Chapter 25 The Pieces are Falling into Place Part 1
The sun was high over the fire nation sky as Sasuke Uchiha walked around the main court yard of the fire nation palace. He had walked this path two times already. He didn't even have to look at the nearby balcony where three fire nation generals where watching him.
"You realize that they don't like you." stated Azula's voice as she walked up behind him.
"I don't require them to like me." stated Sasuke 'Fear is good enough for the moment."
"Agreed." stated Azula as the two of them walked down one of the many covered paths that ran around the main courtyard. "Your planning something."
"Knowing the terrain is key to any victory." stated Sasuke as he stopped and looked down at the storm drain where water was clearly seen "For example this storm drain is an easy source of water for the waterbender."
"I will have someone cover those right away." stated Azula as the two of them kept walking.
"I have also scouted the areas where I will place Seals to help defeat Naruto." stated Sasuke as the two of them turned a corner.
"We will need a plan on how to deal with your former female teammate." stated Azula "You will be busy taking on Naruto."
"Sakura is a medical ninja, her major skills lie in healing not direct combat." answered Sasuke as he remembered reading the files that Orochimaru keep on key figures in the Leaf "That being said she has been trained by The Slug Princess Lady Tsunade one of the three sannin."
"Sannin?" asked Azula
"It is a title given to three legendary ninjas from the Leaf village." stated Sasuke as he put his hands behind his back as he kept walking "The three sannin where the Slug Princess Lady Tsunade who later became Hokage of the Leaf Village, Jiriaya the Toad Sage and Orochimaru the snake master."
"So this Sakura was trained by a legendary ninja in your world." stated Azula
"Yes but do not fear, she isn't alone I was a student of Orochimaru's until I killed him and Naruto was trained by Jiriaya." explained Sasuke
"So all members of your former team were trained by legends." stated Azula "However that doesn't help with defeating this Sakura."
'Apart from her medical skills she is has Tsunade chakra enhanced strength." explained Sasuke "She more than likely able to punch though all but your strongest metals. She is likely not that skilled in ranged attacked."
"The Yuyan Archers." stated Azula with a grin "They are the best archers in the world they can pin a fly to a tree."
"They should work." said Sasuke "They should keep Sakura busy while I take care of Naruto."
"And I will handle my brother and my father will handle the Avatar." added Azula as she singled for an aid. Instantly the aid ran up to her. "I need the Yuyan Archers here by the time the comet arrives."
"My Princess the comet arrives in three days they will be hard press to arrive in time." Said the aid
"Did I ask for excesses?" asked Azula as the aid cowered a bit in fear before running off to carry out her order.
On a steep hill side near the fire lord's beach house a training session was being held by the avatar gang with Naruto and Sakura watching every move. Standing in for the fire Lord was a piece of fruit, Naruto and Sakura watched as Aang's friends opened the path for him to deliver the final blow however right at the last moment Aang stopped his attack.
"He can't do it." stated Naruto "He can't kill the fire lord."
"Remember how hard it was to kill someone for the first time?" asked Sakura as Naruto lowered his head as he remembered how he felt when he killed for the first time "And we are trained for it, he isn't."
"You know what I have to do." said Naruto
"And you know I don't like it." answered Sakura as she lowered her head a bit "But I also know it is what needs to be done, Just be safe and come back."
Naruto leaned forward and kissed Sakura gently on the lips.
"Don't worry I always come back." answered Naruto "Besides I have you to come back too. I want to take you take you out to get some ramen noodles when we get back to the Leaf."
Sakura simply shock her head as Naruto moved away, disappearing behind some rocks.
"Baka couldn't think of something a little bit more romantic for a first date?" asked Sakura to herself as she looked toward the training area.
"Sakura have you seen Naruto?" asked Fugaku as the elder toad hopped up to Sakura "We need to work more on training to defeat Sasuke."
"Naruto is gone." answered Sakura as Fugaku looked at her "He went to do what will be needed to help save this world and beat Sasuke."
"What is he doing?" asked Fugaku
"Your just have to wait and see." answered Sakura as she looked down at the field.
"Why did you stop?" yelled Sokka to Aang "You had a wide open shot at killing the Fire Lord."
"I am sorry but I can't do it." admitted Aang
"It's just a fruit, Aang." stated Toph "It can't feel anything."
"It isn't the fruit I am talking about, I can't do it. I can't kill the Fire Lord." Said Aang
"Aang you have too." said Katara "It's the only way to end the war, Zuko will take on Azula. Toph, Sokka and I will handle Ty Lee and Mai. While Naruto takes on Sasuke and Sakura deal with any surprises. You have one job and that is to end the Fire Lord."
"Why are you being so mean Katara?" asked Aang surprise at the force behind Katara's words
"Aang I am your friend but I am tired to treating you like a child we are talking about the fate of the entire world." Explained Katara "You have to put it aside and end the Fire Lord.'
"But…" started Aang
"Aang I want him dead and I am his son." stated Zuko "He needs to die, for the good of the world."
"I can't kill any living thing." explained Aang "It's in the code of the Air Nomads, we cannot harm any living thing. That is why we are vegetarians."
"I am sorry Aang but are your beliefs more important than the world?" asked Sokka
"Besides isn't it better to kill one to save thousands of lives?" added Suki
"I can't look at that." Said Aang "I believe all life is important I will treat all life as holy and I will not harm a life unless I have too."
