A/N: I am afraid I have some bad news for you all. Remember my health woes from a way back? Well, I thought they were in the clear. Turns out they aren't. At all. My latest appointment with my doctor...didn't end well. Apparently, in addition to my heart condition, I might be needing open-heart surgery. Several, in fact. And if I don't get it...well, the result won't be pleasant. Taking them aside, the last one really messed me up, so I realized that my luck with this latest surgery just might run out.

So I just wanted to say...its been really nice, writing on this site. Authoring each of these stories, feeling the words flow through me and onto the screen, reading wonderful reviews, listening to the occassional critic-and bettering myself with each story. And to that effect, I've discovered that surgery will now be needed soon. Very soon. Sometime this month, or after Christmas. Yuuup, not looking forward to it. At all! But for now I'm still ticking, and as such, I wanted to get the next installment of this story out. And so...

...onto the latest chapter! I humbly hope you enjoy it! Sorry if its short! I worked reaaalllly hard on this despite my health! To everyone, thank you so much for your support, you've honestly brought me to tears with all these wonderful reviews and well-wishing. I had no idea you cared so much! *Cries*

Now, away we go! I'm really not feeling well from working so hard, but I'm determined to get these chapters out before the surgery, should the worse come to pass...hopefull it won't!

"Time for the prank of the century, people...!"

~?

Breakout

I never really figured out just why I enjoyed breaking and out of jail so much. Maybe it had something to do with my initial disrespect for authority. Perhaps my dislike of the Fire Nation? It might even have something all that time I spent trapped in that Blood Prison way back when.

Who knows?

Regardless, I was never really much of a fan of being locked up, or seeing others be unjustly imprisoned. In any case, I all but jumped at the chance to do something for these people. They needed a hero. And we just so happened to be there. Plus, it was the perfect chance to unleash my ultimate prank. I'd been looking for a good excuse to cause some mischeif anyway. That it just so happened to manifest in this time of need was nothing short of a blessing.

We made our plans that night, the six of us-eight if you count Appa and Momo-and I could see there was some skepticism at first. Why wouldn't there be? This plan essentially hinged on myself, Aang, and Haru. Were it to fall, we'd be down two Avatar's and an Earthbender. Not exactly the most pleasing outcome. But I was confident in my plan, and in my friends.

What could possibly go wrong?

"Soo...here's the plan to invade the prison and kick some Fire Nation ass." Naruto began sometime later. "I'm only going to explain this once, so listen, and listen well!" He'd gathered them all together in a nearby barn the eight of them: himself, Katara, Suki, Sokka, Aang, Appa, Momo and last but certainly not least, Haru. Night was falling on the village-tomorrow they would enact this gloriously devious strategy to free Haru's father and all the benders from Fire Nation conrol. "Now, first, we scare the hell out of the little bitches-

"Naruto!"

The blond sighed as Katara whacked him on the shoulder, the only part of him she could reach.

"Sorry, forgot about the swearing...

"Oh, leave him be, Katara." Suki paused from stroking Appa's chin to shake her head. "He's obviously set on this. And its not like we can leave those people trapped." Naruto opened his mouth to agree, that was when he saw the moonlight striking her face. She'd turned away from him, returning her attention to Appa, and for this, he was suddenly intensely grateful. It mean she didn't catch him staring. She...really did look different without her Kyoshi Warrior makeup. Like a normal girl, even. Although she'd yet to change out of her armor he could still see that she was a true beauty and would only grow with age. Unbidden the memory of her kiss came roaring back, filling his face with fire.

Down boy!

"Is there something on my face?" the young warrior became aware of his attention and touched a hand to her cheek. Naruto nearly swooned before getting himself back under control. Just barely. He'd gone without the fairer sex for so long he'd almost forgotten what it was like! And was it just him, or did he feel a touch of killer intent from Katara?

"No ,no," he shook his head rapidly, dismissing Suki's words. "Its nothing."

"Oh." she seemed slightly crestfallen at that. "I see...

