Hey, thanks for all the reviews! So, I had another idiot moment (I've been having a lot of those lately) and learned that Mei is actually Mai and that Mei is the Mizukage…too similar…I got confused. Anyway, for the harem there'll be for sure Tai-lee, Azula, Sora, Yue and I'll add more later on. I will take suggestions, the only three I won't do are Suki, Mai and Katara, and those three already have boys. I can't make every guy single!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Avatar the Last Airbender.
Normal talking: "Lightning"
Talking in head to someone/something: "Lightning"
Thoughts: Lightning
Powerful spirit talking/demonic talking: "Lightning"
Powerful Spirit thinking/demonic thinking: Lightning
"Have mercy Naruto!" Jiraiya pleaded as he was pinned under Naruto. "Don't be so cruel!" he cried as Naruto once again lit one of the man's precious books on fire. The man was just as obsessed with them as his hardcore fans and he was the author! It was times like these he loved the fact that he was Kyuubi's Chosen and could ignite a flame.
"This is your punishment for leaving me alone at the stand. You do 'research' for these cursed things and I'm just eliminating the reason for abandoning me." He said, pulling out another book from Jiraiya's bag.
"This human is too pathetic for words. Why don't you just put it out of its misery?"
"Hush, Kyuubi."
"W-wait! I'll give you a signed golden addition of my newest book!"
Naruto looked at him strangely before the book in his hand caught on fire causing the white haired man to wail. "I'm not a pervert, Ero-sennin."
"Why, oh why don't any of the Namikazes ever submit to the Super Pervert Way? Every other male does! Why!"
Naruto looked down at the weeping and sputtering male and his eyebrow twitched. This was fun and all, but the man could always order more from his publisher. He needed a punishment more permanent. Grinning, he made a small almost unnoticeable gesture and lightning struck the old man's backside.
Jumping up with a shriek, Jiraiya clutched his flaming behind and ran around the room while Naruto watched in complete amusement. He should do this more often. Maybe he really did inherit some of his mother's sadistic side.
"Ha-ha! Nice shot kit! Make him scream in pain!"
Even during this lovely moment, Naruto found himself curious about the blond held in the prison. He knew how rare blonds were in this part of the world being as the usual hair color was either brown or black. It troubled him for some reason. Maybe he should ask his father about it when he returns to the Lightning Empire.
"Hello?" a call came from outside the small home.
After the two had gotten situated and rented a small home, they had moved the stand to in front of it. As it was Jiraiya's idea, Naruto got the feeling that he simply didn't want to walk a long ways to work each day…not that he'd actually work.
"Ah, coming!" Naruto called as he quickly headed for the door.
Exiting the home, he felt his eyes widen at the guest for a moment before a smile spread across his face. He really didn't expect to see this person of all people at his stand. He bowed before grinning up at the man.
"Hello, Fire Lord Ozai. Can I do something for you? Forgive me for seeming rude but I don't think the Fire Lord comes out into public to shop very often."
Ozai's eyebrow rose. Azula and Zuko were right. He sensed no fear from the boy. He understood the surprise the boy had when he saw him, but he didn't expect this.
"Yes, I'd like to purchase more tapestries. I quite liked the one my children brought home yesterday." Ozai could've sent servants to claim ones that would've been in his interest, but he found himself wanting to see who caught the eye of Azula, one who particularly didn't like boys. He had to admit that he was getting interested in this strange boy as well.
"Take your time." Naruto said, leaning back against the house, not looking worried that the Fire Lord and his bodyguards randomly showed up at his shop.
"THE PAIN!"
Naruto flinched when the scream flew out the door, attracting more viewers then he already had. Bringing out his foot, the Lightning Prince kicked the door shut with an annoyed look before the smile returned and Kyuubi crackled in the back of his mind. There was something about Jiraiya being in pain that made life that much better.
"What was that?" a guard asked, sounding perplexed.
"That was my sensei, Jiraiya."
"And why was he in pain?" a different soldier asked.
Naruto laughed nervously. "W-well, you see I was sent with him by his request to practice Li…I mean Firebending. When we got here, instead of helping me with shop and Fire Bending he went out to…gather research and left me alone. I'm 'punishing' him so to speak."
"What's this?" Ozai's monotone voice said.
Turning to the Fire Lord, Naruto couldn't help but grin when he saw what the man was looking at. It was a picture of a beautiful girl with flowing clothes, staring into a clear pond that reflected the full moon. It was obvious she was a spirit due to the spirit tattoos and her pointed ears. A tear was falling from down her cheek as she clutched the necklace around her neck.
