Chapter Seven

Naruto, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were riding inside of the tank train for some time now as they followed the Avatar's trail. Which had been made easy thanks to the white fur being left behind by the large flying bison. The first time they had stopped it was on the side of a mounting. As the door to back compartment opens, releasing a burst of steam.

"is this the place?" asked Naruto as from the mist he and the girls emerge atop four Mongoose Lizards. From their spot, the saw the Avatar sitting atop a ridge with the two kids form Omashu plus a new short girl dressed in green. As they race up the mounting Naruto saw them getting in fighting stance. Suddenly the ground in front of them started to sprout columns of rock which their mounds were easily able to get around. As the moved closer and closer the short girl in green earth bends a huge rock wall in front of them.

"Naruto, go." Said Azula as she moves her arms in a circular motion, generating lightning, she fires the bolt at the wall, blowing a huge gape in the middle of it. Naruto moves head of them with Mai right behind him who swings her arm, releasing a flurry of stilettos at the earth bender. As the earth bender jumps back landing on to the air bison as it starts to take off Naruto jumps high in to the air off his Mongoose Lizard. Using his fire bending he takes off in to the sky and is able to land inside the bison's large saddle, before any of them had time to react Naruto dived forward and throw himself and the young Avatar off the flying bison

"Aang." Called out Sokka and Katara, shocked at what had just happened. Thinking quickly Sokka grabbed the raines around Appa and turned the lying bison to follow Aang and the fire nation solider. As Naruto fell from the sky he fought with the young Avatar delivering several punches and kicks to the younger boy.

"Naruto! Now!" shouted Ty Lee giving the blond the single. Quickly Naruto pushed himself away using his fire bending to give himself a boost. On the ground Azula fired off another blast of lightning this time aimed right at the falling Avatar. Just when it seemed their plan was about to work, and Azula was about to finish off the Avatar. At the last second, he sucked in a mouth full of air and air bended out a large stream of air that managed to push him out of the way on time. seconds later the flying bison swooped in and they were gone again.

"Come on you three they're getting away." Said Azula as she pulled at her Mongoose Lizard and headed back to the tank train. They spent to rest of the night sleeping as the men in charge of running the tank train continued to follow the avatar all night. When Naruto was awakened by the tank train coming to a sudden stop the looked out his wind and say that it was day time now, and that they were no longer in the mountains but by a large forest. Stepping out his compartment he looked around and saw Mai and Ty Lee stepping out of there room as well.

"What's going on?" Asked Naruto looking around, both girls just shrugged their shoulders

"Come on we've stopped to pick up the trail again." Said Azula and they all went outside to look around, it didn't take long however for them to find what they were looking for. Walking over to the Nan shan River, as Naruto was told by Mai, Azula places her hands inside the running water and grabs hold of two patches of fur and lifts them up to her face to examine them.

"Wads, of wet fur. How delightful." Said Mai dryly

"Hmmm ... they're not wads, they're more like bundles, or bunches? It's got an "uh" sound." Said Ty Lee thoughtfully as she scratches her head.

"Clumps?" said Mai

"Clumps! They're clumps!" said Ty Lee brightly as she clasps her hands together before giving Mai a hug. Looking over the shorter girl's head Mai spots the rest of the fur trail that is leading in to the forest.

"The trail goes this way." she tells Azula after being let go by Ty lee. Azula, who was still bent over examining the fur, rises and looks in the direction of the trail. She then averts her gaze upward were she can see several broken treetops.

"The Avatar's trying to give us the slip. You two head in that direction and keep your eye out for the bison. Me and Naruto will follow this trail. "Azula said as she points Mai and Ty Lee towards the treetops. As she looks to the forest trail with narrowed eyes. as they all nod in agreement they walk back to the tank train to get their Mongoose Lizards.

"We'll see you in a bit, be careful you two." said Naruto to the two other girls

"Yeah… you too." Said Mai sounding very bored.

"Good luck Azula, Naruto." Said Ty Lee. And with that they all went off to track down their targets. For the remainder of the day Azula and Naruto rode their Mongoose lizards following the trail of fur. They had traveled out of the forest and were now on a dessert till following the trail.

"how much longer will this trail go." Thought Naruto as they went over a small hill and spotted off in the distance a rundown town. The sun was almost setting when he and Azula made it in to town, where sitting cross-legged in the middle of the street was the Avatar.

