Genjutsu Rules

Genjutsu (幻術, Literally meaning: Illusionary Techniques) is one of the main jutsu categories which uses chakra. Unlike ninjutsu, the effects of genjutsu are not real, being only illusions experienced by those who fall victim to it. According to the Second Mizukage, genjutsu falls under the broad category of Yin Release. A genjutsu is created when a ninja controls the chakra flow of a target's cerebral nervous system, thereby affecting their five senses. This is frequently used to create false images and/or trick the body into believing its has experienced physical pain. Genjutsu can also be used to manipulate others - similar to brainwashing - by feeding the victim illusive suggestions. Most genjutsu is performed visually, requiring the target make eye contact with the caster. Other methods include integration with nature transformation, as shown with Water and Lightning Release, and in the anime, ingesting special pills that activate when the target sleeps. Audible genjutsu is deemed the most dangerous because the user can trap victims from long distances.

Certain Genjutsu works on these things we've known thus far as triggers. In order for these Genjutsu to successfully activate, the Genjutsu must be able to infiltrate one of the five senses of the body- Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell, Taste. The chakra inserted into the victim following that subjects them to the casters whim - feeding the victims senses signals that things are happening to them that are but merely figments of the caster's imagination. Some triggers are more subtle - such as making direct eye-contact or a target's gazing upon a finger. Triggers can avoided, but they sometimes may be hard to spot. It's these subtle triggers that can create more damaging effects once they are completed. Others may be more obvious and may be impossible to avoid - but at the cost of a weaker connection that might stand out a bit more and be more easily spotted thereby forcing the target to have to dispel them. If you have a more autohitty trigger that is difficult to spot the chances are that you're only going to be affecting a target's most basic senses while a more subtle trigger will be more effective in the illusion's application as it establishes a deeper connection into the targets brain. If a sense becomes blocked, however, so does ones ability to influence it. This is where techniques like Hiding in Mist and Hiding in Fire and Ash are troublesome as they block the visual avenue of Genjutsu, forcing one to rely on other senses to manipulate. There are two primary types of triggers that comprise all Genjutsu:

General Triggers - General triggers are always going to cover a small or large area. When a victim crosses into the area of effect, they fall victim to the Genjutsu. These triggers are solely reserved for Perceptional Genjutsu. Examples include: Hazy Genjutsu, Temple of Nirvana, and Sly Mind Affect. Genjutsu that use General Triggers render the user immobile, making them best used with teammates as support or when out of sight.

Subtle Triggers - Subtle triggers cover things eye contact, looking at specific limbs or even a weapon, and triggering based on stimulating one of the basic five senses. These can be Perceptional Genjutsu OR Nightmare Genjutsu. More often than not, these Genjutsu are Nightmare Genjutsu. Examples include: Genjutsu: Sharingan, Ephemeral, and Bell Ring Genjutsu. Genjutsu that use Subtle Triggers do not render the user immobile.

Occasionally, those skilled in Genjutsu may choose to layer their illusions so that releasing one triggers another. Other times Genjutsu users may choose to have two illusions take place at the same time. Casting multiple illusions on the same opponent is known as "stacking". Horizontal stacking is when you have multiple Genjutsu take effect at once. Vertical stacking is when you have one Genjutsu in effect at a time but they are layered in such a way that the release of one precipitates the beginning of another. Shinobi engaging in horizontal stacking may only have one illusion of each rank in play at once. Also, the use of a single Kai: Release on horizontally stacked Genjutsu releases all of them albeit the cost for dispelling each Genjutsu must be paid. Shinobi that are engaging in vertical stacking must mention in their technique registration that certain illusions are designed to stack with one another. Unlike horizontal stacking, the user cannot simply layer whichever Genjutsu they choose, it must be registered as such prior to use. Vertical  stacking also differs in that it does not limit the rank of Genjutsu layered nor does the single use of Kai: Release end the Genjutsu layered below it. This is because the ending of one Genjutsu is considered the general trigger for another Genjutsu that has yet to take effect. Vertical stacked Genjutsu are generally more expensive to cast for the user.

It is also important to note the relevance of a character's stats in deciding whether or not a character knows they are in a Genjutsu.

