Uzumaki's Warth
Chapter 9
Ok, in the polls, it is now confirmed that Katara will be with Naruto along with Toph and Ty Lee. Don't worry I have a plan for Ty Lee and Aang is going to end up with….wait for it….Azula. You guys game good ideas to make this work. Thank you!
The next day, the group continued their trek across the Serpent's Pass. It was fun waking up, because the group found Naruto and Toph in the position they fell asleep in. Sure they tried to tease them about it, but Naruto looked them like they grew second heads.
He informed them that they use to sleep like that when they were young, which got Sokka and Aang to laugh their asses of while Katara looked skeptical.
Currently, the group had stopped because of the high water level. The path that connects the two slopes of the next section of the Serpent's Pass was covered in water. Naruto looked at it with a bored expression because he could just walk across it with chakra.
However, everyone else looked depressed until Katara took charge. "Everyone, single file!" she ordered as they did what she asked, with Aang in the back. Naruto decided to walk in front of Toph. Katara then used water bending to split the water to the sides for that they could cross. "Aang! I need help!" she ordered. Aang handed his staff to Toph, who had Momo on her shoulder, before he aided the water tribe girl in bending the water around them.
As the group travelled underwater, they were in awe at the beauty of the underwater landscape. Naruto smiled sadly, he would make sure Toph could get her vision so that she could see this place. Kyuubi, who was on Naruto's head, glanced around and saw all the fish swimming around, "Hmm…I am so hungry now." He said with a bored expression, however, he knew not to go outside the bubble they were in because there were always bigger fish.
Momo looked at the fish in curiosity before he jumped off of Toph's shoulder and into the water. Kyuubi smirked, "Beware the bigger fish, Momo!" he called out, getting more of a reaction from the humans around him then Momo.
"What do you mean?" Aang asked, wary if the answer. He really hoped this 'bigger fish' did like the taste of Momo. It was then they saw a large figure in the water that made the flying lemur panic before jumping back into the bubble with the others.
"What is that thing?" Suki asked in fear.
Kyuubi eyed it before saying, "The bigger fish." He then shrugged. "This guy is the reason why this place is called the Serpent's Pass."
"Uh, why." Sokka asked, clearly afraid, but Kyuubi just smirked at the water tribe boy.
The bigger fish then leapt at them, breaking the bubble of air they were in, but Naruto had been prepared because he uprooted a boulder and slammed it into the beast, making it veer of course. However, the damage had already been dealt and water was crashing down on all of them. Naruto nodded to Toph and they rose the piece of land they were on to above the water some.
They watched the water in fear as whatever it was that attacked them was now circling them before rising out of the water to reveal a large green serpent. Sokka pointed at it in shock before he yelled, "I think I just figured out why they call it the Serpent's Pass!"
"Oh, now he get's it." Kyuubi said while leaning on his paw as he rolled his eyes.
Naruto smirked and said, "Yeah, he is kind of slow, but it is me or has this guy grown in size?"
"Eh, how should I know, I am in this perpetual small size, so everything looks bigger." Kyuubi commented.
It roared loudly at the group, making Sokka looked to Suki and said, "Suki, you know about giant monsters, make it go away!"
She glared at him before pointing at him angrily, "Just because I live near the Unagi doesn't mean I am an expert!"
'Thinking' quickly, Sokka quickly grabbed Momo and Kyuubi and yelled, "Oh great and powerful sea serpent, please accept these humble and tasty offereings, thank you!"
"Sokka!" Katara chided her brother before Kyuubi whipped him in the face with his tails.
"Next time, offer yourself you idiot!" The fox shouted.
The sea serpent didn't care about the conversation going because roared again before lunging at them, however, Aang used air bending to push it back. "I'll distract it. Katara, get everyone cross!" He said before flying off, the sea serpent following him.
Katara didn't need to be told twice, so she used her water bending skills to create a bridge made of ice, once that was done, she veered off to go and help Aang with the sea serpent. As they were running, Naruto noticed that Toph had not moved. "Toph! Come on, it is just ice."
Toph put a foot down on the ice and when she 'saw' nothing, she hesitated and said, "Actually, I am going to stay on my little island where I can see." However, sea serpent that had been fighting Aang and Katara, had its tail land right behind her, pushing the blind girl on to the ice. "Ah! Ok I'm coming!"
