Gaara sipped on his tea, setting the cup down on the table.
"I see, that would explain why we couldn't find you" said Gaara "The water prison has been know to suppress chakra, and in your weaken condition, it was but invisible"
Ai nodded, one question came to mind
"H-How long did you look" asked Ai
Katara took a sip of her tea, interested in the knowledge as well
"We search the winter part of the Land of Spring for months, but as you know… we did not find your water prison. After that, we assumed you were captured by the Neo-Akatsuki… after a year of hunting, we found them… and unleashed a full out attack." said Gaara "After that, we realized you were not there either… sadly after many more months of failed searches, we eventual assumed the worse… and had your funeral"
"I see" said Ai, looking down "and mommy?"
Gaara closed his eyes, he shook his head
"She… she died of a broken heart" said Gaara, his eyes opened, showing tears and sorrow "I am truly sorry"
Ai's head slowly dropped, she cover her eyes and fought her hardest to hold back her tears. Gaara turned his head to Katara, who was patting Ai… a smile came to his face.
"Ai, i know you're sad… but know that your Mother love is still with you" said Gaara, nodding "In the form of your new friends"
Ai looked up slightly, then back at Katara. Katara smiled at Ai, getting her to smile back… she let out a small laugh, a few tears ran down her cheek.
"As good as it is to see you, i'm sure you've got places to be" said Gaara, his form shifted back to the Lord Ieyasu "Guards, take them back to the cells so that they my get there friends, they are free"
Two guards came into the throne room, and escorted them out. From the shadows, a man stepped out with red hair, moustache and beard, with a black piece armour running across his cheeks and bridge of his nose.
"You didn't tell her" said the man, putting his hand on his side
"You saw how the news of her mother got to her… if i told her the war that took place after, it would destroy her." said Gaara, via Ieyasu, then turned "So, how was she in the test Roshi?"
"From what you and Bee told me, she just that and more… strong, determined, and has a heart of gold" said Roshi
Gaara nodded his head, looking forward again.
"Its is good to see that she is still at her best… with how the world is" started Gaara
=== Time Skip ===
'She's gonna need it'
Ai put her finger to her lips as they boarded Appa, Katara nodded her head… knowing just what parts Ai was referring too. Katara lifted Ai up into the saddle, then was herself help by Ai. Aang cracked the reign and Appa took to the sky, leaving the village behind.
They all sat in silence for the most part, wanting to get out of this part of the earth kingdom. The ocean came to view, Appa letting out a happy grunt as his tail swung down to give them lift, sailing higher into the air.
"So… what was it he want you to get?" asked Suki
"A battle fan" said Ai
"That's it?" asked Sokka
Katara held her hand out.
"The thing was this wide, and as tall as Ai" said Katara "Its was freaky huge"
"Holy crap… his sister must have been a fricken beast to swing that thing" said Sokka
"I don't know, i mean… i lifted it" said Ai "and i'm just a kid"
"You're not just a kid" said Sokka "You've proven that many times over"
Ai grinned and chuckled, she looked onward and out to the ocean… the breeze feeling so.
"GROOOOOOOOOOAH" howled Appa, suddenly thrashing
"Appa, what's wrong buddy" cried Aang, trying to get Appa under control
Suki looked over the saddle from behind, her eyes widened to see dozens of sharpened barbs jutting out of Appa's tail. Appa slowly started to get pulled down, as whoever harpoon him had them tethered.
"Guys… we got a problem" said Suki, she turned back "Fire nation"
Ai looked over the edge, grinning slightly as Appa's wound… a second wave of harpoons to the tail and legs got Appa to howl again. Ai looked back, she swung out her hand.
"Aang, direct Appa to land, preferred as far away as you can from here" said Ai "I'll take care of the fire nation"
"What about his wounds" cried Aang
"He'll survive, it's just his tail and back legs… once i return all cauterise the wounds" said Ai, she prepared to jump, but stopped. "Leave the harpoons in till i return, we don't want Appa loosing to much blood… ok"
"Y-Yeah" said Aang
Ai stood up on the saddle side, she pulled out a scroll and unsealed a weapon two chakra blades connected to a chain. She turned and gave a salute. She jumped off and sailed down towards the boat below, twirled as she fell… creating a small destructive cyclone, cutting Appa free.
