Huts: Morning…
Korra awoke and exited the hut she shared with Sasuke to find him staring out over the festival grounds. "You're up early."
"I could say the same to you." Sasuke commented.
"I'm just looking forward to learning about spirits, and how to fix everything in the South." Korra retorted.
"I can see that." Sasuke nodded." Guess we should get going."
"You're coming too?" Korra asked.
"I'm interested in this spirit stuff, not to mention I might pick up something I could add to my Bender Fist style." Sasuke replied.
"Alright, let's go." Korra exclaimed.
"You're not forgetting something, are you?" Kakashi asked.
The pair turned to see him with Sakura, Shikamaru, Kiba, Lee, and Neji.
"Leave me alone while we're here." Sasuke sighed "I thought that was the deal."
"Ah, remember?" Kakashi asked. "Treat us like we're still comrades."
"Whatever." Korra voiced. "Just don't try anything to antagonize him."
"What?" Sakura asked, offended.
"Let's get going already." Sasuke said.
Southern Water Tribe
Korra and Sasuke arrived on Naga while the six Konoha Shinobi arrived on foot, and they found Unalaq waiting for the Avatar. "You're early."
"What can I say?" Korra asked excitedly. "I'm pumped to learn that Unalaq spirit fighting."
"Yeah, let's see it." Kiba added, just as excited.
"I am ready to observe and learn from it." Lee voiced.
"He's not teaching Korra to fight spirits, idiots." Sasuke said bluntly.
"Indeed." Unalaq agreed. "I'm here to help Avatar Korra begin her spiritual training."
"Boring…" Kiba groaned.
Sasuke elbowed him.
"So, where do we start?" Korra asked.
"We're going to one of the most remote places in the world, the long neglected spiritual center of your tribe, the South Pole." Unalaq informed.
"Sounds like an expedition." Sasuke noted.
Unalaq nodded. "That it is, young Uchiha."
"So, Korra will be trained at the South Pole." Kakashi nodded. "Interesting."
"Wait, he means as in the wilderness of the South Pole?" Neji asked.
"Yes." Unalaq answered.
"We're going to a cold wasteland?" Sakura asked, not particularly thrilled.
"If you don't like it, you can stay here or go back to Konoha." Sasuke declared coldly.
"Sasuke…" Kakashi warned.
Sasuke looked away from him. "Hmph."
"Going there is for more than training." Unalaq informed. "By neglecting the spirits, the people of the South have brought darkness upon themselves, and it threatens our whole tribe. We must set things right. The Southern Water Tribe depends on you, Korra."
"That does provide an explanation for why the spirits attacked us, but what was that energy bringing it back together before Unalaq dealt with it?" Sasuke contemplated.
"A dangerous trip to the South Pole!" Korra was excited before looking to the Uchiha. "Sasuke?"
"Where you go, I go." Sasuke replied simply.
"Count us in." Kakashi declared with an eye smile.
Sakura nodded in agreement before moving to hold Sasuke's arm, only for him to shift around Korra. Kiba pounded his fist with a smirk as Akamaru barked. Shikamaru yawned while Lee did some stretches, and Neji crossed his arms.
Southern Air Temple
Oogi landed at the temple where two Air Acolytes were sweeping and feeding ring-tailed Lemurs.
"Master Tenzin, welcome!" One of the Air Acolytes said.
"Good to see you again, Abbot Shung." Tenzin said, bowing.
"Is there anything you need?" Shung asked eagerly. "Water? Dandelion greens? Ahh, perhaps you'd like to center yourself by meditating in the gardens?"
"No thank you, I'm fine." Tenzin said.
"You must be the honorable Pema!" Shung greeted. "Please, accept these gifts!" He offered an odd contraption. "This is an ancient Airbender head shaver we've refurbished just for you."
"Oh, okay…?" Tenzin said unsure.
"And Pema, these flowers once filled the mountainside." Shung offered a massive bouquet of. "Now, they can brighten up your room."
"That's…sweet?" Peman stated, also unsure. "You…didn't have to."
"Nonsense!" Shung waved such concerns off. "Whatever you need is yours. Anything for the mother of the next generation of Airbenders."
One of the Air Acolytes offered a book to Jinora.
"No!" Ikki snatched it. "That gift is MINE!"
"You don't even like to read!" Jinora yelled.
Ikki stuck her tongue out, making Pema embarrassed. "Yep, those are the world's next generation of Airbenders."
