The day that Sousetsu awaited what seemed like a lifetime for had finally arrived. It was the day he would start his training for his secondary element: earth. He rose from his slumber with eagerness and a slight grin on his face, washing his body with a luke warm temperature shower and brushing his pearly whites in front a mirror that hung tightly against his kitchen wall. He reached for his black jumpsuit in his closet and fitted himself before ruffling his hair in the mirror and smiling once more at himself.

He made his way down to the kitchen and checked his refrigerator for anything he could use to make breakfast and bring small meals to the destined training area for his lunch and dinner. After cooking some eggs and toasting his bread he accompanied his breakfast with a glass of apple juice and grinned cheekily at the meal he had made for himself. After scoffing his meal down his system he grabbed the other small meals he kept in a bag and rushed over to the front door where his shoes had resided and slipped into them with ease showing that they were broken into for quite some time.

After locking the front door to his house behind him Sousetsu pondered thinking of where to go to start his training. He glanced at the fair sky where the sun hid behind the light grey clouds and his attention was caught by the birds as they glided through the air with ease in the direction of the Hokage's mansion. His gaze was directed elsewhere as he noticed the buildings that stood before the mansion varied from a weapons shop to the library. That's where it hit Sousetsu ever so hard. The library would surely have had books on the elements and maybe some clue as how to master them.

Upon his arrival, Sousetsu stepped aside to let what seemed like a couple pass him before making his way into the building. The wide varieties of the knowledge humans had stored onto paper in hardback books were a sight for sore eyes. He made his way to the front desk and asked for what he was searching for. With a few clicks of a mouse and small thuds of a keyboard, the librarian had found the information the Senju longed for. He was asked to accompany his new acquaintance as they headed to the location of his desired copy of a renowned book 'Nature transformation.'

After checking out the book from the library Sousetsu left with the grin that he famously wore on his face. He made his way to the front gates of the village hidden of the leaf, nodding at the guards on his way with a book in hand and a bag full of provisions to last him through the day. As he walked into the direction of the training area he wished to linger in for the day, he opened the book and scanned through the index to see what he was looking for.

He came across many titles but the ones that stood out were the introduction pages and content known as 'Earth Release'. Glancing up to find his path every so often he returned his gaze through the introductory pages and had noticed that there were few sub-titles. They varied from 'Basic Types' to 'Yin and Yang'. With an interesting look he began reading quietly to himself.

"There are five basic types into which the nature of chakra can be transformed, called the Five Elements Nature Transformations. These five types are also called elements and are not only the origin of the names of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, but also the foundation of all elemental ninjutsu. The five basic natures are all connected to each other in a circle, each being weaker than one and stronger than another. Focusing his gaze on a diagram he had noticed the elements weaknesses and strengths. Fire beat wind, wind beat lightning, lightning beat earth, earth beat water and lastly, water beat fire.

After finding his path once again he then turned his attention to a different sub-topic named 'Counterbalancing'. "For relationships between chakra natures, there is a principle known as counterbalancing. This principle states that two techniques of the same nature would cancel each other out if the same amount of chakra was put into them. However, if one of the techniques had more chakra put into it, it would overcome the other technique. Not only that, but the stronger technique would absorb the weaker one, and the user of the weaker technique would receive more damage than the original amount, as he will have added to the technique." Sosuetsu continued. He pondered at that for a moment and realized the dangers of how double edged ninjutsu really was.

He skipped through a few sub-titles and came across a quick note, In general, every person has chakra that has an affinity towards one of these types, a characteristic that seems to be genetic, since whole clans sometimes share the same affinity.' Sousetsu thought of his own clan, Senju and felt that much more proud to be able to use the Wood technique while other could not. Skipping through the rest of the sub-titles on the introductory pages, the last one that was leftover was named 'Combining with Shape Transformation'. "While nature transformation changes the actual nature of the chakra, shape transformation allows a ninja to change the actual shape and actions of the chakra, altering its abilities." Sousetsu exclaimed out loud. He began to appreciate the book even more as the knowledge it provided were a great help in feeding his brain.

As time flew by, he came across the dense forest. This was the desired location of beginning the physical training of the Earth element. With delight and eagerness Sousetsu rushed into the forest and set up a small area to himself with enough room to begin his training.

