Chapter 54: Ambushing Azula

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or Avatar the Last Air Bender, or Hades whom is Disney's version of him. I do own Kasumi along with most of her deck which is based off of Fire Emblem female characters and the four Titan Cards.

While we were waiting for Kakashi-Papa and his squad to arrive, I decided to try to teach Jessie and James how to Duel through the most usual way I could, Duel Puzzles. Naruto was at my side sweatdropping as even to this day he absolutely sucked at solving Duel Puzzles. Even to this day when I give him a test on one he barely manages to pass it with a low C, or sometimes even a low D but luckily for him no F's at least not yet. In a way Duel Puzzles were a decent teaching material for teaching new people how to Duel. It introduced them to the game mechanics of the game, and introduced them to a handful of cards. It was the only time where you got to plan ahead for you to take down your opponent as their side of the field was final so you had to win in that turn you were given. Jessie and James learned quite well and well what could one expect from former members of a criminal organization that stole Pokemon from trainers or well used to. Solving puzzles probably came naturally to them. Aang turned to me "Lady Kasumi! I see General Kakashi approaching the area!"

I nodded as I addressed the Avatar "Alright then." I looked at Jessie and James "Take a breather you two as things are most likely going to get rough around here."

"Of course!" Jessie and James said.

I turned to them "Try to think on what decks you'd want. Personally you want to try to base your deck off of your favorite thing."

James looked at his Cacnea which was still out "Are there any Plant Type Monsters?"

I smiled "Yes, there are! My mother was one great duelist that used plant type Monsters. That would be perfect for you seeing that you like Grass Type Pokemon, I'd say that would be the perfect match up for you."

I turned to Jessie "Not sure on what type you should look into quite yet"

"Jessie likes Pokemon Contests" Meowth said "Plus she had an Arbok which she liked."

I nodded "So for now I'd like you Jessie and James to think of what deck you want."

"Certainly" the two said in agreement with me.

Aang was right Kakashi-Papa had shown up with the rest of the group. He took one look around at the forest and congratulated me and my group for a job well done "Good work Kasumi dear! Everything went well I assume."

"It did!" I said "We got access to this forest! Is our ambush on Azula still on?"

"You bet!" Haku said "I froze the bridge the girls were standing on which not only caused them to slip but fall into icy cold water."

Katara chuckled "Azula never saw that coming and last I checked it was taking them quite a while to break free of the ice."

Haku chuckled too but Hanabi spoke "True, but that was until someone got them out and it was someone that Naruto and Lady Kasumi wouldn't want to face off against."

Naruto perked up his head "Who?"

I read Hanabi's look and knew right away Sasuke! I didn't say his name out full well knowing Naruto would charge off and in his words "beat up Sasuke and bring him back to the Leaf Village."

As I was racking my brain on how Sasuke was brought back to life I snapped my fingers angrily of course! How could've I forgotten about Hades? He most likely gave Sasuke his life back for trying to help him keep me prisoner in his underworld. Hanabi didn't answer Naruto causing him to shout at her "Oh come on! You gotta tell me who you saw Hanabi!"

"Trust me if I did you'd go off running and searching for him giving us away!" Hanabi warned.

"and we don't need our position to be compromised" Haku admitted "If he's still with them by the time we attack Azula in an ambush, then you'll see, Lady Kasumi seems to know who it is."

I nodded "Yeah...I'm beginning too have a decent idea on who it is."

"Oh you guys aren't fun!"

Kakashi-Papa turned towards Naruto "They are keeping it to themselves to prevent you from running off and giving us away. I saw him too and I also know you'll take off towards him giving us away. Azula still has her warriors with her and then add him to her side then this could be a risky ambush that we are going to do."

"Oh!" Naruto sighed "I guess if you don't want me to run off then I'm left in the darkness."

Iruka-Sensei even agreed with Kakashi "We just don't want you to give us away. This is our chance to strike a blow to the Fire Nation, plus we may need your help to protect Lady Kasumi even more. There's no doubt that he will be under Orochimaru's orders and if he captures your sister Naruto...Azula now would have the power to end Kasumi's life or try to."

