Very well. However, here are the somewhat "official" descriptions of each term which were explained to me by my sensei Scorps.1. Ninjas, or shinobi, are the main military forces the Five Great Nations, which are the Lands of Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning. Each of these nations' shinobi are centered in a "Hidden Village", where shinobi train, go on missions, and live. So, in our case, Konohagakure, the village Hidden in the Leaves, belongs to the Land of Fire. This is the most rudimentary definition of a shinobi, although plenty of shinobi are individualistic and hold a certain set of values or rules; a "nindo", or Ninja Way. If we go by the broadest possible definition, however, a shinobi is a human being who manipulates his/her chakra for combat purposes.
2. Being a military force, shinobi must have tools for combat. Therefore, the main focus of shinobi combat relies on the manipulation of one's chakra. Chakra is a life force inherent in every living being; a sort of energy that flows through their bodies, giving them vitality. It is said that the ancestor of all shinobi, the Sage of Six Paths, was the one who first discovered how to manipulate chakra for human means, whether combat oriented or otherwise. And thus, he created ninjutsu from chakra manipulation; "ninja techniques".
3. Ninjutsu is the manipulation of chakra, allowing the user to accomplish feats that would not otherwise be possible for the typical human being. Chakra is manipulated, more specifically, "kneaded", through the use of hand seals, gestures a shinobi makes that comprise of finger or palm positions that symbolize a certain animal. There are two major classes of manipulation: shape, and nature. Shape manipulation is the kneading and molding of chakra into a specific, tangible shape. The Rasengan, widely regarded as the ultimate form of shape manipulation, allows the caster to create a sphere of chakra in their hands, which can cause significant damage to his/her opponent. Nature manipulation, on the other hand, kneads/molds the user's chakra to take on the properties of an element present on our planet; namely: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, or Lightning.
4. Elements are naturally occurring states of matter in our world. There are five, basic elements that exist naturally: Wind, Earth, Water, Lightning, and Fire. It is known, that shinobi have an "affinity" for at least one of these elements, meaning their chakra, when manipulated correctly, can easily take on the properties of the element. Particularly talented shinobi can manipulate two or even more natures, although this takes plenty of hard work and inherent talent. The five elements exist in a "circle" of strengths and weaknesses:
=> Fire is strong against Wind but weak to Water
=> Wind is strong against Lightning but weak to Fire
=> Lightning is strong against Earth but weak to Wind
=> Earth is strong against Water but weak to Lightning
=> Water is strong against Fire but weak to Earth
With this knowledge, a shinobi's natural affinity can be either beneficial or detrimental in battle, depending on the context of the confrontation and their opponent.
Regarding elements, I will put a few words on my own. As you already said there are basic 5 elements and they can be arranged into a circle, corresponding to their strengths and weaknesses. Those elements are Water > Fire > Wind > Lightning > Earth. Each of these is a natural occurrence in our world and through intensive studying and practicing we became able to manipulate and even create them. In the manga and anime you see regular ninja with one or two elements as their main traits but for the purpose of our RP, it's allowed to have all five. Each element has it's own characteristics and there are strong facts as to why some elements are stronger/weaker than other.±± Ninja ±±
A ninja is someone who uses their full abilities in the service of his/hers beliefs, working to achieve a goal. This goal can be anything from peace to war, money, destruction, personal griefs or even revenge and can be shared with others or individual. Most ninjas are fighters and correspond to the bulk of the military force of the great nations. However, a ninja doesn't need to be a fighter. Even medics or a simple carpenter may, in times of need, use his abilities (medical knowledge or abilities in working with wood for example) to accomplish the goals he set to himself, following his beliefs.
±± Chakra ±±
Chakra is the energy that is formed through the passive combination of both the Physical and the Spiritual energies in a sentient being (every living being with a conscious mind has chakra). Physical energy corresponds to the vitality of the body and its own energy. Spiritual energy corresponds to the mind or spirit, and comes from the awareness and "soul" of each sentient being.
Some ninjas have high levels of chakra because they have great physical energy (like the Akimichi or even Tsunade) and others because of their spiritual energy (like the Uchiha and the Yamanaka). However, its much more difficult to increase the spiritual energy than the physical one, thus why all ninjas pass through intensive physical workout.
Yin and Yang are based on this same concept. Yin is the basis of the spirit while Yang the basis of the body. In this i won't go into more dept because there are 2 things to consider: Yin/Yang manipulation in our RP is different from the manga one and both are more or less inacessible.