"I agree." Aang nodded, utterly oblivious to the scene or the tension. "Sounds fun, right?"

Haru blinked. "Fun...?"

"Don't listen to him!" Sokka cried. "This is not fun! This is the OPPOSITE of fun! Why aren't you listening, Aang?!"

"But I think its fun...

"Darnit Naruto, you've doomed us all!"

In that instant, the shinobi shook off his sorrow and grinned, that smile could've put a certain spirit to shame.

"No, I've doomed the enemy."

Suki gulped. "Umm, Naruto...

"Hmm?"

"You're seriously starting to scare me right now."

The blonde's grin only grew.

"Good." he chuckled. "Then it'll terrify the Fire Nation. Now here's the plan...

He told them as much, his glorious idea to rescue the prisoners and prank the hell out their Fire Nations wardens. There was a silence then, more than a few jaws hung agape at what the blond had just told them. If he hadn't been the Avatar of the Gods, such a thing wouldn't have been feasible. Even now, his strange suggestiong strained the limits of their credulity. Suki and Haru, remained particularly baffled. Granted, they had not known the shinobi all that long, but this...this was ridiculous!

"You sir, are a mad genius." Katara shook her head in disbelief, further inflaming their confusion. "Disguising ourselves as Fire Nation? I'm surprised Sokka didn't think of that."

"Hey, I can't come up with all the plans." the warrior replied, begrudgingly reconizing the simple brilliance of Naruto's scheme. "Guess I'm not the only tactician here...

"Aren't I?" Naruto grinned, slapping his foster brother on the back. "Honestly though, I think that title of "mad genius" should be reserved for Bumi."

Aang burst into hysterics at that one.

"But how are you going to get on board without alerting them?"

"I already told you, I'm not." Naruto's grin grew. "Azula is." His gaze slid to Haru. "She'll be escorting an a treasonous Earthbender."

Now it was Haru's turn to object. "I haven't known you all that long, but this doesn't make any sense. How are we going to get the Princess of the fire nation-by the earth!" Before he could finish, the blonde snorted and slapped both hands together, summoning up a massive plume of smoke, hence the exclamation. A series of hacking coughs arose from the barn and when the plume dissipated Team Avatar found themselves treated to an inesxplicable sight. Naruto was gone.

Princess Azula stood in his place.

"Hello, cretins." she sneered. "Miss me?"

"What in the-?!"

Their reaction time was nothing short of spectacular, 'Azula' instantly found herself ensorcelled wihin a wall of earth and ice, with Sokka's boomerang and Tsuki's fan at her throat. Aaang was the only one who held back although whether it was out of hesitation or his own reluctance to kill remained to be seen.

"What have you done with Naruto?!" Katara demanded to know! "Where is he?! What did you do to him?! Where did you take him?!"

"Oh, places." the princess's smile never faltered in the face of the waterbender's fury, those eerie golden orbs drifting slightly shut. "Things. You know. That sort of thing.

"Answer me!"

"Why, he's right here of course," When next they opened, those eyes were a startling shade of blue-Naruto's voice issuing forth from Azula's mouth a moment later. "Hehe, its only me! Sorry about that, I couldn't resist pulling your legs. I just look like her, don't I?" A simple shrug of those slender shoulders swiftly shattered the prison Katara and Haru had encased him in, shooting sharts of dirt and broken earth erupting outwards with effortless ease. By the time the dust had cleared, Naruto was with them once more.

"Wow." Aang blinked. "Wish I could do that."

Katara wasn't so easy to convince. "Wait a second. How do we know you're the real Naruto?"

A long-suffering sigh left his lips. "Alright then. Only I could know this..."

The waterbender stiffened. He wouldn't dare!

"Katara, when you were only six years old you once told me you wanted to marry someone. That someone was–" Natruto's mouth was quickly covered by a deeply flushing Katara. "You promised not to talk about that, Naruto!" She hissed out. Turning her head slightly she found nigh but everyone staring back at her with confused expressions. Her flush grew even redder.

