Learning the water element (training)

On a day like any other, Maku awoke.  Training was always on his mind and was always his objective.  It was really the only thing to do in a village that hosted so few ninja.  Rumor had it there would be some new ninja arriving in the village, but he wasn’t really privy to know the details and it was no telling when that it would occur.  Maku was saddened by the state of affairs, and wanted nothing more than for the people of Takigakure to be stronger, and respected on the world scale.  It was then creed in his heart that Maku set out into the world, to see what kind of trouble he could get himself into.  Days, weeks, months had gone by and yet now much had really changed for Maku, even the addition of a sensei hadn’t truly brought him and the village as far as he hoped.  Perhaps Maku had to great of ambition, and not enough patience, but it was this that kept him fighting and training, so perhaps it was worth it.  Like the waterfall crushes the rock beneath it, so would the waterfall village crush its enemies and doubters, and perhaps Maku was going to be the first drop of water to start the deluge that would bring Takigakure to the forethought of all around the ninja world.
 
                Maku begin his journey in the wilds of the jungles of Takigakure.  A place that he had spent a lot of time in of late.  Training his body for speed, and using the abundant water sources for constant chakra control training was just the beginning of the things that Maku was used to doing at this point.  As most of his trainings began he collected his chakra and focused it to the forefront of his thought.  Feeling it move through his body in the tight chakra web, felt the rushing and slowing of its forces.  It was like water in a way flowing through him, yet hard like the earth element that had been his affinity since birth.  By focusing his chakra he caused illusionary forms to appear, and then by whisped away by the wind.  The illusions were simple genjutsus with no names or purpose other than as an exercise to flex his power.  As Maku felt his power flow the illusions grew larger.  The first few were nothing more than cats and dogs, and a squid for no particular reason at all.  But has time went on the illusions became larger and more outlandish, a chimera, dragon, and kraken made appearances.  And then groups of people came and went in varying fashions and appearances, perhaps some even being a bit inappropriate, but Maku was letting whatever may pop into his mind be manifested as an illusion.  Once Maku had finished this flew of power he was ready to start the remainder of his chakra training. 
 
                Wading into one of the many pools that surrounded the area Maku took back to learning the power of water.  His second element would be his newest asset and assist in making his dreams come true.  Maku began by moving the water around him with nothing but his chakra.  He began to churn the water and create a sort of whirlpool around himself.  Maku could feel his chakra flowing out of his skin and touching the water to cause it to move and churn.  Through this way Maku realized that mastering this element would be easier than he had thought.  In his first attempt to master water, he tried to force himself upon it, and wrest all control from it through sheer force.  But this time was different, Maku’s exercise with his genjutsu had caused him to realize something.  By flowing with the water, and using the ebb and flow of chakra like the water surrounding him, Maku would have an easier time with control.  No longer did he seek control but instead he sought collaboration. 
 
                No longer had he thought of this revelation had the power he sought started to flow easier.  Movement through the water was easier and Maku was able to have greater force and control over the flow, soon he thought he would even be able to actually manipulate the water into a useful form.  This would start out in attempting to make the water look like a humanoid shape.  His goal wasn’t to learn the water clone jutsu, he already had all the jutsu his genin self could take, but to simply make the water form to better learn and understand the water chakra element.  His first attempts at this looked more like amoebas than any discernible humanoid shapes.  But they were shapes, and sticking with his new go with the flow attitude of water training, this was a good thing.  Flowing his chakra rather than pushing it the shapes generally seemed to improve, at least there were new blobs off the old ones that looked similar to arms and legs.  In this way Maku would spend several more minutes slowly shaping and reforming blobs of water in preferable shapes, and over the course of an hour of continues work finally a passable humanoid structure made of water was finally formed.
 
                Once the original water shape was formed, Maku used it as a base for the rest of the experiments.  Attempting to copy his creation.  Given time Maku was able to create and hold three different forms with his chakra.  Moving on from this base, Maku attempted to use his chakra to sculpt features from the three water formations.  Like snowmen, he gave them features, on one a water top hat and then on another horns.  A long nose here and a bosom on a different one.  In a way this didn’t even feel like training, it was just having fun.  In this way Maku was able to practice his skills with chakra control and with the water element.  As time went on his details became more fine, and unique.  Though after a period of time Maku realized that not all the water on his forehead was simply that.  Holding the water sculptures for so long, pluss the addition of sculpting them had begun to wear on his body.  Because of this Maku allowed them to dissolve and splash down back into the small lake where he stood.  Stepping out of the water and onto it, Maku took a cross legged stance and began to meditate.  Drawing his chakra and replenishing his own energy while he rested.
 
