"A man grows with the weight he carries."
— Thors, Vinland Saga
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The Next Day – Konoha Library
The library was quieter than usual.
A few genin sat around low tables, whispering over beginner mission logs and chakra diagrams.
One young Chūnin snored gently in the corner, a book covering his face.
Then came the sound of heavy footsteps.
Not rushed and loud.
Otis ducked slightly under the main entrance frame. His presence turned a few heads. Some stared. But he didn't notice. Or didn't care.
He made his way toward the Restricted Section, where only Chūnin and higher could enter. The librarian at the desk, the same older woman with half-glasses, glanced up and gave him a nod.
"Back already?"
Otis nodded once. "Earth Release."
She pointed with a brush to the right. "Second shelf, scrolls marked with red clay seals. The bottom ones are older — they've got more experimental theory. Don't smudge the ink."
"Got it."
Otis moved through the wooden aisles with practiced ease. The earth-nature section had its own smell — older parchment, faint dust and mud between the cracks of ancient storage cases.
Otis knelt before the bottom shelf.
His large hands carefully sorted through the scrolls — one by one. He paused when he found a set marked with stone symbols and inked edges:
"Chakra Manipulation: Earthen Constructs"
"The Spine of Stone: Core Earth Jutsu for Mid-Ranks"
"Shaping and Compression: Efficient Chakra Use in Ground Alteration"
Otis unrolled part of the last one.
Inside, ink diagrams showed how chakra could be pressed into a point underground, forcing rock upward — useful for traps, barriers, or even breaking terrain during battle with enough chakra.
He grunted softly. "Could use that to break footing... or redirect movement."
He rolled it back and took the second.
The next scroll had something more practical: a list of basic Earth Release jutsu, each with breakdowns on chakra control, posture, and hand seal flow.
One stood out:
"Earthen Grasp: A low-level technique using chakra to form a grabbing hand from the soil. Limited range. Useful for halting enemies"