Chapter 8 A New Place
Sakura Haruno couldn't believe what she was seeing, only a few minutes ago she and Naruto where standing before an old stone gate built long before the village was even founded. It was said to mark a gate between different worlds but Sakura never believed it, however she was wrong. Now she along with Naruto walked along a path in a strange new world, their guide was this Avatar Roku who they had only met the day before. Sakura couldn't help herself from looking around at the strange creatures that filled the forest and the sky. By a lake she saw both normal ducks like she saw every day in the hospital garden and ducks with turtle shells on their backs. What looked like a cross between an owl and a cat flew in the strange orange sky.
"Don't worry, most spirits will not harm you in any way or form." stated Roku as the moved down the path. "The creatures you are seeing are a mix of animals from your world, my word and the spirits themselves."
"Most?" asked Sakura slightly worried as what looked like a giant bear taller than the walls of the Leaf village walked past.
"There are always exceptions to the rules." stated Roku "However I do not expect any interruptions."
"That is when you are wrong." stated a new voice as out of the woods came a dozen large foxes all of them had at least four tails dancing behind them with the lead one having five tails. They where surrounded as both Naruto and Sakura pulled weapons as the foxes began to circle them like a pack of wolves looking for an opening. They were all different colors, some brown, some black and a few white however the lead one with five tails was a deep shade of red.
"What do you want foxes?" asked Roku in a clam voice as his hands remained at his side.
"We want our Lord back." stated the lead fox as he glared at Naruto with hate in his eyes "We know that his human has him sealed within him."
"If you know he is sealed within the child that killing him will kill your lord." said Roku as the fox moved around the three travelers. Finally he stopped right in front of Naruto glaring him in the eyes. Suddenly Naruto's eyes turned red and silted.
"Back off Kane." ordered a voice that didn't belong to Naruto "A deal has been made."
"I didn't do that." said Naruto as his eyes turned back to their normal blue.
"That was our lord sending us a message." explained Kane as he looked at Naruto before turning his gaze toward Sakura "We are not to harm you or your mate."
"He thinks Naruto is my husband?" thought Sakura as an uncontrollable shiver traveled down Sakura's spin at the idea of that becoming true.
"Sakura-chan isn't my mate." said Naruto as Sakura snapped back to real world.
"Ya, right." laughed Kane "So tell me what deal did you make with my lord?"
"He gets his freedom from me, I get my freedom from him and in return he will never attack my world." answered Naruto
"To make sure he will have to promise it to the high council of spirits." added the Avatar Roku
"Very well…we will transport you to the Painted Lady at once." stated Saito
"No, we will do that on the way back." said Naruto as Sakura and Roku looked at him; he looked down as he prepared to admit what he never wanted to admit "I may need the Kyuubi's power to bring Sasuke home."
"Very well then we will transport you to the Avatar's world." stated Saito "The sooner we get you to that world, the sooner you can get this Sasuke and the sooner we can have our Lord back."
"Who are you?" asked Naruto as the red fox turned and looked at him. "The Kyuubi is more than a lord to you."
"I am the Kyuubi's nephew and a Second Lieutenant in the special force in the legendary 1st army core, I am Kane." stated the fox "Now let's get going, I want my uncle back."
The storm had lifted over the avatar's training field, the area was still muddy but it was useable and they had no time to waste waiting for the field to dry. They needed all the time they could get to train for the coming battle against the Fire Lord.
"One…two…three." ordered Zuko as Aang punched the air sending flames out, on one, a high kick on two with an arm swipe on three. Aang kept running the drill as Zuko kept barking out orders to the young avatar. "Now roar like a warrior!"
Aang let out a roar but the flames barley went a few feet above his head. "That was pathetic, you couldn't even beat a child like that." yelled Zuko at the top of his lungs.
"Sorry I am doing my best." said Aang as he looked down. Zuko lowered his head, he knew what he had to do, he had to pick the avatar up to give him hope.
"Why don't we focus on an ability that Azula or my father will not expect you to know." said Zuko as Aang eyes light up at the idea "How to redirect lightening."
