Well I'm back. Reason it took so long: I'm an even slower writer than I thought. Anyway…
I want to give a thanks to all the people who gave their condolences during a rough time. I appreciate it.
Moving on to a less somber subject, I made a change in the story. Instead of Naruto traveling 400 years back it's now 500 years. It doesn't really make much of a difference but it makes me feel it's a bit more believable for what I'm going to do in this story.
Also in the last chapter I didn't put up a disclaimer so for this and the last chapter: I do not own Avatar nor do I own Naruto.
Avatar: The Last Airbender and The First Shinobi
Previously on Avatar:
The light burst out of the water and turned out to be a glowing iceberg
-----
"How long were you two in that iceberg?"
"I don't know…a few days maybe?"
"I think you were in there for 100 years!"
-----
"No one has seen an airbender a hundred years. We thought they were extinct."
-----
"According to legend, you need to first master water, then earth, then fire, right?"
"That's what the monks told me."
Well if you go to the North Pole, you can master waterbending."
"Wait, what about air?"
-----
"Wake my uncle! Tell him I found the Avatar."
Book 1: Water
Chapter 3: The Southern Air Temple
The sun was just peaking over the mountains. Katara was finishing packing her things in Appa's saddle. Aang was adjusting the reigns. And Naruto and Sokka were snoring on the ground a few feet away.
"Wait 'til you see it, Katara." Aang said, pulling the reigns tighter. "The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world."
Katara felt pity for the boy. She didn't have the heart to tell him that his people were gone, wiped out by the Fire Nation, but he needed to know. So she tried to break it to him subtle-like. "Aang I know you're excited, but it's been a hundred years since you've been home."
"That's why I'm so excited!" Aang smiled brightly up at her. He obviously didn't take the hint, but Katara decided to try again.
"It's just that a lot can change in all that time."
"I know, but I need to see it for myself."
He jumped down from Appa and walked over to Sokka and Naruto, still sleeping. "Wakey wakey sleepyheads. Air temple here we come!" Aang yelled.
Naruto rolled over and snored louder. Sokka stirred "Sleep now…temple later." He turned over and started snoring again.
Aang frowned then grinned mischievously. He picked up a stick and ran it up and down Sokka's sleeping bag, then yelled. "Sokka! Wake up! There's a prickle snake in your sleeping bag!" Sokka screamed and jumped up and around. "Get it out! Get it out!" Still in his sleeping bag Sokka lost his balance and fell flat on his face. Katara laughed at the scene. Aang smiled innocently. "Great! You're awake." Sokka grumbled and glared at the younger boy.
"Well that just leaves Naruto." Aang looked at the sleeping blonde and smiled deviously. "Oh no! Breakfast is burning! And it's Naruto's favorite food!" the monk screamed.
Naruto shot up. "Ah! Ramen–chan! I'll save you!" He jumped up and ran into the river they were camped by. He ran out with water in his arms to the campfire and threw the water over the fire. Naruto looked wildly around for the ramen while the others laughed. Realizing he was the victim of a punch, Naruto glared at them.
"God. Everyone's awake. Let's go." Aang said.
Zuko's ship pulled into a Fire Nation naval yard. As he and his uncle walked down the ship's gangplank, Zuko grumbled at the two bigger ships they were docked between. "Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing their trail." He said quietly.
"You mean the Avatars?" Iroh asked, to loud for Zuko's tastes.
He turned on his uncle angrily. "Don't mention that name on these docks! Once word gets out that, not one, but two of them alive, every firebender will be out looking for them double time. I don't want anyone getting in the way."
"Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?" asked a voice that made Zuko sick to his stomach. He and Iroh turned to the man approaching them.
Zuko scowled at him. "Captain Zhao."
"It's Commander now." Zhao informed with a slight smirk. He bowed to Iroh. "And General Iroh, great hero of our nation."
"Retired General" Iroh corrected.
"The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests anytime. What brings you to my harbor?"
Iroh jerked his thumb at the ship. "Our ship is being repaired."
"That's quite a bit of damage." Zhao noted.
Zuko fidgeted. Zhao wanted a story. "Yes…you wouldn't believe what happened." Not a storyteller, he looked at his uncle. "Uncle! Tell Commander Zhao what happened."
