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, despite my health woes, as thanks for all the wonderful support I have gotten from everyone.
I love you guys so much! *Cries*
But someone seems to disagree. This awful little guest reviewer called "Random Review" has seen fit to point out every flaw in this story and insult me for no reason whatsoever. I've deleted both his reviews and negative comments time and time again, but he keeps coming back for more on an almost daily basis, challenging me to reply even though he's using an anonymous account which means I cannot do so, even had I wanted to. It certainly doesn't help with my declining health, and to be honest, his constant pestering has made me a tad depressed-probably the reason I havent updated in the last few days-I'm really not feeling well here, guys, and I just found out my surgery may be sooner than expected. But, nevertheless, despite this pesky little hater-I will try my best to continue.
Well...here ya go! =D
"By Agni...what did you do?!"
~?
Into the Fire
In hindsight, getting Azula banished...wasn't exactly intentional, at the time. I never even once considered the repercussions; it wasn't as though Ozai would actually banish her for losing to me to begin with-or so I had thought in my ignorance. No one could be that much of a royal flaming asshole, right? Right? Turns out I was wrong. Azula'd already been well on her way to being banished after I'd shown her mercy back in Kiyoshi; it seems the one thing the Fire Nation despises more than losing is mercy.The twisted little stunt we'd pulled by impersonating her and her guards in the first place...just hastened the pace a little, I guess. A
h, but I digress.
Turns out Haru decided to travel with us, after all. Something about wanting to prevent the Fire Nation from ever destroying a family like his again. Kid's got spunk, I'll give him that. His folks were all for it; said he had a destiny and it would be better served by traveling with us. So now, against all odds, we've got us an Earthbender. Not much of a teacher though; so I still need to find someone to train Aang.
Aang wanted to double back to Omashu for that very reason; thankfully cooler heads prevailed and we were able to make him realize doing so now, would only prove to be a waste of time. Didn't stop him from asking Haru to show him a few things, though. I state once again, the boy is no master. I've still got the bruise from that last boulder to prove it!
Nevertheless, our little family is growing. I only hope Appa can keep carrying all of us without wearing himself out. If this keeps up, we're going to need another bison! Ha! Back then, I had time for humor. And why not I say? We'd lost Zuko, and unless Azula allied with him -not bloody likely!-we wouldn't have worry about brother or sister for some time. I had no way of knowing fate was coming around to bite me in the ass for all the chaos I was causing.
That was when "it" happened...
"Soo...
Naruto took one look at Sokka, saw his expression, and swerved his head to look back at the clouds. Why was it that everyone saw fit to interrupt his meditations? Realizing he wouldn't have any peace until Sokka had his say, the last shinobi reluctantly rounded on the young water tribe warrior to see what he had to say. Sokka was looking at him most strangely his body tense, expression pensive. Naruto adopted a curious facade of his own, wondering what might have perturbed his friend so.
"Now we've got an Earthbender." the boy ventured hesitantly.
Naruto's gaze slipped to Haru, peacebly levitating a few pebbles in his right hand, turning them end over end, relentlessly. Rescuing his mother and father had worked wonders for the boy's selfconfidence but even here in the clouds, he preferred to keep to himself, speaking only when spoken to.
"Yes, it would seem so."
"Just wondering, but are we going to pick up a Firebender, too?"
"PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!" Aang promptly spat out his tea, creating a small geyser of warm liquid. It would've sailed over the edge but Katara simply waterbended it back into his cup. The young Avatar shot his friend a quick and grateful glance, followed by a series of sheeipish chuckles from the others at his predicament. Suki herself managed to keep a grip on her teacup-Naruto refused to say where he'd procurred all this gear from-but at the mention of Firebending, even her normally sunny disposition darkened.
"Yeah, what are we going to do about that? As much as I hate to admit it, Sokka has a point-
"Hey!"
"Suki's right." Katara agreed. "We might be able to find Aang a teacher for Water and Earth, but her still has to learn master Fire, doesn't he?"
There was a silence as Team Avatar mulled it over.
"I think Azula or Zuko would make a fine teacher." Naruto suggested. "Ah! Or maybe Iroh?"
Aang nearly spat out his tea again. The blond didn't take too kindly to that.
"Oi oi oi," He sighed as Katara once more waterbent the liquid back into the cup, "I went to all the trouble of making that way up here ya know, and It ain't easy. Show some appreciation, Aang."
"Sorry!"
After being pursued by a small army of Firebenders after their wildly successful jailberak, Team Avatar was currently traveling over water once more, taking a much-needed opportunity reccuperate from their successful attack and subsuquent escape until they reached land once more. Even now they could see it-a patch of earthy green and brown growing steadily larger in the distance. But for now there was only the open ocean under their feet, the salty smell of the sea and cries of seagulls flitting past. Now, even those birds seemed to fall silent as Naruto's words truly sank in.
