As I stated last chapter, this will be askew with the Naruto manga & contain spoilers. I know I'm a little late with what I stated in the previous chapter where I said I'd upload it ASAP...but as I was writing this one the SOPA/PIPA act didn't go through (yay!) so I took my time with this one. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing; Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto & Avatar: the Last Airbender belongs to Michael DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko.

Gaara

Dealing with the Second Mizukage who started to fight as soon as he sealed off his father, Gaara was surprised to see Naruto standing next to him! Well, what must have been one of his clones as he noticed that there were a lot of Naruto clones about the place. After conversing for a little and the Second Mizukage telling them that he and Naruto made a good duo, Gaara finally sealed the Second Mizukage.

Turning to a shinobi he ordered, "Report to headquarters that the Second Mizukage and the Fourth Kazekage have been sealed."

When the shinobi left Gaara turned back to Naruto, "So where is the real you?" he asked.

Before Naruto had the chance to answer, Temari came running over to them, "Gaara look above you, quick!" she cried out.

Looking up, he did a double-take. What on earth was Toph doing falling towards the ground? What was she doing here in the first place? A thousand feelings ran through him as he watched her fall and just as he lifted up his arm to create a sand barrier to catch her, Temari grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Temari what-" he started but she cut him off, "No this is all a part of her plan! Tobi from the Akatsuki followed Aang and everyone back to where they come from and attacked them! He then took Aang and brought him here!"

Growing angry, Gaara frowned and looked up at the shinobi holding Aang, "Everything that the Akatsuki are doing is appalling. First they ally with Kabuto who's revived a lot of dead ninja and then they steal the Avatar and bring him into this war!"

He turned his attention back to Toph, more new feelings growing within him which she has stirred. Watching her, he quickly guessed what she was intending do to (if a teacher of Toph Bei Fong didn't know her ways then they weren't deserving of being called her teacher!).

"Alright" he started, "As soon as Toph hits the ground I want you all to go after that shinobi, create enough diversion as to not get in the way of Toph but enough so that the shinobi forgets Aang for a few quick moments."

As everyone got into their positions Naruto said, "That ninja's mine". The way he said that was very reminiscent to Gaara of the way how Toph was usually like when she was in her kick butt mode.

Turning to face his friend, Gaara understood how Naruto must have felt. After all, Aang was one of Naruto's closest friends.

Toph

Plummeting down towards the ground, Toph concentrated on the earth which she was rapidly approaching. She had to do this right; if she didn't she would most likely die. Just as she reached the ground she braced herself and aimed her total concentration at the earth. When she landed, she used her earthbending skills to multiply the force of her impact to pretty much destroy the surrounding terrain (A/N: Think of Sakura using her strength). This force took out the majority of the Zetsu army who were about to attack the Fourth Division. As soon as she did this; many of the allied ninja began to attack the shinobi holding Aang. Still feeling a little off colour thanks to her jump, Toph almost fell as she stood up but luckily someone caught her in time.

"Are you okay?" she heard Gaara's voice ask.

Toph was sure that she was blushing, push these thoughts out of your head you idiot! She thought to herself, now's not the time to turn into a fan girl! Aang, think of Aang! He's the reason you came all this way back!

"Ah yeah, I'm fine thanks" she said, pushing herself out of his arms which felt really good, "Talk to you soon!" she continued, before quickly making her way up to where Aang was.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Appa flying close by, good he was in position already! Just as she was about to reach the ninja and Aang, she used the earth to get good spring in her step and similar to her jump from before – she jumped up into the air and landed right next to Aang.

"Toph!" he said happily, "I'm so glad-"

"You can thank me later" she said, cutting him off, "Right now my only concern got to get you out of here."

Deep down she was a little worried to fight him, and even though she was never going to admit it - she was no match for him, not when he had that Houdini act or whatever going on. To be honest she didn't want to fight him at all. All she wanted was to get Aang and leave as quickly as possible.

"Hmm so the earthbender's back" he said with amusement.

His voice made Toph stop – he sounded different yet why was his stature just like Tobi's?

Standing in her ready-to-kick-butt stance (in case he was going to attack), she demanded, "Who are you?"

"I am Madara Uchiha"

Smirking, she said, "You're lying, Tobi"

Changing back to his Tobi voice, he laughed, "I'm going to have to make myself blind so I can be just like you."

"I'd love to see you try!" she shot back and with that she threw a huge wall of earth up, turned back to get Aang and when Appa got close enough the two of them jumped up and they flew away from the war.

"Bye Aang!" they heard Naruto call out.

"Bye Naruto!" Aang called back, "Make sure you come to our home okay?"

"You betcha!" they heard Naruto call back.

As Aang and Naruto were waving and yelling at each other; Toph too was looking down. She didn't see Gaara watching her with such an intense look in his eyes that she would've thrown an earth mound at him for looking at her like that.

After a little while of riding and they were quite a far from the battlefields was when Aang spotted Tenten and guided Appa to the ground.

"Tenten!" Aang cried out, jumping off Appa, "Are you okay? How's everyone else?"

"All fine thank you Aang. We were a little shocked when we woke to find you, Toph and Neji gone, so I've been en route back as fast as I can."

"Sorry I needed Neji to be my eyes" Toph said, walking over to the two of them, "Tobi and Sasuke had taken Aang, you were all knocked out and Neji was the only one coming round."

"Why on earth would Tobi and Sasuke take you?"

Top and Aang glanced at each other, and Aang explained the whole situation to Tenten.

"What?" she almost yelled, looking taken aback, "I'm sorry you two but I really need to be going now, I've got to go and help everyone!"