Iroh jumped and mentally cursed his nephew for putting him in this position. "Yes, I will do that. It was incredible." Iroh drew a blank after that and leaned towards Zuko. "What, did we crash or something?"
Zuko's eye twitched. "Uh, yes! Right into an Earth Kingdom ship"
"Really?" Zhao asked, clearly not believing their story. "You must regale me with all the thrilling details. Join me for a drink?" Zhao asked smirking at Zuko.
Zuko glared at him. "Sorry, but we have to go." Zuko turned to leave but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, courtesy of Iroh.
"Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect." Zuko almost rolled his eyes. "We would be honored to join you. Do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favorite." A burst of fire was released from his hands before Zuko followed the Commander and his uncle off the deck.
Sokka clutched his growling stomach and glared down at it. "Hey stomach, be quiet, all right? I'm trying to find us some food." Another stomach growl. "That goes for you too, Naruto's stomach."
"Um, Sokka?"
"What?"
"Isn't there supposed to food in this bag?"
"Yes. That's why it's called the food bag."
"Well we should be calling it the crumb bag, look." Naruto shook the bag upside down and all that fell out were a few crumbs.
"What?! Where's all my blubbered seal jerky?!"
Aang looked back at them. "Oh that was food? I used it to start the campfire. Sorry."
"You WHAT?!" they yelled. Naruto fell back in hunger "No wonder the flames smelled so good." Sokka moaned.
Aang smiled as the mountain range became visible. "The Batola mountain range! We're almost there!"
Katara looked at Aang with guilt and sadness. She had to tell him now. "Aang" she started uneasily. "Before we reach the temple, I want to talk to you about the airbenders."
"What about them?"
'I've got to be blunt about this.' "Well-"
"Yeah, about the airbenders." Naruto interrupted. Katara frowned. "Aang you said there are people there who can teach me airbending, right?"
Aang nodded happily. "Yep. There are many airbending masters in the Southern Air Temple. Me included." Aang stated proudly, pointing at his arrow.
"Well if you're a master, how come you can't teach me?"
"I'm not ready to teach yet. The monks told me I need more experience." Naruto sighed unhappily. "Don't worry. The monks are great. You're gonna love them." Aang said to cheer up his sad friend.
"I don't know Aang." Katara said.
"Don't know what Katara?"
"The Fire Nation, they're ruthless. They killed my mother and they could have done the same to your people. And I just want you to be prepared for what you might see."
"Just because no one has seen an airbender doesn't mean the Fire Nation killed them all." He smiled, not a happy smile, but a hopeful smile. "They probably escaped."
Katara placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's hard to accept."
Aang shook her off, slightly annoyed. "You don't understand. The only way to get to an airbender temple is on a flying bison, and I doubt the Fire Nation has any flying bison. Right Appa?" Appa roared in agreement.
Aang flew them up higher, having Appa fly straight up. As soon as they cleared the mountain they were able to see the Air Temple. "There it is. The Southern Air Temple." Aang announced proudly.
"Aang it's amazing!" Katara said.
Naruto looked at it. He thought it looked more like a castle than a temple, but he kept that to himself.
"We're home buddy." Aang said to Appa. "We're home."
Once the tea arrived (Zuko was of age but Iroh is not one for alcohol) Iroh practically drained the teapot himself.
Meanwhile Zhao had been talking *cough*bragging*cough* about his accomplishments over the past couple of years, future assignments, and the war in general. "And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule." Zhao said standing in front of a large world map. He turned to Zuko and Iroh, who was off to the side looking at various weapons. "The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war."
"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool." Zuko said. Zhao smirked and took a seat next to Zuko.
"I see two years at sea has done little to temper your tongue." Zhao's smirk grew bigger. "So, how is search for the Avatar going?"
A crash turned their attention to Iroh, who tipped over the weapon stand he was looking at. Iroh smiled apologetically. "My fault entirely." Zhao watched him back away before turning back to Zuko.
"We haven't found him yet." Zuko said evenly.
"Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago along with the rest of the airbenders." Zhao smirked again when Zuko averted his eyes. "Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is still alive."
