Zaofu: Morning…
With the morning, the metal domes opened. Team Uchiha Avatar and Utakata was eating breakfast with Suyin's family.
"Hey, has anyone seen Chief Beifong?" Mako asked, looking around.
"I think she's still sulking in her room." Korra answered bitterly
"I know she has a problem with me, but she had no right to yell at Opal." Suyin stated, upset.
"Tell me about it." Korra had filled Sasuke in on what happened, and he now turned to Opal. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Opal nodded, seeming just a touch meek from the event. "Thanks."
Wei and Wing ran into the room.
"All set for your disc game, guys?" Suyin asked.
"Yeah, all set to kick Wei's butt." Wing declared, picking an apple.
Wei took some other fruits. "I want to power disc your face!" He smacked his twin's stomach, making him choke on the apple, before looking at the Avatar. "Hey, you want to play with us?"
"Um, I don't think I'd be much competition since I can't Metalbend." Korra replied.
"Really?" Su asked. "Lin never offered to train you?"
"I guess I never thought to bring it up." Korra shook her head. "I was learning to Airbend, there was Pro-Bending, I got tied up fighting Equalists, and I was helping Sasuke back then."
"Then, we were busy dealing with dark spirits, and her deranged uncle who unleashed an evil spirit to become a Dark Avatar." Sasuke said.
"Well, it's probably for the best." Su smiled. "I'm sure Lin would be a horrible teacher." She and Korra shared a chuckle over that. "As the Avatar, you should have mastery over all the elements. I'd be happy to show you the basics."
"Really?" Korra was more than willing. "That would be great!"
"You should try it too, Bolin." Opal said.
"Uh, nah." Bolin brushed it off. "I'm more of an earth guy. The dirt, rocks, and maybe some light gavel. That's kind of where my heart is."
"Well, let me know if you change your mind." Suyin said.
Just then, Suyin's necklace began to pull, as well as the cutlery. It was followed by shaking and everyone had to duck as anything metal was stuck to a suit which entered the room. Someone took the helmet off, revealing Varrick.
"It worked!" Varrick declared. "Zhu Li, mark it down. Magnet suit test successful."
"You know what's also successful?" Sasuke snapped. "You ruining breakfast!"
"Sorry about that." Varrick stated. "Just testing this baby out. Power down." Zhu Li unplugged the suit, making everything drop on the floor. "On to phase two: Zhu Li cleans this mess up."
He then walked off, making Zhu Li hang her head.
"Don't worry, Zhu Li." Xiba entered the room. "I'll clean it."
Zhu Li smiled. "Thank you, Xiba."
"What do you want?" Sasuke asked. "Here to destroy the table?"
"Uh, no." Xiba answered. "I came to present my latest weapon." He held out a sheathe and removed a long, black blade. "Behold!"
"You do know the sword has already been made, right?" Mako asked.
"It's not just a sword." Xiba informed. "I made this out of platinum, meaning no Metalbender can break or control this."
"Sounds like an anti-bending weapon." Utakata noted.
"I'm not restricting it from anyone." Xiba defended. "If a Metalbender wants one, I'll make it. Considering everything, I'd like you to test this, Sasuke. Since I heard Su will be teaching Korra Metalbending, it could be the perfect time to test it."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're attempting to set me up to kill Korra." Sasuke voiced suspiciously.
"No, no! I told you I'm done with getting rid of Benders." Xiba stated. "I just wanted you to test this sword."
"I guess I'll use it." Sasuke relented.
"Awesome!" Xiba cheered.
"But it better NOT be used for evil!" Asami declared firmly.
"It won't." Xiba promised.
Streets
Lin found two guards leaning against a wall chatting.
"How many push-ups did you do last night?"
"What do you think you're doing!? Get back to work!" Lin commanded, before groaning in pain.
"Is everything all right?" Aiwei asked upon arrival.
"The Avatar and Sasuke are in danger, yet these knuckleheads are just standing around chit-chatting." Lin replied.
"Don't worry, Zaofu is the most secure city in the world." Aiwei assured.
"I'll be the judge of that." Lin retorted. "I'm going to check every inch of this place."
She attempted to walk off, but Aiwei blocked her way. "Lin, you do not have to work while you're here. You need to relax."
"I'm fine!" Lin exclaimed, only to groan again.
