Hello FanFiction! This is pain17ification posting the next chapter of "Mai's Teacher"!
Please note: pain17ification doesn't own Naruto or Avatar the Last AirBender
AN: When I'm referring to Aang, Sokka, and Katara, I will call them "Trio". When I refer to the whole group, I'll call them "Gaang". This is just for the convenience of me and you all.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Higher Being Speech"
'Higher Being Thoughts'
"Jutsu"
(Technique Translations)
Scene Shift
Chapter 9: Sandy Knowledge and Hope
"Again!" yelled Naruto to his student as she flew through handseals and held her right wrist in her left hand. The sound of thousands of birds chirping was heard throughout the rocky clearing they stood in as the Chidori began to form in her right hand. With her face lit up by the bluish-white lightning, Mai spotted her next target and rushed towards it. Her right hand was held low, the lightning tearing a path on the ground before she plunged it into a boulder. Her hand easily pierced into it before the lightning surged and destroyed the large rock to dust and rubble.
Naruto stepped forward as she was panting slightly in exhaustion. It was understandable since this was her third try with the jutsu in a row. "H-How'd I do that time, sensei?"
The Kyuubi Jinchuriki surveyed the damage before he nodded. "I think you've finally gotten the hang of it. However, I want you to remember that the tunnel vision you get with this technique could wind up being your downfall if you aren't careful. It was one of the reasons why there are variants of this jutsu," he informed her as he formed his own Chidori in his right hand. He looked to another boulder and waved his lighting coated hand, and to Mai's amazement, hundreds of needle-shaped bolts flew from the Chidori and struck the boulder. "Like the Chidori Senbon for example with its long range."
"How did you maintain the control to do that? Just the Chidori alone takes all of my concentration."
"Years of practice plus my Sharingan allows me to see exactly how much chakra is needed. Don't worry; I'm sure you'll have it figured out in no time with my help."
"Thanks, but what about that other close range jutsu you showed me the other day?"
"Ah… That was my father's original technique; the Rasengan. You remember the two manipulations of chakra I told you of, right?"
"Yea, Shape Manipulation and Elemental Manipulation…"
"Correct. The Rasengan is Shape Manipulation at nearly its highest difficulty," he stated as the spinning orb of chakra appeared in his hand. "Notice how the chakra spins at highly dangerous speeds yet it still maintains its spherical shape. This is possible due to Shape Manipulation. When you learn the Chidori Senbon, I'll begin your training with this as well as increase your studies in the Gama Arts."
"Yes sensei. By the way, how do you think Aang is doing in his WaterBending training with Katara?"
"He shouldn't have too many problems since it is his natural second element to learn. If any element will give him problems, it will be his natural opposite; Earth."
As if the universe conspired to prove his point, the two shinobi saw a large wave of water rise up and fall, and they heard Sokka yell in surprise. "Yea, I think you're right on that, Naruto," Mai deadpanned.
Naruto shook his head with a sigh and muttered something about the kid needing to learn control before he had his student try one last Chidori just to see if her control would stay the same.
Next Day (Market Town)
The Gaang strolled through the busy, shop-filled streets of the port town they had landed Appa near. They were running low on supplies and hoped to get some in the town. The Trio had a total of twelve copper pieces while the shinobi duo had five silver pieces. Unfortunately for them, Aang had decided to spend ten of their copper pieces on a bison whistle that he "just couldn't say 'no' to". Katara decided to hold on to the remaining copper pieces after their major loss.
While Naruto and Mai spent the remainder of their funds on fruits and fish, they noticed the Trio enter a large ship with no 'colors'. Naruto sighed in irritation before he and Mai followed them inside. They caught up with them just in time to hear Katara ask, "So, how much for the 'traded' scroll?"
The 'seller', who had a reptilian-like bird on his shoulder and was dressed in typical pirate garb, answered, "I already got a buyer; a nobleman from the Earth Kingdom. Unless you all have 300 gold pieces on ya right now?"