"No. Nothing." Zuko lied.
Zhao stood up and leaned down face to face with Zuko. "Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you've found."
"I haven't found anything." Zuko growled. Then in a calmer tone he said "It's like you said. The Avatar probably died a long time ago. Come on Uncle, we're leaving." He got up to leave but was blocked by the guards.
Another guard walked into the tent. "Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody but…" the guard paused and shuffled nervously.
"But?" Zhao asked.
"But let…them escape." The guard hoped the commander wouldn't ask who 'them' were.
"Them?"
Dammit.
"The…Avatars."
"Avatars?" Zhao looked at Zuko. "Care to explain that one, Prince Zuko?"
At Aang's insistence the kids were walking up to the temple instead of flying directly directly there, much to the annoyance of Sokka and Naruto. As they walked up, Aang excitingly talked about the temple. Katara was the only one really listening. Sokka was still focused on quieting his stomach. Naruto was half-listening, he wanted to hurry up and find an airbending teacher.
When they were three-fourths there Aang sped off, too excited to walk. Naruto quickly followed after him, happy they were finally picking up the pace. Katara watched them race up the path, amused.
"So where do I get something to eat?"
Katara looked at her brother. "You're lucky enough to be one of the first outsiders to ever visit an airbender temple, and all you can think about is food?"She asked unbelievingly.
Sokka shrugged. "I'm just a simple guy with simple needs."
Katara psshed. 'He's simple alright.' She looked ahead at Aang who was animatedly pointing out things to Naruto.
"And that's where my friends and I would play airball! And over there would be where the bison would sleep! And…" he sighed sadly.
"What's wrong?" Katara asked.
"Yeah. Where are all the airbenders?!" Naruto complained.
Aang sighed again. Sokka and Katara looked at each other then ran up to Aang.
"So this airball game, how do you play?" Sokka asked. Aang smiled.
Naruto and Sokka stood ready at one end of the airball court. On the other side Aang skillfully controlled the ball with airbending. He tossed the ball in the air and grinned at his opponents like a Cheshire cat.
As soon as it came down, Aang kicked it forward with airbending. Sokka and Naruto watched as it bounced off the poles. As it came near Naruto made a dive for the ball. He missed and painfully collided with the pole and slid down its length.
The ball continued on its path to the goal. It slammed into Sokka's stomach and carried him through the goal.
"Goal!" Aang cheered. "Aang seven. Naruto and Sokka, zero."
"Making him fell better is putting me in a world of hurt." Sokka moaned. He started to get up but stopped when he spotted an old beaten up helmet. "Katara, check this out."
Katara looked at the helmet. "Fire Nation."
"We should tell them."
Katara sighed and nodded. "Guys there's something you need to see."
"Okay!"
"Coming!"
Katara watched them jog over, passing the ball to each other. She inwardly smiled at their child like innocence, something she wished she still had. But the Fire Nation had taken care of that. She looked at the helmet. 'And they'll do it again to Aang.' She glared at it and bended some snow over the helmet and her brother. 'No, let Aang be a kid a little longer.'
"What's up?" Naruto asked.
"Err…just a new waterbending move I learned."
"Nice one. But enough practicing. We have a whole temple to see." Aang ran towards the temple, Naruto hot on his heels.
"Yeah! Airbending-sensei here I come!"
Sokka brushed the snow off him. "You know you can't protect him forever." Katara didn't respond and walked ahead. Sokka stared after her, grabbed his gloves and parka, and followed after them.
"Hey Aang."
"Yeah?"
"Are Katara and Sokka acting strange to you?"
"Hmm?" Aang looked back to the two siblings. Sokka was angrily saying something to Katara, jerking his hand and pointing at the two boys, while Katara was silently glaring at him. When they noticed Aang looking at them they stopped, smiled, and Sokka threw his arm around Katara. "Huh. Maybe that's how they normally act. We've only known them for a couple of days."
"They usually fight in front of us no problem." Naruto turned to the two, Katara now yelling something at Sokka. They stopped when they noticed they were being watched again. "I think they're arguing about us."
"About what?"
Naruto shrugged.
Aang was silent for a minute before he came to a conclusion. "…Teenagers are weird."