"It doesn't take a truth seer to know you're under a dangerous amount of stress." Aiwei informed. "If you don't deal with your suppressed feelings, there will be severe consequences to your health and job."
"I'm not interested in talking about my feelings." Lin stated.
"You won't have to say a word." Aiwei assured, as he gave her a card. "I know a great acupuncturist in town who will be able to help you."
Lin took it. "Hmm…"
Republic City: Vine Infestation
Itachi, Kisame, Sasori, and Deidara were searching for Zaheer.
"Where do you think this Zaheer could be?" Sasori asked. "If you ask me, searching for him is a waste of time."
"I saw him flying in the direction of this vine infested part of the city." Itachi looked at a nearby apartment critically. "He isn't far now."
Inside said apartment, Zaheer Ghazan, Ming-Hua, and P'Li were meeting.
"Seems like you made quite a stir on Air Temple Island." P'Li noted. "The cops are swarming the city looking for us."
"You still want to try and take out the President?" Ghazan asked.
"No, he'll have to wait." Zaheer declared. "We leave today."
"So, this is where you are." Itachi commented, entering the building.
"Itachi Uchiha." Zaheer said.
"Friend of yours?" Ming-Hua asked.
"We met yesterday." Zaheer replied. "He helped me escape from Air Temple Island." He looked at the Shinobi. "When I said let's meet again soon, I didn't expect THIS soon. Why are you here?"
"I am here on a mission, looking for Sasuke Uchiha." Itachi replied.
"Sasuke Uchiha, the new hero of Republic City?" Zaheer questioned. "Is there a relation between you two?"
"Sasuke is…my brother." Itachi answered. "I've been sent to assess whether he's a threat or asset to my faction."
"That's why you asked about him the other day." Zaheer noted. "Tell me, when you saved me from Kya, you said I was your lead. What did you mean?"
"After I asked about Sasuke, that woman said he's with the Avatar to find new Airbenders." Itachi reasoned. "Judging from when you asked about the Avatar, it's obvious you're after her."
"Smart boy." Zaheer noted.
"So, you're after that Uchiha kid and think going after the Avatar will help with that?" Ghazan asked. "Does that mean you're after the Avatar too?"
"No. Just Sasuke." Itachi replied. "This is the reason why I came looking for Zaheer. We're after two different people who are on the same side, so I propose an alliance."
"An alliance?" P'Li asked.
"I see." Zaheer nodded. "If we work together to find the Avatar and the Uchiha, it's killing two birds with one stone."
"Do you accept?" Itachi asked.
"Very well, Itachi." Zaheer agreed. "You helped me at Air Temple Island, so it's fair I do
the same now."
"Let's get one thing straight." Sasori voiced as he, Kisame, and Deidara entered the room. "We're not partners, and we're definitely not friends. We're just two groups going after two different people who happen to be at the same place."
"You've got some nerve saying that." Ming-Hua said.
"Watch who you're talking too, filthy bender!" Sasori yelled.
"Enough, Sasori." Itachi ordered, making the puppet master grunt.
"You're good at taking charge, huh?" Ghazan asked.
"Oh, shut up!" Deidara yelled. "No one asked you!"
"Deidara, behave." Itachi ordered, making him grunt as well.
"Then, it's settled." Zaheer offered his hand. "We're a team for now."
Itachi nodded and grasped the offered hand.
"Since they're not here in the city, and the police are looking for all of us, we need to leave as soon as possible." Kisame reasoned.
"Agreed." Zaheer said.
Republic City
The Shinobi and Benders looked down at the street, each of them spotting a good sized truck.
"There's our ticket out of here." Zaheer noted.
As the driver was lifting boxes into his truck, water suddenly wrapped his torso before he was pulled to Ming-Hua and Sasori, the latter holding a kunai dripping with poison up to his neck. Itachi, Zaheer, Kisame, and P'Li stood nearby while Deidara and Ghazan were keeping look out.
"There's no money!" The truck driver panicked. "I just made my last delivery!"
"We don't want money." Ming-Hua said.
"If you value your pitiful life, you'll do what we say." Sasori added.
Zaofu: Acupuncturist
Lin was led into a room and told to lay on the bed before the acupuncturist bent needles out of a tray. "How many of those things are you going to stick in me?"
