Chapter 15: The Guru
Chameleon Bay
Appa growled as he flew down to the bay towards a cliff outcropping. There, the giant bison's passengers saw the small fleet of wooden Water Tribe ships, docked at the shore. The crews had made camp on the beach, pitching dozens of blue tents onto the ground. Appa landed with a grumble, kicking up a bit of dust.
"You haven't seen your dad in over two years, you must be so excited!" Aang said cheerfully next to Sokka.
The young Water Tribe warrior had his hand to his mouth, as if he was trying not to throw up. "You okay man?" Naruto asked, putting his hand on Sokka's shoulder.
"I know I should be…but I just feel sick to my stomach…"
"Don't be nervous, he's going to be so happy to see you," Aang told him.
"And he'll be proud of your growth, Sokka," Kakashi said as he closed his book.
"So what about you three? Are you nervous to meet this Guru and that…Jiraiya guy?" Sokka asked them.
"Not at all, I'm ready to master the Avatar State, I'll do whatever it takes," Aang replied with a grin.
"And I'm ready to complete my attack and bring Sasuke back to Konoha," Naruto said with a smile.
Sokka then hopped off of Appa. "See you in a week, yip, yip!" Aang told Sokka as they flew off.
The young Water Tribe warrior made his way down to the camp after taking a deep breath. When he entered the camp the occupants looked up from what they were doing, which was either preparing a skin or the fire. They all looked at him, and Sokka began to rub his elbow nervously.
One of the elder Water Tribe warriors walked to him, and offered him his hand. Sokka instantly knew what to do, he clasped the older warrior's wrist and gave it a pump, and everyone began to chuckle and walk forward to him. One of the older warrior put his hand on the younger warrior's head and messed up his hair and pushing his head down.
"Sokka, good to see you!" one of them exclaimed as Sokka rose to his full height proudly.
Sokka then looked at one tent with the Tribe's symbol on it, and the other warriors made way for him. He momentarily frowned in nervousness, and walked towards it. He opened it up to see Bato, his father's old friend, hovering over….Hakoda, his father, a man with long brown hair which was in a bun, with a short beard on his face, and he was looking down at a map, thinking. Bato elbowed him, and he looked up as Sokka smiled.
"Sokka…!"
"Hi dad," Sokka said in a quieter voice, and the leader of the tribe walked over and gave his eldest son a hug, which the young warrior returned in full.
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Ba Sing Se, Earth Kingdom Palace
Gathered in the palace, the Earth King addressed the 'Kiyoshi' Warriors and their companion swordsman. At his side was his pet bear Bosco, who was sitting and resting his head on the King's armrest. The companion swordsman was the only person not kneeling before the king; he was standing there, rather indifferently.
"Look Bosco, the Kiyoshi Warriors and their friend are here to protect us," the Earth King said as he began squeezing the bear's cheeks like he was a child. "Aren't you excited?" Bosco yawned in response and the King turned to the four. "It's been a difficult week for me, my most trusted advisor, Long Feng, and his Dai Li agents tried to take over Ba Sing Se from me."
"It's terrible when you can't trust the people who closest to you," the lead Warrior said diplomatically in a deceptive voice.
"He was using you," the swordsman stated bluntly, and the King nodded.
"But there is good news," the Earth King said as he rubbed Bosco's head. "As we speak, the Council of Five is meeting to plan a counter offensive and then an invasion of the Fire Nation this summer, on the day of the Solar Eclipse."
The lead Kiyoshi Warrior's eye widened in shock, making her swordsman companion look at her. She then regained composure before the King could notice, and glanced back at the others.
"Really? That sounds like a fascinating and brilliant plan," the lead Warrior said and the others nodded.
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Palace, War Room
The five highest ranking Generals of the Earth Kingdom had gathered in the massive War Room of the Palace. In the middle of the room was a massive world map which was used for troop movements for either attack or defense. On the other side of the map was Katara, who had Momo on her shoulder, Yamato, Sakura, and Hinata.
"General Fong's base will serve as the launching point of our invasion, after General Han and Brigadier General Tyro's forces break the Fire Nation lines and push them back," How began as he used his Earthbending the pawns on the map at the Fire Nation pawns, which represented their lines. "Then, two months from now, on the day of Black Sun, the army and navy invade the Fire Nation."
With that, the units on the coast moved towards the Fire Nation on the map. Momo then tackled the Fire Lord's pawn, knocking over the pawn, then the Earth Kingdom pawns followed suit.
"Or we could sent in Momo to do some damage," Katara said jokingly as Hinata and Sakura giggled, but the generals and Yamato didn't. "Because…the…sorry…"
General How raised his hand, making the rock pawns stand upright again, and Momo scurried away. "All we need is the Earth King's seal, in order to execute the plan."
He placed the scroll on the table, and then he Earthbended part of the stone table over to the four of them. Katara picked it up as the three girls rose.
"We'll get this scroll to him right away, How-sama," Hinata said with a bow, and the three exited the room, leaving Yamato to stay with the generals. "Thank you."
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Earth Kingdom Fringe Mountain Range, Eastern Air Temple lands
Appa roared as he flew over the peaks of the mountain range. Naruto looked around in awe, he had never seen a place like this before. Aang was also looking around, seeing what had changed. Even Kakashi expressed mild interest in the terrain and setting, his visible eye looking over the area while he turned the pages of his book.
"This place is amazing Aang!" Naruto exclaimed as he looked around. "You're people lived her all the time?"
"Yep," Aang said with a smirk as he looked back at his older friend.
They flew closer, and the main part of the temple began to be seen. It was three large, intricately decorated buildings on three peaks, all connected by stone bridges. An old man with dark skin, a white beard, bald head, and pale yellow robes sat in with his legs crossed on the landing platform. He had his eyes closed in meditation, as if he was unaware of anything in the world.
Appa landed gently on the ground, below the platform where the old man was meditating, and Aang looked up to the meditating elder man. "Uh, hello?"
"Yo, old guy!" Naruto called out as he and Aang hopped off of Appa's back. Kakashi followed suit, but he didn't say anything.
"You're Guru Pathik, right? The person who put the note onto Appa's horn?" Aang asked as the three of them walked up the spiral staircase to the man.
"And where is Ero-Sennin, I mean Jiraiya?" Naruto asked as he and Aang sat down, crossing their legs like the Guru did.
"Indeed, Aang, I was the spiritual brother of your people, and a personal friend of Monk Gyatso," Pathik started as he addressed Aang first. "And Naruto, your sensei is somewhere here. I helped him master get here with the Sunpou Janpou no Jutsu (Dimension Jumping Jutsu), which we discovered was first used by your village's enemy, Orochimaru."
