Yin Release

The techniques, based on the spiritual energy that governs the imagination, can be used to create form out of nothingness. When combined with Yang Release, it allows the use of Yin–Yang Release. It is depicted as black in the manga and red in the anime.

The Yin nature was mentioned for the first time by Yamato during Naruto's Rasenshuriken training, along with the Yang nature, hinting that Shikamaru's shadow techniques as well as genjutsu and medical ninjutsu are somehow connected to it. Shikamaru himself noticed in his fight with Tayuya that her spirits consist of much spiritual energy and little physical energy, comparing her fighting style to his own. Members of the Yamanaka clan utilise spiritual energy in their Mind Body Switch Technique and Yin can also be found in the name of two techniques, Kabuto's Yin Healing Wound Destruction and Tsunade's Yin Seal: Release. According to the Second Mizukage, genjutsu fittingly falls under the broad category of Yin Release.

Yin chakra is also part of a tailed beasts' chakra. During the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, Minato Namikaze used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal the Yin half of the fox within himself. After being reincarnated by Orochimaru, Minato was able to use the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.

The Yin Release can be used offensively when being mixed with the Lightning Release and senjutsu. However, it's unknown what exact role the Yin Release fulfils in said technique.