"I'll be placing several needles on each of your acu-points." He lowered needles to her. "There's nothing to be scared of."
"I'm not afraid of needles!" She snapped.
"Please, close your eyes and take a deep breath." The acupuncturist stated, with Lin doing so. "This process corrects an imbalance in your chi. Please, tell me if you feel any pain or pressure."
"I can't feel a thing." Lin retorted.
"That's unusual." The acupuncturist noted. "Your chi must be powerfully blocked. We're going to need more needles." He added just that. "Acupuncture often taps into people's buried memories. Such things can sometimes be difficult to process."
"Buried memories. Uh-huh." Lin retorted as the needle touched her forehead.
Flashback
A teenage Suyin was relaxing in a living room with two teenage boys as a door opened to reveal a younger Lin. "Su, what are you doing home?"
"Wow, you almost look like a real cop." Suyin joked.
"You're supposed to be in school." Lin retorted.
"Oh, no." Su mocked. "Are you going to tell Mom on me? It's not like she'll care."
"Where'd you get all that stuff?" Lin asked one of the boys who rummaged inside a backpack.
"Oh, it fell off the back of a truck."
"What are you doing hanging out with these losers?" Lin asked.
"They're my friends, and you have no right to call them that!" Suyin snapped. "C'mon, guys. Let's get out of here."
They started to leave until Lin placed her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Su, stop."
"Get your hands off me!" Suyin snapped, slapping Lin's hand off her.
"You have so much potential, yet you squander it by ruining your life!" Lin argued.
"At least I HAVE a life!" Suyin exclaimed before leaving.
Courtyard: Present…
Korra and Su were in the courtyard, which had many meteorites.
Suyin picked one up. "These meteorites are perfect for beginning Metalbenders. They have a unique property which makes them easier to bend."
She broke off a piece of the meteorite and started bending it into a star shape before then making it into a diamond.
"That's amazing." Korra marveled.
"Here, try it." Suyin offered, tossing a piece to the Avatar.
"Okay." Korra stated.
She started concentrating for a while, but it wasn't doing anything. Then, they heard a noise which turned out to be Bolin watching from behind a large rock.
"Bolin, is that you?" Korra asked.
"No." Bolin responded.
"What are you doing?" Korra asked.
Bolin came out of hiding. "Oh, hey, ladies! Just, uh I was looking for Pabu."
"He's on your shoulder." Korra pointed out, half amused.
"Oh, there you are!" Bolin stated. "You know, I thought something was chewing on my ear. Probably need to get a shot. Pabu has sort of a…venom. Anyways, what're you ladies doing? You Metalbending over here or something?"
"Want to give it a shot?" Suyin asked.
"Nah, it's okay." The Earthbender waved it off. "I mean, only one Earthbender in a hundred can Metalbend."
"Don't believe everything you hear." Su voiced. "The only thing limiting you is your attitude."
"Well, maybe I'll just…stay and watch." Bolin said, bending a rock to sit on.
"Korra, try to focus on the fine pieces of earth within the metal." Suyin instructed.
Korra did just that and managed to change the shape of the meteorite. "I can't believe it! I'm Metalbending!"
"Wow, you picked that up quick." Bolin voiced downcast. "Guess you're that on in a hundred."
"Great job, Korra." Suyin said.
Unknown to them, Sasuke and Xiba were hidden behind a rock.
"Okay, you ready?" Xiba asked.
"Let's just get started." Sasuke said.
Sasuke lept out from behind the rock and charged the Avatar, who turned to see him wielding a sword. She tried to bend it, but nothing happened to the point she had to back flip to dodge. Though, the Uchiha clearly managed to halt the sword well from where Korra would have been.
"Is that the platinum sword Xiba made?" Korra asked.
"It is." Sasuke replied.
"Looks like it's a success." Xiba smiled as he came out of hiding. "It's unbendable."
"Guess that sword is something else." Korra noted.
"It is." Xiba nodded before turning to the Uchiha. "Since I can now make more, and as a thank you for the assistance, I'd like you to keep it, Sasuke."
"Alright, I'll take it." Sasuke accepted, liking the feel of this weapon.
Lin's Flashback
Young Lin was driving a police carriage.
"Calling all units. Robbery reported on the corner of 5th and Harbor. The suspect's vehicle headed south on Hallow Boulevard. Units responding identify."
