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The following article contains spoilers forNaruto, its sequels and spin-offs.
Narutois a franchise with a well-constructed lore — sometimes it even seems that Kishimoto is more comfortable building the world of the story than developing the characters inNaruto. Elemental techniques are a key part of this universe, even though they may not impress fans as much as doujutsu or genjutsu.
In addition to the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan is also known for its many Fire Release techniques — most of the jutsu unique to this clan are related to fire in some way. But why exactly are the members of the Uchiha clan so proficient in Fire Release?
Each Person Has a Natural Affinity with One Element
Jutsu that involve the control of elemental chakra are called Release techniques, anda shinobi can learn Release jutsu of the five elements in the series(fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water). And like what happens in many other series, each element is weak against one element and strong against another — if two jutsu of equal strength are put against each other, the one with the stronger nature will prevail.
However, it is also established thatpeople generally have a natural affinity with one of the five elements— though there may be people with affinity for more than one element. And, of course, it is easier for a shinobi to learn Release techniques of the element with which they have an affinity.
It’s About Ancestry And A Symbolic Choice
Apparently, there is a genetic component to affinities, and this seems to be clearer when it comes to the Uchiha clan. It is stated in the anime that Indra Otsutsuki,the ancestor of the Uchiha clan, had an affinity for lightning and fire since childhood. Given that the Uchiha generally marry within the clan, this affinity would likely remain in most of their members.
While there seems to be a genetic component to their affinity, theyhave also chosen to make fire part of their identity as a clan. The fan that symbolizes the Uchiha is also related to this: fans can be used to amplify fire, so it is a symbol of their relationship with that element — to the extent that the Fire Release: The Great Fireball jutsu has become their signature.
Since fire is a key component of their identity as a clan, it is natural for Uchiha parents to teach their children Fire Release jutsu, just as Fugaku did with Itachi when he was a young child. Then, Uchihawill generally be good at these techniquesbecause they train extensively and get better at them. After all, much of their pride of being born into this clan will have to do with their Fire Release abilities. However, that doesn’t mean that all Uchiha have had a natural affinity with this element.
They Are From The Land of Fire
While the Uchiha may have taken their interest in Fire Release techniques to another level, many shinobi in Konoha focus on learning fire jutsu simply because it is a core part of the identity of their country, the Land of Fire. It is not mandatory, but it happens quite often.
The Uchiha may have adopted fire as part of their clan because they’re from the Land of Fire, but that’s not explicitly stated. However,it would make more sense that they did it because Indra had an affinity for it or, at least, was a frequent user of Fire jutsu, which is the route the anime seems to take.
The Uchiha Clan After The Massacre
AfterItachi nearly wiped out the clan, Sasuke was the only known survivor. While there may be some unknown Uchiha still around, Sasuke’s family is all that remains of the Uchiha lineage.
It seems that the tradition of keeping fire as a core part of the clan’s identity remains despite everything — for example, Sarada Uchiha, who isbound to surpass Sasuke, has already learned many Fire Release techniques, including the Great Fireball Jutsu. Some also speculate that her Ohirume jutsu may be fire-related to some degree.
