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. After using the technique, Nagato became severely weakened; his hair became white due to overexertion of his chakra.
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 eventually be 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] Due to Obito's usage of the technique being interrupted and incomplete, he was critically drained and his hair whitened, though he lived to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki.[5]
- When written as '輪廻転生', Rinne Tensei means "the circle of transmigration".
