The Rinnegan is characterised by a ripple-like pattern over the eyeballs, with a light purple irides and sclerae. It is said to be the most powerful of the Three Great Dōjutsu (三大瞳術, San Daidōjutsu; Literally meaning "Three Great Eye Techniques").^[1]

Background

It was admired as being able to bring forth all ninjutsu.^[2] The holder of these eyes can completely master all five basic nature transformations that form the basis of ninjutsu.^[3] It was said that in times when the world is in disorder, a person is sent down from the heavens to become either a "God of Creation" who will calm the world, or a "Destroyer" who will reduce everything to nothingness.^[4] The Rinnegan allows the user to use all of the six paths' techniques, as well as the seventh path — that is "beyond life and death".^[5]

The first person to possess the Rinnegan was the Sage of the Six Paths. Because of the Sage's mythical status, many people believed the Rinnegan was only a legend or a mutation.^[6] It later showed up in Nagato during his childhood. Tobi claims that he gave Nagato the Rinnegan.^[7] For this reason, he believes he is entitled to taking the Rinnegan from Nagato's body after his death.^[8] He implants one of Nagato's Rinnegan in his left socket, replacing the Sharingan he lost to blindness.

Through unknown means, Madara Uchiha managed to awaken the Rinnegan shortly before his death and during his battle as a reincarnated corpse against the Allied Shinobi Forces, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan transformed into the Rinnegan. Based on data collected over the years, Kabuto Yakushi and Orochimaru theorised that because the Sharingan originated from the Rinnegan, it was possible for the dōjutsu to progress to the Rinnegan as part of a "natural evolution".^[9]

Abilities

Like the Mangekyō Sharingan and Sharingan, the Rinnegan has shown the ability to control tailed beasts through the use of the Outer Path's ability with its chakra chains and receivers.^[10]

The Six Paths of Pain were all reanimated corpses that Nagato gave the Rinnegan to through some unknown means. By doing so, Nagato could see each individual body's field of vision, coordinating the bodies with extremely precise planning. The animals summoned through the Animal Path also possessed the Rinnegan, so Nagato controlled and also shared a field of vision with them and the King of Hell with the use of the Outer Path technique.^[11][12] On its own, the Rinnegan allows the user to see chakra, including otherwise hidden barriers.^[13][14] It can also distinguish a shadow clone from the original,^[15] and decipher more of the Sage of the Six Paths' tablet than the Sharingan and the Mangekyō Sharingan are able to.^[16]

Trivia

• In the anime, the Rinnegan was depicted as being multicoloured in its first few appearances. Once coloured manga illustrations of the Rinnegan were released, this was corrected.
• In Naruto: Shippūden episode 203, a silhouette of the Sage of the Six Paths is shown. Here, the Sage's Rinnegan is shown to be red instead of the usual colour.
• Rinne (輪廻) is the Japanese term for Samsara, the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth in several Indian religions. This is reflected in the names of all Six Paths of Pain, which share the names with Samsaric realms of reincarnation.

References

1. ↑ Naruto chapter 373, page 2
2. ↑ Naruto chapter 425, page 9
3. ↑ Naruto chapter 375, page 11
4. ↑ Third Databook, page 313
5. ↑ Naruto chapter 449, page 1
6. ↑ Naruto chapter 462, page 11
7. ↑ Naruto chapter 509, page 4
8. ↑ Naruto chapter 486, page 5
9. ↑ Naruto chapter 560, pages 14-15
10. ↑ Naruto chapter 569, page 10
11. ↑ Naruto chapter 552, page 3
12. ↑ Naruto chapter 556, pages 5-6
13. ↑ Naruto chapter 419, page 2
14. ↑ Naruto chapter 429, page 1
15. ↑ Naruto chapter 601, page 2
16. ↑ Naruto chapter 467, page 11