Thankfully, Naruto chose that moment to break the silence.

"Oh and Sokka, you wet the bed until you were ten. Do you believe me now?"

The hysteria that followed-as well as the grateful giggle from Katara-was utterly priceless.

Haru actually snickered. "You did what?"

"Not cool, man!" Saokka whined. "Not cool!"

"Naruto?" Suki gawped, stepping forward. "I'm afraid I don't understand. How did you turn into that girl?"

"Um, yes." Haru agreed. "Could you please explain, sir Avatar?"

The blond merely laughed and changed back into Azula again.

"Henge." The now-transformed Naruto smiled softly as he observed a manicured hand. It was eerie, Suki thought. By the gods themselves, he even sounded like that crazy girl. "Its a fascinating ability, to tell the truth, useful, too. I've had centuries to master its greatest intricacies, I can stay like this for at least a week if I don't use any of my major techniques. Used to be I could only transform into someone I knew...but now? Now I can become almost anyone. Of course I did think about becoming the royal flaming asshole himself (Fire Lord Ozai anyone?) but where's the fun in that I say?"

Suki frowned. "You think this is fun?"

"Of course I do." Naruto grinned, popping back into his normal body. "Its been ages since I've pranked the Fire Nation. What better way to do it than with their own princess? I got a good look at her mannerisms when wefought; with a bit of practice, I'm certain I can fool them. From there, its just a matter of pranking the hell outta the warden and his men, not to mention inspiring the Earthbenders to rise up and fight their opressor as true warriors should. It'll be cake!"

"It still doesn't change the fact that you're taking an awful risk." she pressed. "You're one of our strongest fighters, remember? If we lose you, then we risk losing the war itself." She didn't see Aang bristle in the corner of her eye. For a moment Naruto thought the boy was going to reveal his status, a curt glare from Katara caused him to swiftly shut his mouth. That

"Suki, don't worry." he tried to brush off her concern gingerly as he could. "I'll be careful."

"Like you were careful against Azula?" came the retort. "Naruto, she burned you!" Her words caused him to cringe, he was well aware of the still-healing scar lining his neck. He'd gained it when deflecting Azula's bolt of lightning, it had actually managed to charr him a little before he'd grabbed and redirected it. The injiry didn't impede him but it still served as a brutal reminder of what might happen should he ever hold himself back in the heat of battle like that again. That was the first and last time he'd understimate a Firebender. Or anyone, for that matter.

"That won't happen again." Agitated though he might be, Naruto refused to let it show. "If you'd just hear me out-

"I'm sorry, I can't agree with this plan. It puts you in too much danger. Let me know when you've thought of something less dangerous." She walked away and out of the barn before anyone could think to stop her. The ensuing silence tasted like ash in Naruto's throat. Why was she so worried about him?

"Suki...

"She'll be back." Sokka yawned. "What matters now is that we get some shut eye. Obviously, we've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. I'm going to bed."

Naruto groaned as the others grabbed their bag and prepared to turn in, wisely refraining from saying anything. Everyone, save Katara. She alone approached him, realizing his distress whereas the others did their best to avoid it, not for lack of caring, but out of fear for angering the powerful shinobi.

"Are you alright?" she asked, touching a hand to his shoulder.

Naruto feigned a shrug. "Was it something I said?"

"She just worries about you."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. Honestly, I-urggh!" he would've said more, had not his injury flared up. Tongues of invisible fire shot up and down his neck, a silent reminder of the near-miss he'd suffered back on Kiyoshi Island. Katara saw him cringe, and dipped a hand into the pouch she wore around her arm. Almost before he knew it he felt the cool touch of water upon his neck; stinging yes, but soothing the worst of the pain. It had not the healing properties of proper medicine-not yet-but he sensed she'd soon lean about her powerful talents. 'Till then, he'd just bear with the wound and let it heal.

"She really hurt you, didn't she?" Katara soothed, running her still wet hand across the fresh scar, numbing it even further.

Naruto bit back another sigh. "Nothing I haven't endured before."

