Perhaps

Gaara's eyes snapped open, and he immediately twisted his head, surveying his new surroundings. Without a doubt, he was no longer inside the carriage. Instead, he found himself in a place that resembled a tent. The ground beneath him was unfamiliar, featuring tall grass that felt silky to the touch. However, the absence of sand nearby made him feel vulnerable and alone. Gaara's gaze shifted to his injuries. His left hand was still fully bandaged, but the pain had subsided, leaving behind a tingling sensation. It seemed that he had been unconscious for quite some time for his injuries to have improved so significantly.

With a grunt, Gaara rose to his feet, standing in this strange place with a sense of apprehension. Slowly and quietly, he pushed aside the curtains that concealed him from the outside world. As he did, a breathtaking panorama unfolded before him. He stood near a cliff, overlooking the lush greenery of an expansive forest. Peering over the edge, Gaara was greeted by a cascading waterfall plunging into a churning pool below.

Vibrant grasslands adorned the surrounding terrain, with dense foliage and tall trees bearing witness to the waterfall's grandeur. Mist rose from the cascading water, creating a delicate veil that added enchantment to the scene. Sunlight filtered through the overhead canopy, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow upon the water's surface. Occasional rainbows emerged from the mist, painting the sky with a kaleidoscope of colors.

'This is beautiful,' Gaara thought to himself, momentarily calm in his expression. However, his frown quickly returned as his gaze shifted away from the breathtaking scenery. He felt a shadow falling on his back.

"Damn, you were sleeping for so long that I already started digging a grave," Zeus exclaimed, standing in front of Gaara with a mischievous expression on his face.

"Where have you taken me?" Gaara disregarded Zeus's jokes and immediately got to the point, glancing around once more.

Zeus followed Gaara's line of sight, scratching his head. "That's a good question. The thing is—I don't really know myself. But considering how green it is here, we should be within the borders of the Land of Fire."

"The Land of Fire," Gaara frowned. "So, you are kidnapping me into Konoha?"

"Don't start with those games again. As I've already said, you are free to go whenever you want," Zeus sighed. "Besides, do you really think it's a smart idea to bring a Jinchuriki into Konoha after your father's death? I would be surprised if that didn't start another war."

"So then... why are we here?" Gaara asked, furrowing his brows.

"Well, I thought we should get rid of that frown on your face first," Zeus smiled, scanning Gaara from all angles, making the red-haired boy feel exposed. "Your injuries don't seem critical anymore. I think you're good to go."

"Go where?"

In response, Zeus smiled. "The best way to rid yourself of worries and useless thoughts is by feeling the rush of adrenaline in your blood." Finishing his words, Zeus stretched out his hand and pushed Gaara off the cliff. Gaara couldn't comprehend what was happening before he found himself hurtling down into the waterfall below.

'What the heck?!' Gaara cursed internally, feeling the wind against his face. His frown disappeared, replaced by fear as he saw the water's surface rapidly approaching. His mind raced with ways to escape this ordeal when he noticed Zeus falling alongside him.

"Stop thinking! Just relax and follow me!" Zeus grinned, his hands spread wide, seemingly unfazed by the approaching ground. Gaara struggled to heed Zeus's advice as his heart raced with fear. At that moment, he realized he was afraid to die. Despite all the pain he had endured, he didn't want to die, especially not like this.

"Hey! Straighten up if you don't want to become a puddle!" Zeus continued to smile crazily as he changed his body's position in the air, his eyes still closed. Now, he was falling into the water with his feet pointed downward. Gaara quickly mimicked Zeus's actions.

Before he knew it, Gaara's feet made contact with the water, and he plunged into its depths. Fortunately, the landing was successful, and his feet stung only slightly. As he found himself submerged beneath the surface, alone with his thoughts, Gaara experienced an unexpected sense of peace. Nothing bothered him, and he momentarily forgot all his worries—until he realized the lack of oxygen. He promptly swam back to the surface, gasping for air.

'What is that guy up to now?' Gaara cursed internally, sensing danger lurking beneath. Instinctively, he swam away. Barely a moment later, a colossal splash erupted from the water as a massive purple fish leaped into the air.

Perched on its back was Zeus, holding onto its skin for dear life, a maniacal smile adorning his face. "Hahahaha! Why the hell was such a monster lurking in the depths of this lake?"

Zeus wrestled with the fish mid-air and turned towards Gaara. "You little punk! Why are you just standing there? Kill this beast, or I'll leave you starving!"

Gaara was momentarily confused, but he quickly reacted, channeling his chakra and manipulating the sand in the surrounding area. He gathered it all to create a single spike and sent it hurtling toward the monster's belly.

"Haha! Perfect strike!" Zeus exclaimed, steering the fish to plummet back into the lake. It was only after killing the fish that Gaara realized it was falling straight toward him from above. Without a second thought, Gaara rushed out of the lake and onto solid ground.

A massive wave crashed behind him as he turned to witness Zeus standing atop the belly of the fish, smiling and licking his lips, clearly excited to savor their conquest.

Gaara observed the scene from the side, lost in thought. His gaze fell upon Zeus's scarred body, evidence of the torture and deadly battles he had endured. Yet, despite it all, Zeus still smiled, triggering a peculiar thought in Gaara's mind.

Perhaps he, too, could find solace.

Perhaps he could forget the torment and suffering that had plagued his life.

***

Hello, guys, long time no see, finally done with all the exams, so the updates are going to be daily from now.

Gif: Done!

Shout out for getting the most likes on the previous Gif: Samot_Sempai and ChaosV

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