Yin Release (陰遁, Inton, Viz: Dark Style or Shadow Style) is a nature transformation that exists outside the five basic elemental natures. Like its counterpart, Yang Release, Yin Release is little-explored in the series. Yin Release uses spiritual energy to control imagination, creating form out of nothingness. Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki combined Yin and Yang into Yin–Yang Release, notably allowing him to create the nine tailed beasts.[1]
Yin Release has tended to be inherited among the Uchiha clan, descendants of Hagoromo. Jin no Sho notes, however, that Uchiha clansmen don't usually make any significant use of Yin Release. Certain other clans employ Yin Release via their hiden skills, notably the Nara clan, who use Yin Release to manipulate their own shadows. Most genjutsu also fall under the categorisation of Yin Release.[2]
There have been occasional miscellaneous mentions of Yin Release: Minato Namikaze split the Nine-Tails' Yin and Yang chakra,[3] sealing its Yin half within himself and thus becoming its jinchūriki;[4] Hagoromo's spirit gives his Six Paths Yin Power to Sasuke Uchiha, which takes the form of a crescent moon marking on his left palm;[5] Madara Uchiha, after acquiring Six Paths Senjutsu, uses Yin Release through his Sage Art: Yin Release Lightning Dispatch.[6]
Trivia[]
- During explanations of Yin Release within the series, the manga depicts it as being coloured black and the anime depicts it as being red.
- The Mind Body Switch Technique and Revolt of the Demon World are mentioned to use spiritual energy,[7][8] though neither have been confirmed to be Yin Release.
- The word "Yin" also appears in the names of Yin Healing Wound Destruction and Yin Seal: Release, though these also have not been said to be Yin Release.