Chapter 14: The Earth King
Earth Kingdom, Lake Laogai, outskirts of Ba Sing Se
The team had taken time to rest and recuperate from their ordeal under Lake Laogai. It was approaching dusk, and the group was planning their next move. Naruto and Hinata were next to Aang, who was hugging Appa's head. Sakura was closing a minor wound on Sokka's shoulder. Kakashi was cracking his knuckles as he plotted what to next about the Dai Li. Toph was on the ground, her legs curled up underneath her. She had…felt the exact moment Jet had passed on, and it was disturbing to her. Katara was brooding about not being able to save Jet. And Yamato was going over his notes.
"I missed you more than you could ever know, buddy," Aang told his bison partner.
Naruto patted the large beast, his hand still intertwined with Hinata's. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see the big fuzz ball."
Hinata giggled as she patted the bison too. "Appa-chan still is as cute as I remember."
Her new boyfriend looked at her with a smile. She returned it as Aang fell off and was licked by Appa. The giant six-legged bison then gave both Hinata and Naruto a thorough tongue bath, leaving them both laughing.
Sokka got off the rock he was sitting on and walked over to Sakura, Katara, and Toph. "Look, we escaped from the Dai Li; we got Appa back, so we should just go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll."
"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll," Katara retorted, the death of Jet still in her mind.
"He's right though, now we're really on a time limit for this war," Kakashi stated bluntly as he flexed his hand. He had a feeling he'd have to use his Raikiri, which would be very bad for any enemy in front of his charge.
"And we can build on it, if we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we need the Earth King's support," Sokka added as he put his hands on his hips.
"What makes you think we'll get it? I don't know that you've noticed, but things usually don't go so easily for our little gang," Toph said with a huff, and she wiped the hair out of her eyes. Despite being blind, she still hated the feeling of her follicles of hair entering her eyes.
"I know, but I got a good feeling about this," Sokka said with a grin.
Naruto looked over. "At least it's better than the perpetual bad feeling I had before."
Sakura frowned. "Sokka, Long Feng is in control of the city, his conspiracy with the Dai Li is just too powerful, I say we just keep flying and leave this piece of crap of a city behind us."
"And we barely got out of their complex alive," Hinata reminded the young Water Tribe warrior, still having a slight pain in her chest from the rock pillar that slammed into her.
"I'm with Supergirl, I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se, and I can't even see!" Toph said with a loud, frustrated sigh.
Aang hopped over as Naruto and Hinata walked over. "Now that we have Appa back, there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth, about the conspiracy and the war."
"Still won't be that simple," Kakashi stated plainly as he closed his book.
"Though it's not like we have much of a choice," Naruto added with a sigh. "If we want enough support to push back the Fire Nation and launch an invasion to their mainland."
Kakashi smirked. "Finally starting to use that prankster mindset for other than pranks."
"What do you mean?" Sokka and Naruto asked. "And anyway, it's the whole reason why we came here in the first place," Sokka added.
"Well…I suppose if the Earth King knew the truth…things could change," Katara speculated as she looked up into the air.
"I don't trust the new positive Sokka…" Toph said as she stood up, crossing her arms. "Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he?"
She yelled accusingly, pointing her finger at the elder boy. Naruto and Hinata chuckled at the antic, and then Aang looked over to the lake then ran over. What he saw made his jaw open slightly. Three ships were crossing the lake in a search pattern. Pretty soon, they would arrive at the island.
"That's probably the Dai Li searching for us," Sokka said as they ran up. "So…?"
"Let's fly!" Katara yelled next to her friends.
"And finally see the Earth King!" Naruto added next to Hinata.
Kakashi closed his book, and lifted his Sharingan up. Placing his book into his pack, he cracked his knuckles and smirked beneath his mask. He had recovered much of his chakra from the fight earlier that day, and needed to stretch his muscles.
"Well then, lets go," Kakashi said and everyone nodded.
They all piled onto Appa's back and the massive bison swatted its tail to the ground, and they began flying. Appa roared as they flew over the landscape, and Aang and Naruto proudly held the reins, just like old times.
Toph, Katara, and Sokka hung on for dear life on the giant creatures back, while Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura, and Hinata used their chakra to stick to Appa's back. The blind earthbender gave a frightening scream as Appa made a sharp turn towards the city.
"Can we please buy a new saddle? Riding bare-back is terrifying!" Toph asked her eyes wide and her hands firmly grasping Appa's fur, hoping it wouldn't give way.
They flew over the city and in a few seconds they were right over the Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se. Appa roared as they approached one more wall…the palace. It was like a giant bull's-eye from the sky. The palace was massive, it had a golden roof, a large wall around the main building, and two barracks on each side of the palace that looked like dots on two smaller targets.
"There it is, that whole thing is the palace," Sokka said as he pulled himself up and sat on Appa's back as the bison began a dive. He pointed at the massive building complex. "The King's chamber has to be in the center."
"We have to be careful, Long Feng's probably informed the King we were coming," Katara warned everyone and they nodded.
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "Several soldiers are gathering, Katara-chan. They look like they're…Aang-kun, Naruto-kun, move Appa-chan 30 degrees to the left, now!"
Appa roared as Aang and Naruto pulled back on the reins to make him turn, and they avoided a massive boulder that was launched from the ground. They flew through the dust cloud and Toph screamed.
"What was that!" Toph screamed as Hinata continued to scan the ground.
"Surface-to-air rocks!" Sokka replied with a yell. "More incoming!"
"They're about to launch more," Hinata warned everyone. "Be ready Naruto-kun, Aang-kun."
