Meaning of Naruto hand signs

It can say that the Naruto hand signs have been an iconic part of the franchise since the beginning. Most fans have fond memories of learning how to do these signs. Let’s go through ten of the most iconic Naruto hand signs and their meaning.

1) Clone sign

Despite not being associated with many Jutsus, this Naruto hand sign used to create the iconic Shadow Clones has to be the most popular in the franchise. The sign is created by lifting the index and middle fingers of both hands and creating a cross with them. This is the only Naruto hand sign that is not associated with a specific animal in the show. It was inspired by the hand sign used by the protagonist of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong. This iconic literary piece heavily inspired Naruto’s story, so Kishimoto wanted to pay tribute to the character that started it all.

2) Ram

After the Shadow Clones seal, the Ram is the other most used Naruto hand sign in the series. This sign is not associated with any specific elemental nature, but it does seem to be linked with the Chakra control needed for Jutsus.

The Ram sign is easy to learn. You need to raise the index and middle finger of each hand and cover the extended right fingers with the left hand.

During the first half of the series, this Naruto hand sign was used to help Genin gather and release Chakra in the most basic ways. Later, this sign was synonymous with releasing a powerful Jutsu or one that needed concentration. A fun fact about this sign is that it is a requirement to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu, even though Naruto typically skips it.

3) Horse

The Horse is another one of the Naruto hand seals that have no elemental nature associated with it. Nevertheless, it is most commonly undertaken by members of the Uchiha clan, especially Sasuke, to use the Fireball Jutsu.

This hand sign is also commonly used to dispel illusions, although this is rarely ever seen in the franchise. Unfortunately, it is one of the most complex Naruto hand signs to perform, as you need to extend each index finger and connect them while the rest of the fingers are stacked, but only by the knuckles.

If you are interested in Naruto-inspired designer products, please see more at Naruto’s Collection here!