[Hono Kin]

Kin lived a very simple life on the day to day. When she wasn’t helping her family with whatever chores they had assigned for her, typically simple tasks like cleaning or sweeping around their home, carrying small deliveries of charcoal for others, or other menial tasks? She trained. She loved to read, and overall was a very shy and sweet girl. Today was one of those days where she sought to train. Reading texts about elemental chakra first and foremost. As well as texts of her clan and their days in Tsuchi no Kuni. It was hard to imagine honestly.

The pumice and searing burning heat. So immense that it would make any forge look to shame. She so very gently fingered the pages as she looked to how her ancestors trained, and how it was in their exodus that they would find themselves welcomed in the land of grass. It made her feel happy to have a place to call home, and to know that in this world, they were never truly alone. What more, she felt enthused to begin training her elemental chakra early. She knew from her understanding that she had fire or earth release. She never particularly thought of the possibility of having both. So, considering that? Best to start with simple exercises.

It was time to get to work.

[Hono Kin]

After doing a bit of digging and asking around on what would be a good way to start? She was told that one of the best ways to start out would be to figure out the elements in the first place. Using chakra paper was the ideal. However, there wasn’t any quite on hand at the moment. Besides, there was some talk that maybe she was a bit too young to be trying to work on that sort of stuff anyways. Elemental chakra was pretty advanced after all. Something that was usually more reserved for Genin. However, Kin found that she wanted to try. Thus, after some time asking her siblings for some simple advice? They’d show her. Always glad to be able to rely on family.

One such exercise was to channel chakra through a stone. When one channeled doton chakra through it, if the aptitude was there, one could mold it to a lesser extent, or rather, crush it. Earth was rigid. Unyielding. It required a strength of will as well as firm hand in order to be able to mold it to the user’s whim. So, considering that? She was given an easy start. Given a black smooth stone, she was left to her devices. Told to work with the rock until she could do something with it. In truth, she sweatdropped for a moment. Taking the stone within her palm, she slowly holds her hands around it and grips it firmly.

[Hono Kin]

Closing her eyes, she channels her chakra into the stone. Not forcefully or aggressively, as she didn’t truly believe that was the way to have any meaningful effect. Brute force wasn’t going to handle all problems. She tried to truly understand the stone, the structural integrity, and came to find that when it came to breaking things? It was usually done in a single instant as opposed to a gradual and slower process. Feeling the rock, she’d channel her chakra into it, and tried to envision it molding. Compressing. Her fingers sink into it like play dough. Though what she found was that it was meeting her with mostly stiff resistance.

Kin tried to understand the nature of chakra, especially her chakra as she applied it in life. While people said it was a science, there was also a deep rooted sense of mysticism and spirituality to its usage and application. Getting a deeper feel, she found herself very patiently and methodically approaching it, and tried to remember what she saw, and thought about what she did wrong. How she watched her elder brother grasp the stone and with a tight squeeze of his palm seemed to apply his chakra, and in a moment made it crumble. She asked herself internally a few questions as she considered how to approach the exercise.

[Hono Kin]

How had she seen it done and used before? Her brother had used doton to make weapons before. Simple techniques to make stone shuriken, or knives, or other such tools. He molded the shape, and he had an adept understanding that maybe she lacked. Though even now, she continued to run her chakra into the stone. Perhaps instead of trying to focus on the exterior, she needed to focus on the center of the rock. Perhaps she needed to do it in bursts as opposed to a steady process? Taking the rock in her hand, she held it inbetween both palms, and with it, she took a deep breath as she focused again. Deeply on the rock.

This time trying to mold and reach into its core. Her eyes sharply focused on the stone, and with it, she channeled as much chakra as she feasibly could through the medium. Focusing hard, as she tried to hold a greater level of confidence in her ability. Instead of imagining her chara like a running current, she tried to imagine it like an overbearing force or weight as she applies it all at once, all throughout the rock looking to pierce deeply into its center. The little girl seemed to be pretty smart in her approach. Because planning and good application reaped rewards.

[Hono Kin]

Crack. With a twist of her hands, she slowly opens her hand to see that the black stone had indeed chipped. Cracked a bit in her hold as it snapped a portion. Her eyes widened at the feeling of success, and with it, she had been happy to have something to show for it after a few hours. Before she closes her hands again and begins clenching on the stone. It was easier now. As she got the feel for her chakra and began to press down. The smaller stones began to crack and break as she slowly clenched her hands together. Though she still hadn’t grasped it so clearly that she could do it easily all in one shot.