Meelo suddenly appeared from behind the Acolytes with a lemur "Mommy, Daddy! Look! I finally got a lemur! I'm gonna name him…Poki!" The lemur flew off, so he chased after it on an air scooter. "Poki, come back!"
Kya and Bumi were unloading supplies off Oogi with the latter carrying most of the bags.
"Excuse me, a little help here?" Bumi asked frustrated.
"Sorry, I thought you were the servants." An Air Acolyte said.
"We're Tenzin's brother and sister!" Bumi exclaimed.
"Avatar Aang had more children?" The Acolyte asked excited. "The world is filled with more Airbenders?"
"We're not Airbenders." Kya said, slightly upset.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." The Acolyte said while bowing.
The two glanced at each other.
Southern Water Tribe
Those expected to head to the South Pole were Unalaq, Desna, Eska, Korra, Sasuke, Mako, Bolin, Utakata, and the six Konoha Shinobi. Currently, all but Bolin had arrived.
Sasuke was placing his things on an arctic camel. "Well, a new adventure awaits us."
"Yeah, looking forward to it?" Korra asked.
Sasuke smiled. "You know it."
"And with me coming along, I'll make sure to keep my eye on you." Sakura declared with a wink, making the Uchiha cringe.
Mako came over to Naga and set two bags on her sides.
"Didn't you say Bolin's coming too?" Sasuke asked.
"He said he'd be here, but I can't worry about it." Mako voiced. "I have to make sure Korra has everything she needs for a safe trip, and it's the same for you to."
"Thanks for that, Captain Expedition." Korra commented amusingly.
"I think we'll be fine." Sasuke stated. "A ninja always prepares himself before a mission."
"Still got your wits about you Sasuke." Kakashi eye smiled. "I'm glad."
Sasuke eye rolled.
"It's not like Sasuke needs to prepare all that much." Sakura declared. "He has me."
"What are you going to do?" Mako asked. "All I've seen from you is getting in his way."
"Well, can you do Medical Ninjutsu? Did you train under the Fifth Hokage?" Sakura asked smugly. "No, you didn't."
"Medical Ninjutsu is just healing." Korra scoffed. "I can do that with my Waterbending, and just as Tsunade is the greatest healer over there, I learned from the greatest over here."
"Aside from the fact I would prefer Korra healing me, why did you abandon your training?" Sasuke asked.
"To see you, of course." Sakura answered.
"Besides, healing isn't all we bring to the table." Kiba declared proudly. "You've probably forgotten, but I have a great sense of smell, just like my bud Akamaru here."
"I can plan for something when I need to." Shikamaru added.
"I am excellent at Taijutsu." Lee offered.
"I have the Byakugan and Gentle Fist." Neji commented.
"Mako can bend fire and Bolin can bend earth." Sasuke argued. "In addition to bending water and healing with it, Korra can bend earth, water, and air. Not to mention she has the Avatar State. Then, there's my master Utakata.
He's on his way to mastering Water Style, has his own unique Ninjutsu, and has something special as his trump card. I have Fire, Water, & Lightning Style Ninjutsu, the Sharingan, and my Curse Mark as a final resort."
"Sasuke…" Kakashi warned.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it." Sasuke waved him off. "'Treat us like your comrades and let us work with you', blah, blah, blah!"
"Sheesh, what's his issue?" Kiba asked.
"Probably you guys getting in the way, as usual." Korra retorted.
Kakashi sighed. "Clearly, spending time with you has given him a stubborn influence."
"I treated him like a little a brother, unlike Itachi." Korra argued.
Kakashi was stunned. "Wait, did he…"
"Yeah, he told us about how his clan was killed by his own brother, and he had no one who was genuinely there for him." Korra stated.
"I was." Kakashi argued.
"Were you?" Utakata asked. "The way he tells it, you only entered his life after he graduated the academy."
"What about the rest of US." Kiba voiced. "He's the one who left."
"What about the rest of you?" Utakata countered. "He's told us of his childhood, and while he didn't sound like the easiest child to get along with, I don't think anyone would be having gone through the things he did."
"Yeah, sounds like you all found it too hard to be there for him and eventually gave up trying…if any of you even tried to begin with." Mako added.
Just then, a motor was heard, cutting off conversation. They sw Tonraq driving up to them.
"Is Tonraq coming too?" Sasuke asked.
"I didn't invite him." Korra responded.
"Tonraq, what do you want?" Unalaq asked, unhappy to see him.
"I heard you're taking Korra to the South Pole." Tonraq crossed his arms. "I'm coming."
