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The Earth Release (土遁, Doton, English TV: Earth Style) are techniques that allow the user to manipulate their Earth chakra-nature, enabling them to use the surrounding ground or earth for offensive and defensive purposes. Earth Release techniques have the ability to change the hardness and composition of all objects. A person who masters this element can cause an object to be as solid as metal or soft as clay using these techniques.
Earth Release Ninjutsu is common among the ninja of Iwagakure, in the Land of Earth. Earth Release techniques are commonly affiliated with the Snake hand seal.
An Earth Ninjutsu is strong against Water Ninjutsu, but will naturally be overcome by an Lightning Ninjutsu. Earth Release has also proven susceptible to Crystal Release ninjutsu, as Crystal Release is able to influence minerals arrangements and molecular structures.
As demonstrated by the fight between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru in the Invasion of Konoha arc, Earth Release has a good affinity with Fire Release and so can be used together in collaberation jutsu. When used together, the Earth ninjutsu (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet) needs to be implemented with the right timing in order to be combined with the Fire ninjutsu (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Missile), the Earth chakra adding more accelerant to the fire ninjutsu, giving it more combustive physical force.
Furthermore, in the case of Elementally-recomposed Nature Transformations, rarely found outside of a kekkei genkai, Earth-natured chakra can be blended with Fire-natured chakra; the molecular structure of the earth (that the earth chakra provides and controls) is superheated and induced to melt into molten liquid rock by the fire chakra, creating Lava Release Ninjutsu.