Yin–Yang Release (陰陽遁, In'yōton, Onmyōton, English TV: Shadow and Light Style)[1][2] techniques make simultaneous use of Yin Release and Yang Release. Yin relates to one's spiritual energy and Yang relates to one's physical energy, and it's necessary to utilise both of these in order to mould chakra for ninjutsu. As such, the basis of simply kneading chakra and using techniques is based in Yin-Yang Release.[3] According to Yamato, the manipulation of Yin and Yang is the source of non-elemental techniques such as the Shadow Imitation Technique, Multi-Size Technique, medical ninjutsu, genjutsu, etc.[4]
Hagoromo's usage of the Creation of All Things Technique.
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, also known as the Sage of Six Paths, had such a mastery over the Yin–Yang Release that he used Yin to create form from nothing, and then used Yang to breath life into what he had created.[1] According to Tobi, the Sage's technique was called Creation of All Things Technique (万物創造の術, Banbutsu Sōzō no Jutsu), which he employed to create the tailed beasts out of the chakra from the Ten-Tails.[1] The technique Izanagi is said to be based on this technique.
After receiving power from Hagoromo, Naruto Uzumaki gained the ability to use Yin–Yang Release to stabilise life forces[5] and restore missing organs through physical contact.[6] However, there appears to be a limit to the extent to what this power can heal: While he was able to save Might Guy from the normally fatal consequences of unleashing all Eight Gates, he was unable to repair the damage done to his leg as a result of using Night Guy, and Guy spent the remainder of his life wheelchair-bound. Naruto was also able to resuscitate Obito after the Ten-Tails was extracted from him, but both were aware that his death was unavoidable when he was struck by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's All-Killing Ash Bones.
As Tobirama Senju noted, Yin–Yang Release also has the ability to nullify the effects of all ninjutsu, rendering them useless.[7] Obito and Madara Uchiha demonstrated this from their usage of the Truth-Seeking Balls. According to Sasuke Uchiha, combining his Six Paths Yin Power and Naruto's Six Paths Yang Power, which was acquired via Hagoromo granting them his chakra, was the only possible method to seal a being as powerful as Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra itself.[8]