They nodded and listened to Hinata to steer Appa out of the way of the incoming boulders. Appa bobbed and weaved pass flying boulders, flying through the dust clouds to confuse the trajectory of the Earth Kingdom soldiers. As they flew past one battery, the Earth Kingdom Earthbenders finally got a bead on the massive flying bison, and they launched. It sailed towards everyone on Appa's back, but without even batting an eye, Aang destroyed it with one punch. Momo screamed and covered his head to avoid the rubble.
Appa flew through the dust cloud and Kakashi took out a kunai with an explosive tag and flung it down to one of the boulder batteries. Before the Earth Kingdom crew could get the round ready, the kunai with the tag 'fwapped' into the stone, imbedding itself in it…and then the tag exploded, scattering the crew. Appa roared as they approached the ground for landing. Aang leapt off, grabbing his staff, and cut an incoming boulder in half with a blast of Airbending.
He hung on Appa's horn as they descended, and Naruto crossed his fingers as the Earth Kingdom Captain held up his hand, getting a battalion of Earthbenders ready to launch an attack. The Jinchuuriki grinned as he began to channel chakra through his seal.
"Tayjuu Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out, and on the ground underneath them, 200 Shadow Clones burst into existence, charging the Earthbenders.
The shocked Earthbenders had their attention divided by the small army of Naruto clones and Appa flying above them. With their attention divided, Aang leapt off of his flying bison's horn, lifted his staff over his head and slammed it hard into the ground. The Earthbenders were knocked off their feet and were met by the wave of Naruto Clones. There was a little semicircle of a wall created by Aang's shockwave that temporarily would stop another frontal assault.
Appa landed and roared at the Earth Kingdom Captain, scaring him off his ostrich horse. The strange bird fled and everyone jumped off of Appa and started advancing towards the palace. There was a large dust cloud-the Clones were starting to be destroyed by the palace defenses.
The group ran up the walkway, weapons drawn as they prepared for another attack from the defenders. Naruto could feel the information as the last of his clones was destroyed. There were approximately 1,200 defenders of the palace, but suddenly, 120 came running up from the sides as they were running. They bent the rocky tiles up from the ground and tossed them at the shinobi, Avatar, waterbending master, earthbending master, and water tribe warrior.
They deflected their techniques with water, kunai, clubs (in Sokka's case), and wind, and the rocks themselves, they began deflecting the incoming projectiles. Sakura and Toph stomped up small walls of rock to block the incoming attacks. Yamato had formed a wooden blade and blocked and parried each incoming rock.
"Kaze Kiwa (Wind Edge)!" Naruto called out; reaching into one of the original jutsus he created over the course of his training with Jiraiya. A mini-cyclone formed around his arm and he threw out a powerful reverse punch into the incoming rocks. They were all shredded, and the cyclone smashed into five of the Earth Kingdom Soldiers, blowing them away and cutting them up, enough to knock them unconscious.
"The water whip now, Hinata," Katara said and the Hyuga nodded, the two combined their whips into a longer one, and lashed out the soldiers, knocking them off their feet. "Sorry!" Katara yelled after whipping a few of the soldiers off their feet.
The group advanced with Sakura and Toph pulling up the front bending the floor tiles up as makeshift shields and projectiles against the soldiers' assaults. Kakashi was reading the movements of the soldiers with his Sharingan, skillfully dodging the rocks and tossing kunai or shuriken into non-lethal points in their bodies, neutralizing them. Yamato had performed another one of his mokuton jutsus, his arms were now covered in wood, and the ends created long whips out of vines.
"Mokuton: Keirasshu (Wood Release: Whiplash)," Yamato said, flicking his wrists, knocking down many of the soldiers, throwing them out of the way.
From the front, a battalion of twenty soldiers were charging with weapons drawn. Sakura and Toph stomped the ground, and drew their arms back, and then they threw their arms forward in a thrust, making the tiles the soldiers were running on upturn, knocking them off their feet, then trapping them under the tiles as gravity took effect.
"Sorry!" Katara yelled as they ran passed the trapped soldiers. "We just need to get threw to see the Earth King!"
"Don't hold it against us!" Naruto added as they ran.
The group approached the stairs and an entire platoon of Earthbenders up on the first tier level of the staircase up to the palace. They stomped their feet and rose their hands, lifting the giant statues that were behind them up into the air, and then they tossed them at the team.
Sokka looked up as Sakura, Toph, and Aang ran forward, thrusting their hands into the air, and they created a dome of rock which blocked the attack. Katara and Hinata then ran out, their hands on their flasks as they ran to the moat. The female Waterbending Master bent the water out of the moat into an ice step which launched her into the air. The Hyuga Heiress added chakra to her feet and she leapt at the same time as Katara. The two bent the water out of the moat and landed behind the defending soldiers. In a spin kick, the two young women created a whip out of the water they bent and knocked the soldiers into the moat.
Katara bent the water onto her arms as she rolled, creating makeshift tentacles on her arms. Hinata rolled out into a Jyuken stance, and then assumed her signature attack that she had created between the time Tsunade first entered the village to become Hokage and the Bug Hunting mission. Dozens of Earth Kingdom soldiers charged her, and she reactivated her Byakugan and lifted a hand up as the soldiers tossed their spears at her as she stood up straight and rose her left hand.
"Shugohakke Rokujuuyon Shou (Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms)!" Hinata called out and thousands of chakra beams shot out of her hands, slashing the incoming spears right out of the air, then she launched more threw the attacking Earth Kingdom Soldiers shoulders, right into a key tenkatsu. The soldiers called out in pain as they dropped to their knees.