"Naruto...I...

"Hmm?"

"I think Suki might be right." she indicated a bale of hay and forced him to sit so she could tend the wound further. "Your plan's rather reckless."

"Not you too!" Naruto groaned childishly as she complied with her demand. "Why is everyone so concerned about me?! Have you all forgotten just how strong I am?!"

"Its not just me," Katara replied, running her hands over his neck. "Everyone worries about you. The way you throw yourself into battle...its almost like you're suicidal." The former shinobi ruthlessly bit back the urge to snap at her for the unperceived slight. Death was the last thing he wanted, but he daren't tell her that.

"There you go. All done."

Tsking softly to himself, the last shinobi sat up, his treatment finished.

"Fine." he relented. "Because you asked so nicely, I'll try to be more careful.

Her smile was nothing short of dazzling.

"Oh and by the way," she leaned closer, "If you ever mention that bit about me wanting to marry you when I was little...

"Yes?"

This time, the smile was so cold it actually made him shiver.

"I'll bury you in a glacier." With that, she strode away.

Naruto watched her go, shaking his head.

Why did he always attract deadly women? Why?!

Why couldn't his life just be simple?

Later that night, his life became even more complicated.

Naruto had chosen to take the first watch; on the off chance that the guard from before wanted to exact his vengeance on Haru's shop. They'd be in for a nasty surprise, that they would. Still it was a lonely duty, trying to stay awake, out here in the cold, all by himself. For a brief moment he imagined he was on his own again, with no friends, or family to call his own. It made him shudder. Those thought of beling alone were no longer a passing fear, now it was a nightmare of sorts. He'd spent so much time in a group that the thought of leaving them behind...actually hurt.

That'll happen someday, he reminded himself, make no mistake. If this war didn't kill Katara and his newfound friends then old age certainly would. The vile old one enemy even he couldn't defeat. Time. Everything had been so much easier when he'd only need worry about himself. Now...it seemed everywhere they went, their little group grew a little larger. First with Suki on Kiyoshi. Now in this deslolate lititle village, Haru. Aang just might've found a way to start learning Earthbending in him, even if the young bender decided to remain behind once they went on their way, which remained quite likely.

Who knew what would come to pass next?

Once, that would've sorrowed him. Now he refused to look to the future. He'd long since resolved to live in the moment since joining the Southern Water Tribe; trying to gaze ahead into his future would only bring upon him untold sorrow. His strange little family was only growing. That should make him happy. Right, he pinched his whiskered cheeks, happy! His thoughts were broken by the crack of a broken branch somewhere behind him, alert. He rounded with a hiss and stepped toward the darkness Rinnegan flaring.

"Who goes there?!"

"Relax!" a familiar voice soothed. "Its me!"

"Suki?" Naruto relaxed a touch, baffled to find none other than Suki emerging from the black at his flank. "Don't do that! I could've killed you!" She looked fearsome in her armor, but somehow the lack of makeup made her appear almost fragile, he thought.

"Sorry," the Kyoshi warrior smiled softly, at least she had the good grace to look sheepish. "I couldn't sleep."

"You too, huh?"

The brunette nodded in affirmation, coming to stand beside him.

"I thought I'd come to relieve you."

Naruto shook his head.

"Not tired."

The words lapsed into awkward silence. Neither dared glance at one another, painfully aware of the arguement they'd had mere hours before. At last, Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He'd been so caught up in his plan for prankdom that he'd failed to notice the lone voice of dissent in the group. Was it right for him to just dismiss her out of turn like that? Of course not. He needed to pause and consider the other's thoughts, not throw himself headlong into battle and cause chaos without a care. He opened his mouth to speak, and so to did she-

"I'm sorry/I'm sorry." they apologized in the same instant.

There was a brief moment of hesitation; then the two teens laughed, the tension bursting forth from them in a single guffaw. Just like that it was over, the rift between them was closed.

"It was wrong of me to call you foolish." Tsuki admitted.

"And it was wrong of me to be so reckless." Naruto replied.

