Another Continent

After leaving Tsuande as a beggar, Zeus and Gaara departed towards the Land of Lightning. Their trip this time was much smoother and they promptly advanced into alien lands. Gaara and Zeus grew closer, conversating about various things, and Zeus sharing some stories of his own.

Zeus had become quite fond of Gaara. The kid clearly had lived a rough life and didn't think on the same wavelength as others, especially when Shukaku was playing mind games on him. Gaara spoke very little and chose to keep his words to himself. Even when something was troubling him, he would never ask Zeus for help.

Even then, despite Gaara's stoic personality, Zeus noticed quiet giggles and little smiles every time Zeus did something extraordinarily stupid. Zeus wasn't the type to be considerate of others, or, even care about others at all, so he was satisfied that Gaara was fighting his own demons quite well.

Time flew by like a rushing river as they encountered their first mountain, signaling their arrival on another continent. Pressing forward, they relied on Zeus's perception of natural energy to guide them. Days passed, and they soon found themselves completely surrounded by towering cliffs. Rivers weaved through the landscape like intricate mazes, and the crispness of the air brought a refreshing chill.

Zeus stretched his hand out into the sky, attempting to grasp an intangible presence. "You're so close, my friend, yet I can't sense you at all," he mused, acknowledging the distance that separated him from his divine nature. "I must find ways to enhance and nurture the divinity within me faster."

One of the simplest paths to ascend from mortal to godly is through faith. It's an arduous and lengthy journey, but it surpasses other options. Essentially, one must earn the belief and adoration of people, leading them to pray for assistance and regard the individual as a being from a different realm. Basically, become a God for others, which they would put their faith in whenever trouble descended upon them. Although alternative methods exist, such as receiving a blessing or experimenting with divinity, they tend to be complex and convoluted.

However, Zeus's circumstances were different. He had been born a god and had later become mortal. The seed of divinity, though faint, remained buried deep within his soul. If he could nurture it even slightly, perhaps the Heavens would recognize him, thus bolstering his divinity and allowing him to reclaim his position as the Ruler of the Sky. Nevertheless, such aspirations seemed far-fetched. Zeus needed to grow even stronger for the Heavens to even acknowledge his presence.

"Why do you always gaze at the sky?" Gaara inquired, his round eyes filled with curiosity. Throughout their journey, Zeus frequently paused to admire the boundless and carefree expanse above.

"Why not? Don't you enjoy looking up at the limitless Sky, so free and unburdened?" Zeus asked, shrugging and diverting his gaze away from the heavens. "Have you never pondered what you could do if you were as unrestrained as the Sky?"

"Free as the sky?" Gaara mused, his eyes flickering with wonder.

"Yes, exactly," Zeus replied with a smile, taking a step closer to the mountain. "Alright, we've lingered enough. The Cloud Village must be nearby; we've been walking for days."

Gaara remained rooted to the spot for a brief moment, his gaze fixated on the ever-expanding sky above. Eventually, he nodded and followed closely behind Zeus, lost in deep contemplation. However, Gaara's introspection prevented him from noticing when Zeus suddenly halted, causing Gaara to collide with Zeus's back.

"It seems we've reached the village sooner than expected," Zeus remarked, pushing Gaara gently and allowing him to witness four figures standing in the distance, their gazes fixed upon them. All four individuals donned headbands, a clear indication that they hailed from the Village Hidden in the Clouds. The figure positioned in the center, their leader, possessed a darker complexion.

This tall, muscular shinobi with dark skin sported short spiky dreadlocks and had amber-colored eyes. Dressed in a black shirt, a light-blue flak jacket, and black pants, the shinobi exuded strength, confidence, and a sense of responsibility.

"Who are you? You're about to enter the territory of the Hidden Cloud Village, so I suggest you turn back around," the man asserted, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of the katana sheathed behind him. His scrutinizing gaze scanned both Zeus and Gaara, prompting the other shinobi to tense up in response.

"Well, it turns out we were heading in the right direction after all," Zeus chimed in, wearing a blissful smile as he raised his right hand to wave. "Hey, we've come up with a great offer for the Raikage! Could you arrange a meeting with him?"

"The Raikage?" the dark-skinned man furrowed his brows. "That's impossible. The Raikage is a busy individual. What makes you think you can simply arrive at our village's border and request an audience with him? Go back to where you came from."

Zeus lowered his hand, the smile fading from his face. He sighed before speaking again, "I suppose you're leaving us no choice but to force our way inside, then."

The man's expression soured, and a glimmer of hostility appeared in his eyes. He tightened his grip on the katana's handle, preparing to draw it, but before he could, a hand intercepted his movement. His eyes widened as he turned to see Zeus's cold gaze fixed upon him as if he were an insignificant insect in his path. The other shinobi were paralyzed by Zeus's lightning, yet they were clearly unharmed.

Zeus had taken care of three Jonins' in one second.

"Listen, I'm certain you don't want to needlessly sacrifice your life or the lives of your comrades. Why don't you reconsider my previous request? I'd prefer to start our relationship with your village on a more favorable note," Zeus calmly suggested, his eyes displaying nothing but killing intent.

The man's eyes flickered with uncertainty as he glanced around at his fellow shinobi. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, and he relaxed his grip, releasing the katana's handle.

"I'll be back shortly. Do not harm the shinobi, or the wrath of the entire village will descend upon you," the man stated, walking a few meters away from Zeus.

Zeus couldn't help but let out a snicker. "Was that meant to intimidate me?"

The man's frown deepened before he vanished from sight.

Remaining in his original spot, Gaara gave a thumbs-up. "That was cool."

***

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