"Well you guys got most of it right. Water is a very versatile element to say the least, being able to do a multitude of things in limitless ways. It can be used in large scaled ways to completely change the terrain, be used to trap opponents, make numerous animals of water, weapons made of condensed water, defensive mechanisms.... The usages are literally limitless if your imagination is in the right place. Water can also be used in various combinations to cause different affects, though in most water/other element combos the water jutsu is usually used first. For example; shooting out a wave of water and following up with a lightning jutsu to electrify the water, heightening its lethality. Or, shooting a wave of water and using a large fire jutsu in order to heat up the speeding water into a cloud of building steam that's heading at an opponent."
Here's a little list of the strengths and weaknesses of water to the basic elements;
A-Rank water > A-Rank Fire
A-rank Water = S-rank Fire
A-rank water < A-rank earth
A-rank water = B-rank earth
A-rank water = A-rank lightning
A-rank water = A-rank wind
"When it comes down to water verses either wind or lightning it is usually equal to it, but as with every jutsu, size, mass, momentum and such all come into play. For example; your opponent shoots a B-rank lightning spear at you and you release towards him a B-rank giant title wave, the wave will engulf the lightning and redirect the lightning along with it.. "
When in comparison towards KG's and hidden abilities, this is Water's Strength and weaknesses:
Strengths:
- Raw Chakra ( except raw chakra that uses advanced shape manipulation like rasengan, than It's equal )
- Storm ( A large Water source can also be used to diffuse the Lightning within storm release, leaving nothing but a Water technique. )
- Dark
- Bug jutsu
- Blast
- Sand
- Paper jutsu
-
Weaknesses:
- Wood
- Crystal
- Ice
- Steel
- Boil
- Scorch
- Shikotsumyaku
- Dust
Neutral:
- Lava
- Biju chakra
"As you can see, water is very useful against certain things, but on the other hand It's weak to numerous KG or special ability. But some of these weaknesses can be avoided if you use jutsu in smart ways.
Anyway, we've reached the lake. We're going to cross it as a short cut to where I learned and honed my water skill, maybe you'll both surpass me. ^^ Any questions?"
I begin walking over the lake, heading in a seemingly random direction as I whistle a nice little tune..