"Sooo...I guess we're good, then?"

"Guess so."

...darn," she swore, her pale face flushing beneath the moonlight. "I feel like a complete idiot." At his questing look, she continued. "Here I had this grand speech prepared, and then you forgive me, just like that. What am I supposed to do now?"

"You could always stay and watch the stars with me." Naruto drawled, gazing upward at the thousands of tiny pinpricks above, the raiment of heaven hanging over their heads. "I was keeping watch for that Firebender from before, but I think he's given up for the day." He sat and patted the spot beside him, quietly wondering whether or not she would accept the unspoken invitation.

"I'd like that."

Naruto felt his heart skip a beat as the young warrior accepted his offer, sitting down and scooting dangerously close to him. When her hand came to rest atop his he nearly jumped out of his skin. But Suki was flushing just as much as he, so he bore with it.

"That's the Star of Kiyoshi." she indicated a particularly bright pinprick of light with her finger. "You can see it from almost anywhere in the world."

Naruto whistled. "I had no idea you were well-versed in astrology."

"It's nice, isn't it?" she murmurred, laying her head on his shoulder, still peering up at the stars. "I could just stare at them all night."

Naruto made no move to pull away. If Suki was interested in him, then so be it. He was beginning to understand now, see the futility of it all. Nothing he saiid to her would change her mind short of outright violence, and right now he just didn't have the heart to push her away. A sudden pang of guilt stabbed a this heart as they stood there beneath the stars. This girl trusted him, looked out for him, wanted the best for his sake, and here he was all but lying to a fellow member of Team Avatar, someone whom he just might be developing feelings for.

"Suki...there's something I need to tell you."

"Yes...?"

"I'm not the Avatar." he blurted out.

There was another silence, this one charged with awkward tension. Suki pulled away from Naruto, her auburn eyes boring deep into his own. When she finally spoke, her voice was the barest of whispers.

"I know."

"You knew?" Naruto's jaw nearly hit the ground. "What?! When?"

"For a few weeks now." she admitted, suddenly sheepish. "I realized around the time when we left Kiyoshi; it was always Aang who kept focusing on saving the world. Not you. When I saw the marking and his bending it kinda became obvious. When I asked Sokka and Katara, they fessed up that it was their idea." At the blonde's pensive expression, she offered up a slight smile. "I'm not angry you know. I understand why you lied to me back then. You might not be The Avatar everyone was looking for, but you were just doing what you felt right, I suppose."

"Well, that's just it." A wry smile pulled at his lips, it felt good to open up, especially to her. "I suppose you could say I am an Avatar, but not like Aang. My abilities don't focus primarily on the elements, but other areas of that aspect. They make me almost invincible, but I can still be injured." Here he touched hand to his scar. "Still be killed."

"That was why I spoke out earlier." When those words came, they nearly floored him, but it was nothing compared to what came next. "We still need you. I need you." she said the last part in a very tiny voice. Where a an ordinary man present, he wouldn't have heard it. But Naruto was no ordinary man. He heard every word.

"Why?"

The warrior blinked slowly. "Why what?"

"Why would you need someone like me?"

"Because you're you." Suki replied. "Even with all your imperfection. You might be stubborn, headstrong, reckless...

Naruto coughed. "Ahem, sitting right here."

"O-Oh, sorry." Suki flushed. "Anyway,

"You inspired me." she continued, her voice gaining force with each word. "Until the day we met, I thought Kyoshi was all that mattered. There was nothing else. No one else. I didn't care about the Fire Nation, or about the war-heck, I'd been convinced the Avatar didn't exist until you and Aang showed up! But you proved me wrong. I decided to leave Kiyoshi because of you. It doesn't matter whether you're The Avatar or not. You still showed me I have much to learn, reminded me that there's an entire world out there for me to see. A world that will be destroyed by the Fire Nation if something isn't done." Her words were so impassioned-by the time she finished, Naruto was literally left in awe.

"I'm...glad I could inspire you."

