A/N: I'm sorry if at first this seems like just a re-telling of Canon, but it's necessary for the direction the story is going. By the end of this chapter you'll start to see some major divergence.
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"What are those lines on your face?"
"Birthmarks. Had 'em since I was born."
"Why is your hair... yellow?"
"It's called 'blonde'. It's not that uncommon a color where I'm from."
"How did you run up the wall?"
"It's another chakra technique. I can also walk on water."
"Really? That's cool. What was tha-"
"Sokka! Enough questions." Katara batted him upside the head. "You've been badgering him non-stop since we got on the train! I'm sure he's sick of it. I'm sick of it."
Sokka looked indignant. "Hey, you guys are the ones who let him into Team Avatar without even conducting a formal interview."
"You let me on without an interview." Toph commented
Naruto laughed. "It's alright, Katara. I don't mind. I already said you guys can ask me as many questions as you like."
"Well, I've got one." Aang spoke up. "This chakra stuff... how do you get it? Like, is it in everybody? Or do just shinobi have it?"
"Oh, all humans – and animals too for that matter – have chakra. It's required for life. Shinobi are trained to tap into it though. It takes many years of hard work; I started my training when I was seven."
Aang looked thoughtful for a moment. "So, if everybody has chakra, how come no one here has learned to use it?"
Naruto grinned. "You have. You just don't realize it. It's a little complicated, so bear with me for a minute. Shinobi can use chakra techniques called ninjutsu to manipulate the elements, almost like benders, but with more restrictions. We have to actively turn the chakra in our bodies into elemental chakra of the element we want to manipulate, then shape that elemental chakra into a technique. I can demonstrate later if you like. However, the chakra in a bender's body is already elemental chakra.
For example, if I wanted to perform... say... a water technique, I'd have to first change the 'regular' chakra in my body into 'water' chakra. Then I'd have to shape that 'water' chakra into a technique and launch it. To perform another water technique, I'd have to repeat the whole process over again. However, the chakra in Katara's body is already 'water' chakra, and she can continually shape it into one technique after the next using nothing but the fluid motions of her body, no pun intended. Get it?"
"Whoa... I think so. That's really cool. So does that mean you have control – or at least some control – over all the elements like me?"
Naruto nodded. "I know a few basic jutsu from each element, but I'm most proficient with wind and lightning. Usually I don't use elemental techniques though, except when I make a Rasengan out of elemental chakra."
Toph spoke up. "Wait, so does that mean that any bender could – in theory – learn more than one element if they were taught how to change the nature of the chakra in their body?"
"I just love how none of you are questioning anything he says." Sokka interjected. Naruto ignored him.
"Unfortunately no. The advantage of regular chakra is that you can change it's elemental nature. Chakra that has already been given an elemental nature cannot be changed from that nature, or used for non-elemental techniques. I honestly have no idea how your chakra works-" he pointed at Aang. "-but that's how everyone else's works."
Naruto turned to Sokka smirking. "If you want, I could probably teach you a few basic techniques that can be performed with regular chakra. That might cure your doubts."
Sokka scratched his chin. He did like the idea of learning how to blow up huge metal things and run on walls.
"Well, you did promise you'd be useful to us. A little training couldn't hurt."
"Why couldn't you teach him some elemental techniques?" Katara asked.
Naruto turned serious. "Elemental techniques take way more chakra than a newbie can safely access. If you try to shape elemental chakra before you have some experience under your belt, you'll likely kill yourself."
Sokka blanched. "Maybe it's not such a good idea after all..."
Naruto laughed out loud and gave him a hearty slap on the back. "I wouldn't teach you anything risky like that. I'm talking about the basics – the kind of basics a class full of eight-year-olds can do. That doesn't mean they're not useful techniques, mind you. The basics are the basics for a reason."
His skin returned to a healthy shade. "Well, I guess that's fine then."
