Hey hey yo everyone. I'm back and the fourth chapter of "Red Lotus and the Shinobi" is here and I hoped you like it. Sorry for the long wait and thank you for your patience.
Already finished Book 4 Balance in DVD version and it was all awesome with the plot and battles especially the epic battle with a giant mech fitted with a massive spirit energy cannon but somewhat disappointed in the ending. Not what I expected including all the predictions and speculations in memes and comments in Facebook and in wiki forums. No offense to Korrasami shippers but I think the creators went a bit too far in making the lesbian ship come true but it's not my position to argue anyway.
Oh well, time to watch Last Airbender up to Legend of Korra all over again. Same goes to Naruto Shippuden when it finally stops the same old fillers already. It's getting tiresome already. I've yet to find a DVD copy of The Last Naruto movie and enjoy it on tv! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar Legend of Korra or Naruto. They belong to Bryke Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, and Masashi Kishimoto.
Enjoy and don't forget to review. :)
In the outskirts of the Land of Iron
In the long trek on the snowy forests in the Land of Iron, the three Red Lotus members Ghazan, P'Li, and Ming-Hua followed Naruto Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake, and Yamato on a journey, tagging along with the young shinobi in searching the Raikage before he heads to the Kage Summit.
The benders of the Red Lotus seemed to enjoy their company especially the blond teen who appears to be energetic and a prankster type that needs to be restrained as shown with Kakashi and Yamato trying to control him and his hilarious antics and pranks to almost in little results much to their chagrin and frustration which amuses them.
"For a kid who dreams to be Hokage, Naruto sure is quite energetic, don't you guys think?", Ghazan asked amusedly.
"Yeah Ghazan. Coming from the looks from his face he's pretty determined but does he know the burdens and consequences of being a leader of a state?", P'Li said.
"Oh, you mean all the paperwork, press conferences, state meetings with government officials, paparazzi and all? Seen that in Republic City with President Raiko in charge at that time when we're searching for the Avatar at that time. Too bad we didn't kill him earlier. Hehehe", Ming-Hua commented while walking around the snow, bending them into water playfully with her new arms into different beautiful looking forms.
Kakashi seemed to noticed the female waterbender's use of her bending and observed carefully that she doesn't use any handseals of any kind he recognized while walking around casually just prevent suspicion from the three. Strange... miss Ming-Hua is manipulating water and turning snow into liquid no doubt but it looks like she's moving them like an extension of her own body... No handseals at all. As for the other two, I wonder what they can do...
It seems like that he's going to keep an eye on them more often just after they found them lying around in the snow for strange reasons before rescuing them thanks to Naruto and needs to find out.
Earlier while on the trek, Kakashi gave a basic information of what a Hokage is and the role as a leader of the Hidden Leaf Village to the Red Lotus members, who asked him about it, that not only requires the combat capabilities of the candidate but also the excellent educational intelligence and skills, good reputation, wise leadership etc. And anyone can be selected to be the Hokage by the Konoha council of elders should he/she be deemed to be qualified, fit and worthy enough to inherit the title.
They also came to learn that there are other Kages out there in the Shinobi World. The Raikage, the Tsuchikage, the Mizukage and the Kazekage. Four respective leaders of Hidden Cloud, Stone, Mist, and Sand. And they are on their way to the Kage Summit for an important meeting between leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. The selection of those Kages are the same as that of the Hidden Leaf's.
After hearing all that from Kakashi, the Red Lotus elite members were somewhat impressed of how the governmental system in the Shinobi World works around here and wondered if the Five Nations of the Avatar World will ever have a summit maybe at Republic City. But since due to the mass nation-wide anarchy they have caused in the Earth Kingdom after Zaheer assassinated Earth Queen Hou-Ting, a summit may never happen not with the four other nations having to deal and handle with the chaotic state of the Earth Kingdom the Red Lotus has caused.