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Before setting his meals to the side of a tree, he had reached in the container and lifted out his lunch which contained a few rice balls and cup of mild chicken seasoning soup. He forced the first rice ball into his mouth and opened the book to the page entitled, 'Earth Release'. After scoffing down another rice ball and almost choking on the substance, Sousetsu pulled out a bottle of water to wash the substance down clearing his throat and relieving himself. Skimming through the contents of the sub-titles and the words they contained he came across a section which explained all he needed to know before beginning his physical training.

Sousetsu began by clearing his throat once more, "Earth Release is one of the basic elemental nature transformation techniques and allow the user to manipulate the surrounding earth for offensive and defensive purposes or create it; be it dirt, mud, or rock." Sousetsu widened his eyes. The earth element seemed to have many surprises in which form it could take, the mud in particular was not a common substance used and was something to think about training for in the near future. He then sipped at the small cup of soup he had brought along while keeping his eyes transfixed on the page.

"Earth Release techniques have the ability to change the strength and composition of the earth from being as hard as metal to as soft as clay, as well as manipulating their density, making them heavier or lighter. This includes allowing the user to travel through ground and rock in various ways which can be essential for both transportation and for setting up attacks or creating defenses or for offence. Indeed, this makes earth techniques one of the most versatile of the elemental techniques. Pre-existing earth is not necessary though, for the user can create it with their own chakra." Sousetsu set the book down for a slight moment and took a sip of soup once more. He thought of the many varieties the earth element brought to the table. He seemed to have been blessed with such an ability.

With another quick glance at the side note on the page he noticed something that he had thought about himself. "Earth Release affinities are the most common among the ninja of Iwagakure, and is commonly affiliated with the Snake seal and/or slamming their palm onto the ground." Sousetsu noticed this with his wood techniques. Its sure cleared things up for him and was thankful that he had checked this book out of the library as it contained the crucial information that was required for this training. A better understanding of the technique made the process that much simpler to Sousetsu.

Sosuetsu took his time with his last rice ball finishing it with four bites and threw the rest of his soup to the back of his mouth and swallowing the contents to his system. He made his way to the center of the spacious area that was surrounded by the dense forest filled with trees, plants which some were known to be poisonous, and other wildlife that resided within the area. He sat with his legs crossed and meditated to become in tune with his surroundings. The many sounds of wildlife and streams in the distance created an orchestra composing the songs of nature which Sousetsu grew quite fond of in his years of training.

He stood up while remaining in the same spot and created a combination of seals based around the snake and boar signs and placed his hands on the earth before him. He focused his chakra to the underground and surface area of the short distance around him and felt the molecules of earth forming. He raised the two meter radius that was the earth he stood on and created a small platform beneath himself. It grew to three feet in height slowly as Sousetsu remained transfixed on the task he wished to achieve. Within another short moment he had risen to ten feet before stopping and observing his progress. With a look of satisfaction he jumped down to acknowledge his work from a frontal view.

"My, my...This sure is fascinating." Sousetsu announced to the universe around him. He couldn't help but think the project was missing something. Within a matter of seconds he thought of the sub-title of the book he had read not long ago on his journey here named, 'Combining with Shape Transformation.' He skipped back a few steps and performed the variety of hand seals once more and placed his hands on the ground before him once again. Withwide open eyes, Sousetsu felt the earth shift once more and small rectangular piece of earth was formed followed by a slightly bigger one placed behind it. This continued until it reached the platform Sousetsu was once on top of.

With stairs to the platform created Sousetsu smiled with content and grabbed his other meal from the bag of provisions he had supplied himself with. He had revealed his next meal as a combination of steamed vegetables and noodles in a single container. With his legs crossed he placed his next meal in the center and began to help himself. He looked at his surroundings and smiled at the success he had just achieved with his hard efforts and knowledge of the earth affinity.

As time passed he had finished his meal and packed away the containers to take home with him. As he leaped from the platform he turned and gave it another smile. He placed his hands upon the earth once more and watched as he moved the steps he had created back into the ground. He felt the platform should stay as a remembrance of the day he fully grasped the knowledge and outlying of the earth element. The day was coming to an end when Sousetsu left the forest and headed back to his home. With another greeting to the guards at the gates and dashed towards the library and handed the book back to the librarian accompanied by a smile and gesture of gratitude.

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2028/2000 words (C>B Element training: Earth)