Chapter 15
Chaos and True War
Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331
Sokka was in panic mode.
What the fuck did the rebels just do!? Kidnapping a child, that was stupid on so many levels.
But the Governor's son? Oh yeah, that doesn't invite trouble!
It was late at night, and everyone was talking and conversing. The camp itself was divided given the situation. Some of the civilians were terrified of having a fire nation child in their midst's knowing what this could mean. Others were okay saying they now had a shield against the Fire Nation and their attacks. The final group: mostly the rebels were talking about how they could use the child to get their king back and make the Fire Nation leave their city.
Sokka really wondered how they could be so stupid. Same with Aang and Katara, they at least took the situation seriously enough to know that the child needed more love and care. Especially since showing up at camp, it hasn't stopped crying. The soldiers were getting irritated, so Aang and Katara took over care of the child even if they didn't know how to make the child stop.
Sokka had tried to talk to Aang and Katara about the situation and that they should just give the child back, but they argued that it would anger the soldiers. He didn't care if they were angry with his decision he was thinking of what the ultimate backlash could be.
If the Governor was a close friend of the Princess's family, as the rumors indicate, and she has any involvement with the family personally. That brings nothing but bloodshed to their doorstep, as the minute the child is hurt or killed, he knew everyone was going to burn.
He wasn't sure what to do, and his mind was running a hundred miles a minute. They should have just kept flying, this way they wouldn't have been dragged into this but no they had to stop here and look for Bumi.
Sokka wasn't heartless though, he was just realistic. At least that is what he told himself. He knew that sometimes Aang and Katara live with their emotions on their sleeves and do what they THINK is right, but don't know if it is. Finding Bumi was important to him too, not as much as Aang but it was. The man while crazy and did almost kill him and his sister when they first visit, did apologize for the trap. Stating it was just his way to test Aang and have some fun with him. He could see his genuine love for Aang as an old friend. While he didn't like the idea of becoming a crystal, he did have to admit it was interesting to watch. To make Aang use more creative thinking and focus instead of just believing everything at face value. The man was crazy, but there was a method and he had come to respect this. More it opened his world to a new level of strategy and tactics that he never considered.
However, he also knew if the man let himself get captured there was a reason and they just had to have faith in the man.
But that wasn't the issue now.
Walking away from the camp he saw Kurenai sitting off with her team. They were watching everything with a frown, and he could guess why.
"Kurenai can I ask you something?"
The woman nodded with Kiba sitting up from his dog partner, Hinata walking over, and Shino staring.
"How is our situation?"
"Truthfully?" He nodded. "Pretty bad, right now this could be the most delicate situation we face." She looked over at the soldiers, "While I understand their thought process and reasoning for wanting things their way. I can't help but fear what they are planning."
Shino nodded, "Logically the child's disappearance and the soldier's escape won't go unnoticed. More than likely, the city is on high alert and are out for blood, meaning anyone left behind might be in danger of the Fire Nation's wrath."
"Also, the child in question is a sensitive situation." Hinata looked at the baby and could almost cry for how confused it must be. "If anything happens to him, then the Fire Nation will stop at nothing to murder everyone in the city and the people that escaped. I have had suspicions they knew we were faking the plague and just let us go. Figuring we could do less damage outside the city than inside."
Sokka nodded. "Yeah I'm of the same opinion. I was surprised my plan worked; I came up with it on the fly, but I wasn't sure it would work." He saw the shocked looks on their faces, "Well, I didn't think they would just incinerate us, but I knew that if we were lucky they would just boot us out of the city."
"That was still risky." Kiba sat up, "But given our current situation it might have been for best." The group turned to him, "If we were still in the city and they did this, they would be tearing apart homes looking for anyone and everyone responsible or allied to this mess. Leading to mass slaughter and butchering if they felt inclined."
Sokka gulped. Yeah, after everything in the Water tribe and some of the stuff he heard from people in the North Pole, he was aware. He just knew Katara and Aang didn't get it.
