Chapter 4 In the Leaf
It had taken hours of walking though the endless woods of the spirit world but Avatar Roku now stood where he nor any other avatar had never stood before. Before him stood a large white marble gate within the spirit world leading to another world. To the normal person it would have seem strange that a gate was just standing in the middle of the forest clearing with nothing on the other side however Roku knew better it was the opening to one of the many worlds that branched out from the spirit world. Each world was populated with different races of humans, some had never been opened since the making of the world. Roku looked toward the top of the gate instead of the normal four symbols of the four kingdom of benders their where dozens of different symbols. There in the stone where the symbols of a leaf, a musical note and dozens of other symbols that Roku had no idea what they truly meant all he knew was that they where he symbols of the ninja nations that populated the world behind the gate.
"Here I go." said Roku to himself as he placed his hands on the gate. Suddenly it started to slowly open as a grassy field appeared, Roku slowly walked through the gate into a world he had never been too before. As he walked through the gate it closed behind him but remained visible to him. However being a spirit did have its advantages he couldn't been seen or hurt but it would make finding this Naruto or better yet the Leaf Village difficult. Since he couldn't ask questions to the locals. However he was in luck as he walked through the forest he came across a road, luck was with him as just a caravan came by.
"Where are we going to daddy?" asked a little boy to his father.
"To the Leaf village." answered the father.
"Looks like luck is with me." said Roku as he joined the group heading toward the Leaf.
Elsewhere Avatar Aang stood in a small clearing working on some Earth bending with Earth bending teacher Toph.
"Alright twinkle toes let's see if you can dodge this." said Toph as she sent two massive pillars of earth flying toward Aang. Aang moved quickly as he punched the air sending out a rock toward the coming attack. The rock went flying toward the closest rock cutting it to pieces; he went to stop the second pillar when suddenly an image appeared in the stone. His eyes widened as the image of Avatar Kyoshi appeared in the earth. Instead of destroying the attack he raised both hands up into the air stopping the attack.
"He stopped my attack?" thought Toph "He has never been able to do that."
"Avatar Kyoshi?" asked Aang to image in the rock.
"Alright, twinkle toes you has been out in the heat to long you are seeing things." said Toph as she placed her hands behind her head before walking toward Aang
"No Avatar Kyoshi is in the stone." said Aang
"Yes, it is me Aang but your Earth Bending teacher will not be able to see me." said Kyoshi as he eyes opened up.
"What are you doing here? Where is Roku?" asked Aang "And why are you stone?
"It is easier to commutate with the mortal world though our natural element." explained the female earth bender who proceeded Roku "I came in his place to deliver a message from the other Avatars."
"The other Avatars are in agreement unless you are a fully trained Avatar we do not know if you will be able stand up against to him in combat." said Kyoshi as Aang lowered his head at the news.
"So how do I beat him?" asked Aang as Kyoshi lowered her head before looking straight at Avatar Aang.
"You don't." stated Kyoshi as she looked into Aang's eyes "This Sasuke is from another world so he needs to be faced by a force from his world, they may be the only ones who can stop him."
"What does that mean?" asked Aang
"Avatar Roku is journeying to Sasuke's home world, questing to find someone to take care of Sasuke and bring him back to his world." explained Kyoshi "With him back in his world you will be able to bring balance to our world."
With that Kyoshi faded away back into the rock face leaving the stone standing there as if nothing had happened.
"Ok what happened?" asked Toph
Back at camp Katara was busy cleaning up form lunch. Sokka had gone hunting with Suki leaving her alone with, Zuko. Zuko was sitting on a log sharpening his dual dao swords with a large piece sharpening stone. Slowly he placed the stone down and looked at the water bender whom he shared a long and not so great history with.
"Katara do you want some help?" offered the former Fire Nation crowned Prince Zuko as the Katara glared at the fire prince.
"No." stated Katara with hate in her voice "So why don't you just get away from me."
"Listen I know you still don't trust me." said Zuko as he raised his hands defensibly.
"Really I don't trust you?" asked Katara sarcastically "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Listen I know I have done a lot a bad things." said Zuko
"Bad? What you didn't do is bad, it is unforgivable. You betrayed us all, you made me trust you and then allied yourself with Azula and let her take Ba Sing Se." yelled Katara at the top of her lungs as he glared at Zuko with pure hate in her deep blue eyes "You almost killed Aang all because you wanted to go home to your evil father."
"I know and I will never forgive myself for those mistakes and you can hate me all your life. That doesn't mean we can't work together because this Sasuke Uchiha is going to be trouble." said Zuko "We will have to work together if we are to have any hopes of defeating him."
"Fine, if you want to help." stated Katara as she handed over some dirty cooking supplies "Go to the river and get these clean and stay away from me."
Knowing it was pointless Zuko picked up the cooking supplies and walked toward the river to clean them hoping it would calm her down but Katara's mod was like the sea, it could be calm and gentle one moment and deadly and stormy the next. If he wanted to regain any of her trust he had to do what he was told and hope for calmer seas.
