Who created the Chidori?

Kakashi Hatake. It is his only truly original technique, born from a failed attempt to add the Lightning Release nature to the Rasengan.

What is the difference between the Chidori and the Raikiri?

It is the same technique. The Raikiri ("Lightning Cutter") is the version named and perfected by Kakashi's mastery, ranked S-rank against A-rank for the Chidori in the databooks.

Why is the Sharingan necessary for the Chidori?

Because the straight-line charge creates "tunnel vision"; the Sharingan removes it and makes it possible to anticipate counters.

Who else uses the Chidori?

Sasuke Uchiha, whom Kakashi taught it to, made it one of his signature techniques.

Why is the Chidori called "a thousand birds"?

Because of the high-pitched sound of the electric chakra being concentrated, which evokes the chirping of a flock of birds.

Le Chidori et le Raikiri : la foudre de Kakashi

Chidori and Raikiri: Kakashi's Lightning Techniques

July 1, 2026

1097 words | Reading time: 6 min

GuideChidoriKakashi

Kakashi invented only one technique in his entire career. The sound of a thousand birds, a hand crackling with lightning: the Chidori deserves to have its story finally untangled. This guide explains what really separates the Chidori from the Raikiri — same motion, greater mastery, A-rank against S-rank — why the straight-line charge and the tunnel vision make it a risky weapon, what the Sharingan changes, and how Sasuke inherited it.

The sound of a thousand birds, a hand crackling with lightning: the Chidori is the only technique created by Kakashi Hatake. Here is its full story, how it differs from the Raikiri, and why the Sharingan is essential to it.

Kakashi's Only Original Technique
Chidori or Raikiri: What's the Difference?
The Weakness… and the Role of the Sharingan
Kakashi, Sasuke, and the Legacy
Summary Table
FAQ

Kakashi's Only Original Technique

The Chidori ("a thousand birds") is described as the only technique that is truly original to Kakashi Hatake — the rest of his enormous arsenal having been copied with the Sharingan. The irony: it was born from a failure. Kakashi was trying to apply his Lightning Release (Raiton) nature to Minato's Rasengan; the fusion failed, and produced the Chidori. A large amount of electric chakra is concentrated in the hand before charging the opponent at high speed. Its name comes from the high-pitched sound it makes, which evokes a flock of birds.

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Seen from above, a white-haired ninja crouching on stone paving, one hand set on the ground over a point of light, surrounded by a crown of blue electric arcs — The charge: the electric chakra is gathered into a single hand before the assault, in a crackle of arcs.

Chidori or Raikiri: What's the Difference?

The Raikiri ("Lightning Cutter") is technically the same ninjutsu as the Chidori — same hand seals, same mechanics — but performed with greater mastery. The name was given to it after Kakashi reportedly cut a bolt of lightning in two. In the databooks, the Chidori is ranked A-rank and the Raikiri S-rank: a difference of reputation and mastery, not two distinct techniques. (The names echo the historical samurai Tachibana Dōsetsu, whose sword "Chidori" was renamed "Raikiri".)

The Weakness… and the Role of the Sharingan

The Chidori has one major flaw: the charge happens in a straight line, a predictable trajectory that is easy to dodge. Worse, the speed causes "tunnel vision" that prevents any reaction to counters. That is where the Sharingan: its heightened perception removes this tunnel vision and makes it possible to anticipate the opponent. That is why Minato had forbidden Kakashi from using the technique until he had received the Sharingan from Obito.

Extreme close-up of an eye with a red iris bearing three black comma marks, crossed vertically by a scar running from the eyebrow to the cheek — Kakashi's Sharingan, beneath the scar: its heightened perception removes the tunnel vision of the charge.

Kakashi, Sasuke, and the Legacy

Kakashi passed the Chidori on to his student Sasuke Uchiha, who made it one of his signature techniques and developed it into many variants. The chakra cost limits the number of uses per day, which makes it a decisive assault weapon rather than a technique to spam.

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A young ninja with spiky black hair and a bandaged forearm, in pouring rain, holds out a hand crossed by blue and white lightning — Sasuke, the student Kakashi passed the technique on to, and who would draw many variants from it.

Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Creator	Kakashi Hatake (his only original technique)
Nature	Lightning Release (Raiton)
Raikiri	Same technique, greater mastery (S-rank vs A)
Weakness	Straight line + tunnel vision
Counter	The Sharingan makes up for the weakness
Heir	Sasuke Uchiha

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FAQ

Who created the Chidori?
Kakashi Hatake. It is his only truly original technique, born from a failed attempt to add the Lightning Release nature to the Rasengan.
What is the difference between the Chidori and the Raikiri?
It is the same technique. The Raikiri ("Lightning Cutter") is the version named and perfected by Kakashi's mastery, ranked S-rank against A-rank for the Chidori in the databooks.
Why is the Sharingan necessary for the Chidori?
Because the straight-line charge creates "tunnel vision"; the Sharingan removes it and makes it possible to anticipate counters.
Who else uses the Chidori?
Sasuke Uchiha, whom Kakashi taught it to, made it one of his signature techniques.
Why is the Chidori called "a thousand birds"?
Because of the high-pitched sound of the electric chakra being concentrated, which evokes the chirping of a flock of birds.

In summary

Born from a failure, turned legend, Kakashi's lightning embodies the ingenuity of the Copy Ninja — and one of the most legendary duels in the series, against the Rasengan.

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