More came out of the palace and Toph stood right in front of the walkway. She rose her hands and the entire palace began shaking. Then, all the stairs folded into the stairway, creating a slide which the entire mini-army of soldiers slid harmlessly down. Appa and the others ran behind her and she nodded to Sakura and Aang.
Using a pulling motion, the three created a platform of rock that could support the entire team, including the 10 ton flying bison, and they were rocketed up the flat stairway, kicking up a massive dust cloud. They past the screaming, sliding soldiers, being careful they didn't crash into any.
"Seriously, we're actually on your guys' side!" Sokka yelled as he stood in the middle of the platform next to Kakashi and Yamato, right in front of Appa.
"Please forgive us, we just need to really talk to the King," Hinata added as she bowed on the way up to the top of the slide-staircase next to Naruto.
"Sorry!" Sokka yelled as more of the soldiers rolled and slid down the slide-staircase.
They reached the top and several of the soldiers tried attacking their flank as they ran up the middle. Kakashi nodded to Yamato and both of them stopped.
"Naruto, you're in charge," Kakashi ordered. "We'll hold them off! Toph, Aang, Sakura, conserve your energy!"
"Got it, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto yelled as Aang, Toph, and Sakura got out of their earthbending stances as the two Jounin Level Shinobi ducked the attacks of the soldiers, and began to engage them in a fury of Taijutsu attacks.
"Kakashi-sensei and Yamato get to have all the fun," Sakura complained as she followed the group further into the palace.
The seven, followed by Appa ran into the palace, with Naruto and Aang leading in front, Sakura and Hinata covering the flanks, and Sokka, Katara, and Toph behind, near the giant bison. They got into a room with three hallways, and threw them; dozens of soldiers started filing threw the hallways.
"Delta formation guys," Naruto ordered and Sokka glanced at him.
"And what does that mean?" Sokka asked as Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata formed a triangle, and Toph and Katara caught what they need to do, forming the last two ends of a human diamond.
Aang had his staff out, Katara and Hinata had their hands on their flasks, Naruto had crossed his fingers preparing to do his signature Kage Bushin, Sokka had taken out his club, and Sakura and Toph were preparing to use their Earthbending.
The two young women stomped their feet, and several rock pillars jutted up from the floor, slamming most of the soldiers and enemy Earthbenders into the ceiling pinning them there. The others charged forward passed the pillars.
"Hey Toph, which way is the Earth King?" Sokka asked as he looked around with both his weapons drawn.
"How should I know? I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se!" Toph replied as she launched a bubble of earth towards two Earth Kingdom soldiers, knocking them off their feet.
"Hinata-chan, scan the area with your Byakugan so we will know the exact room," Naruto ordered as he created several Bushins to fight the soldiers.
Hinata nodded. "Okay Naruto-kun."
With that, she activated her Byakugan again. More soldiers tried to get threw, but Sakura slammed her fist into the ground, creating a massive crater with her incredible strength. The soldiers fell in, and Katara slashed out with her water whip, knocking several more into the hole. She then splashed them, and froze the water, effectively pinning them to the bottom of the hole.
"I wouldn't go into that room, Sokka-kun," Hinata warned as the young water tribe warrior opened it anyway.
"PERVERT!"
"Sorry! Wrong door!" Sokka yelled as he closed the door on the changing woman. 'Damn…maybe I should have listened to Hinata…'
Kakashi and Yamato had retreated into the palace to catch up with the rest of the group. Despite their prodigious skills, the numbers of almost the entire Ba Sing Se garrison were starting to tire them down. They got to the middle room of the palace where there was a massive pile of rock where the interior battle had taken place. Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Katara, Toph, Aang, and Sokka were all standing behind it.
"Found it," Hinata informed them. "But…"
"But what?" Sokka asked as he climbed up the pile of rock, seeing a massive door. "Now that's a door!"
He ran over, leapt into the air, and delivered a flying side kick into the massive door, yet it didn't budge an inch. He tried to push it open as the others followed. Before Aang and Toph could bash the door open, Naruto raised his hand.
"Wait, Hinata-chan was saying something about the room," Naruto reminded them, and the two preteens and Sokka stopped trying to open the door.
"Yes. The Dai Li are in there, waiting for us with the Earth King. If we go in now, all that will happen is we get captured," Hinata said and Sokka gulped.
"Then what do you suppose we do?" Sokka asked frantically and Naruto smirked.
"Oh, I have an idea," Naruto said as he crossed his fingers.
On the other side of the door, the Dai Li, Long Feng himself, and the Earth King waited for the attackers to burst in. Suddenly, it happened, the door was blast down with a blast of wind, and the one identified as Sokka crashed threw.
"Hey, a little warning next time!" Sokka yelled as all eight of his companions stormed in.
With weapons drawn, they stopped in front of the throne. Naruto had his usual foxy grin on and Long Feng stomped forward, nine of his men standing in front of the Shinobi and their companions. The Dai Li leader was holding up remarkably well despite the beating he had gotten from the Four Tailed Kyubi. Long Feng would never admit it, but he was terrified at the sight of Naruto there.
"We need to talk to you!" Aang said, his staff down as several shadows appeared on the wall an ceiling, going unnoticed by the Dai Li and Long Feng.
Katara and Hinata had their water whips out, Sakura was squeezing her fist preparing to use her monstrous strength, Toph was levitating a rock with her Earthbending, Kakashi had brought out kunai in each hand, Yamato had formed a tiger seal, and Naruto had his hands to his sides, grinning confidently. Long Feng looked at the jinchuuriki, and a shiver went down his spine.