"It's fine" Aang reassured, "And thank you for everything you've done for us."

"You two are very welcome!" Tenten said and she gave them both a hug and then left.

"Come on" Toph motioned, making her way back over to Appa, "The quicker we leave this place the better. There may be other zombie ninja or Akatsuki lurking around."

"And I thought our world was chaotic" Aang said, "These Akatsuki make old Fire Lord Ozai and Azula look like sunshine daisies!"

"Not exactly" Toph added, "Remember how Zuko told us about when he got his scar, that his old man was willing to sacrifice all those soldiers or whatever? And I think Azula could give the Akatsuki a run for their money, well when she wasn't psycho at least."

"Imagine if they all teamed up!"

"Let's be glad they can't" she said, not wanting to think about the consequences if they did.

As the two climbed up Appa and flew off, Toph groaned, "Oh god they're going to murder us when we get back! They'll think we went off gallivanting or something!"

"I'm pretty sure they'll understand when we explain the situation. And Neji's not the type to goof off...well at least I get that vibe off him."

Katara

Pacing back and forth, Katara stopped and groaned, "Ugh, where could those two have gotten off to? It's normal for Aang and Toph, but Neji?"

"Come on Katara" Sokka started, "We were attacked by the Akatsuki again, I'm pretty sure those three wouldn't just go off for a little joy ride on Appa just for the fun of it."

"Maybe they wanted to give Neji a ride back?" Suki suggested, "Oh no wait they wouldn't have left Tenten."

"They would've gone after the Akatsuki" Zuko stated, "You know what Toph's like – and especially how she was all fired up about that one called Tobi."

"That makes sense" Katara agreed, giving her boyfriend a smile.

Yes, Zuko was her boyfriend now! She was absolutely shocked when he confessed to her! Finally his strange behaviour whilst they were in Konoha made sense! And not that she was looking too far ahead into the future or anything...but if on the occasion they ended up having children, she wondered what they'd be like: waterbenders, firebenders, Katara's look, Zuko's look...a mix of both. She had never known of any inter-racial couples or children, it was definitely a curiosity to her now!

Just then Iroh came rushing in (he was visiting from Ba Sing Se), "Aang and Toph are back everyone!" he called out, "This is a cause for tea!" he continued.

"Thank you Uncle!" Zuko said and everyone went out to see the Avatar and the earthbender.

Toph

As soon as she and Aang jumped off Appa, the questions came flying at them.

"What happened?"

"Where did you three go?"

"Why didn't you wake us?"

Getting fed up, Toph shouted, "Alright alright SHUT IT!" and when everyone went quiet she and Aang explained what went down.

Katara surprised Toph by hugging her!

"I'm so sorry!" she started, "I thought the three of you left to go and be stupid somewhere! We should've gone after you!"

"No, it's not our war" Zuko said, "We need to focus on our home."

"Zuko's right" Sokka added.

Even though she didn't say anything, Toph wouldn't have minded going back – anything to be with Gaara again!

oOo

Later that evening after having tea with the whole group courtesy of Iroh, Toph was chatting with Katara and Suki about Katara and Zuko now being together.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Toph said excitedly, "I knew Zuko had a thing for you! About time you two got together!"

"So Zuko told you?"

"Nah, I just felt his heartbeat whenever he was around you. I think he knew I knew though."

"So did you see Gaara when you went back?" Suki asked. She loved it that Toph was letting her feminine side in and getting crushes, it was a good experience for her.

Frowning, Toph whined, "Must we go back to this again?"

"Yes we must!" Katara said, teaming up with Suki.

"But it's so annoying being all girly like this! And yes I did see him! I was in his arms and it felt really great!"

Katara and Suki squealed in excitement.

"You're so in!" Suki said happily, "Ugh I wish we could go back straight away so we can get you two together!"

"Haha you're so funny!" Toph said, her words dripping with sarcasm.

"We've got to get him over!" Katara said, "As soon as the war's over!"

Sighing, Toph interrupted, "He's a Kage; he won't be able to come straight away. He will need to meet with the other Kage to get their world back to order and the Sand as well. Then he'll need time to mourn the dead and I shudder to think of all the paperwork he's going to have to do! And this is only if they win, don't get me started on if they'll lose! He'll probably die!"

"Don't say stuff like that" Katara said softly.

Toph was getting fired up again, "But it's true! He may die! I'd rather be realistic than get my hopes up! And I shouldn't even be worrying about all of this because I'm not going to end up with him in the end!"

"Regardless whether or not you two become a couple; he's your friend so you shouldn't be saying this. You will be devastated if he dies Toph, and that's not just because of your current feelings towards him. You two became really close friends, so don't act so blasé about the war" Katara continued with a sharp tone in her voice.

Blowing her bangs, Toph stood up and walked off with Katara's words still in her head. Katara was right, of course, but Toph was never going to admit it. Walking out into the gardens; she was still thinking about the possibility of Gaara dying. Crying out in anger, she punched a wall causing it to fall down. If you die Gaara, I'll somehow resurrect you and kill you again for letting yourself die!

I know the war part may seem a little...well little. But everything I wrote for it I didn't end up liking. It was either too much dragged out, it didn't go how I wanted it to be or would go really askew with the Naruto manga. So I left it with neither Toph nor Aang fighting at all.

I know I said that this was the second last chapter & that may be subject to change, but I think that this will definitely be the second last one. I can't believe it that I'm at the end now! And funnily enough I've had the end planned out as soon as I started this story lol & I'm quite keen to get started on it. Till then!