Naruto and Aang's eyes widened. "In your note, you said you can help me gain control of the Avatar State."
"And help me complete my Rasengan," Naruto added and Pathik nodded at both.
Before anyone could continue, a loud groan was heard. Kakashi instantly recognized that and he closed Icha Icha, saving his place and looking up.
"Ah, come on Pathik-san, you said there'd be girls in the villages away from here! But how am I suppose to get there!" the loud, boisterous voice moaned as a rustling was heard from the bushes. "How am I supposed to get any research done if I can't get to the material!"
With that, a tall man, over six feet tall walked out of the bushes. He had wild, long spiky hair, red lines going down his eyes, a headband with a strange symbol on it, and he was incredibly muscular. He wore a red vest with two yellow spots on it, dark, murky green hakama and pants, and underneath his hakama was a mesh shirt. On his back he had a thick scroll, and he looked around, his eyes widening.
"Naruto, Kakashi?" the man asked as Naruto scrambled to his feet. "You're a sight for sore eyes! Everyone back home has been worried."
"Ero-sennin!" Naruto yelled as he leapt up and hugged the older man. "I've never been so happy to see the old super pervert!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Jiraiya barked, but his face softened, and he messed up Naruto's hair. "Like I said before, its good to see you again."
"Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi said with a smirk under his mask. "How are things back in Konoha?"
"…grim, I'm afraid. The next Shinobi War is about to begin-samurai and shinobi have been amassing on the borders of Earth, Waterfall, and River. Ame's declared neutrality due to it's own internal problems, and there have been strange soldiers and machines filing out of Sound," Jiraiya replied, taking on a serious tone of voice. "Skirmishes have broken out between these strange troops, claiming that they are from the Fire Nation, between Konoha and Suna shinobi. Hinata-san's teammates, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, and Akamaru have made first contact with them, and they managed to capture what we learned was a 'tank' as well as a Fire Nation soldier."
Kakashi nodded, and Naruto's jaw lowered. "…well that explains why there are Sound Shinobi here," he said. "Right Kakashi-sensei?"
"Yes, this is troubling…Jiraiya-sama, you perfected a jutsu that got us here?" Kakashi asked and the Toad Sannin nodded.
"Yep, I am a Sannin after all," Jiraiya replied. "I'll teach it to you. Afterwards, I have to return to Konoha. Though you'll receive some backup."
"From who?" Naruto asked, looking up at his perverted mentor.
"Asuma originally volunteered, but he is in no condition to do anything for a while," Jiraiya started. "Gai volunteered, but he and his team have been assigned to the border between Bear and Lightning. So that's left Kurenai, who has chosen to go."
"Kurenai-sensei's coming?" Naruto asked and the white haired Sannin nodded. "Hinata-chan's going to be so happy about that!"
"Hinata-chan…eh?" Jiraiya said slyly, looking down at Naruto. "So how is sh-…"
Before he even finished his sentence, Naruto slammed his fist into his mentor's face. "WE JUST GOT TOGETHER, BAKA ERO-SENNIN!"
Aang chuckled as the white haired man crashed to the ground after Naruto's punch. "Now Aang, to gain control of the Avatar State, you must gain balance within yourself before you bring balance to the world, and the first step to gaining balance is to drink this…"
Pathik handed the young Avatar a bowl made out of a coconut, filled with a strange liquid. Aang took a sip…and immediately spat it out. "It tastes like onion-banana juice!"
"That's because it is," Pathik told him simply, taking out another bowl and he drank it all, and put it upside down over his head. "Yum, yum."
Aang's eye twitched in disbelief, neglecting to wipe the juice off his face. Naruto looked at Jiraiya, who had gotten up from the ground.
"Is he…crazy?" Naruto asked the white haired Sannin.
"Yes…he's chosen a place farthest away from the ladies," Jiraiya whined.
"Naruto, time for you to return to your training," Kakashi said, bringing things back to perspective.
"Yeah…time to complete the Rasengan," Naruto said with a smirk.
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Earth Kingdom, outskirts of Ba Sing Se
On a road about 20 miles from the walls of Ba Sing Se, a lone cart being pulled by a ostrich-horse. In the cart, there were two men, one had long, straight hair, a muscular torso which he showed off underneath a dark green vest with a golden trim, and green shorts. The other man was wearing a dark green hanfu with gold trim, with white puffy pants and shirt, and he had a pointy downward moustache and beard, and he wore his long black hair partially in a top knot. They were Xin Fu and Master Yu, hired by Lao Bei Fong to return his daughter to the estate.
"I believe we need to go right!" Yu told his reluctant partner, pointing at a road that went twisting to the right up a mountain.
"What are you talking about? The Bei Fong Estate is this way!"
"I'm quite certain you're mistaken!"
"HEY!" Toph called out from the metal box she was in, banging on her prison. "Can you two old ladies quit your bickering for a while? I have to go to the bathroom!"
"Oh…uh…okay…but make it quick!" Yu replied as he pulled out a key and began to get up and go over to the back of the cart to unlock the metal box when his partner grabbed his arm.
"What's wrong with you?" Xin Fu snarled, grabbing the Earthbending Teacher's arm roughly.
"Oh…very sneaky Toph," Yu replied, getting what Fu meant, leaning to the box. "But you can't trick me!"
He tossed the key into the air and caught it, and went back to sitting. "Let me out of here so I can kick both your butts!" Toph ordered as she banged on the metal walls.
"Quit your banging!" Xin Fu yelled as he slammed his fist into the box. "You might think you're the greatest Earthbender in the world, but even you can't bend metal."
With that, he flicked the reigns on the Ostrich-horse, and they began to move again. Briefly, a look of hopelessness appeared on Toph's face, but the young Earthbending Master remembered that her friends wouldn't give up, especially not Naruto, so she put her hand onto the metal and began to feel…
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Upper City of Ba Sing Se, night
In the small estate given to them by the Earth King, the 'Kiyoshi Warriors' and their 'swordsman' ally relaxed as they planned out their next move. The three young women had taken off their makeup, and got their hair back to normal…to reveal Ty Lee, Mai, and Princess Azula. Ty Lee was wiping the makeup off her face while Mai focused around her eyes, and the young swordsman was sharpening his chokuto, a slightly curved blade that on the outside looked like a katana, if you looked solely at the point. He looked frustrated as Azula walked across the room.
"You've been doing that for nearly an hour, Sasuke," Azula said, a smirk on her face. "Angry we didn't find your old 'friends' here already?"