"You can't be serious." Finally, Haru found his voice. "Putting your friendship with the Dragon of the West aside, they're our enemies. Why, would they want to help us?" At Naruto's glower, the poor bender nearly fell to pieces right then and there, faltering beneath his teacher's scrutiny. "Prince Zuko-" he began.
"-currently exiled prince-"
"I know." he had the good grace to at least appear chastised at Naruto's caustic remark. "But that's just it. He's a prince, former or not. And I doubt Azula would be willing to teach Aang anything after the stunt we just pulled back in my hometown. If anything, she probably wants to kill you even more if she still thinks you're the Avatar. In fact, I wouldn't put it past her to get at you through us. No offense, Sifu Naruto, but I think she just enjoys hurting people."
There was a moment of quiet killer intent in which everyone could feel all of their inner fears coming true, despite having only met the mad girl once, Naruto had made them well aware of her methods. If she could hurt him through them, if she could get to him by causing one of them pain, he'd do more than just defeat the princess. He'd obliterate the entire Fire Nation itself. Finally, when it seemed that they would be suffocated by it by his anger at any moment, the blond spoke up to quell those fears.
"Haru, Suki, Aang," he drawled, his visage turning stern. "C'mere. All three of ya." As they looked on he placed a thumb in his mouth and bit down. Hard. Blood gushed forth from the wound, dribbling down his arms to form a small scrawl of kanji upon his left bicep.
"Your hand-
"Leave it." came the reply. "I need it to mark you guys."
Momo squeaked as Naruto pressed his still bleeding thumb to the lemur's forehead, when it came away there was a small, but unreadable kanji imprinted there.
"What is that?" Suki wondered aloud.
"Its called the Hiraishin." Naruto answered, tracing the kanji into Haru's shoulder. "It allows me to teleport to a place-or person-I've marked in the past. Sokka and Katara already have it." He did not wilt in the slightest at their admonishing glances. "It was neccessary. Before he left, your father asked a favour of me; he told me to protect you. The both of you. Placing the Hiraishin on you just seemed natural at the time. How else was I to keep you safe? 'Sides, Sokka's mark is just between his shoulder blades, he'd never have known about it otherwise."
Katara opened her mouth to protest; only to snap it shut as something occured to her.
Naruto noticed. "Something wrong, Katara?"
"Where," her voice was little more than a tiny squeak, "Did you mark me?"
"Where?"
"I said where did you mark me?!"
Naruto just stared at her and began laughing. "It's not funny!" She told him.
"Yes, it is!" He howled. "Only you would think I'd do something like that!" After finally managing to calm down, he looked back at Katara, suddenly aware of the deft motions of her hands. "Wait a second, what're you doing with that water-AARGH!" He barely had time to finish with that sentence before water spewed up and out of her pouch, sending him flying off Appa and to his death miles below. Or, so everyone thought. Seven seconds passed after he toppled over the edge. Seven seconds of agonizing silence.
Still, no one made any effort to retrieve the fallen blond.
Suki began to fret. She knew Naruto's body was near immortal, but even so, a fall into the ocean from this height might well spell his doom. The last thing she wanted was for her precious teacher-the boy whom she'd begun to feel for-fall to his doom so early in their journey. Fearing what she would find, the Kiyoshi warrior peered over the edge; all she saw was a few Naruto-sized impressions in the clouds below, a sure sign that it had been a fast and furious fall to the water below. What if he was hurt? What if-
Aang was only a splitsecond faster than her, springing to his feet, light as a breeze, ready to hurl himself out into oblivion after his friend.
"We have to go get him!"
"Relax arrowhead," Sokka soothed. "Sifu's fine."
Suki was inclined to agree! "Um...but shouldn't we do something?!"
"Nah," the warrior went back to sharpening his boomerang, "Give him a few seconds."
"Are you sure...?"
"He's right." Katara seconded, leaning back in the saddle, her brief burst of anger gone, little more than a memory. "If something like that could've killed Sifu, he wouldn't be here now."
"Why does everyone call him that?" the young Avatar asked. "He's not your teacher, is he?"
"Not anymore, no, but he did teach me a few things about bending when I was little." Katara replied. "You'd be amazed what he could do with water."
"I learned a few moves from him back then, too." Sokka performed a perfunctory swing with his club for added emphasis. "Naruto's a decent guy outside of battle but when it comes to anything involving actual combat, or worse, training, he's a slave driver. Right, Katara?" both brother and sister shuddered at some unspeakable memory. "I'm so glad he doesn't make me run laps around the South Pole anymore."