Quite ironic huh for three of the four most dangerous benders in the Avatar World to take a liking to the Shinobi World after their deaths in a climatic battle against Avatar Korra and her allies.
According to the white-haired shinobi, Naruto Uzumaki isn't one of the smartest among the current generation and often acts before he thinks until he actually does when the situation calls it that helps him a lot. Even with the improvement of abilities and skills after a long training outside Konoha under the late Jiraiya, Naruto is still a dumbass and immature sometimes.
Not only that there were many others who are qualified enough to become a Hokage including Kakashi which might complicate Naruto's dream of being one and oh boy there's going to be a competition over the title.
"Let just hope he lives up to his dedications of his dream.", the lavabender spoke in deadpan with the two women agreeing with him when they realized Naruto's childishness.
Eventually, the group had finally caught up with the Raikage and his guards after following them in their trail. Thankfully a fight between the two groups didn't break out as the Raikage had kept his men from attacking Naruto and the others and agreed to listen to what he had to say in mind first.
The name of the Raikage is A according to Kakashi. What a really strange. Probably a codename no doubt as the benders noted. And coming from his appearance, he looks like some sort of a wrestler in robes and heavy-looking metal gauntlets, implying that the Raikage is a heavy combat hitter.
The three Red Lotus members then witnessed Naruto plead with the Raikage to spare Sasuke and pardon him, but his request was flatly refused and the Raikage berated him for sticking up for a criminal even with the blond boy bowing down in humility before him that the leader of the Hidden Cloud Village didn't take it lightly very well. Even as going as far telling Naruto that in his eyes, respect and strength mean everything in the Shinobi World, and the weak should and will be crushed, as he said, "Shinobi ought not lower their heads so easily, action and power are what shinobi respect! There should be no compromise between shinobi. The history of the human race is a history of war! Ever since the three Shinobi World Wars… Every country… every village has fought for the strongest techniques. The weak will be crushed! That is inescapable truth of the ninja world!"
"Can I freeze him please or better yet kill him?", Ming-Hua asked in irritation after hearing that from the Raikage of his ideals and beliefs.
"As much as I want to blow that guy up in the face so bad for stuck-up arrogance, I ain't risking a retaliation.", P'Li retorted.
"Two out of three Ming-Hua, you're overruled.", Ghazan supported the combustionbender's notion, leading to the female waterbender to fume in frustration in red and bent the water to freeze the lavabender's mouth at his expense.
Passing by a distraught Naruto, the Raikage noticed Ghazan, P'Li and Ming-Hua with a hint of great wonder and suspicion about the three benders in terms of their appearances and looks on their faces, having noticed one of them manipulating water on her friend childishly before continuing on the journey with his three bodyguards.
After the Raikage and his bodyguards left heading to the Five Kage Summit, the group were left standing in the middle of the open snowy field.
"Well, that was dramatic.", Ming-Hua said awkwardly after enjoying her little fun with the lavabender.
"Yeah, the words of that Raikage felt intimidating from his size and authority.", Ghazan commented after managing to get the ice off his mouth.
"Coming from the Raikage. He sure is very dense and persistent in wanting this man named Sasuke dead despite Naruto pleading for his life. I wonder what he did?", P'Li wondered.
"Sasuke was once a part of the Hidden Leaf. A student of mine with great potential but left the village in his hunger for greater power to take revenge on his older brother Itachi for killing his clan and his family after being seduced by Orichimaru in acquiring more power. Since then, Sasuke became a missing-nin or a rogue shinobi and committed many crimes against the Five Great Shinobi Countries. An international criminal to be exact, miss P'Li.", Kakashi explained in a tone of regret.
"Not only that, he's also Naruto's best friend and rival of sorts when they're in the Academy. Naruto swore that he'll do whatever he takes to bring back Sasuke to the village no matter what.", the white-haired man continued.
