As much as heat, light, and electricity are fundamental energies in our universe, chakra is such a fundamental force as well.
CompositionChakra is actually the name for two types of energies mixed together: Spiritual Energy or Yin energy, and Physical Energy, or Yang energy. When brought together in perfect balance, they combine to make chakra. Much like how protons and neutrons bring balance to an atomic core, yin and yang exist in balance in chakra. As such, chakra is the naturally inclined form of Yin and Yang energies. In nature, and across the realms, in their raw forms, Yin and Yang energies are drawn to each other and spontaneously form chakra.
Chakra is the purest form, it is balanced, simple energy that requires little effort to remain in harmony. When there is excess yin, or excess yang energy, it takes a different form. In some cases, this is disharmonious, chaotic, and difficult to control. In other cases, it is simply exotic in comparison to chakra. These energies, yin and yang energy, are produced by all forms of matter. As heat is released and absorbed, as light reflects, yin and yang energies are cast and taken in just the same.
Controlling Chakra
All creatures, simple and complex, have the innate ability to control chakra. Some are naturally attuned to a specific balance of yin and yang, some only towards yin, some only towards yang. For many creatures, the process of manipulating chakra is as inherent and unconscious as it is managing an equilibrium. Its various functions are managed by cells and the world around it, it pays no mind to the role chakra plays. Many humans control and utilize chakra in their day-to-day lives without even realizing it. One of the most common examples being the tempering of weapons used by the common blacksmith. While lay-folk consider weapons with a special shine to be highly prized for personal collections, shinobi recognize the combat value in what they call chakra tempered weapons.
Special focus can be used to manage the flow of chakra, specific bodily positions, especially the movement of the hands, is used to manage the internal balance of chakra and it’s composite energies. As a fundamental force of nature, chakra is incredibly attuned to the world, and is functionally able to manipulate the world around it. By directing chakra to take specific shape, a wide variety of effects can occur.
Alternative Forms of Chakra
There are many other types energy that are formulated by yin and yang energy, as previously mentioned. Some are more common than others, depending on where they come from. The most ubiquitous is perhaps spiritual energy, referred to by shinobi as Ethereal Energy, used in Tenkujutsu. This is the type of energy utilized by the vast majority of spirits, and is found throughout the spiritual realms. As many spirits are composed of this energy, they are particularly susceptible to the manipulation of this type of energy. Another rather common composition of yin and yang energy is Ki, which is utilized by samurai. Samurai reject the notion that this is chakra, though this is regarded as a failure to understand the nature of these energies. Likewise, the term “nature” chakra is often used and thought to be a singular composition of yin and yang. However, nature chakra, used in senjutsu, can in fact be a wide variety of different combinations of yin and yang, being compositions found out in natural environments out in the world. The variation one “sage” may use could be quite different from the variation another sage uses.
Throughout the world, different combinations of yin and yang chakra are used by a wide assortment of groups, cultures, and individuals. Different names are given, some even being chakra, simply ignorant of the shinobi world around them.