Hand Seal

are used to create many Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and other secret arts other than Taijutsu. There are different sequences of hand seals for every technique, requiring memorization. While techniques may require a number of hand seals to work, a skilled ninja can use less or even one to perform the same technique. An example of this is the Water Release: Water Dragon Blast Technique, which requires a total of 44 hand seals to activate. Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, however, just needed to use one hand seal to complete the technique, a testament to his skill.

Besides the 12 traditional hand seals, each named after an animal of the Chinese zodiac, there are unique hand seals used for certain techniques. These hand seals are rarely seen, and can be considered unique to specific jutsu. An example of such is Haku's Demonic Ice Crystal Mirrors.

Trivia

 * Rat is often used in the Nara Clan's Shadow Jutsus
 * Tiger is often used in Fire Release and Water Release jutsus
 * Serpent is often used in Earth Release jutsus and in Wood Release
 * Dog is often used in Ice Release by Yukigakure ninja
 * Hare also means Rabbit
 * Serpent also means Snake
 * Ram also means Sheep
 * Bird also means Rooster
 * Boar also means Pig
 * Rat means Nezumi in Japanese
 * Ox means Ushi in Japanese
 * Tiger means Tora in Japanese
 * Rabbit/Hare means Usagi in Japanese
 * Dragon means Tatsu in Japanese, or Ryū when used in jutsus
 * Serpent/Snake means Hebi in Japanese
 * Horse means Uma in Japanese
 * Sheep/Ram means Hitsuji in Japanese
 * Monkey means Saru in Japanese, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage
 * Rooster/Bird means Ondori/Tori in Japanese
 * Dog means Inu in Japanese
 * Boar/Pig means Inoshishi/Buta in Japanese