"How do I do that?" asked Aang
"Alright here is the basics, first you let the lightening hit your fingers." said Zuko as he tried to show the path that lightening would go, the same way his Uncle had showed him "Then you guild the lightening down your arm before dropping it into your belly. From there you go back up to your shoulder before heading out your other arm. You can't go straight across because the lightening will kill you."
"This seems like a water bending move, not a fire bending move." said Aang
"It is, my Uncle created this move by watching water benders." explained Zuko "He believes that you can learn a lot by studying other nations."
"Your uncle is pretty smart." said Aang
"Ya, he has learned that the nations can get along and that together we can be stronger than we could possibly be apart." said Zuko
"Did he teach you any other secret styles, like combined earth and fire?" asked Aang
"No." answered Zuko "My Uncle always said that opposite like Fire and water, Earth and Air make the best patterns because both have something the other lacks."
"I see." answered Aang
"Now why don't you go get a drink and then we can work on some more attacks." stated Zuko
"Alright." said Aang as he headed toward camp; once he was gone Zuko looked toward a group of rocks.
"You can come out Katara." said Zuko as out from behind a series of large and medium sized rocks came the water bender. "Keeping an eye on me again?"
"You know I am." said Katara
"You know I thought I was gaining some ground when we talked yesterday but looks like I was wrong." said Zuko as he crossed his arms and looked at Katara.
"You are right." said Katara "You may have gained my brother's trust when you took him to get Suki and my dad back but I know fire nation plan ahead. You are probably just setting us up for a trap."
"So that is why you asked about our position." said Zuko as he walked over near the edge of the cliff "You wanted to know what I thought about the ground so when Azula finds us you can blame it on me just like everything else."
"It is your fault, yours and your nation. It was your grandfather who started the war and killed all of Aang's people, it was your nation that killed thousands of people across the world including my mother and finally you yourself handed Ba Sing Se to Azula and destroyed the Earth kingdom." snapped Katara "It is all yours nation and your families fault, destruction is in your blood."
"Maybe your right." said Zuko as he looked out toward the sea he was within feet of falling off the edge of the cliff and to the sharp rocks below. "My father's family has caused nothing but pain and death to the world and my hands are not clean. I am trying not following that path anymore; I finally started to listen to my mother when she said to never forget who I am."
"I know what you are, you are fire nation scum." snapped Katara "And if you step out of line or make a move against us I will personally see that your end is painful."
With that Katara stormed off back to camp, Zuko knew full well that Aang wasn't coming back. Katara was going to make sure Aang went straight to Earth Bending or maybe take him out water bending to calm her down. What he did know that his training session was over for another day and they were a day closer to his father's plan to end the war.
Miles away from the war of words between Zuko and Katara was Sasuke, Azula, Mai and Ty Lee riding their mongoose lizards as fast as they could go. The ground was still muddy from the rain but it didn't slow down the gaint lizards who were adapted to live in the lush wet rainforests of the fire nation.
"Why are we heading so far out?" asked Mai as they rode on their mongoose lizards toward a large peninsula sticking out into the sea. In the distance was a small village destroyed long ago when a large Earth Kingdom force went up against an even larger fire nation force. The peninsula was on the other side of the village was the peninsula and hopefully their target. "Who in their right mind would pick this place as a training spot, fire nation ships pass within a couple of miles every day."
"But they don't get close to it because of the underground rocks and the people never returned after the battle." said Azula "If I wanted to hide it would be there."
"But how would Zuko know about this place?" asked Ty Lee
"Because it was my weak uncle Iroh who won on this field before marching on Ba Sing Sa." said Azula "And he always loved to tell war stories and Zuko loved listening to the fool."
"Let's just keep moving." said Sasuke as the lizards moved though the abounded streets of the village.
A few yards away Zuko slowly made his way back to camp just in time to see everyone sitting down to enjoy some lunch.
"What are we having?" asked Sokka as looked toward his sister who was cooking their lunch.
"We have some rabbit, nuts and berries." answered Katara as she gave some meat to her brother while handing him some meat to him and a large bowl of berries and nuts for Aang. She handed out food to everyone beside Zuko before sitting down to eat her own lunch. Zuko simply rolled his eyes as he got his own food, he was used to Katara not mothering him like she did for the others.