Across the ocean in the Fire Nation Capital, a summer rain storm caused everyone to stay inside including Sasuke however he wasn't going to stop any of his training. Azula had made sure that the large indoor training field was clear for his personal use at any time. Only herself, the Fire Lord and few generals where allowed to watch from balcony high above the field. Most believe the stories about the abilities of this stranger was overrated however they were in for a show. For the longest time Sasuke just knelt in mediation, with his eyes closed.
"Is he going to do anything?" asked a general as suddenly Sasuke's eyes opened as he jumped to his feet and ran though hand signs.
"Fire style fire ball justu." said Sasuke as he breathed a giant fireball down the training field destroying two dozen training targets at once. Then he quickly spun around forming more hand signs. Lightening ran down his arms as he moved in a wave. "Lightening style Chidori Sendon!"
Needles of lightening shot of Sasuke's hands embedded into the stone wall before exploding causing large pieces of solid stone to fall down. The generals jumped back stunned at the raw power they were seeing. Sasuke then jumped in the air pulling kunia's out of pouches in his robes. He quickly sent them flying at different targets hitting all of them with a bulls eyes. He landed in the center of the training field as if it was nothing. Then he knelt back down as he studied the attack inside his head looking for weaknesses. He could tell that the third kunai he threw was one supplied by the fire nation metal forgers, it didn't fly true and was off by one millimeter. On a second story observation deck Ozai watched in amazement, not even the highest train fire nation soldier could pull those moves. The generals where too stunned to speak as they looked at the young Uchiha.
"Is he all I told you, Father?" asked Azula as she walked up to her father.
"Indeed." said Ozai as Sasuke stood up and walked out of the room without saying a word to anyone "He is by far the best bender I have ever seen."
"Yes, I have noticed one problem though." said Azula
"What?" asked Ozai wondering what problem could possibly be there.
"I can't be sure but it I believe he can't keep up in a long fight." said Azula
"What are you talking about?" asked a general
"Our frontline soldiers can fight for hours before they use up all their ability to bend, I think Sasuke can't do that." explained Azula "Like how a stronger engine burning though fuel faster than a weaker engine."
"So we may win in an endurance fight?" asked Ozai as he placed his hand under his chin.
"Maybe it is only a theory, however I do not think we have seen anywhere close to the limits of this Sasuke Uchiha." said Azula
"Yes, but it would make sense." Stated Ozai
"It is also beside the point because with his power any fight would be short." stated Azula
"Yes, it would be." said Ozai as a plan stated to form "He is a stronger instrument of war."
"Yes, have you decided to agree to the deal I made with him?" asked Azula
"What would you have me do Azula if you where in my place?" asked Ozai as he tested his daughter's leadership skills to see if she was thinking the same as him.
"It is a fair deal and all we would lose is information that is meaningless to us." answered Azula "So let him have his information and we get the Avatar and the world."
"You are right daughter it is a fair deal, we give him all the information we have about the spirit world and ways to get him home and he gives us the Avatar." said Ozai as he rubbed his breed "But I wonder."
"Wonder what, father?" asked Azula
"It is too early to tell, but I want you to get close to him, to learn why it is important for him to go back." said Ozai "It would be a shame to waste such power."
"He says he has two people to kill." said Azula "They have dishonored him and needs to pay."
"Interesting." said Ozai "I think I like him even more then I did before."
"I will still learn everything I can about him father." said Azula
"Good." said Ozai "Because he will be perfect for the attack on the Earth Kingdom when the comet comes."
Inside the highest skyscraper of the village hidden in the Rain three people gathered as the seemly endless rain kept falling.
"The lost of Sasuke is a setback." said Madara Uchiha better known as Tobi.
"Yes, what is the next move?" asked Pain as he and Konan stood before the true leader of the Akatsuki.
"We gather the rest of the demons faster than we originally planned." said Madara "Go get the six tails, eight tails and finally the nine tails."
"It shall be done." stated Pain
"In the mean time I will have Zetsu keep an eye on the nine tails." stated Madara
"That will not be needed." stated Pain
"I find it necessary." stated Madara
Back in the Fire Nation Sasuke sat in the room he was given by the fire nation royalty. All in all it wasn't a bad room, nice high pillars in each corner with a large four posted bed against one wall. He could go out onto the balcony now that the storm had passed and the sun had returned. It was when he sitting at the table looking out at the setting sun as he sharpened his sword when a knocking sound came from the door.
"Enter." stated Sasuke as the door opened as Azula walked into the room. For once she wasn't dressed in her normal armor instead. The long flowing red silk rode hugged to her body giving her the look of a woman far older than just her 14 and a half years of life. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"Like that could work on you?" answered Azula as she rolled her eyes "You have a warrior's instinct, an instinct that drives you to complete your missions. A mission to kill those two people. Just wondering who are you planning to kill?"
"Naruto Uzumaki and Madara Uchiha." answered Sasuke as Azula sat down at a side table. He knew she was playing a game with him, trying to dig for information on the new comer and she knew that he knew it. Sasuke found himself having fun with this girl so he played along knowing that neither one of them would say anything.