Naruto had to resist the urge to face-palm at the sight of Aang's attempts at bartering with the pirate. 'Honestly, who is foolish enough to try and buy an expensive scroll for only two copper?'
After his failed bartering, Aang was urged to leave by a nervous Katara. Naruto shook his head in exasperation at the sight of the scroll barely visible in her clothing, but he and Mai still followed the Trio off the ship.
They didn't get far though when the pirate that told them of the curios (1) on the ship ran after them followed by about ten others, each holding weapons. "Give back what you stole!" he ordered before the Trio ran off. Naruto and Mai remained where they were with sweat-drops forming on their heads while the pirates all gave chase. Once they were gone, the blonde led his student back inside the ship, much to her confusion, and took a gander at the other scrolls that the pirate had.
"Here to steal something like your friends?" asked the Captain with his hand on his sword.
"No, we aren't like that," answered the Uzumaki without looking away from the scroll collection. "I know you pirates aren't as 'criminal' as people make you out to be. You all follow a 'Code' of sorts, right?"
"Aye, that we do, lad. Though, not many people are as calm about it as you are."
"When you've lived as long as I have, you tend to stop caring about the 'public opinion' of many things," was Naruto's cryptic response before his eyes caught sight of a scroll with the symbol of Suna on it. He pulled it out and asked, "Where did you get this?"
The Captain took the scroll from the blonde's hands and took a closer look at it. "I actually won this in a game of Chance against some random drunk one night. I wagered a scroll on the Earth Kingdom against it. The writing in it is nothing I've ever seen before, though."
"That's because it's the writing of the Age of Chaos. I doubt there are many people who could actually read it these days."
"Are you able to?"
Naruto nodded and asked for the scroll before he opened it up and looked at the contents. Inside was some description on puppetry as well as a storage seal. 'Interesting… I didn't think there would be any scrolls or knowledge on this in the world.' He closed the scroll and asked, "How much would it take for you to part with this?"
"Well, seeing as it's so rare with the limited number of people capable of reading it, I'd say that this could easily go for 500 gold pieces," replied the Captain with a smirk.
Mai's eyes widened at the ridiculousness of the price while Naruto closed his eyes as if in thought. He slowly opened them while focusing his Sharingan on the man. The three tomoe spun in a slow, hypnotic manner while the Captain's eyes slowly glazed over. "I'm sorry, I believe I misheard you. How much did you say it was?"
"It's free of charge," answered the pirate in a dazed voice.
Naruto gave a small smirk and pocketed the scroll. "It was nice doing business with you," he said before he grabbed Mai's shoulder and the duo disappeared in a swirl of wind.
With the Trio (Forest Lake Clearing)
Katara growled in frustration as she was once again unable to perform the Water Whip from the WaterBending Scroll she 'liberated' from the pirates. Aang didn't help her calm down when he performed the technique flawlessly while offering advice. In fact, she went off on him in anger before she noticed that his feelings had been hurt by her outburst. She quickly apologized to him and he accepted it just as the shinobi duo arrived in the clearing.
"I thought you said that we weren't like those three to that pirate, Naruto?" Mai said with a smug grin.
"The thing about being a shinobi, my cute apprentice, is that deception is your greatest weapon," he replied with a smirk while Mai blushed at being called 'cute'. "Besides, there probably isn't another person on this earth that could read this scroll, let alone use its teachings. Even I would have incredible difficulty with this since the control needed is extraordinary."
"How much would be needed?"
"A higher level than that of shinobi medics," he replied seriously, making sure she understood how difficult puppetry was. "The only reason I'm truly keeping this is because it is a piece of Suna's, and my times, history."
Mai nodded before Sokka called out, "So, you stole from them too?"
Naruto's smirk returned as he replied, "Actually, the Captain graciously gave me this free of charge. He was very civil once we got to know him."
Aang and Katara laughed while Mai shook her head with a smile and Sokka rolled his eyes. "Those pirates aren't exactly going to be too thrilled when they find us. I say we pack up and get moving."
"I agree. We have our supplies, and then some, so we should leave while there's still light out," Mai added. "We shouldn't stay in one place for too long, after all."