"All right, you've caught up with me. Now, who are you and what do you want?" he said looking over at them.

"You mean you haven't guessed? You don't see the family resemblance? Here's a hint. I must find the Avatar to restore my honor. It's okay, you can laugh. It's funny." Said Azula after she had placed her hand over the side of her face, imitating her brother Zuko. Aang remains silent not getting the joke but Naruto was holding his sides with laughter

"Good one Azula." He said after he had finally stopped.

"So, what now?" said Aang looking over at them.

"Now? Now, it's over. You're tired and you have no place to go. You can run, but I'll catch you." Said Azula.

"I'm not running." Said Aang finally standing up looking at them defiantly. This caused Azula to smirk.

"This is going to be fun." Said Naruto

"Do you really want to fight me?" Said Azula, just as her and Naruto were about to charge an ostrich horse appears out of an alleyway where Zuko suddenly appears after hopping off.

"Zuko!" said Aang wondering why he was here.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Zuzu." Said Azula calmly looking over at her brother.

""Zuzu?" Said Naruto and Aang at the same time covering their mouths trying not to laugh.

"Back off, Azula! He's mine!" Said Zuko

"I'm not going anywhere." Said Azula as her and Naruto assumed a fighting stance the four opponents stand, prepared for battle. Azula, confident as ever. looks Zuko, who averts his gaze first to Azula before looking toward Aang. Aang who assumes a fighting stance, pointing his glider at Zuko in fright. Naruto, who shifts the position of his fingers a bit looks over to Aang, who looks about him nervously. Azula, who continues to smirk in confidence at Zuko. Aang not sure of who to focuses on looks around at the three fire benders.

Making the first move Azula, moves her arm forward, firing a blast of blue fire at Zuko, who conjures up a fire shield to deflect it. He falls backward onto a front porch. Aang, upon seeing this, expresses horror and attempts to flee the town on his glider. He begins soaring toward the back end of Tu Zin. Naruto was ready for this, because he swings his arm downward, sending a stream of fire at Aang, who turns over mid-air and closes his glider, twirling the object to deflect the flames. he lands on the ground, still deflecting the flames. He stops twirling his glider.

Azula who is running along the beam of a rooftop, prepared to strike the Avatar. However, Aang sees this and rolls over, grabbing hold of his glider just as Azula lands nimbly on the ground, sweeping around, sending a stream of fire his way. on the street where Naruto was standing he turns around, seeing Zuko standing in the background. Aang leaps over Azula and lands on the ground, in between the other two. Zuko fires a blast at Naruto who steps to the side, managing to avoid the attack. Azula fires at the Avatar and misses.

After the four perform several unsuccessful attempts to land a blow at each other, Aang runs past Azula, who sends another sweep of fire his way. Aang trying to escape toward the back end of town, Azula turning to face him and Zuko firing blasts of his own, at his sister which Naruto is able to hold at bay with one of his own. Aang rounds a bend and runs past Azula once more, this time heading toward the front of town. Azula fires another blast at him, only to miss. Azula fires several more blows, one of which Zuko manages to deflect. He fires a shot at Azula and misses. Naruto runs past them heading after the Avatar.

Azula, who swings her arms about, sending attacks at her opponents. The four of them continuing to battle each other. the two siblings send attacks at each other two walls of fire, one blue and one orange are created as a result of the impact. Azula fires a blast at Zuko, who ducks and attempts to knock her off her feet. He fires a blast her only for the princess to duck. She sweeps her arm upward, sending a stream of fire his way. Zuko leaps into the air to avoid the attack. Naruto fires at Aang. The Avatar, who leaps into the air and lands onto an upper outdoors level of a nearby building.

Naruto runs up the stairwell leading to the upper level, forcing Aang to run through the open doorway. inside of the doorway; Naruto appears but his expression suddenly grows alarmed. he halts in his tracks and nearly stumbles. Looking inside the building, revealing that there is no floor, merely some jagged wooden paneling lining the edges of the wall. he windmills in an attempt to steady herself. Aang perched atop an air ball, smiling gleefully and wavs at Naruto. After leaping about a few times, Naruto manages to prop herself against the wall and regains his balance. Azula but right as she was about to fall forward Naruto grabbed hold of her arm just in time and pulled her close to him, keeping her from falling

"I got you." Said Naruto smiling at her." suddenly Zuko appears in the doorway. He has the misfortune of inaccurate timing and falls roughly onto the first level floor with a yell, sending up a cloud of dust.