"Or make me Waterbend for two days straight." Katara added with a small shiver of her own.
Haru and Suki exchanged nervous glances.
"And then there was the one time-
"Sokka! Stop!" Katara cried! "We are not, under any circumstance, mentioning "that" to anyone, ever again!"
The rest of Team Avatar silently sweatdropped.
"Well...promised to teach me the Shinobi Arts." Suki smiled nervously. "I don't think he's that excessive...
"NICETRYBUTFLATTERYWONTWORKONME!"
Scarce had she spoken then Naruto reappeared; his words and body roaring past them and into the sky, his abrupt ascent showering everyone with droplets at his passing. He did not look nor sound pleased at all. Suki couldn't tell whether he was wet from Katara's water, or if it had anything to do with short dip in the ocean just now. Regardless he was quite the sight, soaring through the clouds like some wayward angel, streaked in otherwordly luminance...wait a minute. Was Naruto actuallly glowing? He was!
Bathed in saffron light from head to toe, he was the picture of godhood; those eerie red orbs held her, captivated her, drew her in..
'I want.' Her cheeks burst into furious flames seconds later as she realized what she'd just thought. 'Ah! Down girl!'
Down!
The Kyoshi warrior ruthlessly shook her head, desperately seeking inner peace and clarity as her teacher alighted beside her, effortlessly gliding down from the heavens to steal a place at her side. That golden glow and those eerie markings still shone from his body. Up close he looked downright intimidating within the cloak; she could see she wasn't the only one thunderstruck by the blond's newfound appearance, Katara' mouth hung agape as well, clearly the waterbender was just as baffled by this transformation. Honestly, he never ceased to amaze her...
"Watch those wandering eyes, girls." Naruto admonished, grinning. "Wouldn't want to get the wrong idea."
Suki was fairly certain her face was flaming, even behind
"W-Well well," Katara stuttered, recovering herself. "I'm glad you're alright."
Naruto's language could've melted the iron hull off a Fire Nation vessel. Thankfully, his cursing was spoken in his native tongue...
"Crazy girl!" he finished with a hiss. "I know I taught you to be ready at a moments notice, but that was ridiculous!"
"Its your own fault for teasing me," the brunette chided lightly. "If you'd just told me where you'd put the seal instead of laughing, I wouldn't have overreacted."
Naruto opened his mouth to reply; and promptly snapped it shut. True she did have a point but hey, it had been so long since he'd laughed like that. Katara didn't exactly need to know about it, did she? Yet. So instead of arguing, he forced himself to relent and grin beneath her glare. "Won't happen again." Looks aside, there was just something about Righteous Female Fury that made even him wary of her when she was like this...
Apparently, Sokka did not fear the female fury; he nearly fell off the saddle himself in laughter. "Never woulda thought he'd be afraid of Katara."
"What was that, Sokka?"
"N-Nothing!"
"Aang, get back over here." Naruto said, ignoring the bickering siblings and biting his thumb for a second time. "I still need to mark ya." Reluctantly the young bender did as he was told-trying his utmost not to flinch in dismay when he saw that bloody digit.
"But why your blood?" the boy asked squeamishly as the shinobi traced a symbol onto his left bicep. "Is that really neccessary?"
Naruto sighed, air-drying himself with a jutsu before falling back to Appa's back. "It seems clouds are made out of water after all. But, first, lets answer your question. Yes, Aang, it is neccessary. Ink might wash off. My blood won't, not if I don't want it to. It'll never wash off. By using my own blood as a catalyst, the seal itself is strengthened allowing me be able to travel farther. For example, Katara could be in the Fire Nation, and I'd still be able to reach her where I say, back home in the South Pole, for example. Although it might take me a few minutes to travel that far...
Sokka thumbed at his chin. "That's pretty powerful stuff."
Naruto noticed Suki looking at him hopefully.
"Sorry," he mollified her, "I'm afraid I'm the only one who can use it. In any case, its your turn. Pick a spot."
"A-Alright." She nervously pulled back the collar of her dress, allowing him to brand her just below her neck, althought not without a small flush. One could easily see it, even within her makeup. Naruto wisely chose not to tease the poor girl any further than he already had, and ceritainly not in the prescence of Katara. He still wasn't entirely sure what his former student felt for him, or what the addition of Suki had done to impact what had been a stable friendship from years past. One would've thought she'd outgrown her childhood crush on him long ago but the events of the last few weeks had recently done much to shake that rock-solid opinion. To antagonize her just wouldn't be fair...
For now.