                After a short rest Maku felt that his power was sufficiently replenished to continue his training.  Going back to his water blob training Maku continued to work on perfecting it.  After a few more attempts the three clones appeared to have unique and detailed characteristics as well as clothes, though they still appeared as simply water since he could not use the water clone jutsu.  Releasing the water blobs once again Maku set forth to find a new exercise in chakra control.  It was already enough that he could fine tune shape, but now he thought he should try and do something a bit larger.  Usually on starts with gross movement and moves on to fine movement, but Maku always liked to do things his own way.  In this way Maku strode on the water out into the middle of the lake and sat once again.  Cross-legged, and with fingertips touching Maku closed his eyes and focused his chakra.  Exerting his will in large waves Maku pushed it out and into the water.  It started out as small ripples going out in all directions.  The waves were small like ripples that would be set in motion by dropping a pebble into a pond.  However these tiny ripples still managed to span the length of the entire body of water, and in this way Maku had found another way to train in the water element.  And not in a fine unique way, but in a gross motor movement way.
 
                The ripples seemed to grow larger and larger over time.  They were getting bigger as if larger and larger rocks where being dropped into the lake.  At first the goal was not to actually break waves and juts have them stay as ripples.  But then the thought occurred once again Maku was focusing on fine details.  This was work on gross movement, so as such Maku began to make them break.  The waves were small, but then large as Maku began to force more and more chakra out.  Maku’s hair even began to ruffle as he exuded his chakra more and more.  The waves grew large maybe even a meter or two high at parts.  All was going well except when Maku received a sharp pain in his side.  Canceling the jutsu Maku took a damage report.  Apparently he had exuded so much chakra in an uncontrolled way that he actually had given himself a small cut.  Smiling Maku bandaged his wound and instead of upset was pleased.  His levels of chakra were growing all the time and it just meant he needed to focus a little more.  Regaining his position Maku prepared for another go at this training method.
 
                In preparation to prevent injury Maku let his chakra permeate his skin.  In this way he set up a barrier on himself to protect himself form his own chakra as he poured it forth into the water.  The waves crashed on the bank, and now started off being two meters high.  Focusing his will on the water the waves now left him, the focal point, and went outwards in a solid circle.  The waves could even reach three meters tall now.  Maku’s hair was ruffling even more as if an invisible wind was pushing on him and only him.  By focusing at his hands as the focal point of the outward push of chakra.  Gathering as much force as he could Maku pushed outwardly with all his muster.  Feeling himself fall a ways and landing on something rather hard Maku finally opened his eyes and looked around.  Surprisingly all the water was gone.  Maku had used enough force to make one wave that took all the water with it, the ground surrounding where the lake had been was now saturated.  Realizing that he would have to work to get his water source back Maku saw it as another training method. 
               
                Though he was no sensory type, after spending all this time I the water he tried to use his own chakra to locate another source of water.  This was a failure.  And not just a failure but an epic fail.  Maku couldn’t have sensed a dragonfly that had landed on his head.  Stanidng he set out to find a new water source to train with, so he wasn’t a sensory style nin, there were worse things.  Luckily in a land of wateralls it wasn’t all that difficult to find another spot, only this time Maku wasn’t as inclined to simply sit in a lake.  This time a waterfall was what he wanted.  Instead of sending out ripples, Maku would attempt to send water back up a water fall.  This reversal would use a lot of chakra but also would push him to his limits.  Perhaps he would also give his friend the Rock Lobster a summon later on and train with him as well.  At any rate it’d be nice to have someone to talk to.  Maku’s solitary life was growing more and more boring.  Finding a smaller waterfall, yet still big enough to provide a challenge, Maku created an earth spike and made a small cut on his forearm to draw blood.  Smearing some on his hand Maku slammed it to the ground to summon his friend.  “Once again you call me up for something other than a fight, what shall we do with this?” The Rock Lobster rumbled.  Maku informed him that he simply wanted company while he trained and perhaps a sparring match afterwards.  The Lobster was happy enough to go along with it.
               
