Chapter 15 Lightening Roar
"So where is our current location?" asked Azula as she stepped onto the bridge of the royal airship, instantly the captain and the rest of the bridge staff was at attention.
"We are making great time princess, the tide and winds are in our favor and the way head seems clear of large packs of ice." explained the Captain "Following the planned attack route that avoids their fishing grounds it will take us two days to reach their city. The night before the end of the full moon cycle."
"And if we go the direct route?" asked Azula
"We can be there after sundown tonight but their ships will see us and they will be ready." stated the Captain "And they have two full nights of the full moon."
"They will be ready no matter what and the full moon isn't a worry of us." stated Azula "The sooner we get is all that matters, so order all forces to head straight though their fishing grounds."
"Their fishers and scouts will alert them of our attack." said the captain
"Are you actually making me repeat myself Captain because I don't like to repeat myself." explained Azula as she threatened the captain.
"Yes…Princess Azula." said the captain as the airship turned and head into the main ice free path that lead straight into the main northern water tribe fishing grounds and the Northern Water Tribe capital.
While Azula was threatening the airship captain, it was already past ten in the morning and Aang was finishing up his early morning fire bending training. He knew that he had a 15 minute break coming up soon followed by more fire bending training till noon, next came lunch then earth bending training with Toph before he got to the training he really wanted to do, water bending training with Katara.
"You need more force in your attacks." ordered Zuko as Aang sent another medium sized ball of fire toward Zuko who split the attack with ease. In the distance Katara was watching them like a hawk making sure that Zuko didn't harm the avatar, her deep blue eyes were locked on the shirtless fire bender.
"Checking out Zuko?" asked a voice as Katara jumped as she saw Sakura walking up toward her.
"No…I am making sure he is safe." said Katara
"The question is are you making sure the avatar is safe or that Zuko is safe?" asked Sakura
"Why are you here?" asked Katara as she hopped to change the subject, something that didn't go unnoticed by Sakura.
"You said you're a healer right?" asked Sakura
"Yes, I use my water bending skills to heal." said Katara
"How would you like to learn how to actually heal." said Sakura as she crossed her arms as Katara glared at her a bit. "Sorry if I insulted you but what is the range of your skills is limited and my master taught me by being brutally honest at times."
"What can you do that I can't, I've saved people lives." said Katara "I've healed broken bones and multiple cuts."
"I've done surgery on a person's brain and did a heart transplant." said Sakura as Katara raised an eyebrow at the word transplant "I took out someone's bad heart and put in a new good heart from a donor."
"You can do that?" asked Katara
"With the right equipment yes, but let's focus on getting your healing skills up." said Sakura "Because we may need all everyone we can who knows how to heal."
"Because of the comet giving power to the fire lord and his army." said Katara
"No…they are not that big of a threat." said Sakura
"Not a threat they have waged war for a hundred years." stated Katara "Killing tens of thousands of people."
"And Sasuke can kill a thousand ninjas in a single day without being touched." stated Sakura as she remembered the informational report from their spy inside of sound "And that was his training."
"That can't be true…it's impossible." said Katara
"And that is why I believe it." added Sakura as the two of them started walking back to the beach house.
It was near noon in the Northern Water Tribe as the Northern Water Tribe as a council of war was being held in the great hall.
"Welcome back Pakku how are things in the South?" asked Chief Arnook as the northern water tribe master water bender and step grandfather to Katara and Sokka entered the hall.
"I thank you for allowing me to gather some warriors here." said Pakku
"So do you really think you and this army of the white lotus can retake Ba Sing Sa?" asked an Earth Kingdom General
"General Yu, please show respect Pakku is our greatest bender." explained Chief Arnook
"I am sorry Chief Arnook but retaking Ba Sing Sa when fire benders are at their strongest just doesn't seem possible." said General Yu
"And what do you think we should do?" asked Chief Arnook
"We are planning an operation to retake many cities on the northern coast of the Earth Kingdom." Stated General Yu as a massager burst through the doors.
"Chief Arnook." said the massager
"What is it?" asked the chief
"Fire Nation Airships and a fleet was spotted in the fishing grounds." stated the massager as everyone looked at him slightly stunned. "They should be here by nightfall."