Sasuke only answered with a grunt, and began to slide the sharpening stone over the edge of his chokuto again. Ever since Orochimaru, while sick had beaten him, the angers and frustrations he had suppressed had risen to the surface once more. If he couldn't beat a weakened Orochimaru, how could he ever hope to beat Itachi?
'…I'm lucky he didn't decide to possess my body then and there,' Sasuke thought darkly as sparks flew off his sharpening blade. As a 'reward', as the Hebi-Sannin called it, he was to be sent threw the portal to the other world that his master had created. He was sent to the exact location where Fire Lord Ozai's daughter and heir, Azula, was nursing her wounds, one on the edge on her stomach looked very family. When she mentioned the description of his rival and former teammate, fire seemed to enter his mind again. 'The only way I am going to gain the power to beat Itachi…and Orochimaru now is if I kill Naruto…and gain the Mangekyo Sharingan…'
"No answer? Despite your handsomeness, you're more boring than Uncle's old war stories," Azula said as she reached out to touch his face. "Are you thinking about that…pink haired girl that was described?"
Sasuke pulled away. "No, leave me be." Sakura, his other teammate had been described by Fire Nation soldiers
Azula smiled as she walked across the room again, and her mind began working on a plan to conquer the city. Finally, her mind clicked into place on how she would conquer Ba Sing Se.
"We have been presented with an extraordinary opportunity guys," Azula started as she paced in the middle of the room.
"Mai finally gets to wear makeup that isn't totally depressing?" Ty Lee asked.
"Ha, ha," Mai laughed sarcastically as Azula continued.
"I'm talking about conquering the whole Earth Kingdom," Azula continued, standing in front of the window as the others looked at her. "For a hundred years, the Fire Nation has hammered away at the walls of Ba Sing Se from the outside…but now we're on the inside, and we can take it by ourselves."
"Bold idea," Sasuke admitted as Ty Lee grinned.
"Gosh, you're so confident, I really admire that about you," Ty Lee told her friend as the Fire Princess raised an eyebrow and her smirk widened.
"From the inside, we're in the perfect position to organize a coup and overthrow the Earth King," Azula said as she folded her arms behind her back. "The key is the Dai Li, whoever controls the Dai Li controls Ba Sing Se."
With that she turned around to address her comrades, and smiled a sadistic smirk filled with malice on how they'd get the Earth King overthrown.
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Eastern Air Temple, second largest peak
Naruto gritted his teeth as he and his clones tried to focus the Wind chakra into the Rasengan he was holding. He had created three clones to aid him in forming this Rasengan, and just as before he used them to bend the Wind chakra into the swirling hurricane of chakra. On top of a nearby hill, Jiraiya and Kakashi watched as their student focused as hard as he could in completing the technique.
"His determination would make his father proud," Jiraiya said, knowing that Naruto couldn't hear him. "And his mother would be proud that he has stopped screwing up, and got himself a nice girlfriend."
Kakashi smirked under his mask. "He's very close to completing it. With the aid of the Airbending, the technique is almost complete. He just has to stabilize it."
The Gama Sannin nodded, taking out a pipe that his very own mentor would have enjoyed smoking. Lighting up the tobacco in it, he took a deep breath and breathed out a puff of smoke. "And I have taught you the Sunpou Janpou, so you'll be able to cross back and forth at will, Kakashi. However, don't do it too much, the technique is taxing on the chakra."
Kakashi nodded as they glanced back down at Naruto. "Come on! Stabilize….stabilize!" Naruto called out, his hand reflexively flexing around the Rasengan.
The blue sphere began turning white as more and more wind chakra was added to it. The clones kept swirling the chakra around and around, keeping it in constant motion so the ball of power wouldn't destabilize. Naruto panted as he kept the chakra flowing into the Rasengan…and suddenly…four small blades sprouted out of it. He was so close now, he could feel it.
Kakashi and Jiraiya leaned in, watching as Naruto exerted all the chakra control he had to keep the Rasengan stabilize. The Jinchuuriki's eye twitched and a vein popped on his forehead as the ball of power kept spinning and he looked up.
"Guys…stop…I have to finish this…on my own," Naruto told his clones, who backed off reluctantly.
He grabbed his wrist as he strained to keep the power in his hand. Naruto's palm and fingers twitched and his other hand moved to keep the chakra from escaping. The Rasengan kept spinning and spinning, and Jiraiya looked at it with a sense of pride.
"The kid is doing it…doing it…he's…completing the attack…" Jiraiya stated as Naruto gritted his teeth.
"Almost…almost…almost…" Naruto said out loud as he used his will power to keep the chakra from escaping. Finally….the glowing on the Rasengan stopped. The white ball of chakra, with the five spinning blades kept going and going. His eyes widened. "I…I did it…"
The Rasengan spun, completely stabilized. The blades kept going at a steady rate, making it look like a buzz saw in his hand. The joy welled in Naruto's stomach and he leapt into the air, cheering.
"Yahoo! I did it! I did it!" Naruto cheered as he leapt up and down, ecstatic that he completed the technique. "I'll call this one…the Futon: Rasengan (Wind Element: Spiraling Sphere)."
Jiraiya and Kakashi leapt down as their student kept cheering. "Congratulations Naruto, you have truly made the attack your own," Jiraiya commented, remembering the talk he had with Naruto about the Rasengan, before the boy had created an improved, yet still incomplete version of the technique, the Oodama Rasengan.
"Yep, I don't think I could have done it like this if I didn't get that Airbending Training from Aang, I may have had to settle for it being half-completed or something," Naruto said with a proud, yet cheeky grin.
Kakashi smirked under his mask. "Naruto, there is something very important I have to tell you."
"Something important?" Naruto asked as he looked up at his sensei. "What's it about?"
Kakashi sighed, and pulled out something from his pack. "Yondaime Hokage wanted this to be given to you when you were old enough. I have seen you grow and mature over the years, Naruto, and now you're finally ready."
Naruto nodded slowly, taking the scroll. It was sealed in blood…and there were two symbols on it-one of a whirlpool, and one of a three pointed kunai. He recognized the symbols, the whirlpool he wore proudly on his back, and the three pointed kunai was Yondaime's personal symbol.
He pealed it open, revealing a letter…and a photograph. He slowly unraveled the letter, and his eyes widened.
Dear Uzumaki Naruto,
If you're reading this, Kakashi has finally deemed you old and mature enough to learn about your past. At nights, I bet you have wondered who your parents were, what they were like. I am here to assuage that curiosity…son. I am Namikaze Minato, your father, and Yondaime Hokage.
For what I was forced to do to you, son, I am deeply sorry. If there was any other way I could seal or stop the Kyubi, I would have done it in a heartbeat. I never wished to put such a fate, such a responsibility onto you.
