Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Avatar the Last Airbender. If I did I would never have let M. Night Shamylon ruin my series with a crappy live action movie. I would also destroy 4kids.

Prologue

Azula, princess of the Fire Nation, was used to dealing with certain difficulties that came with her duties. At this point and time she was practically the lead strategist to all Fire Military, flaunting her talent for war by working to exterminate every pack of insurgency that dared to sprout up in the former Earth Kingdom. Her Nation had all but won the century long war after her great grandfather's comet colored the sky two years ago but that didn't mean there wasn't work left to be done.

Two particular thorns stuck in her side and annoyed her above all others: her dear brother; the traitor prince and easily the person she hated more than anyone, and the Avatar; the one that always seemed to wriggle through the net no matter how many times she seemed to kill him. The Earth Kingdom may have been crippled beyond recovery but the Avatar and his friends seemed to make an easy transition from warriors to terrorists. Almost every day she heard reports on how the Avatar and his team had destroyed armories and stolen intelligence. The damage was repairable but more problems emerged. With every exploit the Avatar accomplished more and more rebellions appeared.

As all Avatars had been said to do he was giving people hope. How she despised that word. Hope was the most unpredictable of variables. It infected her plans, twisting and fracturing them when her enemy's stubborn nature revealed itself. Her life relied on cold, logical thinking. Something as passionate and irrational as hope was simply incompatible with her. So if someone were to extend some method of, say, crushing this source of ignorance she would take this offer and put it to use without a second thought. However, she had never suspected the person with the power to do this would appear or act like he did on the day everything she knew about the world changed.

The day was about as average as it could be for the princess of a war driven nation. She was looking over her status reports on yet another outpost destroyed by a freak tidal wave. Filthy peasant, she thought with malice, knowing exactly what really happened to the ill-fated base. If there was anyone who bore as much of her hatred as Zuko it was that peasant and her brother. Those two were just another part of the underground the Avatar had founded and she found that girl to be far too dangerous to be left alive. As she attacked the parchment with her aggressive, yet easily legible orders to send a search party for the perpetrators she heard a knock at her door.

"Enter," she replied whilst still giving her attention to the orders she was writing.

One of her elite guards walked in with a slight twinge of fear as he took the position of attention. "Princess we have a slight incident in the palace courtyards," he said, his voice trembling just slightly, "A very oddly dressed man says he has some kind of appointment with you."

Azula looked up with slight interest, "That's strange. I don't recall making any appointments. Oh well, send him away."

The guard looked even more nervous suddenly, "That's the problem, Princess. Every time we try to escort him out of the courtyard he just seems to find another way back in. it's almost as if he just appears out of no-"

"Domo!"

The guard and Azula quickly assumed their fighting stances when literally out of nowhere a man appeared, oddly dressed and somewhat strange. Azula looked him over to find that he was wearing a long cloak embroidered with red clouds that she rather liked and at hideous orange mask that had a swirl pattern around the one eye that was visible. He looked at the guard and waved with a very childlike stance. He then directed his attention towards Azula and took another stance that reminded her of the extremely giddy Ty Lee she was five. "Hime! Hime! I have to speak with you!" he exclaimed with a very excited voice.

The guard was not amused. "Stop right there! You're under arrest!" he shouted as he stepped forward to deliver a fire blast to the man. The strange man effortlessly sidestepped the attack and grabbed the guard's arm, forcing him to the ground.

"Why would you burn Tobi? Tobi is a good boy!" he then seemed to think for a second before getting an idea. "Maybe you'd like a time out in Tobi's world!" That said the man and the guard disappeared just as quickly as the man, Tobi, had come. Azula looked around the room, puzzled, not believing someone could do what she had just seen. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her and spun around with a blade of fire surrounding her forearm. It was the same idiot from before and in response to her actions he just side stepped around her. In the time it took for her to right herself and face her intruder she marveled at how fast this stranger was. She was one of the most skilled benders in the world, in fact there were only three who were faster than her; the Avatar, the peasant, and her non-bending brother. This one, however, seemed to match the Avatar's speed without even trying. It was time to pull out all the stops and eliminate the nuisance then and there. She widened her stances and brought her right arm in the air, rotating it in a circle as a ring of static trailed her fingers. She then shot her fingers forward and sent out a large blast of lightning too fast for anyone to dodge.

The lightning made impact and for a few seconds Azula was blinded by the massive amounts of debris generated from her attack. When the dust cleared she was shocked to find not the burning remains of her opponent, but Tobi looking at her with a tilted head. "I just want to talk Azula-hime!"