"Fire" came a yell
Ai watched as the harpoon guns fired, she took in her breath and exhaled a massive gust of wind, blowing them away. Ai landed on the boat bow of the boat, she straightened up slowly, twirling her chains and letting the blades scrape the boat.
CLAP CLAP CLAP
Ai started forward as Commander Zhao
"Well well… the Avatar" said Zhao, he stopped and held his chin "And just as they've said, your only 9"
"I'm 10" said Ai, she jerked the chain and caught the handles of her blades "This is your only warning… leave me be, or else"
"You see, i can't let that happen" said Zhao, snapping his fingers
All of Zhao's soldiers readied themself
"You're a threat to the goals of the fire nation" said Zhao
"Your funeral" said Ai
"ATTACK" yelled Zhao
Ai lept out of the way of oncoming fire, Ai landed on the cabin twirling the blades. She swung them forward, the chains snapped towards the enemy. A soldier swung his arm out, deflecting them to the with his armor.
Ai just smiled, she quickly pulled herself forward, towards the unlucky… trapped soldier. A solid kick to the chest sent him flying back, into the bow and off the boat. Ai rolled and was quick to swing the chain out again, cutting down all the fire towards her.
She jerked the chain back, letting it wrap around her hand, grabbing the handle of her blade, twirling the other. Two soldier rushed forward, Ai swung the blade out… it past them, then it reached it limit it came back around, and around, and around, tieing them up.
Ai pulled chain, pulling the soldiers, turning them into a human wrecking ball, twirling them to the side. Ai batted away incoming fireballs with her blade, she swung the chain solider towards the other, throwing them down on them.
Zhao closed in on Ai, who ripped her blade from the lackeys… towards Zhao. Zhao ducked out of the way, throwing a punch with a fire dagger at Ai. Ai swung her body to the side, catching the blade in her other hand, flipping over Zhao and kicking him in the back of the head.
Ai landed on the cabin, once more twirling her blades, she flipped back to dodge a hail of fire, landing in the small arena. Ai was soon surrounded as many more soldiers pour from the large boat. Zhao came forward once more, clapping once again.
"You're surrounded, just make this easy… give up" said Zhao
Ai just cocked her head back and smirked.
"Thing to know about me" said Ai, snatching the blades
"Hmm" said Zhao
Ai cross her arms holding the blades close.
"I never give up" said Ai
Ai spun the chains around, twirling them around her… Zhao just scowled.
"KILL HER" yelled Zhao
The soldier charged in, Ai just stood and waited. She jumped into the air, she swung the chain out slashing through a soldier's armour. She came back down on another solider, ramming the blade into his shoulder.
Fire closed in on her, she jumped back, the blade being violent ripped from the man's back. Ai slid across the ground, behind the man… who became her shield for the fire. With another twirl of the blades, she sent them into the water.
Many soldiers slowed their approach as water slowly snaked up the chains, up her arms. Zhao was stunned… Ai looked up and grinned.
"Water Style: Twin Water Dragon Piercing Blade" said Ai, ripping the blades, with water dragons out of the ocean, the blades hanging from the mouths of the dragons
"What the hell" said a soldier
Ai swung an arm towards the soldiers. The water dragon let out a deafening roar, it rushed down at the soldiers… slamming into them as the blade spun. Soldiers armors was ripped to hell, some died as there dragon's twin came down for a 2nd assault.
Ai ripped the now water free blades back towards her, letting go of them. She dropped down and spun on her hands, letting the chains wrap around her legs… she spun faster and faster. A spiral of wind came up and off the blades.
Ai flipped around again, grabbing the chains with her hands, as they still tied to her legs, resuming her spin. Ai spun towards the soldiers and Zhao, whom was stepping back in fear.