Now that's a surprising revelation. So Sasuke was Naruto's best friend/rival and a last member of a destroyed clan similar to the Air Nomads a hundred years ago when the Fire Nation attacked the Air Temples that left the late Avatar Aang the last airbender left until he had children of his own through his marriage with Katara, having Tenzin and later Bumi as airbenders and his grandchildren all three airbenders as well save for the fourth one, and the effects of the Harmonic Convergence that sparked an awakening of airbending abilities within the considerate number of nonbenders in the Earth Kingdom.
The Red Lotus members felt pity for Naruto the boy who saved them from the unforgiving cold of snows. Despite being ruthless anarchists bent on destroying order and supporting anarchy, they had valued their friendship as they have risked their own lives to rescue each other out from White Lotus prisons and watch each other's backs during battles until their deaths in a climatic battle before ending up in the Shinobi World.
Yamato patted on Naruto's shoulder to comfort him. "I'm sorry Naruto but at least you tried. Come on let's get back to the village. It's getting cold out here."
The blond shinobi relented and stood up, ready to head back to Konoha with Kakashi and Yamato but then turned to the trio.
"And, what about you guys? Aren't you coming along? I said awhile ago I'd show you around the village.", Naruto said.
"Not like we have much of a choice. Alright then, we follow you back to your village. Can't wait to see the change of scenery.", Ghazan answered.
"Me too. I always wanted to taste ramen again...", Ming-Hua said in agreement.
As they were about to make a long journey back to the Hidden Leaf Village, the combustionbender stopped them.
"Hmm... Wait. How about we... pay a little visit to the summit?", P'Li suggested.
The Hidden leaf shinobi and Naruto were taken aback of the combustionbender's suggestion and Ghazan and Ming-Hua were also surprised too.
"Uh,... why miss P'Li?", Yamato asked. Kakashi and Naruto had the same question too in their heads.
"Think about it. If Naruto can at try plead his case to spare and pardon Sasuke before the Five Kage themselves. Then perhaps they might grant that request.", P'Li explained.
"Easier said than done. Sasuke's crimes are very well-known to the Five Kage and will not listen to Naruto's plea for his pardon. With Danzo as the temporary Hokage, he would be supporting the last Uchiha's death warrant should that happen whether we like it or not. It's a lost cause.", Yamato interjected.
"Wouldn't hurt if you try. Besides I wanna meet the Five Kage in person. Hope they ain't bunch of self-serving arrogant jerks like that Raikage earlier or probably they are already 'cause I have something to speak my mind to them.", Ming-Hua said in agreement.
Ghazan and P'Li gave her the look that says "No no no, we're not killing them. We're not in our world anymore.", obviously knowing what her words meant so far even during their time back in the Avatar World, obviously knew that she gonna take them out.
"What guys? What did I say? It's just a harmless talk I'm going to take them out with.", the waterbender said innocently with a smile leading to the lavabender and combustionbender sighing.
"Alright then! We're going to the Kage Summit and try to plead for Sasuke's life again! Believe it!", Naruto declared with renewed vigour and determination after hearing their suggestion.
A shocked Yamato tried to argue with the blond shinobi but Kakashi stopped him, knowing better that once Naruto declares his resolve, he won't stop much to his chagrin. Naruto thanked P'Li for giving him another option in gratefulness.
And so the group composed of three members of the Red Lotus, two renowned Hidden Leaf shinobi and one blond knuckleheaded teenager who wanted to become Hokage now heads off to the Kage Summit, unaware what lies ahead of them there...
Author's Note: Whew! Finally another victory over my writer's block until the next battle of course lol. I just wanna make things a bit faster sorry to disappoint you if I did. In the fifth chapter, the three Red Lotus members follow and then eavesdrop in the Five Kage Summit only to end up in a crossfire between the Five Kages and Team Taka, Sasuke's team.
Can't wait for some awesomeness of the animated adaptations of the Final Arc of the Naruto series after the fillers are done. It is going be epic! (in North's voice from Rise of the Guardians)
Enjoy and don't forget to review. :D