Chakra flows in a circulatory system inside your body, in a way that much resembles the blood circulation. This circulatory system has 8 small reservoirs that act as both storage but also chakra regulation. These are the eight inner gates. Along your circulatory system, small "portals" exist that enable you to expell chakra from your body. These are called Tenketsu and there are 361 of them scattered allong the body. When a tenketsu opens, chakra poors out of it. Its by molding the chakra that comes out of the tenketsu that you produce ninjutsu and genjutsu.
±± Ninjutsu ±±
Ninjutsu, or Ninja Arts, is the ability to, through the use of chakra, accomplish tasks that would be otherwise impossible to do. Ninjutsu are done by 2 stepts: focusing your chakra and molding your chakra. Focusing is using your will power to "will" a portion of your chakra to do something. On the other hand, molding is giving your chakra a set of characteristics that will enable you to produce the desired end effect.
Think of the chakra flow as our breathing. Normally, it happens passively, without any conscious intervention. However, when you need to you can use your will to control it. Its the same with your chakra flow. Its happens normally without your consicious intervention. However, you can focus your chakra and make it produce something.
Now, molding the chakra is done by two basic principles: Shape Manipulation and Nature Transformation. These correspond to the two broad areas that one needs to change in the chakra to produce a jutsu. Shape manipulation pertains to the ability to give your chakra a desired form while Nature transformation pertains to the ability to give your chakra a desired set of characteristics/properties. Sometimes, to better mold chakra, ninja use Handseals. Handseals are simply hand gestures that allow the ninja to more easily concentrate and mold the chakra into the desired technique.
Senpai. I'm not a sensei yet.*listens intently to sensei's words*
No, I think you essentially covered it all. Thanks for the elaboration, sensei![]()
This is magnificent. I like your explanation. Even better than my own. Ha!*I listen to senpai's words and take a seat in the hole as he covers my body with Earth. Closing my eyes and taking a meditative position, I focus on the chakra flowing within my own being, as well as heightening my senses, in response to the new environment and situation I was placed in*
Senpai, Earth... is a strong, durable element. It is not hollow; rather, full and whole. It is heavy, but not where it becomes a burden; rather, it's a symbol of natural structure and order. Chakra is entropic; full of energy and bouncing, flowing around. In contrast, Earth is ordered, still, and unmoving. Trying to mold my chakra from one such extreme to the other may prove difficult.
Listening to Earth, it is silent, primarily because of its static nature and natural, layered structure. There is a strong sense of balance, of footing, of placement; when I am in this Earth pit, I feel like nothing can cause me to lose my way... to keep pushing forward. In a sense, the element reflects the sentiments of our fellow Iwagakure shinobi; hard headed, strong, and a powerful center.
*Eyes closed, I try and visualize how my chakra would mold into Earth chakra. I give a slight chuckle* senpai, will I have to become "one with the Earth" to be able to do this? Heh.
Excellent. Now before we continue with the techniques there's one more thing I'd like you to note. Each element has something called categories in which jutsus can be divided. They can be projectiles, balls, currents, waves, etc. Without further ado, I'd like to copy the content from the Method Training Guide made by Reborn because it's an amazing guide that will help us get through this training.(Thanks, senpai. I appreciate the compliment ^^)
*Taking the piece of chakra paper from senpai, I take a good look at it. The paper isn't standard parchment; it feels as if it's made from a special material. It's light and has a distinct texture.
I listen to senpai and take a seat on the ground, legs crossed and back straight. Placing the piece of paper between my hands, I form a clamshell shape around it. I then close my eyes and begin meditating.
Focusing my chakra towards my palms, I try and remember the sensations that I felt when in the earth pit. Now that I was out, it would be harder to imagine because I was not in the Earth itself.
I imagine my chakra as a fierce, flowing, high energy force. Then, I also visualize the contrast it has to Earth Chakra. I remember the feelings I told senpai when he asked me about Earth Chakra:
"Strong... Structured... Layered... Unmoving...balance... Center..."
Taking these words into account, I begin flowing my chakra through the paper, slowly. I exert noticeable effort, forming some sweat beads as I focus on molding my chakra to fit the descriptions I had given.
Suddenly, I feel a strange sensation in my hands. I open my eyes and open my palms. The paper was crumbling, although very slowly. It looked almost as if the Paper had become dust! I look on in surprise and turn to senpai*
Senpai, look! I did it! *I can't help but feel a little proud of myself*
(Enjoy your vacation, I'll see you back here soon!)
土遁
Doton
Element Explanation
Earth is a powerful and unyielding element. When one thinks of earth they think of strong, solid, and firm. In this element, much of the techniques possess those basic properties. However, there is more to earth release simple structures or entities. Earth Release is arguably the most versatile of the five basics. We’ve witnessed earth release manipulate the structural foundation of earth to change it from solid to a liquid (mud or swamps), convert it into sand, graval, manipulate alternative forms of earth like mud or certain metals/metallic like entities. There has also been manipulation of the physical earth itself, changing the structure of the earth, using shape manipulation to reconstruct and mold. There are countless possibilities of how earth can be used. Earth release also doesn’t just adhere to the manipulation of the earth itself. The earth nature within their own body allows them to create manifestations of earth out and around their bodies, essentially creating their own earth.
