Mind Body Switch Technique

The Mind Body Switch Technique is the signature ability of the Yamanaka clan. With it, a ninja sends his mind into a target's body supplanting the target's mind with his own. The user transfers their consciousness to the target, giving them complete control of the body for a short period of time. Their original body is left defenceless while this jutsu is active, leaving it susceptible to attack until they return. The mind transfer moves in a straight direction and takes some time to return to the user's body if it misses. Because of these reasons, it should only be used on immobilized targets. Similarly, if the opponent's will is strong enough, they can force the user from their body, as Sakura Haruno did to Ino Yamanaka in the Chūnin Exams. Lastly, should any physical injury befall the victim's body while the mind-link is active, it would cause the user's body to also receive those same injuries. This can be rectified if user cancels the jutsu before the victim's body receives the damage.

During the Fourth Shinobi World War arc, the Mind Body Switch Technique is used in a number of ways that apparently contradict earlier depictions and explanations of the jutsu. When Santa Yamanaka used this technique on Kakashi Hatake, he gained control of Santa's body while Santa gained control of Kakashi's. Ino later uses it to possess two targets at once, although both were seemingly incapacitated at the time, despite Inoichi's prior assertion that the clan's jutsu could only manipulate one individual. During this same instance, the jutsu also travels in a curved line to each target, rather than the typically observed and accepted straight direction.

Trivia

 * In Naruto Shippūden 3: Inheritors of the Will of Fire, Ino uses a different hand seal to perform this technique.