Katara decided to change topics. "So Naruto, have you been inside Ba Sing Se yet?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Just on the wall. General Sung needed a hand when I arrived, so I just hung out there 'till you guys showed up. I'd learned that Princess Azula was tracking you, and it was easier to follow her than to follow you – I figured she'd lead me right to you. She came to Ba Sing Se, so I did as well."
"Wait, Azula's here? You mean outside the wall, not inside it, right?" Sokka said nervously.
"Yes." Naruto confirmed with a smirk. "She was actually in command of the drill I blew up. I'll bet she's pissed.
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Princess Azula was pissed. Downright furious, in fact. She had, after all, just witnessed the most powerful war machine ever created by the Fire Nation destroyed in one blow. She drummed her fingers agitatedly and let out a huff.
All around her, fire nation soldiers scurried frantically to strengthen the defenses of their little war camp. After such a devastating defeat, it would be the perfect time for an earth-bender counter-attack.
"Who was that?" she absently asked out loud. Mai stopped twirling her knife to answer.
"How should we know? None of us have ever seen him before."
Ty Lee chimed in. "Yeah, I'd remember someone with that hair-color. His aura was weird too, even from a distance. It felt... I'm not exactly sure how to describe how it felt but I'd definitely have recognized him if I'd met him before."
Azula's frown became more pronounced. "We'll have to be wary of him. Someone possessing that level of power is not to be taken lightly."
"Maybe he's a spirit!" Ty Lee squealed. "The Avatar might have summoned him to unleash that crazy powerful spirit attack!"
"Somehow I doubt that." Mai drawled. "The spirits don't like to be ordered around."
"Maybe one owed him a favor." Ty Lee countered, hands on hips.
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"I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece." Declared Katara cheerfully.
"Hey don't jinx it!" Sokka cried indignantly. "We could still be attacked by some giant exploding Fire Nation spoon! Or find out the city's been submerged in an ocean of killer shrimp!"
"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Toph deadpanned.
"Mmmmm... Seafood..." Sighed Naruto dreamily.
"I'm just saying, weird stuff happens to us." At that moment an overweight man sucking on a corn cob sat down between him and Toph.
"See?" Sokka looked at Toph smugly around the man's large belly.
Katara noticed a melancholy look appear on Aang's face and decided to comfort him. "Don't worry, Aang. We'll find Appa for sure."
"It's such a big city." He countered dejectedly.
Sokka added his two copper pieces. "He's a GIANT bison, where could someone possibly hide him?"
The train crossed through the inner wall, revealing Ba Sing Se in all it's glory.
"Oh." Sokka meekly admitted.
"I could probably help you with finding him. I have some pretty good sensory abilities."
Aang's attention was instantly on Naruto.
"You do? How? What are they?"
Naruto smiled. "I'm what's called a Sage, a shinobi with the ability to pull the energy of nature into himself. When I do that, I can sense all the living things for a long ways around. I can do that to help you find him."
Aang smiled a million watts. "Really! That's awesome! We'll find Appa in no time now!"
The train arrived at the station in the upper ring of the city.
"Ahhh, back in the city." declared Toph with fake enthusiasm.
"What's wrong, it's amazing!" declared Sokka.
"Just a bunch of walls and rules." Countered Toph.
"But-" Naruto interjected "-rules can be fun when you break them. I once lead the ANBU, the police force of my hometown, on a three hour long chase all over the village, dropping paint bombs on them the whole time."
Toph perked up a bit. "Sounds fun. Let's have a go at that together sometime."
Just then, a lady approached them. She was dressed in formal clothing, had long black hair, and had an overly large smile on her face. Naruto didn't like her immediately.
"Hello! My Name is Ju Dee. I have been given the great honor of showing the Avatar around Ba Sing Se. You must be Sokka, Katara, Toph, and Naruto. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes. She may have had more social tact than Danzo's lackeys, but he recognized that fake smile and the brainwashed look in her eyes. He already knew they shouldn't even bother with this woman.
"Yes." Sokka began seriously. "We have information about the Fire Nation that we need to deliver to the Earth King immediately."