"That's the Moon Spirit in her human form. It's a legend told to me by my mother."
"What's the legend?" a curious guard asked.
Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto saw the people starting to gather. Eh, he could play the storyteller for one day. After all, he'll probably get more business by the Fire Lord just being here.
"As you well know, there's a legend that says that the Moon Spirit and the Ocean Spirit gave up their spiritual forms to live among humans. Well, there's a legend that goes along after that. One day, the Moon Spirit was hurt by a while animal having not wished to protect itself against it. A young Water Tribe boy found her and nursed her back to health, not knowing that she was the Moon Spirit.
"Having fallen in love with the boy, after he released her she adopted a human form and went to the village to seek out the boy. Unfortunately for her, the boy was already engaged and to be married to a beautiful Noble woman. The Spirit was heartbroken and wished nothing more than to send the girl to the deepest depths of hell and let her rot. But, she thought better. If she had done so, how would she ever get the boy to love her back if he thought she was a heartless creature? They had become friends but she wanted more, she wanted him all to herself. Every time he looked at his fiancée the way she looked at him, she felt a little piece of her break away each time.
"She went to the Ocean Spirit for help, not knowing what to do. The other Spirit took on human form as well, but instead of a beautiful girl, this one turned into a handsome boy. After stalking the boy's fiancée they found out she had been promised to many men, taking their money then leaving them on the roadside once they were broke. She couldn't let that happen to the boy. Even if she could never have him she didn't want him to be heartbroken in this way."
Naruto paused the story and took a quick look around and inwardly smirking. The adults looked like their children, totally absorbed. It probably wasn't every day they heard a Water Tribe legend. Even Ozai was eyeing him through the corner of his eye.
"The two Spirits came up with a plan. The Moon Spirit brought the boy out to where his fiancée had spied the Ocean Spirit who was in a form no woman as shallow as her could resist. When the boy saw his fiancée hitting on the man and asking for dates and money his heart snapped in two and he canceled the engagement. Luckily, the Moon was there to pick up the pieces.
"A few years later, love blossomed between the two that was unrivaled by any Spirit or human. He gave her the most beautiful engagement necklace and were about to wed. But, tragedy struck. A week before the wedding the Tribe was invaded by an Earth Bending Clan seeking power. The Water Tribe easily defeated them but there were deaths. One of them was the boy."
Many of the adults and children looked disheartened at this. Who could blame them?
"When the Moon Spirit was told, she let out a screech of rage and flew into the sky, the moon vanishing, striking down Earth Bender after Earth Bender that was in the North Pole. The spirit of the boy stopped her, however, giving her one final kiss before he passed on. Calmed down, the Spirit took the boy's body to the moon and buried it there, carving his face into its exterior. That's why whenever the moon is full you see a face, it's the face of a love that couldn't be.
"Whenever the full moon comes around, the Spirit cries; whenever the moon begins anew and vanishes she remembers the days of the attack and is in rage. That's why we have different cycles of the moon."
Naruto smiled at everyone, showing the story was over. A couple of woman wiped their eyes at the story.
"I'll take it." The Fire Lord suddenly said.
Surprised by the sudden proclamation, Naruto jumped before nodding and bringing it down. "Anything else?"
"No." then the Fire Lord's eyes wandered to the picture of the Kyuubi. "Actually, yes. What is the exact legend of the Bijuu?"
The blond's eyebrow rose. "I gave Princess Azula the book that explains it all. Did she not give it to you?" Silence. "I guess she didn't. One hundred gold please."
He handed the wrapped tapestry to a guard who handed him the money.
"Well, the Bijuu are Great Spirits that used to wander the Spirit World hundreds of years ago. No one rivaled them in power, not one being. Their tails told of their power with one being the weakest and nine being the strongest. Kyuubi was the Bijuu King, the strongest of the Nine with the ability to flatten mountains with the swing of one of his tails and create tsunamis with another."
Naruto paused there, seeing something in Ozai's eyes he didn't like. Lust for power. he inwardly sighed, knowing that if he didn't want to blow his cover he would have to continue.
"The Spirits feared them, afraid to wander too far from their homes in case they came across more of the crazy ones like the Ichibi who was always trying to prove his power to preserve his rank as a Bijuu. Finally, the Spirits were done fearing them.
"They gathered together and confronted the Bijuu. They fought for days on end until the Bijuu were finally overwhelmed and forced to flee from the Spirit World. The moment they arrived into this world they were attacked as well. Some wanted power, some wanted fame, some wanted to be a hero. Fear is a powerful thing. But, some didn't realize that it was impossible to control a Bijuu."
