Orochimaru stands out as one of the most intelligent figures in the Naruto series, showcasing his profound knowledge in chakra and ninjutsu. His expertise has garnered widespread recognition in the shinobi world, marking him as a formidable adversary not to be underestimated.
Regrettably, individuals driven by a desire for power and an aversion to weakness often seek out Orochimaru, falling prey to his malevolent machinations. Those who succumb to Orochimaru’s temptations and accept the cursed mark, known as the ‘curse seal,’ rarely return with their sanity intact.
Notable characters in Naruto, such as Kimimaro and Anko, entered into this ominous pact with Orochimaru, bearing the cursed mark as a consequence. Additionally, one of the central protagonists, Sasuke Uchiha, also became ensnared in Orochimaru’s web, succumbing to the allure of enhanced power through the cursed mark.
Discovering Orochimaru’s Curse Seal
Orochimaru’s cursed seal, known as Juinjutsu, is a transformative seal jutsu that he can inflict upon individuals using his teeth. The revelation of the seal’s origin occurred later in the series after it was applied to Sasuke in the early episodes.
The intricacy of this seal’s magic lies not primarily with Orochimaru but with one of his subordinates, Juzo (later seen in Karin’s group in the series). Juzo possessed the ability to absorb nature’s energy, a concept employed in Sage mode by Naruto and others capable of utilizing such techniques.
Orochimaru merged his energy with Juzo’s fluids, which had the capacity to store energy, creating a seal that he employed throughout the series to entice individuals seeking increased strength. Juzo’s fluids facilitated Orochimaru in manipulating others through the infusion of a small percentage of his energy into the seal.
Upon receiving this seal, its powers do not activate immediately, as the seal gradually replaces the individual’s chakra with that of Orochimaru. The effects of this seal operate on two levels: the initial stage enhances physical strength as the seal expands, and the subsequent stage physically transforms the user, amplifying their potency.
Orochimaru’s Curse Seal Technique
Orochimaru continually refined his technique, resulting in various designs for the cursed seals, each iteration addressing defects observed in previous versions. Canonically, four designs of Orochimaru’s cursed seal exist in the Naruto series.
The first design, ‘Prisoners’ Cursed Seals,’ served as a prototype applied to certain prisoners within Orochimaru’s research facility. The second, ‘Sound Four’s Cursed Seals,’ was utilized on the renowned four sound ninjas who assisted Sasuke in escaping the Hidden Leaf Village.
The last two types represented the most advanced seals, with the ‘Cursed Seal of Earth’ being the first, bestowed upon Kimimaro. Kimimaro, the last survivor of his clan, employed the ‘Dead Bone Pulse’ jutsu, involving the extraction of his bones for combat, gaining fame for his battle against Rock Lee.
The final design is the ‘Cursed Seal of Heaven,’ granted to Anko Mitarashi, a proctor during Naruto’s Chuunin Exams, and Sasuke, a key character in the series. Remarkably, these two individuals were the only ones able to remove Orochimaru’s seal and survive. However, the utilization of this seal comes with drawbacks, ranging from dizziness to, at times, a complete loss of sanity.
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