Chakra Pathway System

thumb|right|The chakra pathway system.
The is a term used to describe the points within the body that channel chakra through it. Simply put they serve the same function for chakra as blood vessels do for blood. Along the chakra pathways, there are 361 nodes called tenketsu that control the flow of chakra like circuit breakers, and within those tenketsu are Eight Gates which control body function and strain levels. 
== Overview ==
File:Chakra Cell Capillaries 1.png|Chakra Pathways interweave each organ to transfer chakra...
File:Chakra Cell Capillaries 2.png|...using their connection to every cell and protein, drawing out its physical energy.
The chakra pathway system is enmeshed within the body, transporting chakra through the body and each organ as the circulatory system does blood. The system is involved in the creation of chakra itself as well, as every cell and protein in the body are connected to this pathway system by a capillary which draws out the cell's physical energy and is refined into chakra by several organs, notably the heart.First Databook, page 156Naruto, chapter 79, page 10Naruto, chapter 204, page 14 If the chakra flow to a section of the body is blocked or severed by techniques such as the Gentle Fist, Chakra Scalpel, or Bloody Mist Sword Art: Bone Mutilation, then that portion of the body will be unable to release any chakra from any of the tenketsu. Neji Hyūga was shocked that Naruto Uzumaki was still able to stand after being hit with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms as his body should have been in a virtually quadriplegic state.
Understanding this system is the key to the Hyūga clan's Gentle Fist fighting style which forces chakra into an opponent's chakra pathway system. Proper application uses the system as a conductor sending harmful chakra directly to vulnerable vital organs. As there is no way to train a person's organs to resist physical or energy attack this method of fighting is extremely effective.
Though Neji and more advanced users are known for attacking tenketsu, basic Gentle Fist is also extremely powerful as the chakra forced into the chakra pathways need not be specific as it affects everything in its vicinity. By using Gentle Fist, Neji was able to damage Hinata's heart and the surrounding area to the extent that she was still not fully recuperated a month later. 
File:Severing Chakra Cells2.PNG|Extreme techniques can sever these connections...
File:Kakuzu last momments.png|...fatally incapacitating opponents, removing access to their chakra as they die.
Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken destroys the chakra pathway system by severing every cell's connection to it, preventing the target - and to a lesser extent, the arm that used the jutsu - from creating chakra. The damage inflicted cannot be repaired with any Medical Ninjutsu whatsoever, which not only crippled the enemy permanently, but also threatened to destroy Naruto's ability to mould chakra if he repeatedly use the technique as it was then.Naruto chapter 346, pages 10-14 Naruto would eventually overcome this weakness by learning to throw the Rasenshuriken.
== Trivia ==
* The heart is implied to be especially important for chakra production in this system. The organ is shown when the chakra pathway system is first explained, and:
** Taking the hearts of other shinobi allows Kakuzu to gain both their chakra and elemental affinity as his own. This lets him produce high-level jutsu of any basic nature, something that isn't ordinarily possible.Third Databook, page 263Naruto, chapter 334, page 16
** Deidara's C0 uses the mouth on his chest that's connected to his heart's chakra pathways. Upon feeding it Explosive Clay, he can produce a 10km-wide explosion at the cost of his own life.
** The heart is also the location of the Eighth Gate, the opening of which unleashes the user's entire chakra capacity and results in their death.Sha no Sho, page 262
== References ==
== See Also ==
* Chakra
* Tenketsu
Category:Chakra
de:Keirakukei
es:Sistema de Circulación de Chakra
fr:Système Circulatoire du Chakra
id:Sistem Jalur Cakra
it:Sistema di Percorsi del Chakra
pl:System Przepływu Czakry
pt-br:Rede do Chakra
ro:Sistemul Circulator al Chakrei
ru:Система Каналов Чакры
uk:Чакроносна система