Naruto heard this then grew serious "I won't let this man do that to her! I'll protect my sister with my life believe it!"

"Then don't question who it is" Lance warned Naruto "If you do...Your sister's life maybe at even bigger stake."

Naruto nodded "alright then."

"This man brought back must be something fierce if they are worried about this ambush" Sokka conversed with Naruto.

Naruto nodded "I'm still puzzled who it could be but if it's to try to protect my sister then I'll accept this for now."

Kakashi-Papa studied the scene where to position us and sees the tallest tree "Haku! Take Team Signer with you! Go to the highest part of the trees. You three will be our look outs. Try to stay hidden though."

"Yes sir!" Haku said turning to Team Signer "Let's go!"

"Right away!"

Kakashi-papa turned to the rest of us "The rest of us need to take cover behind bushes and trees and wait for the single from Haku and Team Signer...Naruto...If you see who we saw...Don't speak up...Not one little one...In fact Toph...Go to Naruto's position and if you hear him about to charge in or speak something knock him in the head to silent him."

Toph smirked "Will do!"

With this we began getting into position with Kakashi-Papa and Iruka-Sensei taking me aside to explain whom they saw even though I knew by now whom it was. I looked at the two Jounin as we were alone and spoke out one word well four in a single sentence "Let me guess...Sasuke."

Kakashi-Papa nodded "Yes."

"Not sure how it was Sasuke" Iruka-Sensei told me "But it was him."

I sighed "I may know how he was brought back...Hades...I was hoping the loss he had with Hades to try to keep me in his underworld would've caused him to not bring Sasuke back to life but...I guess even a God has to keep his word."

"Those girls Azula has aren't pushovers ether" Iruka-Sensei warned me "Let Naruto handle Sasuke or try to during our ambush if you can. Don't get caught off guard by those girls they are quite dangerous...Hanabi had trouble with one of them."

"The girl she was tracking to distract was pretty quick on her feet" Kakashi-Papa admitted.

"Alright thanks for the heads up" I admitted to them.

So we prepared for the ambush hiding ourselves among the foliage.

Azula's POV

I was about to lead the charge to capture an unsuspecting village for the Fire Nation. Ty Lee and another girl were with me with hundreds of Fire Nation Soldiers and Sound Ninja. We were walking one moment then seemed to have been under attack the next nearly on all directions. I remembered slipping into ice cold water and nearly being trapped in the ice. I thought it could've been the end of me but someone had grabbed me and the others rescuing me from the icey dephs. When I came around I opened my eyes and there was a boy wearing a blue shirt, kaki shorts, black hair.

"Caught you just in time Princess" He told me.

I glared at him "Thanks, but I could've gotten out of it"

He glared back "Could've fooled me..."

"Thanks for saving us" I told him "Even though we could've gotten out of it..."

"Whatever just don't let that be something to happen to you everyday."

"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE SPEAKING TO? I'M Princess Azula, the Princess of the Fire Nation! I could have you executed for speaking to me like that!"

The boy looked directly at me with hate in his eyes "I do know who I'm speaking too, and if it weren't for me you'd be dead. I just saved you and that doesn't do a thing to impress me. Orochimaru told me you were more competent than that to be needing rescued."

"Who are you?" I asked him.

"I'm Sasuke Uchiha" Sasuke answered.

"According to my reports" Mei told me "The Uchiha Clan ninjas were a part of the Leave Village all until one of their own orchestrated an event and murdered every single one of them...Except for one."

"And that's the one person I've sworn to track down and kill" the boy said "But for now I've gotta get stronger and that is going to come from Orochimaru than from the village I've left or planned to leave before my death at the hands of Zeus."

"So...Your a defector?" I asked him suspiciously "Why should I trust you?"

"I just saved your life Princess" Sauske warned me "I didn't have to do that but it was necessary to help out our ally in a time of need."

I growled but if Orochimaru sent him to help me then I suppose it was a big step up from the ninjas he lent me whom didn't help me "Fine! I'll allow you to help me this one time! Tai Lee, Mei watch over him closely and if he does anything funny arrest him!"