                Sitting on the lobster, Maku was busy focusing on his chakra to prepare himself to push the water up.  Just the presence of another living soul was making Maku feel more confident.  It’d be nice to have someone watch his progress, plus afterwards maybe they could spar and get some work done.  Pushing his chakra network up and out he reached out to find the water.  He then pushed it up the water fall.  At first it was just a few drops, but this was not the point of the exercise.  Maku didn’t want to simply push a few drops up, but to totally reverse the flow of water.  This went against his original concept of going with the flow but now that he had a strong base it was time to expand upon it.  Using his chakra, Maku put his hands up and began catching the water and pushing against it with his chakra.  The gesture was able to stop the water mid flow.  While the force only expanded about 3 feet around him, it stopped the water in its track.  Pushing hard, Maku was able to begin to make the water flow upwards.  Pushing harder, and harder he made it about halfway up the waterfall, before all his work came crashing down. 
 
                Maku hadn’t counted on how much chakra he had expended on the day, or how much it would cost him to push water with just his chakra in a reverse pattern of a waterfall.  Had he not summoned the Lobster Maku would have seriously been in danger of death.  The Rock Lobster lifted him from the water, more gently than one might think possible for a creature 15 feet tall, with large claws could be.  Placing him on the ground, the lobster transferred its own chakra to Maku, and then was forced to desummon.  When Maku awoke he was alone, tired, and starving.  Realizing what his summon had done for him, he was eternally grateful.  Heading home he knew he’d have to put further training on hold until he could do some recovering.  Resting at home Maku prepared himself for his next time out in the wild.  He wasn’t done yet, and a little matter of a near death episode wasn’t going to stop him.  He would make sure to have his summon with him to act as protection.  His apartment overlooked the village gates and as he slept, he dreamed of the greatness that was due.  Perhaps he would begin traveling after all.  Maybe the new arrivals would be a way to facilitate this desire.
 
                Awakening the next morning Maku headed out towards the same waterfall that had shamed him.  Perhaps a little silly to think of a piece of nature having an agenda, all that same it helped facilitate the desire to conquer it.  Sitting and watching the waterfall, Maku ate his breakfast.  It was a simple meal of pasta and bread.  It was a lot carbs in preparation for the execration that he was prepared to exude during today’s training exercise.  The fire he had built crackled, and was burning itself out its duty of preparing his food done.  Standing and stretching he once again summoned a spike from the ground.  Making a small cut he summoned his friend once again.  They took the same position, and Maku began focusing to attempt what he had failed at earlier.  One might have thought the lobster would caution against such actions, since he had nearly died before.  The crustacean race however was a hard race, and wasn’t up to giving up just because of a little thing such as death.  For that reason the lobster say still with a human on his back, who prepared to push against nature.  Overall a pretty interesting sight to see, and one he was happy to be a part of.
 
                Maku felt the water beat on his body and push against him.  His fingertips all touching with his thumbs pointed upwards Maku concentrated.  Pulling his chakra up and into his hands he slowly raises his hands upwards pulling his chakra with him.  Focusing it around his hands and out he took a hold of the water and began to push upwards.  The water once again began to creep upwards.  Taking it slower this time Maku didn’t relent.  The water flowed upwards, and seemingly in a three foot spread Maku had utilized his chakra control to push water upwards.  For about 30 seconds Maku used his ability to reverse the waterfall.  Afterwards, Maku released the jutsu and let the water crash down.  From this point Maku took another break.  His control in the water element was pretty much complete.  While there was still a need to develop water based jutsu, he felt comfortable in his control of it.  Standing he prepared for his sparring match with his summon.  After all this was the second time he had summoned him and not given him any work.  Standing several meters apart the two friends, summoner and summon, squared off to face each other in another test of strength.
               
                The sparring match wasn’t what it had been in the past.  Maku now had enough chakra control and power to ensnare the Rock Lobsters senses.  His foe had plenty of brawn and brute force, but only limited chakra abilities.  Because of this there was no fighting Maku’s abilities.  His Taki no Sei completely captured him only moments into the fight, but Maku released him as soon as he was caught as not to hurt him, or wear himself out.  Releasing his summon, Maku headed home once again.  His training had been a success, his water control had come along nicely and he now felt that he had an affinity for it.  At home Maku relaxed and rested his body, he would soon have to start training his physical body again, so as his body wouldn’t be harmed by his large levels of chakra.  In time all things would come together.


