Who Created the Rasengan: Asura or Minato?
Among the many mysteries of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto franchise are those related to the special fighting techniques, especially those associated with the main characters of the franchise. One of them is the Rasengan, the swirling orb most commonly associated with Naruto Uzumaki, the franchise’s titular protagonist. In this article, we are going to tell you who actually created the Rasengan – was it Asura Ōtsutsuki or Minato Namikaze?
The Rasengan was created by Minato Namikaze, which he based on the Tailed Beast Ball. Minato developed the technique during a long period of three years, making the Rasengan one of his signature moves. Although it was primarily an Uzumaki technique, it was used by several other characters, including Kakashi Hatake and Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki.
In the rest of this article, we are going to tell you the story of the Rasengan. You’re going to find out the details regarding its creation, including when and how Minato Namikaze did it. We’re also going to tell you some details about the technique itself so you know what you’re dealing with in every possible way.
Who actually created the Rasengan and how?
The Rasengan was created by Minato Namikaze, based on the Tailed Beast Ball. He spent three years creating the Rasengan, which he considered the most successful in terms of shape modification. Because it represents the most advanced form of shapeshifting, mastery of the Rasengan grants the user great command of it, even if they don’t quite master the concept.
Minato created the Rasengan with the intention of combining it with his own nature, a task that proved far too difficult for him before his death. Kakashi Hatake also failed to combine the Rasengan with his own Raiton nature, leading him to invent the Chidori instead. Naruto initially attempting to combine the Rasengan with his Futon nature, which he described as a desperate attempt to have to look both left and right.
He was eventually able to overcome this obstacle by using a shadow clone to provide nature transformation, while he and another shadow clone formed the Rasengan, creating the Wind Release: Rasengan. By further shaping the Wind Release: Rasengan, Naruto created the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. Boruto Uzumaki unknowingly adds his lightning nature to his Rasengan, allowing him to launch it at targets.
Like many of Minato’s jutsu, the Rasengan does not require the execution of mudra to use it. Once formed, it also does not require additional chakra to maintain, meaning there is no set time limit before it dissipates. However, the Rasengan will dissipate if it collides with something, even if it is a target not intentionally hit. Although the shape of the Rasengan is consistent from user to user, its size varies somewhat, so that it is barely noticeable and its size is about the same as the hand of the user.
The size of the Rasengan increases with experience. Jiraiya described the Rasengan as being more powerful than the Chidori, which Sasuke Uchiha concludes after comparing the damage caused by the two attacks. Upon contact, the Rasengan smashes into its target, propelling it along the path of the target – either pushing it away from the user or sinking it into the ground beneath them – and at some point explodes, causing significant damage at the point of contact.
How is the Rasengan taught?
The Rasengan requires extremely refined chakra control, which very few ninja possess naturally. For this reason, the Rasengan is difficult to master. In order to help others gain the necessary chakra control, learning the Rasengan is divided into three stages:
- Rotation – the user learns to rotate their chakra in multiple directions at once. To help him in this task, he can be given a water balloon so that he can follow his progress thanks to the movement of the water; this stage is complete when the user is able to pop the balloon with their chakra. It is important for the user to know which direction their body naturally flows its chakra for this step.
- Power – the user must increase the volume and density of the chakra they produce. To help him with this task, he can be given a rubber balloon: there is no water inside to help him pop the outside and the rubber envelope is thicker than that of a balloon.
- Containment – the user must combine the first two steps into a bounded sphere. To help him in this task, he can be given a ball to help him visualize the desired shape; if the balloon bursts or moves, control is not yet achieved.
Completing the final stage is by far the most difficult. This is why both Naruto Uzumaki and Konohamaru Sarutobi use shadow clones to help them form the Rasengan, with the clone’s hands being used to create the containment husk. Each of them thus has a quick way to use the Rasengan without having to spend time fully mastering their chakra. Both eventually learn to use the Rasengan without the help of clones: Naruto during the Fourth Shinobi World War; Konohamaru during the post-war decade.