Chapter 23 Confrontations
No one said anything as they walked toward the beach house, night had already fallen causing the beach house to look more then creepy with its half destroyed roof and dirty walls made it look like something out of a horror story. As they entered the courtyard they found Fukasaku sitting on top of small rock waiting for them.
"So how was the play?" asked Fukasaku
"Don't ask." stated Sokka "I am going to bed."
"Same here." said Suki
"Someone probably should stay on watch just in case Sasuke decides to attack." said Sakura
"I'll do it." stated Katara "I don't have to train Aang until tomorrow night so I can sleep once everyone gets up."
"Ok what am I missing?" asked Fukasaku
"Sasuke and Azula were at the play." stated Naruto "They knew we were there before we could do anything."
"And they didn't attack?" asked Fukasaku
"No, instead they told us that on the day the comet comes they plan to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground." stated Aang "So we have to show up on that day to stop them."
"Basically they have the home field advantage." stated Sakura
"And that means that they will have traps ready for you." stated Fukasaku as Sakura nodded her head.
"We need to form a plan all of us on how we are going to deal." stated Naruto
"We will start that in the morning." Said Fukasaku
"Actually I already have a plan in mind for dealing with Sasuke the issue is handling whatever traps are there and those airships." Stated Naruto before looking at Sakura "Neither one of us can fly so it would be best if we stop those things on the ground."
"We will figure that out in the morning." ordered Fukasaku "Get some rest."
"Katara are you sure you want to take watch? I can do it." offered Aang
"You need to train so you are getting a full night's sleep." ordered Katara
"But you need sleep as well." explained Aang as he reached for Katara's hand only for her to pull it away.
"I'll take her place just after midnight." stated Sakura
"Thanks." stated Katara as she moved toward the top floor to keep an eye out for anyone coming. While she did that everyone else headed toward bed.
While the Avatar gang was heading toward bed, Sasuke, Azula and her friends had gotten back onto the airship which would take them to the fire Nation Capital by sunrise tomorrow.
"Captain how long to reach the capital?" asked Azula
"We should arrive by sunrise tomorrow." stated the Capitan
"Good, any messages from my father?" asked Azula
"Yes, Princess." stated the Capitan as he handed the message to the Princess, since the message had the seal of the royal line no one apart from a member of the royal line was allowed to see it. The only time that rule wasn't to be followed was when the message was address to the person themselves.
"What is it?" asked Sasuke
"Basically father is a little disappointed that I didn't come right away." explained Azula as she handed the message to him, the fact that Princess Azula would hand over internal fire nation royal communications to someone outside the chain of command surprised the Capitan. Not even Mai or Ty Lee where allowed to see the messages between the royal lines. "However he will deal with it when we arrive in the capital."
"Did he say anything?" asked Ty Lee
"Nothing important." stated Azula as she turned to the Capitan "I want to be airborne in five minutes."
"Yes, Princess Azula." stated the Captain as he went off to get the ship airborne.
An hour later Katara sat on one of the balcony located along the second floor of the beach house. While she thought everyone had gone asleep her mind started to wonder as she looked around at the decaying house. Even though the dirt and grime covered up the walls and floors it was clear in her mind what the place used to look like. The warm colors and gold trim would have made the entire house feel warm. The dirty party muddy pound would have been crystal clear filled with flowering water plants and turtle ducks. In her mind she found herself sitting beside the pound feeding those small peaceful animals, she smiled as she imaged the warm summer's air blowing across her face moving her hair behind her. She just let her mind go as she dreamed about a strong hand coming up from behind her and pulling her back against a strong chest. Her hand moved up over her shoulder so that her hand rested on the man's face just below his scar. She was so focused on her dream she didn't even hear the footsteps.
"Katara." stated a voice as Katara's eyes opened as she turned around to see Toph standing there.
"Toph you should be asleep." stated Katara as she turned and looked at her friend.
"I should but there is something I have to say, something without the others around." stated Toph
"What?" asked Katara
"Why are you lying to Aang?" asked Toph
"What are you talking about?" asked Katara slightly confused at what Toph was talking about. "I haven't lied to Aang
"True you have physically lied to him but you have led him on and haven't been honest with him." stated Toph as she took a breath "You let him believe you love him when in fact you love someone else."
"What?" asked Katara
"You can lie to yourself but don't try to lie to me. I can see your heart beat." stated Toph as her blind eyes seam to almost glare at Katara "You like Zuko."
"What? I don't like Zuko" asked Katara again as her heart thumped in her chest.
"There you go again, your heart is racing which tells me you are lying." stated Toph "So the question remains do you just like Zuko or is it possibly something more."
"Zuko is fire nation and they were the ones who killed my mother." stated Katara
"We don't choice who we fall for and I think you don't blame Zuko for that and he did help rescue your father." stated Toph as Katara lowered her head a bit.
"Yes." admitted Katara "I don't blame him for that."
"So do you like him?" asked Toph "Because if you do, your just string Aang along then your cruel."
"I haven't strung Aang along." stated Katara "I was never with him."
"Well you kissed him didn't you?" asked Toph
"He pulled me into it." Explained Katara as she turned and looked out toward the sea "And truth be told it felt like I was kissing a family member, I didn't get a spark or anything."
"Why don't you tell him how you feel?" asked Toph "Tell him you like Zuko not him."
"Because I am not sure I know what I feel." explained Katara "Besides he has so much to deal with I don't want to add the stress."
