Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-36755597-20180829215104/@comment-25607614-20180927113714

I mean, both interpretations work. Learning how to use Magnet, and learning to possess Magnet. I just find the idea of the Kage learning to mingle two basic elements into an advanced element easier to believe than suddenly discovering he possessed a bloodline that was identical to a tailed beast's. (But I do submit, the wording in the data books suggests the latter.)

The issues with elements come from a lot of things, but the biggest issue is that it wasn't big enough to the story and Kishimoto did Naruto for 14 years. At some points he said training for elements can take years, at some points he said even the best Jonin rarely had 3. Then at some points he has Shikamaru teach hundreds of ninja how to use Earth Release in a matter of minutes.

For the author, the elements aren't a huge part of the story and are really just a plot element. It's we fans who feel compelled to try and piece together the bits of information he wrote (sometimes years apart) and combine them into a cohesive whole.

All in all, it's a small gripe. I mean, Toriyama forgot Super Saiyan 2 existed altogether. By that standard Kishimoto barely forgot anything.