Having finished the brand, the blond clamored off the saddle and pressed his hand to Appa's furry head. The sky bison rumbled questioningly, but not before trying to reach its head around and lick him.
"Here ya go, buddy." he soothed. "Just to be safe."
"Wait," Aang frowned, "Why Appa?
"We rely on him to fly us everywhere." Naruto pointed out, his glare scathing. "You and I might be able to fly on our own power, but it something were to happen to the ol' boy the rest of us would be up a creek without a paddle. Now, if someone ever tries to target him, I'll know of it. And if he were to be, gods forbid, captured, I'd be there to prevent it. Sound good?"
"You've really thought of everything, haven't you?"
"I try." Naruto yawned. "Right, then. I'm going to take a nap. Suki, I want you to practice the meditation I showed you the other day, kay? Do that a coupla times and I might be able to do something about your chakra problem."
"Yes, Sifu."
Despite himself, the one-time jinchuuriki actually felt his ears burn a bit. Perhaps it was being called a teacher. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he'd never really taken on a studen of his own before. In any case, he felt his cheeks warm with pride at being addressed as Sifu, for the first time since coming to this land. It was...nice. But it was also tiring, to keep track of so many, to ensure that no harm came to his little
His tasks completed for the time being, Naruto leaned back in the saddle, consigning himself to a nap. It was peaceful up here amongst the clouds one might think, you could simply drift off without so much as a care in the world. Content to do just that he drifted off almost immediately, lulled into peaceful slumber by the gentle breeze and the promise of doing goood. That was when the nightmares came. They always seized upon him when he least expected it, preying on these moments of weakness.
He saw the world as a firebender would; bathed in beautiful flames, reduced to ash by his hand. As always someone-a girl-stood at his right and until this very moment he hadn't been able to recognize her. Now he saw and now he knew, just as he knew her laughter, recognized those amber eyes and ebony hair...
Azula.
The scene blurred, leaving him dwelling in darkness.
"Murderer," A voice whispered out from the ether.
"Show yourself." He demanded, squaring his jaw and facing the dark. His mind knew what he would face, but his body...his body was another story. His legs were powerless, helpless to move, as more than a thousand hands sprouted from the earth, latching onto his ankles and dragging him down. Blue eyes scrunched shut, refusing to look into the faces of his captors, knowing full well what he would find there. The face of Hinata, of all those he had ever loved, all his friends, family, everyone he'd ever known. All those he'd left behind in the passage of time.
"Traitor," Another voice hissed in his ear.
"He massacred many."
"He betrayed his own friends."
"He killed his own family."
"One such as him should not exist."
"He should be put to death."
"He should be killed by the ones he's slain."
So ensorcelled was in his nightmare that he nearly didn't notice went Aang started jostling him awake hours later. He jerked upright with a small hiss, barely strangling the scream that threatened to come tearing out of his throat and into the open air. Cold sweat slicked his skin, his heart hammering out of his chest. Just a dream, he told himself. Just a dream just a dream just a dream...
"Are you alright?" Suki was suddenly there, laying a hand across his shoulder. Naruto bit back a hiss as he remembered all those palms, clawing at him, tearing at his throat-
"I'm fine."
"Really, because you looked like you were having a nightmare-
"I. Am. Fine." At her hurt expression, his own softened. "Really, I am. It was just an old nightmare."
A muscle jumped in Naruto's jaw, his temper threatening to overtake him in that instant.
He bit back a growl, his blue eyes flicking towards the young avatar.
"Drop it, Aang." he sighed. "I'll tell you later."
"S-Sorry...its just...I've been thinking...
"Hmmph." Taking those words in stride, the former jinchuriki reluctantly rose, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep. "And what, pray tell, were you thinking about?"
The young Avatar seemed to squirm beneath his gaze for what felt like an enternity before speaking. When he finally did, his words caused a pall to fall over the group.
"I think someone's trailing us."
Sure enough, one could see smoke behind them on the horizon, a plume of black smoke rising in the distance.
Katara let out a sigh as she sat up, stating, "Let's just hope that its not the Fire Nation. That's the last thing we need."
"Indeed."
A silence poured into the saddle, and Naruto leaned back into the seat as he processed what he could recall from his dream. He was growing used to these visions of his, but what he'd seen had disconcerted him. Were these kids going to lose the war without his intervention? Of course not. He had every faith in them. But those images still chilled his soul. What if his interference upset the delicate balance of this land? Already he was considered the Avatar by many, and doubtless his prescence here would prevent many deaths, but stilll...what was this sense of unease he felt? And what did Azula have to do with it?