"Absolutely not." Unalaq declared. "You're a distraction to Korra, and a hindrance to what needs to be done."
"My daughter is not going without me." Tonraq argued firmly. "She needs someone to watch after her."
"Dad, why do you always think you know what's best for me?" Korra asked.
"Because he's your father." Kakashi answered. "It's what they do."
"No, it's because he's misguided." Unalaq retorted. "The sad truth is its men like your father who have put the Spirit World out of balance. He's ignored my warnings in the past and hasn't learned since."
Korra was shocked to hear this. "What happened in the past?"
"It doesn't matter." Tonraq voiced. "What matters is the Everstorm."
"Everstorm?" Mako asked.
"What's that?" Neji asked.
"It's a massive blizzard that has battered the South Pole for decades." Tonraq answered.
"Great, just what we need." Shikamaru muttered sarcastically.
Tonraq glared at his brother. "I'm coming, unless you think you can stop me."
Unalaq glared back.
"Guys, wait for me!" They turned to see Bolin arriving atop a snowmobile with an attached sidecar, and he was wearing a snowsuit with Varrick's logo on it. "Check it out! I'm traveling in style!" His elbow slipped making the snowmobile jerk. "Sorry, still getting used to the throttle."
"Where'd you get that?" Mako asked.
"I got it from Varrick!" Bolin replied.
"You mean that crazy rich man Asami had a business deal with?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, and he's awesome!" Bolin exclaimed. "He also gave me this fancy snowsuit! It's inflatable with an internal heater, emergency beacon, and food ration pouches! If I get lost, I can survive in this thing for like a month! Who wants to freeze dried cucumberquats?"
"Heck ya, I'll take one!" Kiba declared as he took and popped one in his mouth.
Korra sighed as she turned to her father. "Dad, come if you want, but don't interfere with my training." She looked to Mako. "Let's go."
"Right." Mako stated before moving to hop on his own camel yak.
Sasuke moved his arctic camel forward as Sakura attempted to get on. "Ride with someone else." Utakata had seen this and helped his student by hopping on his. "I got my riding partner sorted."
Sakura looked on sadly.
Eska approached Bolin. "Does this sidecar have the capacity for two passengers?"
"Sure does, but uh…who'd drive?"
Southern Tundra: Later…
Bolin was hunched over in disappointment with his hood over his head as both Eska and Desna rode in the side car.
Kiba came up alongside on his camel yak. "Well, what do you know?"
Mako came up on the other side. "Looks to me like…"
"Go away, Kiba and Mako." Bolin stated bitterly.
Korra approached her uncle. "Once we get to the South Pole, what happens?"
"You will open an ancient spirit portal." Unalaq answered.
"She'll open a what now?" Sasuke asked.
"At the South Pole, there is a portal that connects our world to the Spirit World, but it has been long closed." Unalaq responded.
"Interesting." Kakashi noted. "So, there's a portal that can connect humans and spirits."
"Is that why these evil spirits are attacking?" Sakura asked.
"Were you not paying attention?" Sasuke questioned annoyed. "The spirits are NOT evil."
Sakura was taken aback.
"You are right." Unalaq voiced. "They're not evil. There is light and dark in them all. When unbalanced, the darkness takes over."
"That's does not sound promising." Lee said.
"If you can open the portal in time, balance will be restored." Unalaq said.
"In time?" Neji asked.
"There's a reason the Glacier Spirits Festival ends on the Winter Solstice." Unalaq replied. "That's when the Spirit World and the Physical World are close together. Only then can the Avatar open the portal."
"The Winter Solstice is tomorrow." Korra noted.
"Exactly." Unalaq nodded. "We can't afford to wait another year."
Fog started rolling in as a dark spirit appeared in the distance and watched the group. Both Naga and Akamaru started growling.
"Easy, Naga." Korra soothed.
"You're okay, buddy." Kiba soothed.
The fog started clearing, and the same dark spirit was now joined by two more.
"What are those?" Bolin asked fearfully.
"Dark spirits." Korra noted worriedly."
The fog rolled in again to obscure them.
"Let's keep moving. We have to find a safe place to set up camp." Tonraq declared before driving away.
"Good idea." Kakashi agreed as they followed.
Cave: Night…
The group arrived at a cave where they tied up any mounts that needed to be and set about making the place cozy for the night. They now sat around a campfire eating dinner.
"Uncle, why do you think the dark spirits are following us?" Korra asked.
Bolin scooted closer to Eska. "Can we not talk about dark spirits, please?"
"The heck's wrong with him?" Kiba asked.