"Well," He turned to the partying soldiers, "I'm not sure what to do at this point. But I'm thinking if we have the chance we should depart and take the child. That way we can at least get the baby back to the city and have him returned covertly. But if that isn't an option we might have to do something drastic."
Kurenai raised an eyebrow.
"Give up the soldiers."
Now the team was looking at him. No emotions displayed but Sokka could tell they were going through their own train of thoughts.
"Look, I don't want to think of this option I really don't. But they are putting everyone in danger. Fanatical ideals and beliefs. Unwilling to see the Fire Nation citizens as people and just wanting to slaughter all who dared to think differently. I can't stand it. I really can't. Which is why, if something can't be reached, I think that we must give the Fire Nation the soldiers in the hopes this will stem the rage they are feeling for the kidnapping."
Kurenai internally agreed. At this point, there was no going back, the fighting was about to escalate and if something else happened or these guys tried something, it was only going to get worse.
"Explaining this to Aang and Katara," Sokka sighed, "It won't be easy. Especially since we don't know what they are going to aim for in the child. Aang will think of a peaceful way to solve the issue, Katara will go with it to be supportive, and me? I'll be ignored."
Hinata stood up, "I could get the child and watch over him until tomorrow. That way if things get hairier or there is a greater risk of an attack by the Fire Nation troops, we can try to sneak the child back."
"But if we do that, logically the troops will see that as a betrayal and lash out. They might even try to kill us thinking we are siding with the Fire Nation or are spies." Shino turned to their teacher, "Aang won't be willing to fight back and want to talk things through and logically it is not going to work."
Kiba yawned, "That and he won't aim for the kill. He is too passive for it." Kiba knew firsthand no killing instinct in the field was dangerous. You were basically being set up to be slaughtered. If you weren't careful, it could even lead to greater trouble down the road with people knowing you won't kill, and they won't hesitate to go for their own kill blows with reckless abandonment.
Kurenai rubbed her temple, "I'll talk to the two of them and try to get the baby. For now, we just rest up and see if the Fire Nation acts. Then we plan accordingly with or without Aang."
Sokka didn't want to go along with that. He was the Avatar and technically they were his employees, in a sense. They were meant to protect him and answer to him on this mission of theirs. But at the same time, Aang hasn't been thinking clearly about the situation and it was time someone shove the facts in his face. Also, he couldn't shake the feeling is that there was more to the Fire Nation or at least the people that caught the Earth Bender. Like, maybe they were more alike their guards?
'Is it possible that more people with unique power like them exist?' He shook his head, 'One problem at a time.'
New Ozai
Azula was frowning.
Someone allowed an earth bender soldier, the one that was tortured, to escape and steal Tom-Tom while they were at it. Naturally, she was furious at the person responsible for this and had them demoted and forced onto toilet duty.
However, her main problem was Mai and her family. She couldn't just abandon them in their time of need especially since she was quite fond of Tom-Tom even if he cried too much for her taste. He was a baby, but it was still annoying to her.
Mai also refused to leave the city. Stating she won't leave until she knows her brother is back and safe.
This brought her mission to a halt while she knew she should just order her to leave. Part of her knew, Mai would hate her. When they were growing up she use to tease her and Zuko, because she had a deep love for him. She would tease them when she got a chance and even comment about how she might become her sister-in-law soon. Finding it kinda funny and interesting, the later she never told her.
Naruto was standing off to the side with the princess. He volunteered to hang out with her while his brothers and Ty-Lee were helping the family through the crisis and Beelzebub was finding out from other prisoners where they could have gone. If there were more secrets that were being hidden.
Azula wanted to torture a few but he insisted that he would be more than enough for this endeavor.
"So," Naruto looked at her with his arms crossed. "What is the plan of action?"
"Plan? Isn't it obvious." She turned, her eyes darkening, and her body tensing. "We are going to hunt them all down. They are going to be put to death for daring to take Tom-Tom and if he is hurt in anyway, I'll make their deaths even slower."
"Or you could put the child in greater danger with this or even get him killed." Naruto pushed off the wall and put his arms above his head to stretch. "Think about it, it is obvious they took him for a reason. If you really stop to think-"
"I don't have time-"
"Yes you do." Naruto gave her a deep stare. "Now think; why would they bother stealing a baby that knows nothing and can do nothing?"