"I wish to know more about these people." said Azula as Sasuke stood up and sat across from her, placing his sword on the table.
"What do you want to know?" asked Sasuke
"Everything, but first something to eat." said Azula as she snapped her fingers, instantly two servants appeared. One had two glasses and hot tea and the second had bread covered with honey, a personal favorite of Azula which she took at once.
"Another bribe?" asked Sasuke as he took their food and drink.
"Call it an enticement." answered Azula as she drank her tea. "If you tell me about you I will share all I know about the Avatar and our world. Consider it another deal."
"Well you wanted to know everything might as well start with one Naruto Uzumaki." stated Sasuke "He was a classmate of mine in ninja school of the village Hidden in the Leaves and later assigned to the same three man squad as me."
"Who was in the other teammate?" asked Azula
"Sakura Haruno." stated Sasuke "She was just as useless as Naruto however Naruto kept getting better kept challenging me and embarrassing me. I wasn't advancing in strength in that weak within the village so I sought power else."
"Another village?" asked Azula as Sasuke nodded
"And another master, the Legendary Snake Sannin Orochimaru." said Sasuke "He was willing to do whatever was necessary to gain power and strength and that is what I needed to kill my older brother Itachi."
"And he gave you power?" asked Azula
"Yes, and so much more." said Sasuke as he drank his tea "However before I got to Orochimaru I did battle with Naruto and I believed I had killed him."
"I just hate when you think you killed someone and they come back." said Azula "It's so troublesome to kill them again."
"Yes, but there is something about Naruto he has a healing ability that heals almost any wound." Stated Sasuke not adding how Naruto had that healing ability.
"Cut off his head, can heal from that." stated Azula as Sasuke laughed a bit.
"Now before I talk about Madara I want to know about your brother." said Sasuke
"Very well." said Azula as she prepared to tell Sasuke about herself.
In the ninja world Roku reached a large gate with a leaf symbol over its gate.
"This must be the Leaf." stated Roku as he walked past the guards and into the village. His eyes widened as he saw what the people where doing. Amazing things where all around him things he never thought possible. Lamps that required no flames to give off light, people jumping across rooftops with easy and different style of cloths unlike anything he had ever seen in any of the nation. As Roku passed another food stand he noticed a young woman dressed in a red sleeveless shirt, black shorts with a tan skirt over it, her boots went up to her knees. A metal headband with the leaf symbol was on her forehead. While her dress but the strange thing was her pink hair that stood her out from anything he had seen before. For some unknown reason he stopped watched as the young woman followed ducked into a food stand, it was as if fate commanded him to watch.
"Naruto we are needed at the Hokage's office." said young woman in red as she dragged out a young man about her own age.
"Coming Sakura-chan." said a blonde hair young man dressed in similarly strange cloths. A black and orange jacket with matching pants with a black undershirt, his headband was also on his forehead however his had black fabric instead of red. Like the pink haired woman, his hair color was something almost unheard of in his world, blonde hair.
Roku watched as the young man and woman walked down the street. However something wasn't right, there was sadness in the girl's eyes. It was a sadness he had seen on the face of so many people who lost loved ones but tried to put on a strong face. Roku knew someone had died.
Roku followed them down the streets and to a giant red building near the center of town. He walked up the staircase after the couple until he entered the room to see a silver haired older man who was masked except for one eye, another young man dressed in a simple pair of black pants and shirt. There were two woman there also, a woman dressed in a simple robe standing behind a seated blonde woman with a purple mark on her forehead. Roku couldn't help but notice her large breast and her strangely young appearance. However he moved on to see a Toad sitting on top of what appeared to be a carrier toad.
"Is that Toad a spirit animal or some kind of pet?" thought Roku
"What is up Old Lady?" asked Naruto to the woman sitting
"Naruto…." said the blonde hair woman "Show some respect."
"Why?" asked Naruto
"Because this is Lord Fukasaku." said Tsunade as she gestured toward the toad.
"Who?" asked Naruto as he looked at the Toad
"This is Jiraiya-boy student?" asked the green Toad as he looked into Naruto's blue eyes.
"Yes, this is Naruto Uzumaki." stated Tsunade
"Yes, now I can see that he is really Jiraiya-boy's student." said Lord Fukasaku
"Jiraiya-boy?" asked Naruto "Why would this old toad call pervy sage a kid?"
"Pervy sage a good name for my old student." laughed Fukasaku
"Student?" asked Naruto
"Yes, I was Jiraiya's sensei in the ways of the toad sage." stated Fukasaku "However the real important is that…..Jiriaya has fallen in battle."
Instantly Naruto's eyes widened as his heart broke.
"He fell to the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain." said Fukasaku "However there is something new that just come to my attention."
"What?" asked Tsunade
"We are not alone." stated Fukasaku as he turned and looked straight at Roku "There is a member of the spirit world with us, or should I call you Avatar?"
Well I hope you liked this chapter, I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I ask that you keep on reading. Thanks Wilkins75