Was that the fate of the world if he didn't redeem her? He pondered that matter for quite some time, the land growing steadily closer with each passing minute. Within a few minutes, they wouldn't have to worry about any attacks from sea, which meant their position would be that much more fortified against any enemy attack.
Haru frowned just then, peering over the saddle.
"Hey, don't look now, but I think that might be-
Even as the words were being transmitted to his ears Naruto was pressed back into the saddle by a sharp turn of Appa. Suddenly a good few of those aches and pains decided to protest their very existence from the pressure being exerted on him even through the his own mental blockage. As soon as the pressure let up he exhaled in relief before he quickly released his chakrahold on the saddle and stood, earning a few anxious looks from his friends as he did so.
"The hell was that?"
He fumbled with the balance for a split-second before sticking his feet to the saddle with chakra again, and he glanced over the edge just in time to see a massive balle of fire flash in their direction. Pressure pushed him back on his heels Appa ascended, avoiding a direct hit, but shuddering from the glancing blow of the heat nonetheless. He was jerked around on his feet a moment from a couple of turns before the smoke of an extremely large blast of flame filled his vision in close proximity. Blue flame.
It was there for only a moment before they flew past it, revealing the distinctive wedge-shape of a Fire Nation veseel, its black trim cutting an an angry swathe through the ocean below just in time for another shot to whistle perilously close.
"Azula." Aang finished with a gulp.
Naruto groaned.
"Troublesome woman!"
Suki managed a nervious smile. "Anyone want to bet she's still steamed about that stunt we pulled?"
Sokka snorted.
"Oh please, she probably doesn't even-oh my god!"
If it wasn't for Naruto's hold on his shirt he was pretty sure he would be laying on the floor, but he was also pretty sure that he would be in equal amounts of pain if compared to his current situation. The furious heat raging below their position suddenly intensified, that mere candle becoming a raging flame as another blue-white fireball sizzled past.
"Grrrrraaaah!"
Appa bellowed in pain as a small comet seared just beneath his stomach, drawing an angry line across his hide. Naruto and Aang were up in the same instant, already moving amidst the bison's bellow. No glances were exchainged, nor were any words spoken. They already knew that their furry friend would do his best to ferry the rest of the Gaang to safety. It could not be said who leaped first, only that each Avatar flung himself over the edge, that both hurtled towards the ship, one borne by his glider, the other by his chakra alone.
"You don't have to help me, ya know." Naruto shouted over the wind as they hurtled toward the flagship. "I can handle this myself."
"You're just one person!" Aang replied, struggling to make himself heard over the rising gale. "It'd be wrong of me to let you do all the work!"
"Suit yourself. Naruto cracked a crazed grin. "But if you're suggesting we make a game of this...
"What? No, I wasn't-
Too late.
"Race ya!"
With a massive exertion of his chakra, the blonde rocketed forward, reaching the lone ship mere moments before Aang had the chance to follow from his glider. In that moment, that brief instant of hesitation, he alighted loudly upon the prow of the ship, the sudden deacceleration creating an equally massive dent in the metal hull of the ship. He was left to take in everything in at a glance; the trebuchets, the soldiers, the firebenders and there, standing at the head of them all, her eyes wide, her mouth open in a small, round O of disbelief...
Azula.
"YOU!"
Every single soldier, bender or otherwise, scurried away at the sound of her voice. Azula might looked composed, with not so much as a single hair out of place, but were one to look deeper, they could easily see what'd long since lurked beneath; the beginnings of madness, unearthed by this sudden shift in power. And in his expeirience, madmen, or madwomen in this case, were the most dangerous of all. They did not conform to any one strategy or doctr
"Me." Naruto grinned, snuffing her flung fireball out between his fists ."So what brings you to these waters, princess? I hear the cod are quite nice this time of year."
"You know damn well why I'm here, fool!" her words rose with each syllable, pitching ever higher. "I've been banished! And its all your fault! Because you showed me mercy that day!" It wasn't long until she was all but shrieking at him, cursing his very existence from the darkest depths of her soul. "Father banished me, but not because of that! Because of you he called me a traitor, accused me of liberating Earth Kingdom peasants to spite him! I'm no better than Zuzu now! No! I'm worse! Even if I were to capture you, even were I to kill you, he'd never allow me to come home! Never!"
'Oh, right.' Naruto mused. 'She probably doesn't understand that I impersonated her that day...
"Well, that's rough." he shrugged, settling for a half-truth. "I wasn't aiming to get you banished when I revived you."
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!"
The sheer force of her exclamation rocked him back on his heels.
"Ah, I thought you'be be a bit more grateful, considering."
