The True Several Thousand Hands is a technique which creates a titanic, many-handed wooden statue that can be freely controlled by the user.
Usage
There have been two distinct uses of this technique: one which creates a statue which easily dwarfs even a tailed beast, and another smaller scale variation which was nonetheless comparably formidable.
Hashirama Senju
After entering Sage Mode, Hashirama creates a wooden statue of titanic proportions, easily able to dwarf Kurama. Thousands of hands originate from the statue's back in countless concentric rows, while its two main hands are clasped, as if in prayer. The statue can serve a variety of purposes in battle, from fighting on Hashirama's behalf to defending and even using other techniques. The sheer size of this technique makes it almost impossible to attack Hashirama himself.[1][2]
Yamato & Guruguru
Guruguru, while using Yamato as a medium, used another version of the statue — albeit smaller — that demonstrated the ability to use the five basic chakra natures. Each of the five smaller heads encircling the statue's main head simultaneously used a different nature against the Allied Shinobi Forces, though they were countered by Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.[3]
Influence
This technique seems to be influenced by the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara, also known as "Senju Kannon" (千手観音, literally meaning: Thousand-Armed Kannon).
One prominent story tells of Kannon vowing never to rest until he had freed all beings from Saṃsāra. After strenuous effort, but struggling to comprehend the needs of so many who still had yet to be saved, his head splits into eleven pieces. The Buddha Amida, seeing his plight, gives him eleven heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing and comprehending these cries, Kannon attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that his two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amida comes to his aid and grants him a thousand arms with which to aid the suffering.
Trivia
- When Hashirama used this technique, the creatures created through the Wood Release: Wood Human Technique and the Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique sat atop the head of the wooden statue.