"Zuko do you want to go out hunting after lunch?" asked Sokka as he bite down into his meat. Zuko looked at him for a second before looking at Katara; he didn't want to be around her at the moment and hunting would get them away from each other.
"Sure." said Zuko as suddenly Toph stood up.
"What is it?" asked Aang as everyone looked at the twelve year old master earth bender.
"Me." said Sasuke as he appeared on a small rise in the earth only a few yards away from where they were about to eat their lunch.
"How the world did he get so close so fast?" asked Toph "I only sensed you a second ago when you jumped off you lizard."
"Ninjas are a lot faster than anything in your weak world." answered Sasuke as he pulled his sword "Now why don't we do this the easy way?"
"Everyone get to Appa." ordered Aang as he looked toward his friends before looking back toward the hill only to see Sasuke wasn't there.
"Do you really think you can get away from me." said Sasuke as Aang looked to see Sasuke standing right in the middle of his group. "I could kill you all in an instant and it wouldn't matter."
"Take this!" yelled Toph as she sent a mound of Earth up from under Sasuke. Sasuke flew up in the air from Toph's attack.
"Ya we got him." yelled Sokka as he watched Sasuke fly though the air. However Sasuke just flipped in midair pulling a kunai out of his weapon pouch. His target was well within his striking range and better yet she wouldn't see it coming.
"We still need to get out of here, Azula and her two friends are within…." stated Toph before suddenly she stopped talking. Everyone's eyes widened as they looked toward Toph only to see a metal knife sticking out of her chest just above her heart. Blood flowed down the front of her green shirt. She fell to the ground where she stood, instantly Katara was at her side.
"TOPH!" yelled Aang as Sasuke landed on the ground without breaking a bone in his body.
"The inferior fire nation copies, I missed her heart." stated Sasuke as he noticed Toph's chest still going up and down.
"Katara get Toph and everyone else to Appa." ordered Zuko as he got into a combat stance. "And for once don't argue with me."
"Fine." growled Katara
"Go with her." stated Aang
"What?" asked Zuko
"Make sure they get away safely, I will meet up with you." said Aang as he held up his staff.
"His staff is also a flyer we can get away and then he can fly off." thought Zuko "We can all get away."
"Alright, let's go." said Zuko as he started to walk backwards making sure that he stayed in his stance.
"We can't leave Aang! Your betraying us aren't you!" yelled Katara to Zuko
"I told him to." yelled Aang "Just make sure everyone gets out fine."
"Katara we have to go." said Sokka as he and Suki picked up Toph as they headed toward Appa.
"Giving cover for your friends to get away are you?" asked Sasuke as he watched the group fall back.
"I will do anything for my friends." stated Aang "Wouldn't you do anything for your friends?"
"I removed such weakness long ago. Now I have only to bring you to the Fire Lord and then I can go back to my world and kill the two people I need to." said Sasuke
"You are doing this just because you want to kill two people?" asked Aang "The entire world is at risk."
"I don't care about this world or any world. Dead last and Madara must die for what they did." said Sasuke as he pointed his sword toward Aang. "Now surrender and I will
"I am the Avatar and I will not let you destroy the hope for peace for this world." stated Aang as he pointed his staff at Sasuke.
"I have been told about you Avatar." said Sasuke as lightening danced around him "I know your nation is against killing, and I am a tool of war and death. Killing is second nature to me."
Aang did a quick glace over his shoulder toward where his friends where getting onto Appa. Suddenly a row of sharp needles landed between Zuko and Appa, as Mai, Azula and Ty Lee came over another rise in the earth on their mongoose lizards.
"Katara take off I will hold them off." ordered Zuko as he sent a flaming punch at Azula only to have Azula break it apart with her own flames.
"Looks like your plan to fly away in your glider will not work." said Sasuke
"You know our plan." said Aang
"A genin could figure that out." laughed Sasuke as lightening danced around his arm.
"Katara take off!" ordered Zuko as Appa took off into the sky leaving Zuko and Aang on the ground with Sasuke and Azula's team.