"It's a full moon why would they attack?" asked General Yu
"They did it last time." said Pakku "They could be after the moon spirit again."
"But we moved them to a New Oasis." stated Chief Arnook
"They don't know that." stated Pakku as he stood up "With your permission Chief Arnook I would like to retake my position as head of the water benders and help defend this city."
"Of course." said Chief Arnook
Meanwhile in the Fire Lord's summer home everyone was finishing off their lunch.
"So Naruto how is training going?" asked Sakura as she tried not to look down at her the shirtless teammate.
"Good." said Naruto as he finished his fish
"Yes, your training is progressing faster than I thought." said Fukasaku
"I wish I could say the same thing about my training." said Aang as he lowered his head "My fire bending training isn't going that good."
"For someone who just started firing bending you are doing good." said Zuko as Aang smiled.
"Well that is all good but now it's time for him to work on Earth Bending." stated Toph
"Suki and I will keep an eye out for anyone." said Sokka
"Just don't start making out again, if I hadn't come along that old man many have seen Aang." stated Katara
"Katara, Zuko I have something I want you two to do." said Fugaku as the 16 year old fire bender and the 15 year old water bender looked at him. "I need to know how strong you two are in combat."
"You want us to fight?" asked Zuko as he looked at Katara
"I don't think that is a good idea." said Aang worried that Katara would get hurt.
"No, combat against each other while good isn't what I need." explained Fugaku "I need to know how you stack up against a ninja, so Sakura if you please."
"You want me to take them on one at a time?" asked Sakura
"No…together." stated Fugaku "They will not likely have to face Sasuke alone."
"No offense but I don't anyone here apart from Naruto no one could beat Sasuke." said Sakura
"I know that." said Fukasaku "However they may need to hold him off if we are not there."
"Alright I'll put them though a test." said Sakura as she looked at Zuko and Katara "I am ready when you are."
"Let's get this over with." stated Katara as she stood up.
"Alright then." said Sakura
A few minutes later Katara and Zuko stood side by side in one of the courtyards with Sakura standing across from them.
"Now it's you two vs. me." stated Sakura as she crossed her arms "Come at me with everything you got because I will not go easy on you. Begin"
Instantly Zuko pulled his duel dao swords and moved toward as Sakura stood there with her arms crossed watching. Zuko slashed though the air in front of Sakura as suddenly a burst of flame shot out from the sides of the blade. Sakura ducked under the attack.
"Baka..they don't have to do hand signs so why was I watching for that?" asked Sakura to herself as she pulled two kunai and charged Zuko chakra covering her weapons. Zuko was amazed as Sakura moved in and started blocking his attacks with just two small bladed weapons. Zuko was clearly outmatched as he was forced to move from the attack to the defensive.
"Zuko get down!" yelled Katara as Zuko ducked as a water whip flew just inches over were his head used to be. Sakura had just time to raise her hand to protect herself as the water whip hit her. Katara pulled back as she prepared to send another attack. She sent the water flying only to see a grin on Sakura's face as she ran though hand signs suddenly Katara lost all control over the water she sent toward Sakura. Instead the water was coming toward her a lot faster and harder than before it even took the shape of a dragon, as the water bending turned into a water justu. She raised her hands to protect herself from her own element but the blow never came. She lowered her arms to see a wall of fire in front of her as the water attack was stopped by Zuko's fire bending. The cold water clashed against the hot fire creating a cloud of steam. The courtyard became covered with steam hiding Zuko and Sakura from her sight.
"Zuko!" yelled Katara as she started to bend the water out of the air but her heart was rising as the field became clear again. Her eyes widened as she spotted a figure lying face down on ground. Instantly she dropped her defenses and moved toward the figure.
"Zuko are you alright?" asked Katara as her grabbed Zuko and flipped him over so he faced her.
"Zuko…Zuko" yelled Katara as she tried to find a sign of life while she held him in her arms. Before she could say anything she felt a knife pressed up to her throat.