"They are here to overthrow you," Long Feng warned, trying to keep down his growing panic.
"Hey, we didn't talk to you, bastard," Naruto said, his eyes flashing red towards the Dai Li leader. The Earth King watched as his advisor stepped back involuntarily due to fear.
"And what he said is not true," Sokka said, holding his sword up now. "We're here to help."
"Please, you have to trust us!" Katara pleaded and the Earth King sighed.
"You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door…" The Earth King started as he stood up. "And you expect me to trust you?"
"He has a good point," Toph said reluctantly.
"If you're on my side, the drop your weapons and stand down," The Earth King ordered and the shadows got closer.
The group looked at each other, and then reluctantly did it. Aang dropped his staff, Katara and Hinata stopped bending the water in their flasks, Kakashi and Yamato let their kunai drop to the ground, Sokka dropped his sword and club, and Toph and Sakura dropped their rocks. Naruto, who was already unarmed, did nothing, waiting for the next move.
"See, we're friends, your Earthiness," Aang said with a gulp, showing he was unarmed.
"Earth King-sama, we mean you no harm, we just need to talk to you," Kakashi said diplomatically.
Long Feng raised his hands to order his men to capture the group…when a kunai appeared at his throat, then at the throat or back of all his men. The Earth King gasped in surprise and saw several Naruto's behind his advisor. Naruto was grinning cheekily.
"We surrendered peacefully, now you do the same," Naruto said confidently, and Long Feng gulped.
"Y-You heard him…" Long Feng said with a tremble, and their weapons dropped.
Naruto dispelled his Bushins. "What do you expect from the number one surprise ninja?" He asked the rest of his friends.
Long Feng snarled. "Take the Avatar and his friends into custody, now!"
His Dai Li agents started to retrieve their weapons when the Earth King raised his hand. "The Avatar? You're the Avatar?" The Earth King asked, pointing at Naruto.
"Nope, Aang-otouto here is," Naruto replied, slapping the younger boy on the back.
"What does it matter, your highness, they are enemies of the state," Long Feng asked the Earth King.
"Perhaps you're right…" The Earth King said reluctantly.
Suddenly, the Earth King's bear, wearing a dull yellow shirt and dark green hat crawled over to the Aang, sat down, and licked the young Avatar on the cheek. Aang giggled when the lovable bear licked him.
"Though Bosco seems to like him," the Earth King said, and then he put on his serious face. "I'll hear what I have to say."
Long Feng's eyes narrowed as Aang stepped forward. The boy cleared his throat and looked the King right in the eye.
"Well sir, there's a war going on right now. For the past 100 years in fact, the Dai Li's kept it secret from you, it's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you," Aang told the Earth King everything they found out.
"A secret war? That's crazy!" The Earth King yelled in disbelief.
"Completely," Long Feng added, his patience wearing thin.
"Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our Sky Bison to blackmail us," Aang continued, looking at both the Earth King and the Dai Li leader. "He brainwashed our friend!"
"All lies…" Long Feng started, turning to the Earth King. "I haven't even seen a Sky Bison your majesty, frankly I thought they were extinct."
The Earth King sat down, glancing at the ground. "Your claims are difficult to believe, even from an Avatar."
Long Feng walked over and bent to his lord's ear. "These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing into your own destruction."
"I…have to trust my advisor…" the Earth King told them reluctantly, and t.
Aang's eyes widened as a Dai Li Agent ran up to him to capture him, but Kakashi ran over to intercept. He kicked the agent out of the way with a flying roundhouse, and landed, glancing up at the Earth King. "Your majesty, your Advisor is lying. We can prove it."
"And I can prove he's lying right now," Sokka said as he looked at the Earth King. "Long Feng says he's never seen a Sky Bison, ask him to lift his robe."
"What? I am not disrobing!" Long Feng protested.
The Earth King frowned, but Naruto and Sokka nodded to Aang. The young Avatar took a deep breath, and blew the Dai Li leader's robes up, revealing a trace of the burns he got from the Four Tailed form of Naruto…and a large tooth imprint on his left leg.
"Never seen a Sky Bison huh?" Naruto asked with a grin.
"Appa bit him!" Aang told the Earth King as Long Feng started to pull down his upturned robes.
"That happens to be a very large birth mark…thanks for showing everyone," Long Feng said sarcastically as he finished rearranging his robes, patting them down.
"I suppose there's no proof where those marks came from…" The Earth King offered, trying to believe his advisor.
"Of course there is!" Sokka told him. The Earth King nodded and they were all released.
A little while later, the group stood in front of Appa. Aang ordered his bison to open his mouth, showing his large teeth. The young Avatar pointed at the teeth, then pointed at the mark on Long Feng's leg.
"Yep, that pretty much proves it," The Earth King concluded as he pointed at the group. Everyone cheered in triumph in exposing Long Feng in a lie. "But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory." At that, the teens and preteens sighed in disappointment, but Long Feng sneered at the King behind his back. "Though…I suppose this matter is worth looking into."
Everyone agreed to that little compromise, but Long Feng frowned, sneering angrily at his King. The Dai Li followed out while the Earth King followed Team Seven out of the palace to their evidence of the war.
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Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se, Train Car
A group of Earth Kingdom citizens stared in awe at the Earth King. Many had never seen him before, and here he was, traveling on the tram with the normal people. Team Seven, minus Aang who was flying beside on Appa, were sitting next to him. His guards looked around as the Earth King looked at his citizens.
"So this is what a train is like," The Earth King said in slight awe as he looked around. "I didn't realize it would be this…public."