The air ball Aang is riding suddenly begins to dissipate. Azula, who nimbly sends a blast of fire at him. however, Aang, who leaps out of the way just as the air ball is terminated. He runs along the edges along the thin floor paneling and knocks Azula onto the first floor in the process.

"Azula." Called out Naruto in concern but Azula lands nimbly onto the ground near Zuko, who is still recovering from his fall. outside the building as Aang exits through the doorway, narrowly avoiding a blue fire blast sent by Azula.

He lands onto the ground just as Azula bursts through the wall of the building through the use of fire bending. Zuko lands on the ground unconscious. Aang, who looks at Zuko before turning around and seeing Azula heading straight toward him. He flees and leaps out of the way just as Azula sends another blast at him. Aang begins alternately jumping between two buildings, with Azula firing blasts at each spot he lands on. Aang finally reaches the rooftop of the left building and scrambles to prop himself up.

Naruto having caught up with Azula sends a blast of fire, slicing a portion of the rooftop off. Aang leaps off the crumbling portion onto another spot on the roof, only for Azula to repeat the same action. Aang, who scrambles to prop himself up only for the ceiling to cave in. He lands on the ground inside the building, trapped beneath a pile of wooden planks. Azula and Naruto enter the building through the doorway and sends two streams of fire along the sides of the wall. The blue and black fire spreads around the perimeter of the room and turns an orange hue. Aang, who looks horrified and attempts to break free. As the two fire benders approach him

"It's over Avatar, time to pay for what you have done." Said Naruto. This caused Aang to look at the blond confused as to what he was talking about. Azula, who smirks and holds up one hand, two fingers pointing outward, her typical lightning generation pose. Katara suddenly appears in the doorway and sends a water whip at Azula, guiding her hand off course. Katara bends the stream of water around her and slices the wooden planks, thus freeing Aang.

"Katara!" Called out Aang thrilled to see the southern water tribe girl. Azula swiftly turns around and fires a blast at the water bender, who races out of the building along the porch. Naruto follows her in hot pursuit, only to be halted by Sokka, who emerges from another doorway and swings his machete his way. Katara runs off, while Azula comes out of the building and runs towards her. Naruto ducks under the blade and come up under Sokka delivering a uppercut to his chin sending him crashing to the ground. Aang runs straight toward Azula, as he leaps over her just as Azula fires a blast at him. She turns around and blocks a water whip Katara sends at her. She fires a blast at her and swings her arm outward to prolong the blast. Aang appears behind Azula. She turns around and nearly manages to strike him with another blast. The two Team Avatar members continue their attack, Azula swings her arm outward, sending an arched fire blast at the two. Azula who stands, poised for attack. she suddenly falls over to the side; Toph appears from an alleyway, having just shifted the ground beneath her feet.

"I thought you guys could use a little help" she said

"Thanks." Said Katara happy the earth bending girl had made her way back to them. however the happy reunion was cut short as Naruto Having left his fight with Sokka ran past the Avatar, leaping high in to the air and over the downed Azula. Was able to deliver a powerful kick to the blind girl's chest sending her flying back down the alleyway.

"Toph." Called out Aang and Katara. Azula rises to her feet and begins moving down the alleyway with Naruto, as the two leaps over some crates and tries to escape, however they are stopped when Iroh intervenes, using his rotund belly to knock Azula off her feet. Zuko appears next to him. Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Zuko and Iroh all cornering Azula and Naruto against the ruins of a stone wall

"Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors, all working together. I'm done. I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor." Azula said Raising her hand in surrender, just them she looks over at Naruto giving him a slight nod. The blond follows her lead and also puts his hand up in the air.

"Azula, who smiles and takes a step forward, firing a blast at Iroh, who gets hit. He screams in pain and falls to the ground. Azula smirks just as Naruto stepped behind her placing his arms around her and used his fire bending to lunch them in to the air. Using the opportunity, she had created for them to escape from the town.

"Well this was an interesting day." Said Naruto as he adjusted Azula in his arms. So that he was holding her bridal style.

"Yes it was interesting to see Zuzu and uncle again. You did an excellent job Naruto." Said Azula she placed her arms around the blond teen's neck and rested her head on his shoulders enjoying the ride back to the tank train.