(And here I am with my next chapter. Hope you're ready to see some more of Naruto's training.)

In Konoha, a month had passed since Naruto had left with Jinora to the Southern Air Temple, and Hiruzen was reading the latest letter from the Airbending master about Naruto's progress with Earthbending and that he was ready to start learning Firebending. The old man smiled, as he pocketed the letter, and suddenly heard a knock at his door.

"Enter." he ordered.

Walking into the room was Hiruzen's former teammates Homura and Koharu, and his old rival since childhood Danzo. To this day they are part of his council. He greeted them, "Well, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

"Hiruzen, we need to talk." Danzo began.

"And what is the matter of us suddenly needing to talk?" the Hokage inquired.

"The whereabouts of Naruto Uzumaki." Homura answered.

Hiruzen expecting this sooner or later, answered, "Why would you want to know his whereabouts?"

Koharu spoke, "Hiruzen, Naruto Uzumaki has not been seen for many weeks."

"And how would you know that?"

"There have been no mob outbreaks among the villagers." Danzo replied.

Hiruzen's eyes firmed, "That's how you keep tabs on him?"

"We came here to see if you knew where he might have gone." Danzo continued, ignoring his question.

"You three have taken no interest in Naruto's well being and now that you have not seen him you're all of a sudden concerned?" The Hokage asked, containing his anger towards them.

Homura spoke, "You know it is dangerous to let a Jinchuriki out of his respective village."

"Especially for one so young." Koharu put in.

Danzo added, "If something were to happen out there to stir up the nine tails, whatever consequences would happen would be on your head."

Hiruzen stood up, "That's enough out of the three of you!" Homura and Koharu backed down a bit, while Danzo didn't flinch, "Naruto may not be in the village now, but he is in good hands."

"So you do know where he is?" Danzo questioned him.

"Yes, but I refuse to tell you three anything."

"What?" his teammates gasped.

"You keeping secrets to yourself is an act of treason you know?" Danzo inquired smugly.

"Don't talk to me about treason, Danzo," Hiruzen warned him to back off, "Besides, Naruto may be a Jinchuriki to you. But you'll soon find out he's much more than any of us had ever imagined he'd be."

"What do you mean by that?" Homura inquired.

"Like I said. The day will come when you realize it," he answered, "Now leave me." the three took their leave, while Danzo still looked at the Hokage suspiciously. When they were gone, the Hokage sighed in relief.

Meanwhile around the Southern Air Temple below the mountain. Naruto after successfully learning Earthbending from Bolin, was now learning Firebending from his older brother Mako. He was first learning all the basic started moves before actually learning how to firebend. Mako who was demonstrating the movements spoke.

"You got the right form, Naruto. Just keep it up."

"Yes, sensei," Naruto answered, as he followed his teachers moves, "So is it true that firebending was once fueled by rage and anger?"

"That's right. Long after the time of Avatar Wan, the Fire Nation twisted it's original teaching of being fueled by overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires," Mako explained, "From the stories I read, Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko had to travel to the land of the Sun Warriors to learn the original art of fueling firebending. They learned it represented energy and life. Since then Zuko found the true way to use firebending rather than rely on his old instincts of anger and hate."

"How much do you know about Fire Lord Zuko's history?" Naruto asked, and Mako stopped.

"Well, I could tell you the story. Maybe it'll help inspire you. Bolin did say hearing about Chief Beifong's past helped inspire you."

"All right," Naruto said, as the two sat down, "Start from the beginning."

"Well, a long time ago, Zuko was born the first child of Fire Lord Ozai and his wife Princess Ursa. He lived in his father's shadow even at a young age. Fire Lord Ozai felt Zuko lacked that spark to use firebending, and was eventually planning to cast him out. But with a help from Ursa and the Fire Sages, Zuko was given a chance, and succeeded in firebending. But even when he proved his worth to his father, things still weren't at peace. And Zuko's younger sister Azula made it no better."

"Zuko had a sister?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah. But she was a crazy one," Mako explained, "She was born already gifted with the ability to firebend and their father praised her, while she boasted on and on making Zuko feel more inferior. But despite the negativity thrown as Zuko, his mother was always there for him as a pillar of strength. But one night she disappeared, and was labeled dead."

"Yikes." Naruto gasped.

"It turned out Fire Lord Ozai at the time was ordered by the current fire Lord Azulon to kill his first born as a way to get Ozai to realize the pain of losing your own child, especially when he requested to be made Fire Lord instead of his older brother Iroh who was meant to be Fire Lord, but was too caught up in sorrow after losing his son in a battle."

"So what happened?"

"Ursa had learned of this plan by Azula and spoke with Ozai and concocted a plan to spare Zuko and get Ozai the throne."

"What'd they do?"

"Ursa created a poison for Ozai to use however he pleased. Ozai accepted it, but in return requested Ursa leave the land for fearing he may end up getting a taste of poison himself. She wanted to take Zuko and Azula, but he promised they would be safe with him, and if she tried to take them would hunt her down. So Ozai poisoned his own father and gained the title of Fire Lord, and Zuko's life was spared."

"That's a relief."

"Yeah? Well the story of Zuko isn't going to get better so soon," Mako continued, "When Zuko was only thirteen he wanted to sit in the war room to listen about the plans for war. When he questioned a general's plan to sacrifice many of their own, he was forced to partake in an Agni Kai."