'This… this is unreal' thought Zhao, another thought came to his mind, he scowl 'Iroh… you bastard'
Ai lifted herself into the air, unraveling her chains from her and sealing them away. Then with another blast of air from her feet, she shot off toward the direction her friends… and Aang went. Leaving Zhao's crew with a raging tornado.
FOOOOOUSH
"WHAT THE FUCK" yelled Zhao
A tornado that is now on fire, thanks to Zhao.
=== Random Island ===
Sokka perked his head up from sharpening his machete, he blinked a few times.
"Guys, i just thought of something" said Sokka
"Hmm" said Suki, looking over from the pot of food
"Hows Ai gonna find us?" asked Sokka, gesturing to the tree "I mean, we did as she said and went far away… a few islands over, we're in dense foliage, we cover our tracks… so, how is she going to find us?"
Suki blinked a few times, she straightened up as well, holding her chin.
"Thats… a good question" said Suki, she turned to Katara "You have any idea?"
"I'm not sure, i know she's good at finding her way… but Sokka did point out many obstacles" said Katara "I'd suggest we try to signal her… but"
"That would just make us a target again?" finished Sokka
Katara nodded her head, she rubbed her chin.
"Well… it's not much to go on, but i remember Ai quickly saving me from an enemy whom came out of nowhere" said Katara, she moved her hand away, taping her fist in her palm "She told me… that she could sense his Murderous Intent"
"How does that help her find us?" asked Suki
"I don't know… if she could since that, maybe she could… sense Aang's passiveness" said Katara with a shrug
"Or i could just since your guy's energy" said Ai, landing beside Katara
Katara flipped backward from the sudden appearance.
"Holy fuck Ai" said Katara "You scared the hell out of me"
"Ai, your back" said Aang "So can you"
"Yup, on it" said Ai, walking over to Appa.
Ai touched his good legs as she walked towards Appa, getting him to grunt in acknowledgement.
"Don't work buddy, i'll get those out of you in just a moment" said Ai
Ai put her hands together, then slammed them on the ground. The ground shook and split under Appa, bushes lifted him up slightly, letting his wounded legs hang off slightly, Ai put her hands together again and grew some medicinal herbs for Appa to eat.
"Eat them up boy" said Ai
Appa lend down at the bush of the strange 7 pointed leaf, he sniffed it a few times… then took a big bite. Appa ate and ate the bushes Ai grew for him, he head started rocking as he snacked on the leaf, his eyes slowly lidded as a doopy opened mouth smile came to his face.
"Grrooooaahh" howled Appa
"Good, you're all doped up" said Ai, moving back to his legs
"Wait… he's what?" asked Aang
"Doped… Drugged" said Ai, shifting her head towards him "So he won't feel the pain… or, to say… he won't really care"
Ai pulled out her kunai, she put her hand on harpoon, and started to cut into his flesh to remove it.
"Grooa grooa grooa" grunted Appa, swinging his head
"Stop it, you're hurting him" cried Aang
"If i was hurting him, he'd have bucked or jumped" said Ai, making another cut "Besides… cutting his leg is the only way I can get this out, if the harpoon in his tail are the same as these, then they have hooks. Meaning if I try to just pull it out, it will rip a very large chunk out"
Ai slightly pulled on the harpoon, it sliding slightly… she put the blade in her mouth and spread the muscles apart. The first of many harpoons came out with little to no trouble, Ai moved her hand up, letting it shined green as she closed the wound, and mended the muscles.
"Gruh gruh gruh" grunted Appa, tilting his head back, inhaling through his nose rapidly
"Yup, your blazed good ain't yea" said Ai, working on the next harpoon
A shadow soon loomed over Ai, blocking her light… she moved her hand out and shooed Aang away.
"Go, get… your blocking my light" said Ai "I'll take care of Appa, he's in good hands"
"Shouldn't we take him to a vet?" said Aang, doubting Ai
"I'm trained for this kind of thing" said Ai
"Wait… i thought you were trained to be a kunoichi, a soldier" said Suki
"Soldiers get wounded… and need a healer" said Ai, popping out another harpoon "My Ba-chan was a healer, and trained me"
"Huh?" started Suki
"Her grandma" said Katara
"Oh" said Suki "But isn't Appa an animal… isn't that, different?"