Naruto's eyes widened as he saw that his father…Yondaime Hokage…did not want to have Kyubi sealed inside of him.
Even at death's door, I regret doing this to you son…though…before I die…I want to tell you a few things. Good things. Like your mother…even though she is not around now…she was always my ray of sunshine.
Fiery red hair, green eyes, and a spunky, energetic personality to boot, I couldn't help but fall in love with her. She used to be a tomboy as well, and…well…as Jiraiya-sensei would say, what a body.
Naruto couldn't help but smile when he heard of his mother's description. He picked up the photograph that was in the scroll. It was a picture of Yondaime, no Minato, his father, with a bright smile on his face in his Hokage clothing, his hand resting on a beautiful, yet exhausted red head, green eyed young woman. She was dressed in hospital clothing, and was holding a little bundle…and Naruto knew that was him as an infant.
Her name was Uzumaki Kushina, the sole survivor of the Shinobi Nation of the Village Hidden in the Whirlpool. I'm sorry son, there isn't a family waiting for you. Kami, I wish there was…but you're a son of Konoha, you'll have enough family to deal with.
Naruto grimaced at that. 'You were wrong on that there…dad…'
In conclusion son…since my life is nearing its end…I want to say that I wish I could have lived to see you grow son. You have probably already made me proud, but I just wish I could see your growth…
Your loving father,
Namikaze Minato, Yondaime Hokage
Naruto's hands began shaking as tears started flowing out his eyes. He finally knew where he came from, who his parents were, and it was beyond his wildest dreams. He lifted his hand and wiped his eyes, trying to stop himself from crying.
Jiraiya and Kakashi looked on as Naruto looked up at them. "…thank you…for telling me…but why did you wait so long?"
"You weren't old enough, kid," Jiraiya said, messing up the teen's hair. "But now you are, congratulations."
Naruto smirked. "Well, I'm going to try to get this jutsu down more. You guys don't need to watch anymore, and I bet otouto could use some help."
"Before that, I have to go back and report to Tsunade that you've completed the attack," Jiraiya said as he stepped back from Kakashi and Naruto, and began doing a complex hand seal sequence after biting his thumb. "Sunpou Janpou no Jutsu!"
With that, he slammed both hands into the ground, and a pattern extended around him. A purple light shot out of the ground, and a 'door' opened, revealing a path directly to the Hokage's office. Jiraiya smirked, rubbing his nose as he looked back at his shocked apprentice.
"Quite a technique, isn't it?" Jiraiya asked his young pupil. "When the portal opens again, Kurenai-san will be sent to reinforce you."
Kakashi nodded while Jiraiya walked threw the portal, and as the white-haired Sannin did, it immediately began to close. The perverted toad hermit turned around as the portal closed, and he waved a goodbye, and then the portal between dimensions closed and the light died down.
"You said you were going to try to get your Futon: Rasengan down better, and I'll retrieve Kurenai-san from our world," Kakashi said and in a puff of smoke, he vanished.
Naruto grinned, creating two clones this time. Holding out his hand, he began to form the Rasengan once again, and the clones, remembering what their previous versions did before, began bending air into the Rasengan, making it start to glow pure white. The young Jinchuuriki couldn't help but keep smiling as he began to form the Futon again. He couldn't wait to show Hinata the completed attack.
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Eastern Air Temple, near a creek below the Temple
Near a small stream away from the peaks of the Temple, Guru Pathik prepare the first lesson for Aang to master the Avatar State. Aang had shrugged off his vest and tee-shirt, leaving him only in his yellow shorts. They watched the water flow into the pools, and due to the light it had an algae color tinge.
"In order to master the Avatar State, you must open all the Chakras," Pathik told Aang, looking into one of the pools. "Aang, tell me everything you know about Chakras."
Aang wiped his eyes. "I know what Chakra is…a mixture of spiritual and physical energy…but I don't know what the 'Chakras' are that you're talking about."
"Oh, I see…I guess we'll start with the basics," Pathik said, almost disappointingly, and he picked up a stick, turned around and put it in the water, stirring it. "The water flows threw this creek, much like the energy flows threw your body, as you can see there are several pools where the water swirls around before moving." He said, stirring the water. "These pools are like our Chakras."
"So…Chakras are pools of swirling energy in our bodies?"
"Exactly, if nothing else was around, this creek would flow pure and clear," Pathik replied as he kept looking at the creek. "But life is messy, and things tend to fall into the creek, and then what happens?"
"The creek can't flow?"
"Yes, but if we open the paths between the pools…" Pathik leaned in, using the stick to unclog the pool he was swirling, and water flowed freely.
"…the energy flows!" Aang exclaimed, getting it. Once that happened, all the pools were unclogged by the flow of water.
After that, the 150 year old Guru led Aang into a cave in the Temple. There, on an elevated platform of rock, amidst the mist and stalactites and stalagmites. It was eerie in the cave, and there were insects crawling all over the place. Aang and Pathik sat with their legs crossed under them, facing each other.
"There are seven Chakras that go up the human body, each pool of energy has a purpose, and can be blocked by a certain type of emotional muck," Pathik instructed as he looked at Aang, and then his face turned serious. "Be warned, opening the Chakras is an intense experience, and once you begin this process, you cannot stop until all seven are open. Are you ready?"
Aang looked down for a moment in thought, and then he looked up with resolve. "I'll do whatever it takes."
"First, we will open the Earth Chakra, located in the base of the spine; it deals with survival, and is blocked by fear…" As Aang heard that, he closed his eyes and started to have a vision. It was tinged with red and showed Prince Zuko, dressed as the Blue Spirit attacking with his swords, and then placing them at the young Avatar's neck. Then it was Katara being dragged down into the Earth by the crazy General Han. Then he saw the silhouette of the Fire Lord, and Sozin's Comet, and finally himself in the Avatar State. "What are you most afraid of? Let your fears become clear to you."
Aang couldn't take all the visions, and he opened his eyes. He was surrounded by flames and the Fire Lord towered over him, and then he screamed. He screamed again as the fires continued to rage around him, and he closed is eyes in fear.
"Aang, your vision is not real, you are concerned about your survival, but you must surrender those fears, let the fears flow down the creek," Pathik instructed calmly at the cringing Aang, who started to slowly calm down, his arm lowered as the fears flowed out of him. He eventually crossed his legs again and had a look of calm on his face. "You have opened your Earth Chakra."
Aang wiped the sweat off his forehead and grinned.
The location moved again, this time further down the cave to a platform near the waterfall of the Temple. Ironically, this was below where Naruto was training presently. The water cascaded down the falls behind them as the young Avatar and the elderly Guru sat.