        Maku knew that his chakra abilities far outclass that of a regular genin.  This was no longer an issue, and deep down Maku knew he could now defeat his sensei in combat.  He only had a little bit farther to go until his body would be maxed out with chakra powers.  Practicing his chakra control no longer was the issue, now he needed to work on his fighting abilities with his chakra.  Walking his way out into the jungle he was ready to practice his skills.  Out in the open Maku created multiple spikes.  They pulled out of the ground all around Maku where he stood.  20 different spikes popping out of the ground every three seconds in seemingly random positions.  While Maku continued to focus on getting these spikes up and down, he also worked on sending out illusions.  Not only did he have these three things going Maku also used his hiding like a mole technique to move himself around.  With this combination Maku used many different jutsu to work out his chakra network.  All this worked out pretty well.  Even after all this he didn’t feel remotely tired.  There was no real strain on his chakra control and he would have to find another way to get his chakra a workout.
               
                Sitting alone Maku began to meditate and use genjutsu on himself in a way.  He altered his chakra flow patter to show himself images.  In this way he watched the state of the village as it was on its course.  It was clear that soon the village would be nothing.  A high class S rank missing nin would surely raze the place, or another village looking for resources would take it upon itself to destroy the place.  Changing the images he looked at the gods of the shinobi world.  Though he had never met any of them he had heard and been taught much about them.  Once again the images changed and his chakra patter fluxed.  He saw a world without them, these so called shinobi gods as well as the threat of the larger villages.  What he saw pleased him, releasing his own genjutsu he felt his chakra flux again and blow his clothes and hair as if in the wind.  Maku sighed, and thought about his summoning contract.  Though he would never destroy the bounds that he had set up with the race, he was thinking that using their services wasn’t the best use of his abilities.  Perhaps learning a different jutsu or technique would be a better use of his abilities. 
               
                Continuing his meditation Maku continued to try and develop new genjutsu.  Thinking of horrifying images and scary thoughts, it occurred to Maku that maybe the perfect genjutsu would be one that didn’t frighten and scare an opponent, but instead show them what they wanted to see.  Maku begin to use his chakra to weave an illusion of good visions.  Perhaps if Maku made a genjutsu where the opponent sees themselves in victory and triumph he would be able to trick the opponent better.  Maku began to try and formulate such a skill.  In time perhaps it would be a useful ability.  However just for not it would remain simple conjecture.  Standing, his meditation completed Maku wished to finish out his chakra training once again with some practical abilities.  Standing and stretching, Maku walked over to were some of his spikes from earlier still lingered.  Cutting his thumb he summoned the Rock Lobster for some sparring.  This upset Maku as well, how sad that he had to bleed and summon his own sparring partner.  Nonethless, he squared off against the great crustacean and prepared for combat.  His goal was to only use jutsu, and use a lot of it so as to work it all out. 
               
                The sparring began quickly, Maku created 16 spikes all in a line around the crustacean so it would be trapped.  The array only left one way to move and it faced directly at Maku.  Upon doing this Maku dove under ground with the hiding like a mole technique.  From there he moved up a spike and used 4 more to block the crustacean in essentially trapping him.  Popping out of a spike Maku performed his chains of fantasia jutsu to ensnare the behemoth.  Only because the Rock Lobster had seen this technique so many times before was it able to break free.  Leaping out of the trap the Lobster attempted to grab Maku.  His claws almost crushing his body, Maku signed tiger and body flickered out.  Once he was away Maku summoned spikes to try and pierce the crustacean.  Not being able to pierce his shell, Maku continued to use the spikes as distractions.  Finally once he had pushed the beast far enough away, Maku played his harmonica and trapped the crustacean in the Taki no Seki.  Once this was complete the fight was over.  Releasing the crustacean once again he allowed the beast to return home.  It was the same way he had defeated him the first time, not very original, yet still strongly effective.
 
                Returning to his meditations Maku continued to focus his chakra into illusionary manifestations.  Maku felt his need to train his chakra coming to a close.  He could now use any of his jutsu at will without any difficulty, even his most powerful Taki no Seki while exhausting wasn’t enough to leave him lying helpless.  Opening his eyes, Maku saw his own illusionary world of Taki No Seki.  Knowing full well the damage it would do, he allowed himself to be trapped in it.  Pushing hard after approximately 5 minutes of being in the jutsu he was able to break it.  Maku appreciated the fact that the longer someone was trapped in the jutsu the harder it would be for them to escape.  Satisfied with his chakra powers and abilities Maku headed home.  No longer a lazy student dreaming, Maku was now becoming a powerful genin who needed to find ways to gain more power.  Gaining new abilities perhaps was the only way to figure out what he should do with his life.

 
(Word Count = 4,027 so 20 stat points, 40 JP, and 3000 words towards water as a second element which with my other post of 1422 words puts me over the 4000 mark, so I should have water as a second element now.)

Approved unless another mod deems otherwise