Azula frowned and began brainstorming. It was not information. Tom-Tom can't even talk let alone know battle strategies or info about the war. Secret training? Yeah right, if he was some kind of hidden prodigy she sure didn't know about it and neither did Mai.
A shield? Yes it does shield them a bit from her wrath and the fury of the Fire Nation. But her father would just tell her to kill all the people and if the child is killed? Then he is a martyr. A sign that they are destined to destroy the Earth Kingdom without mercy.
She couldn't have that on her conscious though. Mai would never forgive her, and neither would her family. She could justify it as her father would and she was tempted to do so, but deep down there was a nagging voice that told her not to do it.
This voice was faint, it was something she heard all her childhood. Something that she knew was familiar, but she wasn't sure why. Maybe it was her conscious? Or maybe it was something related to how she really felt about something?
Uh, this was so frustrating for her.
Wait,
"A trade."
She turned to Naruto who was smiling, "They would want a trade."
"Exactly." Naruto counted on his fingers, "Now what could you trade for the child that is of equal importance to them?"
She frowned, "It can't be the city they know we would never allow that kind of deal. Plus, the citizens would be furious that we even consider a deal, and my father would make Mai's family pay for the treachery."
"True."
"The only other thing is their King Bumi. We have him locked up and secured, away from prying eyes." She nodded, "So, they took him in the hopes that we would be willing to surrender their leader to them for the child."
"Right and if you do that, they might think that he will lead them into a charge against the city to take it back." Naruto chuckled, "But it is the worst thing they could have done."
"Huh?" Azula frowned, "How is getting their king back a bad thing?"
"The man is known as the Mad King, someone that thinks outside the box and has unusual methods. In essence, doesn't it make sense that his surrender was a bit suspicious?"
She scoffed, "Maybe he feared the wrath of the Fire Nation and knew he couldn't win." She smirked, "We are quite the impressive fighting force made of elite soldiers and military might."
"You done being the Fire Lord?" Naruto frowned. "Now think as Azula."
"I could burn you at the stake for that comment."
Naruto shrugged, "Empty threat, now think why would Bumi surrender his city without a fight and allow himself to be captured? I mean he could have just given up the city and fled with his troops or gone underground."
Azula paused and started to think it through. Bumi was known as the mad king and someone that was known for his out of the box thinking. He also is known for doing things that don't appear to mean anything and hide their true-,
"He surrendered on purpose while giving up his life to keep his city in one piece and with no causalities."
"Exactly." Naruto smiled, "Which means the minute we hand him over and he is freed he will be furious that his people did something so stupid. Thus, driving a wedge between them all and having the faction split down the middle."
"Thus, allowing us to focus on building our forces while they have internal conflict." She smirked, "Genius thank you." She turned on her heels, "I'm going to put this plan into motion hopefully we can get this done and no one is the wiser."
"Hopefully."
Naruto watched as the princess left him in the hallway while she goes and informs her friends of the plan.
Was he sure this is going to work? Not really, there is always a chance the fanatics will lash out to kill everyone to 'save' their king. But he was sure they could handle anything they threw at them and leave Bumi to collect his people and leave.
"Naruto."
The blond turned to Buddha who was walking from the kitchen.
"What's up?"
"I figured I should tell you this. I think there are chakra users among the Avatar's party."
Naruto frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I sensed it when they were in the city. While I was chasing them I could sense some chakra from the people there. At first I thought maybe it was my imagination but then it happened again when the people left. I could sense an illusion in the crowd, as if someone was trying to hide themselves."
Naruto cursed, "Just when I think I left shit behind, it comes rearing its ugly head." He leaned back, "Man that fucking sucks."
"What are we going to do?" He looked down the hall, "If they are from Konoha-,"
"I know." He sighed, "Man this fucking sucks. But then again it isn't like they weren't going to come here eventually. I just didn't think so soon and in such a serious capacity." He turned to Buddha, "Change of plans. You and Beelzebub will be with the princess and the Governor's family. Protecting them and fighting off anything that might come their way."