As Toph iched her way over to the shore, Sokka yelled, "You're doing great! Just follow the sound of my voice!"
"It is hard to ignore." Toph mumbled aloud.
"HA! She got you there!" Kyuubi laughed, making Sokka pout.
"Toph, you can do it. I believe in you. Just take your time." Naruto said softly, which the girl heard before smiling at her crush.
"You're almost there!" Sokka yelled before the tail came back and crashed down on the ice this time, making Toph fall into the water.
"Help! I can't swim!" Toph cried.
"NO! I am coming Toph!" Naruto said in a panic. Before he could attempt to walk on water, Suki jumped into the water to save the young blind girl. That made Sokka and Naruto look at each other before shrugging. Sure, the blond wanted to help her, but Suki was somehow faster.
Once Suki got to the girl and kept her above water, Toph was so over joyed that she said, "Oh Naruto! You saved me!" She then gave a kiss on the cheek to Suki, who was a bit shocked.
"Actually, it's me." Suki said with some humor.
"Oh…well." Toph said with some dismay, "You can go ahead and let me drown now."
"Heh, and to think that could have been your kiss if you got there fast enough." Kyuubi snickered.
"Oh shut it." Naruto growled before he noticed the two girls where near them, so he reached down and help them out of the water. "You ok Toph."
"Y-yeah now that I am on solid ground." Toph replied.
"Good, I am just glad you are ok." Naruto said before and the others turn to see the end of Aang and Katara's fight against the sea serpent. He never saw the girl blush because of his concern for her.
They saw Aang and Katara using water bending to make a large whirlpool that made the sea serpent spin around in rapid circles, before they let it go and the giant sea creature slammed into the other side of the Serpent's Pass before it completely submerged itself, to nurse its wounds.
Aang flew the water tribe girl back to the rest of the ground who was cheering in victory over the sea serpent. Naruto smiled and said, "Nice work you two." Aang rubbed the back of his head while Katara blush a bit at the compliment.
"It was nothing." Aang replied.
"Yeah, just teamwork." Katara said with a smile.
"Some damn good teamwork if you ask me," Naruto said. He paused as he felt the chakra of the beast coming back to them, but he knew why it was here. "Excuse me.' He said to the other before he walked out onto the water, shocking the small family and Suki.
"What is he doing?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know." Aang replied just a comfused.
"Oh, he is just saying high to an old friend." Kyuubi replied getting odd looks before they saw the sea serpent rise out of the water next to the blond.
"Watch out!" everyone screamed.
Naruto gave them a smile as he raised his hand out to the beast as it put its snout on his out stretched hand, shocking the group even further. Naruto smirked at the beast and said. "Now you know not to harm the people that I travel with." It let out a sound that was a mix between a growl and purr.
"H-he, know that thing?" Sokka asked in shock.
"Well, there was a story out there that the Golden Fox tamed a beast that lived in the waters around here." Tahn replied.
"So cool!" Aang cried out.
Toph smiled, she should have known her oldest friend would be able to do that. She wondered what other surprises he had up his sleeve.
Katara smiled happily, even though she was confused, she thought that it was sweet that Naruto befriended a huge beast like this. The sea serpent was kind of like Appa. She admired that the blond was as powerful as they saw he was while also being funny and kind to people and animals around him.
"It is nice to see you after this years, and you have gotten bigger." Naruto commented before he and the beast froze up before looking at the wide open water near them. They saw a lone figure standing the water like he was, but he was smirking the group and clapping.
This boy was about their age, or looked like it. He had messy grey hair, pink pupiless eyes and what seems to be a stitch-like scar running from under his left eye all the way down his cheek. He had a dull expression and wore a grey undershirt with short mesh sleeves which has a metal plate of a Kirigakure forehead protector sewn onto it over which he also wears a green poncho, a turquoise sash around his waist, paired with a green indument over his pants. He wore a pair of brown boots opened on the back, and on his back he has a staff-like pole weapon with uneven hooks with a green flower on the end of the larger hook.
However, for Naruto, what really gave the boy away was a green turtle with three tails next to him. Naruto narrowed his eyes as the group turned to see the person the blond was looking at. "Bravo, I must say that was an interesting display of power. But even I can defeat that thing with ease even in this odd weakened state." The boy stated.
