Naruto looked down at Azula and smiled, glad to see her safe and sound. Azula stared at him in wonder and couldn't believe he was standing over her.
She was about to say something when the Tsunade came over and grabbed Naruto by the collar. "What the hell were you thinking!" she shouted at him as she started to shake him around like a rag doll. Naruto tried to answer but the Tsuande wasn't done yet. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Do you?"
"I….'m..sor..sorry…Ba..a-chan," Naruto stammered, only to receive a punch to the face. This made a Naruto-sized indent in the wall.
"Damn brat," Tsunade said as she turned to face Azula. "My name is Tsunade Senju, and who might you be?"
"I 'm Princess Azula, of the Fire Nation," Azula replied, as she looked back at Tsunade.
Tsunade looked at Azula, an emotionless expression across her face. "Well, princess," she began, "how did you end up in my village?"
"I was running from the guards and was cornered at a cliff. Then I fell and landed in the water. The next thing I remember is waking up in Naruto's arms before passing out again," Azula answered, and Tsunade frowned.
Tsunade looked at the girl before her and turned. "Inoichi," she said, and the blonde man walked over to her.
"Yes, Hokage-sama?" he asked.
Tsunade motioned for him to follow her and they headed out of the office, leaving Azula alone with a barely conscious Naruto.
"What is Azula's mental state like?" she asked, once they were out in the hallway.
Inoichi gave Tsunade a serious look. "Her mind is in fragments," he explained. "She's completely broken. From what I could gather, she was betrayed and lost a battle, making her mind break down into what it is today."
"So, there's no way to get any clear information out of her?" she asked, and Inoichi nodded.
"To get anything out of her, we need to heal her mind first," he replied. A hint of worry was laced in his voice. "Fixing her mind might be a problem. It seems that some part of her mind is trying to destroy her as we speak. Before I was ejected from her mind I saw her running from what appeared to be two people. From what I could gather those were her parents. They seemed to be out to destroy her."
"This is bad," Tsunade sighed, as she looked into the room. She noticed Naruto, who was finally able to function again, sitting beside Azula's bed with a smile on his face. She turned and saw that Azula seemed to be calm around Naruto. She smiled as she watched the blonde work his magic. "I don't think that will be a problem." Inoichi looked at Tsunade with confusion, when she pointed towards the pair.
Inoichi smiled. "Well, that's unexpected," he thought, and Tsunade nodded.
Tsunade reentered the room, making the two teenagers turn and face her. She looked at them and smiled. "Naruto, I want you to head to my office please. I have a mission for you," Tsunade said. Naruto looked at her with confusion.
"A mission? but I thought I couldn't take any missions…" he began, but quickly shut up as Tsunade gave him an evil glare.
"Just do as you're told," Tsunade said, with a sickening sweetness in her voice.
"Yes Baa-Chan," Naruto agreed quickly and turned to look at Azula. "I'll see you later."
"Will you?" Azula asked, with a hint of worry in her voice.
"I promise I'll be back," he said with a huge smile. "It's my ninja way, I always keep my promises." Azula nodded at this, and Naruto stood up and headed out of the room. Tsunade watched him leave and turned to look at Azula.
"I have a few questions I would like you to answer," she said to Azula who nodded slowly.
-A little bit later-
Naruto stood in Tsunade's office, bored. It had been awhile since he had left Azula in the hospital and he wanted to make sure she was ok. Unfortunately, Tsunade had yet to come back, so he was stuck in her office 'til she returned. He turned and looked out the window, when he felt a familiar pull on his mind. He walked over to the couch and sat down.
"Let's see what Kyu-chan needs," he thought to himself, and entered his mindscape. He soon found himself in a wooded area with a lot of wildlife. He smiled to himself, as he started to walk and found himself standing in front of a small log cabin. Standing on the deck was a woman, with long red hair and red eyes, with two fox ears on top of her head, and nine tails flowing from her tail bone. She wore a black and silver kimono that hugged her body. She walked towards Naruto, a smile on her face.
"Hey Naru-kun," she said with a grin.
Naruto walked over to her and gave her a brotherly hug. "Hi Kyu-chan," he replied, "how are you?"
"Just dandy," she said with happiness. "Just enjoying the new place. It is soo much better than the sewer."