"Sooo, back on Kiyoshi-

"What you saw were Shinobi skills, Suki. I gained them a lifetime ago."

"Darn." she pouted. "And here I was hoping you could teach me." a slight smile played on her pale features. "It might not be real bending, but I'd love to learn...

Naruto actually blinked at that. He'd never once considered taking on a student in this land. He was the last of a great people, and would likely still reincarnate time and time again. But to restart the shinobi people as a whole...why hadn't he thought of this sooner? Was this what he was meant to do? Recreate his people? He wasn't sure.

"I suppose I could try."

"Really?"

"I don't see why not." Naruto shrugged. "But I should warn you! I'm a strict teacher. I-

His words died away as her lips touched touched his cheek for the second time since they'd met.

"Wha?"

"I look forward to learning from you then, Sifu Naruto." she rose and performed a deep bow. "And I'll see you later. Goodnight."

What was it that drew strong, deadly girls to him? Katara hadn't struck him as dangerous until this evening; her threat about burying him had been quite real. Suki was a warrior herself, now aspiring to be a shinobi in a world of benders and non-benders. Then there had been that hellcat from the Fire Nation. Azula. That was one helluva fighter, there. Idly, he wondered...

...what was Princess Hothead up to now?

(Meanwhile...)

'...you should be afraid of me!'

Azula jumped to a siting position in her cot on the ship with a small scream, her eyes popping open wide, sweat on her fore-head and her breath coming in small shallow gasps. A dream, she realized, willing her frantic heart to stop beating its way out of her chest. It had been just a dream. Nothing more and nothing less. The princess tried to tell to the adrenaline coursing through her veins-quietly willing her body to accept what her mind already knew to be true.

It was all a dream.

She told herself that repeatedly as she tried to settle back down on the cot. It was all a dream. She tried to stare at the still-lit candles of her cabin until she fell asleep, but they cast shadows and played havoc with her mind, she was literally jumping at the sight of them. Closing her eyes didn't help either, she was terrified he would come for her in the dark. Terrified, and yet...strangely excited. The longer she lay there, the more that excitement began to exert itself, the thrill of facing a strong opponent warring with the terror of being made a helpless little girl before him.

Just a dream, she reminded herself. Just a dream just a dream just a dream...

But if it was a dream, why did it hurt?

Sleep-gummed eyes creaked open once more and surveyed her cabin, barely able to comprehend her dimming surroundings. Wait a minute. She bolted upright again, memories blazing through her mind like an inferno of otherwordly fire. The Avatar! He'd killed her! Hadn't he? She clearly recalled tasting blood in her mouth, feeling her spirit depart her body. And yet here she was, as though she'd woken up from a horrible dream. But it was no dream. It had been real. All too real...

Why am I not dead? she thought, checking herself for injuries. Thankfully, she found some. Thankfully because it meant she wasn't loosing her mind. That twinge in her right side bespoke of a recently healed broken rib and the dull pulse of her ankle warned that her left ankle was still very much sprained. Her cheek was horribly sore, there would be a bruise tomorrow morning if she was lucky swelling if she wasn't. Apparently only the most life-threatening injuries had been tended to.

Her wounds were still healing, but they looked as though they'd been tended to. Recently. Perhaps only a few days ago. She knew none of her men were capable in the healing arts, most of them barely knew how to try and bandage their own. That left the Avatar. Naruto. He must have done this. But why? Why kill her and bring her back? It was well known that the Avatar had power over the Spirit World, but she hadn't thought that a being like that could bring the dead back. Bring her back.

Try as she might...she just couldn't muster up the rage she needed to hate him. Terror at what he'd done to her, yes, and excitement at the prospect of fighting him again, but anger? No. It simply wouldn't come.

What has he done to me?

She touched a hand to her head, the room still swimming in the candlelight.

"Why," she whispered to herself, tucking her knees into her chest. "Why did you do that, you fool?" Her last words were ittle more than a soft, lonely whisper.

"Why did you heal me?"

(The next morning)

"They took Haru's mother!"

