The world of Naruto is a fascinating and multifaceted one in which incredible jutsu and powerful Tailed Beasts exist, along with an expansive list of strange or even alien entities making for some compelling mysteries. One element introduced in Part 2 of the series, or Naruto Shippuden for anime fans, is a strange organization that Hidan from the Akatsuki represents. The Cult of Jashin is one of the more subtle loose ends in the series, creating one of the more interesting mysteries of the Naruto world, but for fans who have explored more of the series lore, this case might be closed.
The Cult of Jashin, or Jashinists, are only glimpsed through their shockingly immortal follower, Hidan, whose practices of the religion give Naruto fans a glimpse at a flawed yet effective form of eternal life. This, combined with Hidan's lethal efficiency, makes for a deadly threat that would have been difficult for even Jonin to handle if it had not been for Shikamaru's brilliant planning in one of Naruto's best fights. But more recent materials, both in light novel and in manga format, have explored the Cult of Jashin, and the concept of their "god" more closely, to indicate a fascinating if disappointing possible truth.
Two Naruto Spinoffs Cast Doubt on Jashin's Existence
A Strong Case to Read Naruto's Extended Universe
Two stories explore the Cult of Jashin's existence in Naruto, mainly Akatsuki Hiden: Evil Flowers in Full Bloom chapter #2, and Konoha Shinden, also known as Naruto: Konoha's Story — The Steam Ninja Scrolls in its manga adaptation. Each series dives into Jashin's followers, namely Hidan, who joined the Akatsuki, Ameyuki, who admired Hidan and carried out a massacre in the name of Jashinism, and Lord Ryuki, who leads the splintering Jashinists in Hidan's absence. Interestingly, Jashin never makes an appearance or is spoken of in a historical sense, with Hidan often upheld almost like a prophet.
The existence of Jashin is cast further into doubt as illustrated in the Konoha's Story manga, chapter #12, where Mirai Sarutobi reads classified material on Jashinists, listed as "new age radicals" with their belief possibly founded on delusions. Hidan's ability of immortality is never clearly laid out but is implicitly linked to the Jashinists' special abilities, or Jujutsu (cursed techniques) and ritual experimentation, including mass human sacrifice. What's worse is that, beyond those upheld as cult prophets like Hidan or his would-be successor, Ryuki, those who attempted to practice it were treated as fodder.
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This brings attention to Ameyuki, who carries out Jashin's hypothetical will in Naruto's Akatsuki Hiden spinoff by destroying his home village of Shangri-la and its inhabitants. Despite this being his way of honoring Jashin's commandment, "kill thy neighbor," he is never empowered in any sense, instead killed by Hidan's voodoo jutsu while being conveniently hailed as a "martyr." However, the continuous existence of Jashinists and a follower willing to uphold Hidan more directly as his idol than Jashin himself gives one Naruto character a chance for closure in Konoha's Story.
Konoha's Story — The Steam Ninja Scrolls Gives One Character Closure
Mirai Sarutobi Shines Brightly in the Land of Steam
In the Naruto spinoff featuring a special adventure for Mirai Sarutobi, whose father was killed by Hidan, Mirai gets closure by seeking out and defeating what is seemingly the last remnant of the Cult of Jashin. What's interesting is that Ryuki, who recognizes the Jashinist's struggle in an era devoid of opportunities to wreak death and destruction, is mirrored by Mirai's lack of purpose in a mundane era for Konoha. But with Ryuki's delusions being fueled by the cost of human life, Mirai found that purpose, defeating him and realizing she must defend the future generations of shinobi.
What's also interesting is that Mirai defeats the Jashin cultists, whose most dangerous former member killed her father, a cathartic moment that strikingly presents her as the spitting image of Asuma. Kakashi even notices this in Konoha's Story chapter #14, recognizing this as a necessary development for the young chunin. It's an excellent moment that closes the book on one of Naruto's most mysterious beings, pointing instead to the unique flexibility of chakra and the twisted jutsu used to manipulate it and achieve immortality.
Naruto Has More Powerful Godlike Characters Than Jashin
Non-Deities with Far More Sinister and Dangerous Abilities
Beyond the nebulous and likely forever unconfirmed existence of Jashin, Naruto boasts many more demonstrably powerful beings with far more at their disposal than immortality. These include the Tailed Beasts like Kurama, whose return in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex indicates a way for Biju to cheat death, but more notably, the Otsutsuki, whose members' consumption of the Chakra Fruit has given them godlike status in Naruto. However, the Otsutsuki are essentially aliens in the Naruto canon whose abilities can reach godlike heights, as in the case of Shibai, far exceeding the appeal of Jashin.
In addition to being more powerful than Jashin, the Otsutsuki and Biju have a much more important legacy in the world of Naruto. Despite being confirmed as an alien race, their members directly influenced the world and the mythology of the franchise, including Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, ancestor to all ninjas, and the alien Kaguya Otsutsuki, hailed as "The Rabbit Goddess." Naruto and Boruto's characters are powerful and revered enough despite not being technically gods, to the point that Jashin suddenly becomes far less of a compelling mystery by comparison.
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16 9.2/10
Naruto (2002)
TV-PG
Animation
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Naruto is an action-adventure anime series based on the manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. The titular Naruto Uzumaki is a fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sealed inside him, which once wreaked havoc on his village. Shunned by his community yet determined to earn their respect, Naruto dreams of becoming the greatest ninja, the Hokage. This series follows his journey through the Ninja Academy as he continues to train and grow, hoping to prove himself to his peers- and himself.
- Cast
- Junko Takeuchi , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Hidekatsu Shibata
- Release Date
- October 3, 2002
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Franchise(s)
- Naruto
- Writers
- Masashi Kishimoto
- Directors
- Hayato Date
- Showrunner
- Masashi Kishimoto
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Creator(s)
- Masashi Kishimoto
