The Crystal Release (晶遁, Shōton; English TV "Crystal Style") is a specialized field of Ninjutsu that can create crystal as well as manipulate already-existing crystals and crystalline structures. It is seen only in the anime, and its only known user is Guren. Additionally, due to Guren's crystal dragons being shattered by Kakashi's Lightning Cutter and Kiba having mistaken the actual element for an Earth Release technique, it is strongly believed Earth is one of the elements needed to create crystals.
According to rumors that Tsunade had heard, Crystal Release can crystallize any substance, thus, Earth, Water, and Wood Release techniques are useless against it. Using Crystal ninjutsu, the user can crystallize any physical material and even the moisture that is present in the air around them, turning them into a weapon. In the case of human targets, Crystal Release can solidify its targets down to the cellular level, imprisoning and even killing the victim should the crystal ever be struck, reducing the mass of crystal and the victim down to crystalline dust.
The only apparent weakness of the Crystal Release is that it cannot crystallize either raw energy or chakra as they have no physical mass to crystallize, allowing a person with either energy-based jutsu, such Wind, Fire and Lightning Releases, or good chakra control to properly counter it. Crystal Release is also susceptible to a specific sound wave frequency; because crystal requires a very precise build-up of molecules, the proper sound waves can break down the build-up before the crystal can properly form. Rinji, taking advantage of this weakness, used his Ninja-Bats to counter Guren's Crystal Release. Another user of the Crystal Release is Minkai Zokatakei. His crystals are purple, but when using Soul Edge, the crystals become black.