Azula stared at the fool in front of her in amazement and disgust as she sat back down in her chair. "Talk then," she ordered as she continued to stare.

"Good then," the man's voice was almost completely different, taking a serious and dark tone with his words. His posture had changed as well, clasping his hands in front of where his mouth would be as he also sat down in a chair the simply appeared. "Terribly sorry for the act but I like to take any opportunity to use it. Now what I am about to tell you will change all that you know about the world…"

X

Fifteen minutes later Azula was mulling over what was likely the most interesting thing she had heard in months. "So you are from an entirely different world from this one and want my help by donating my militia for a war that does not concern me? What exactly are you offering in return?" she asked with slight amusement.

"I know you're having a little trouble with a certain underground movement. I offer you a service that sheer numbers alone cannot achieve. If you agree to help me I will eliminate those that cause you so much trouble and inspire your enemies. How does that sound?"

A rather twisted smile met Azula's lips as she thought of this man ridding her of her dear brother. "I think we have a deal, Tobi."

"Please. Call me Madara…"

X

Naruto couldn't believe the day he was having. Then again it wasn't every day that you learned your best friend was marked for death after joining the organization whose main goal was to hunt and capture you. After learning that from the Kumo-nin his grip on the ideal future was slipping. When he begged the Raikage to forgive Sasuke, the last thing he expected was to meet the one man who his words couldn't change. That right there was madness. He could always change someone's views, even missing nin from Kiri. Yet this huge man would have none of it, he laughed at Naruto's efforts.

It seemed that Sasuke's only chance of survival was for Naruto to hunt him down, knock him unconscious, and drag him back to Konoha. That was what brought the young Uzumaki to the balcony of his room, using his sage abilities to locate his long lost ally. Just as he started entering sage mode he noticed a familiar presence coming towards him. Only this one didn't belong to Sasuke. He stood quickly, shaking the snow from his short, blond locks. He turned in the direction he sensed the signature and watched the striking pink hair of his closest ally and friend. Looking further on he noticed she'd brought four other familiar faces. An extremely pale teen with a tanto strapped to his back, a wild haired Inuzuka with his dog, and a green clad boy with thick eyebrows. He didn't know what was going on but by the way the rest of the day had been going, it wasn't likely good.

"Sakura-chan, what are you doing here?" he asked when she came with earshot.

Sakura looked a little unsure, there was something strange in her eyes, "Naruto, I need to talk to you."

X

Karin let out a sigh as she finished healing Sasuke just as Madara had ordered her when he took them to his strange dimension. Fighting several Kages, bodyguards, and dozens of ninjas seemed like an impossible feat but Sasuke pulled through as she expected him to. Now she could only hope he would take a rest before setting off to destroy Konoha. At the pace he was going he'd be dead within the month. They still had no idea where Jugo or Suigetsu were and, as much as she hated to admit it, they needed both of them, even Suigetsu.

Her hopes for letting him rest were cut short when their "leader" appeared from thin air. "Wake him up," he ordered Karin as he pointed to her unconscious teammate.

She was about to open her mouth in defiance but stopped herself. Years of service under Orochimaru had taught her that insubordination could result in immediate termination. Instead she kneeled in front of the sleeping Uchiha and shook him gently. "Sasuke-kun, you need to wake up," she whispered gently.

Sasuke stirred slightly and his eyes cracked open, revealing the crimson of his sharingan. It looked different, though. The corneas looked strained as it took several seconds for him to regain focus. "Karin," he muttered as he stood up slowly, "What is it?"

Madara broke in at this point, "I have a gift for you. How would you like to kill Danzo?"

Sasuke pondered for a few seconds before a wide smirk grew and his eyes developed six points each.

X

Underground. There was no better way to describe what the Aang and his friends had been reduced to. To the public they were seen as legends, no one really knowing if they were real anymore. Their bases were too much like the Dai Li's. A network of tunnels undetectable by fire soldiers. The last thing to be buried, though, was the pathetic remains of their childhoods. Over the past year of just trying to survive, to fight such a one-sided war, they had all killed, they had all interrogated. They had assassinated, and sabotaged, and destroyed, and done so many gruesome things that children should not have to do. But they did it because the world needed them to. Because real heroes set aside their own desires of innocence to do what was necessary.