"If it were something more life threatening, yes." said Ai, closing the wound "Removing arrows, blades, shrapnel, ect… that's different" Ai started to work on the next on "But, if it were serious, I could help… I use to, hmm… gotta cut a little deeper" Ai presumed to do so, she used her chakra to constrict the blood vessels to slow the blood flow "I use to help at the Inuzuka's vet… I help the ninja hounds"
"Ninja… hounds?" asked Sokka, he shook his head "Wait wait wait, you telling me, your village also trained animal?"
"Yeah" said Ai
"What is a hound, you said our animals are different so…" asked Sokka
Ai sealed the wound, she looked over with the blood blade in her mouth, blood on her face. She removed the blade, then spit to the side, blood splattering the ground.
"Your Polar Bear Dogs are actually like the hounds" said Ai "The bigger they are, the better… so, yeah"
"Oh… wow" said Sokka "So, could they do what you do"
Ai had already started again, digging deep into Appa's leg… whom still could careless as he was currently licking the inside of his nose.
"If you mean use jutsu… they could learn only a handful… the hound are used for special missions. But the Inuzuka's did teach them all the Tunneling Fang" said Ai, pulling out another harpoon "They spin rapidly at a target and just rip it apart… its powerful alone, but if two use it together… it's becomes even more deadly"
"Ok… if the north pole has a Polar Bear Dog… we gotta get one, and you gotta, wait do you know it?" asked Sokka, getting a nod from Ai "You gotta teach it that"
"Sokka, I know you've always wanted one… but how would we bring it with us" asked Katara "I'm sure Appa would be able to carry it ease… but the thing would freak out once we start flying"
"Crapbaskets" said Sokka
"Oh, you say that too?" said Ai, removing another harpoon "I could put the Polar Bear Dog to sleep, then wake it when we land"
"Ok… how" said Aang
Ai sealed the wound, she gestured Aang to come back over… once he did she tapped his forehead. Aang's eyes rolled back into his head, and he crashed to the ground… a snore soon followed.
"Like that" said Ai
"Is there anything you can't do?" asked Sokka
"When i find something i'll tell you" said Ai
For the rest of the day, Ai fixed Appa up in peace… minus Appa's random grunts of amusement or Aang's snoring, it was quiet as can be.
=== Next Day ===
Ai sat in the tree, smiling at her work… she took a bite of her apple, enjoying the flavor. Ai cracked her neck to the left, then the right… she stood up.
"WAKE UP MAGGOTS" screamed Ai
The group flinched, and struggled to move as Ai had a surprise for them… massive 300 lbs turtle shells, already strapped to their backs.
"W-What, what the fuck is this" said Sokka
"I can't move" said Aang
"No one can" said Suki
"Training starts now, for all of you" said Ai with a smile "Seeing that Appa is on temporary leave due to wounds… we're gonna train."
"Ahhh, but i wanted to explore the island" cried Aang
Ai narrowed her eyes, but still smiled
"Oh we will… but only as a part of training" said Ai, holding up a finger "Rule #1. Taking off the shell is forbidden"
"What" yelled Aang "But, it's so heavy"
"That's the point pussy" said Ai, leaping down from the tree, she pointed behind her with her thumb "I'm going to the next clearing, when you can move, meet me there"
And with that, Ai turned and left the group to struggle with their weights. After many tries and fails, Sokka sighed... Then like it was second nature, sucked his arms, legs and head into his shell.
"Roomy" said Sokka "I think i'm gonna go back to sleep"
"Sokka, this is serious… Ai's graciously decided to train us, and your gonna sleep" said Katara
"I can barely move, and i didn't get much sleep last night" said Sokka "I'm gonna nap, then try again in a bit"
"SOKKA" yelled Katara
"Let him be" said Suki "He is in his way right, if he doesn't have the strength, so he'll wait and try again when able to"
Katara went to say more, but couldn't argue… she struggle to move, but just couldn't lift the heavy shell.