"Well said, Mai. Although, this is where we temporarily part ways, Aang," Naruto stated, making the AirBender look confused.
"Why's that?" Katara asked, equally confused.
"I need to check on something and the three of you need to get to the North Pole as fast as you can. Mai and I will meet you there in a few weeks' time."
"Will you guys be okay?" asked the AirBender in slight worry.
"We'll be fine. We're shinobi after all," Mai assured with a small smirk while Naruto nodded.
"Alright then, we'll see you in a few weeks," Sokka said as he got on the Appa's saddle followed by the other two and Momo.
Naruto nodded before he had Mai got on his back and launched himself into the air. The Trio watched them move through the air before the shinobi were out of sight.
With the Shinobi (Two Days Later)
Naruto and his student were making their way on foot through a small forest towards a random Earth Kingdom town. He pulled out a map of the world that he had bought back in Omashu and noticed that they were about a day's travel away from the Si Wong Desert, where the rumored Largest Library of the World resided. What Naruto was mainly focused on concerning the desert was that it was where Suna once resided. He had planned to see if any part of the ancient shinobi village still remained before he moved on to the other three villages of Kiri, Kumo, and Iwa.
Seeing as he had the only info on Uzu and Konoha, due to his final stay in each village before their destruction, Naruto wanted to collect whatever he could of the remaining Hidden Villages in hopes of keeping everything from the Shinobi Era alive and in one place. When he told of his plans to Mai, she was slightly surprised at the size of his goal but she promised to help him achieve it.
With their destination set, Naruto and Mai traveled via Kazepo to the Misty Palms Oasis, the only source of water closest to where Suna would be. While it would've been a day's travel on foot, with the unique method Naruto had, it would take them two hours tops.
With the Trio
While the shinobi made their way to the infamous desert of the Earth Kingdom, the Trio had stopped at a port town where a large storm had come with fairly little warning. Sokka and an old fisherman were out at sea in hopes of getting a good haul, but the storm made their trek turn into them being lost at sea.
While Aang was telling Katara of his final moments before his frozen state one hundred years ago, the fisherman's wife begged them to save her husband from the raging storm. Aang, Katara, and Momo climbed onto Appa and quickly made their way through the raging winds and pestering rainfall before they spotted the fisherman and Sokka.
After getting them off of the sinking boat and onto Appa, they tried to safely make it back to shore. Unfortunately, a large wave towered over them and engulfed them in its watery wake. While most fell unconscious from the impact, Aang was able to enter his Avatar State and surround them all in a large sphere of air before he steered Appa out of the sea and towards shore. Along the way, he saw Zuko on the deck of his storm-wrecked ship and the two glanced at one another before Aang and the others flew out of the prince's sight.
With the Shinobi
As soon as Naruto landed about half a mile away from the oasis, he paused and looked at a random direction. He had felt the large pulse of energy that Aang had released upon his entrance into the Avatar State and was curious as to what sparked it. As soon as the spike of energy reached his senses, it faded back into calmness, making him put the thought of what happened aside in favor of what was happening now.
Led by Mai, the two entered the oasis and walked into a small bar-like building where they each got a refreshing drink and a room for the night. While his apprentice slept, Naruto studied the map once more and made marks on possible locations for where the lost village of Suna could be located. Apparently, the patrons of the bar each called the desert a death wish to travel across due to its heat, lack of water, and vast size. The Uzumaki waved off their words since he had been through the deserts surrounding Suna many times in the past. To him, this was just another one of those times.
The next morning, Naruto filled three waterskins full of water before the shinobi duo began their journey. To protect them from the raging, sandy winds of the desert, Naruto surrounded them in a dome of air. What made the dome a godsend for Mai was that it also kept them cool with its constant movement and trapped breeze.
They walked for what seemed like hours, sparingly taking drinks of water, before an interesting sight came before them. A lone fox with a scroll in its mouth moved through the sands with ease and without any signs of stopping.