"Katara firebenders were here. You can't pretend they weren't." Sokka told her.
"I can for Aang's sake." She argued. "If he finds out that the Fire Nation invaded his home, he'll be devastated. And he won't be the only one."
"What do you mean…Naruto?" Sokka snorted. "How will this affect him?"
They looked at Naruto. "Hey airbenders! I need a master! Come on out and teach!"
"If he finds out that there's nobody left to teach him, he'll be crushed." Katara explained.
"Please. More than likely he'll scream and curse."
Before Katara could retort (or agree) Aang had called them over, wanting to introduce them to someone. Katara and Sokka, surprised and confused, quickly walked over. Naruto zipped over. "Who? Where is he? Is he an airbending master? Will he teach me!?"
Aang chuckled. "Actually, I'd like to introduce you to Monk Gyatso, the greatest airbender in the world. He taught me everything I know."
Naruto deflated. "Oh. You were talking about a statue."
Katara rubbed his shoulder assuringly. Sokka crossed his arms and squinted at the statue head tilted.
Aang smiled and bowed to the statue.
Flashback
Gyatso pulled out a cake from a brick oven.
"Bu the rue secret is in the gooey center!" Raising his hand above the cake Gyatso airbent the fruit filling up in a twisting mountain of filling.
Aang sighed, not really paying attention to Gyatso, actually facing away from him.
"My ancient cake making technique isn't the only thing on your mind, is it, Aang?" Gyatso asked.
Aang sighed again and slightly turned towards Gyatso. "This whole Avatar thing…maybe the monks made a mistake."
"The only mistake they made was telling you before you turned sixteen." He turned to Aang. "But we can't concern ourselves with what was. We must act on what is." He gestured to the grounds in front of them full of grazing sky bison, playful lemurs, and happy airbenders.
Aang smiled briefly before another question popped into his head. "But Gyatso, how do I know if I'm ready for this?"
"Your questions will be answered when you are old enough to enter the Air Temple Sanctuary. Inside you will meet someone who will guide you on your journey." Gyatso told him.
Aang perked up and spun towards Gyatso. "Who is it?"
"When you are ready he will reveal himself to you." The old airbender answered mysteriously.
Aang groaned.
Gyatso turned to Aang. "Now are you going to help me with these cakes, or not?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
Aang noticed and smiled back. "Alright."
"One."
They both assumed airbending stances.
"Two."
They stepped back and formed air balls.
"Three!"
They launched the spheres at the cakes. The cakes went flying and landed on four meditating monks, who were then swarmed by hungry lemurs.
The young and old airbending masters laughed. They turned and bowed to each other. "Your aim has improved greatly my young pupil."
Flashback end
Aang came up from his bow, a sad look on his face. Thinking about Gyatso made him realize he would never see his old master and friend again.
He slightly turned his head when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Katara.
"You must miss him."
"Yeah." He answered solemnly before walking into the temple.
"Where are you going?" Katara asked.
He turned back to them. "The Air Temple Sanctuary. There's someone I'm ready to meet." And he continued into the temple.
Katara looked at the others, who shrugged.
They proceeded to follow Aang inside until they stopped at a large set of wooden, which on the front had, what looked like to Katara, a large tsungi horn with a very complicated design and two horns. Set within the 'tsungi horn' were light blue, what looked like to Sokka, spiral seashells.
Looking at the 'spiral seashells' and back at the spiral air nomad symbol on the ground they just walked over, Naruto looked at his clan symbol on his left arm, which also happens to be a spiral, then back at the door, blinking.
"But Aang," Naruto turned his attention to Katara. "No one could have survived in there for a hundred years." The girl said.
"It's not impossible. I survived in the iceberg for that long." Aang reminded her.
"He's got you there Katara-neechan." Naruto laughed.
Katara glared at him before sighing in defeat. Aang did have a good point.
"Whoever's in there might help me figure out this Avatar thing." Aang explained.
"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious cured meats!" Sokka spoke eagerly.
"And whoever's in there might be an air master!" Naruto exclaimed, equally eager.
"Airbending master." Aang corrected.
"Yeah, that too." With that he and Sokka rushed to go through the door but found out the hard way that the door was stuck shut when they painfully collided face first with the door.