"Maybe I was, once!" Azula hissed out, flinging a bolt of lightning, only to have it redirected in her face, nearly ending her for a second time. "But not anymore! No one believes me! They all think I'm crazy! They say I'm losing my mind! But they don't know what I know in my head, Avatar! Yes I know!" she thrust a finely manicured finger at him, "You killed me! And then...then you brought me back! Do you have any idea of my shame? My humiliation! Bad enough to know that you'd ended my life once, but, you had to bring me back for a second time?! I don't understand! Was my death not good enough for you? Do you intend to make me suffer for challenging you? To humiliate me even further?!"
Those honey-gold orbs held him, in that instant she was not a crazy fireball-slinging princess; she was simply a girl demanding answers, an explanation of why she had been wronged.
Naruto exhaled a long-suffering sigh, pushing a hand through his matted locks.
'Typical. My one act of kindness, and it backfires.'
"Pardon the cliche," he replied, "but I brought you back because I saw the good in you; unlike most other firebenders. You can changed. You can become something more than what you are. Your dimwitted brother has that potential too, but I doubt he'll realize it anytime soon."
Azula snarled, suddenly hesitant in the face of his empathy. "I am not good! You're just saying that so you can stab me in the back, like Father and all the rest! Trust is overrated! Fear is the only way to ensure loyalty and I know it!"
"I beg to differ." Naruto argued, readying himself for another fireball. "Trust is mutual. You have to give to receive. Just as I chose to give you life again. I'd call that trust, wouldn't you?" He'd been right to ready hiself for another assault, this swathe of flame was nimbly avoided by jumping over the exile's head.
"And what would you know of betrayal?!" The former princess snarled and darted after him, trying and failing to close the gasp. "To be stabbed in the back by your own nation, having done all that they asked, day and night, without fail, only do be cast aside when you make one mistake?! DO YOU?!"
Naruto broke away from her with a frown.
"As a matter of fact, I know all too well the sting of betrayal." Indredibly he found himself replying, blue eyes narrowing to crimson slits. "I was betrayed by a man, whom I'd thought to be my friend. He was a proud, foolish sod, who left our village in search of power. I tried to bring him back and failed; instead I was forced to watch him change over the years, come to believe himself then his clan, to be better than everyone and anyone else. I tried to make him see reason over the years, tried to remind him that he still had friends. But he wanted me gone, me, my family, and all that I stood for. In the end, I had to kill him. But don't you see?" he spread his arms wide in invitation. "Its the reverse for you. Now that you've been banished you don't have to deal with the Royal Flaming Asshole anymore."
WHOOSH!
He nimbly dodged aside as another blue-black fireball whistled past his head, but he did not stop speaking. "Surely you must have friends outside the Fire Nation! You have the freedom to go see them now! In fact, I'd dare to say you have...
"Y-You shut up!" Azula cried, covering her ears with both hands. "I don't want to hear this! Not from you!"
...more freedom than anyone else in the world!"
"SHUT! UP!" The burst of flame that followed her words was nothing short of spectacular; her fireball spanned the entire width of the ship itself! There was no way he could dodge that without jumping overboard, and if he did that, he'd be exposed to the follow-up attack. There was really only one option.
Naruto simply inhaled, and her flames withered and died, reduced to mere embers on the deck. Azula's voice was little more than a whisper...
"B-But...that's not fair at all..."
"Ah, I see you've been practicing." he nudged the dark soot apprasingly with a foot. "Your flames are almost black now. They'll never be quite up to snuff with my Amaterasu, but still...you continue to impress. Tell me, if I were to say that you can fight me anytime, would you calm down? Assuming...
"Assuming what?" Azula regarded him warily, half-expecting an attack. And by the Gods themselves, she got one.
"Assuming you can swim." Naruto grinned and struck down upon the deck. Once. Twice. Thrice. Each strike split steel in twine before his knuckles; reverberating through the vessel's hull with such force that he actually flipped the ship into the air and broke it in half, sending the separate halves careening away from one another, end over end, plunging the princcess and her soldiers into the drink. The Avatar of the Gods snapped off a sarcastic salute and launched himself backwards, ripping into the air patted his hands, smiling smugly down at the ship.
"Well, guess I'd better check up on Katara and the others...
Had he tarried a moment longer, he might've seen the smaller lifeboat jettisoned forth from its remains. Had he stayed, perhaps risked a glance backwards, he might've spared himself much pain and suffering. But the Avatar of the Gods did not, and because he did not, things changed. And thus he left...
Azula trailing in his wake...
Now, I'm sure you're wondering; why the pep talk? Why spare her life twice?
