The pause almost made him deactivate the Sharingan, assuming that she didn't believe him when he said that he had no intention of copying the jutsu, but after a moment she began to gather chakra. It looked like any other earth jutsu at first, the way the form and flow of chakra surged first slowly, then like an avalanche to her hands. To form what was normally a stubborn chakra nature along an element that didn't always like it was particularly interesting.

And impressive, something he hadn't expected to associate with a classmate who had made chuunin long enough after they'd all graduated that he'd lost track of which exam it had been.

Earth was still stubborn, though, and he could see where it was almost lifting away from the sword before it swung outward, the shape of it not quite a clean scythe. He could only imagine how effective it would be with the malleability of wind-natured chakra.

"Your control is excellent," he said, because it was. "It's the last part -- earth chakra doesn't like to be shaped so tightly.

"What's the practical application you intend to use this for?"