hmm alright, Gobi.
*Sits down beside you and the rock. Starts to meditate, closes eyes to channel my chakra flow around my body.
- What is Earth?: Hmm, its pretty much anything that's a part of land i.e. dirt/soil, rock, mud, etc.
- Why is it important for nature?: Well soil, for example, is a natural body consisting of layers minerals, broken rock, any many other things in differing compositions, densities and characteristics. It is important for life e.g. plants and a crap load of organisms, and I guess it also forms the foundation for us to stand on so yeah.
- Why is it important for shinobis?: Well, Earth Release, allows users to manipulate anything that's a part of land (like I said before, dirt/soil, mud, rock, etc) for pretty much defensive and offensive purposes. Which is why Earth Release is soo versatile IMO as most battles are fought on land. It is useful to manipulate the landscape of the battlefield to your advantage, change the composition/density of earth, to use various techniques (walls, domes, etc.) for defensive purposes as well as other techniques for offensive purposes (spikes, boulders, crevices, etc.).
- Weak and Strong Against: Earth is strong against Water, while weak against Lightning.