"Right. What about you?"
"I'm going to head to their camp." Naruto walked away, "If I go there I might find the child. Because I doubt they are going to bring him to the table if they know fighting is going to break out."
Buddha smiled, "You got it. Leave everything to us little brother."
"Oh, I plan to."
Buddha watched as Naruto walked away and he had to admit, while he was nervous tomorrow he was eager to see how things unfold.
Morning
Rebel Camp
The message had arrived.
Aang read it,
"It is a letter from the Governor he says that he is furious that we stole his son. But he is willing to make a trade."
Kurenai asked, "What trade?"
His eyes widened,
"His son for Bumi."
Sokka sighed.
"It's possibly a trap. They might want to use this as an excuse to get us so they can kill us all."
"Sokka," Aang frowned, "I think that this is the real deal, and we have to take it."
"Why?" He really wanted to hear his reasoning on this.
"Because" he gripped his staff, "I want to save my friend, but I also want to give the people their king back. But more importantly I want to do whatever we can to hopefully avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Sokka could see Aang's point if the deal did go through. But there was no guarantee that the deal would go through. There was a good chance that this deal would go up in smoke.
"I see your point." Kurenai walked up, "But, we can't just risk the child without setting in motion a back-up plan."
"You think the Fire Nation would risk it?" Katara was terrified but then again she did remember how the nation was when they came to the North and South Pole.
"They might." Sokka chimed in, "Which means we should be ready for anything."
In truth, it was because of the troopers. Since Aang read the letter, he noticed the men were tense and seem to be talking in hush whispers.
That alone made him nervous.
"Our best bet is for me to create a likeness of the child. That way if something does happen and everything goes our way, we can deliver the baby to the family after we are sure things are safe." She turned to Hinata, "After all we are specialized in tracking, but we can move as well as anyone in the shadows."
Hinata nodded. Kiba smirked and Shino tilted his head.
Aang smiled,
"Okay then so we are going through with the deal. Says here it will happen at noon." Aang walked off to talk to the soldiers about the deal and plan while Sokka just watched on in concern while Katara glared.
"You think he is being naïve again."
Her brother turned, "Maybe. But I do see reasoning in this one. If this works out then we can avoid needless death." Slowly turning he asked, "Was there something else Katara?"
The girl snorted and walked away, and he could only sigh.
He really hoped this went as well as Aang planned it.
Time Skip
Everyone was standing in an open area near the city. The Fire Nation had troops surrounding the Governor and his wife, who looked like they were barely holding together. In front of them, was Azula standing proudly, Mai who was blank, and Ty-Lee with a smile on her face.
Next to them was Buddha who was chewing on some gum while Beelzebub was standing with his skull cane.
Bumi, he was chilling.
"Hey everybody how you're doing!"
Buddha smirked,
"Great ice breaker. We should play Go sometime."
Bumi laughed,
"Sounds like fun."
Azula stepped forward,
"Do you have the child?"
Kurenai walked to the front with the baby in her arms.
"He is here."
"Tom-Tom!" Mai's mother tried to rush for her child, but everyone kept her back. She was angry but she restrained.
Buddha narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Illusion, probably to keep the baby safe.' He quickly lowered his staff to his side, trying not to alert anyone.
Beelzebub saw this from the corner of his eyes, and he started prepping.
"Good." Azula turned to the brothers, "Bring the King, we'll free him and then you can have him while we take the baby."
The group nodded.
Buddha and Beelzebub grabbed the side of the container and pushed it across the ground. Shocking everyone with their feet of strength but putting Kurenai on edge. She could sense it, she knew it!
'Chakra. This just got complicated.'
The brother's reached Aang with Bumi smiling.
"How are you doing Aang?"
The young boy smiled, "Better knowing your safe."
"Oh, I was always safe Aang, but really we need to stop meeting like this. First you got in trouble in the city and was brought before me. Now I'm in trouble brought before you! Funny how life works."