=== Hours Later ===
Ai rocked her head to the side, letting her arm swing like a pendulum as she lay back on the branch. She crooked her neck and looked down at the forest floor, seeing that her students to be had final managed to crawl into the clearing.
Ai jumped down towards the center, smiling at them… clapping her hands.
"Bravo… you've all done it" said Ai, she snapped her finger "As a reward, i'm removing my seal… making the shells lighter"
"Seal?" said Sokka, trying to stand… and was able "W-What, no way"
One by one the other stood, there shells now only 50lbs, still heavy to Katara and Aang, but manageable. Ai smiled and held up a finger.
"You passed the first step of a true shinobi… pushing forward thought overwhelming adversity." said Ai, she smashed her fist into her hand "But don't think training will be any easier"
"Ok, but still… the weight?" said Sokka "How did it, i mean… how did it just, vanish"
"Because i caused it with my seal, I increased the gravity on it… thus making it weigh more" said Ai "And when one of you get use to that weight throughout my training, i'll increase it, and we resume… and repeat till i see fit"
"What's the point of the weights exactly?" asked Aang
Ai looked over
"To add resistance to your movement" said Ai "Doing so will help your physical strength grow… and once allowed to take off the shell" Ai grinned "Well… i'll let you all find out"
Ai slammed her hands down and grew a training course with all the norms. Monkey bars, rock (wood) walls, vine swings… the works.
"For the rest of the day, i want you all to work out the equipment i gave you" said Ai, a grin came to her face "That way you can get use to everything i'm gonna have you do for the next few days"
The group look at equipment, slowly making there way over to them.
Katara came up the the wooden version of a rock wall, she took a few moments to ready herself… but soon attempted to climb it. Katara managed to get high fast, but made the mistake of going too fast. She lost her grip and fell from the wall, before she could ever scream Ai reached out a grabbed her hand, slowly moving it back to the wall.
Sokka came up to a wooden warrior, tilting his head at the design of it. He smacked one of the dummy's setting off the spring loaded dummy, causing it to swinging around. Sokka smiled, rubbing his chin with a slight nod, understanding what it represents.
Once it stopped, he moved in close… and struck the arm, starting this training.
Suki was climbing up a vine, to the jumping platform… 4 feet of the ground. Suki moved to the edge slowly, sweat dripping from her head… she lept forward, landing hard on her stomach. Suki grunted a lay there for a few moments, groaning in pain.
As for Aang…
"Uh… Help" cried Aang, dangling in the vine net
"No" said Ai, sitting on the wall, Katara just pulling herself up, huffing as she sat next to Ai
"But you helped Katara" cried Aang
"From falling, you're just stuck" said Ai
"Ah come on, help a brother out" cried Aang
Ai narrowed her eyes, then smiled… she snapped her finger and increased Aang's weight, by 100 lbs
SNAP SNAP SNAP
"AHHHHHH" screamed Aang, hitting the ground hard
Katara put her hand to her mouth, snickering in enjoyment. A blush came to her face as Ai leaned neck to her, snuggling a bit. Katara put her arm around Ai, pulling her in and giving her the love she wants.
=== Next Day, Early Morning ===
Appa rubbed Appa's head, getting him to grunt with joy, he put his head down and enjoyed another helping of the feel good herb Ai was feeding him. Ai tapped his head a few times, getting his eyes to trail up to her.
"Ok buddy, i need you wake the other… loudly" said Ai
Appa inhaled slightly, then let out a bellow.
"GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH" roared Appa
Everyone flinched hard Appa roar, they groaned and looked over at Ai, and how dark it was.
"Are you joking?" grunted Sokka
"Nope" said Ai "Training starts now"
"Ok… ok" said Sokka with a yawn
Suki and Katara slowly moved to their shell as well, Ai looked over at Aang to see him rolling back over, trying to sleep. Ai slowly made her way over, walking past Sokka who saw the look on her face… he quickly crawled away.