"My brother doesn't like ghost stories, for your information." Mako retorted.
"Whatever. I ain't scared of ghost stories." Kiba declared.
"Boo." Sasuke suddenly declared making the Inuzuka scream. "Yeah, not scared."
"Screw you." Kiba returned annoyed.
"Don't worry." Eska looked at Bolin and spoke with her usual monotone. "I'll protect you, my feeble turtle-duck."
"Thank you." Bolin said.
"Sadly, this isn't a ghost story." Unalaq stated. "This is real." He looked pointedly at Tonraq. "The spirits are angry because HE'S here."
"Hold on." Kakashi interjected. "I get you two don't see eye-to-eye, but I doubt Tonraq's the
reason why dark spirits are attacking us."
"That's because you don't know the entire story." Unalaq turned to his niece. "Haven't you ever wondered how your father ended up at the South Pole? Why he's never taken you to visit his homeland in the North?"
"Unalaq, this is not the time." Tonraq declared firmly.
"You're right." Unalaq agreed. "You should have told your daughter a long time ago."
"Told me what!?" Korra demanded, tired of all this skirting around the topic.
"Tonraq, just tell us what's really going on." Sasuke implored. "Why does your brother think the spirits are angry because of you?"
Tonraq sighed. "I left the North, because…I was banished."
Everyone was stunned.
"Banished?" Kakashi asked.
"Why were you banished from the North?" Korra asked.
"Because I almost destroyed the tribe…" Tonraq answered.
Flashback…
"Twenty years ago, I was a general in the Northern Water Tribe, sworn to protect my people."
A young Tonraq was standing before other soldiers, holding their weapons, ready for anything.
Then, Unalaq came galloping in. "Brother, we're being attacked!"
Tonraq charged back to the Northern Tribe which was being attacked by barbarians. One of them was about to attack a villager with his hammer before Tonraq bent a stream of water to knock him down. He and his fellow warriors proceeded to chase them out the city.
"I drove them into the frozen tundra and tracked them to an ancient forest. Many believed this was the home to spirits, and the barbarians retreated there because they thought we wouldn't attack within hallowed grounds. They thought wrong."
Tonraq and the other soldiers looked for any the barbarians and managed to find them behind the trees. He and his soldier turned snow into a wave of water and used it to wash away the barbarians.
"We captured the barbarians, but in the process, we destroyed the forest. I didn't realize the consequences of what I had done. By destroying the forest, I unknowingly let loose angry spirits. They threatened to destroy everything, the entire city."
At night, Tonraq was sleeping only to be awoken as he heard something. He rushed to his balcony and saw dark spirits were attacking the city. Tonraq rushed down to attack the spirits with water whisps, but they fought back with tentacles.
As Tonraq rose back to his feet, water surrounded the spirits and glowed. It was Unalaq's bending which he utilized to purify the dark spirits. He returned them the forest where they all disappeared.
"Unalaq was able to guide the spirits back to the forest, but by then, the damage had been done. For being the cause of all that devastation, my father banished me from the Northern Water Tribe in shame. That's when I came to the South and started a new life."
Cave: Present…
After the story, everyone was shocked.
"One mistake while trying to do something for your home, and you're punished for it." Kakashi voiced.
He couldn't help but be reminded of what his own father tried to do, and the price he ended up paying in the end.
"Whoa, so YOU were supposed to be Chief, but then HE became Chief." Bolin voiced. "No wonder you guys don't like each other." Sasuke and Mako both elbowed him. "Ow, isn't that what happened?"
"I can't believe you kept this from me." Korra said in disappointment.
"I was protecting you from the shame I brought on our family." Tonraq returned.
"Why do you keep hiding things from me and saying it's for my own protection?" Korra stood. "I'm tired of you protecting me!"
Korra walked off.
"Korra." Tonraq tried, but she didn't stop.
"You know, it's fine you want to protect Korra, but she's right." Sasuke stood. "Hiding
things never solves anything." He shook his head before walking on after her. "When will these lies end?"
"Sasuke." Sakura tried.
"Don't, Sakura." Kakashi warned. "I already know how Sasuke is when he's angry, but something tells me you don't want to get on Korra's bad side."
With Korra and Sasuke
Sasuke found Korra standing away from the cave with her arms crossed as she looked to the sky.
"Hey Korra." Sasuke voiced, getting her attention. "Mind if I join you?"
"By now, we know you usually cheer me us, so I'm kind of tempted to send you away." Korra admitted.
