Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique
The King of Hell releases the souls… …which return to their bodies. 1 of 2
Name
Kanji	外道・輪廻天生の術
Rōmaji	Gedō: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu
Literal English	Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique
Viz manga	Gedo: Art of Rinne Rebirth
Debut
Manga	Chapter #449
Anime	Naruto Shippūden Episode #174
Movie	Naruto 5: Blood Prison
Game	Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
OVA	Naruto Shippūden: UNSG anime cutscenes
Appears in	Anime, Manga, Game and Movie
Data
Classification	Kekkei Genkai, Ninjutsu, Reincarnation Ninjutsu, Dōjutsu
Class	Supplementary
Hand seals	Ram → Snake
Other jutsu
Parent jutsu	Outer Path
Users Nagato Obito Uchiha (Manga only)

By channelling their power through the King of Hell, the Rinnegan wielder can re-infuse new life force energy to the bodies of those who have died. With their rejuvenated bodies acting as an anchor, the individual souls are then able to leave even the crossroad between life and the afterlife, returning back to their physical vessels. The technique targets all the individuals killed, even those not necessarily killed by the user. This technique seemingly requires a massive amount of chakra, as Konan feared the worst for Nagato when he used it after having previously expended so much chakra. Nagato also became severely weakened, his hair became increasingly thinner and greyer as he performed the technique.

Influences

As with many of the Rinnegan's techniques, it is influenced by Buddhist terminology. Gedō (外道, lit. "Outer Path"), derived from the Sanskrit Tīrthika, refers to any doctrine which "treads the outer path" to enlightenment. This is opposed to the teachings of orthodox Buddhism, the Naidō (内道; Literally meaning "Inner Path"), and is thus considered misguided and heretical.

Trivia

• Madara Uchiha — and Obito under the guise of Madara — noted that this technique was supposed to be used to revive him.^[1][2] Madara would have eventually reincarnated anyway and expressed surprise and disappointment that his return didn't go as planned, as only a living body can become a jinchūriki, which he wanted to do with the Ten-Tails.^[3][4]
• Because Madara has been reincarnated and not revived, he needs Obito to perform this technique so that he can become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. Obito has noted that this would result in his own death however.^[4]

References

1. ↑ Naruto chapter 453, page 18
2. ↑ Naruto chapter 601, page 11
3. ↑ Naruto, chapter 559, page 2
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Naruto chapter 614, page 5