Ai stopped just short of Aang, she nudged him with her foot. Aang looked over, then turned back to resume his rest.
"I said, Training starts now" said Ai
"Yeah… thing is, i'm not really wanting to be a shoe-no-bu or whatever it is you are, so i just gonna sleep, Kay?" said Aang
Aang cover himself up with his blanket, Ai swung her leg back and drilled it into his back… sending him into a tree. Aang gasped in pain… then once more when flashed forward drilling her knee to is gut, breaking the tree.
"Fine, didn't want to train your puny ass anyway" said Ai, pointing at him "This was your one chance for me to train you… and you blew it"
Ai turned sharply, her coat tail flaring in the wind… she looked back at him with a sneer. Aang froze as he saw her eyes turn red for a moment with a slit iris. Katara felt a shiver go up her spine as she felt the malicious chakra
"I never want to hear you ask for training from me again" growled Ai "Cause this time, i promise you… i will kill you… you ungrateful bastard"
Ai turned back to her 3 students to be, walking towards them. As she passed them they slowly followed behind, not sure what kind of hell Ai would put them through.
=== Clearing ===
Ai cracked her neck, her back, her ribs… then her arms and fingers. She looked back at her students and smiled, she held up a finger.
"Ok my young Genin, lets us start with a hike" said Ai
Sokka held up his hand, Ai blinked slightly, turning.
"You don't have to raise your hand Sokka, if you have a question just ask" said Ai
Sokka nodded, putting his hand down
"Whats a Genin?" asked Sokka
"A rookie ninja" said Ai "Now we hike… til morning" She pumped her fist up "This
Sokka, Katara, and Suki had a grim look on there faces, Ai started to hike and they followed. The first two miles was more or less easy… just down a path Ai had pre-selected, with many hills.
As the group came to new clearing Ai held up her hand, stopping… as did the other. Ai slammed her hand down, growing massive post all down it… Ai turned to her Genin and pointed.
"Ok, we are now gonna rush and circle around these post 10 tens each" said Ai, she started to can-can "But like this"
"You gotta be shitting me" said Sokka
"Does this look like the face of someone shitting you" said Ai
Sokka sighed, he slowly, painfully, and poorly mimicked the movement, as he moved to the post. Katara and Suki followed behind… each following Ai's instructions. After going all 2000 post, 10 times… equaling to at least a 4 mile hike, they moved on.
After that they climb a few cliffs, trekked through some rivers and walking on log bridge over a canyon... 50 times.
Ai had a smile on her face as the sun started to peek out, the group was doing a damn good job at keeping up with her. They were currently resting at a small farm house, a place Ai had previously settled an agreement with.
A kind old lady came out with some food, letting the starving teens enjoy a bite. As Ai had asked, they were given two large helping of meat, some eggs, plenty of milk, mochi with fruit fillings, and some assorted nuts with berries.
As they crammed their faces full Ai calmly ate hers… smirking in silent at the antic of the teens. As the food ran out, there meal sadly came to an end, thus did there 30 minute break… Ai stood up, thanked the lady for the meal, the teens followed.
"Ok… show them to the field" said Ai
The old lady nodded and turned, she waved her hand.
"Come come, follow me" said the old lady
The group looked at each other, then back at Ai… pointing outwards.
"You three are paying for the meal by plowing this lady's field" said Ai
"That doesn't sound to hard" said Katara
"You're not allowed to use tools" said Ai
"W-What, but then… how?" asked Suki
Ai held up her hands, waving them a bit with a smile.
"Hands only" said Ai, clapping her hand "Now, chop chop"
With a heavy sigh, the teens slank over and followed the lady… they were happy to repay her for the meal, just… didn't like how they were going to go about it. The moment Suki saw the field they were to plow, she wanted to cry.
"Boulder Dirt" said Suki, closing her eyes
"Boulder Dirt?" said Sokka "Why do i have a feeling that this is gonna hurt a lot"
"Cause it is… Boulder Dirt is very hard, and this doesnt look likes its been plow"
"We've had a few bad rain storms recently, so all my hard work was washed away before i could even plant anything" said the old lady
Suki sigh, she looked down at her hands… tighten her fist.