"Yes ma'am!" was the response.

I looked onward as I could see the village "It won't be long before we attack that village! And when we do, Kill all of the Benders in that village!"

"Of course!"

I looked at the village preparing myself for the raid which would be a victory. I personally lead the charge towards the village and it was at that moment...Chaos happened.

Kasumi's POV

I was in my position hiding behind a bush with my two Vulpixes at my side while waiting for Azula and her army to approach. Silence was the key and I was carefully and gently holding down Snowflake whom seemed to want to burst out to attack the enemy. This would blow my cover and I not only saw what Kakashi-Papa saw and indeed the two girls Azula had at her side did look impressive and at first glance I knew they would indeed be trouble to Aang. So them getting to Aang was my top priority to prevent. Fortunately Aang was with me hiding alongside me. Then Aang and I saw Sasuke and I hide my own rising hatred, of course I should've seen him siding alongside Orochimaru and the Fire Nation. Aang whispers to me "Lady Kasumi...Who is that boy?"

"That's Sasuke Uchiha..." I whispered silently back "A former ninja of Konoha, but tried to go to Orochimaru just so he can get revenge and power."

"Sad" Aang whispered to me.

"Sad but true" I admitted "Word of advise do stay away from those girls Aang and certainly do stay away from Sasuke. He's no pushover. He knows what he's doing and not only has the Sharrigan but has powerful Fire Ninjutsus and Kakashi-Papa's Lightning Blade or Chidori...That last one you won't want to face."

Aang pauses looking at me as I rubbed my chest "Trust me...I was on the receiving end of a Chidori right in the chest here...It's not something to take."

"I'll keep that in mind!"

I nodded right. Aang and I while hiding silently watched Azula and her forces walk closer towards the village...Then midway till they could get to it, Haku gave out the single and twenty rockets came towards Azula's forces. Explosions happened, Fire Nation Troops, and Sound Ninja are completely taken off guard ten Sound Ninja and Fire Nation Troops fell killed by the rockets, with twenty more ten of each wounded badly.

"AMBUSH!" Azula roared out as Kunai and Shurkien alongside Element Bending were sent at the Fire Nation on both right and left sides. Azula raised her fist and unleashed her fire Bending ability at where she saw water coming. Fire met water turning it into steam allowing my friends and I time to give out more chaos.

An alert Sasuke took charge right away as he charges where Sokka was hiding. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sokka swipe out at Sasuke with his Boomerang but Sasuke cleverly dodged the attack then neatly spun around giving Sokka a kick to his face. This sent Sokka plowing into a ditch and I heard Sokka mutter out "I'm gonna feel that one in the next morning!"

Sasuke heard the sound of water coming at him as Katara tried to back up her brother. Sasuke smirked allowing the water to hit him freezing his body.

"It's Lady Kasumi's group!" Azula roared out as the steam settled down so that the forest went back to normal "Capture her and the Avatar! Those that capture the Lady Signer restrain her so I can end her life!"

"Yeah right" I muttered.

Sound Ninja scattered trying to but are quickly cut down by Kakashi-Papa whom seemed to be a legendary blur compared to them slicing and dicing through their ranks while also sending them plowing. Fire Nation Soldiers were Air Bended into the water as Rocks generated from Toph seemed to fly everywhere striking any soldier, Sound Ninja or Fire Bender that was unlucky enough to be in the path of them.

Hanabi came out of hiding briefly taking out twenty more of them with just well timed Gentle Fists to the heart. Haku's needles struck necks killing more of the enemy on the spot. So far so good the ambush was working! I watched as Sasuke's body bursts into smoke and a log was replaced for it. Katara watches "Oh-no Substation Jutsu! He knew where I was."

"You can bet I did" Sasuke said.

Katara turned towards Sasuke but he was a blur himself he caught her two punches to the face dazing her and lashes out another kick to her chest. Katara blocked the kick, but her back hit a tree. Sokka saw this "Don't worry sis! I got you covered!"