"So you've never been outside the Upper Ring before?" Katara asked the leader of the Earth Kingdom.
"I've never been outside the Palace," The Earth King leaned forward with a grin, and then he looked at Aang and Appa who were flying next to the train. "Now that's a way to travel." He then turned back to the group. "So, may I ask where we're going?"
"Underneath Lake Laogai, your Kingliness," Sokka replied as he looked up at the leader of the Earth Kingdom. "The Dai Li's secret headquarters, it's where all the brainwashing and conspiring took place."
"And where our friend Jet was gravely injured by Long Feng…" Sakura added as she looked down. "If Tsunade-sama was with us…there wouldn't be any doubt in my mind we could have saved him."
"Tsunade-sama?" The Earth King asked.
"She's the leader of our village, the equivalent of a 'King' or 'Queen', called the Hokage," Kakashi said as he looked up from his book. "The Hokage's job is to protect the village, even at the cost of his or her own life."
The Earth King's jaw lowered. "This…Hokage doesn't keep herself separate from her people?"
Naruto smirked. "Nope. A Hokage is suppose to be one of the people, leading them and guiding them on their paths, giving them dreams and protecting them. That's why I want to become Hokage, so I can lead my village and protect them, especially the people most precious to me."
The Earth King nodded as the young Jinchuuriki's arm went around Hinata's shoulders. The girl began blushing, but she leaned to the left and rested her head on his chest. What these…Shinobi had said of their leader…and what Naruto said of his goal…stirred a fire in the Earth King's gullet. The…need to protect his people was kindled.
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Lake Laogai
A little while later, Team Seven, the Earth King, and his guards had reached Lake Laogai. The Earth King looked around suspiciously as Toph and Sakura walked to the edge of the massive lake. The two young Earthbenders stomped the ground and when they appeared to bring up the entrance, all they got was a broken up path.
"That's impossible!" Sakura and Toph gasped at the same time.
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "…t-they collapsed everything underground…the entrance…isn't an entrance anymore…"
"Oh…don't tell me…" Sokka said as he put his hands to his face. "Still got my positive attitude."
"The Dai Li must have known we were coming and destroyed the evidence," Katara told the Earth King as she looked back.
"Have to give them credit, to hide or destroy their headquarters to hide their secrets…" Kakashi said seriously.
"That seems…awfully convenient…" The Earth King said as he frowned, thinking he had been lied to.
"Hey, if anything, this proves the conspiracy exists even more," Sokka said, reaching.
Naruto snarled as he looked around. "There must be something…anything…"
"Long Feng was right, this was a waste of time," The Earth King told them angrily, and he began to walk off. "Now, if you'll excuse me…I'm going back to the palace."
"…the wall!" Katara said, remembering the drill. "They'll never be able to cover that up in time!"
"Oh yeah!" Aang said as he leapt over to the Earth King before he could leave. "If you come with us to the Outer Wall, we can prove to you that the secret war is real."
"No Earth King has ever been to the Outer Wall," The Earth King said as Naruto intercepted him. "I don't have anymore time for this nonsense."
"What kind of leader are you? Walking away from something that is endangering your people?" Naruto snapped at him. The Earth King stared at him stoically. "This proves that none of the Earth King's leaders have ever been in touch with their people like the Hokage! Surrounding yourself in the walls, you separate yourself from the problems! No wonder why you know nothing about the outside world! Aang's entire culture was wiped out by the Fire Nation, and you're walking away from any proof that would end this damn war!"
The Earth King was taken back by the outburst, but Sokka ran ahead, knowing how to tempt the king. "If you come with us this time, Aang will let you ride…on Appa!"
The Earth King stopped…and then smirked. He had wanted to do this ever since he saw the giant bison. Appa gave his trademark guttural roar and the leader of the Earth Kingdom caved.
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On Appa's Back, flying towards the Outer Wall
The Earth King gave a scream of fright as he held onto Appa's fur for dear life. He wasn't expecting such a large beast to fly so fast in the air. Not only that, it was hard to keep his footing. Another scream and he felt something…a vine, wrapping around his waist, and then around Appa.
"There, so you don't fall off," Yamato said with a smile as the vine finished coming out of his sleeve. "We can't have a future supporter falling off our beast of burden."
"First time flying?" Toph asked him.
"Yeah, it's both thrilling and terrifying, and thank you," The Earth King replied as he looked at Toph, who was riding on her stomach, and back at Yamato, who was sitting with the rest of the group.
"Yeah, I hate it too," Toph said plainly as she held on for dear life.
"I have to be honest with you, part of me hopes what you tell me of this war isn't true," The Earth King said as he looked at Aang.
"Yeah…me too…" Aang said as he looked at the reins.
Appa continued flying at a stable pace over the landscape. The Earth King recalled what Naruto had said before-that Aang's culture was wiped out by the Fire Nation. Then of what Long Feng, his most trusted advisor said, that he believed Flying Bisons were extinct. His eyes widened….and he shook his head, he couldn't believe it.
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Dusk, Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se
The long flight had taken most of the day to reach the Outer Wall. Aang sat cross legged on Appa's head as they approached the other end of the wall. He then sat up when he saw their evidence.
"It's still there!" Aang yelled as he pointed at the wall.
"They haven't been able to dispose of it," Hinata said as she scanned the area with her Byakugan. There were Dai Li around the small wall around the broken up drill, but they quickly tried to hide when Appa made a flyby.
"What is that?" The Earth King asked in fear.
"It's a drill, made by the Fire Nation to bring down your walls. A real psycho bitch calling herself Azula was the commander," Naruto replied as he looked down at the drill, and the evidence was now overwhelming, the Earth King couldn't deny it now.