"I can assume that you are the bearer of the three tails then?" Naruto asked.
The pink eyed boy stared at Naruto before saying, "That would be me. I am Yagura, former Mizukage of the Kiri and you are Naruto Uzumaki. The one I was sent to this time period to capture….but I really don't feel like following that man's orders any longer. He may have controlled me that last few years to keep the damn civil war going on in Kiri, but I am in control now."
"What? You mean the ring eyed man?"
"Pain? No. I mean an old Uchiha, Madara Uchiha to be exact." Yagura replied. "Now my blond friend, I would rather follow you but I will not do so blindly like I did that man. So I will have to test your strength to see if you are worthy."
Naruto nodded before he jumped on the sea serpent's head. "Well then, bring it on."
"Heh, let's see how good you really are Naruto Uzumaki!" Yagura shouted, the turtle saying nothing at all as it got ready to fight.
XXX
Sokka that noticed that Kyuubi was on his head. "What? You're not going to help him?"
The fox rolled his eyes. "Nah, if things get bad I'll help, but the turtle aint that strong or smart, however, if this kid was the Mizukage, then Naruto will have a challenge on his hands."
"I just hope he comes out of this ok." Katara said.
"No way will he lose!" Toph said with confidence. "He does not know how to lose."
XXX
Yagura eyed his opponent on the large serpent and smirked. He would have to get rid of the beast if he wanted the blond to fight for real. Going through a few hand signs he called out; "Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" Even though there was water all around the two combatants, Yagura spat out a torrent of raging water that formed large wave that head for the blond bender.
Naruto mentally cursed with a frown on his face. Why when I am fighting these guys am at a disadvantage? Seriously, first sand and now water! However, he shrugged off the unfairness of these annoying battles as he ran to the tip of the serpent's snout. Just as the water was about to collide with them, he sent out a massive wave of gravity that corrupted the water attack, making it harmlessly fly past them.
XXX
"That was freaking amazing!" Sokka shouted with stars in his eyes.
"It was." Katara said in shock that someone could do that odd water attack from their mouth no less and then have that attack batted away like it was nothing.
"Oh, you guy have seen nothing. Just wait for the good stuff to happen." The talking fox said with smirk.
Suki could only nod her head. This kid, the Golden Fox, was already a legend and if she had to guess, he was probably on par with the avatar…but you never know.
XXX
Naruto smirked at his opponent before he turned to the beast he was on and said, "This is a battle between me and him, I'll call if I really need you." The beast seemed to nod as Naruto hopped off if it as the beast submerged itself.
Yagura saw this and it seemed his plan had worked; now he could see what this blond was capable of! "Water Style: Water Shockwave!" Yagura created a medium sized tornado of water before it exploded outward, sending a large and violent wave of water straight at the blond. While Naruto was busy with the frontal attack, he prepared another to surprise the blond. "Water Style: A Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
Naruto growled as he had to put a lot more effort into gravity bending the water wave safely away from him and for it to not hit the others. So image his surprise when a multitude of watery sharks followed the attack. Taking the Hyuuga style of fighting into full use, he released his claws before he shouted, "Eight Trigrams: One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Palms!" The result was something that not even Yagura expected. In a flurry of movement, Naruto struck down multiple water sharks with each strike he sent out.
With the way he was moving, they thought he was using a clone jutsu to move so fast, but it was all him and with the Hyuuga's lightning bending style, it made the attack all the more deadly as all the sharks were dispersed in the rapid lightning show. At the last strike, Naruto sent a bolt of lightning that went through that last few sharks and kept on traveling towards Yagura. If Naruto had bothered to look behind him, he would have seen that some of the water had turned to ice.
However, despite his shock at the power the blond has just displayed, the former Mizukage erected a wall of water just in time, but it was not enough because that exploded right in his face. He sunk in the water some, but quickly regained his senses and righted himself. If he had done so sooner, he would have seen Naruto disappear from sight.
The blond blasted across the water like a speeding car, when he reached the former jinchuriki of the three tails, he slashed across his chest with his electrified claw, stunning the grey haired boy for just enough time for Naruto to leave a present in the form of small balls of lightning around his person.