Sokka immediately got back up and tried to push the door open meanwhile Naruto was rolling on the ground nursing his red face.
Sokka, realizing this was a waste of time, gave up and slid down to the ground. He looked at Aang. "I don't suppose you have a key?"
Aang smiled. "The key, Sokka, is airbending." Aang explained. He motioned the others to get behind him before he assumed an airbending stance.
Taking a deep breath, Aang raised his arms out to his sides then thrust them forward, unleashing a jet of air from each hand through the horns into the tubes. A melodic humming was made as the air traveled the tubes. The shells one by one flipped over from their blue sides to their maroon sides. With a final loud click the door unlocked and opened by themselves.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Aang called into the dark room. With no response Aang walked into the dark room with the others hesitantly following him.
"So two twelve-year-old boys bested you and your firebenders?" Zhao shook his head. "You're even more pathetic than I thought." Zhao sneered.
Zuko growled. "Have you ever fought one person who can bend more than one element?" Zhao's sneer disappeared. "No? Well I fought two people like that and they're both powerful, regardless of age. But no matter how strong they are, they won't get me next time."
"Yes, you're right. It won't happen next time because there will be no next time." Zhao declared.
"Commander Zhao," Zuko began "I've been hunting the Avatar for two years now and I-"
Zhao whipped around, fire streaming off his outstretched hand. "And you failed! Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now."
Zuko growled and lunged for Zhao but was held back by Zhao's guards.
Zhao smirked at the teen's reaction. "Keep them here." He ordered as he left.
Zuko snarled at Zhao's retreating form and kicked over the table in the room.
Iroh watched the scene silently then looked at the guards. "More tea please."
"Statues?! That's it? Where's the meat?!"
"Forget your damn meat! Where's my airbending master?!"
The room turned out to be a big disappointment to Naruto and Sokka. Instead of food and airbenders, the sanctuary contained a bunch of statues lined up in a spiral like pattern going all the way up to the ceiling.
"Wow. There sure are a lot of statues." Sokka said looking up trying to see where that ended.
"Who are all these people?" Katara wondered.
"I'm not sure, but it feels like I know them somehow." Aang said.
"Yeah I know what you mean." Naruto said staring hypnotically at a statue of a man with a devilish smirk. Naruto vaguely noticed that this guy was the only one doing this; every other statue had a serious look on their face.
"Look!" Naruto jumped and turned to Aang. "That one's an airbender!" Naruto looked at the statue Aang was pointing at, which was coincidently next to the one he was looking at, of a woman in robes with an arrow on her forehead.
Katara pointed at the next statue. "And this one's a waterbender." Katara looked around. "They're lined up in a pattern. Air. Water. Earth. Fire."
"That's the Avatar cycle." Aang stated.
Katara came to a realization. "They're Avatars. All these people are your past lives."
"Wait a minute. You're telling me I used to be all these people?" Naruto asked incredulously. Katara nodded.
"Don't tell me you guys really believe in that past life stuff." Sokka scoffed.
"It's true." Katara argued. "When the Avatar dies he's reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle."
"Well if it is true then does that mean I used to be Aang?" he turned to Aang, who was smiling.
"Yep. And in 500 years I'm going to be you."
"So you're me and I'm you but we're two different people but we're still the same but we exist at different times but we're here looking at each other so that means I'm looking at myself but you're not me but-" Katara slapped him. "Thanks. I needed that."
"Anytime." She turned to Aang who was staring at a statue. "Aang?"
No response.
"Don't tell me I have to slap you too? Aang!"
Aang blinked. "Huh?"
Katara looked at him in concern then looked at the statue. "Who is that?"
"That's Avatar Roku, the Avatar before me."
Sokka looked at the statue. "You were a firebender? No wonder I didn't trust you guys when we first met."
"There's no writing. How do you know his name?" Katara asked.
"I'm not sure." he looked back at the statue. He could have sworn its eyes were glowing before. "I just know it somehow."
"You just couldn't get any weirder! And why are you just sitting there like a snail-turtle!" Sokka complained.
Naruto, now sitting on the ground staring at the statue of the smirking Avatar, whipped his head towards Sokka. "A what-now?"