"I win." said Sakura
"I don't care we need to help Zuko." cried Katara as she looked at Zuko
"No we don't." said Sakura as suddenly Zuko disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"What the?" asked Katara as she looked around to see Zuko holding what appeared to be an in juried version of herself with another Sakura behind him with a kunai. Her eyes widened as she saw how gently he held her before that Katara disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I used transformed shadow clones and sound canceling justus to make you think the other was dead." explained Sakura as she put her kunai way "You were never in any real chance of getting hurt."
"Why would you do something like that?" asked Katara as she tried not to look at Zuko, just like he tried not to look at her.
"I don't want to be cruel but it is something that Sasuke would do without hesitation." explained Sakura "However you two did work good together."
Hours later the Northern Water Tribe came into view as the sun was going down over the cold northern sea. Already the full moon was shinning though the cloud cover, standing in on the lead attack ramp stood Sasuke as he looked at the defenses of the large city in front of him. The map was correct it was a city surrounded with huge natural ice sheets making up four sides of the city meaning the only way to attack was straight head on. They had multiple ice and snow walls to protect the approach with the largest wall marked the outside of the village. That wall had to be at least twenty feet thick and had new smaller walls of ice and Earth was set up in a defensive ring around the main wall.
"Impressive isn't it." Said Azula as she could see people running around in the city below, some were running back into the city while others were moving to combat positions. Attack ships including some of from the Earth Kingdom who must have gone there for safe harbor after the lost of Ba Sing Se moved to stop the Fire Nation fleet. Inside the wall they could see Water Tribe Warriors and Earth Kingdom Soldiers moving to defend the largest city still outside of fire nation control.
"In a way." stated Sasuke as he turned and headed into the bridge
"Order all fire benders to send fire into the ice or the air." ordered Sasuke to the general
"Why?" asked the general
"Just do it." ordered Sasuke again as Azula nodded her head as a light rain fell as Sasuke grinned.
On the ramparts of the main North Water Tribe defense line the Earth Kingdom General Yu and Pakku along with hundreds of Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe warriors watched as the fire nation fleet and airships just kept sending out wave after wave of fire directed at either the ice sheets or simply into the air.
"What are they doing?" asked General Yu
"I do not know." said Pakku as a light rain turned heaver "Our sources inside the Fire Nation said we had weeks before they would launch an attack here."
"Well they are here." stated General Yu as a bolt of lightning appeared in the darkening night sky. "Is lightening normal around here?"
"Not during this time of year." explained Pakku as more lightning bolts began filling the sky as the rain kept coming down hard and faster. "What are they planning?"
On the top platforms of the royal airship Azula and Sasuke stood as the rain kept coming down.
"What are you planning?" asked Azula
"Your way of lightening bending involves directing lightening." said Sasuke as his chidori justu appeared on his arm "I am going to do the same thing."
Azula looked up at the massive amounts of lightening dancing over their heads.
"You can control that?" asked Azula
"No…but I can guide it. Stay here" explained Sasuke as he closed his eyes before jumping forward landing on the very nose of the airship. Azula watched as he raised his hand toward the sky "Come….Kirin"
On the walls the general and Pakku could just make out a figure standing on the edge of the lead airship.
"Is that person crazy?" asked General Yu
Before Pakku could answer a bolt of lightning shot up from person and into the sky at once all the bolts of lightning gathered at the spot. Pakku's like everyone else's eyes widened as a giant beast make out lightening came out of the sky and down to the figure. Instantly fear swept not only through the Sasuke's enemies but the fire nation soldiers who could see the massive creature. Only Azula standing feet behind him wasn't afraid of the giant attack which was preparing to strike
"How can he control lightening like that?" asked a water tribe warrior
"He is going to aim for the defenses clear the walls!" yelled Pakku as everyone started to run but it was too late as the creature let out a roar.
"Now." stated Sasuke as the creature disappeared back into the clouds but the lightening still stayed in a single point, it took only a second for the creature's face to reappear this time looking toward the massive walls of ice set up by the North Water tribe and walls of earth built by the earth kingdom. Sasuke moved his hand pointing toward the defenses "Vanish in a roar of thunder!"
There was a deafening roar followed by a flash of light as one of the strongest justus ever created moved at the speed of light toward the defenses of the North Water Tribe.
Well I hope you liked this chapter, next chapter involves the attacks on the Northern water tribe. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I ask that you keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75