"Next is the…"
"Water Chakra?" Aang guessed, finishing the sentence for Pathik.
"Brilliant! Maybe one day you'll be a Guru too," Pathik exclaimed as he leaned forward, then back. "This chakra deals with pleasure, and is blocked by guilt. Now look at all the guilt that burdens you so. What do you blame yourself for?"
Aang closed his eyes and he began to think back. His first guilt ridden memory appeared in a tinge of orange was him running away from the Southern Air Temple to escape being separated from Monk Gyatso, his father figure, and he leapt out the window with his glider. "I ran away…" the next was himself in the Avatar state, enraged and pulling the earth around with him into a deadly vortex, finally slamming into the ground an leveling all of General Han's base. "I hurt all of those people…"
"Accept the reality that these things happened, but do not let them cloud and poison your energy, if you are to be a positive influence on the world, you need to forgive yourself."
Aang listened to his words and breathed out calmly. The Water Chakra opened, and he let the guilt drain out of his body.
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Full Moon Bay, Water Tribe Camp
At the Water Tribe Camp at Full Moon Bay, the Water Tribe warriors were loading up strange looking mines onto their ships. The men were either building the mines, carrying them, bringing supplies to build them, or were taking them to their ships. At one mine, Hakoda began to explain the purpose of his small army being in the Bay, as well as the purpose of the mines.
"This bay leads directly to Ba Sing Se, we've been using these tangle mines to stop Fire Nation ships from getting threw," Hakoda explained to his son as Bato poured in the explosive for the mines.
"Your father invented tangle mines himself," Bato told Sokka as he finished pouring the explosive mixture into the mine.
"Destructive…buoyant…and…" Sokka started as he smelt something from the mine. "…terrible smelling!"
"Very perceptive," Hakoda said with a smirk as he put the cork on top of the mine. "The mines are filled with skunk-fish and seaweed," he pushed the cork into the opening, securing it, and making some of the liquid press out. "When a ship detonates a mine, the seaweed tangles up the propeller and the foul smell forces the crew to abandon ship." He brought out his whale-tooth machete and scraped the excess off of the sides of the cork. "I call it the 'sink and stink'."
Sokka began laughing at the nickname of the mines, clutching his stomach. "Good one dad!"
"You're definitely your father's son…" Bato mumbled as he finished pouring the explosive into the next mine.
Suddenly, a Water Tribe warrior came running up, and the other tribe warriors ran away from their mines to hear what was happening. "Hakoda, our scouts have spotted four Fire Navy ships!"
"Get these mines loaded up," Hakoda ordered as he placed his machete back onto his belt. "The rest of you men, prepare for battle."
Sokka looked around as the older Water Tribe warriors ran to the tents to begin preparing for battle. "Uh…what should I do dad?"
"Weren't you listening? I said the rest of you men, get ready for battle," Hakoda replied, and his son's face lit up and he stood up.
Joy surged threw Sokka's body, and he went to run off to get ready for battle. He'd finally be able to fight side by side with his father, something he wanted to do for three years. He'd show his father how much he had grown, showing him how strong he had gotten.
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Eastern Air Temple, morning
The mist was settling over the mountain range as night receded in the area. In a crater, Naruto had fallen asleep after testing how powerful his attack was. He didn't even get into his sleeping back, and was snoring loudly, sprawled on the ground. Two people began walking up to the area, noticing the crater.
"Naruto's new attack can make that?" a woman's voice asked.
"Apparently," the voice of Kakashi replied and the two walked closer. He and the woman slid down the crater's slope, and he knelt down next to Naruto. "Oi…Naruto…it's morning."
He shook his student, who groaned in his sleep. "I'm not coming to peek with you…Ero-sennin…"
Kakashi's visible eye drooped and the woman covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. The sun began to raise over the horizon, and the silver haired jounin leaned in, next to his student's ear.
"Naruto…if you don't wake up…Hinata won't give you ramen…" Kakashi said, and Naruto instantly shot up.
"Hinata-chan! Let me have ramen!" Naruto pleaded, still sleepy eyed…then he looked around. "Hey…Hinata-chan's not here…"
"Of course she isn't," Kakashi said with a smirk under his mask. "But it was the only way to wake you up."
Naruto grumbled and sat with his legs crossed for a second, and then he looked around. "Kurenai-sensei?"
The beautiful, long curly black haired, red-eyed woman nodded. "Yes, Naruto, it's been a long time."
Naruto grinned. "Hinata-chan will be so happy to see you! So have you been told of the situation?"
"Yes, Kakashi has filled me in on the war here," Kurenai replied as the blond jinchuuriki stood up and stretched. "I would like to meet this young Avatar, if he isn't training."
"Don't see anything wrong with that," Naruto said as he stretched. "Though we'd have to find him first."
Kurenai nodded and the three of them started to go look for Aang and Guru Pathik.
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Eastern Air Temple, middle peak
On a narrow path around the middle peak of the Air Temple, the young Avatar and elderly Guru sat with their legs crossed under them, facing the rising sun. The morning mist rose from the ground below them, making the sun's glow a little hazy.
"Third, is the Fire Chakra, located in the stomach."
"My Fire Chakra could use something to eat other than onion-banana juice," Aang said as he clutched his stomach, and the elderly Guru chuckled.
"Good one…moving on," Pathik told the young Avatar as he chuckled. "This Chakra deals with willpower, and is blocked by shame. What are you ashamed of?" he asked as Aang remembered, in a yellow-orange tint this time, when he literally played with fire under the training of Jeong Jeong, and he accidentally burned Katara's hands. "What are your biggest disappointments in yourself?"
The muscles around Aang's eyes cringed as he thought back. "I'll never Firebend again…I can't…"
"You will never find balance if you deny this part of your life, you are the Avatar, and therefore, you are a Firebender," Pathik told him as Aang took a deep breath and closed his eyes again, and he cleared the chakra in the exhale. "Hm…that Chakra opened less like a flowing creek and more like a burping bison."
Aang burped loudly, and tasted the air. "Tastes like onion-bananas, but strangely…something else, pickles?"
Pathik shrugged when the young Avatar looked at him for an answer. The two then stood up and stretched, and Aang followed Pathik to the next location to start unlocking the next Chakra.
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Ba Sing Se, Royal Palace
On the steps of the Royal Palace, Ty Lee and Mai were on the top steps of the massive stairway that lead to the palace. They were still in their Kiyoshi Island Warrior disguises. From the shadows, Sasuke was using a cloaking Jutsu to hide his presence, his red Sharingan active, on the ceiling and Azula was hiding in the shadows of the palace while two Dai Li Agents, using their Earthbending, climbed on the forward pillars to monitor the two girls' conversation. The perky girl was doing stretches while the grumpy girl was reclining on the steps.