Before Sokka could respond, a low, but still loud humming noise sounded throughout the room. The four glanced to where it came from, the entrance to the sanctuary, and the sight of a large shadow with long ears was all it took for them to hide behind the statues.
"Firebender. Nobody make a sound." Sokka whispered.
"You're making a sound!" Katara stated, but was shushed by the other three.
Sokka pulled out his club and Naruto drew his kunai as the got closer.
"On the count of three…" Sokka whispered "…we rush out and jump this guy. That firebender won't know what hit him." Naruto nodded. "One…two…three!" They took one step out and stopped and, in Sokka's case drooled, at the sight of the intruder.
Naruto tilted his head. "What is that?"
Curious, Aang and Katara peeked out from behind their statue.
Instead of a firebender, there was a small white and brown furry animal that Aang instantly and happily recognized. "Lemur!"
"Dinner." The lemur shrank away when Sokka said that.
"Aww. It's so cute." Katara gushed.
"Don't listen to him." Aang said as if to assure the lemur. "You're going to be my new pet."
"Not if I get it first." Sokka challenged.
Both lunged for the animal causing it to screech and run away. Katara and Naruto watched as the two chased the lemur out of the room. "What do you think the chances are of Sokka getting that lemur before Aang?" Naruto wondered.
"Gah!" they heard Sokka scream.
"No chance whatsoever." Katara deadpanned. Naruto sweatdropped.
"Grr."
Naruto and Katara froze. They slowly turned around and faced a small fox cub. It was pretty small, probably able to sit on a person's head. Its fur was orange except for its paws and tips of its ears and tail, which were red, and is belly white.
Naruto relaxed a bit. "A fox?"
"Aww. This one's cute too." Katara gushed again.
Naruto rolled his eyes. 'Girls.' He looked down at the fox, which sniffed him then looked at him curiously.
Katara watched as the two stare stared at each other and couldn't help but notice how similar their facial expressions were, with their heads tilted and eyes squinted. Well with those whiskers Naruto did look like a fox.
Katara stepped closer to the fox, reaching out to pet it. "Hey there little guy." The fox growled menacingly at her. Katara quickly pulled her hand back blinking then frowned. "He sure does have a bad attitude."
Naruto scoffed. "You just don't know how to handle animals. Watch me." Naruto pulled out a few pieces of candy, ate a couple himself, and held out the rest to the fox. The fox cautiously ate one. Its eyes widened as it finished and happily ate the rest. Naruto smiled. "See. That's how it's done."
The fox's eyes narrowed and bit Naruto's hand. Naruto screamed and flung the fox away. The fox barked and ran off.
"You stupid fox! Get back here!" Naruto chased after it.
Katara sighed and shook her head. "Boys."
"My search party is ready." Zhao announced as he entered the tent.
Zuko grunted and Iroh sipped his tea.
"Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go."
"Why? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zuko sneered.
Zhao laughed. "You? Stop me? Impossible."
Zuko stood up. "Don't underestimate me Zhao. I will capture the Avatar before you!" he declared.
"Prince Zuko that's enough." Iroh said standing up as well.
Zhao laughed again. "You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command. And you…you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you."
"You're wrong! Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with my honor and rightful place on the throne restored."
"If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now. Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation."
"That's not true!"
Zhao was pushing it, and he knew it. It was obvious to all in the room that Zuko was close to snapping. It would probably take one more remark to do it. "You have the scar to prove it." That did it.
Zuko shot out his chair again. "Maybe you'd like one to match!" he roared.
"Is that a challenge?" Zhao asked in a low even tone.
"Sunset. Agni Kai."
"Vey well." Zhao turned to leave but paused. "It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do." With that Zhao walked away.
As soon as Zhao left the tent Iroh spoke to his nephew. "Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you dueled a master?"
Zuko's scar throbbed at the memory. "I will never forget."
"Hey little guy. "Come back." Aang called to the lemur.
After racing Sokka through the hallway, outmaneuvering the warrior, and jumping off a balcony seven stories above large jagged rocks, Aang was finally going to catch this lemur as he chased it into a small broken down building with a tarp serving as its door.
