Deep within the dense jungle lay a secluded clearing where a magnificent waterfall cascaded down a towering cliff.
The rushing water resembled a ribbon of white silk as it descended into a crystal-clear pool below. Schools of fish drifted lazily through the transparent water, while a circular stone platform, roughly five meters across, rested at the center of the pool. Covered with lush green grass, it blended beautifully with the lake's brilliant blue surface.
This was one of Turtle Island's most sacred locations.
The Waterfall of Truth.
According to legend, anyone who sat quietly before the waterfall and completely focused their mind would enter their own spiritual world. The waterfall would then become a mirror, reflecting their true self.
Only a shinobi capable of confronting and accepting their inner darkness could pass its trial.
In that regard, the Waterfall of Truth resembled the Izanami. Both forced a person to acknowledge who they truly were.
Killer Bee slowly walked across the water, chakra gathering beneath his feet and sending gentle ripples across the lake's surface.
Reaching the stone platform, he sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
His breathing gradually steadied.
Moments later, the scenery around him shifted.
The familiar Waterfall of Truth stood before him once again.
A shadowy figure slowly emerged from the curtain of falling water.
"I didn't expect you to finally make up your mind and come see me. Looks like Motoi's little speech actually got through to you."
The figure wore Killer Bee's face.
His voice.
Even his rhythm.
To Bee, it all felt strangely refreshing. After all, no one else could match his style of rapping.
Then again...
This opponent was himself.
The dark Killer Bee grinned.
"My words sound familiar, don't they? Take a look around. Nobody appreciates your raps. Not even your big brother, the Fourth Raikage, understands you. He locked you away on this island."
"Pretty pathetic."
"You only wanted to help the village. So why doesn't anyone understand you?"
"And what about the Eight-Tails? The Three-Tails attacked the village without hesitation. The Eight-Tails was its friend."
"Don't you hate it?"
"I know you do."
"You grew up surrounded by rejection. After becoming the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, everyone feared and isolated you."
"Your strength is already close to surpassing Lord A's. You could protect everyone even better."
"So tell me..."
"How could you not hate it?"
Killer Bee listened quietly before replying with complete sincerity.
"You talk too much."
"But your rhythm's still perfect."
"How do you do it?"
As he spoke, he actually pulled a small notebook from his pocket and looked at his darker self with genuine curiosity.
The dark Bee stared at him for a moment before answering.
"Everything I know, you know."
"Everything I think... you've thought before."
"This is the Waterfall of Truth."
"I am your truth."
"I am the hatred you suppress."
"The fear."
"The doubt."
"The anger."
"I am every emotion you refuse to show."
Killer Bee tilted his head.
"So, brother..."
"You planning to replace me?"
"Of course."
The dark Bee nodded seriously.
"Your rap lyrics are terrible."
"I think a darker style suits us better."
Bee sighed, tucked away his notebook, and slowly drew one of the short swords strapped across his back.
"In that case..."
"There's nothing left to say."
"You can't beat me."
The dark Bee shook his head confidently.
Killer Bee simply smiled.
The instant his sword left its sheath, murderous intent filled the battlefield.
The two charged simultaneously.
Boom!
Their blades collided with explosive force.
The dark Bee wielded two swords at once, both crashing directly into Bee's single blade.
Seeing his opening vanish, the dark Bee twisted his wrist and slid one blade downward before thrusting straight toward Bee's abdomen.
Bee calmly drew a second short sword to intercept the attack.
Without even glancing at the incoming blade, his wrist rotated.
A third sword suddenly flew from his hand, spinning rapidly through the air to form a flawless circular defense.
The dark Bee narrowed his eyes.
Instead of retreating, he poured chakra into his arms.
His strength multiplied instantly.
White chakra gathered around the tip of his blade.
Clang!
The collision of steel echoed across the battlefield.
Bee retreated several steps.
At the same time, his right hand traced an almost imperceptible arc.
A fourth sword shot from its sheath.
It spun like a striking serpent before flying toward the battlefield.
The dark Bee's sleeves billowed as he knocked away the still-spinning third sword.
His blade flashed once more, aiming directly for Bee's chest.
Just then, he noticed Bee making a diagonal throwing motion.
His instincts screamed.
He immediately ducked.
A sword whistled past where his head had been a split second earlier.
The fourth sword had struck Bee's first blade in midair, rebounding unexpectedly and changing its trajectory.
Although it missed the dark Bee's neck, Bee merely flicked his finger.
A fifth sword instantly left its sheath, slashing upward from below.
Forced onto the defensive, the dark Bee rolled across the stone platform before regaining his footing.
Bee's swordsmanship had no fixed style.
No predictable patterns.
No established forms.
Every movement was improvised.
His opponent couldn't anticipate what attack would come next.
Even more unsettling...
His swordsmanship seemed to improve with every exchange.
How was that possible?
Only a few minutes had passed.
Holding five blades simultaneously, Killer Bee assumed an unconventional stance before launching another relentless assault.
The swords flashed like streaks of white light.
The battlefield became a blur of steel.
Again and again, the two clashed.
The dark Bee grew increasingly furious.
Meanwhile, Killer Bee remained composed.
His attacks flowed naturally into his defense, while his defense seamlessly transitioned back into offense.
His movements already carried the bearing of a true master swordsman.
Even Sakumo Hatake had not reached this level until he was sixteen years old.
Killer Bee was only fifteen.
Unable to end the battle with five swords, Bee's eyes suddenly sharpened.
Chakra surged through his body like a raging river flowing in reverse.
Another blade flashed.
The dark Bee dropped to one knee.
His sword pierced the ground for support.
His clothes had been shredded.
Blood covered his body.
Several wounds were deep enough to expose bone.
Bee attacked again.
The seventh sword spun through the air, completely tearing apart what remained of the dark Bee's clothing.
Then came the eighth attack.
Instead of another sword strike...
"Lariat!"
Bee exploded forward.
His arm stopped less than an inch from the dark Bee's face.
"You lost."
The dark Bee remained silent.
After a long pause, he slowly raised his fist.
Bee smiled and bumped it with his own.
"Take care of Big Brother."
"Take care of the Eight-Tails."
"And protect the village."
"Don't let anyone hurt them again."
Bee nodded firmly.
"I know."
"You fool."
"You bastard."
The crimson glow faded from the dark Bee's eyes.
His body dissolved into countless specks of light before disappearing completely.
From the moment he entered the Waterfall of Truth until the trial ended...
Only five minutes had passed.
Killer Bee slowly opened his eyes.
In the next instant, his consciousness entered the sealed space within himself.
A massive sphere of water floated before him.
Inside stood a giant stone pillar.
The Eight-Tails remained bound to it by the seal.
"Bee..."
Gyūki looked at him with confusion.
Bee smiled warmly.
"Sorry, Eight-Tails."
"I should've done this sooner."
"I'm here to remove your seal."
Without the slightest hesitation, he walked forward and released the seal restraining the enormous sphere.
With a deafening crash, the stone pillar shattered.
The chains binding the Eight-Tails vanished.
Outside, Killer Bee opened his eyes.
Countless crimson chakra bubbles erupted around his body.
In moments, his form transformed into the towering figure of the Eight-Tails, a massive ox with octopus tentacles.
"My brother has already gone to attend the Five Kage Summit."
Bee looked toward the distant horizon.
"Let's head to the Land of Iron and find him."
=≠=
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