52 Instilling Fear

"Zeus, why are you doing this? Aren't high-ranked jutsu really valuable?" Gaara confronted Zeus, his voice filled with conflicting emotions. "Let's just go. It's not worth it. I can find other ways to control the One-Tailed Beast."

"Don't worry about it, Gaara," Zeus replied, placing a hand on the red-haired boy's head and offering a slight grin. "To them, it may hold great value, but to me, it's just another technique that I can create anytime."

Gaara furrowed his brows, standing his ground as he continued to gaze deeply into Zeus's piercing blue eyes. "Are you certain?"

In response, Zeus simply turned around and started walking away from Gaara and the group of shinobi. "I am certain," Zeus added, as the warriors glared daggers at his retreating figure.

Gaara looked down at the ground, his eyes filled with uncertainty. Clenching his fists, he softly mumbled, "Thank you..." However, his voice went unheard by those around him, despite it being the first time he had expressed gratitude since that incident.

"I will show you a B-ranked jutsu first," Zeus announced, gesturing for everyone to follow as they silently made their way to the mountaintop. Raikage led the group, with Gaara trailing a few feet behind. Killer B occasionally glanced in Gaara's direction but kept his focus on Zeus.

When they reached a cliff, Zeus halted, closing his eyes in silence. He allowed the wind to brush against his face, lost in deep contemplation. What techniques should he share? He had a vast array of B-ranked jutsu at his disposal, so he didn't place too much importance on that.

The challenge lay in the S-ranked jutsu. He didn't possess an abundance of them. Some were more formidable than others, but they were nearly impossible to master, while others were easier to grasp but less overpowering. Zeus needed to provide them with a substantial technique that would match the services they would offer to Gaara.

Moreover, above all, he wanted to issue a warning. He wanted to demonstrate that if they played any tricks, their village wouldn't survive a single day. In his mind, Zeus settled on the perfect technique.

His eyes snapped open as he extended his hand, his palms emitting a brilliant glow as lightning materialized within them. Slowly but surely, a bow formed in his grasp, leaving all the shinobi present in awe.

Zeus hadn't used any hand seals or taken much time, yet within seconds, he had created a lightning bow that didn't burn or disintegrate his hands. Snapping his fingers, an arrow materialized in his free hand, which he then pulled along the artificial string.

"At least Orochimaru's lab rat proved useful for something. His arrows were truly annoying," Zeus remarked before releasing the breath and string, sending the arrow soaring down the cliff with calculated precision. It struck the largest tree below, lodging itself in its core. However, a moment later, an explosion erupted beneath the cliff, forming a small crater and reducing the tree to nothingness.

This jutsu was considerably powerful, but it would prove extremely difficult for anyone other than Zeus to master. Nonetheless, it showcased a substantial level of power for a B-ranked jutsu, though only a few would be capable of utilizing it.

Zeus turned slowly, meeting the gazes of all the shinobi. He made eye contact with Raikage, who nodded in acknowledgment, although his frown remained intact.

"This jutsu can also be performed with hand seals, allowing it to be learned even without perfect lighting control," Zeus murmured, then turned back to face the cliff. "However, I'm certain this isn't what you all wished to see. This is merely a minor jutsu compared to what I'm about to demonstrate."

Zeus grinned, channeling chakra within himself. This time, he simply let go. It was a technique he had practiced in Mount Myoboku and frequently employed in Heaven. However, it had lost some of its appeal over time. Nevertheless, it didn't change the fact that it would be terrifying to others.

Furthermore, these mortals would require at least a decade to execute even a minor example of what he was about to unveil. Zeus directed all his chakra into his right hand, causing it to swell and grow. Veins bulged all over his hands, crackling with electricity like an impending doom.

Suddenly, a translucent copy of Zeus's hand emerged from his own limb, rapidly expanding in size. At first, it seemed harmless, but it continued to grow until everyone had to crane their necks to look up at the colossal lightning hand. Shadows were cast upon the shinobi as the hand continued its expansion.

Raikage and Killer B exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with astonishment. Meanwhile, Zeus kept pouring more chakra into the technique until he finally ceased, observing the gigantic hand hovering above him. Gaara, witnessing this spectacle, forgot his inner contemplation as fear consumed him.

Everyone stood ready to flee at a moment's notice, fearing that Zeus would unleash the full wrath of this technique upon them. However, they were fortunate that Zeus was merely providing a demonstration, one that would undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on every onlooker for the remainder of their lives.

"God's Punch," Zeus declared, hurling his hand down as the colossal limb followed his movements. In an instant, it collided with the ground on the horizon, unleashing shockwaves and tremors that reverberated across the continent. Nearly all the shinobi were forced to their knees as dust billowed, obscuring their vision.

Several minutes passed before the dust settled, revealing a harrowing sight. On the horizon, a massive handprint loomed, with the entire forest covered in deep black burns. The size of the crater could easily be compared to that of a medium-sized village.

This time, Raikage couldn't conceal his astonishment as he stared at Zeus, seated on the cliff's edge, his gaze fixed on the scene without a hint of exhaustion. However, a sense of amusement flickered within Raikage. Gritting his teeth, he delved into contemplation.

The techniques were undeniably powerful, perhaps even too powerful. However, they were far from easy to master. Raikage couldn't envision himself or others easily acquiring these skills, particularly the God's Punch. Nevertheless, possessing knowledge of such jutsu would undoubtedly prove invaluable, as fellow shinobi could experiment and create variations.

Ultimately, it was a favorable deal, he had to admit.

Furthermore, Raikage realized that he couldn't refuse. Engaging in a battle against Zeus would result in countless casualties. It simply wasn't worth it. Despite his arrogance, Raikage understood his limitations and responsibilities, and he silently resolved to accept the offer.

***

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