They had landed on the wall and the Earth King looked down on the Drill next to his guards. The Fire Nation emblem shown proudly on the back of the drill.
"I can't believe I never knew…" the Earth King said as he looked down in disbelief. Then he looked over to see Long Feng coming up with two Dai Li agents serving as his guards.
"I can explain Your Majesty," Long Feng said as he was elevated to ground level and he began walking forward. "This is nothing more than a…construction project."
"You sure got here fast," Naruto snarled, his eyes narrowing. Long Feng involuntarily stepped back.
"Then how do you explain the Fire Nation symbol on your 'Construction Project'?" Sakura asked as she walked towards the Dai Li leader next to Katara, who added a 'Yeah?'
The Earth King looked down at the emblem, and Long Feng started sweating. "Well…it's imported of course! You know you can't trust domestic machinery!" No one bought what he claimed and the Dai Li leader gulped. "Truly you don't believe these children, and not your most trusted attendant?"
The Earth King looked down at Team Seven, and then at Long Feng, and he frowned. "Dai Li…arrest Long Feng; I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."
Long Feng gave a silent gasp in shock. He wasn't expecting this, not in a thousand years he'd ever guess it. The group looked at him in equal shock, and his Agents looked up and at each other, before latching onto him with metal cuffs.
"You can't arrest me, you need me more now than you know!" Long Feng yelled as he looked at Kakashi. "And that man there can use Fire Attacks! So how do you know they aren't working for the Fire Nation?"
Kakashi had prepared for this question, and he lifted his eye. "With my Sharingan I can copy any jutsu, including Fire Attacks. I am no Firebender, nor are we affiliated with the Fire Nation."
Right now, the Earth King trusted Kakashi and the Avatar's friends more than Long Feng. "Take Long Feng out of here," the Earth King ordered the Dai Li sharply.
"Looks like Long Feng is Long Gone!" Sokka announced as the Dai Li leader was dragged off. "I've been waiting to use that one…"
Naruto smirked. "Great job, Earth King. Finally seeing threw all his lies."
Hinata smiled as she walked next to her boyfriend. "I know it was hard, but its better knowing what's happening on the outside world…"
The Earth King nodded. Long Feng was his most trusted advisor…and now he was a traitor, a wolf in sheep's clothing. And now, he had a mission-to end the War, to stop all the bloodshed…and to protect his people. He was now willing to give his life for them.
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Palace of Ba Sing Se
Team Seven had gathered in the main audience chamber of the Throne Room, standing in front of the Earth King who sat at the throne. He was deep in thought, thinking of the right words to say. Naruto fidgeted a bit next to Hinata, and they looked at the Earth King as he began.
"I need to thank you, young heroes, for opening my eyes. All this time from what I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of fools, and that makes me, the King Fool," The Earth King started as he looked down, his bear snuggling against his leg, and then he put his hand to his face. "We're at war…with the Fire Nation…"
"That's why we came to Ba Sing Se, your highness, because we think you can help us end the war," Sokka said as he stepped forward with his case.
"We don't have much time, there's a comet coming this summer, it's energy will give the Firebenders unbelievable strength-they'll be unstoppable," Aang told him and the Earth King folded his hands under his chin.
"Not only that, the Fire Nation has conquered most of the Earth Kingdom, even Omashu," Kakashi said as he looked at Sokka. "Our entire plan revolves around an invasion of the Fire Nation, but now, it is an unrealistic goal."
Sokka glanced back at him. "What do you mean unrealistic? We have an window of opportunity before the Comet comes, a Solar Eclipse, the sun will be entirely blocked out by the moon, and the Firebenders will be helpless!"
"What is your plan, Kakashi, Sokka?" The Earth King asked them.
"My plan is a massive counter offensive against the Fire Nation. We need to push them back, all the way to the sea before we can even think of launching an invasion," Kakashi replied plainly. "We need to do it in the time limit."
"Then that's the day we have to invade the Fire Nation," Sokka continued as he looked at the Earth King. "The Day of Black Sun."
"…I don't know…" The Earth King said as he looked down. "That would mean moving troops out of Ba Sing Se, we'd be completely vulnerable."
"That's always a risk, your Highness," Kakashi said as he looked up. "Three years ago, our village was attacked. Over half our Shinobi were wiped out, including the Sandaime-Third Hokage. Nevertheless, we continued to go out on missions to prove we were strong in the eyes of the world, leaving our village mostly defenseless for the months after the attack."
"You're already vulnerable as well; the Fire Nation won't stop until Ba Sing Se will fall. You can sit back and wait for that to happen, or take the offensive and have a fighting chance," Sokka said as he looked at Kakashi. "And, if these guys can pull together to still defend their village with half their numbers gone, you have to do the same to save the Earth Kingdom."
"…very well, you have my support," the Earth King said after a brief debate in his mind.
"You won't regret this, your majesty," Naruto said as he joined his friends in cheering at this triumph.
"Good work team!" Toph cheered as she danced with Katara and Sokka.
Suddenly, a man dressed in an armored shirt, dark green cape, and a brown beard walked forward. "Your Majesty…I apologize for the interruption," the man said as he knelt before the Earth King.
"This is General How, he's the leader of the Council of Five, my highest ranking generals," The Earth King stated, introducing the man to Team Seven.
"We searched Long Feng's office; I think we found something that'll interest everybody…" How said as he looked up from his bow.
A little while later, everyone had gathered in the library that had served as Long Feng's office. An Earth Kingdom Soldier carried an ornate, trapezoidal light green box with a lock over to the table where everyone waited. He placed it in front of the Earth King who opened it.
