Finding a secluded training ground with large bodies of water was a pain for Tareru, while he was on his morning run he was passed by Dai and might Gai a few times. On his last lap he stopped Dai and asked him if there was a training ground with large bodies of water. Dai and Gai were enthusiastic as always and made him run towards the secluded training ground with them. He really liked the father and son duo and wanted to get closer to the eternal genin and his son who would buckle Madara Uchiha with a punch.

Seeing off the taijutsu masters of Konoha brought Tareru back to reality. He looked over the massive oxbow lake as the rushing of the nearby river meandered off. This was going to be his training ground. He stepped onto the murky water of the lake, chakra emitting from his soles naturally as if second nature.

Tareru practised his chakra control constantly just to be on the same level as the ninjas from clans, clearing his mind of useless thought as he steadily walked around on the lake. The weight on his arms and legs not causing an issue for the practised genin. Dai, giving inspiration for the sealed weights, probably already told Gai to watch out for myself.

Tareru noticed that his chakra capacity was increasing minimally everyday for the past few weeks. But it was probably due to him growing naturally and his negligible training was doing nothing for it. He walked and pondered until he was right above the centre of the lake. Tareru took a seat on top of the water. Chakra already emitting to let him sit unfazed. He grabbed a handful of leaves from the forest outside the border of the leaf. Tareru realised the trees Hashirama grew with his chakra were easier to control for the people in general than natural growing trees.

It was a miniscule change but it was a change nonetheless. The genin grabbed a handful of the leaves and placed them all over his face, arm and back. Stuck by the chakra Tareru emitted this was the first time he was using both chakra control techniques simultaneously, not caring for his diminishing chakra.

Tareru fell into a trance like state focusing inwards making sure the chakra did not fluctuate irregularly making sure he had control over every single strand of essence he was using. He didn't last 10 minutes in this state; he used up all his chakra. Tareru forced the last sliver that was left to make sure his core was empty.

The water was freezing as he saw the rays of sunlight from underwater. He let himself sink as he thought of the time he threw himself into a deep lake so he could learn how to swim. He was either gonna learn or die trying. His mindset was extreme but that will cause him to survive.

His muscle ached as he felt the bottom of the lake. Using pure muscle strength he swam for shore. The searing pain of all his muscles ached as he felt the weight try to hold him down. The air in his lungs slowly loses its effectiveness. Forcing himself to crawl out to the shore of the lake took everything he had. Falling on his face and passing out wasn't part of the plan but chakra exhaustion was as serious as it gets.

Waking up with sand in his mouth wasn't pleasant but looking at the sun over his head Tareru estimated it was just turing noon, passing out for 3 hours was a waste of his time but he learnt that next time maybe stay closer to the shore.

Meditating and replenishing his chakra Tareru got right back to his training. This time he was gonna focus on his elemental training. It took him less than 5 minutes to force his chakra into the leaf and make it damp. It wasn't hard probably due to the fact he already knew a water release justu so he knew what water release felt like. Tareru taught on how to increase his training. The leaf was probably the first step into learning water elemental manipulation. So next was probably creating or manipulating water in the area.

Tareru knew that Tobirama could take water out of the air and use it even in deserts so that was probably the goal to master water release, but baby steps first. Tareru walked back into the lake not caring for the panic that was rising in his heart. He silenced his thoughts as he sat back down on the water.

His body relaxed as his body took over emitting his chakra to keep him afloat above the water. He focused back onto his chakra, he started to release it into the water, seeing it disperse into the water was heartbreaking but he kept releasing it making his chakra get the feel of the water. He stopped when he felt his level of chakra was almost depleted again, and focused on keeping him above the water.

Tareru tried controlling his chakra in the water. Forcing his will to move the water didn't really work well. Probably due to his disbelief that it would do anything. Tareru kept meditating, putting some more focus on his chakra in the water. When he felt at peace with it he tried flexing his chakra.

The single ripple spread through the lake.

Feeling overjoyed over his small victory Tareru laughed out loud. Causing him to fall into the freezing lake once more.

Making his way to shore didn't lessen his mood as he was probably on the right track of water manipulation. Tareru threw away his weight off his legs and arm altogether 20 kg of weight made a slight thud as the genin went back to replenishing his chakra.

He was sure, as he sat back down in the middle of the lake, that he was on the right track as the ripple he forced out started to increase the ripple and was able to produce them comfortably. He stood up and forced more chakra to create a bigger wave.

By the time Tareru was done training it was already turning dark. He had a quick field ration during his training. By the end of the water manipulation he could jump and cause a relatively big wave to go in all directions causing others to fall into the water. Not very useful in battle but Tareru knew that he was on the right steps for water manipulation.

He had enough savings for the next few days and his quota for the mission was completed before the delivery mission, so it was time to train.