It was then that Yagura noticed Naruto's new position and the small balls of lightning floating above the water around him. He rose an eyebrow and asked, "I think you missed."
Naruto smirked. "No, not really, I am just trying something new." He then snapped his fingers and the small balls exploded in a flurry of lightning that completely electrocuted that boy.
"Damn…that time really has dulled my senses." Yagura growled to himself as pain shot through body. "I will not lose damnit!" The boy shouted as he suddenly stood and making the lightning arcing across his body to stop. "Water Style: Tornado of Water!" He shouted angrily as he slammed his fists down into the water. The result was the water level to go down as a large tornado made of violent rotating water to rise high above the Serpent's Pass, making all those away from the Pass wander what hell was going on. However, they would not dare look because of fear.
Naruto looked at the tornado in shock before switching his gaze to Yagura, who looked to be very tired from over loading the attack with his remaining chakra. If he was lucky, he could end this now. Getting into another Hyuuga stance, he shouted, "Lightning Rotation!" right as the tornado of water reached him. However, since he was rotating in the opposite direction, the attacks were starting to lose control, so he use a mixture of chakra and gravity bending to keep it all together and compress it.
The result made all the water and lightning to form just above his palm. Yagura was shell shocked at this and he was actually afraid. The blond was way stronger and creative then he gave him credit for. "T-this is impossible!"
"Nah, not really" Naruto commented with a smirk but grimaced because he was starting to lose control over all this power. So he speed to Yagura and shouted, "Eight Trigrams: Lightning Mountain Crusher!"
That attacked hit and exploded in the former Mizukage's face, violently electrocuting him and making his skip back across the water, where he lay there lifelessly before the Turtle swim next to the boy. "I will give you one last chance to beat him, I have enough chakra for that…it would have been better if we did this at the beginning of the fight." It said before it fused with the boy before they grew into a much larger version of the turtle.
"Ok this is getting old." Naruto commented with a dead panned expression.
The giant turtle, with the dual voices of Yagura and the turtle, screamed out, "Full Power Water Style: Three Tailed Giant Turtle Water Balls!" Four large balls of water rose up out of the water before that shot off spiraling towards the blond.
Naruto cursed, but then smirked. Since he could not avoid the attack above water, he cut the flow of chakra to his feet and submerged himself, letting the attack fly harmlessly above him. Jumping back out of the water, he saw the form of Yagura with reptilian like green eyes staring at him shock. Naruto finally took look at where he fought the sharks and saw the ice. Supercharging the water made it ice? Cool. He thought before he slammed his fist into the water, sending a massive amount of lightning threw the water towards Yagura, who had an 'oh shit' look.
The water instantly froze while also jutting out large spikes. When it finally reached the grey haired boy, it rose the water up, trapping the boy in a tower of spiky ice.
XXX
"Oh crap! Thst fight is freaking insane!" Sokka shouted with his hand on his head.
"Told ya." Kyuubi replied, "But if I know Naruto, he will end it with a bang."
"H-he created ice by electrocuting the water!" Katara finally got out in shock.
"I know! Awesome, right!" Aang said with excitement.
"You bet!" Katara said happily.
"This battle is like a battle between titans!" Suki shouted.
"I know what you mean, I am really getting into it!" Tahn shouted with stars in his eyes.
XXX
Kyuubi was right, Naruto formed a rasengan in his right hand before he shot through the ice before jumping with a large shadow behind him. "Serpent's Rasengan!" He shouted, before thrusting the ball of energy into the ice where the frozen Yagura was and into his stomach. However that was not the end. The sea serpent from before let out a deafening roar that brough more force to the attack before something odd happened. Chakra leaked from the beast that reacted with Naruto's and it created said serpent in chakra form. Yagura then shot off into the Pass ahead of the group, with the chakra form following boy as they crashed.
In an instant, Naruto was a above the barely conscious boy. "Damn, that was intense." He said.
"Y-you r-right." Yagura replied with heavy breathes. "Y-you have earned my respect, Naruto Uzumaki. I shall follow you."
"That's nice." said a female voice. Naruto turned to see Yugito and Gaara behind him with their tailed beasts. "We need another to find the rest of us. We have decided to form a merc group with Naruto as our leader."
