(And here's my newest chapter. This time Naruto and his team will be facing off against another group that came very close to killing Korra.)
In Orochimaru's lair, the Sannin and Kabuto were looking over stuff, until Zetsu emerged from the floor. The rogue Konoha shinobi turned to face him, "I'm assuming you were successful?"
"Yes, Orochimaru. I have what you need right here." Zetsu held up four vials containing blood samples.
"And you're certain it's really them?" Orochimaru asked skeptically.
"I'm absolutely positive." Zetsu assured.
"Well, we'll see," Orochimaru began, before turning to Kabuto, "Bring in three prisoners."
"Yes, my lord." Kabuto nodded, as he left and came back carrying three prisoners.
Orochimaru set up the procedure for the reanimation jutsu on the three, and added the blood samples given to him by Zetsu. He began hand signs, and announced, "Summoning Jutsu, Reanimation!"
Suddenly the three prisoners started changing into resurrected zombies. Orochimaru saw the three zombie had become the three remaining members of the Red Lotus team, P'Li, Ming-Hua, and Ghazan.
The Sannin snickered, "Yes. These are exactly who I've been looking for."
"It wasn't easy finding their remains given where they perished." Zetsu explained.
"So with these benders along with Zaheer, we have the complete Red Lotus Team." Kabuto added.
"Yes," Orochimaru confirmed, "I think we should let Zaheer see this." Orochimaru summoned a coffin and it opened up to reveal Zaheer.
Zaheer looked to the Sannin, "Orochimaru, why have you brought me up now? Are you looking to pit me against the Avatar?"
"Soon enough, Zaheer. But right now I felt it was time you had a little reunion." Orochimaru stepped aside to reveal the Airbender's old teammates.
Needless to say the sight of them left the former bad guy in shock, "Ming-Hua? Ghazan? P'Li?"
"Yes. The Red Lotus is back together again with you to lead them." Orochimaru answered, while Zaheer was focused on the face of his Combustion Bending Lover, "Now then, awaken my new servants." he formed a hand sign.
Suddenly the remaining three Red Lotus members woken up and were aware of their surroundings, "What happened?" Ghazan asked.
"Where are we?" Ming-Hua wondered.
"Is this the living world?" P'Li asked.
"Everyone!" Zaheer spoke up.
The three turned their attention to the familiar voice, and saw their leader standing before them, "Zaheer?" P'Li gasped, with a tear in her eye.
"Yes, P'Li it's me."
"What happened to you?" Ghazan asked, before looking at everyone else, "For that matter, what happened to all of us?"
"We have been resurrected as zombies, Ghazan." Zaheer explained.
"Zombies?" Ming-Hua asked.
"Correct, dear Ming-Hua," Orochimaru confirmed, "I am Orochimaru. It was I who called you back from the dead."
"And why would you go out of your way for that?" P'Li inquired.
Orochimaru smirked, "To give you all a second chance, of course. A second chance to destroy the Avatar."
"Destroy the Avatar?" Ghazan asked.
Ming-Hua turned to Zaheer, "Zaheer, is he telling the truth?"
"Yes. The Avatar lives." Zaheer confirmed.
"But how is that possible? We poisoned her." Ghazan recalled.
"They were able to bend the poison out of her, Ghazan."
"So we failed?" P'Li asked.
"Yes. We failed," Zaheer nodded, "But I'm glad we did."
"What?" the three asked.
"How can you say you're proud of failure?" P'Li asked.
"Because unlike you three I was still alive after being defeated," he explained, "I was imprisoned once again, and this time those years I spent incarcerated gave me the chance to finally see what a fool I had been. My obsession with freedom ended up costing your lives, and I was left alive with regret and guilt." he looked to P'Li recalling how heartbroken he was when she died.
"Zaheer." P'Li gasped.
"I rotted in jail till the day I died, and that was when I achieved my freedom. But now I was called back to the living world merely as a puppet to this man who like me is obsessed with his own blind and insane goals!"
"You've changed, Zaheer." Ming-Hua said.
"Never mind what he says," Orochimaru replied, "You four are now my servants, and you will seek out the Avatar and destroy him on my behalf."
"Listen to him bossing us around. How annoying." Ming-Hua told the group.
"So where exactly are we?" P'Li inquired.
Zaheer answered, "We're in the Ninja Lands, P'Li. The Avatar is a shinobi of this land."
"The Ninja Lands?" Ghazan asked, "Well, there's a surprise."
"Didn't you also say when we were done with the World Leaders we'd move on to eliminate the Five Kage of the Five Great Nations?" Ming-Hua asked Zaheer.
"That was more of a possible plan." Zaheer replied.
"Well, you may have a chance to do that as well, after you destroy the Avatar."
"What if we decide to do it on our own?" Ming-Hua challenged.
"It's no use, Ming-Hua," Zaheer spoke up, "The technique Orochimaru used to revive us completely bends us to his will."
"Exactly," Orochimaru nodded, "I can even wipe your minds completely making you totally mindless."
"You!" P'Li growled.
Orochimaru remained unaffected by P'Li's anger, and spoke to Zetsu, "Seek out, Naruto. And report back when you have located him."