"He is already thinking about it, why do you think he left when the actor versions of you and Zuko admitted your love for each other." stated Toph "I personally don't know what he found more upsetting the idea of you being with Zuko or losing to the Fire Lord. He loves you Katara, with all his heart."
"Maybe then it is better not to tell him, it will just break his heart and depressed him." stated Katara "I mean if he is depressed it may cause him to want to die and then we all lose. While if he thinks he is fighting for me he may fight harder and win."
"You have to tell him." said Toph "Because a lie is never the good thing."
"I remember you not telling Aang about you running away from your parents." stated Katara
"Then believe me that was a mistake." stated Toph as Katara thought for a moment.
"I will tell him as soon as I know what I am feeling." stated Katara
"I guess that works." stated Toph as she disappeared inside leaving Katara alone with her thoughts.
While Katara was wrestling with her feelings between two very different young men, Sakura was rolling around in her sleep. Her eyes snapped opened as she jumped to her feet realizing what she should have realized hours ago. She jumped to her feet almost tripping over the sleeping Suki as she left the room they had been sharing. She ran bear footed toward the main courtyard were Fukasaku slept on top of a lily pad however his sleeping was disturbed when Sakura flipped it over so he crashed into the water.
"Wake up you stupid toad." stated Sakura
"What is it Sakura are we under attack?" asked Fukasaku before he noticed how pissed off Sakura seamed, she reminded him so much of those times he had to deal with an upset Tsunade.
"You lied to Naruto-kun didn't you!" stated Sakura "You knew who his parents are and you didn't tell him."
"What are you talking about?" asked Fukasaku as Sakura started walking back and forth.
"Everyone knew didn't they? Kakashi-sensie, Lady Tsunade, Jiriaya and you they all knew who Naruto-kun's parents were and they didn't tell him." stated Sakura
"What are you talking about?" repeated Fukasaku
"The Kyuubi told Naruto-kun that his mother was Kushina Uzumaki." Stated Sakura as Fukasaku's eyes widened a bit, telling Sakura that she was on the money and the Kyuubi was telling the truth. "Now Kushina Uzumaki was famous for her fighting skill so that makes the list of people who were stronger then her short enough as it is however the Kyuubi added that Naruto-kun looks like his father and that his father was on the same team as the 4th Hokage."
Sakura took a breath as prepared to say it; it had taken so long for her brain to process the information.
"The thing is the 4th Hokage like all Leaf ninjas worked in a three man squad." stated Sakura as Fukasaku remained quiet "I saw the photographic of his team almost every day in the Hokage's office, the 4th Hokage Minato Namikaze had two Kunoichi's on his team one of them was Kushina and apart from those cute whisker marks on his cheeks Naruto-kun looks like a clone of the 4th Hokage. Which means Minato Namikaze is Naruto's father."
"I am impressed." stated Fukasaku "You are correct Naruto is the son of the 4th Hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife Kushina Uzumaki."
"Why was it hidden in the first place?" demanded Sakura "He grew up not knowing who his parents were, no child should have to do that."
"It was done to protect him. He was already a target because of the Kyuubi he would have been the largest target in the world if it was known he was the only child of the 4th Hokage the yellow flash of the Leaf and Kushina Uzumaki who had a special chakra with the capability of holding the Kyuubi at bay." stated Fukasaku "Some would to either kill him because of who his parents were and others would want to use him to bread stronger ninjas for themselves."
"That may have been a reason to do it when he was a kid, but he isn't a kid anymore." stated Sakura
"We weren't going to hid it from him forever. When we felt he was ready and that he could defend himself we were going to tell him." explained Fukasaku
"He killed a member of the Akatsuki with a single attack, he can handle himself." stated Sakura
"He is a powerful ninja that is for sure but when the Rock find outs who his father is they will send forces after him because of what Minato did to them during the war, then the Lightning will send forces to try to get a chance at the special chakra Naruto's mother had. It may lead to war." stated Fukasaku "Unless they know that they would be almost totally destroyed in a battle against him then they will come and it will lead to war were thousands of people will die. I am sorry but letting him know may cause thousands of lives, I don't think Naruto would want that."
"This is all based on the idea that the news would get out." explained Sakura "I am sure if you tell why you had to keep it hidden he wouldn't tell anyone who couldn't be trusted."
"I know I haven't been around Naruto long but he isn't one to keep things to himself." stated Fukasaku
"He kept the fact that he had the Kyuubi hidden for years." offered Sakura "He can keep it hidden if need be."
"Maybe your right, and maybe if he masters sage mode he will be strong enough." said Fukasaku "However I don't want to make this call myself, I want to talk to Lady Tsunade."
"You won't have to." stated a voice as Sakura and Fukasaku turned toward one of the doors only to see Naruto standing there.
"Naruto?" asked Sakura as Naruto stepped out under the moonlight sky.
"How long have you been there?" asked Fukasaku
"Long enough to hear everything important." explained Naruto "So I am really the fourth's son?"
For a moment Fukasaku didn't say anything as he tried to find a way out of it.
"Yes, you are." stated Sakura as Naruto looked at her before slowly walking away.
"He will need time to process." stated Fukasaku as he remained sitting.
'It would be better if someone was there to help him." stated Sakura as she went after Naruto.
"I should follow them and help Naruto." thought Fukasaku "Then again maybe having Sakura help Naruto will in the end help them both, I will just have to wait and see."
Well I hope you liked this chapter, the next chapter will have Naruto/Sakura moments so for those who have been waiting on that, just hold on a little bit more and you will have those moment. Now please keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.