Genjutsu - that is, Illusionary Techniques - are some of the most powerful techniques in the ninja world when utilized with careful strategy and control. While Taijutsu works with the body, and Ninjutsu works with the elements, Genjutsu works with the mind. Illusionists are tricky because they won’t try to cut you or hit you or burn you or harm you in any obvious way. Your physical body is safe. It’s your brain that is in danger, and unfortunately your brain that you often leave with the least amount of defense. Genjutsu works by targeting the chakra around the brain and affecting the five senses, causing illusions and false realities to overtake the victim. Just like Ninjutsu, one must use handsigns and chakra to perform Genjutsu, actually, Genjutsu are technically a form of Ninjutsu known as ‘Yin Release’. But that’s stupid and complicated so we’ll just refer to them as Genjutsu.
While one is under the influence of Genjutsu, the physical effects are that they could be frozen in place, unconscious, or even completely mobile under certain pretenses. The latter is pretty effective in battle, because with this, using Genjutsu, one can force an opponent to move themselves right into danger. Although Genjutsu is generally used to cause pain or to stop an opponent in their tracks so that they may be physically harmed, some Jutsu exist that work by brainwashing or controlling people. Interrogation techniques are effective through Genjutsu, as well. When someone is capable of Genjutsu, they’re capable of completely changing a victim’s reality… and all that comes with that.
Genjutsu can be defended against in multiple ways. The most basic and accessible defense against Genjutsu is through the technique called Kai. Kai is a C-ranked technique that anybody can use in which the user applies a brutal burst of their own chakra to their system and overrides the Genjutsu chakra that’s taken hold of them. Unfortunately, Kai does not work in all situations. Those of the Genjutsu class, for example, can not have their Genjutsu be Kaied out of if the user is a rank below them. Even worse, there are certain bloodlines that completely prevent their Genjutsu being defeated by Kai. Someone externally Kaiing another, however, is usually a solid defense against Genjutsu. Similar to how you can Kai yourself out of a Genjutsu, someone else can put their hand on you and apply a brutal burst of chakra into your system, doing the same thing to a much more efficient degree. There are almost no ways that can prevent you from being freed by other people Kaiing you.
Another way to pull yourself out of a Genjutsu is by self-inflicted pain. If you’re conscious enough to be able to do it, one can injure themselves non fatally and use the pain of the experience to ground them back in reality and bring back their five senses. The efficiency through which pain works is like this:
If a Genjutsu is the same rank as you, you can harm yourself and use pain to get out of it one post after realizing you’re in an illusion. For every rank the illusion is above you, two more posts are added to the time it takes for pain to work and take you out of the illusion. While many Genjutsu have a time limit, in which they eventually run their course and let you go, some have absolutely no limit and will restrain you as long as you allow.
The most dangerous part about being under Genjutsu is realizing you’re actually, y’know, under Genjutsu. It’s nearly impossible to distinguish that someone has cast an illusion on you versus them simply using some sort of Ninjutsu. Some Doujutsu, however, are able to do this much more quickly than others. Similar to how pain can get you out of a Genjutsu (scaling to your rank), recognizing that you’re in an illusion works the same way. If a Genjutsu is the same rank as you, it will take two posts for you to realize you’re in an illusion. For every rank above you, it will take an additional post for you to understand you’re under Genjutsu. For every rank below you, it takes one less post. Some Genjutsu (and yes, this is possible) give you no way to realize you’re in them due to their natures. These genjutsu are mostly the brainwashing techniques. In this case, you can only hope someone on the outside saves you.
Doujutsu users such as the Hyuuga and the Uchiha are both very efficient at detecting when they’re in Genjutsu. If one has a Doujutsu that is capable of this that’s active when a Genjutsu is used against them, they will instantly recognize that they are in an illusion, however they still have to figure out a way out of the illusion. Adding on to this, the Sharingan is capable of seeing when others are under the influence of Genjutsu, and the Byakugan can see exact irregularities in one’s chakra to see the same thing. The Sharingan is capable of breaking a Genjutsu much more easily, meaning that Genjutsu used against them are one rank weaker.
Genjutsu can be triggered through a variety of means. Those with the Sharingan are capable of activating almost all Genjutsu purely through eye contact. Those with the Sound sub-element can activate Genjutsu through certain sounds by manipulating pitches. Anyone can activate Genjutsu by touch. If none of these options are viable, many Genjutsu will specify a trigger for them, whether it be a flash of light or simply seeing an illusionist perform the seals for the Genjutsu. Some bloodlines and clans will also have other techniques to trigger Genjutsu. The best defense against Genjutsu is not allowing yourself to be struck by them, and knowing the triggers your opponent can use thus avoiding them.
Genjutsu techniques take the same amount of time to learn as Ninjutsu techniques, however, due to their nature, are learned in a different fashion. To learn Genjutsu, one must meditate and learn the technique within themselves. They have to carefully dissect the technique and the chakra used in it; basically, they have to perform the Genjutsu on themselves, although they are never in any danger. Genjutsu can be learned by practicing with people, however it takes one additional post to learn Genjutsu if the user is not meditating. Genjutsu is much more an intellectual fight than a physical or chakral one.