Sasuke saw Sokka coming waving his boomerang like a sword and caught it "Oh please...You remind me of a certain idiot...What was his name?"

"SASUKE!" Naruto's voice boomed down towards the ground then Naruto landed on the ground tightening his head band while glaring at Sasuke. Sasuke then smirked seeing Naruto "Oh yeah...His name is idiot."

"THAT'S NOT MY NAME!" Naruto snapped eying Sasuke "What are you doing attacking us Sasuke?"

"You dobe!" Sasuke berated Naruto "I'm not with Konoha any more, I'm with Orochimaru! Get used to it!"

"No way!" Naruto said "That's not sold yet! Never will be! I'll drag you back to Konoha!"

"You will try" Sasuke said "And be defeated."

At this point Sokka and Katara were at Sasuke's side ready to back him up.

"He a friend of yours?" Sokka asked Naruto.

"Call it a mere acquittance" Sasuke admitted "Or at least you can call it was a mere acquittance, now" Sasuke retrieved a Kunai Knife readying himself "We're enemies!"

Naruto drew his own Kunai and clashes it against Sasuke's saving both Katara and Sokka from certain death "We won't be enemies for long! I'll be sure of it!"

"That you will" Sasuke said with one cruel move he broke the lock, kicked Naruto in the face sending him plowing into Katara and Sokka. This caused Azula to smile "Finally someone that's worthy."

Sasuke looked at her "This fight has only begun Princess...I'll handle these three. Should be easy."

He caught sight of his three opponents beginning to stand up and he presses his hands together then creates hand seals then completed them shouting "Fire Style, Giant Fire Ball Jutsu!"

Katara, Naruto and Sokka barely have enough time to react in time but I did and turned to Takara giving her orders in a low tone "Absorb that fireball for my brother and our friends!"

"Vulpix!" Takara said somehow making her way over to the fireball and she leaps into it absorbing it without getting hurt and Naruto sighs with relief "GOOD GIRL TAKARA! YOU JUST SAVED THE THREE OF US!

"WHAT THE?" Sasuke demanded seeing the little fox "You can absorb fire?"

"VVVUUULLLPPPIIIXXX!" Takara shouted her response by emitting a huge Flamethrower attack at him. It was bigger than most of her Flamethrowers could be on par of the size of Sasuke's Giant Fire Ball Jutsu. Sasuke thinks fast and carefully carves the flames in half without damage. He growls seeing Takara "I'll make that fox pay!"

"Vulpix!" Takara shouted lunging at him before he could be a blur she was a blur using Quick-Attack ramming her head into his stomach causing him to loose his breathe.

"Good work Takara!" Naruto said to her "Now it's my turn...Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto creates hundreds of himself and they hurl themselves at Sasuke. Sasuke recovered quickly then with his Kunai Knife, and Taijutsu skills prepares himself for fighting against my brother and his Shadow Clones.

While this was happening the two girls Azula had with her came forward. Aang tries to blow them back but the shorter one was quick and avoids his attack and nearly takes him down with a sharp kick but I blocked it with my arm "You want Aang you have to get past me!"

The girl smiled "You must be the Lady Signer that has beaten Azula constantly...I'd be glad to take you down! The name is Tai Lee! Come on Mel let's take her out!"

"Let's" the other girl said.

I stand up straight ready to fight with Snowflake at my side. Takara sensed this and ran to help me too seeing that my brother was facing off against Sasuke aided by Katara and Sokka. Kakashi-Papa, Iruka-Sensei, Haku, Lance and Team Signer were doing their best to take out the Fire Nation Soldiers and Sound Ninja. I watched as Azula was with her two allies a wicked grin on her face "If we kill you Lady Signer the more we can succeed in our mission...You've been a thorn at my side way too long and now it's time to die."