"Hey, it's the least I could do after your help with the last battle against the teme," he said.
"Oh stop, you're making me blush," she said teasingly, hitting him in the arm.
Naruto laughed. "So, what do you need?" he asked her.
Kyuubi motioned for him to follow and they headed inside the cabin. She sat down on one of the chairs while Naruto sat on one of the couches. "It is about Azula," she said getting his full attention.
"What about her?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"There something off about her," Kyuubi started, making Naruto looked at her with confusion.
"What do you mean?" he asked, still not understanding.
Kyuubi looked at the boy. "I mean, there's something off about her chakra," she said making Naruto finally begin to comprehend the situation.
"What's off about it?" he questioned. "I didn't sense anything wrong with it."
"That's because, outside of sage mode, you can't sense chakra to save your life," Kyuubi commented, making Naruto give her a sinister glare.
"Hey, it's not my fault I can't sense chakra that well, outside of sage mode," he mumbled, making Kyuubi laugh.
"It's ok," she said. "As I was saying, it seems that her Chakra has lost all of its color."
"That can't be," Naruto exclaimed in disbelief. "Chakra always has color."
"That is ordinarily true, but her's doesn't," Kyuubi replied. "It seems to have faded."
"How can that be?" he questioned.
"I really don't know," she replied apologetically. "I think it is due to her mental state, since her mind is in pieces, her chakra lost its color."
"But that's not possible," he cried jumping from his seat. "I see a crazy person and their chakra still has color."
"We will have to see," Kyuubi stated, rising. She seemed distant for a moment. "We will have to finish this conversation later. It seems you have company."
Naruto nodded. "I'll talk to you later Kyu-chan," he called.
"Bye Naru-kun," she replied, and Naruto left his mindscape.
Naruto opened his eyes and saw Tsunade standing over him. "Hi Baa-Chan," he said and Tsunade smacked him on the side of his head.
"Idiot, stop calling me that," she shouted, as Naruto rubbed a hand against his head, trying to alleviate the pain.
"Sorry Baa-Chan," Naruto replied, when he saw a large book flying towards his head. He dodged to the side and looked over at Tsunade. "That wasn't very nice."
"It wasn't meant to be nice, brat," Tsunade grumbled.
Naruto nodded and took a seat in front of Tsunade. "So, what's the mission?" he asked with excitement in his voice.
"First, you need to tell me what you did back in Azula's room," Tsunade stated making Naruto stare at her with wonder. She saw the confusion on his face and sighed, "when you put your hand on her forehead when she was shaking."
"Oh," Naruto replied, finally catching on. "I was helping her wake up."
"How?" Tsunade demanded.
"Kyu-chan told me to go over and place my hand on Azula's forehead," he stated, "Then she pulled my mind and her's, into Azula's."
"So thanks to Kyuubi, you were able to enter her mind," Tsunade said. "What was her mental state like?"
"Whaa?" Naruto replied, confused, making Tsunade sigh in annoyance.
"What did it look like in there," she explained.
"Oh," Naruto stated finally understanding. "It had broken glass all over the place. There was one place that seem to be whole, but everything else was broken."
Tsunade nodded. "So, her mind is in shambles," she said to herself. She looked at Naruto and gave him a serious look, "Naruto."
"Yes Baa-Chan," he said making her eye twitch but she remained in her seat.
"You mission is to take care of, and heal the mind of Azula," she commanded, making Naruto stare at her in shock. Tsunade smiled. "You will be in charge of her safety, as well as her health. You will be moving into a bigger apartment so you can better take care of Azula. She is to eat healthy, to help her body regain its strength. That means a balanced diet and not just ramen all day."
"But Baa-Chan," Naruto began, but was cut off by Tsunade.
"She needs this," Tsuande responded forcefully, "as well as yourself. No, as I was saying, you are to take her to training with you and help her get some physical exercise. Every Friday you are to take her to Inoichi to help her with her mental state. You are to enter as well, if able, and help. Is this understood?"
"Yes Baa-Chan," Naruto said with a salute, making Tsunade smile but her eye twitch remained.
"You can go and pick up Azula at the hospital. After you get her, meet me back here," she commanded.
"Be back in a flash," he said and jumped out the open window.
Tsunade watched as the blonde flew out the window and blew up, "USE A DOOR FOR ONCE, BRAT!"