"Sounds good to me," Naruto said a little weakly, the adrenaline finally dissipating and exhaustion setting in.
"It is indeed a good choice." The turtle spoke, "Traveling around this place will help you learn more and with the Uzumaki traveling to this Ba Sing Se place, that could be our base for the time being."
Yagura stared at his reptilian friend, who had left his body during the final attack, before he nodded. "I see. I will do it."
"Good." came the monotone of Gaara with his arms crossed.
"Yeah, with the three of us, we could find the others in no time." Yugito replied with a smile.
"Yeah and traveling with two guys has nothing to do with it." teased Nibi, making the girl blush.
"Wait, so you guys are on our side?" Sokka finally voiced.
"Indeed. We serve Naruto because he is the strongest amongst us, but we do have to check in with Pein every now and then." Yagura replied as he weakly got up. "In a way, we are double agents for Naruto."
"Wow." Aang said. "That is useful."
"Yep." Naruto said with a smile. "Yagura, you should rest before heading out."
Yagura smiled weakly before sitting back down. "Thank you."
"It is no problem." Naruto said with a smile before he turned to the others. "Well, it is not long now." With that, the group continued their trek across the Serpent's Pass after that epic battle. Yagura smiled, something he did not usually do.
"We are in good hands and so are the people he is with." He replied, getting a nod from the other two.
XXX
Once they were finally at the end of the deadly Serpent's Pass, a tired Sokka instantly perked up and yelled, "There's the wall!" He pointed to the large stone wall of Ba Sing Se in the distance. "Now it is nothing smooth sailing to Ba Sing Se."
"Ah! Oh no!" Tahn's wife said in a panic as she held her stomach.
"What's wrong?" asked the water tribe boy.
"The baby's coming!" She said as he family helped set her on the ground.
"You were saying Sokka?" Kyuubi snickered.
Ignoring the smartass fox he panicked and asked, "What! Now? Can't you hold it in or something!"
"Sokka, calm down. I helped Gran Gran deliver lots of babies back home." Katara said trying to calm her brother down.
"This isn't the same as delivering an artic seal!" He freaked. "This is a real, human, thing!"
"It's called a baby." She deadpanned. "And I helped deliver plenty of those too."
"Well, since you know what you are doing, you should lead us on what to do." Naruto replied.
She nodded before he began ordering people around. "Aang, get some rags, Sokka, water! Toph, Naruto, I need you two to make an earth tent, a big one!" the four nodded, doing what they were told. While Aang and Sokka ran off to get what was needed, Naruto and Toph went to opposite sides of the family and rose a large earth tent, to which Katara immediately entered with Suki not far behind.
XXX
"This…was not what I was expecting to do today." Naruto said with a chuckle as he and Toph leaned against the tent.
"Yeah, but it is a nice change." Toph replied with a smirk.
"Sokka! Where's that water!" Katara yelled from within the tent.
"Coming!" The water tribe boy called as he made his way to the entrance of the tent, what he saw made him faint. However, with his eyes closed, Naruto caught the water before it split all over the place.
"Here you go." He said the water tribe girl, while Ying screamed in pain. Katara smiled as she took it from him, thinking he was such a gentlemen for getting the water in time and keeping his eyes closed for obvious reasons. Now she knew that he maybe a flirt but he was defiantly not a pervert.
Naruto left the tent, dragging Sokka out with him.
XXX
Crying could be heard from inside the tent, signifying that it was a healthy baby. "It's a girl!" Katara called from inside the tent.
Toph smirk and asked Sokka, "So…you wanna go see the baby or are you going to faint like an old again?"
"No no, I'm good this time." Sokka replied while rubbing his head.
"Still you gotta admit that it was funny." Kyuubi said from a top Naruto's head, making Toph snicker.
"Got that right!" Naruto replied with a smirk. Sokka just glare at them.
Once they went inside, Katara went out to usher Aang in. "Aang, you have to come see this." The avatar nodded before he went in as well.
"See sounds healthy." Toph stated happily.
"She's beautiful!" Katara said.
"Yeah, she'll be a knock out when she's older, so look out dad." Naruto joked around, making the man glare at him before laughing.
"She's so…squishy looking." Sokka observed.
"Duh…it is a new born human, what did you expect?" dead panned Kyuubi.