"I'm tired of wearing this girly disguise," Mai said with a sigh, purposely talking out loud. "I don't know how anybody could fight in this."
"Maybe that's why it was so easy to beat the Kiyoshi Warriors and steal their clothes," Ty Lee speculated as she straightened up, and began punching the air, and the Dai Li agents looked up after hearing that.
"How much longer do we have to serve the Earth King?" Mai asked in an exasperated voice. "If I have to clean up one more pile of bear crap I'm going to throw up."
"Princess Azula promised us we could go back to the Fire Nation as soon as we capture the Avatar. We just have to be patient," Ty Lee replied as she bent her back until her hands and feet were on the same ground at the same time, and she was looking at her gothic friend from an upside down position. "Just be patient."
"Shush up!" Mai ordered as she stood up and walked over to her flexible friend. "Do you want the whole palace to hear we're Fire Nation?"
"Sorry…" Ty Lee said as she stood straight up, and the Dai Li climbed up the pillars to inform their master.
When they disappeared, Sasuke dropped from the ceiling, shedding his cloak jutsu, while Azula walked out from the shadows. The two walked towards them.
"Good work, girls, I'm sure the Dai Li will deliver the message," Azula said as she looked at Sasuke. "What should we expect, Sasuke?"
"Their Chakra levels are average to above average at best, so they shouldn't have any problem overwhelming the standard Earthbenders that the city employs as soldiers," Sasuke replied as his eyes changed back to their normal brown.
"Excellent…everything is happening according to plan…" Azula said as a wicked, cunning smirk appeared on her face.
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Eastern Air Temple
In one of the destroyed parts of the Air Temple, on a building that had a stairway as long and massive as the one on the Earth Kingdom Palace, Guru Pathik began the next lesson of the Chakras to Aang. The Temple apparently had been hit with explosives or a heavy rock, since there was a huge opening that covered over half the roof of the Temple.
"The Fourth Chakra is located in the heart, it deals with love, and is blocked by grief," Pathik told Aang, who was glancing around.
The young Avatar saw the statue of one of the female Airbending Monks, who was the former Avatar Yangchen. He frowned when he remembered what he had done, running away instead of staying with his people.
"Lay all your grief out in front of you," Pathik instructed the young Avatar, who put his hand to his chest and closed his eyes. In a haze of green and clouds, Aang visualized Monk Gyatso, followed by other Airbenders springing up out of the green tinted clouds like trees, and it was all done in a triangular pattern. He smiled when he saw all them again, but it was replaced by shock when they exploded back into smoke. "You have indeed suffered a great loss, but love, is a form of energy," Aang looked up to see the deceased Avatars floating in the sky. "And it swirls all around us. The Air Nomads' love for you has not left this world, it is still inside of your heart, and is reborn in the form of new love."
Aang watched as the clouds swirled around to form the face of Katara…the way she found him in the ice, with her winter coat up, framing her face. She gasped in surprise when he awoke.
"Let the pain, flow away," Pathik finished as tears of joy flowed down Aang's face, and he opened the Chakra with a smile, and he wiped away the tears with his hand and forearm. "Very good."
"Can I have some onion-banana juice please?" Aang asked the elderly Guru.
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Eastern Air Temple, Shrine to Avatar Yangchen
At the shrine to the last Airbending Avatar, Guru Pathik began to instruct Aang on opening the fifth chakra. They were sitting in front of the massive statue of the deceased female Avatar, who was sitting with her legs crossed and her eyes closed in thought. The expression, as well as the way she was sitting, made her look like a statue of Buddha. The sunlight shined into the ruins, illuminating the statue.
"The Fifth Chakra Aang is the Sound Chakra, located in the throat," Pathik started, sitting in front of the young Avatar. "This Chakra deals with truth, and is blocked by lies, the ones we tell ourselves."
Aang thought back, and the memories of the lies he told people and himself came back to him, in a haze of blue.
"Why didn't you tell us you're the Avatar?" Katara asked him as they fled from Zuko's ship at the South Pole.
"Cause I never wanted to be," Aang replied out loud.
"You cannot lie about your own nature; you must accept that you are the Avatar," Pathik told Aang, who took a deep breath. He then saw himself, in a shade of blue, looking over a cliff at the sun, and a look of determination appeared on his face as he looked down. He had cleared the Sound Chakra at that moment. "Very good, Aang, you have opened the Chakra of Truth."
In another part of the temple, near a winding stairway and a opening to the food pantries of the entire complex, Aang and Pathik sat on the wide steps of the stairway, facing the sun. The elderly Guru began to explain the next Chakra as they looked into the blinding sun threw the mist and clouds of the mountain range.
"The sixth pool of energy is the Light Chakra, located in the center of the forehead," Pathik started as the mist started to settle around them on the steps. "It deals with insight, and is blocked by illusion." He told Aang as they glanced at each other. "The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation. Things you think are separate and different are actually one in the same."
"Like the Four Nations," Aang speculated as the map of the world came up in a dark shadow over it.
"Yes, we are all one people, but we live as if divided."
"We are all connected…everything is connected," Aang said, getting it.
"That's right, even the separation of the four elements is an illusion, if you open up your mind, you will see that all the elements are one," Pathik told the young Avatar as, miles away, Toph began testing the walls of her metal box, slamming her hands onto it's walls and floor, sending shockwaves threw it. "Four parts of the same whole, even metal, is just a part of Earth that's been purified and refined."
As he said that, the young Earthbending Master smirked as she found the trace element of Earth in the metal of her mobile prison. She took a deep breath and breathed out, then she stomped the floor hard, and put her hands on the wall.
"Come on…metal…budge!" Toph commanded as she drew her hands back, and slammed them into the metal wall…denting it out, almost breaking it. "Who ho! Toph, you rule!" With that, she slammed her hands back into the dented metal wall.
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Ba Sing Se, Jasmine Dragon Restaurant in the Upper Ring
Hinata, Katara, and Sakura were walking to the Palace, still carrying the battle plans with them when they saw the fancy tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon. Seeing all the people coming in and out of it, the pink haired kunoichi concluded that it must be popular.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm kind of thirsty," Sakura told her friends, who nodded.
"What do you say, Momo, Hinata, we get a cup of tea before heading back to the King?" Katara asked them.
"That sounds great, Katara-chan," Hinata said with a smile, and the flying lemur chattered in response.
The three of them walked to the tea shop, and the two waitresses greeted them with a bow. "Table for four, please," Katara asked them, as she looked around.