Still. It showed tremendous progress.

What this meant for Kin was that she had an instilled sense of diligence and vigor when it came down to applying herself to the technique. Opening her hand, she’d show the small shards of stone as well as the little rock sized pebbles that she nursed within her hands. Letting some of them fall through the cracks of her fingers onto the floor. Smiling quietly, Kin rose from her seat along the porch and brushed the pieces of stone from her hand. She wanted to channel and hone this feeling and remember it well. All she needed was another rock.

[Hono Kin]

Thinking about earth release, she was told by another of her siblings that earth was shifting, but it was rigid. That it wouldn’t move so freely. Changing its shape and form wasn’t particularly easy compared to other elements, but it was that unyielding nature that would grant it such strength and resilience. One of the best elements for defense she was told. Granted, this was explained to her in such a way that a child could understand without all of the fanciful language. She nodded her head and took in that insight, especially if she wanted to really master earth release some day. Kin found herself looking at the rock in her grip.

Doing the exercise with two hands took a while, doing it with one was going to be a different task entirely she felt like. Harnessing her chakra, she closes her eye again and with it, she can feel it running into the stone. Through her palm, she so gingerly holds it and deeply understands its shape. How it was structured. From there, she clenched her fist and applied her chakra in a way that was more instinctual. A burst. Something that was easier for her considering her chakra reserves as she channeled her doton nature. It came naturally and easily the more she did it as she clenched her fingers and fist down upon her stone. It began to give way, and she could feel it yield all at once now. It was like it just clicked.

[Hono Kin]

Crack. Crack. Crack. The stone shattered, and with the tightness of her fist, she opened her hand to show that the stone was entirely demolished now. Like gravel in texture. It was the most basic application of earth release, but there was a sense of pride as she applied herself to the fundamentals. Looking down at her handiwork, she’d confirmed at the very least that she was an earth release user. That she held potential for the element, and she’d begun to get a very basic grasp and understanding not just of the theoretical application of Doton, but its practical application as well. Though she’d only dipped her toes in the surface.

"Hmm~” There was a deep seated sense of satisfaction, but she knew that this was just a beginning step. There was a lot to do and much more training she was going to have to accomplish before she got to where she wanted to be. What with needing to finish training her academy techniques, get a bit more experienced, and advance her skills to a higher extent. Get some experience and connections. Still though, she’d made a stride already in educating herself and applying the knowledge in a real way.

She’d get better over time.

[Hono Kin]

Young Kin at the end of the day had finished her exercise, and over the next few days would periodically repeat it, to get some more experience under her belt and in order to keep her senses sharp. There was a bit more anecdotal study and observation she had when listening to her family members, and for the next few days, she’d occasionally look over the training grounds as well as her own clan members to see how they trained and applied Doton. Using her analytical prowess, she’d take internal notes and try to get a better grasp for what they were doing, how they were doing it, and generally improve her observation skills.

On her quest to apply herself to elemental chakra and jutsu, she found herself honing her understanding and sense for earth release and getting a rudimentary depth for the jutsu in question. However, with all that said and done, she had other tasks and duties to attend to. Jovially and happily though. Taking the knowledge in stride, her family seemed quite proud of her for her progress, or so she felt anyways, and it really made her feel as if she was growing. Though this was just the beginning. The beginning of Hono Kin’s ninja journey. Now the real question was. What was going to be the next chapter?

[Hono Kin]

Maybe with some silent reflection, as Kin continued to make her way to the next venture, there was something within her, dormant, a fiery spirit with an unshakeable resolve. The power of Yoton. While she didn't have access to the tools as of now to ensure she had the gift, she seemed perfectly content with her current destiny. Yet, grasping the earth release in its most basic form, her spirits were high. A good chance to show off some skills to her fellow classmates. Growing her powers over rock and stone.

Surreal, she had come to understand the power of jutsu and just what could be done with it. Especially how versatile the earth element could be, despite people talking about its general limitations. Watching how the landscapes itself could be altered, how creations could be made both minor and major through the process of constructs. How it could even be made liquid like in the form of mud. That said, with a deeper sense of perspective by looking at people from afar, she makes her way back to train, intersprinkled with growing experiences. What Kin really wanted to do now was get strong enough to the point where she could really surprise people.

Now...If only she could get some more teachers.