At the time, I'd already wrested so much away from her, at the time, I simply couldn't bear the thought of taking her life again as well. I'll have to talk to Aang about that-kid's far too softhearted for his own good. If he has any say in it, he probably won't even kill the Firelord. Somebody needs to toughen the boy up. Might as well be me. Ah, but I'm getting off track. Why Spare Azula? Why let her live, and risk her causing chaos again and again, time after time.
Looking back, the answer's pretty obvious to me. Guess I just have a thing for tragic souls...
But when "It" happened, well, that changed a few things.
"Well, looks like I missed a few things...
Naruto felt ash fill his throat as he descended to the ground-as he beheld the destruction sprawled out before them. A bitter tasted swelled up upon his tongue and not just because from the soot at their feet. It was the knowledge that the Fire Nation would commit such horrendous acts simply because they could. Some of them might be redeemable. Some, but not all. No mere forest fire could have done this...
"Fire Nation?" he asked Sokka, expression grim.
"Fire Nation."
"What, no jokes?" Naruto's deadpann was barely concealed. "I'm counting on you for some comedy here..."
"Sorry man, I got nothin' after seeing this...'"
"You were burned again," Suki sighed, indicating the sorry state of his cloak.
"I'm more concerned about Appa."
"Its just a graze." Katara confirmed. "He'll be fine in a day or two."
"Well, that's good to-
He broke off as he saw Aang come towards him.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what, arrowhead?" he sighed as the Avatar stalked closer, his expression one of righteous anger.
"You killed all those people on the boat when you tore it in half!"
"Aang," Katara began, but Naruto cut her off with a hand.
"My dear boy, I did not kill them." he chastisted, tone colder than ice itself. "The ocean did that. If they can swim, they'll be fine. If they can't, then its their own fault for attacking us. Perhaps if you grew a pair you'd learn to accept death as a natural part of life you wouldn't be so squeamish about these things." Before the young monk could hope to continue, the blond turned his attention elsewhere. "Now, earth boy! C'mere. We have a lot of work to do if we want to restore this forest."
"I...ah...yes sir!"
He bade Haru come close and together, the two of them tilled the earth, Haru with his Earthbending and Naruto with his own application of raw power and ninjutsu. Within a matter of mere moments, the ashen soil had been properly tilled, better than before. But he didn't stop there. When their work was done he shooed the young bender away and set to work himself, as only a shinobi could.
"What are you going to do," Katara gulped, suddenly filled with trepidation. "Naruto?"
"This." Grunting, the blond performed a single set of seals and clenched his hands together. "You'd be amazed by the bloodlines you gain after absorbing an all powerful monster." Without another word he spread into a horse stance, clasped his palms, and uttered a single phrase.
"Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan." (Wood Style Deep Forest Emergence)
With those words, he breathed life back into the forest. Literally.
Roots arose from the sundered soil, spreading upward to form trunks then branches then entire trees themselves, their tendrils digging deep into the loamy soil. As the Gaang looked on, they watched the ruinated soil burning from black to a healthy shade of brown, then a deep, verdant green. Before long the towering oaks began to blot out the sun itself...and yet the light still shone.
Within minutes the forest was whole, or, barring that, a great deal better off than it had once been.
It was a pleasant feeling; restoring what had been destroyed. Golden daggers of sunlight crept in though the branches and slashed at their eyes, unpleasantly forcing them to squing as the forest rose around them in a sursurus of crackling branches and growing roots. Their hands before their faces, as if they still had any reason to protect them from anything anymore, Team Avatar opened their eyes, to momentarily blind themselves before Naruto's radiance. He stood there in a cradle of light, grinning from ear to ear.
And then, just as suddenly as his cloak had emerged, it vanished. The trees creaked to a half around him, their leafy limbs still stretching out towards the setting sun in unspoken prayer.
Sokka took a look around and whistled. "I can't believe you just did that...
"Yeah, its a bit tiring." Naruto yawned. "Creating a forest out of a single accorn...
"I can't believe it either."
Scarce curtain of flame descended the shados to light the newly made forest aflame. Branches went up
The Gaang turned to face this intruder and found themselves face to face with none other than a sopping wet Azula. She'd since lose her braid in the crash, and was dripping from head to toe. And yet somehow, in spite of all this, she still managed to look absolutely terrifying. At least to the others.
"Oh, was that important?" she grinned eerily. "I think that was important."
"Aang. Bison." Naruto ground out, eding forward. "Village. Now."
"But-
"NOW!"
Sokka ushered everyone onto Appa, a loud "Yip-Yip!" sent the bison soaring into the sky and toward the nearby village they'd seen from the sky earlier. Naruto didn't dare turn his back on Azula now, any chance of him prevailing and putting out this fire depended solely on his reaction time.
