Types Naruto of Seals

Hand Seals

The types of "seals" that can be found in Naruto can be divided into 4 different types. The first type of seal would be a "Hand Seal" used by shinobis for Ninjitsu and Genjitsu techniques. These types of "seals" normally require the user to create a combination of hand gestures each signaling one of 12 animals in the Eastern Zodiac calendar. (Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig)

Obviously, the longer the combination of hand gestures (Eastern Zodiac animals) the more powerful the Jutsu will be. The most obvious hand "seal" Ninjitsu was done by Momochi Zabuza during his fight with Hatake Kakashi using the Grand Waterfall Technique (Daibakufu no Jutsu). There are certain animals of the zodiac that represents certain elements. This can be seen when Sasuke creates a hand seal representing "Tiger" which allows him to use the Ninjitsu called Great Fireball (Goukakyuu no Jutsu).

Summoning Seals

The second type of "seals" are the "Summoning Seals" (Ninpo Kuchiyose). Although this seal is similar to the "Hand Seals", it differs as it requires some blood from the user. By applying a certain amount of blood on a certain area of the user's body then combining it with some "Hand Seals", the shinobi can summon certain beasts to their aid (Size of beast depends on level of Chakra the user have). However, before the shinobi can summon a beast, a "contract" is made with blood of the shinobi. This can be seen when Jiraiya tells Naruto to write his name with his blood on the "contract" scroll. It is believed when a contract is bound by blood, it is for life or the contract will only end when the life of the shinobi ends.

Scroll Seals

The third type of "seal" is the "Scroll Seals". These types of seals are used when the shinobi requires certain aid. The seals can be used to summon items (Ten Ten's weaponry summoning), beasts (Kakashi's pack of dogs summoning) and even certain Ninjitsu Techniques (Jiraiya's calling for the Fire Element Suppressor).

The "Scroll Seals" are used either when the shinobi does not possess sufficient Chakra for that certain Ninjitsu technique or the Jutsu can only be performed with written seals. Ten Ten's Jutsu, Twin Raising Dragons (Soushouryuu) is a technique that calls forth two dragons that rises into air (after the shinobi performs the required hand seals) which provides the shinobi with a huge array of range arsenal. During Kakashi's encounter with Zabuza for the second time, where his field of vision was dimmed by Zabuza's Hidden Mist Technique, Kakashi summoned a pack of dogs with a scroll seal and his blood to track down Zabuza with smell (Tsuiga no Jutsu : Tracking Fang Technique). When Jiraiya confronted with "black flames" left by Itachi, he used Fuuka Houin (Fire Sealing Method) with a scroll to suppressed the unusual flames for he does not want to risk any possible injuries.

Bodily Seals

Last but not least (could also be the most important) are the "Body Seals". These types of seals are a mark left by Ninjitsu Techniques performed by or on another shinobi. The most seen of these "Body Seals" are of Naruto's and the Cursed Seal (Sasuke).

These body seals are normally left as a mark due to a Ninjitsu performed on the person. The Shishou Fuuin performed by the Fourth Hokage on Naruto not only seals Kyubi inside of Naruto, but it allows Kyubi's Chakra to leak and merge with Naruto's Chakra. Juin Jutsu seen on Neji (Hyuuga Branch Family) allows the Hyuuga Head Family to eliminate any revolts by the Branch Family easily. This body seal serves not beneficial purpose to the bearer except the fact that it's a mark of fate. When Orochimaru confronted Naruto for the first time, seeing that Naruto is able to call upon Kyubi's Chakra, he distorts the Shishou Fuuin by creating the Five Element Seal (Gogyou Fuuin) above it. Later, Jiraiya unseals the harm created by Orochimaru by using the Five Element Unseal (Gogyou Kaiin) above the seal created by Orochimaru. Sasuke was given the Heaven Cursed Seal during his confrontation with Orochimaru. (Note that there is an Earth Cursed Seal bore by Kimimaru) The Cursed Seal blinds the bearer about truth by giving him a great sum of power and Chakra. (confrontation of Sasuke with the Sound shinobis during the second part of the Chuunin Exam). Kakashi later tried to suppress the Cursed Seal with Evil Suppressor (Fuuja Houin) but is not permanent for if the bearer of the Cursed Seal wishes to gain power himself, the Evil Suppressor Seal is useless.