Departure

The group wasted no time in getting things moving. After a half-day wait, a ship was prepared for their departure. Raikage had chosen to remain in the village to ensure its protection. However, he had entrusted Darui and Killer B, along with a professional crew, to accompany Gaara and Zeus on their journey.

Zeus couldn't help but feel surprised by their swift actions. Now, he found himself in the middle of the ocean, standing beside Gaara, both gazing out at the vast expanse of water. Gaara seemed to have something on his mind, and finally, he broke the silence.

"Zeus, don't you think that you wasted those jutsu on me? I don't know if I'm ready to face the One-Tailed Beast. Maybe we should turn back," Gaara expressed his doubts, looking unsure.

Zeus turned his gaze down to Gaara, his eyes growing cold. "I've already told you that those jutsu hold no value to me. Why are you acting like this? Are you scared of the little beast sealed within you?"

"I... I..." Gaara stuttered, his words faltering under Zeus's intense gaze. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way. Throughout his life, he had longed for the beast to disappear, and now that he had the chance, doubts were plaguing his mind.

"Listen, you interested me because of your determination and persistent character, but if you continue to doubt yourself like your own father, then perhaps we should turn back," Zeus concluded, his eyes locked onto Gaara's, as if peering into his very soul.

At the mention of his father, Gaara frowned. There was no way he was anything like his father. There was no reason for him to doubt himself. He had to conquer the One-Tailed Beast. As the cloud of doubt dissipated from Gaara's gaze, Zeus smirked and placed a hand on Gaara's head. "That's right. Remember your roots and let your anger fuel your journey forward."

Gaara nodded, and Zeus turned his attention to the cabin, where Killer B and Darui emerged. Though tension still lingered in the air due to recent events, neither side made any hostile moves.

"B, I've got a friend from Mountain Myoboku who's eager to see the ocean," Zeus said, recalling his fellow blue frog. "I'll summon him here. Don't worry, he's harmless."

Killer B remained motionless for a moment, lost in thought as his gaze met Darui's. Eventually, they both sighed, and Killer B nodded. Zeus wasted no time and bit into his finger, placing his hand on the wooden deck.

Immediately, a puff of smoke enveloped the area. The ship was too large to see anything amidst the smoke. However, before it dissipated, a high-pitched and somewhat unsettling voice reverberated through the surroundings. "Zeus, you rascal! I was about to start eating!"

As the smoke cleared, a comical scene unfolded before everyone's eyes. Zeus and a blue frog engaged in a fierce struggle, rolling around on the ground.

"Whoever this little frog is, he's no joke," Killer B remarked, pointing at the frog with a hint of delight. "He packs a punch even stronger than my brother."

Gaara and Darui reacted quite differently. They simply watched the spectacle unfold, amusement evident on their faces. Finally, Zeus and the frog ceased their scuffle, and the little amphibian stood up, examining the assembled group.

"I am Gamaton, the sexiest toad on planet Earth! And who the hell are you guys?" Gamaton spoke with a grumpy tone, glancing menacingly at everyone present.

"I've never seen a talking frog before, but man, you definitely aren't the sexiest one," Killer B chimed in, throwing a series of hand signs that held no meaning. "Your blue skin hurts my eyes like daggers stabbing into my heart."

"Racist," Darui added with a single word, causing the conversation to halt.

Even Gamaton couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.

"Gamaton," Zeus intervened, appearing behind the frog and lifting him up by his hand. Gamaton struggled but couldn't escape Zeus's grip. "First of all, you've gotten fat. Secondly, look around. Isn't seeing the ocean your dream?"

"I'm not fat. I'm just growing," Gamaton muttered as Zeus released him, causing him to collide with the ship's deck, breaking a small part of the wood. Gamaton blushed momentarily, but his embarrassment faded once he saw the horizon, which stretched out before them, pure and serene.

"Is that the ocean?" Gamaton's eyes widened as he walked forward, passing through Zeus and Gaara without even acknowledging them. He leaped onto the deck, captivated by the sight. "It's the freaking ocean!"

With a shout of excitement, Gamaton dove into the water, surprising everyone except Zeus. Silence enveloped the group as they peered into the water, awaiting Gamaton's return. After a few moments, his head emerged from the surface.

"It's so deep and beautiful!" Gamaton exclaimed. "Although the fish here seem a bit snobbish. Why do they all want to eat me?"

"Frogs are tasty, aren't they?" Zeus mumbled absentmindedly, his mind wandering for a moment, while Gamaton's face twisted in disgust. "Whatever, Gamaton, can you make this ship go faster? It feels like we're moving at a snail's pace."

"No problem." Gamaton dived back into the ocean, and immediately, the ship's speed increased. It seemed that Gamaton had learned some new tricks during his absence. The pace continued to quicken until they were speeding so fast that the wind made their eyes water. However, as they accelerated, the ship became increasingly difficult to control, and they soon spotted a rock jutting out of the water directly in their path. It was too late to change direction. Stopping was impossible.

"Gamaton, up!" Zeus shouted loudly enough for the toad to hear, and they suddenly soared into the air. Everyone grabbed onto anything they could to brace themselves against the ship's deck.

Then, with a loud crash, they made direct contact with the water's surface, causing everyone to collide with the ship's floor. Miraculously, no one was injured, and the ship remained unscathed.

"Damn, Gamaton, you're insane!" Zeus exclaimed, standing at the ship's front with a wild grin. "Let's go for another round!"

******

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