"Lets… lets get to it" said Suki, she bent down and started to tear at the ground with her hands
Katara and Suki soon followed, both flinch as they broke the soil with there hands. Sokka looked at his hand, blood already starting to drip from his hand. Katara flinched and her breath hitched from time to time.
"It… burns" hissed Katara
"Boulder Dirt absorbs salt like a sponge… and salt in a wound is aganizily painful" said Suki
"So that's where the phrase comes from" said Sokka, toiling away
"It's actually good that it's like that" said Ai "Salt kills bacteria, so the salt will heal your wounds as they occur. You're less likely to get an infection plowing this field by hand then a plain old dirt field"
With nothing more to talk about, the teens went back to their field work… which took a painful 2 hours. Spending another half hour helping the elderly lady plant her seeds, and water them.
"Thank you all so much" said the lady
"You're welcome, we'll be back to tomorrow to help you maintain it, and help with your animal" said Ai
"Ok" said old lady
Ai turned back to her Genin, there hands and facing cover in mud and dry-ish blood… each looking like they're about to die. Ai clapped her hand and pointed onward, back the way they came.
"Back to the clearing" said Ai
The group didn't say anything, none had the strength to sigh, grunt or even cry… they followed along behind Ai, fearing what she had for them.
=== 1 hour later ===
Ai shuffled the card stylishly, enjoying the familiar sound of them clapping together. They all sat in a circle, a large stump being used as a table. In front of the teens were many wooden chips with numbers on them representing their value.
The added sum of the value for each individual was 33,000
"Ok… they game is Ninja Hold'em" said Ai, then followed to go over all the rules and answer every question they had about the game, one being.
"How is this training?" asked Suki
"Easy" said Ai "I'm teaching you about bluffing,and reading your opponents. As i said, the point of the game is to have the better hand, and win all the chip… but you can also lie by betting big, making the other coware out thus forfeiting the bets they made to be taken as all bets are final"
"Got it… but, seeing how you know how to do this, won't you win?"
"I'm not playing, i'm just the dealer" said Ai, dealing the cards "My the best ma… wome… Genin win"
And thus the game began
=== 3 hours later ===
"All in" said Suki, pushing the last of her chips forward
Katara pushed the same amount of chips forward, but with her winning she still had plenty to spare if she lost.
"And the reveal" said Ai
Suki grinned, she looked down at the cards again… 5, Ace, Ace, 8, 6. She flips hers over, revealing two 5's.
"Full house" said Suki, with pride
Katara stared at the hand, she looked up.
"It is a good hand… but you're not the only one that had a pocket pair" said Katara, flipping hers "4 of a Kind"
"Fuck" said Suki
As it turns out, Katara is a fucking shark, most of her wins were bluffs… very few were from actually winning a hand. Katara smirked as she twiddled the chip in her fingers, she flipped it in the air and caught it.
"Oh go fuck yourself" said Suki
Ai clapped her hands, getting her Genin to look up into the tree's… three wooden bowl flew down at them. Suki attempted to catch hers, juggling it as she smacked it in the air, Sokka was slow to react as was hit in the head, while Katara lunge backward and hit the back of her head on the table.
"Its lunch time… as i throw nuts and berries down at you, you are going run around and catch it. You can only eat what you catch in your bowl… don't catch anything, you go without lunch" said Ai "Also, should you spill your bowl, you forfeit it"
Ai flashed away and soon nuts start to fall, causing the trio scrambled about. They soon found out that then the bowl is empty, and something falls in it tends to bounce out. After failing to catch the first few dozen nuts/berries, did the trio get the rhythm of how to catch there food.
After a few minutes there bowls were decently full… and the hail of berries and nuts stopped, Ai flashed down to the trio, then sat.
"Eat up, cause afternoon training starts soon" said Ai
Sokka tossed a few nuts into the air, catching them in his mouth.
