Alright! Doton, otherwise known as the Earth Element, Earth Release, or Earth Style, is one of the five basic elemental ninjutsu types (the other four being Wind, Water, Fire, and Lightning). In the "Cycle of Elements", Doton is positioned between Suiton (water) and Raiton (lightning). Its relationship between these two elements are such that Doton is strong against Suiton, as the solid form of Earth can block and redirect the fluid, manipulatable Water, and is weak against Raiton, as Earth conducts the electricity which is created through Lightning Release techniques. In both the case of being strong and weak, there is a "Single-Rank Rule", which states that, as Doton is strong to Suiton, a water technique a rank higher than a Doton technique plays at the same level as the Doton, and as Doton is weak to Raiton, a Raiton technique one rank below the rank of a Doton technique plays at the same level as the Doton.
Doton's relationship with the other two elements is a little more complicated. Though Fire and Wind don't have much of an impact when being used with Doton's main form, they each have their own variation on Doton which can be used to create good combinations. When Doton takes the form of Mud, it reacts with fire to create a lava-like substance, which allows shinobi without a Lava-based Kekkei Genkai to create lava and direct it at an opponent. And when Doton takes the form of dust, Wind can carry the dust to create a rough, sand-paper like effect and wear away at objects it can't cut. Additionally, strong Wind can carry rocks to add a "crushing" factor to Fuuton's cutting ability.
Doton is used in a variety of Kekkei Genkai. When mixed with the Fire element, it creates the Lava Kekkei Genkai, which is more versatile than turning mud to lava as with the Kekkei Genkai the lava can be controlled and manipulated. When these two elements mix, the intense heat from the flames turns the solid earth into its liquid state, which we call "lava". When combined with the Water element, the Kekkei Genkai Wood Release is created. Though only seen naturally in one shinobi (unnaturally in many), Wood Release is a very versatile element which allows the user to form trees and other plants on solid surfaces. Wood Release is said to work when the water gives life into the earth, and forms a plant. As of now, these are the only two Kekkei Genkai which have been confirmed to contain Doton as one of the elemental components, though there are other releases which have been speculated to have Doton in the mixture. One such example is Crystal Release, where the user may form crystals out of the air and then manipulate crystalline substances. Because Kiba mistook the release for Doton, and Kakashi easily destroyed it with Lightning, it is speculated that this release involves Doton as one of the two elements. A second Kekkei Genkai which has been speculated to contain Doton is the Explosion Release. This speculation comes from the fact that Sasuke was able to render Deidara's explosives useless when he stabbed it with his lightning-infused sword, showing that it is weak to lightning. A third and final speculated Doton-derived Kekkei Genkai is Steel Release, thought to contain Doton because metals are found within the earth, and so having a metallic Kekkei Genkai derived from the Earth Release seems logical. And finally, the Kekkei Tota, a kind of Kekkei Genkai which uses three elements instead of two, Dust Release contains Doton as one of the three "ingredients", the other two being Wind and Fire. Though many people will say that "Sand" is derived from Doton, I do not believe this is so as Sand appears to be a Jinchuriki-granted ability, just like Steam and Bubbles, and as such does not technically stem from any elements, but is a specialty Ninjutsu, like Ink. However, this is my opinion, and as some people say that Sand is Doton and Fuuton, I thought I may as well mention it.
Of the Five Shinobi Villages, the village which uses Doton the most happens to be the Village Hidden in Stone, Iwagakure. Many of their shinobi specialize in Doton ninjutsu, and they are proud of their Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai, which is speculated to contain Doton as one of the elements. They are so proud of their Doton users, the strongest Earth Technique, Earth Release: Sandwich Technique, is passed on through the Iwagakure shinobi, and carries the symbol of Iwagakure on it.
Three well-known Doton users would be Kitsuchi, Oonoki, and Jirobo. My favorite Doton technique is the strongest, the one used to combat the Gedo Mazo statue, Earth Release: Sandwich Technique.
As a final little note on Doton, I'd like to talk about how versatile of an element it is. Doton is often used to rise or lower parts of the ground, however, it is much more than just this. Doton can be used to create creatures, large and small, for combat out of the solid material beneath one's feet. Doton can be used to create and control mud. There are Doton techniques which open a hole in the space/time continuum and drop mud, or a dome of earth into existence. And, finally, Doton can also be used in an energy-esque way, rather than a physical way, by changing the weight and density of an object. Doton is so versatile, and I'd be willing to say more versatile than any other element, which makes me very excited to learn it!