"Sending your friends away?" she chuckled softly. "Such a shame. Your fangirls won't be able to collect your corpse."
Naruto shook his head in disbelief; crazy didn't even begin to define this girl.
"Look when I said we can fight anytime, I didn't think you'd be so-
A fireball silenced him, obliterating a newly born tree before he could finish.
"So what now?"
"Now?" Azula growled, her teeth bared. "Now its over. You're tired from recreating that forest, and you have no place to go. You can run, but I'll catch you. I may not be able to reclaim my honor by killing you, but it'll at least make me feel that much better!"
Naruto nearly facepalmed.
"Did you listen to anything I said? You're banished. Just like Zuko. Except capturing me won't restore your-
A searing line of flame across his cheek cut him off.
"Don't even think about running." Azula circled him, a predator ready to pounce.
"Who said anything about running?" Naruto sighed, reaching back to remove his cloak, casting the garment aside with an errant flick of his wrist. "In case you've forgotten, I've beaten you once already. Twice, if you'd like to count this afternoon...
Behind Azula's pale skin, the slow flushing of her face looked almost like a growing forest fire, and she seemed literally unable to catch her breath. Oh, yes. She remembered. She burned at the memory, of how soundly she'd been beaten. Unthinking in her exasperation, she lashed out, flinging a firebal at him in anger. It was a mistake. Naruto simply raised a hand, Rinnegan flaring, and absorbed it. Just like that. Her blueblack flames rippled harmlessly against his unseen shield, her own power siphoned away, leaving him even stronger than before.
"That wasn't very nice."
"You mean I'm not good enough for you? You're hurting my feelings."
"Too bad." Naruto growled. "I don't want to hear lies from you. I want the truth. Are you enjoying this?"
"Are you sure?" her smile had just a touch of madness to it. "I'm a pretty good liar."
"Its a crying shame your fighting skills aren't as good." he retorted.
That did it.
"I'll show you skill!"
Naruto moved like water, form and volume but shifting, changing, never in one place for more than the span of two beats. Never allowing her to touch him or so much as even graze him in her endless assault. His quick and clever movements infuriated Azula to no end! Had he been toying with her before?
He stepped forward. So too, did something else.
The spirit registered as a black and white blur between the two of them, roaring and lashing out in the time it took for both warriors to blink. Its claws sank not into their flesh, but into their spirits-violently tearing them free and casting them into each other. Even Naruto, with his super-sensitive senses only registered this much. He had the sense of being flung into something, but everything was so out of focus that he could barely try to breath, let alone think as the universe blurred around him.
Suddenly, the universe began to unblur.
Naruto blinked in surprise, his world reeling, his skin numb. One moment he had been fighting Azula, and the next...this? He found himself staring at himself, utterly unable to beilieve what had happened. Or how it had happened. What the devil was going on here? Was he staring at a clone? But...no, he hadn't created one. What was going on here?
He became aware of his own shuffling footsteps, his shallow breathing, blood rushing in his ears, sweat beading upon his brow. Then he looked down, and what he saw there, turned his spine to ice. Why were his hands so small? And why was he wearing armor? More importantly...why did his chest feel so damn heavy? He took a tottering step forward suddenly aware of hair before his visage, those ebony tresses blotting out his visiion for the smallest of seconds-
Naruto froze. Touched a hand to his face. Then his chest.
Oh no.
Suddenly, a voice yelled out "SWEET AGNI IN HOLY FLAMES!" causing him to crane his neck in that direction. The forest was still burning around him, so it was difficult to properly believe what he was seeing or if it was just the soot in his lungs
"W-W-W-Why are you standing there?!" his body sputtered in a feminine tone, shattering all doubt. "Stop messing with my body like that!"
"What're you-Oh. Crap." It was Azula's voice that emerged from his mouth, albeit with a slight drawl.
What he had thought was a clone was his own frightened body, staring back at him with horror and trepidation. But that wasn't him standing there. And if wasn't standing there...
Had he just swapped bodies with Azula?!
A/N: Aaand there you have it! The focus was on almost everyone this chapter, although Azula stole more of the spotlight than most. She's such a tragic character; I can't help but enjoy writing her character out sometimes. I just really get into it. Next chapter total chaos ensues! With Naruto and Azula in different bodies this is bound to be hilarious! Somehow, I can just imagine Naruto being the one to enjoy this...any ideas for a sick man, folks?
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)
"Listen, Avatar. I can join your group, or I can do something unspeakably horrible to you and your friends. Your choice."
Naruto sweatdropped.
"You...really need to work on your people skills, Azula."
The ex-princess growled.
"Mabye I'll work on that after I get my body back!"
Hope you enjoyed! R&R! =D