"Great!" Agreed Ju Dee. "Let's begin our tour, then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it." She turned and began to walk away.
Sokka looked flabbergasted. "Look, maybe you didn't hear me the first time, but we need to get this information to the king. It's very important."
"You're in Ba Sing Se now." she replied with the same creepy smile. "Everyone is safe here." she continued to lead them towards a carriage.
Naruto put a hand on Sokka's shoulder and whispered to him. "Don't bother with her. I know her type. Just let her be our tour guide for the day, then we'll find a way to see the Earth King on our own."
Sokka gave him a serious look, then nodded. "If you're sure."
What followed was a long tour of all three rings of the city. Naruto didn't like it all one bit. The poor, middle, and upper castes were entirely seperated, and not allowed to mingle. He watched street rats like he used to be running amok in the lower ring, and the upper ring snobs that ignored their plight. He silently promised to do what he could for the city, should the chance arise.
He also took careful notice when they passed what Ju Dee said were Dai Li agents. When she described them as 'protectors of Ba Sing Se's cultural heritage', he instantly knew they were a group to watch out for. They just screamed 'secret police'.
At last they arrived at a comfy looking building in the upper ring.
"Here we are! Your new home. I'm sure you'll be very comfortable here."
A runner approached Ju Dee and handed her a scroll, which she quickly read. "More good news! Your request to see the Earth King is being processed, and should be put through in about a month. Much more quickly than usual."
"A month!" cried Sokka, appalled.
"Six to eight weeks, actually." She replied cheerfully. "Let's go inside." She quickly stepped through the doors of the upper-class house. "Isn't it nice? I think you'll really enjoy it here."
Sokka wasn't ready to give up. "I think we'd enjoy it more if we weren't staying so long. Can't we see the Earth-King any-" "Sokka, hold on a second." Naruto interrupted. He turned to Ju Dee.
"A moment of privacy, please?"
Ju Dee suddenly looked nervous. It was hardly noticeable, but to a trained shinobi the flicker of emotion on her face was more than enough.
"But you are still new here. Leaving you alone would make me a bad ho-" "Now." Naruto declared with thunder in his voice, the expression on his face now threatening. This time Ju Dee's nervousness became plain on her face.
"It'll only be a moment. Then you may come back." Naruto continued in the same sinister tone. Ju Dee blanched.
"V- very well. I'll be waiting outside." She quickly excused herself.
"Woohoo!" cheered Toph. "You have to teach me that voice! She almost needed a new pair of underwear!"
Naruto chuckled. "I don't like scaring people like that, it doesn't really fit with my personality, ya' know? But sometimes you just can't afford to take no for an answer."
"Evidently not." Sokka agreed.
"So what was that about?" Katara asked.
Naruto rolled his shoulders. "We need to come up with a plan of attack. Ju Dee is obviously under orders from some higher power to keep us contained. Whether it's the Earth King, or some other person of authority, it doesn't really matter at this point. Keep in mind our two objectives in this city. One:-" He rose his right index finger "-is to find and recover Appa. Two:-" He rose his middle finger. "-is to convince the Earth King to buy into Sokka's invasion plan."
Naruto began to pace as he lectured.
"We need to find the most efficient way to accomplish these objectives. I'll stay here and use my Sage Mode to try and track down Appa. You go with Ju Dee – there's no way she'll leave you alone – and ask around the city for leads on him. But while you're doing that, work on Ju Dee a bit. See if you can figure out who she reports to, or any other useful information that might help us figure out why we're being kept from the Earth King. The Avatar is an important figure – even the Earth King should have time to meet with him almost immediately."
He stopped pacing, and gave them all a serious look.
"When you guys get back tonight, I'll follow her – make sure you stay out until it's dark, it'll be easier to stay hidden. If any of you think you're stealthy enough, you can come too. We'll see where she goes, what she does, and figure out who exactly we're up against. We'll plan our next move after we know more. That sound good to you?"
"Wow. You've got a pretty strategic mind." Aang commented. Naruto shrugged.