- Genjutsu that deal in stat debuffs and/or changes in the environment are considered Perceptional Genjutsu. These are the easiest Genjutsu to learn and most practical to use. They are most frequently used to set a enemy off course, slow down the opponent by debuff, or give an entirely false setting. These Genjutsu triggers are almost always General triggers, though Subtle triggers can be used to increase its effectiveness.

-Genjutsu that involve causing direct pain, suffering, or fear into the opponent are considered Nightmare Genjutsu. These Genjutsu are most often obvious to the victim, but like a Nightmare, they have a feeling of being trapped and cannot simply 'wake up.' These are the most difficult Genjutsu to learn and also the most powerful being able to cause Psychological Damage (damage is measured by the technique's power and deals damage to the victim's Intelligence rather than Constitution.) Nightmare Genjutsu that renders an opponent inert is likely to exact drawbacks which prevent the caster from immediately attacking their unconscious opponent. The level of restriction on caster's movement will vary depending on the nature of the Nightmare Genjutsu . Drawbacks may also bar the use of clones while the Nightmare Genjutsu is in effect, or other technique that require extreme concentration.

The caster's Intelligence determines how convincing the Genjutsu is. Ideally, the higher the caster's Intelligence is over the victim's Intelligence, the longer the victim will remain in the Genjutsu. Rank will more-or-less determine how effective the Genjutsu is, whether it's dealing a stat debuff or Psy damage, as well as its difficulty to break it. Higher ranking technique require more chakra and are tougher to learn, therefore have greater resources allocated to its effectiveness than a cheap, easy-to-use trick.

- If the Intelligence of the user is lower than the Intelligence of the victim the Genjutsu can be immediately recognized.

- If the Intelligence of the user is equal to the victim's Intelligence the Genjutsu can be recognized in one post.

- If the Intelligence of the user is one tier higher than the victim's Intelligence the Genjutsu can be recognized in three posts.

- If the Intelligence of the user is two tiers higher than the victim's Intelligence the Genjutsu can be recognized in five posts.

- If the Intelligence of the user is three tiers or higher than the victim's Intelligence the Genjutsu cannot be recognized.

Recognizing a Genjutsu will essentially mean you find the flaws passively after an allotted time. This does not rule out the ability to discover the illusion through RP means (such as someone with higher Intelligence pointing out the illusion.) This also does not rule the potential of having learned a technique and recognizing it immediately. However, in the case of Nightmare Genjutsu, since those rely on the user to mentally gain control over themselves similar to lucid dreaming, an ally pointing out a Genjutsu does not work in this case and must either be broken externally by a teammate or by the user.

Remember that recognizing that you are in Genjutsu is not the same as removing it. This means that once someone recognizes they are in a illusion they will then have the secondary task of dispelling it. This is due to how Genjutsu works since the user disrupts their victim's chakra with their own.

There are several options to combat Genjutsu:

- Genjutsu Kai

Genjutsu Kai:

- Jinchūriki who have formed a good relationship with their tailed beast can have their tailed beast release them.

- Pain that is not caused by the Genjutsu can bring victims back to their senses. The pain is commensurate with the complexity of the Genjutsu afflicting the subject. The more powerful the Genjutsu the greater amount of pain it takes to be released.

- Possessing certain Doujutsu gives one a potent defense against Genjutsu as their acute vision allows them to recognize its flaws and influence, or simply see the chakra flow itself. Some Genjutsu like the Sharingan can even free others from Genjutsu by inserting themselves into the opponent's illusion and releasing it.

- Kikaichū from the Aburame are impervious to Genjutsu because their brain structures aren't sophisticated enough, allowing members of the Aburame clan a method to identify and counter Genjutsu.

- Strong smells and the pain caused by certain irritants, such as those from Chili Pepper Bombs, can counteract some Genjutsu. Although like pain, the strength of the item used must be commensurate with the Genjutsu being dispelled.

- Sensory allows a user to discover disturbances in the chakra network of themselves or an ally. This allows a Sensor to detect Genjutsu by using the standard or any specialized Sensory technique. Due to the nature of Nightmare Genjutsu, although Sensors can detect themselves in a Nightmare Genjutsu, they must still pass the Intelligence check to regain control over their body in order to break it.

- Striking the Genjutsu user forces their concentration to break, often than not breaking their focus and ending a Genjutsu. Keep in mind the damage must be powerful enough to break concentration in accordance to the caster's Constitution. This means a D-tier Strength punch against a Genjutsu user with S-tier Constitution will not force their concentration to break.

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