"Can't be much harder than what we have been doing" said Sokka
=== A Few Hours Later ===
Sokka placed down a board, grabbed a few nails and hammered it into place. Sweet dripping down forehead, he wiped his brow, panting. He looked over the edge to see Katara struggling to hold the water at bay, as Suki and some other earth nation builder put some post in.
Once they closed the earth around the post, they got out of the river.
"Ok missy, you can stop… were done for the day" said the builder
Katara dropped her arms, the water once more rushed forward and flowed down the river bed. She walked back up the bank, plopping down on the dirt… her arms ached, and her chi network… chakra as Ai called it, burned.
"Here's your pay" said the Boss
Katara opened her hands weakly, accepting the 50 piece of gold for there few hours of work. The builder smiled and rubbed his head, turning to Ai.
"Any chance you kids are going to be here tomorrow, could still use the extra hands" said the Boss
"Of course" said Ai, a smirk came to her face "So long as you pay"
"Ha ha ha" laughed the boss "But of course"
The work crew left for their own homes, Suki and Sokka moved over… smiling slightly at their pay.
"That wasn't so bad" said Sokka "And bonus, we got paid"
"That was part of the training" said Ai "This was less about a work-out, and work experience"
Ai clapped her hand and jumped up to her feet… waving her hand.
"Come let's go" said Ai
The trio followed behind, wondering what was next for them.
=== A Lake ===
The trio stripped down to nothing by their undies, swimming 10 laps… that was easy, it would also be refreshing… even better they got to remove their shells.
The group jumped into the water, they shot out and smiled. While the water was very chilly, making Katara and Suki's nipples erect, it was still very refreshing.
The trio started to swim out, not noticing the figures lurking behind them.
"Oh, by the way… I've heard there's Man Eating Piranha Shark's in this lake" said Ai
Sokka looked back, to see a massive 4 foot beast, followed by many smaller ones.
"OH FUCK" screamed Sokka, swimming faster
Katara and Suki soon followed behind, once at the shore they tried to get out, only for Ai to flashover and push them back in.
"That's only 9.5 laps, keep swimming" said AI
"Are you frickin kidding me" said Sokka
"Nope" said Ai "Keep swimming"
The trio split up as they swam from the shore back to the middle of the lake, and to the other shore… only to see Ai on the other side again. With their plans of escape failing, they continued to swim their laps… until they finally, miraculously escaped without any harm.
The trio lay on the shore, panting heavily from their near death… Sokka reached down to inspect, and found a massive hole in his underwear.
"It almost had me" said Sokka "I was this frickin close to becoming a meal"
"Yes, almost… but it didn't get you" said Ai
Sokka pointed a finger
"That wasn't cool Ai, refusing to let us back up… we could have been seriously hurt" said Sokka
"And i'd have treated your wound if you were" said Ai "I'm training you for possible things to come"
"How is that connected to anything" asked Suki
"Being in enemy territory, where they have the advantage" said Ai "There is going to be times such as this where you'll be in a situation they limits your movement in a way… and by overcoming it can you even the playing field."
"That… makes since in a way" said Suki
"Which brings us to our last leg of training" said Ai "Dry off, put your cloths and weights back on, and we'll begin"
"Why do i have a feeling this last part… is going to be hell" said Sokka
=== A moment later ===
The trio pulled at the ropes, fearing what was to come… wondering while Ai tied them to a tree. Ai moved behind a boulder, tossing a rock up and down in her hand… she then threw it at a Bee Hornets Nest, pissing them off to no extent.
And thus the hell began… and went on, for four hours.
=== Camp ===
Ai and the sung all to hell trio came into the camp, Ai clapped her hands, letting the trio remove their weights. Thankfully, Aang had done something right for once… and that was he cooked some ramen, poorly… but still.
As her Genin rested, Ai cooked up some meat for them… Fish for Katara, some Chicken for Suki, and Beef Pork for Sokka.
She'd need to feed them good, as tomorrow… and the days that followed, would only be harder.
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