While one is under the influence of Genjutsu, the physical effects are that they could be frozen in place, unconscious, or even completely mobile under certain pretenses. The latter is pretty effective in battle, because with this, using Genjutsu, one can force an opponent to move themselves right into danger. Although Genjutsu is generally used to cause pain or to stop an opponent in their tracks so that they may be physically harmed, some Jutsu exist that work by brainwashing or controlling people. Interrogation techniques are effective through Genjutsu, as well. When someone is capable of Genjutsu, they’re capable of completely changing a victim’s reality… and all that comes with that.
Genjutsu can be defended against in multiple ways. The most basic and accessible defense against Genjutsu is through the technique called Kai. Kai is a C-ranked technique that anybody can use in which the user applies a brutal burst of their own chakra to their system and overrides the Genjutsu chakra that’s taken hold of them. Unfortunately, Kai does not work in all situations. Those of the Genjutsu class, for example, can not have their Genjutsu be Kaied out of if the user is a rank below them. Even worse, there are certain bloodlines that completely prevent their Genjutsu being defeated by Kai. Someone externally Kaiing another, however, is usually a solid defense against Genjutsu. Similar to how you can Kai yourself out of a Genjutsu, someone else can put their hand on you and apply a brutal burst of chakra into your system, doing the same thing to a much more efficient degree. There are almost no ways that can prevent you from being freed by other people Kaiing you.
Another way to pull yourself out of a Genjutsu is by self-inflicted pain. If you’re conscious enough to be able to do it, one can injure themselves non fatally and use the pain of the experience to ground them back in reality and bring back their five senses. The efficiency through which pain works is like this:
If a Genjutsu is the same rank as you, you can harm yourself and use pain to get out of it one post after realizing you’re in an illusion. For every rank the illusion is above you, two more posts are added to the time it takes for pain to work and take you out of the illusion. While many Genjutsu have a time limit, in which they eventually run their course and let you go, some have absolutely no limit and will restrain you as long as you allow.
The most dangerous part about being under Genjutsu is realizing you’re actually, y’know, under Genjutsu. It’s nearly impossible to distinguish that someone has cast an illusion on you versus them simply using some sort of Ninjutsu. Some Doujutsu, however, are able to do this much more quickly than others. Similar to how pain can get you out of a Genjutsu (scaling to your rank), recognizing that you’re in an illusion works the same way. If a Genjutsu is the same rank as you, it will take two posts for you to realize you’re in an illusion. For every rank above you, it will take an additional post for you to understand you’re under Genjutsu. For every rank below you, it takes one less post. Some Genjutsu (and yes, this is possible) give you no way to realize you’re in them due to their natures. These genjutsu are mostly the brainwashing techniques. In this case, you can only hope someone on the outside saves you.
Doujutsu users such as the Hyuuga and the Uchiha are both very efficient at detecting when they’re in Genjutsu. If one has a Doujutsu that is capable of this that’s active when a Genjutsu is used against them, they will instantly recognize that they are in an illusion, however they still have to figure out a way out of the illusion. Adding on to this, the Sharingan is capable of seeing when others are under the influence of Genjutsu, and the Byakugan can see exact irregularities in one’s chakra to see the same thing. The Sharingan is capable of breaking a Genjutsu much more easily, meaning that Genjutsu used against them are one rank weaker.
Genjutsu can be triggered through a variety of means. Those with the Sharingan are capable of activating almost all Genjutsu purely through eye contact. Those with the Sound sub-element can activate Genjutsu through certain sounds by manipulating pitches. Anyone can activate Genjutsu by touch. If none of these options are viable, many Genjutsu will specify a trigger for them, whether it be a flash of light or simply seeing an illusionist perform the seals for the Genjutsu. Some bloodlines and clans will also have other techniques to trigger Genjutsu. The best defense against Genjutsu is not allowing yourself to be struck by them, and knowing the triggers your opponent can use thus avoiding them.
Genjutsu techniques take the same amount of time to learn as Ninjutsu techniques, however, due to their nature, are learned in a different fashion. To learn Genjutsu, one must meditate and learn the technique within themselves. They have to carefully dissect the technique and the chakra used in it; basically, they have to perform the Genjutsu on themselves, although they are never in any danger. Genjutsu can be learned by practicing with people, however it takes one additional post to learn Genjutsu if the user is not meditating. Genjutsu is much more an intellectual fight than a physical or chakral one.
Edit: Tyler mentioned that certain amounts of pain should be more effective than other amounts. Should we make a Minor Wound, Deep Wound, and Severe wound system to go with this? Should each class increase the time it takes to get out of a Genjutsu or should certain Genjutsu require certain wounds?
Edit: Another thing about Pain - Muffin suggested that it instantly break you out with penalities the higher ranked the Genjutsu is above you.