"Come on out little lemur. That hungry guy won't bother you anymore." He called as he walked through a second tarp.
What was in the room caused him to gasp. The remains of many firebenders laid across the room half buried in snow. "F-firebenders? They were h-here?"
Aang inspected the room further and what he saw caused his breath to catch in his throat and his body to numb.
In the back of the room, illuminated by sunlight, was the skeleton of an airbender monk, if the old and damaged air nomad robes were any indication. An even greater and specific was the wooden necklace that Aang recognized immediately. "Gyatso."
Aang fell to his knees sobbing. Gyatso was dead. No. Gyatso was murdered. And if he had been killed then the other airbenders had been killed too. Grief. Anger. Sadness. Guilt. Rage. Hopelessness. All of these emotions and more were running wild throughout his body. In his grief he didn't notice Sokka walk in until he older boy put a comforting hand on his shoulder and even then he really didn't pay attention to him.
"…come on…everything will be alright…out of here."
Everything will be alright? His people are dead! How is anything alright? Who is he to tell him that! And the Fire Nation. How dare they!
Letting his rage take control, Aang's tattoos started to glow. Sokka gasped and recoiled at the sight.
Katara was still in the sanctuary looking at the statues. When she stopped to look at the Roku statue, its eyes, and all the other statues' eyes, started to glow. Katara gasped. "Aang! Naruto!" she ran out the room to find her friends.
The chase of the fox had ended in a courtyard where the two were now facing each other down. The fox growled at Naruto and looked ready to jump at the blond. Naruto looked ready to respond if it did, with his arms raised, ready to attack.
Suddenly Naruto stiffened and his eyes and whiskers briefly flashed white. After which, as if in a trance he started walking away. The fox, now confused, watched as the boy left and actually whined a bit when he walked out of sight.
In an Earth Kingdom Temple a priest was praying in front of a mural of several of the most famous Earth Kingdom Avatar, including Kyoshi, when their eyes started to glow gold.
Water shamans and people at the Northern Water Tribe watched the blue light flaring above the temple.
The Fire Sages stared at the statue of Avatar Roku's eyes glow, amazed, confused, frightened, and, for a few, hopeful.
"Send word to the Fire Lord immediately. The Avatar has returned!"
The wind began to pick up as a dome of air formed around Aang.
"Aang! Snap out of it! Aahh!" The winds got so intense that Sokka was blown away and the building was mostly destroyed. The dome of air started to expand and dust and snow started to pick-up.
Sokka held on to the rubble he landed in to prevent being blown further away. Katara soon joined him and looked worryingly at Aang. "What happened.?!"
"He found out found out firebenders killed Gyatso!"
"Oh no, it's his avatar spirit! He must have triggered it! I'm gonna try to calm him down."
Sokka watched her move towards Aang and he held on tighter to the broken piece of building.
With the strong winds and nothing to grab on to, it was quite a task to get to Aang. But when Aang started to rise into the air, Katara almost felt like crying in frustration, but instead settled for letting out a loud groan.
(I'm feeling a bit lazy here, so I'll just skip the Agni kai, since it's exactly the same as in the show.)
Zuko looked back at the arena. He was stronger, able to beat a master like Zhao. But he knew he still had a lot to learn and he needed to be even stronger in order to capture one of the Avatars.
And after this victory today he was more confident than ever that he was going to succeed in his quest.
The winds continued to rage, making it impossible for Katara to get any closer. "Aang, I know you're upset, and I know how hard it is to lose the people you love." Katara called to the boy. "I went through the same thing when I lost my mom. Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family. Sokka, Naruto, and I, were you're family."
As soon as she finished a hand was placed on Aang's shoulder. Surprised, Aang whipped his head around. Floating on an air spout, seemingly unaffected by the miniature hurricane, was Naruto, also in the Avatar State, nodded, as if silently saying "She's right."
Both boys floated down and the wind died down. Naruto faded out of the Avatar State groaning with a headache while Aang silently stood there still in the Avatar State.
Katara and Sokka ran up to the two. "Katara and I, and even Naruto, aren't going to let anything happen to you." Sokka promised.
Katara took Aang's hand into hers. He dropped out of the Avatar state and collapsed into Katara's arms. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It wasn't your fault." Katara said.