"Agni Kai?"

"A firebending duel, with one's honor as the prize. Anyway, when Zuko was brought to the arena, he was surprised to discover he was meant to duel his own father and not the general he questioned."

"Why's that?"

"Questioning a single general was questioning the Fire Lord himself," Mako spoke, "Zuko refused to fight his father, and that ended up costing him the duel, his honor, and in the end was left with a burnt scar on his faces left side."

"Ouch." Naruto cringed at the thought.

"To further add salt to the wound, he was banished from his home and stripped of his birthright . The only way he could redeem himself was by finding the Avatar who had long since disappeared. The only ones he had was a single ship and crew, and his Uncle Iroh."

"That guy sounded like he had a rough life." Naruto gasped, starting to sympathize with him.

Mako nodded, "For two years, Zuko had been out at sea on what seemed like an meaningless quest. During the time Iroh had tried to help teach Zuko more firebending, and teach him about the other good things in life. When Aang had returned, Zuko spent a very long time trying to catch him hoping to restore his honor. But after some things happened, Zuko realized it was his destiny to help Avatar Aang defeat his father. After a very unsteady beginning, the members of Team Avatar welcomed Zuko into their group where Zuko was able to teach Aang firebending, and partook in the final battle against Fire Lord Ozai. After the war ended, Zuko took his rightful place as Fire Lord, and with Aang's help accomplished many more tasks, like building Republic city, and finding his long lost mother."

"Awesome." Naruto smiled.

Mako nodded, "But still, during Zuko's early years as Fire Lord was still a challenge to him, especially with the reputation his family's legacy had. But he still had friends to help him through his troubling times. Just as Korra had me, Bolin, Asami, everyone." he smiled.

Naruto smiled, and asked, "So is it true you and Korra were an item?"

Mako looked at him, and asked, "Where did you hear that from?"

Naruto smirked, "Your brother."

Mako groaned, "Bolin. I'll have to have a word with him later."

"So did you?" Naruto asked, eagerly to know.

"It was very long ago. When I first met Korra I didn't really think much about her."

"Bolin did mention you were quite a stiff." Naruto chuckled, as Mako felt more embarrassed.

"Anyway, after she helped us out in a pro-bending match I grew to respect her. At first I thought of her only as a friend, especially since I started dating Asami whose father helped us out of our debt problem. But even as I was dating Asami, a part of me continued to grow closer and closer to Korra. I ended up ending it with Asami, and chose to be with Korra."

"Wow. So how was it dating the Avatar?" Naruto inquired.

"A wave of issues," he answered, "While we cared about each other. I was put into lot of pressures about supporting her. There were times when she turned to me for support on certain matters regarding her position of Avatar or Tenzin's teachings. When I try reasoning with her or supporting her she'd take it as if I was taking others sides and not hers. Eventually, she was willing to try and do something drastic to stop a civil war between the North and South poles behind President Raiko's back, until I stepped in and stopped it. We broke up because of that."

"Whoa." Naruto gasped.

"I once tried going back with Asami, but it didn't last any longer."

"So you just remained single afterward?" Naruto asked.

"For a long time, yes. But enough about me. Let's get back to your training." Mako instructed, as the two got up and began practicing some more.

A few days later, Naruto and Mako were still practicing, and Naruto was finally using firebending. He launched his fists forward sending two fireballs at two training dummies lighting them on fire. Mako who was watching him, spoke up.

"Your aim is improving, Naruto. Just keep concentrating."

"Right." Naruto answered, as he concentrated and started firebending more and more targets.

As Naruto continued to train, Bolin, Asami, and Opal arrived, "I see he's coming along with his firebending." Bolin noticed.

"No doubt because he has a great teacher." Asami smiled, and Mako chuckled.

"Ahem." Bolin cleared his throat.

"Not that you're not a great teacher too, Bolin." Asami changed her choice of words.

Mako spoke, "Watching him train like this is just like watching Korra."

"I know." Bolin admitted. The three watched while remembering all the good times with their old Avatar friend.

That night in the temple's statue room, Naruto stood before the statue of Avatar Korra, looking up at it. He gazed into the eyes of the statue, almost as if he was expecting something to happen. A voice snapped him out of it.

"Naruto, what're you doing in here?" Naruto looked back and saw Jinora.

"Oh, Master Jinora. Don't sneak up on me like that." he said in relief.

"Sorry. So what brings you in here when you should be in bed?"

"I thought if I stood before Korra's statue maybe I can communicate with her or something. You know like how she was able to talk to Aang and Wan?" Naruto asked.

Jinora smiled, "Trying to make a connection to a past life doesn't always come easy to the Avatar, especially for one starting out. Korra wasn't able to fully talk to Aang or Wan so easily, until she was able to tap into the Avatar State. But the training my sibs and I have for you to undergo when you're ready to learn airbending will be able to help you with that. Until then, you still have more firebending lessons to learn from Mako." she held him close.

"I understand." he answered.

"Good. Now come along. Time for bed." she escorted him out, before he took once last glance at Korra's statue.

(And there's the chapter. Naruto had learned some more about the past from Mako. And when he starts learning Airbending, he'll be learning more and more from Jinora and her siblings. See you all till then.)