58 Waterfall of Truth

To control the beast within, you must understand your inner evil. But it's no simple task, kid; it's the first step toward upheaval. If you can't handle this, there's no reason to continue, for the One-Tailed Beast will consume you, that's true. You must destroy the evil sealed within you," Killer B explained, as all three of them stood in front of the waterfall. "It's called the waterfall of truth for a reason. Go sit on that platform, concentrate, and confront the evil locked within you."

"Do I have to face my own evil self?" Gaara implied, looking skeptically at the platform.

This time, Darui was the one to answer. "Yes, in case you didn't understand Killer B, this place is essential for someone who wants to control their Jinchuriki. Once you understand and confront your inner self, it becomes much more difficult for the Tailed Beast to control you."

"I guess that makes sense," Gaara nodded, taking hesitant steps forward. For some reason, his heartbeat quickened. Not for trivial reasons. Dark thoughts had plagued his entire life, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face that side of him yet. However, there was no turning back.

Zeus had chosen to believe in him and offer support, so he had to do well.

"Yo, kid, good luck," Killer B raised his hand. They had grown much closer as a group during their journey, and the tension had somewhat dissipated, mainly due to Zeus's and Gamaton's carefree personalities. Yes, Zeus was incredibly strong, but he wasn't unreasonable and wouldn't cause trouble for no reason.

Gaara nodded. As he settled on the platform, a sudden gust of wind rustled his vibrant red hair, whispering an eerie melody in his ears. The atmosphere grew heavy as the aura of the waterfall shifted, swirling with foreboding energy. Gaara closed his eyes, grounding himself in the moment, and let the mist from the water caress his face.

When he opened his eyes, a distorted figure materialized from the mist. It was his own reflection, twisted and contorted, mirroring his fears and pain. The inner demon sneered, its voice laced with malice. "Gaara, oh Gaara, you have no idea how long I've yearned to meet you face to face."

"You wanted to see me?" Gaara asked in response, realizing that he was already standing, and the platform had disappeared from sight.

"Indeed, since the moment you were born, I've longed to tell you to your face how disappointed I am in you," the evil Gaara gritted his teeth, agitation clear in his eyes. "Every person you've ever known has betrayed or used you, and yet you still fall for the same trick. First, it was your dad, then Yashamaru, and now it's going to be Zeus."

"Zeus isn't like them," Gaara answered without hesitation.

"That's what you want to hear, but it seems like you're still a kid," the evil side smirked. "Do you really think Zeus simply wants to help you control Shukaku? I would guess that he just wants to add another deadly weapon to his collection."

Gaara glanced down at his feet, the words echoing in his mind. Perhaps the evil clone was right. Perhaps he was making a mistake once again. However, at that moment, Zeus's unwavering eyes flashed before him, and he dismissed all the useless thoughts. There was no way Zeus was like that.

"You still don't believe me? Perhaps I should beat some sense into you then," the evil Gaara said in a serious tone, forming a fist. Suddenly, out of nowhere, sand snaked around Gaara's leg, enveloping it. Gaara couldn't dodge or react; he didn't expect there to be sand beneath the water.

In an instant, Gaara was submerged deep below the water's surface, unable to utter a word. The need for oxygen grew stronger, while the surroundings turned darker and darker. He struggled to resist, attempting to push away the sand covering his leg using his own control.

Yet, it seemed his evil side had superior control over the sand, rendering him completely unable to break free. Gaara resorted to attacking, extending his hand toward the enemy above. The sand from below the water moved rapidly, but at the same time, he was being pulled further away.

Ultimately, his sand couldn't reach the enemy, and he was engulfed in the darkness of the pond. He looked down, realizing that the little pond couldn't be so deep. It was merely his mind playing tricks on him.

However, the pain and burning in his chest felt so real.

Gaara clutched his throat, suffocating in agony. Darkness closed in from all sides, and he succumbed to both the darkness sealed within his heart and the darkness of the pond. Yet, just as he was about to give in, he opened his eyes to see the same fountain splashing in front of him.

His entire body was drenched in sweat, and he quickly scanned his surroundings, relieved to no longer see his clone. However, as he turned around, he saw not only Killer B and Darui but also Zeus and Gamaton.

Surprisingly, Gamaton sat atop a worn-out gorilla, smiling mischievously at his accomplishment.

"You're all drenched in sweat. Did you really lose to your clone?" Zeus was the first to break the silence as he approached Gaara, attempting to pat the kid's back. Gaara evaded the gesture, avoiding any physical contact.

Zeus stared at his missed hand. "Listen, I don't know what you encountered in there, but don't let it get to your head. Everyone has an evil side to them, and they simply have to accept it. Not even gods are perfect, so organize your thoughts, cast away all doubts from your mind, and face your fears again."

Gaara listened, tilting his head down. "Zeus, are you really here just to help me? Is there no hidden agenda?"

Zeus sighed. "For the millionth time, no."

Gaara lifted his head, a faint smile forming on his face. Zeus was taken aback, as he had never seen the kid smile before. "Alright then, I'll trust you."

"Loser." Zeus playfully smacked Gaara on the back, causing him to stumble onto his knees and into the pond. Gaara stared at the water, grateful that it wasn't as deep as when he fought his evil side.

"Alright, go rest. I'll give it a shot too," Zeus added.

"Give it a shot?" Gaara turned around. "Are you also going to try the waterfall of truth?"

"Yeah, why not?" Zeus inquired. "I'm curious to see what it'll reveal to me as well."

******

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