Naruto bolted upright, lurching out of his sleeping bag as Sokka's cry filled the barn. Rather, he tried. Something warm and soft, though no neccessarily heavy, pushed him back down. It took him less than an instant to recognize that familiar bob of brown hair in his peripheals. Suki. Somehow, she'd crawled into his sleeping bag overnight. How on earth-nevermind. He was a shinobi, for the love of those gods. Honestly, asfter that kiss last night, he should've expected something like this. Kakashi-sensei's words rang in his mind from ages past:

Look underneath the underneath.

Thankfully no one noticed in the chaos; everyone was too busy darting outside to investigate the burns outside. Haru in particular. Naruto was suddenly an intensely grateful that he'd hidden the boy further back in the barn, rather than risk him being discovered. But now was not the time for such things. In that time it took for everyone to scramble outs, Naruto managed to jostle Suki awake and after a bit of flushing on both of their parts, they were able to squirm free without anyone being the wiser.

"We speak of this to no one."

Suki nodded fervently.

"Agreed."

They emerged to find the shop scorched beyond all recognition, the ground blackened and twisted, for at least a mile around. Talk about your scorched earth responses. Evidently, the firebenders hadn't taken too kindly to Naruto's little prank. Haru was visibly trembling with anger, tiny pebbles stirring at his feet whilst he struggled to control his anger, prevent himself from erupting into a terrifying display of Earthbending prowess. But the leash on his bending was thin, and the poor boy looked as though he might snap at any instant, if someone didn't say something.

"Haru!" Naruto barked. "Front and center."

The boy went stiff as a rod.

"Y-Yes, Avatar Naruto?"

Naruto silently resolved to tell the boy the truth later. But for now, he needed to take command, or the poor kid was going to kill someone.

"We're getting your mother back. In fact, we'll be bringing all the Earthbender's back" he declared. "Right here. Right now."

"But the plan-

-Is about to be improvised." Naruto replied sternly, beckoning them closer. "C'mere. All of ya . I'll have to henge the lot of you for this to work...

"Wow!"

Aang glanced down at his illusory body in utter awe, barely able to believe what his fellow Avatar had done to the six of them. They all looked like Firebenders! Right down to the armor! Haru and Suki remained stoically silent, the latter deciding not to wonder just how Naruto had Sokka and Katara appeared to be visibly chafing at their new-albeit temporary-appearance. Appa and Momo had been left behind in the barn, changing their appearance wouldn't do anything but hinder the group, and no one would believe a Firebender with a Sky Bison.

"It won't last." A slightly winded Naruto explained. "I can only maintain those forms for an hour or so. Guess we'll have to make this quick. And to think, I was soooo looking forward to using the rotten eggs and glue I'd sealed away. Ah well. I can always make it better." Drawing himself up, he transformed into Azula, assuming the role with an eerie level of grace. "Now remember," he began, "You'll need follow my lead. No talking. No showboating. You're supposed to be my elite guard for this little venture. Nothing more. Do not speak unless spoken to. Once we get aboard, get out of sight and drop the transformations. The rest is up to you."

With the plan in place, he led them to the nearest garrison, kicked down the door, and barged in.

"You there! Soldier!"

The fire nation lieutenant had just opened his mouth to reply, only for his jaw to slam into the ground once he laid eyes upon "Azula" striding toward him.

"P-Princess Azula?!"

"I take it you know who I am?"

"Y-Yes M'lady." he swiftly fell to a knee in genuflection. "Your father did not inform us of your arrival. We weren't expecting you. Had you sent word, I would've prepared a proper welcome-

"No need." Naruto silenced him with a wave. "I am here of my own accord. Now, what is your name?"

"Lieutenant Shu, my lady." The man barely stammered out. "If I may ask, t-to what do we owe the honor?"

"Consider this a surprise inspection, Lieutenant Shu." the smile Naruto generated was entirely genuine, henge or not. "I'm touring the colonies, making certain everything is up to par as per my father's standards. I unsderstand you have an offshore prisom responsible for manufactuaring coal, do you not?" At the man's nod, the pseudo-princess continued. "As I thought. Take me to this so-called prison of yours, soldier. I wish to see it for myself. Personally."