And now, the team sat around a map table, discussing their next move, each wearing a charcoal gray cloak that effectively covered their bodies. The gray represented the neutrality of the organization. The group was aligned to no nation or faith but to the concept of peace. Each cloak, however, varied in design. Aang's was sleeved with a high, circular collar that almost covered his mouth when he tilted his head. Sokka and Katara, sitting on either side of Aang, both had theirs sleeved, but instead of a high collar the bore simple hoods. Toph, sitting to Sokka's right with her feet on the table had the same style as Aang's but had the front open midway down her torso in a V-shape, revealing the sage colored chest piece underneath. Suki, sitting between Toph and Zuko wore a poncho design due to her need for mobility at all times with a long scarf around her neck. Zuko, completing the circle next to Katara, donned a sleeveless, hooded style which acted much like a cape when he needed his arms free for fire bending. On everyone's backs was the character for balance.

The look was gloomy and it fit. They were fighting a losing battle whether they liked to admit it or not. Their only chance at victory was the people. And after all the things the Gaang had been forced to do they were losing that purity that helped them inspire the people. They felt so unsure as to whether they were really helping and how much longer they could give hope. Now they just planned where their next strike would be.

"The Fire Navy has been forming a pretty big blockade around the Southern Air Temples lately," Sokka explained as he pointed out the clusters of white at the bottom of the map. "They must be working on something important. I say we pack up and head south. Find out whatever's down there and dismantle it."

"It could just be another trap Azula set up. Remember what happened during our raid last month?" Zuko interjected. No one forgot that day. Azula had just about blown them all up when they investigated what they had thought was a dig site in the desert. They had lost some good people that day and Toph was left unconscious for a whole week from the overload of vibrations.

"Still, if there is something there and we don't act, we could be in serious trouble. I say we send a small three man team to scout it out. It would probably be best if the three be comprised of our group," Sokka replied calmly.

"So who do you think should go?" Aang asked as he stared at the place on the map that marked his old home.

"Oh I don't think you'll need to worry about that," a voice called from a far corner of the room. "What with all of you going to be dead soon," The source of the voice walked out of the shadows, revealing himself to be masked and wearing a storm cloud cloak.

X

"Naruto… I release you from your promise. I want you to stop going after Sasuke," Sakura stated with a slow breath. Just like the rest of Konoha 11 she had made her choice but she didn't want her baka to suffer for what had to be done. He wouldn't be the one to kill Sasuke, she couldn't ever ask him to do that. This was her turn to be strong for him.

Naruto couldn't believe what he had just heard. He couldn't help but be suspicious. Sakura had sat him down inside his room and was telling him the most shocking thing he'd heard in the most shocking day of his life. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, staring into her eyes with confusion. That promise was one of the most important things in his life. It was how he showed his dedication not just to bringing back Sasuke, but to his love for team 7, for his comrades, and for her. Being released from such a contract didn't seem possible until he achieved his goal and kept his word.

"I'm doing this because Sasuke has turned into something that we can't save. If you keep chasing him you're gonna get hurt one way or another. I don't want that to happen," Sakura replied softly as she took his hands, trying to calm him down.

Naruto's expression flashed through hurt, confusion, and anger. He slipped his hands out of hers and grabbed her shoulders, staring directly into her emerald eyes with a strange ferocity. "So you're just giving up on him? Like everyone else?" he shouted as he continued to stare her down.

Sakura was not about to back down, though, as she jerked out of his grasp and they both stood. "You think things will be like they used to be when you finally beat him? He's changed, Naruto! And I don't want to see you get hurt hunting him. How do you think that worked out for Jiraiya-sama? Do you think it was easy for him to see his best friend turn into a monster?"

At the mention of the deceased Sannin the young sage grew even more aggressive. He knew there was something else going on. "What aren't you telling me?" he shouted in confusion, "What is it that you're hiding from me?" he pleaded in a soft tone.

Everyone else was watching from the outside. A single tear fell from Kakashi's visible eye. Team 7 was family, and now he had to watch his little siblings tear themselves apart. The worst part was there wasn't anything he could do for his little genin anymore. He wasn't strong enough to stop Sasuke and couldn't persuade Naruto or Sakura that they didn't have to take matters into their own hands. Everyone had grown up and that was what broke his heart most of all. He was supposed to be the one that they looked up to for guidance. The one that made everything better. The one who was invincible and experienced and could protect them from the hardships of the world. Minato-sensei, I could really use your help right now, he begged his long departed teacher. Please tell me what I'm supposed to do.

While Kakashi was lost in his thoughts the argument between his students had finished and Sakura was exiting the patio door as she put her cloak back on. "Kiba, Lee, Sai. We're leaving for Konoha," she ordered as she kept walking and jumped over the railing. Naruto looked like he was going to follow but Yamato stopped him from doing so. Sakura continued walking, only looking back once as she brushed a tear from her eyes when she saw how heartbroken her dearest friend looked. As she got out of earshot she turned to her feral companion, "Kiba, I need you to help me find Sasuke-kun."