"Well, you took too long to decide." Sasuke came to stand next to her. "That said, I can get why you're mad. Not long before I left Konoha, I was looking for Kakashi. I happened to overhear them talking about this encounter they had with Itachi, and how I shouldn't know about it."
"Should have known those Shinobi would be willing to hide things from you." Korra stated. "So, you do see what I'm getting at?"
"There's a difference." Sasuke voiced. "While neither should be hiding things from us like that, Tonraq did his from a genuine place of love. For me, at least as far as it feels now, it seemed they were only concerned with ensuring the last, loyal Uchiha didn't die…Not Sasuke Uchiha."
"Sasuke…" Korra wrapped an arm around his shoulder in comfort. "Sometimes, I forget just how young you are. Do you really think Konoha only ever saw you as nothing more than the only Uchiha they had left?"
"You said it yourself." Sasuke shook his head. "After I lost my clan, no one was there for me." His mind did turn to a certain blond. "I suppose the only person that ever saw me for me was Naruto, but he didn't alleviate my loneliness either. Not in the ways you and the others have."
"You were alone all that time with things only changing after you got some arbitrary rank." Korra shook her head. "Even if you weren't the most receptive to other people, it still wasn't right it took that to see change in your life."
After she said that, the pair fell into a comfortable silence for a while as they were just together.
…
"Hey Korra…" Sasuke broached.
"Yeah Sasuke?" Korra asked.
"Senna was born in the South, right?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, she was born and lived here her whole life." Korra responded.
"In that case, even though Tonraq messed up, I'm glad he did." Sasuke voiced. "If he hadn't, the chances he'd have married Senna would have drastically lowered, and you might not be here now. Without you, I don't know what my time in Republic City would have been like."
"That's a good point Sasuke." Korra admitted as she hugged him closer. "Without dad messing up like he did, it's likely he'd have never met mom, and I just wouldn't exist."
Korra found she couldn't be angry with her father about the incident itself because it enabled her to exist with all these connections she's made. Perhaps, she wasn't even truly angry over his mistrust either. Maybe it was more in line with disappointed at his lack of trust in her.
Southern Air Temple
Tenzin and Jinora arrived within the room which contained the statues of the previous Avatars.
"Wow." Jinora was amazed. "The statue room."
"That's right Jinora, the most sacred place in the entire Southern AirTemple." Tenzin informed. "Here, you will find statues of EVERY Avatar who everlived." He looked around. "Where are your brother andsister?"
Meelo and Ikki rode behind Tenzin on their air scooters as they raced against each other.
"You can't catch me!" Meelo declared. "I'm the greatest air scooterer of all time!"
He tripped and crashed into a statue.
"Meelo!" Tenzin yelled while running for his son.
Jinora walked over to the statue of Aang, but as she looked at the statue, her eyes started dilating, and she suddenly looked behind her to see if anyone was there. All she saw was the hallway she'd walked in with her father.
Southern Tundra
The group continued their journey through the wilderness.
As they traveled, Tonraq rode up next to his daughter. "Korra, you have every right to be angry…"
"I'm not angry…not anymore." Korra admitted. "I'm disappointed in you for never feeling like you could trust me with the fact you were banished. It's just another example of how you don't seem to trust me with any information or to do anything right.
I'm the Avatar dad. It's my job to maintain balance within the world. Whether it be between people and other people or people and spirits. The thing is, Sasuke and Mako understand that and support me. Why can't you?"
"Korra, I do trust you to do what's right, but I can't trust Unalaq to guide you that way." Tonraq voiced sincerely. "How do you even know he's telling the truth?"
"You want proof?" Unalaq asked. "Look to the sky. Where I'm from, the spirits are at peace, and they light up in the dark."
"The Northern Lights." Korra said.
"Yes." Unalaq nodded. "There used to be lights in the South as well. During the Hundred Year War, the South was thrown out of balance, and the lights disappeared. When the war ended, the North helped rebuild you physically, but we have not rebuilt you spiritually. Now, the spirits no longer dance in your skies. Instead, they rampage in the Everstorm."
"That must be awful." Lee noted.
"This appears to be the Everstorm." Neji noted as they crested a cliff.
The Everstorm consisted of large clouds which emitted lightning and thunder roared. From here, the whole group continued towards the storm.
"I didn't think it'd be this cold." Sakura noted.
"Are you expecting a tropical island?" Sasuke asked incredulously.
"You know what…" Kiba began, frustrated.
"Okay, everyone calm down." Kakashi said sternly.
"What was that?" Lee asked, having heard something.