Method System
Method 1: Own Created
Method 2: Environment Manipulation
Method 3: Advanced Conversion
Method 4: Others
Method 1: Own Created
The most basic way I can explain this would be earth techniques that you produce from your body. The only thing that is used is your doton chakra to create earth from your body directly as opposed to manipulating existing earth. Now earth is a very versatile element meaning there will be several differing ways to manipulate and utilize the earth techniques. Even the techniques within the same method family are unique in many ways, the exceptions being-in this case-that all of these techniques are self-created. In order to better explain how the chakra usage would be for techniques of this method I would have to explain a few concepts first.
(1) Full Body Chakra Release techniques: This is essentially where you release chakra from every chakra point in your body to create a full body affect. Generally armor based techniques or techniques that completely coat your body for protective measures or other physical enhancement purposes are techniques that utilize this. A quick tangent onto the subject of genjutsu, I won't expand further on it as it would get too deep especially due to my genjutsu addiction. Full body release methods are one of the methods used to release genjutsu. Reason is, the surge of chakra from every pore in your body is releasing chakra, which would force out the foreign chakra in your brain that causes the genjutsu. However it is essential you pay attention to rank, because the level of genjutsu you can release is dependent on the rank of technique (example: B-ranked full body chakra release techniques of elements release C-rank and below A-rank releases B-rank and below. You need 1 rank higher than the genjutsu you're trying to disolve)
(2) Isolated Area Chakra Release: To put it simply, same concept as th full body only this time you're isolating the area and releasing chakra in a specific area instead of every part of your body.
(3) Projectiles: Techniques where you create a small projectile based object (an object that is launched) with a source from one part of the body and then launch it at your opponents. Generally exhaled or spat from the mouth.
Now that in mind, when you're doing techniques in this method, you take note to this. You're channeling your Doton chakra for whatever specific entity the technique entails and then the doton chakra manifests physically into the earth substance you're trying to create.
Advantages of Method
A major advantage is the genjutsu releasing factors that the full body methods entail. Though there are limitations to how they can break the genjutsu, the techniques that do enable such a feat are always useful against basic and rudimentary levels of genjutsu. As well, these techniques don’t require one to be on or near the ground in order to be able to produce these techniques. As the title of the method suggests, this method involves techniques that manifest earth from one’s own doton chakra not requiring direct connection in anyway to the earth.
Disadvantages of Method
We’ll talk about the limitations for genjutsu full body surges. Using some of these techniques has always been a gray area, however, for those techniques that are certain to give a chakra surge, the rule of thumb for the release is that the technique must be 1-rank above whatever genjutsu you’re trying to release. That being said, you have to spend more chakra to release genjutsu techniques and the highest possible with such a method is A-ranked genjutsu release.
Now, as for isolated techniques, these are techniques that concern a specific part of the body and that would leave to say, many of these techniques would be used for close range combat and not much else. There’s the limitation of range with these sort of techniques.
Many of these techniques are also supplementary in use, meaning primarily set up techniques. Though every technique has a use, the limitations in this method make it so there aren’t many offensive or defensive use of some of these techniques (aside from a select few techniques).
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Method 2: Environmental Manipulation
This next method deals with techniques that utilize the earth around you. Unlike the last set of jutsu where you would use doton techniques from your earth chakra within you and manifest the earth itself, these techniques involve you releasing that doton chakra outwards into the environment for manipulation. You can essentially do the same as with the last set of techniques, create weapons and or objects, etc. However this set of techniques also gives one the ability to manipulate the structure of the environment around your opponent allowing raise and/or lower the earth, deform the earth to allow you to change the environment for your own purposes, etc. The general idea behind these techniques are channeling your doton chakra, outwards into the field, more than often you will utilize shape manipulation to get desired shapes and entities.
Advantages of Method
Unlike the last method, you are given the ability utilize the actual earth and bend it to your will. This broadens the scope of your abilities greatly, and gives you easier access to your opponent. Many of these techniques extend their reach in range and if your opponent is on the ground as well, you can use these techniques to reach your opponent more quickly or even have them activate close to your opponent without having to worry about techniques traveling, which gives your opponent a larger window of time to avoid. You are still able to do much of what you could’ve in the last method as well with these sort of techniques while having the advantage of affecting the earth around you and your opponent for offensive and defensive purposes.