Aishiteru and I'm sorry Naruto.

X

The first member of the Gaang to react was Sokka, who sprung from his chair, drew, and threw his ebony boomerang in the process of two seconds. Toph wasn't far behind, erecting an earth spike aimed directly for the intruder's stomach. Both were avoided when the stranger jumped a height highly improbable for a non-airbender and turned upside, his feet mystically sticking to the ceiling. Aang sprung upwards as well, flinging his right arm forward as six ivory stone poles shot out from his sleeve towards his target. Rather than bother with dodging them they simply phased through his torso and embedded themselves in the ceiling. Aang altered his course in midair, circling around his opponent and sticking to the ceiling with earthbending.

With a wave of his hand the stone pieces he shot out dislodged from the ceiling and connected together, forming a standard length staff that Aang snatched from the air and spun around, sending four fast air blades at the back of the assassin. All four blades phased right through. The man turned quickly with a spinning kick aimed for Aang. Aang brought up his staff to defend but the foot just kept course, phasing through the staff and making a solid strike to the side of Aang's head, sending him hurtling to the ground.

Katara saw this and shouted Aang's name, drawing the water from her concealed pouches and using them to catch her Avatar before he hit the floor. Quickly drawing him into her arms she checked his eyes to see if there was any serious damage. Aang reoriented himself to see her checking him. "I'm okay Katara. Help the others," he whispered as he got to his feet and summoned his staff back to him, squeezing her hand slightly before letting it go.

While that was happening Sokka, Suki, Zuko, and Toph were desperately trying to take down an enemy that seemed to dodge every attack they threw at him. Zuko and Toph were trying to pin him down with pebbles and fireballs while Suki and Sokka engaged him at close range wielding fans and sword respectively. Sokka drew his water tribe machete to double his attacking speed. It didn't matter much, though, as the intruder was still dodging every strike with ease. Suki had just regained her footing and began charging again. The attacker spun around quickly and brought his left arm out, smashing his forearm and bicep into her stomach, effectively knocking the wind out of her.

"Suki!" Sokka yelled as he brought his jian over his head and brought it down in an attempt to smite his opponent. The man pivoted slightly and caught the sword with his free hand, yanking it from Sokka's grasp and readying it for a kill strike to Suki's spine. Just before his strike connected an ivory staff with a sharp point stabbed through his back, forcing him to go intangible and drop Suki and the sword. He turned around to meet with Aang face to face but noticed something different about the boy. He met the teen's eyes, trying to probe his mind with the sharingan. That was when everything fell apart.

Everything seemed to slow as the Avatar's eyes and tattoos began to glow with untold power. Madara could feel the fabric of space bend much like it did when he teleported but this was different. A large hemisphere of light emerged from the boy's center and began to envelop the entire room and further. The others from his group seemed alarmed and started running towards the two. One by one they were surrounded by the expanding anomaly. First Madara and the boy, then the blind girl, the young man with the scar, the girl with hair loops and boy with a ponytail who had grabbed each other's hands, and finally the young girl holding her ally's sword. Madara could only imagine the possibilities of this event.

X

Alright then. As you can see this is my first published fanfiction and I want to hear what all of you have to say. Please review and if anyone would like to be my beta please say so. Now I have a few rules about reviewing:

If you don't like the pairings, don't read the fic. I'm not here to start pairing wars, I'm here to write a story.

Don't just say my writing sucks, explain why my writing sucks. It's all about improvement.

Throw out a few suggestions for scenes if you have any. Maybe you guys want to see a Sai vs Toph, I don't know. Maybe you want to see that hilarious hospital scene like Shippuden uses. Just tell me and I'll see if it can fit.

Please don't be mad if I screw up a small part of the storyline. I understand something big like forgetting a character death but if it's like "Madara's new mask is a pale purple, not red!" then I don't want to hear it.

I will not hold my chapters hostage for a certain number of reviews, though if I must I will press for them.

Oh and before I go I better inform you of where the story is in my world:

In the Avatar world it is circa one year after Sozin's Comet passed over. I disregarded the idea of burning the Earth Kingdom to the ground because no fleet of airships is large enough to burn a nation that large in the time the comet passes over. It did make an epic mission for Sokka, though. In other words the story is AU starting after either The Southern Raiders or The Ember Island Players.

In the Naruto world it is near the end of the Five Kage Summit arc. It will follow canon until midway through the Confining the Jinchuriki arc. After that I'm gonna try and make it into a new take on the war.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.