"Sounds to me like dark spirits are drawing closer." Utakata noted.
"We must keep moving." Unalaq ordered.
Immediately after he said this, the sounds of dark spirits grew ever louder.
"I'm not liking this…" Sakura said fearfully.
"Same." Bolin agreed just as scared.
"Stay calm." Kakashi stated.
"Yeah, there's no reason to…" Mako was cut off as a dark spirit rose from under him and took his supplies. "…panic!"
More dark spirits emerged from the snow, scaring the animals among the group as they go about taking supplies from the various mounts. Korra tried to control Naga, who was standing on her hind legs, but she lost it before ending up on the ground. A dark spirt came charging at her, but Tonraq got in the way while bending up an ice wall. The spirit moved around it.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan. "Korra, look out!"
The Uchiha threw multiple shuriken, which the spirit proceeded to dodge. Given he's already seen how agile they are, that was factored into this move. Each shuriken had wire attached to it. He held a cluster between each hand and one cluster in his mouth as he maneuvered the shuriken.
This maneuvered the wires in a way they quickly began to restrict the sprit. Now, there wasn't really a tree in sight to bind the spirit to, but he made do by completely binding the spirit. Even now, it contorted and began working to free itself.
Sasuke was quick to weave hand signs. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" A raging, powerful inferno raced down the wires and engulfed the spirit, making it cry out in agony. "Perhaps you aren't as impervious as we thought!"
Another dark spirit entered Bolin's snowmobile. "Oh, it's in the engine!"
Sasuke's Jutsu ceased, revealing a seared spirit with parts of it missing; however, that same purple energy seemed to be restoring it before said spirit took off. At this point, Bolin's engine exploded in smoke as the dark spirit exited. This sent the snowmobile out of control.
"Bolin!" Mako called.
Utakata threw three shuriken, Shikamaru threw explosive kunai, and Kakashi threw a fuma shuriken at the dark spirits. They dodge and one tried to attack but Lee who delivered a rapid series of punches followed by a spin kick.
Neji attacked with his Gentle Fists while Kiba used Tunneling Fang, but the dark spirits swatted at them. Back with Korra, Mako joined her, and they went about blasting fire at the spirits. Soon enough, Korra tried Unalaq's purification on one of the dark spirits.
This stunned the spirit, but it managed to fight it before pinning the Avatar to the ground. Before it or any other spirit could attack again, Unalaq purified them, making all the spirits leave. Sasuke then ran up to Korra.
"You okay?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah…" Korra answered as she stood.
"What about everyone else?" Mako asked.
They heard screaming.
"Apparently, not Bolin." Kiba noted.
Said Earthbender was still on his snowmobile. Desna and Eska were also there, though they didn't have any fear over the situation.
"I can't stop it!" Bolin screamed.
"I'll save you." Eska said.
She and Desna jumped out while talking Bolin with them, and the snowmobile crashed into a cliff where it exploded. The twins slid down to the group while Bolin's snowsuit inflated.
"I'm a raft!" Bolin declared.
"So, you're alright?" Sasuke asked, as he reached them.
"Yeah." Bolin answered. "Now, can someone deflate me please?" Shikamaru threw some kunai, deflating the suit. "Thank you."
Kakashi looked around and saw their destroyed supplies on the ground. "There goes our equipment."
"What are we supposed to do now?" Sakura asked.
"There's only one thing to do." Tonraq declared. "We have to turn back."
"No, the solstice is tonight, and we're so close." Unalaq said.
"This mission is too dangerous." Tonraq declared. "We're leaving."
"No, dad." Korra returned firmly. "You're leaving."
"Korra…" Kakashi tried.
"Stay out of this." Korra demanded before she turned to her father. "Unalaq was right; you are a hinderance to this mission." She turned away from him. "I think it's best you leave."
Tonraq looked down.
"Look, I'll stay with Korra, but maybe you should go home." Sasuke voiced.
"If that's what you want." Tonraq said as he got back on his snowmobile.
"I'll keep an eye on her for you." Sasuke assured.
"Thank you, Sasuke." Tonraq managed a small smiled. "I know I can always count on you."
"I'll do the same, sir." Mako said.
"Thank you, Mako." Tonraq offered his hand, and the Firebender shook it.
Sasuke walked to Korra. "I know you have issues with Tonraq now, but you should talk to him later."
"I guess." Korra sighed. "I just wish he started trusting me."
"This may not be any of my business, but I'm sure he does." Kakashi voiced. "He's just trying to look after you. He's your father. That's what they do. You are his only child, no matter how old you are."