"Uncle! I need two jasmine, one green, and one leachy!" a voice that Katara knew all too well made her turn and see…Zuko and Iroh in the restaurant, working.
"I'm brewing as fast as I can!" Iroh called back cheerily. Hinata smiled at them, since she didn't know who they really were.
"Ohayo, Lee…" Hinata began to call out as Katara ran out of the tea shop. "Katara-chan?"
"What's up with her?" Sakura asked as the two kunoichi turned to run and follow her.
"Katara-chan, stop!" Hinata yelled as they finally caught up to her. Katara panted as the Hyuga put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "What's wrong? Why did you run?"
"I…I know those men…they've been after Aang ever since the South Pole!" Katara told them and Hinata's eyes widened. "They're Prince Zuko and General Iroh of the Fire Nation!"
"B-But…they didn't…are you sure Katara-chan?" Hinata asked and her Waterbending Master gave a firm nod.
"Yes, we have to inform the Earth King and Suki about this," Katara replied, standing up. "Sakura, mind going to get Yamato for this?"
"Yes, I'll meet you at the Palace in a few," Sakura replied, understanding the situation.
With that, the three split up, Hinata going with Katara to inform Suki and the Earth King that two people allied with the Fire Nation were there, in Ba Sing Se. Sakura jumped onto the roofs of the streets to get to the war room faster. They only had a short amount of time to do this.
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Eastern Air Temple, top of the Temple's steeple
On top of the highest part of the Eastern Air Temple, Guru Pathik had taken the young Avatar Aang to meditate on the final chakra. Around them, they were in a cloud which obscured the view of the landscape around them. The training had taken up most of the day, and night had fallen. Naruto, Kurenai, and Kakashi were climbing up the steeple, finally able to locate the young Avatar.
"So this is the last Chakra, right?"
"Yes, once you open this Chakra, you will be able to go in and out of the Avatar State at will, and when you are in the Avatar State, you'll have complete awareness over your actions."
"Lets do this," Aang told him enthusiastically.
"The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head, it deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by Earthly Attachment," Pathik instructed the young Avatar. "Meditate on what attaches you to this world."
Aang's eyes were closed and he envisioned Katara waterbending in a shade of violet. Then he saw her with the necklace he made for her, showing it off. Finally, he remembered their…kiss…in the Cave of Two Lovers.
"Now let all of those attachments go, let them flow down the river, forgotten."
"What? Why would I let go of Katara? I…I love her!" Aang told the Guru, who mentally sighed.
"Learn to let her go, or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow into you from the universe," Pathik told him calmly.
"Why would I chose cosmic energy over Katara? How could it be a bad thing I feel an attachment to her, three Chakras ago that was a good thing!"
"You must learn to let go," Pathik told him calmly again, this time with a slightly firmer voice.
Aang looked down, unsure of what to do now. Should he let go of Katara? Or shouldn't he? The thought went threw his mind and it pained him to think of it. He really didn't want to do it.
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Ba Sing Se, Palace
Katara and Hinata sprinted into the main audience chamber of Ba Sing Se's Palace. Momo flew off the Waterbending Master's shoulder, chattering as it flew into the rafters. They panted as a fourth figure came out of the shadows, and a smile appeared on his face. The two girls stood in front of the three 'Kiyoshi Warriors', who were kneeling on the ground.
"Thank goodness you're here, Suki! The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city! I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle! We have to tell the Earth King right away!" Katara to 'Suki', whose eyes widened momentarily.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll be sure to tell him," the voice of…Princess Azula came from the Kiyoshi Warrior's mouth as she stood up.
Hinata and Katara's eyes widened, and they both took a fighting stance. Still in her Kiyoshi Warrior garb, Ty Lee jumped into the air and squeezed the Waterbending Master's shoulder, hitting a cluster of tenkatsus and pressure points, which knocked her out and temporarily stopped her bending. They Hyuga Heiress leapt out of the way at the last second, her Byakugan flaring up.
"Sasuke, I think you should handle this one," Azula said as Hinata's jaw lowered.
"S-Sasuke…" Hinata trembled as from behind, the last survivor of the Uchiha Clan came into view, Sharingan blazing.
Emotionlessly, the Uchiha drew his chokuto, the metal sliding out of the sheath. Hinata gulped and turned to face Sasuke, drawing the water from Katara's flask onto her arms and hands, and she settled into a Jyuken stance. In a flash, the Uchiha survivor attacked with a horizontal slash.
Moving quickly she stepped and leaned back, letting the blade sail over her head. She threw up her hand, hardening the water around it into ice. Sasuke's Sharingan predicted that and he twisted, lifting his leg into a kick, and he slammed his heel into her cheek before she could put up her Kaiten defense. She crashed onto the ground and rolled before she got back onto her feet.
'He's…strong…' Hinata thought as Sasuke advanced on her.
"You will tell me where Naruto is," Sasuke ordered with a snarl, and the Hyuga's eyes widened. "I know you know where he is."
"H-He's training to beat you! When he gets back he'll beat you Sasuke!" Hinata told him, and she got ready for his next attack.
"If you will not tell me where he is," Sasuke said, and in a flash he was…behind Hinata. "Then I will have to make you."
With that…electricity sparked around Sasuke's body, hitting the Hyuga Heiress with a full blast. She screamed in pain as her entire body was shocked by the electric chakra.
"Chidori Nagashi (Thousand Birds Current)," Sasuke said emotionlessly as Hinata's Byakugan faded and the water on her hands flowed off, and she dropped to the ground into unconsciousness. Azula smirked at his display of power, and she walked over to him.
"Excellent work, Sasuke, your power is indeed incredible," Azula said, tracing her arm over his shoulder as he sheathed his sword again. "My father has…"
Before she could finished, her wrist was grabbed roughly. "Do not finish that sentence. I only live for revenge." Sasuke told her, and she grits her teeth.
"How…how dare you!" Azula roared, and Sasuke let go of her wrist.
The two looked at each other, and the Uchiha's gaze made the Fire Nation Princess…step back. She had never seen a look like that before, or directed at her. Sasuke was unafraid of her, more than that, he was unimpressed by her. He started to walk away.
"Put them into cells, and leave the Hyuga for me," Sasuke ordered Ty Lee and Mai, who nodded slowly.
"Geeze…I thought Azula was scary…" Ty Lee whispered to Mai, who nodded.
Azula shook off her shock. "So…Zuzu's in the city too…I think it's time for a family reunion."
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Eastern Air Temple, Temple Steeple
After a lot of thought, the young Avatar made his decision. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He hoped he wouldn't disappoint the man who knew his old teacher and friend from his past life.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot let go of Katara."