"Will your guards be accompanying us as well, my lady?"

"Yes, of course we will." Naruto waved off the man's concern with the royal "we" he'd heard by so many arrogant nobles in his land.

Another touch of genjutsu was all it took to bend the man's mind to his will, to prevent him from questioning the strange behavior of these so-called guards.

"Of course, princess."

I now know why I enjoy breaking in and out of prisons. It isn't the food. Nor the guards. And it certainly isn't the people. Not the slate grey walls or the lumpy beds either. It is something far more base than that, a vile little word that I have come to love. Pranking. Barring that, there is one other word.

That word would best be described as...

"RIOT!"

Naruto-as Azula-was laughing his head off as he flung fireballs at the hapless Fire Nation guards. Aang's trick had worked flawlessly, summoning up coal from the vents. A few impassioned words from Katara toward the Earthbenders and that was their cue for "Azula" to lose her pretty little head and join the resistance. Their transformations dropped away in hiding, Katara and the others were thus freed to leap into action and wreak all manner of havoc upon the warden and his men in spectacular fashion.

In short, all bloody hell broke loose.

"I do so love it when a plan comes together!"

For the next hour, the entire Fire Nation prison experienced pure hell. But, that was not Naruto's intention. No, this had been done for one reason and one reason only. Impersonating a Fire Nation Princess was certainly a pricey little move, but making everyone thing said princess was on the side of the enemy was utterly priceless. In short, Azula's feared reputation of being the Fire Nation's best was brought crumbling down around her unknowing ears in a matter of minutes. Now, when the Fire Nation spoke of their beloved princesss, they would speak of only one thing.

...Azula had gone mad!

"Banished?!" Azula could barely believe her ears when she received word by messenger hawk two days later "ME?! By Father?! What do you mean?! What did I do?!" When the bird simply sat there, she turned it into all but a roast chicken and demanded her cooks serve it up for dinner.

"No," she whispered fervently, suffering a mental, and comical breakdown. "I can't be banished. Not me. I'm not like Zuzu, I'm Father's favorite. There's no way I could be banished. There's just no way!"

Somewhere miles away...

...Uzumaki Naruto was laughing his ass off.

A/N: Aaand there you have it! The romance is really starting to heat up; both Suki and Katara showing their own interests in our favorite blond. And they're not the only ones! As for Sokka...I have finally made a decision as to who to pair him with now that Suki's out of the picture. Yue. Now that I've been consigned to mandatory bedrest in preparation for my surgegy, I've taken the time to do some research, rewatching the first season as well. And I have to say, those two just mesh so...well! Not sure about Aang just yet. Although I do want Toph to end up with Naruto in addition to the others girls, what sweet chaos that would be!

Mai remains reserved for Zukko, however!

Anywho, I worked extremely hard on this one, so I hope to hear what you think! Pairing is up in the air! YOU DECIDE! And on a final note, thank you to everyone offering emotional support in regard to my health woes. Its greatly appreciated! An awful lot is going to change in this story soon! Look forward to an epic prank next chapter...provided my health holds out.

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly? And of course, enjoy the preview! A major change is about to happen!

(Preview)

Naruto blinked in surprise. One moment he had been fighting Azula, and the next...this? He found himself staring at himself, utterly unable to believe what had happened. What the devil was going on here? Firs that old spirit had emerged and begun attacking the village while he'd been battling Azula. That had been bad enough. To make matters worse said spirit had changed course and attacked them ripping their spirits up and out of their bodies before casting them aside. The rest made sense. But this...did not. Why were his hands so small? And why was he wearing armor? More importantly...why did his chest feel so damn heavy?

"What devilry is this?" A new foice, his voice, demanded. Naruto froze.

"What're you-Oh. Crap."

Had he just swapped bodies with Azula?!

Hope you enjoyed! R&R! =D