"You raise some good points, but as a child becomes older, it is only naturally they'd want more trust from their parents." Utakata argued.
"Regardless of that, I know your feelings are hurt Korra, but staying mad at your father won't make things better." Sasuke voiced. "When this is over, tell him how you feel, like you
did with Tenzin."
"No wonder I sometimes forget just how old you really are." Korra smiled. "You're always so smart for your age. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Let's open this portal." Unalaq declared. "Then, we can lead your father and the entire Southern Water Tribe in the right direction."
Later…
Desna and Eska were given Mako's camel while what remained of the snowmobile was hitched to the back. They then continued their journey.
Korra looked to her boyfriend, who rode with her on Naga. "So, what were you, Sasuke, and my dad talking about?"
"He's just worried about you." Mako informed.
"I get that." Korra sighed. "I just…I just want his trust."
"Like Kakashi said, I'm sure he does." Mako said. "You also got to realize that the line between trust and concern for his daughter can blur considerably."
"In the end, we're all just doing our best to help you." Sasuke added. "You just have to trust we're here for you; otherwise, we wouldn't have come this far."
South Pole
"We have arrived." Unalaq said.
They came before a large forest of trees with frozen trunks and an eerie blue glow.
"Trees frozen in place." Korra said.
"It's just like the sacred forest Tonraq destroyed in the North." Unalaq said.
"So, what now?" Kakashi asked.
"Korra, must find her way to the heart of the forest, where the dormant spiritual portal lies." Unalaq responded. "From here, she's on her own."
"She can't go alone." Kiba said.
"Yeah! We go with her!" Bolin said.
"No, Unalaq's right." Mako voiced. "Sometimes, going alone can make someone stronger."
"Besides, she won't be alone." Sasuke added. "I'll be here in case she needs backup."
"Seriously?" Kiba asked.
"I trust Sasuke's words." Lee said.
"Very well." Neji nodded. "Good luck, Avatar."
"Yeah, try not to get lost." Shikamaru sighed. "It'll be a drag to come in after you."
"But I don't have any connection to the spirits." Korra voiced. "It seems like they hate me."
"You have to believe in yourself, just like I believe in you." Unalaq said.
"Believe in yourself, and you might succeed." Kakashi added with an eye smile.
"Let the past Avatars guide you." Unalaq stated. "Let them help you find the light in the dark."
So, Korra walked into the forest alone.
"Sasuke…" Sakura began.
"I know she'll be fine." Sasuke stated firmly.
"We all know she'll be fine." Utakata put a hand on his student's shoulder. "I know you have full faith in her as she does for you."
Ancient Forest
Korra arrived deep within the forest with an uncertain look. Then, two snake-like spirits came at her, and she started booking it. The spirits caught up and wrapped themselves around the Avatar. Another spirit attacked her, but she unleashed a blast of fire to blow it apart.
Korra then utilized Airbending to free herself before the snake spirits charged again. She made a wall of ice to separate them from her. This also put her within a space containing something glowing under the ice.
"The spirit portal." Korra noted.
Southern Air Temple
Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo were sleeping, but the former woke before walking the halls in a dazed state. She arrived at the statue room where she snapped out of it and came across the statue of an unknown Avatar.
"What Avatar is this?" Jinora asked.
Ancient Forest
"The light in the dark." Korra commented.
She started by delivering a punch at the frozen portal with Airbending, but that achieved nothing. She tried Firebending, only to receive the same result.
"Why isn't this opening?" Korra asked.
At that moment, multiple dark spirits appeared outside and attacked the roof.
"C'mon, portal, open!" Korra yelled, still bending at the portal.
The spirits merged into one and broke through the roof before grabbing the Avatar by her waist. She Firebent at the portal again, to no effect. As the spirits continued to restrain her, Korra entered the Avatar State and broke free.
The spirits grabbed her again as she tried to reach the portal. She just managed to touch it with her fingers causing an orange ring to spread out. The ground started to crack before a blast went off causing the spirits to vanish. Energy spread to dispel the Everstorm and left lights behind.
"The spirits dancing in the sky." Korra marveled.
Southern Air Temple
Jinora watched on in amazement as the statue before her glowed.
South Pole
Sasuke and the others watch the bright light emerging from the portal.
Mako smiled. "She did it."
Bolin rubbed his eye. "It's beautiful."
"I agree!" Lee said as tears flowed from his face.
Shikamaru shrugged. "It's not that special."