He saw a flicker of annoyance in Ozai's eyes. Yep, he was thinking about controlling the Bijuu. What a stupid man.
"For a century people tried to control these beasts of great power. They tried subduing them using Bending, tried to bind them to a person, they tried everything. Even the Avatar proved no match in a fight with the Ichibi. Then, the Bijuu finally had enough. They vanished."
"Where'd they go?" a small child asked.
"No one knows really. Some say that they saw them lingering around the Lightning Empire's border and some saw them in Earth Kingdom Mountains. It's really just speculation." He shrugged.
"You have quite the interesting stories." Ozai said.
He shrugged again. "Well, that's what they are, stories. I used to love hearing my mother tell me them when I was younger between learning Firebending and sleep. Truthfully, I couldn't tell you which ones are real or made up by her."
"Either way, these Bijuu fascinate me." Ozai commented, smirking.
"What a foolish man. He wants your power all to himself Kyuubi."
"Ha! That's a laugh! As if I'd ever submit to such a baboon!" Or to anyone for that matter. The Great Spirit added in his head.
"I'll take my purchase and leave. I'll have someone come by again."
Naruto smiled and bowed respectively. "It'd be an honor, my Lord."
Not even acknowledging the boy, Ozai turned and left down the street. Naruto sighed in relief. Hopefully, he made it through without brining any suspicion to himself.
"You're a good actor, kid."
Turning, Naruto smirked at Jiraiya, remembering the face he made while his ass was on fire. The man blushed angrily before huffing and turning away. "I know I am. I get commented on it all the time."
The older man rolled his eyes. "No need to brag."
"I'm not. I'm answering your question truthfully, I'm not bragging about it. That kind of talking is of the jealous."
"BRAT!"
"Excuse me, mister?" a voice said as Naruto felt a tug on his pant leg.
Looking down, he saw a little girl looking up at him with large brown eyes. He knelt down. "Yes?"
"Can you tell another story sometime?"
He smiled at her. "Sure."
She grinned widely and skipped back to a couple he assumed were her parents. They didn't seem of noble class, probably a common merchant from the simple way that their cloths were designed. They didn't even look wealthy enough to send their child to a Fire Nation school. He knew that one had to pay to go to school in this country.
"You always were good with kids." Jiraiya spoke.
"That's because I pay attention to them and not go running off towards the nearest hot spring." He hinted coldly.
Jiraiya blushed. "Fine, fine. We'll start training tomorrow morning."
"And it finally happens."
"Oh, go away Kyuubi."
"Never! You can never get rid of me! Ha-ha!"
Naruto rolled his eyes and turned back to the stand that was starting to pick up business since the Fire Lord himself had come causing people to get interested.
"Well, I'll go-" Jiraiya began only to be grabbed by the collar and be thrown to the ground.
"Oh, no you don't!" Naruto said, grinning dangerously at the sweating man. "You left me to manage it all by myself. It's your turn."
"B-but Naruto, there's this-"
Naruto glared at the man, his eyes turning a bloody red color. He found that his threats were more intimidating when his eyes turn red. They always did that when he used Kyuubi's bestowed powers of wind, fire and gravity. All he had to do was prepare to use them and poof, his eyes were red.
Jiraiya flinched. "O-on second thought manning the stand doesn't sound so bad." He chuckled nervously.
"Welcome back." Ursa said, seeing her husband walk into the room. "Where'd you go?"
Ozai turned to look at his beautiful wife with a contemplating look. "I went to visit the boy Azula mentioned."
Ursa's eyes widened. "You did what?"
"I visited the boy."
"Why? You could've ruined Azula's only chance at love!" she scolded. She was one of the only people who could actually scold and talk back to Ozai and live to tell the tale. She prided herself with that and always used it to her advantage.
"I didn't threaten the boy, I merely visited him. He had quite the display of merchandise and had a vast majority of legends and storied engraved in his brain. I found them quite interesting in fact."
Ursa eyed him skeptically. It wasn't every day that Ozai admitted that he enjoyed something. The boy must really be something.
"Also, his hair caught my eye."
This caused a raise of eyebrows. "His…hair?"
Ozai nodded, knowing his wife's bewilderment. "It was very close to hers."
Ursa was taken aback by that. Her as in that Lightning Empire woman they had captured? She was a powerful woman who they only captured by mistake, mere chance. Iroh had redeemed himself by capturing her in a bear trap and brining her in. But, no matter how much they tortured her, she wouldn't utter a single word, not even her own name even after all these years.