"Eh, you can't really help but pick up a bit of strategic thinking when you're a shinobi. In my home, having a solid plan instead of just winging it is the difference between life and death."
"Well, I don't remember electing you leader, but I like your plan." Sokka assented. "Let's go with it."
"You're just jealous he actually has a plan Sokka." Katara jabbed.
"Whatever. Lets go." Sokka turned and marched toward the door, quickly followed by all but Naruto.
"Wait a second, Toph, there's something I forgot." Naruto called. Aforementioned girl turned to face him.
"What is it?"
"Keep an eye - or actually a foot – out for the Dai Li. Those guys gave off a bad vibe; and the way Ju Dee referred to them... I just don't like it. Be wary if they come close – and if they do come close see what you can find out about how they operate."
"Will do. But how did you know I see with my feet? I never told you that."
Naruto shrugged. "You're obviously blind, at the wall you said you 'couldn't see me while I was in the air', and I know you're an earth bender. I just put the pieces together."
She grinned. "Cool. I will keep a foot out. Two, actually."
They filed out the door. As soon as it shut, Naruto dropped to the floor in a meditative position. He frowned.
'The natural energy here in the city is so diluted – and there are just so many chakra signatures... This is going to take awhile.'
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"Well, that was a total bust." Sokka declared as he threw open the doors.
Naruto was sitting on the floor in the exact same position as when they left.
"You're going to have to get a move on if you want to track her." Aang said hurriedly. "She's already leaving in a carriage.
Naruto stood up. "Right. Anyone coming with me?"
"Whoa! What's up with your eyes?" Katara exclaimed.
"I'm in Sage Mode. We'll talk about it later. I need to hurry."
"I'll come with you." Aang said quickly.
Naruto scooped up two black cloaks he'd lain out on the floor. He tossed one to Aang before quickly shedding his trench coat and putting the other on. "Wear this. It'll be easier to hide."
Aang quickly pulled it on as Naruto opened a window. "Let's go." He leapt out, and Aang followed.
It was easy enough to follow the carriage. It was slow moving, and they easily kept up leaping from roof to roof. Under cover of dark, not being seen was child's play.
The carriage arrived at a small door in the back of the royal palace, and Naruto quickly moved to the top of a building right next to it, Aang right behind him.
"Get ready. When Ju Dee goes inside we'll need to be right behind her, and completely silent." Aang grunted in acknowledgement.
Ju Dee emerged from the carriage, which immediately moved on. When She opened the large door, Naruto moved. Not waiting to see how Aang would go about following her, he leapt for the top of the door frame. Without making even the slightest sound, he caught the top of it. Letting his momentum carry his lower body forward, he swung through the door and landed his feet on the roof of what he instantly identified as a long, tall, dimly lit hallway. No one else was around.
'This is just too easy.'
He looked around for Aang, and saw him clinging to one of the decorative chandeliers that hung from the ceiling in intervals. They exchanged nods, before following her, Aang traveling from chandelier to chandelier and Naruto crawling on the ceiling.
Ju Dee took several turns before coming to a much narrower and smaller hallway with no more chandeliers. Thankfully, it was also darker, and their inky black cloaks were effective. Naruto stayed on the ceiling and Aang hugged a wall. It also helped that Ju Dee never once looked back.
At last she arrived at a small unassuming wooden door, which she entered without hesitation. From his spot on the ceiling Naruto made out an office, and he could see the legs of someone sitting in a chair in front of a fire place, but nothing else. After the door closed he dropped to the floor, and gestured for Aang to come up to the door with him.
Naruto pressed a finger to his lips, then put his ear to the door, channeling chakra to help him hear better.
"Ju Dee" spoke a deep male voice. "how were the Avatar and his companions?"
"They behaved almost exactly as you predicted. They were persistent about wanting to meet with the King, but were contented with searching for their lost bison. There was one though, who seemed suspicious. Naruto. He definitely doesn't trust me, and he stayed behind when I took the rest out looking for the bison. I don't know what he did during that time."