I looked back and forward annalizing the three opponents. Azula wasn't easy to beat but I could beat her, but the other two girls with her especially this Tai Lee might make it difficult. Then to make it worse I was surrounded by them with my front being threatened by Azula herself, then with Tai Lee at my right and Mei at my left. Then came the attack Azula gathered in fire in both of her wrists and I Earth Bended two boulders and sent them to counter the blasts. It worked and her two allies came at both of my flanks. I managed to avoid Mei's punch and barely avoided Tai Lee whom was amazingly faster than I expected. Only myself, Rock Lee, or even Sasuke out of the Genin Ranked Shinobi of Konoha would've been able to keep up with her speed. In order to avoid Tai Lee though I had to backflip. Azula smirked gathering in lightning and sent it at me. I braced myself as I was in midair. The lightning strikes me but thanks to bracing it I was able to redirect the attack and right at Mei. She fell to the ground stunned "Quick Snowflake Ice Beam Mei before she has a chance to recover" I commanded Snowflake."

"Vulpix!" Snowflake said she gathers in ice in her mouth then unleashes it on Mei whom was trying to come around and Snowflake's attack hits Mei freezing her and the snow white baby Vulpix never let go of her Ice Beam, she kept her attack going as she moved her head up and down Mei's body causing her to literally become a frozen statue laying on the ground. She wasn't dead but she was taken out of commission at least until Azula would unthaw her out. I had to make sure that didn't happen.

"Of course you'd redirect my attack towards you" Azula snares at me "Now I'll have to unthaw my friend!"

"You won't get the chance to!" I told Azula turning to Takara "Takara! Prepare to jump into any fire bending attack she has that is aimed at Mei!"

"Vulpix!" Takara said nodding her furry head understanding me.

Without Mei, things looked up to my advantage Azula comes at me and leaps at me then tried to kick at me sending fire at me. This actually hit me taking me to the ground and Azula is standing over me smirking "Gotcha pinned!"

I smirked back "Not really Princess...I got you!"

Azula blinks at my words "You can't Earth Bend without your feet on the ground!"

I looked at her "Only partially true!"

With an upward motion of my hand I managed to Earth Bend a spike that speared her through her butt and exit out her mouth barely missing her vulnerable organs...Just by sheer luck and I knew it! Had it been a fraction to the left more or right I would've impaled her heart thus killing her on the spot. I didn't retreat the earth bended spike and left the Fire Nation Princess literally crying having been bested by me and I'll admit that must have hurt "Impaled on an Earth Spike...That'll hold you for now."

I stood up but Tai Lee comes at me "YOU COULD'VE KILLED AZULA!"

I blocked her fist in my hand "Yes, I could've and I wish I would've that time! You Fire Nation people are all jerks, cowards and racist! There's no place in this world for those kinds of people and to top it off Azula is just cruel!"

Tai Lee growls flipping at me and actually managed to kick my legs out from underneath me "Not as mean as you are!"

I hit the ground hard on my head and used my arms as a trampoline to backflip onto my feet or at least tried to Tai Lee managed to catch me unprepared and lashes out her fists at me striking me in the shoulders then stunned me somehow. She eyes me "Stunned? Now I'll come in to make sure you'll be penalized!"

I found out that I couldn't Earth Bend just because she had hit me and knew it must've been something similar to the Hyugga Clan's gentle fist or my opponent's ability. I managed to move my body as she came at me with full intent on paralyzing me. That I couldn't have happen and I felt that if she had she most likely would've somehow taken me to get executed. I still couldn't Earth Bend but what I didn't see as well as a strong sound ninja removing Azula from her position and the Fire Nation Princess even though she was in pain took aim at me then shot lightning at my back. This time due to Tai Lee's relentless pursuit the lightning strikes me in the back causing me to collapse onto the ground with Tai Lee standing over me forming a fist to knock me unconscious with Azula walking over to help her flames in her hand "Good work Tai Lee! We have her where we want her let's finish her off together."

"Just because I'm not able to Earth Bend" I warned "Doesn't mean you two aren't getting to kill me!"

My eyes turned to bright blue and Azula gasps "NO!"

I looked at her as I entered my Psychic Powers in their Prime State and unleashed a mental blast at them. The blast hit her and Tai Lee sending them flying as well as shattering Mei's icy prison. The other girl gets up "Man, it's not my day."