Just looking at the baby made everyone smile in happiness, including Aang, who was touched by the scene. It didn't register two the two earth benders, but their hand joined as they stared the new baby with smiles.
"What should we call her?" Tahn asked his wife.
"I want out daughter's name to be unique, I want it to mean something." Ying replied softly.
Tears weld up in Aang's eyes before he wiped them away and said, "I've been going through a really hard time lately, but you've made me hopefully again."
Naruto snapped his fingers, who did not notice he had been holding hands with Toph, but she did, "That's it! In a place where all hope is lost in the place known as the Serpent' Pass, you held on it for your child. Hope, she was your hope."
The couple blinked as they looked at each other before smiling. "I know what I want to call our baby now…Hope." Ying said.
"That's a wonderful name, Hope." Tahn replied happily while Aang looked at Katara in thanks for telling to see this. Tahn looked to both Naruto and Aang. "I want to thank you two for the wonderful idea. It was my honor to travel with the Avatar and the Golden Fox and for you two to be there when our daughter was born."
"Hey, it is no problem." Naruto replied with a smile. "I was just happy to help." Aang nodded before they walked out of the tent to give the small family some time alone together.
XXX
Aang and Katara were by a nearby tree, speaking to one another. "I thought I was trying to be strong."Aang said, "But really I was just running away from my feelings. Seeing the this family together with so much happiness and love along with Naruto's words reminded me how much I feel about Appa and how I feel about you."
Katara let a few tears fall at his word before they embrace in a hearth felt hug, even though she was still confused in her feeling for Aang and Naruto, she would still help friends out.
"I promise I'll find Appa as soon as I can, I just really need to do this." Aang said as the others came over to him.
"See you in the big city." Sokka replied as he put a hand on the air bender's shoulder.
"Say I to that big fuzz ball for me!' Toph said as he punch Aang in the shoulder.
"Same for me." Naruto said with a smirk
"Oh and tell Appa that I not just small, I am fun size!" Kyuubi ordered with a smirk, which got the group laughing.
"You'll find him Aang." Katara said with a smile.
"I know, thank you Katara." Aang replied before taking off on his glider with Momo not far behind.
XXX
With Sokka and Suki, who were need a mountain side, they too were speaking on matters of the heart. "Sokka, it's really been great to see you again"
"Whoa, hold on, why does it sound like you are saying goodbye?"
"I came along so I make sure you guys got through the Serpent's Pass safely." She said. :But now I need to get back to the other Kyoshi Warriors."
Sokka looked at her, flabbergasted, "So you came along…to protect me?"
"Listen, I am really sorry about last night. We were talking and saying things. I just got carried away and before I knew it I-"Suki said before Sokka captured her in a kiss.
"You talk too much." He said with a smile before he went back to kissing her.
XXX
She could not take it anymore. Through her earth vision, Toph heard and 'saw' everything between Sokka and Suki. She stalked right up to Naruto, who was staring at the clouds, before she used earth bending to sink him down ankle deep and then impacting him in the mountain side.
"W-what is going on?" Naruto asked surprised.
"Listen up Naruto, Kyuubi told me about your feelings for me" Toph stated and Naruto glared at the small fox, who just shrugged with a smirk. "I don't care if you thin that you are now worthy for me, but I think you are!" she said, shocking the boy before she smashed her lips against his.
Naruto, when she broke away, got out of his position and said, "Are you sure you want this? I mean you could have someone better than me."
"So what, I want you and you better like it!" She replied with smirk.
"Heh, guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, should I?" Naruto asked rhetorically before he captured her in a deep kiss, making the blind guy happy.
She broke the kiss and said, "Oh and I would not mind meeting this circus girl that saved your heart as well." Naruto chuckled nervously before she returned to kissing him.
A little ways away, Katara saw this with a shock before she smirked evily, This is not over, Toph!
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Well, what do you think? Good? Naruto and Toph are now together and thing s are heating up. How will Katara capture Naruto's heart without hurting Aang? Who knows, bit it will happen! Next chapter we get to see Azula and her friends. What drama will be stirred up? Tune in next time to find out! Oh and Naruto: Prince of the Underworld: Welcome to the Sea of Monsters is coming out soon…..i just have to finish the annoying yard work….damnit. Good night everyone!
Review please!