown"
Torune Aburame Konohagakure Demonstration for Tobi
Utakata Kirigakure Jinchūriki
Yagura Kirigakure Jinchūriki/Kage
Yota (Anime only) Unknown "Renown"
Yugito Nii Kumogakure Jinchūriki
Zabuza Momochi Kirigakure "Renown"

Other Known Reincarnated Shinobi


  • In the arc about Power, during the invasion of the Tonika Village and the subsequent skirmish with officers from the Hachō Village and Team Kakashi, Kabuto summoned several shinobi:
    • A burly Kumogakure shinobi wielding a .
    • A Sunagakure shinobi wielding a pair of chakram.
    • An Iwagakure shinobi wearing a flame-thrower device.
    • A Kirigakure shinobi wielding a sword.
  • Kabuto also summoned a large group of "lesser" ninja who had been reincarnated by mistake, deploying them after losing many of his key reincarnations, with the intent of recovering said key fighters. Torune Aburame is deployed among this group. A White Zetsu clone noted however they are the "failures" and a majority were no more powerful than simple genin. Instead of stones, these failures were represented by a pile of sand on his playing board.[70]
  • In the (non-canon) story of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2, Orochimaru reincarnates Zabuza and Haku to aid him in his second invasion of Konoha.


    • Jiraiya, though his body lies at the bottom of the ocean where the water pressure is too great to reach. However, he claimed that the bloodstains on the Six Paths of Pain's weapons may provide enough DNA.[71]. Obito vehemently refused this suggestion, telling Kabuto "not to push his luck".
    • Shisui Uchiha, but Kabuto could not find his body, though he suggested that Shisui's crushed eye, which is in Tobi's possession, may be sufficient.[71] Later, after learning that Shisui's other eye was on the battlefield, he seemed excited at the prospect of obtaining it.[72] However, Itachi incinerated it.[73]
  • Originally in the anime version, a reincarnated target's eyes appeared normal (albeit glazed over).[74] Later in Part II of the anime, the mistake was corrected, returning a reincarnated target's sclera dark grey like it is in the manga.
  • When a reincarnated target breaks free of the contract, as seen in Madara Uchiha's case, any cracks about the individual's being will temporarily disappear.[77][31]
  • Given the reincarnated Akatsuki members, it appears the summoner can also change the clothing of the revived individual; they would have been revived in Akatsuki cloaks, but were wearing new red ones instead.
  • While the bodies of reincarnated individuals cannot be completely eradicated, in the anime, Yota was able to destroy his own body, unable to regenerate.

See Also


  1. First Databook, page 181
  2. Naruto chapter 561, page 2
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Naruto chapter 520
  4. Naruto chapter 521, page 13
  5. Naruto chapter 521, page 5
  6. Naruto chapter 620, page 10
  7. Naruto chapter 520, page 11-13
  8. Naruto chapter 520, page 12
  10. Naruto chapter 620, page 10
  11. Naruto chapter 637, page 1
  12. Naruto chapter 631, page 6
  13. Naruto chapter 521
  14. Naruto chapter 523, page 6
  15. Naruto chapter 527, pages 1-3
  16. Naruto chapter 546, page 3
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Naruto chapter 522
  18. Naruto: Shippūden episode 318
  19. Naruto chapter 530, page 14
  20. Naruto chapter 577, page 16
  21. Naruto chapter 516, page 5
  22. Naruto chapter 513, pages 2 and 17
  23. Naruto chapter 532, pages 10-11
  24. Naruto chapter 547, page 10
  25. Naruto chapter 548, page 14
  26. Naruto chapter 620, pages 9-11
  27. Naruto chapter 620, page 11
  28. Naruto chapter 521, page 17
  29. Naruto chapter 575, page 14
  30. Naruto chapter 560, page 2
  32. 32.0 32.1 Naruto chapter 521, page 3
  33. Naruto chapter 518, pages 9, 10, 14
  34. Naruto chapter 561, pages 1-2
  35. Naruto chapter 639
  36. Naruto chapter 677, pages 10, 14, 16-17
  37. Naruto chapter 560, page 3
  38. Naruto chapter 602
  39. Naruto chapter 606, page 12
  40. Naruto: Shippūden episode 318
  41. Naruto chapter 544, pages 14-15
  42. Naruto chapter 565, page 1
  43. Naruto chapter 589, pages 8-12
  44. Naruto chapter 521, page 3
  45. Naruto chapter 577, page 17
  46. Naruto chapter 691, page 13
  47. Naruto chapter 518, page 17
  48. Naruto chapter 519, page 4
  49. Naruto chapter 642, pages 4-5
  50. Naruto chapter 589, pages 12-17
  51. Naruto chapter 532, page 15
  52. Naruto chapter 548, pages 16-18
  53. Naruto chapter 532, pages 10-11
  54. Naruto chapter 620, page 9-11
  55. Naruto chapter 550, page 8
  56. Naruto chapter 582, page 3
  57. Naruto: Shippūden episode 340
  58. Naruto chapter 527, page 14
  59. Naruto chapter 532, pages 10-11
  60. Naruto chapter 552, page 16
  61. Naruto chapter 553, pages 4-5
  62. Naruto chapter 561, pages 2, 7
  63. Naruto chapter 637, pages 4-5
  64. Naruto chapter 548, page 17
  65. Naruto chapter 532, pages 10-11
  66. Naruto chapter 656, page 17
  67. Naruto chapter 614, page 5
  68. Naruto: Shippūden episode 256
  69. Naruto: Shippūden episode 307
  70. 70.0 70.1 Naruto: Shippūden episode 316
  71. 71.0 71.1 Naruto chapter 520, page 13
  72. Naruto chapter 550, page 13
  73. Naruto chapter 552, page 11
  74. Naruto episode 69
  75. Naruto: Shippūden episode 272
  76. Naruto: Shippūden episode 316
  77. Naruto: Shippūden episode 340

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