"But you were right. And if it firebenders found this temple that means they found the other ones too. I really am the last airbender."
Naruto squeezed his shoulder. "Not really. I'm almost an airbender, all I need is some training."
"Yeah. You're right. Thanks guys."
Katara hugged him tighter and Sokka put his hand on the boy's other shoulder.
After that incident the group split up to gather what useful supplies they could find around the temple. Aang somehow found himself back in the sanctuary again staring at Roku's statue.
"Everything's packed." Katara announced. "You ready to go?"
"How is Roku supposed to help me if I can't talk to him." Aang questioned.
"Maybe you'll find a way."
"Find a way to talk to a dead guy." Naruto shivered. "No thanks."
They turned around to the sound of chittering. The lemur stood in the doorway with its arms full of fruit. He hopped over and dropped the food at Sokka's feet. Sokka immediately started to gobble down the fruit.
"Looks like you made a new friend Sokka." Aang observed smiling.
"Can't talk. Must eat." Sokka replied with his mouth full.
Aang was a bit startled when the lemur climbed on top of his head but smiled because it actually did so. "Hey little guy."
Naruto noticed movement by the entrance and did a double take. "You!" He gasped.
The fox almost timidly walked up to Naruto and the two stared each other down. Then unexpectedly the fox 'smiled' and started yipping happily. Naruto looked at the fox in confusion before smiling and reaching down and scratching his ears. The fox jumped up and started licking Naruto's face, making him laugh.
Katara looked on happily. "Aww. They get along now."
Aang scratched his head. "Strange. I don't remember ever seeing foxes living in the temple."
Sokka looked at the fox. "Hey, did he bring me food too?"
The fox stopped and walked over to Sokka. Sokka, smiling, held out his hands in anticipation. The fox looked at the appendage then chomped on. "GAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Aang stood next to Appa, both staring at the temple, Momo on his arm. "You, me, and Appa. We're all that's left of this place."
"Arf." Chomp.
"Sorry. I can't forget you're part of this temple too." Aang winced and looked down at the animal attached to his ankle. "We have to stick together."
"That's right." Naruto pulled the fox off Aang. "We're all family now." He smiled at everyone, who smiled back. "And family looks out for each other."
"So what are their names?" Katara asked, petting the better behaved fox.
"Um…"
Momo jumped off Aang and came back with a swiped peach. "Momo."
Sokka looked stunned while the others laughed. Katara pointed at the fox. "What about him?"
"Um…"
Sokka reaching in a bag for another piece of fruit, moved it away.
Naruto looked up in thought. "Well…how about…" The fox gave a raspy roar and unleashed a stream of fire the incinerated the bag and its contents. The four stood gaping at the fox. "How about Torch." Naruto suggested weakly. The others nodded dumbly.
Aang, Momo, and Torch looked back at the Southern Air Temple. They watched as their home grew smaller and smaller until it was no longer visible.
Next time
Katara: Does Aang seem depressed?
Sokka: Maybe.
Katara: He's still sad about what happened at the Air Temple. We have to cheer him up!
Sokka: What? Why?
Katara: Oh come on.
Sokka: Great plan Katara. Aang's happy but now Naruto's sad.
Katara: I know! Aang can start teaching him airbending.
Sokka: Another brilliant plan. Now they're fighting.
Next time: Winds of Change
Author's Note
When I first put out the pairings for the story I honestly didn't know how I would or even if I could fit them in. But after all this time I've got most of the plot figured out. My story will be the same as the show but some changes and a lot of 'bonus material'.
Book 1 will generally be the same. The only real difference will be a few extra chapters.
Book 2 will have all the show chapters but there will be some new extra chapters, new abilities, new villains, and there may be few kekkei genkais.
Book 3 will be like Book 2, all the original chapters plus new original chapters, and new villains.
And I plan on doing a Book 4 and a thing involving Naruto: Shippuden. So yes, to you readers who were worried about this, that means Naruto will be learning everything he learned in the Naruto series, and more. How he will achieve that, you will just have to continue reading to find out.
Oh and one more thing, I found out that the name for TophXGaara is Taara. Just wanted people to know.