"You have to because if you don't others will be hurt." stated Katara "You are the avatar the protector of the world, now it is time to do it."
Aang lowered his head and started moving away from the group and back toward the beach.
"Did you have to be so hard on him?" asked Toph
"No, she said what he needed to hear." answered Zuko
Hours later the sky had turned black as Naruto moved along the darkened beach on the far side of a small island in the eastern part of the fire nation. He had journeyed to a part of the island which was all but abounded, since it was covered with hot volcanic rock which was coming out from a small vent in the crust of the Earth. Besides being burning hot the rocks were also razor sharp making this place one of the last places anyone would want to go.
"How far away?" asked Naruto as he hopped over a small stream of lava. He had been moving for hour. Once he had reached the main land of the fire nation he had jumped from tree branch to tree branch until he reached this island.
"Not far." answered the Kyuubi "You see that small cave up ahead?"
Naruto looked ahead of him to see a small cave barley large enough for him to enter and to make it even worst the entire cave was formed of the same almost boiling hot black rocks.
"Great." Thought Naruto as he entered the cave as he went deeper into the cave, with each step the cave got smaller and darker. It only took a couple of minutes for Naruto to start arming crawling though the pitch black tunnel. The hot rocks were burning his skin as he got cut more than a few time, suddenly he pushed out into a large room. For a moment Naruto had no idea where he was, as his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could make out a large doomed shaped room which seemed to go on forever the sound of water also filed the air.
"Who enters my home?" stated a voice from the darkness
"Naruto Uzumaki." yelled Naruto back
"You are not one of the spirits how did you find this place?" asked the voice
"I am the container for the Kyuubi." explained Naruto
"Ah… the nine tailed ruler of the foxes." stated the voice as suddenly light flooded the side of Naruto's face; he turned toward it to see glowing blue water. Naruto just watched as the glow began to spread across the floor. The light from the glowing water showed Naruto the truth he was standing on the edge of a giant underground lake which was covered by a doom of black volcanic rock, at one end of the lake Naruto could make out water flowing out and down another tunnel. The center of the lake began to shimmer as a figure rose from the lake. She was dressed in pure white robs with a large hat. Her long jet black hair flowed behind her like water and red marks were painted on her face and shoulders.
"It has been a long time since I have crossed paths with the legendary demon fox." stated the woman in a kind voice
"You're the painted Lady?" asked Naruto as the spirit moved closer.
"Yes, Child I am." said the Painted Lady "Now why have to come to me?"
"We need your help but first if can you call together the grand council." explained Naruto as he said almost word for word what the Kyuubi told him.
"If I call together the great spirits I need to know why?" asked the Painted Lady
"The Kyuubi wants to make a deal with me for his freedom but I don't want him attacking my home in the Leaf village." explained Naruto
"And having him swear before the grand council will bind him to his words." stated the Painted Lady
"Yes." Answered Naruto "Now I hate to rush you but we have only days before the comet comes and this all has to be done before that."
"I will gather the council at once." stated the painted Lady as she disappeared back into the water leaving Naruto alone once again.
While Naruto was waiting a large number of fire nation soldiers were dyeing as the second largest fire nation base in the former Earth Kingdom was burning. An entire fleet of fire nation warships were either burning or already under water. Giant flames where flying high into the night sky as the fuel supply for the fleet exploded.
"Run!" yelled a fire nation soldier as he turn and ran only to be hit in the back of the head with a kunai. The weapon ended his life before he hit the ground.
"Well this just a little less boring then walking." stated Madara more to himself then the other people he was with. Madara sat on the remains of a fire nation tank with a stick in his hands as he roasted a piece of meat, using the burning remains of the fire nation force as his oven. "Why are we wasting our time here? We have learned nothing."
Madara looked up just in time to see a Fire Nation warship capsized over in the harbor.
"We are teaching them a lesson." stated Pain as he stood looking out over the remains of the fire nation base. His eyes scanned over a group of archers which had tried to stop him only to die by his hand "They have caused nothing but Pain and death; they must learn what real Pain is."
"You may teach them all the pain you want but we came for the nine tails and Sasuke." stated Madara "And this didn't help my goals."
"Maybe it did." stated Konan as she walked up to the group holding a piece of paper in her hands.
"What are you talking about?" asked Madara
"I was looking though the office of the admiral in charge of this base." stated Konan as she started reading the message.
"By order of the Fire Lord you are to send the Yuyan Archers to the capital to take part in the operation to take down the avatar and a ninja known as Naruto Uzumaki when they attack on the day of the comet." read Konan "They are to support Princess Azula and Sasuke Uchiha when the comet arrives."
"You know where they are now." stated Pain
"Alright let's get going." stated Madara as they started walking across the ocean
While the Akatsuki members moved across the ocean, Aang and most of his friends were sleeping in the fire lord's beach house. Tomorrow they would train some more before the comet, the only one who wasn't sleeping was Sakura as she moved around the beach house making sure no found them. Sakura never noticed a small island suddenly appearing on the darkened horizon. Aang slowly sat up and started moving toward the island without even opening his eyes or waking up. Aang moved though the fire lord beach house without alerting any of his friends, the only one which woke up as Aang walked past was the Flying Lemur Momo. Aang's loyal pet and friend began to follow Aang, first out the beach house and then to the beach. When the still sleeping Aang took to the air, he joined him as together they headed toward the strange moving island which was just within sight of the beach house.
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