"There are secret files on everyone in Ba Sing Se, including you folks," General How said as the Earth King opened the box.
"Secret files?" Aang asked and Yamato nodded.
"The ANBU has a same thing, organized into a 'Bingo Book', all villages are required to enter Shinobi into the book," Yamato replied as the Earth King pulled out a scroll.
"Toph Bei Fong," The Earth King announced as he handed over a scroll to How, who handed it over to Toph, who opened it and began tracing the symbols with her fingertips.
"It's a letter from my mother…she's here in the city…and she wants to see me…" Toph said as her eyes widened in shock after reading the letter with her fingertips. "Long Feng intercepted our letters from home? That's just sad…"
"No kidding…" Naruto said as he looked up next to Hinata.
"Any chance there's something for us, Earth King-sama?" Hinata asked as the Earth King took out another scroll.
"It is an intelligence report of strange sightings of men and women wearing same garb as you in the western part of the continent," General How said as he handed it to Sakura.
She opened it…and her eyes widened. "They aren't allies of us…from the description of their headbands…they are…Sound Shinobi."
"Sound Shinobi?" General How and the Earth King asked at the same time.
"The Sound Village, Otogakure, is Konoha's primary enemy, lead by the former Sannin Orochimaru. He is responsible for the attack on Konoha three years ago…and the death of Sandaime Hokage," Kakashi replied in general shock. "How the hell did they get here?"
"I'm not sure, but the report says they are working with Fire Nation troops…this is bad…" Sakura replied with a gulp. "That means…we were probably sent here by Orochimaru, either on purpose or accident…"
"There was something else…" General How said as he took out another scroll. "It was in the same scroll that was attached to the Avatar's bison's horn when the Dai Li captured it."
"It's from the Eastern Air Temple…" Aang said in surprise. "…something about a Guru being in contact with a man with wild white spiky hair, wearing a strange headband…"
"Jiraiya-sama!" Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura, and Hinata gasped. "Ero-sennin?" Naruto added his nickname of the old Sannin.
"…yeah…it also says he's offering to help me master the Avatar State…and aid the…jinchuuriki in mastering his attack," Aang replied as he read the letter.
"Would there be a letter for me and Sokka by any chance?" Katara asked as she leaned forward, her hand out.
"I'm afraid not," The Earth King replied as he looked at them.
The siblings looked at each other, and then down at the ground. "Oh…"
"But there is an Intelligence Report that might interest you," General How said behind them, handing the Waterbending Master a scroll.
"A small fleet of Water Tribe ships?" Katara asked as she looked at the scroll, and Sokka hovered over her.
"What? That could be dad!"
"Protecting the mouth of Chameleon Bay, lead by Hakoda…it is dad!" Katara cheered at her brother and everyone.
The Earth King and General How excused themselves while Team Seven prepared what to do with this information. Sitting in a circle on the carpet, Aang continued to look at the letter.
"I can't believe there's someone living on the Eastern Air Temple…it says he's a Guru…" Aang said as he looked at the letter.
"I can't believe he's somehow been in contact with Ero-sennin, and offering to help me complete my attack…" Naruto said with a grin. "And he may have a way to send us home, Hinata-chan, Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, Yamato!"
"And he wants to help me take the next step in the Avatar Journey, and he said he can teach me to control the Avatar State," Aang said with a grin.
"And I can't believe we know where our dad is now," Katara said as she looked at the intelligence report.
"I know what you mean, my mom's in the city, and from her letter it seems like she finally understands me!" Toph said in awe, feeling good about this.
"We also have a problem too," Yamato said. "The Fire Nation has the Sound Village as their ally…and that can't be good for anyone. With Shinobi support, we might not be able to do the grand counteroffensive."
"This is all such big news, where do we even start?" Sokka asked them.
"I hate to say it, but, we have to split up," Katara replied with a sigh.
"Split up?" Aang asked in shock. "We just found Appa got the family back together! Now you want us to separate?"
"It'd be only temporary…" Sakura said as she looked down. "We need to check everything out, it would take too much time going all together."
"You have to meet this Guru, Aang, Naruto, if we're going to fight back and invade the Fire Nation, you two need to be ready," Katara added as Naruto and Aang looked at her.
"Well…if we're going to the Eastern Air Temple, Appa, I, and Naruto can drop you off at Chameleon Bay to see your dad," Aang said with a smile.
"Some of us have to stay here with the Earth King and help him plan for the invasion, I guess that's me," Sokka said as he stood up.
"No Sokka, I know how badly you want to help dad, you go to Chameleon Bay," Katara told him. "I'll stay here with the King."
"And Kakashi-senpai, you have to go with Naruto and Aang to this Guru. I'll stay here to aid the Earth King in developing anti-Shinobi strategies for his soldiers to use," Yamato told Kakashi, Aang, and Naruto.
"You…are the…nicest sister ever!" Sokka said as he danced on his tiptoes, and then kissed his sister on the cheek.
"Easy there Big Brother, though you're right, I am," Katara said with a slight chuckle.
"Very well, Yamato. I will help Naruto as best I can," Kakashi said and Yamato grinned.
Hinata looked at Naruto, and she leaned in and wrapped her arms around him. Naruto returned the hug, and they all began to walk out of the room.
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Outside the palace
With Team Seven temporarily breaking for training and such, they all prepared to leave as the Earth King walked down the steps. Katara was petting and rubbing her body against Appa's soft fur, and Aang looked at her. Naruto and Hinata were hugging, and the young jinchuuriki leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
"I love you, Hinata-chan. I'll be back, you can count on it," Naruto told her as he rubbed her back.