Aang laughed while Buddha walked to the woman,
"The baby."
She nodded. Pushing forward she held the baby out.
Suddenly Beelzebub leaped into the air and threw his hand out. A rock hit the palm of his hand, and it exploded.
Another set of rocks exploded from the ground, killing some of the fire nation soldiers guarding the Governor while Mai and Ty-Lee quickly dodged.
Emerging from behind the group everyone saw Bumi's former guard.
"Death to the Fire Nation! This is the will of King Bumi!"
The king panicked,
"No this is not the will of your king! Stop you fools!"
They didn't listen.
Full pandemonium exploded.
The Fire nation soldiers launching fire attacks at the earth benders, but they were blocking or dodging.
Buddha swung his staff at Kurenai and glared.
"Nice try." He snapped his fingers revealing the illusion. "You didn't bring the baby and were expecting to walk away with our prisoner?"
"Wait this wasn't part of the plan!"
He stomped the ground and the earth started to shake.
"Doesn't matter on the honor of my brother, you will all pay for this treachery!"
Beelzebub attacked one soldier and hit him in the face with his palm. His body vibrated for a few seconds.
Then he exploded into a pile of gore covering him head to toe.
"Disgusting, I forgot how much I hated using my powers like this."
FANG OVER FANG!
He jumped back and saw two twisting forms spiraling through the air.
"Damn it! So, there are chakra users in this land too!"
He snorted,
"I was from the Elemental Nations. But we came here for a new start. Thanks to this, you might have dragged us back into something we wanted out of." His darkness grew, "Oh well, I guess I can toy with you. Little bro might not be happy about it, but I'm sure he understands. Can't kill everyone I like anymore."
Kiba frowned and Akamaru growled.
"You should know your flies are useless against me."
The man turned to Shino, who was standing behind him with a hidden shock expression.
"How did you-"
"Simple," He smiled darkly, and his power exploded making everything around him turn into some nightmare. Them seeing dark creatures and figures emerging from his shadows and surrounding him as if protecting him. "Nothing can touch me that is in the realm of flies as I'm the Lord of Flies. And you both are in for a rude awakening."
While the fighting was ongoing, The Governor and his wife tried to retreat from the front lines. They knew they would be a burden on their daughter and the others, but it was seemingly impossible.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Turning around both saw an Earth Kingdom soldier but this is the one that was tortured by Beelzebub. "I have to pay you back for the horrible treatment you gave me."
"You were a prisoner, someone that tried to murder my wife and children." The Governor stood up, "I let your people go knowing that you were faking things. Only because I wanted to keep the city from falling under unnecessary attack and scrutiny."
The man growled, "Yeah right. You were only interested in exploiting our city! You Fire Nation assholes never learn! This is not your land, and you are not meant to be here! Just like the colonies!"
"They have nothing to do with this! I didn't take your homes, I didn't throw you out of the city, and I didn't oppress you! You all did that to yourself! You can't think of your people because your blind!"
"Fuck you, you don't have the right to blame us! You should have stayed in your own country!" A dark smirk appeared, "But don't worry you're going back."
He bent some earth, and the attack went through the man's chest making him cough up blood and look down.
"UKANO!"
The Fire Nation turned and saw the man impaled.
Mai's blood ran cold. Ty Lee gasped, and Azula? Her fury was evident with a powerful ball of fire sent through the nearest soldier's body turning him into a charred corpse.
Buddha cursed,
"I don't have time for this!" He quickly turned on his heels and raced to the wife.
The Earth soldier laughed before turning to the woman.
"Too bad I don't have the time. The fun we could have had." He hit her across the face and stomped on her head.
Her head was crushed under the weight of the man's stomp.
But he added insult to injury by bending a small rock out of the ground and slamming it down. Her body exploding in a red mist.
"NO!" Mai's body gave out.
Kurenai was in shock of the cruelty as was the rest of her team.
Sokka's eyes widened, and his body went numb. It was, no it was worse, no, he couldn't.
Katara was in shock, no this wasn't supposed to happen! How could this happen! They were getting their king back! Why did he have to do something so evil! Just like, like,
The Fire Nation.