"Ah, shut up Shikamaru." Kiba retorted.
Unalaq grinned at the site.
Tonraq was speeding through the tundra when he looked up to see the lights. "She did it."
Korra then walked back out of the forest.
"Korra, you're back!" Bolin exclaimed as he ran up and hugged her.
Then an ice wall, curtesy of Eska, separated the two. "Why are you initiating physical contact with another woman?"
Bolin laughed.
"I knew you could do it." Sasuke said.
"Thanks for believing in me." Korra returned before then turning to Unalaq. "Everything you said was true."
"Avatar Korra, you have taken the first step in bringing balance back to the South." Unalaq stated. "Soon, you shall do the same for the world."
"You never cease to amaze me." Mako said, hugging the Avatar.
"Thanks." Korra stated. "I'm sorry for such a pain. Things were stressful and confusing. It's hard being the Avatar."
"Ah, no worries." Mako nudged her. "It was kind of nice giving out advice."
Sasuke smiled. "Besides, you always come around in the end."
Korra laughed good naturedly as she brought them both into a hug.
Southern Water Tribe: Next Day…
With the South Pole sorted out, it was a smooth path back to the Southern Water Tribe.
"I'd say that a successful mission." Kakashi said.
"Yeah, thanks for helping." Sasuke stated genuinely.
"You're thanking US?" Lee asked surprised.
"Well, if you guys are staying for a while, I should treat you like comrades." Sasuke admitted. "Still, don't get it twisted. Far as I'm concerned, my place is here in Bending Country."
"I'm proud of how you've grown, Sasuke." Kakashi thought.
"That looks an awful lot like troops arriving on a fleet." Utakata commented, tensely.
"Sensei?" Sasuke asked, walking over to join him, Korra, Mako, and Unalaq by a cliff.
Just as he said, there were Northern Troops marching forth from docking battleships.
"What's going on?" Sasuke asked, "Who are they?"
"Those are troops from the North." Korra informed.
"What are they doing here?" Utakata asked.
"Opening the spirit portal was only the first step in getting the Southern Water Tribe back on its righteous path." Unalaq answered. "There's more work to be done before our two tribes are truly united."
Sasuke and Korra shared uneasy looks.
"Something tells me this is not good." Lee said.
"You're not alone on that." Shikamaru added.
"Somehow, I knew something was off about Unalaq." Sasuke thought worriedly. "Whatever he's doing, nothing good will come of it."
I think the only thing to discuss is what Sasuke told Korra. Now, you may not agree with what was put there, and that's fine. It's simply how I see it. Compared to how the people he's found in the Elemental Nations treat him; I think Sasuke could see Konoha only valuing him as the last loyal Uchiha. Of course, Naruto is a prime example against this; however, their rivalry got in the way of Naruto being there for Sasuke in the way the people he's found do.
Essentially, Sasuke had no family to speak of. Yeah. Kakashi could be a stand in for his father; however, that doesn't change the fact that from the time Itachi killed the clan to the day Sasuke got his headband, Kakashi wasn't in that role. The fact that Kakashi only stepped into a pseudo role after Sasuke got the head band could see him not thinking that way.
Onetimejester (Ch. 4): Agree to disagree on power sailing, but it ultimately doesn't matter for this story. If I adhered to how, you/Flashking wanted it, do you know what would happen? Kumogakure, at bear minimum, would be sending Shinobi over to the Elemental Nations to abduct Benders with no fear of consequences. They already tried to take a 3-year-old Hinata, so this is not out of the question. If the average Shinobi stomps any Bender, then Shinobi Villages would milk the Elemental Nations for all they are worth.
Even Konoha would not be immune to this as Danzo would most certainly want a slice of the pie, and Orochimaru, weather still a Konoha Shinobi or already a rouge, would do the same. If anyone wants to write that story, be my guest, but it is not the story I am writing. I put things on the same Earth for a reason. If I wanted to portray Benders at the strength level you want, then I'd have gone for the classic send whatever character I'm using to the other world rather than setting it all on the same Earth.
At this point, I'm starting to think any and all crossovers I do need established ground rules on chapter one, just as I've done for Rising Succession. It'd certainly get everyone on the same page. Anyways, another issue here, as again they are on the same Earth, is that Sasuke would not even get close to his Shippuden level of strength if there is no challenge to be found on the Elemental Nations. Do you want a weak Sasuke?
As for your review on how you don't like this Sasuke, it is fair. He's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.
3bodyjaa: Thank you.
Abhishank: The Tailed Beast are going to be strong.