"Already on it," Zetsu said, as he sunk into the floor. Ten minutes later, Zetsu returned and spoke, "Naruto and his team are currently with another team training in the outskirts of Konoha."
"Excellent," Orochimaru turned to the group of zombies, "And now Red Lotus, I hope you're itching for a fight. Because that's what you're going to be doing."
"It won't matter much anymore since it's not Korra we're going after." Ming-Hua replied.
"But it'll be interesting to see how this new Avatar holds up against us." Ghazan said, feeling intrigued.
"Be warned," Kabuto began, "The Avatar you'll be facing is unlike any Avatar that's lived."
"How is that?" Ghazan asked.
Zaheer answered, "The current Avatar is named Naruto. But he is not just the Avatar. He is a Jinchuriki. A human with a tailed beast demon inside of him."
"Whoa, we're going up against someone who is the Avatar and who has a demon sealed inside him?" Ming-Hua asked.
"Precisely." Orochimaru confirmed.
"Listen pal, I know where I stand in terms of opponents, and I'm not going up against any demon carrier." Ming-Hua protested.
"And as Zaheer told you, you're all my puppets and have to obey me. And besides, as long as you're undead you cannot die again."
"I still don't feel reassured." P'Li replied.
"Enough! We're wasting precious time. Now get going!" Orochimaru ordered the group, who took off against their will.
As the Red Lotus traveled across the land, Ghazan spoke to Zaheer, "So what will be in it for us should we succeed?"
"Nothing. We're disposable tools to Orochimaru." he answered.
"Well, that sucks." Ming-Hua grumbled.
"I know. I hope Avatar Naruto is ready to face the likes of us." Zaheer said in worry.
Meanwhile in the outskirts of Konoha, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were testing their skills against Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji, while Kakashi, Asuma, and Yamato watched. Naruto was busy dodging Shikamaru who was trying to catch him using shadow possession, while also making sure he wasn't hit by any of Naruto's attacks. Ino and Sakura were sparing against each other to improve their bending abilities. Sasuke was dodging Chouji with his expansion techniques to improve his speed.
Asuma puffed some smoke form his cigarette and spoke to his fellow Jonin, "What do you think, Kakashi?"
"Not bad. They're all improving in their own ways." Kakashi admitted, while taking glances from his book to the younger shinobi.
"And will need to," Yamato added, "Even with the Akatsuki threat greatly diminished, there's still the matter of Orochimaru."
"And the person Naruto was warned about. Zetsu." Kakashi put in.
The younger shinobi after finishing their sparing toweled off, and approached their senseis having heard what they were talking about, "No matter what threat is out there, we will face it head on." Sasuke began.
"Because we're shinobi looking to make the world a better place." Naruto added.
"Even if it's a drag, it's for the good of our home." Shikamaru noted.
"What he said." Ino agreed.
"Yeah. I don't care who we have to face, we'll take them on together." Sakura said.
"I admire that determination and confidence." came a voice from around them.
"Everyone on guard!" Kakashi ordered, as the shinobi got defensive.
Naruto feeling the wind blow around him, looked up and saw Zaheer hovering over them. When the others saw this, Chouji spoke up, "Is he literally flying?"
"Oh, no." Naruto said in disbelief.
"Naruto, you're the expert of Avatar history. Who is he?" Shikamaru inquired.
"That's Zaheer, the leader of the Red Lotus."
"He's the Airbender that killed the Earth Queen, and started an uprising in the Earth Kingdom?" Ino asked.
Zaheer answered, while descending down, "I did do that. And over time I grew to regret what I did."
"You regret?" Sakura asked.
Naruto spoke, "So it was true, when the elder Benders told me about how you made peace with Korra and the others."
Zaheer nodded, "Yes, Avatar, Naruto. But i'm afraid we must cut this moment short. I am here because of Orochimaru's orders."
"As are we." P'Li's voice came, as the rest of the Red Lotus members appeared.
"So the rest of the members of the Red Lotus are here to?" Kakashi noted.
"Who are these guys?" Chouji asked Naruto.
"The woman with the eye on her forehead is P'Li, a Combustion Bender," Naruto began, "The second woman is Ming-Hua, a Waterbending master even without actual arms. And that guy with the mustache is Ghazan, a Master Lavabender."
Sasuke spoke, "According to history, these guys actually came close to killing Avatar Korra."
"And yet the failed." Sakura added.
"Maybe then, but we'll see how better our luck is against all of you." Ghazan answered.
"Don't think we're just like Korra and her team," Naruto replied, "We may actually be stronger than they were back then."
"We'll see about that." Ming-Hua said, as her water tentacle arms grew.
Naruto spoke to Team Asuma, "These guys are dangerous, so don't hold back and watch yourselves."
"Ok." Shikamaru answered, as the two sides braced themselves for a showdown.
(And there you have it. Thanks to Zetsu, the rest of the Red Lotus has been reived, and their new objective against their will is to destroy Naruto. Will the shinobi be able to overcome the abilities and talents of these Master Bending Fugitives? See you next time.)