"I know, Naruto-kun. Get strong for me, and everyone," Hinata said as she leaned up and kissed him again on the mouth.
Seeing this, Aang made up his mind and approached Katara. "Katara…I need to tell you something." He began to blush. "I've been wanting to say it for a long time…and after seeing Naruto and Hinata…"
Naruto created a clone and stopped Sokka. "Don't interrupt, otouto needs to get this off his chest," the Clone told the young Water Tribe warrior.
"What is it Aang?" Katara asked the slightly younger boy.
"I…love you," Aang told her, looking down. "Ever since I've met you, I loved you…"
Katara's eyes widened, and then she smiled. "…thanks for telling me, Aang." She pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm not sure of my feelings, but you're more than just a friend to me."
Aang smiled, looking at her. His eyes looked like they were sparkling, and he hugged her tighter. "I'll master the Avatar State and come back."
Then, Naruto's clone disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Sokka leapt at Aang, wrapping his arm around the boy's neck and he gave him a noogie. "Men only man trip!"
"Aang, Sokka, Naruto, Kakashi, I wish you a good journey," The Earth King said as Kakashi and Naruto walked over to Appa. "Ba Sing Se owes you a debt of thanks; we look forward to your safe return."
"Thank you, Earth King-sama," Kakashi said as he bowed with the others.
"And Naruto…I'll try my best to become more like the Hokage you will be," The Earth King said to the young Jinchuuriki.
"Thanks!" Naruto said with a cheer. "You'll do great now! Don't let anything happen to your people, and you'll do fine."
"Your majesty," an Earth Kingdom Soldier said as he walked forward. "There are three female warriors and one young man with a sword on his back here to see you. The women claim they're from the island of Kiyoshi, the young man claims to be a wandering warrior."
"Suki!" Sokka yelled as he slipped and fell down off Appa's back.
"You know these warriors?" The Earth King asked as he walked forward.
"Yeah, one's Sokka's girlfriend," Sakura said with a smirk.
"They're skilled warriors, trustworthy too; they're good friends of ours! And if this wandering guys traveling with them, that means he's on the level too!" Sokka replied as he stood up.
The Earth King nodded. "Then we shall welcome them as honored guests."
Aang began to walk off to Appa, but Katara stopped him. "Wait, Aang!"
With that, she hugged him again and he began blushing. She kissed him on the cheek again as Naruto grinned at Hinata. Toph walked over to them.
"I'm really going to miss you guys," Toph said as she looked at them.
"Us too," Naruto said as he walked over with Hinata and Sakura, and a group hug started with Aang and Katara. They looked back to Sokka, who was trying to act indifferent.
He then screamed as they all converged on him in a true group hug. "Great, that's enough, okay, we love each other, seriously."
A few short minutes later, Appa took off from the palace, flying over the others. Naruto, Aang, Sokka, and Kakashi rode on the giant bison's head as they flew. Sokka then crawled onto the beasts back and laid down on his own back to relax.
"You see, Naruto, Aang, a little positive thinking works wonders," Sokka told them with a grin. "We got the King on our side, we got Long Feng arrested, and when we get back Suki's waiting for me."
"Not to mention Hinata-chan," Naruto said with a grin as he leaned back.
"Yeah…girls are waiting for us…thanks positive attitude," Aang said with a content sigh.
"Everything's going to work out perfectly," Sokka said with a grin. "For now on, and forever."
Aang looked back with a grin and Naruto did the same. Things were really looking up for them now, and hopefully it will continue. The Fire Nation and the Sound Village need to be overthrown…
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Ba Sing Se prison
In the metal clad prison of Ba Sing Se, in the highest level of security, Long Feng sat on the ground, contemplating his downfall. He was charged with treason, rightfully so, and would probably be executed. He didn't know how he was going to get out of this until a Dai Li agent walked over, and stopped in front of the metal door.
"Dinner," the Dai Li agent said as he slid a fancy spread of food into the cell, and Long Feng picked up a biscuit. "The Council and Army are loyal to the Earth King, but the Dai Li remains loyal to you, Long Feng, sir."
With that the Dai Li agent walked off and the leader of the Dai Li smirked, and bit into the biscuit. Maybe he could get out of this…and regain control of the city.
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Bei Fong Town House
Toph stood in front of the door where her mother was suppose to be. She was looking forward to the meeting while dreading it at the same time. She stood there for fifteen minutes before finally willing up her courage and she walked forward to open the door.
"Hello? Mom!" Toph yelled as she walked in, looking around. Suddenly, she felt something running on the group and turned to face it, when a giant metal box dropped down and captured her. "Hey! Who do you think you're dealing with!"
"One loudmouth little brat who strayed too far from home," a voice she recognized said as she felt the metal box be lifted.
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Palace
Three 'Kiyoshi Warriors' walked up a guarded path with a young man walking behind them. He was wearing a white kosode which had a little red and white fan on it's back. Below that was a blue cape that had a strange purple belt around it. On his back he had a long straight sword, and he was wearing blue pants. They were lead up to the Earth King, passing the soldiers.
"In our hour of need, it is with the highest honor we receive our esteemed allies, the Kiyoshi Warriors and friend!" The Earth King announced as he threw his arms out in welcome.
"We are the Earth King's humble servants…" the middle warrior with…striking yellow eyes said as she got onto her hands and knees after bowing her head to the ground.
To be continued…
The Kaze Kiwa was invented by Tellemicus Sundance for his fic, Legacy of the Rasengan.