Bumi, he didn't see it, but he could hear it. His body went cold, his mind was numb, and he realized it was over.
Omashu will burn.
"Damn fool."
Aang rushed to the soldier,
"What are you doing!?"
He turned to the airbender,
"Killing the bastard that was controlling our city." Turning to the troops, "Quick rally and defeat the rest of them! If we take their princess we can take back our kingdom!"
"This wasn't part of the deal!"
"Fuck the deal! We have everything we-"
A small explosion emerged, sending Aang flying back and making everyone cover their eyes of the amount of dirt being kicked up.
Buddha stood. His eyes blank, his expression unreadable, and his body was stiff.
"You really think, this is going to help anyone?" He sighed, "Well I guess, it was my fault for letting you get close. We were supposed to protect them, but we failed."
"Shut up and die!" The bender pushed his hand forward, bending some earth to impale Buddha.
"But I guess, even I can make mistakes." He walked past the man's body with a frown on his face. "Even I Buddha have a limit to my patience, and you just passed it."
The man was struggling his mind was numb and his thoughts were racing.
'Wait is that my body. Why is it over there? Wait, why am I over here? This, this doesn't make any sense. What is going on?'
"You know they say your life flashes before your eyes before you die." He lifted his arm up, "How is it? Did you accomplish everything you wanted?"
The man's eyes widened.
His head was in the young man's hand, and he was staring into his dark, cold eyes.
"Well, is it?"
"N-n-n-n-"
The voice stopped. No sign of light in his eyes.
His body finally fell, and he dropped his head.
"Now then, I think it is time to clean up the trash." Buddha turned to the group, "You Avatar, take your friend and leave."
Aang was shivering, this man, it was terrifying. He was scarier than Zuko, scarier than the spirits, and scarier than any monster he had seen. The presence was growing, and he could tell, this was his one chance. He wanted to fight back, protect the people, protect them from this mess. To help the troopers-,
"AANG!"
Turning his head, he looked at Bumi's coffin.
"Grab me and let's get out of here!"
His body moved on its own. He quickly flew over to his friend and the group all rushed to the metal coffin.
"Quick we need to-"
The coffin lid exploded and Bumi jumped out.
"Move people!"
"Huh but-"
"No time Katara we need to go!"
The group didn't need to be told twice.
The group quickly gathered up and they were shushined out of the area. Leaving nothing but the troops in their wake.
Mai didn't wait, she threw a dagger impaling one soldier through the throat.
"You want your city back fine I'll make sure you're all buried in it!"
Ty Lee jumped into action behind her and attacked any bender that got close with some well-placed strikes. While normally she didn't want to kill someone, she didn't hesitate in this instance to aim for the heart and their throats.
Azula was blasting them with fire and even hitting one with lightning when he tried to run.
The Fire Nation troops were blasting the troopers and Beelzebub and Buddha? Well, they were jumping into the middle of the troops and killing everyone and anyone.
After about an hour the entire area was nothing but corpses and red mist.
Everyone was covered in blood. Guts were smeared on the ground, and nothing remained of the troops.
But that was not the noise everyone heard.
It was crying.
Sitting on the ground, in front of her parents, was Mai. She was weeping, crying her eyes out, begging and pleading. Asking them to come back, not wanting to lose them.
Azula and Ty Lee, they said nothing. Just hugged and cried with her.
The troops remained silent.
Buddha sighed,
"Reckoning is upon them."
Beelzebub frowned,
"You think he knew?"
"I think he knew this was a possibility. But it won't matter, he'll make sure they understand and bring back the baby."
"And those shinobi?"
"Won't matter. We are here and nothing is going to hurt him again."
The brothers waited. Knowing their youngest sibling would return soon.
Earth Camp
Bumi was silent.
The whole trip, he didn't say anything.
No one dared utter a single word.
Sokka, he was just unsure what to say and Katara and Aang, they were just coming to terms with things that happened.
Kurenai, however, was frowning. Something was wrong.
"The camp is quiet."