"Aang, to master the Avatar State, you must open all the Chakras," Pathik reiterated to the young Avatar. "Surrender yourself."
"Okay…I'll try…" Aang said reluctantly, still not wanting to do this.
"Now think of your attachments, and let them go," Pathik instructed as Aang envisioned the world, in a shade of violet, and the skies above it moving rapidly with all the stars in the sky. Then he saw Katara, and she began to drift off into space. "And let the pure cosmic energy flow…" Then Aang found himself looking up at a arboreal borealis, and his body seemed to float all the way up into space to it. He landed on a cosmic path, and he began to smile, then he looked up to see it winding up further into space, and he finally saw…himself in the Avatar State, floating above the path. He made his way over to the Avatar State, which began to float down as his arrow began to glow.
The Avatar State's own arrow began to glow, and the final, swirling cosmic chakra swirled in between its hands. He was immersed by the Chakra, closing his eyes as he absorbed it. Suddenly…
"NO!" his eyes opened when he heard Katara's voice, and he looked over to see…Katara chained up in prison. "Let me go!"
He looked at the Avatar State, then at the imprisoned Katara. Without a second thought, he fled from the cosmic energy, and the Avatar State began to fade away the farther he ran from it. Aang's arrow began to stop glowing as he ran further away. The path began to fade until it finally caught up to him, and he fell back to earth screaming.
"Katara's endanger! I have to go!" Aang told the Guru as he stood up.
"Yo Aang-otouto, we finally found ya…" Naruto started as he saw his young friend standing up. "What's wrong?"
Then Aang began running to the edge of the steeple. "No Aang! By choosing attachment you have locked the Chakra! If you leave now you won't be able to enter the Avatar State at all!"
"Aang, you should listen to him," Kakashi said as he followed Naruto who was running to catch up to the young Avatar, followed by Kurenai.
Aang stood there for a second, then he made his choice. He leapt off the steeple, calling for Appa who growled and flew up. Kakashi turned to Pathik.
"I'm sorry about this, but we'll have to go too," Kakashi said seriously, and the elderly Guru nodded.
"Try to convince him to come back. He has to open the final chakra," Pathik said and Kakashi nodded.
"Aang-otouto wait up!" Naruto called as he leapt onto Appa's back, landing perfectly on his feet. Kurenai and Kakashi leapt as well.
"Aang seems to be a lot like Naruto was back when he was a newly minted genin," Kurenai whispered to the silver haired Jounin, who nodded. They landed on the flying bison's back, and the Genjutsu specialist was amazed that such a large creature without wings could actually fly.
The four flew towards the coast to go pick up Sokka. Aang told them of his vision and what happened, that Katara was in trouble, not only that, but Hinata and Sakura may be as well. They flew over the landscape at an incredible speed.
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Earth Kingdom Road to the Bei Fong Estate
Xin Fu and Master Yu were finally starting to think that their reluctant tenant had fallen asleep, so they could have some quiet time. Suddenly, the heard of iron being ripped and torn was heard, and the muscular Earthbender pulled on the reigns of the ostrich-horse to stop it. The two hired Earthbenders climbed to the back of their cart to see the metal box that contained Toph…had been ripped open…apparently from the inside.
"Its another one of her tricks!" Yu yelled as he looked at the hole.
"There's a giant hole in the box! How is that a trick?" Fu retorted and Toph came up behind them.
"It's not!" Toph told them, lifting her hands up to Earthbend, and then she threw them down, encasing both of them in two slabs of rock, making them unable to Earthbend. Then they were knocked into the metal box by a pillar, and finally Toph leapt into the air, landing on the cart…and she Earthbended the metal closed and leapt onto the roof of the box. "I am the greatest Earthbender in the World! Don't you two dunderheads ever forget it!"
She then leapt down, creating a shockwave as she sunk into the ground. Then she bent the Earth underneath her and she began to 'ski' on a wave of rock in the opposite direction, going back to Ba Sing Se.
"I'm going to be stuck in here forever with you, aren't I?" Xin Fu asked dryly with a sigh.
"I have to go to the bathroom!" Yu replied as Fu slammed his head into the metal wall in frustration.
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Chameleon Bay, Water Tribe Camp
Sokka knelt down as he placed a new whale tooth sword into a sheath on his belt, and he grabbed his brand new club. He stood up as his father walked over with a grin on his face. The young Water Tribe Warrior turned to greet his father with his own smile.
"Ready to go knock some Fire Nation heads?" Hakoda asked his son.
"You don't know how much this means to me dad, I'll make you proud," Sokka replied as he stood up. "And I'll finally prove to you what a great warrior I am!"
"Sokka, you don't have to prove anything to me," Hakoda said as he placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm already proud of you, and I've always known you're a great warrior."
"Really?"
"Why do you think I trusted you to look after our Tribe when I left?" Hakoda replied as his son smile, knowing that he had his father's praise all along. Then the two began to walk to a ship when a familiar growling was heard.
Before he could even step on board, Sokka turned around to see Appa land with Naruto, Kakashi, Aang, and an unknown, yet beautiful woman with red eyes on him. The look on the young Avatar's face said it all.
"This can't be good news," Sokka said as he looked at his father. "I have to go."
"I understand. Good luck son," Hakoda said as his eldest son leapt onto the Flying Bisons back and flew off.
As they flew away from the Southern Water Tribe Fleet, Sokka crawled on Appa's back to see the ships sail off. He had wanted to go so much, but he knew somehow this was more important.
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Ba Sing Se Prison
Two Dai Li Agents had 'captured' the Fire Nation Princess Azula in her quarters without a struggle, and were bringing her to their imprisoned leader. She hadn't taken off her Kiyoshi Warrior garb, so she was trying to present herself as a warrior of that island. Her hands were handcuffed by rock behind her back, and they opened the door of Long Feng's cell.
"What is the meaning of this? You will not treat a Kiyoshi Warrior this way!" Azula told Long Feng as she faked struggling in the Dai Li's grip.
"But you're not a Kiyoshi Warrior, are you?" Long Feng asked as he stood up. "Princess Azula of the Fire Nation?"
"What do you want?" Azula asked feigning fear in her voice.
"I want to make a deal. It's time I regained control of Ba Sing Se, and you have something I need," Long Feng replied calmly, looking at her.
"Oh?"
"The Earth King's trust."
"Why should I help you?"
"Because I can get you the Avatar," Long Feng replied as he stepped forward.
"I'm listening…" Azula said, playing into the Dai Li Leader's deal.
Long Feng smiled, and the dark alliance between the two were formed. They would be able to conquer Ba Sing Se and depose of the Earth King. It would be a proud day for the Fire Nation when everything clicked into place…
To be continued…