Disadvantages of Method
The downside to this method is the fact that you need the earth in order to be able to perform many of these tasks. Without connection to the earth or the ability to channel your chakra into the earth, it makes it difficult/impossible to use these techniques and that gets rid of the versatility you gain from this method. Now, I believe there is controversy that you don’t necessarily need to be touching/making contact with the earth in someway to use these techniques. I’ve seen this done before but I’m not sure on whether it’s official or not. Personally, I believe that you would need to be connected to the ground in order to manipulate it in such a way. However, if not, I would say be no further than the range limitations away from the ground for the jutsu. For example, if you use a technique that reaches up to mid range, don’t have your body be more than mid-range off the ground. To be 100% safe though, I would say you should always be connected to the ground if you are to use an earth ranked technique that falls within this category.
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Method 3: Advanced Conversions
This method is just like the last one, however, it involves changing the structural foundation of the earth as opposed to where previously, we were just focusing our chakra into the ground to create/manifest entities or manage techniques. These techniques in this method involve channeling one's chakra into the earth and changing the substance to create mud, sand, gravel, etc. These techniques fall into a different category than the previous method because of the fact that it's changing the substance from pure earth to something more refined and almost different entity all together, however, still being considered earth.
Advantages of Method
Simply put, this method adds another level of versatility to the earth release element. Earth techniques are not limited to being solid rock hard entities. The techniques in this method entail manipulation of ones chakra and the earth for structural manipulation. Primarily creating mud or softening it to sand or gravel. The general purpose for such techniques would to give more complimentary properties such as adhesion, allowing for travel underground, or to disrupt one’s balance by lowering the amount of friction as a result.
Disadvantages of Method
Same rule of thumb applies as with the last method. I’m still on the side saying you’d need to be connected to the ground for these techniques as they involve changing the actual structure of the ground and is basically the same as the last method only, dealing with alternative version of earth release.
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Method 4: Other
Basically, these are techniques that don’t fall within the above listed categories. These techniques may possess similar qualities to the techniques in some of the other methods, however, for the most part they are more unique in their abilities and aren’t classifiable in this system together in other methods.
Advantages of Method
The advantages are dependent on the individual techniques.
Disadvantages of Method
The disadvantages are dependent on the individual techniques.
Element Relationships (Advanced)
TBA
Yes we are ready. Thank you. Now, let's continue with "own created" earth techniques. Using the material above can you perform a technique for me, please?Got it, senpai! I'll keep this information in mind. Are we ready to continue? Welcome back! :flowers
Yeah that's the principle. Now, since there's a huge amount of techniques, they're just combinations of your chakra excretion points. For some techniques you release chakra from your arm to deal a deadly punch in close fight, some require you to do the same with your leg to do a deadly strike and so on. Sometimes you just release a massive amount of earth from your hands that creates a giant earthen wave rampaging towards your opponent or even earthen bullets.(Uhhh, do I just describe how to do an "own created" technique (mechanics, uses, etc) or do I have to copy paste a specific jutsu?)
*I mold Earth chakra in my body. I allow it to spread to all of my chakra points, waiting for them to reach each point. Once I feel the chakra spread evenly, I release the chakra through my pores. I notice the sensation of surging, and my skin begins to excrete what appears to be a strange combination of dirt and dust. My body begins to be surrounding by this Earth; almost forming a coated layer*
... Senpai, was that supposed to happen?
I can't say that for sure because there's nothing alike. However, since you have two general types of fighting: close battle (hand to hand) and a distance battle (nuke battle) they can be more effective for respective types. So what do you think, which one would be better for close battle while the other two are better for distance fighting?I have one question, senpai. Of the three methods, which one, in your experience, is the most effective in combat in terms of setup and utility? More specifically, which ones can set up combos faster and are great collab Jutsu?
Other than that... I think I get most of what you said.
Excellent. That's exactly it.Hehe, I take RP seriously, senpai, and I'm glad you do as well. N-not that I ever doubted you for a moment, of course...
*taking a few moments to think*
Hm. Well, wouldn't the "own created" be most advantageous in a close range battle? It sure beats wasting time trying to get the environmental advantage.
So, for example, if we were sparring, and you managed to launch me in the air, or managed to break my footing and stance through some jutsu, I could just rely on my inherent Doton chakra and use Earth techniques like armor or enhanced tai to counter you, without a need to try and find some ground to channel my chakra through for a technique.
And as for "environmental manipulation" and "advanced conversion", maybe they're better in mid/long range battles, or as a way to shape the battlefield to my favor! So, same example. As my first move, depending on our starting distance, I could form earth pillars to throw off your footing and make you lose your balance, or form earth walls to counter powerful ranged techniques.
... was that right, senpai? Anything you think would help to clarify?