I looked at the three girls just as Sasuke managed to clash his fist against Naruto whom both boys were indeed clashing with Rasengan or Chidori. Luckily they wouldn't clash as Kakashi-Papa caught Sasuke's fist causing Sasuke to growl "YOU AGAIN!"

"I see you haven't forgotten" Kakashi-Papa said throwing Sasuke towards Azula, and her two allies.

Sasuke sees me "Great...She's entered Psychic Powers in Prime State Mode!"

"That's right I have" I told them clearly showing my psychic powers in one hand and preparing Black Rose Gale to use in my Psychic Waza"And now you have two choices Azula, withdraw from your attack force and never attack this village again...We'll allow you to go or you and your allies along with Sasuke can die here. Your call Azula...It was by sheer luck you lived through that earth spike impalement."

Azula growls "You somehow knew of our approach!"

Sasuke sighed eying Kakashi-Papa "This is why you shouldn't have attacked so early or left your home to attack this way...That someone that knew what you were up to was Kakashi over there. He probably scouted you out and overheard someone saying where your next target is."

"We should withdraw Azula" Tai Lee said shaking visibly that her powers didn't affect my Psychic Powers too much and she was scared seeing my Psychic Powers being contained in one hand and Black Rose Gale was being held in another. All I had to do was bring them together and it would end it.

Azula nodded nearly falling on all fours "That impalement did me in...Your right Tai Lee...Alright Signer...You win this battle but one of these days we will win...Sasuke...Let's go back."

Sasuke turned to her nodding "Right!" he eyes Naruto "We'll meet again loser."

Naruto growls but Sasuke had already made a clear jutsu sign and with a puff of smoke he was gone.

"SASUKE!" Naruto shouts "Come back here! I'll follow you till you do!"

I looked at Naruto whom looked at me "How was he brought back?"

"Hades" I answered.

Naruto gulped nodding now "Makes since I guess...But we have to go get him back."

Sokka was rubbing a swollen jaw "I don't think that's a good idea! He handled the three of us!"

"He's right" Katara muttered clutching her right side and I could tell she had been cut there with Sasuke's Kunai due to her bleeding from it.

I looked at Naruto "Oh there will be more time we have to confront Sasuke Naruto...He's with the enemy...If you want you can try to fight him every time we come up against Azula...Just stay with the group because at this time we need you with us."

Naruto nodded "Right."

Kakashi turned to me "You alright?"

"I will be" I admitted "Luckily I was just stunned that girl Tai Lee could've paralyzed me."

"I have one question" Toph told me "Why did you miss Azula's heart when you impaled her? That would've killed her and one of our troubles would be down."

"I was aiming too" I admitted "But I didn't activate my Psychic Powers in their Prime State at the time to really aim properly so I took a shot but missed barely. However we need to talk about Sasuke...He's going to become a problem and I have the strange feeling he might be going into an arranged marriage with Azula."

"SASUKE'S GOING TO MARRY AZULA?!" Naruto asked me.

I nodded "At least that's what my woman's intuition tells me. Hades is pretty much on Orochimaru's side and he knows about Sasuke's lust for power and to restore his clan..."

"Creepy thought" Toph admitted "But it does make sense."

"Agreed!" James whined "Arranged Marriages are the worse! I know because I was supposed to do one to Jessible."

"Please don't mention her name" Jessie warned his teammate.

"Yeah, she gave us all sort of trouble last time we met her" Meowth agreed.

"I didn't mean to bring that up but when I hear arranged marriages I'm reminded of her!"

I nodded turning to Kakashi-Papa "We won...Somehow."

"That we did, now we need to get Katara some help."

I nodded as we headed to the village.

end of chapter

Barely made 5000 words here! Glad I did! Anyway next chapter is Chapter 55: Team Signer Duel! Jessie vs James! While preparing for their upcoming battles with the Fire Nation and recovering from their latest battle, Kasumi agrees to have Jessie and James have their first duel...against each other, which one of Team Signer will come out victorious?