Everyone tilted their heads and noticed in the distance everyone was on the ground.
Fearing the worst, they rushed to the camp and quickly checked on everyone. Checking their pulses, looking for marks, and trying to find something that was wrong.
"Don't worry." A voice drew their attention. "I didn't kill or maim anyone. They are all sound asleep."
The group looked and the Shinobi were in shock.
Sitting there on a log with a sleeping baby in his arms, was Naruto.
He had changed from when they saw him last, and he was wearing a monk robe, but he had the same look. Minus the tattoos on his hands and some around his neck.
He smiled,
"My it has been quite some time Konoha Shinobi."
Kurenai gathered her thoughts,
"Naruto is that really you?"
Bumi leaned close,
"Who?"
Hinata whispered, "He is a former shinobi we have been looking for from our land. We were trying to bring him home but never imagined we find him out here."
"Yeah it is." Naruto rocked the baby in his arms. "I'm guessing you met my brothers today. Great guys right?" He smiled, "After all they have my back better than anyone has before."
Kiba found his voice,
"You mean, those two guys that annihilated those troops? Yeah we saw them."
Naruto sighed, "Man I hate being right. Let me guess? You guys tried to trade but the troopers started attacking and shouting about freeing their king and kingdom right? Then they murdered the Governor and his wife in the hopes of breaking through and taking back their home? All because they think it is what their king wanted?" His smile grew, "Am I right? Am I in the ballpark?"
"How did you know?"
Naruto shrugged,
"I had good intuition. Plus, one of my brother's just sent his summon to me. Quite nifty little things. I can see why the Aburame clan are so underestimated."
Shino frowned.
"You mean the one that calls himself lord of flies? Are those his summons?"
Naruto turned to the group, "I have to say you all changed quite a bit. But then again three years and I would hope you did." He sighed, "But then again, I guess I got my hopes up."
"What are you talking about?"
He turned to Aang.
"You must be the Avatar. Must ask, how was it?"
"How was what?"
"Your first dose of reality; the reality of war?"
Aang frowned and turned,
"Is that your answer? Turn away and pretend it didn't happen? Man, who knew the Avatar was so heartless."
"Naruto," Kurenai slowly approached. "How long have you been here?"
He didn't respond, looking at Aang.
"It was terrible." Aang turned to him, glaring, "How can you and your brothers do something so heartless to people? To side with the Fire-"
"Who said I'm on the Fire Nation's side?" He stood up, "I think you misunderstand something. I'm on only one side; my side. I help those in need and want my help. Unlike you, Avatar, I don't need an invitation to do that. I don't need someone I love to be that piece." He frowned, "But most importantly, you should ask your friend, how was it abandoning those troops that were willing to murder an innocent man and his wife for doing their job?"
"You can say what the troopers did was the same."
Naruto smiled, "Really? So, murdering two people who were assigned there and doing their best to not upset people, they were the bad guys? People that bothered to let them keep their homes and try to not interfere in their daily lives?" He scoffed, "Yes they are real monsters. Who knew the Avatar was so cynical?"
Naruto rolled his shoulders, "Well as much as I have enjoyed this reunion I think it is time for me to get this little one back to his sister."
"You think you can just leave?"
Naruto smiled at Kurenai, "Yeah pretty much. You see, it is just that easy."
She hated that he was underestimating them but at the same time, she didn't know what he could do.
"The 3rd wouldn't want this Naruto." Shino stared at him, "It be more logical-"
The area became oppressed. Everyone was choking, even Bumi was feeling fear well up in his chest.
The group saw Naruto's eyes turn red and markings growing across his face.
"Don't you dare use him. Let the dead rest. You ever use him as a tool for manipulation," his aura exploded making the fire in the fireplace explode, "I'll fucking erase your bloodlines."
Like that he was gone.
"Damn it." Kurenai sighed, "This is bad. We must report this."
"Um," Bumi held his hand up, "Can you help us revive my citizens first?"
The group got to reviving them and all Kurenai could wonder was,
What happened to the blond shinobi and how did he escape?
Chapter End