-With Azula-
Azula sat on her bed. After the Tsunade had questioned her, she had been left alone. The only thing she was told that someone was going to collect her, and take care of her. She wondered who it would be, and hoped they weren't going to throw her into another cell.
"Auzla, you're going to be sent into the darkest cell they have, and spend the rest of your miserable existence, rotting there. " Ozai voice echoed in her head, making her cringe.
"You're wrong," she stated, trying to ignore the voice.
"No, he is not," Usra voice said, this time making Azula shake. "You need to be locked away. Monsters like you don't deserve to be free."
Azula sat on her bed, her hands holding her head. "I'm not a monster," she cried, only to be answered by the sound of her father's laughter.
"You are a monster," Ozai voice shouted. "Monsters try to destroy all those who oppose them, without mercy."
"Monster control people," Ursa voice continued. "As with Mai and Ty Lee, you tried to control them through fear, but in the end, they left you to live a better, life free of fear. Now you are all alone as a monster should be."
Azula tried not to listen, but her parents' voices wouldn't leave her. "A monster," Ozai and Ursa voices' said in unison. "Monster, MONster, MONSTER!"
"I'm not a monster!" Azula shouted, getting the attention of one of the nurses.
"That is what a monster would say," Ozai's voice growled. "Some monsters don't even know they're monsters."
"I…a…monster.." Azula said slowly, as Ozai voice chuckled.
"Yes, you are a monster," he said, sensing a change in Azula, "a monster that needs to be put down."
"I'm a monster," she repeated, and hung her head. "I'm a monster."
"You are not a monster!" a voice shouted, bringing Azula out of her trance. She looked up and saw Naruto as he ran over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "You are not a monster."
Azula couldn't believe what was going on. No one had hugged her in such a way before. It felt different, but nice. She slowly raised her arms and wrapped them around the blonde. She felt safe in his arms and let herself melt into his embrace. Naruto slowly broke the hug and gave Azula a large smile.
"Come on, let's get going," he said and offered Azula his hand. She looked at it, then at him. He saw the slight confusion in her eyes. "Just take my hand, you will be safe."
"He's trying to trick you," Ozai voice said with a hint of fear in his voice. "He wants to lock you away."
Azula looked at Naruto, straight in his eyes, and tried to see his intentions. All she could see was kindness and safety in them, also a bit of understanding. Ozai voice tried to convince her that going with Naruto was a bad idea, that it would only bring her pain.
"This is a lie!" Ozai's voice shouted at her. "You're a monster, a monster!"
Azula tried not to listen, but a voice she never expected to hear, entered her mind. "Go with the boy," the voice of her Uncle Iroh said, making eyes widen in shock. "Live free of your past."
Azula lifted her hand slowly and put it into Naruto's. He smiled at her and helped her to her feet. "Come on." He said and led her from the room.
-In the Avatar World-
"What do you mean she can't be found!" a young man shouted with anger. He was tall with short black hair. His most distinguishing feature was a large burn on the left side of his face. This was Fire Lord Zuko, brother of the fall princess. It had been several days since Azula's escape from her cell and everyone was on edge.
"We have checked all over the nation and have yet to find anything," the Captain of the Guard said. This made Zuko frown.
"This is very bad," he said. "Continue your search. I want her found as soon as possible."
"Yes My Lord," the Captain said, saluting. He quickly turned and headed out of the chamber leaving the young lord to his thoughts.
"She could start another war," Zuko thought, but he knew that her mind was still broken when he had visited her a few weeks back. "Could she have been faking?"
Zuko sighed and sent out a blast of fire from his hand in frustration. "Why did this have to happen," he said to himself.
"Everything happens for a reason my boy," an elderly voice said. Zuko turned to face a short man with white hair and a wise face.
"Uncle," he said and hugged the old man. This was Iroh, former general of the Fire Nation Army, brother to the former Fire Lord, and caring Uncle to Zuko.
"It is good to see you," Iroh said and broke the hug. "Now what is this about Azula escaping."
Zuko sighed and explained what had happened. Iroh listened and nodded. "This is very troubling," Iroh said with a frown. "She needs to be found, not just for everyone else sakes, but for hers as well."