"Hello there Zu…Zu." said Azula as the three mongooses dragons moved around him. "Long time no see."
"Not long enough for me Azula." stated Zuko keeping his eyes locked on his sister.
"Ah how could you say that? We are family, besides aren't you happy to see Mai?" asked Azula as Zuko looked down.
"Listen Mai, I am sorry you got dragged into his but…" started Zuko as suddenly Zuko felt sharp pains in his arm. Zuko looked toward his arm to see three needles in his arm, blood was already coming down his arm.
"I don't care about your answers you are dead to me." stated Mai with coldness in her voice and hate in her eyes.
Above their heads Appa flew, Sokka was at the controls while Katara worked on saving Toph.
"There has to be something we can do." said Suki as she looked over the edge toward the battle. Zuko had started to do battle with Ty Lee, Mai and his sister but it was clear that he was losing.
"There isn't anything we can do." answered Sokka
"Your friends will die this day and there isn't anything you can do about it." stated Sasuke as he looked at Aang. Aang looked toward Zuko just in time to see him fall to the ground. "Your blind earth bender may not have been killed instantly but the wound is enough to kill her and you fire bending sensei will die soon."
"Just stop this!" yelled Aang as his body began to glow he felt his rage begin to build as Sasuke grinned. "STOP THIS!"
With that the tattoos on Aang's body began to glow a deep shade as he accessed all the power of the past Avatars. He quickly spun his hands around sending a massive wave of wind at Sasuke. However by the time it neared Sasuke he was gone. Aang's eyes widened as he felt a sharp pain in his body. He looked down to see a sword blade tip in his upper shoulder suddenly he felt lightening run though his body forcing him to the ground. To Aang's amazement he came out of the Avatar state.
"Don't worry, I hit you in a none fatal spot." said Sasuke as he pulled his sword out
"How did you…" started Aang as his face rested in the mud
"I got you out of that form by hitting a chakra point on your body." Stated Sasuke "While I am not a Hyuuga I know that right there is where all chakra on your right side is controlled, take that down and you loss all control until it's healed. It seems to work the same with you."
"I will not let you do this." said Aang as he turned over to look up at Sasuke.
"You can't stop me." said Sasuke as Aang grabbed his staff and tried to hit Sasuke in the face only to have his staff cut in half by Sasuke's sword. Sasuke's response was fast and brutal as he broke the young avatar's arm with ease. Aang cried out in pain as he looked at his badly broken arm, the bone was coming out of three places.
"Everything I have tried has failed against this person." thought Aang as he looked up into Sasuke's eyes, those strange red eyes spun around unnaturally. For the first time Aang saw no goodness in a person's eyes.
"Azula wants you alive but you are troublesome." stated Sasuke as he raised his sword. "Losing an arm or leg will not kill you and will fix that trouble."
Aang braced himself for the attack, his avatar state had failed, his friends where down and there was nothing to stop Sasuke.
"Aang no!" yelled Katara from above unable to help him. Aang closed his eyes and prepared for the pain to come.
The sword cut though the air on its journey to Aang's arm, suddenly the sound of metal hit metal filled the air. Aang opened his eyes to see strange knife had stopped Sasuke's attack within inches of his arm. He could feel another presence beside him as he looked up. Sasuke's eyes were no longer on him but instead looking toward the figure that now stood beside him.
Aang looked up to see who had stopped the attack. Standing there was a young man maybe 15 or 16 with orange pants and a black and orange coat and pants. In his hand was a small metal weapon he had seen Sasuke used before a kunai, held the sword at bay. His blonde hair which was extremely rare and almost unheard of flowed in the wind. Above his blue eyes was a thin metal plate with what looked like the outline of a leaf in the metal.
"Sasuke." said young man as Sasuke smiled he didn't seem to care anymore about Aang his entire focus was now on the new comer.
"Naruto." said Sasuke
Well I hope you liked this chapter, I am going away for the weekend so I will likely not have my normal update on Monday. Sorry for that but I feel I update a lot so one week without a new chapter isn't the end of the world. Now until next time please keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.