Shinsō’s Brainwashing Quirk serves as a canonical substitute for Naruto’s Talk no Jutsu, but its mechanics are considerably more intimidating.
Most Naruto fans are familiar with the protagonist’s renowned Talk no Jutsu. Although it is not an established ability, his persuasive prowess is so strong that it might as well be. However, in another universe, a character with the official capability of redeeming villains through their words exists.
The concept of Talk no Jutsu has been actualized through Hitoshi Shinsō’s Brainwashing Quirk in My Hero Academia. Although the technique is transitory and has questionable morality, the outcome is identical. Shinsō can compel villains to reform and contribute positively to society, should he choose to.
How Are Talk no Jutsu and Brainwashing Similar?
Naruto enthusiasts assert that Naruto possesses an absurd talent for persuading his defeated foes to abandon their negative perspectives. He has successfully convinced Zabuza, Neji, Gaara, Nagato, Kurama, Obito, and Sasuke to adopt better conduct. These antagonists not only relinquish their malevolent ways, but they also end up providing assistance to Naruto at some juncture in the future. Given how frequently this has occurred in the show, fans have humorously dubbed it his unique ability called “Talk no Jutsu.”
In theory, Shinsō’s Brainwashing has the potential to achieve a similar outcome. He can manipulate his adversaries into becoming submissive to his will by uttering specific words. Once this trigger is activated, he can take command of their actions and direct them to carry out simple instructions without any resistance. As a result, if he were to deploy this ability against a malevolent individual, he could compel them to perform actions that serve the greater good rather than causing harm.
As seen in the concluding pages of Chapter 382, “Don’t Let Him Go,” Shinsō demonstrated his persuasive abilities by compelling Gigantomachia to turn against his master, All For One. Despite being the villain’s most powerful and loyal henchman, Machia succumbed to Shinsō’s Quirk and was directed to launch an assault on his former boss. It is possible that Shinsō employed his voice modulator to imitate All For One’s voice and manipulate Machia’s response. Regardless of the method used, Machia is now aiding the Heroes as instructed by Shinsō.
It is noteworthy that in this instance, Shinsō’s use of Brainwashing to convert a villain into a Hero may have a prolonged effect. Normally, Brainwashing can be reversed if the target experiences enough physical pain. However, Gigantomachia possesses the Pain Blocker Quirk, making this an ineffective method for breaking his brainwashed state. Furthermore, there is no defined duration for Brainwashing, so there is a possibility that the colossal foe could remain under Shinsō’s control indefinitely. Therefore, although it may seem somewhat villainous, it is still a preferable outcome to having Gigantomachia continue to wreak havoc on cities at the behest of All For One.
In the majority of situations, Shinsō’s Brainwashing would provide only a temporary resolution. Typically, the most effective approach to altering someone’s thoughts and behaviors is through communication and guidance toward a more positive direction. This is exemplified by Naruto, who successfully convinced his adversaries to change their ways and choose the path of righteousness. Nevertheless, one should never underestimate the influence of words in any circumstance.