"I know Uncle, but she could be anywhere," Zuko stated, and sat down on the throne. "I have all the guards and soldiers looking for her, and they haven't found her at all."
"Why don't you contact Aang about this," Iroh suggested.
"I already have," Zuko replied and looked out the window. "I just hope we can find her in time."
"We will," Iroh stated. "Now, let's have some tea. I just introduced a new flavor at my shop and wanted to get your opinion on it."
Zuko just smiled at his Uncle and nodded. It was nice to have him around. As they left the office, he couldn't help but feel a sense of trouble looming on the horizon.
-With the Avatar-
Aang found himself in the Spirit World. He wondered how he had gotten there. He turned and saw the trees all around but no one in sight.
"How did I get here?" he thought as he looked around. He slowly traveled around till he found himself standing in front of large table and several spirits seated around it.
"Ah Avatar, glad to see you have come," said one of the Spirits. He was a large tiger, and sitting next to him was a familiar panda bear. This was Hei Bai, the Spirit of the Forest. At the head of the table, sat Princess Yue, the Moon Spirit.
"It is good to see you Aang," she said with a sad smile, "but unfortunately it is at a troubling time."
"What has happened?" he asked with concern in his voice.
"Princess Azula has disappeared," Yue said, making Aang look at her in shock.
"What happened?" he asked with concern.
"She escaped with the help of two spirits I have never seen before," Yue said creating a picture of what happened. "These two spirits helped the Azula escape and somehow sent her somewhere I cannot see."
"What do you mean?" Aang said, yet not wanting to hear the answer.
"Azula is no longer in this world, but in another," Yue said and Aang looked at her in shock.
"This is bad," he stated, and many of the spirits present nodded.
"We concure," Yue said. "We are willing to send you and a few others to the other world to retrieve Azula, so she can't bring her evil there as she did here."
"How will you do that," Aang began, but Yue cut him off.
"That does not matter at the moment," she stated. "What matters are that you gather those you feel will be best for this mission."
"I understand," he said and bowed. "I will gather them as soon as possible and wait for your next call."
"Good, now go," Yue said and Aang felt the world around him disappear. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Kataria standing over him.
"We need to go see Zuko," he said.
-In the Spirit World-
Yue, and the other spirits at the table, sat there talking, when they saw two small canine looking creatures walk towards them. Yue saw that they were the spirits who help Azula escaped.
"Halt," she ordered. "Who are you, and why have you come?"
"My name is Hina, and this is my son Ren," the female canine explained. "We are foxes sent by Kami."
"Foxes?" the Tigerdilo said with confusion. "What is a fox?"
"We are foxes you idiot," Ren said, only to get smacked in the head by Hina.
"He is still young, and has yet to learn manners," Hina said, annoyed. "As for why we have come, we are here to tell you to leave Azula alone, and not to send the Avatar and his friends after her."
"She's a monster!" Yue shouted. "She needs to be locked away. I have seen what she has done, who she has hurt. She is a menace."
Hina gave Yue a threatening smile. "That is where we disagree, my dear Moon Spirit. Azula is a lost soul who needs to be healed. That is why Kami has sent her to the other world."
"Who is this Kami you speak off?" Yue asked,
"She is what you call, the Great Spirit," Hina stated, making all of the spirits gasp.
"That's not possible," Yue shouted. "The Great Spirit wouldn't help someone of such evil."
"Think whatever you want, moony," Ren said with a hint of mocking. "But when Kami helps someone, there is generally a good reason."
"I don't care what reason this "Kami" has for helping that girl, but I believe they are wrong," Yue said and all the other spirits agreed.
Hina looked at them with anger. "You are a bunch of closed minded fools," she stated. "She is a girl who lost her way, and you condemn her to a life of misery. Such a disgrace." Hina turned and Ren followed leaving the other spirits to their thoughts. Hina stopped for a moment and looked back at the assembly. "Mark my words. If you send the Avatar and the others to the other world, they will regret it."
This is chapter 3, edited chapter is no up and running , thank my sister Jessica for this. Thanks to Mr.90, GrievousHollow, Hades252 2 and every else for review the last chapter.This was a hard chapter to write due to the fact that it was a set up for events to come. I really like how it turned out though and can't wait to hear what you have to say about the chapter. So please read and review can't wait for your feedback. Read and Review!