"Well, there's something you don't see every day. Although, I am curious; most of the animals in this time are hybrid creatures. So why is it that the foxes are still single species?"
'Maybe the foxes couldn't think of breeding with a different species,' suggested the Jinchuriki making his tenant hum in though.
"Perhaps… In any case, that Kitsune obviously is heading somewhere in this Kami forsaken desert. Follow it."
Naruto mentally nodded before he and Mai picked up the pace and followed the vulpine creature. It wasn't long before they saw the fox reach what looked to be the top of a tower and easily scale the wall before entering a window near the top.
Naruto and Mai walked up to the tower and the blonde put a hand to its structure before he sent a pulse of chakra into it. Using the energy as a type of echolocation, Naruto was able to get a small glimpse of the size of the buried structure. It amazed him that the building was easily the size of a palace if not larger. Naruto jerked his head to the window and the two shinobi walked up to it with chakra before they gazed into the tower.
Before their eyes were countless books and scrolls placed neatly and orderly on many different shelves on multiple levels. The fox they saw earlier was also seen running down a hallway before they lost track of it. Naruto took out a kunai and stabbed it into the wall closest to the window before he tied the end of a 50 foot rope and the two shinobi climbed down with it.
As soon as they touched the carpeted walkway, Naruto felt a powerful presence approach their position. "Mai, get ready in case we need to fight our way back out," he ordered as she nodded in consent. Before their eyes, a large black owl with a pure white face and coal colored eyes walked up to them. While Naruto was a tall height of 6' 1", the owl easily stood at a height of nearly 10 feet. Around the owl's neck was a worn looking brown sash with an all too familiar symbol on it; Suna's symbol.
"What are you two humans doing here?" asked the great bird. "I thought I had made it clear many years ago that humans are no longer permitted within these halls."
"We meant no harm to you, wise one. We were merely crossing the desert in hopes of finding any remains of the very village you wear the symbol of," answered the blonde making the owl's eyes narrow.
"How do you know of Sunagakure? Where did you hear of the ancient home of my people?"
"I knew the Yondaime Kazekage, Subaku no Gaara, thousands of years ago. He was my brother in all but blood."
The owl looked closer at the Uzumaki and studied his features; the whiskered face, golden hair, and bright blue eye with an obviously transplanted red eye. "You are Naruto Uzumaki, the Sandaime Uzukage of Uzushiogakure as well as the fabled Child of Prophecy. My people spoke of how our summoner saw you in such high regard. Yes, Gaara was a wise man worthy of our contract; the only one who proved his worth before the world fell to darkness. I am Wan-Shi-Tong, he who knows 10,000 things, and keeper of this vast building of knowledge."
Naruto and Mai bowed to him out of respect and greeting before Naruto said, "You know of me, but this is my apprentice Mai Nara. I plan to have her succeed me in the future as the Sennin of the Gama Clan."
"It's an honor to meet you," said the Nara respectfully.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, child. Now Uzumaki-san, the knowledge of Sunagakure that you seek is within these halls. I have also found plenty of information on Iwagakure, but my knowledge seekers have been unable to find anything on Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Konohagakure, and Uzushiogakure."
"The information and history on the last two are with me, Wan-dono. They are of my people and they will stay with me."
"Of course; however, I ask that should you find anything on the other Hidden Villages that you bring it to me."
Naruto nodded and pulled out the Puppetry Scroll before handing it towards the Knowledge Spirit. "Then I believe that this is yours by right."
The owl nodded in thanks before his large wing took the scroll from the blonde's hand. "I had heard rumors of your return to the world, Uzumaki-san. I honestly was quite skeptical at first of them all, but I see now that they were indeed true. If you would come with me please; I have something for you from Gaara-sama."
"Gaara left me something?"
"Indeed, he left you a letter before he left for his final battle for Suna. It shames me to say that his efforts were unsuccessful and that Suna fell that day while we of the Fukurō (2) Clan held on to his letter to you."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for Gaara and his people," Naruto said solemnly.
