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As the gentle heat of the early summer sun engulfed the village Tenma found herself once more at the great river. Over the time she had been absent it seemed as if the waters had begun to calm. However, even with a slightly tranquil surface, there was always the possibility of subsurface currents that would grip and pull at one's feet and ankles. It was a dynamic dance of slow and quick, peaceful and violent. The greatest thing about this duo was the seamless fit of the two, even under the most extreme conditions. One would never reveal the other, always working both independently and as partners.

With her mind fixated on the dancing liquid Tenma's body separated from her thoughts as she began fastening weights to her ankles. Though they were only five pounds each it was a considerable weight to the particularly small child. Attempting to get used to them, she lifted and rotated her legs as her mind began to rethink the entire feat. Though it seemed daunting with the straps on her ankles Tenma was a fairly stubborn person, though no one would suspect her to be so, and she wasn't about to give up. Once her mind faultered enough for her to surge her form forward a splash resonated from the water where the child had jumped in.

Orientated and finally aware of her position in the water Tenma began to progress through the water. It was disappointing: someone who not only swam often, but thrived in the water, was being pulled down by such a trivial amount of weight. There had been no difficulties carrying the weight to the river on her back, so it made no sense that it should make such a difference in a substance that actually caused you to weigh less than you actually did. Maybe with a bit of further education the child would finally understand, but until then she decided it was just fine to be irritated at the cursed anklets. Eventually, though it didn’t seem like it at the time, she would be stronger for it if not a better swimmer.

Taking in a few deep breaths, opening her lungs to the capacity she would require for the task, the child surged forward as she plunged head long toward the center of the river. Her legs kicked and swirled with the water, making attempts to use it for her advantage. But the waters in Konoha were far different from the water back home in Amegakure. With wistful images and memories of home Tenma began to feel disconnect with her body as her mind soared back home with her grandparents.

Further and further into the width of the water Tenma found herself. That is, she would have found herself if her mind and heart weren’t back in Amegakure. No, she was still fixated on the memories, the blissful existence, of home. Still she could feel the perpetually cool rush of the river near her home in which she had spent numerous days in time. Often she would simply go down to the water’s edge and stand so it licked at the side of her ankles. She would get lost in the gentle swirl or the violent torrent of the clear blue liquid. Many times she had been scolded for standing at the lip of the bank during a storm in which her grandfather had to come in search of her. Eventually they began to predict her absences and would occupy her with remedial tasks at home in order to keep an eye on her. Though, after a bit of time, they began to slip out of the habit and it became easier for her to sneak out of the house.

With the shore continuously coming closer to the child’s range she began to focus more on her swimming, not wanting to think of the home she wasn’t even sure she had left. At that thought the child shoved all of the blissful memories that had swarmed her mind into its darkest reaches as so she didn’t retrieve them. Strokes and kicks alternated as her legs began to burn with the excess weight. It was quite the feat, but she was glad she had taken it on. Energy pushed through her as the liquid euphoria continued to pulse, swirl, and rush over her.

With her strokes once more reaching the steady pulse with her legs Tenma continues pulling her way through the water. Eventually she would be able to do this a thousand times over without having to stop for air or to rest fatigued muscles. However, until she reached that point, she would have to be content with making it over once or twice in a given time. As she reached her rhythmic equilibrium there was a steady pulse in her ears as the waters continued to wash over her. The cool liquid had locked away the memories that had more or less plagued Tenma during her swim as she focused on breathing when the water wouldn’t come crashing over her.

The crystal clear waters allowed from viewing down at the bottom of the river and, as the girl neared the shore, she noted the sharp upward slant of the bank. Like the child had done at the beginning of her training it was moving as quickly towards the surface as it could. Confident that she was close enough to the shore not to run into trouble, Tenma suddenly nose-dived to the bottom of the river, allowing the weights to help push her down. Catching herself with her hands she felt as her body continued to sink, ending with her on her stomach. Gently her hands walked her up the embankment and onto dry land. Taking in the warmth and the plentiful oxygen the child rolled onto her bank and laid down, allowing from her knees down to rest in the ever loving water.

EDIT: Swimming training takes place in a past time frame.

Sinking was an entirely knew feeling to Takeshi. As he slipped under the water, looking up at the surface was like looking up at another world. It wasn't like anything he had seen. Everything looked so fluid and glassy. Then Takeshi brought his mind back to the present situation, he was drowning. He hadn't taken a big gulp of air before he slipped under the water, so he didn't have much time to assess the situation. Takeshi's first instinct was to kick. Nothing else. And it didn't matter what direction to kick. Just start kicking. As hard as he could. So Takeshi began to kick as hard as he could, trying in a desperate attempt to make it back to the surface. Sure enough, Takeshi began to rise back up. But then again, he was also running out of air.

Swimming Part 1
DC: 10
Formula: 1d20 + 2 =
Train: 0/3
Rewards: +1 Strength

EDIT: Swimming training takes place in a past time frame.

Since he almost swallowed a whole bunch of water, Takeshi decided against continuing, and instead decided to float in the water for a moment. It would be better if he could catch his breath before he continued, and maybe floating in the water for a moment might give him an idea of the momentum and rhythm of the river so he wouldn't be caught up in another wave when he got back to swimming. Every once in a while he had to paddle upstream back to the path where he would get across the river, because all the time he stayed floating in that river, the river was carrying him even further downstream.When he felt good and rested, Takeshi went back to paddling towards the opposing shore.

Swimming Part 1
DC: 10
Formula: 1d20 + 2 =
Train: 0/3
Rewards: +1 Strength

EDIT: Swimming training takes place in a past time frame.

Takeshi now faced his greatest challenge of the swimming lesson: crossing the strongest part of the river. The current was so strong here that waiting around was not an option, it would carry you downstream in moment. So decisions here would be split second. But there was no decision to make. It was swim forward or backward, and considering that the later was unacceptable, swimming forward was the only thing to decide on. Takeshi pushed his body to the limits as he kicked as hard as he could to get across the current. Unfortunately, the current proved too strong, and he ended up having to swim against the current instead of out of it. With each breaststroke, he still ended up being pushed downstream, farther from his goal.

Swimming Part 1
DC: 10
Formula: 5 + 2 = 7
Train: 1/3
Rewards: +1 Strength