There was a pause. "Continue to lead them on their wild goose chase for now. I'll have the Dai Li keep a closer eye on them. Especially Naruto. That is all, you are dismissed."
"Yes, Long Feng, Sir."
Footsteps approached the door.
Naruto looked at Aang, who was clearly shocked by what he just heard, his eyes wide. He clapped a hand over his mouth to prevent him from crying out, then lept to the ceiling hanging onto him just in time for the door to open.
Ju Dee walked out, then down the hallway the way she came. Naruto soundlessly dropped to the floor, then set Aang down.
Naruto whispered hurriedly. "It seems that whoever is behind that door is the head of, or at least an authority within, the Dai Li. He both has Appa, and wants to keep us from the Earth King. We'll capture him silently, no one can know we took him, then we'll interrogate him to find out what we need to know. Stay here and stay silent. I'll be right back."
Not giving Aang a chance to reply, he formed a few handsigns and intoned the name of his jutsu. 'Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu' he vanished into the stone floor.
Aang shook his head to clear off his shock, and pressed his ear to the door again. A few moments passed, then he heard the beginning of a cry of shock, quickly muffled. Naruto opened the door.
"All clear. Come in."
Aang stepped inside, and was greeted with the sight of a man – mostly bald but with a long pony tail – buried up to his neck in the stone floor. He was gagged. Naruto quickly stepped over to his desk and began pulling files.
"What did you do?" Aang asked.
"An earth-style jutsu. To capture him. I present to you Long Feng, head of the Dai Li, and our prisoner."
Said man was glaring daggers.
Naruto whistled at the document he was reading. "Wow. Looks like this guy has the whole city under his thumb. He's basically King. King Kuei is a puppet. With these documents, we don't even need to interrogate him."
He pulled out a scroll and brush, and began sealing all the documents away.
Long Feng began grunting through his gag.
"Wait." Aang said. "I don't think it's right to go to these extremes."
Naruto pointed at Long Feng. "He went to extremes first. Besides, we need to get Appa and the Earth King's support. Stay focused on our objectives. This man is the only obstacle to both of those objectives. Appa is being held in a secret facility beneath Lake Laogai. This man put him there. He's trying to keep us from seeing the Earth King and ending this war just to maintain control of the city. Evil men need to be removed from power – by force if necessary.
With him in custody and these documents as proof, we can reveal to the King how he's been used, and restore his rightful powers. He'll be grateful to us for revealing the conspiracy to him, which increases our odds of getting him on board with the invasion plan."
Aang looked down. "I suppose you're right." he sounded defeated.
Naruto strode over to Long Feng and crouched down. "Time to take a nap." He jabbed a pressure point on the man's neck, knocking him unconscious. He pulled him from the floor, and Aang mended the hole.
Naruto slung Long Feng over his shoulder.
"Time to go."
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"That's right young man! Your life is about to change for the better!"
"I'll try to contain my joy." Zuko said bitterly. This was not the life he wanted.
He stepped outside to try and relax. Two people walking by caught his attention.
"No way! The Avatar visited your pet shop?"
"Yep." The man boasted proudly. "He was looking for his lost Sky Bison... I thought they were extinct. If the Avatar says one's left though, it's gotta be true."
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A/N: I'm going to try and preemptively answer a question. Zuko's timeline is obviously not lined up with the gaang's the same way it is in Canon; neither is Jet's. Jet has already been captured and brainwashed, but not yet sent out to mislead Aang. He'll be showing up next chapter. Other than that, things went just as they did in Canon for Zuko and Jet.
I'm trying to keep it interesting by not moving too slowly, but I feel like I may have paced things too fast in the process. I didn't really leave much time in there for some development of Naruto's relationships with the members of the gaang. I thought things made most sense this way though - Naruto is a shinobi prone to action. He's not one to spend much time sitting around like the gaang did in Canon. With him on their side things would have definitely gone faster in Ba Sing Se, one way or another. I'd like to hear your opinions if you'd be kind enough to leave a review. =)
- SimonRiley