To the interrogators it started to become game. Who could make the iron woman break? The winner is the best in the Fire Nation Capital. Ursa felt sorry for the woman and admiration. No one deserved to go through what she did, yet she admired her for not cracking yet and holding onto her resolve throughout the years when even the most war hardened worriers would've broken within the first month.
She was nicknamed the Iron Maiden around the Palace and prisons. The Iron Maiden wouldn't crack, wouldn't whimper, wouldn't cry, nor would she die. The only time she ever spoke were simple words "I won't speak, I won't give in, I won't shed a single tear, you'll never see my emotion, you don't deserve to see it. I won't die here. I'll return home even if I've lost my sight, my hearing, my hands and feet, I'll return."
The Iron Maiden had become somewhat a legend in those who knew of her. She was, after all, true to her word. Everything she said was true, though she hadn't yet escaped. She did speak, though not during interrogations and only with those she had been around a long time.
Ursa had gone with her husband to watch her interrogation once. The woman was beautiful. She had long hair, though greased over now, was a golden color that she was sure would shin like the sun if it was clean. Her skin was pale from lack of sunlight and sickness, but she still had a healthy glow. Her eyes were as brown as chocolate and had a powerful and noble gleam in them, full of life and fire despite all the torture she'd been subjected to. And when the torture went on, Ursa cried for her, she screamed for her, she flinched for her, she did all a normal woman was supposed to do while the Iron Maiden held it in. Ursa had a newfound respect for her.
"The Iron Maiden?" she asked quietly.
Ozai nodded. "Yeah, though their skin color and eyes were different. The boy had whisker scars on his cheeks, don't know where he got them…" he mused out loud.
"You think they're related?"
He shook his head. "She's a Lightningbender and he's a Firebender from what I understand, they're two different things from two different Nations."
She thinned her lips, the little voice in the back of her head telling her otherwise. "So…what'd you think of him?"
He smirked. "He was quite…interesting with an incompetent teacher."
Back in the square, Jiraiya sneezed. "Someone's thinking about me…" he muttered before smiling widely with a perverted giggle. "Maybe it's a hot woman!"
Naruto tossed a pot at Jiraiya that shattered upon impact with the pervert's head. "Get back to work!"
Tai-lee smiled happily as she skipped out of school with her friends at her side. "That was an enlightening day!" she chirped.
Azula rolled her eyes. "I think you mean boring, Tai-lee. We've only been learning about victorious battles lately besides our off topic lessons yesterday."
Mai sighed while examining her black-painted nails. "Today was once again uninteresting."
"Thank you for the interpretation, Mai."
"Anytime."
"Seriously, why can't we learn something that interests us, like, the Lightning Empire?" Zuko commented.
"The Lightning Empire as in the place that wiped the floor with us time after time?" Tai-Lee asked, looking curious.
"To tell you the truth I'd like to learn more about them as well." Azula muttered, imagining standing in front of the legendary Emperor, Minato Namikaze. "I wonder why they don't teach us about them."
"They're just trying to cover up their losses." Mai said gloomily. "We'll never defeat them. One man wiped out an army. It hurts the Fire Nation pride too much to pass it on to their children."
The other three rolled their eyes. As much as they hated to admit it, it made sense.
"Well, I could always ask Uncle when he returns from Ba Sing Se." Zuko said. "He was one of those that tried to take them down…and failed." He muttered the last part embarrassingly.
"Well, what do you expect from that tea-loving coot? He was probably thinking more about his afternoon Jasmine Tea rather than the battle." scoffed Azula.
"Azula!" hissed Zuko and she shrugged.
"You really shouldn't talk about your Uncle like that." Tai-lee stated.
"He loves you, Azula." Mai said.
"Yes, he loves Zuzu-"
"Don't call me that!"
"-but not me. Like mother, he's afraid of me and thinks I'm a monster."
"That's not true, Azula." Zuko said only for her to ignore him and walk on.
"So…what do you want to do?" Tai-lee asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Maybe we could go meet with Naruto?" she said slyly.
Azula's eyes lit up for a moment before she hid it, but not after the group saw it. "I think that would be alright. We don't want him to feel like a friendless freak while he's here."
Zuko shook his head and Mai sighed. Tai-lee on the other hand was bouncing around. "Let's go then!" she shouted happily, heading for the market place.
Azula lagged behind the group, a small smile forming on her lips at the thought of seeing the blond again.
Rage: And there you have it! Review, no flames allowed! And, for those of you that read Ryukage: The Dragon Prince it'll be updated in a day or two. It'll be a late update I know but I haven't really gotten around to the computer to type it lately.