"It is in the past, Uzumaki-san. Gaara-sama died nobly and for his people. He was an honorable man to the very end."
"That he was…" Naruto agreed before Wan led them to a room with nothing more than a single scroll on a pedestal. The owl waved a wing to the letter and Naruto approached the pedestal before he picked it up.
"To my brother, I doubt that I will survive long enough to see you again. I pray that this reaches you eventually, for I want you to read my final words to you. You are the world's hope, Naruto. You are its light in the very darkness that it is now heading towards. I know that throughout our many talks that you have begun to doubt the idea of 'peace', but I ask of you not to give into hopelessness and fight for the one thing Jiraiya-sama left you; fight for his will he passed on to you. You once told me that he dreamed of a world of peace for all people. Well, even though I fear that this day will be my last, just know that I believe in his dream and that I will support you in both life and death. In this scroll are two things I offer to you to emphasize my will being passed onto you; my gourd of sand and the contact of the Fukurō Clan. May you use them in my memory and fight for what we all dream for deep down in our hearts; may you fight for peace.
Subaku no Gaara, your brother"
Naruto was clenching the scroll as tears fell from his eyes. 'Gaara…I'm so sorry for not being there for you. I hope that you can forgive me for that. You're right though; I have been falling deeper into hopelessness and losing faith in peace.' He wiped the tears from his eyes and used his chakra to release the storage seals within the letter. In plumes of smoke appeared a four inch scroll and a large gourd made of hardened sand. With his eyes burning in determination and growing hope, Naruto strapped the gourd to his back and used his blood to sign the Summoning Contract. 'But no more... From today until the bitter end, I will fight for the dreams of you, Jiraiya-sensei, and the world. I will once again fight for peace; I promise you!'
Naruto turned back to his student and the Knowledge Spirit before he walked past them both and out of the room. Mai quickly caught up to him and walked beside him in silence. She saw that his strides had more meaning in them and that he emitted an aura of determination, making her smile slightly. In a moment of boldness, she took his hand in hers, making him look to her, and gave him her own look of determination. He gave her a small smile and gently squeezed her hand before he let go of her hand and kept walking.
Behind them, Wan-Shi-Tong followed after reading the letter from Gaara that Naruto gently left on the pedestal. In his mind he thought, 'Gaara-sama, we of the Fukurō Clan will honor your last wish. Though it is not common, I will allow Naruto-san to keep our contract and summon us to aid him in his endeavors.'
"Wan, I need to know if Gaara had any scrolls that had information on his control of sand. I've never used it before and need to know how I can utilize it."
"Of course. Follow me and I will show you all that I have in regards to Subaku no Gaara."
The great owl took the lead and guided them through the halls of the vast library. Along the way, Naruto smiled and thought, 'Things are looking up for the future.'
Bottom of the Northern Air Temple Mountain
After a battle for the temple between the Trio and Earth Kingdom refugees against the Fire Nation, a Fire Nation War Minister by the name of Qin smirked at the sight of the crashed war balloon that the refugees used to win. He had two FireBenders use their natural element to fill the balloon once more with air.
"This day may not have been a victory for the Fire nation, but the defeat we have suffered will open the gateway to many future ones. I want this balloon ready for travel in ten minutes! We have a lot of work to do!" called the War Minister as his men began to work harder to get the balloon up into the air.
(End)
1~ Curios are basically items of interest, trinkets, or knick-knacks
2~ Fukurō means Owl in Japanese
And that was chapter nine! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and the future chapters to come! If you have any questions or concerns, PM me!
Now please: Review! Review! Review!
Current ages:
Naruto: (physical) 26; (actual) 5116
Mai: 17
Aang: (physical) 12; (actual) 112
Ozai: 45
Ursa: 42
Iroh: 64
Zuko: 18
Azula: 17
Ty Lee: 17
Lo and Li: 81
Katara: 16
Sokka: 17
Suki: 17
Bumi: 112
Next Time: The Trio makes it to the Northern Water Tribe and the Shinobi make it just in time for the Northern Siege! Stay Tuned!
-pain17ification