"Unit three responding." Lin replied over the radio.
The criminal's carriage drove by, so she quickly turned before getting into a pursuit. Eventually, Lin fired a cable at one of the wheels and ripped it off making the carriage swerve to the stop. Two people came out and tried to escape; however, Lin trapped them with her cables.
"Leave them alone!" Suyin called out, as she stepped out.
"Su?" Lin asked shocked.
Acupuncturist: Present…
Lin opened her eyes and sat up with a gasp while inadvertently Metalbending the needles out of her body. She then breathed deeply and was drenched before beginning to leave.
"Wait! Leaving in the middle of a session could make you sick!" The acupuncturist warned.
"I'm done here." Lin returned, walking out.
Republic City: Bridge
"Good afternoon, sir." A metal cop had gone up to the same truck the four Akatsuki and Red Lotus members were hiding in before conversing with the driver. "Where are you off to today?"
"I, uh, got a delivery to make in Bao Yu." The driver attempted to keep his cool, even as Ming-Hua and Sasori were behind him.
"Are you alright?" The metal cop asked.
"Yeah, just a little tired." The driver replied. "One more pick-up before I clock out."
The metal cop narrowed his eyes. "I thought you said you had a delivery."
"Did I?" The driver asked nervously.
"Stupid." Sasori muttered.
"I need you to step out of the vehicle and open the back of the truck." The Metal cop said.
The driver stepped out, only to then run away screaming while another cop chased him. The first metal cop opened the back of the truck and was immediately blasted by Zaheer's Airbending.
"Let's get out of here!" Itachi declared.
Ming-Hua drove the truck while the police chased after them in five trucks. P'Li used her Combustionbending to blow up two of them, Deidara got two more with insect sized clay explosives, and Sasori handled the last with a barrage of shuriken aimed at the tires. Ghazan then used Lavabending to block off the road.
Zaofu: Lin's Guesthouse
Lin was in her guesthouse when the door opened, and she saw Young Suyin. "Are you going to stay in your room feeling sorry for yourself all day? You owe Opal an apology for how you treated her last night." Lin closed her eyes and opened them, only to reveal it'd been Korra. "Are you okay? You don't look good."
"I'm fine." Lin snapped before walking out.
Courtyard
Bolin snuck back into the courtyard where he took one of the meteorites and tried to bend it.
"Hey, Bolin." Opal soon called out from behind the Earthbender.
"Opal! Oh, wow." Bolin covered, attempting to hide the meteorite. "You really know how to sneak up on someone."
"What are you doing?" Opal asked.
"Oh, nothing." Bolin lied. "You know, just…thinking about my body and mustaches that I might have in the future."
The meteorite fell.
"You're acting weird again." Opal noted.
"Sorry." Bolin sighed. "I wasn't really thinking about mustaches. I'm just frustrated. I've been trying to Metalbend, yet I can't figure it out. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Why not?" Opal asked.
"Because it's embarrassing." Bolin answered. "This isn't the first time I've tried. I've been wanting to Metalbend ever since I heard about Toph. Your grandmother is my biggest hero."
"My mom grew up learning from Toph." Opal informed. "Just go train with her. Stop being scared."
"You know what, maybe I am scared, but what about you?" Bolin asked. "I know you want to go to the Northern Air Temple to train with Tenzin, yet you haven't done it because you're afraid too."
"You know what, you're right." Opal admitted. "I don't want to leave my family and disappoint my mom."
"Look at us talking about our feelings and supporting each other." Bolin said.
"It's nice." Opal returned, as they hugged.
Acupuncturist
Lin returned to the acupuncturist's office. "What did you do to me?"
"I tried to warn you." The acupuncturist came over to help her. "Come with me. Let's finish the session." He placed Lin back on the bed and put the needle back on her forehead. "Just relax and breathe."
Flashback
"So, you're robbing stores with the Terra Triad now?" Lin asked.
"I didn't steal anything." Su defended. "I just drove the car since I owed my friends a favor. It's not a big deal."
"I'm not letting you get away with this." Lin voiced firmly.
"Oh, what are you going to do, Officer?" Su questioned mockingly. "Arrest me?"
She attempted to walk off.
"Don't even think about taking one more step!" Lin warned.
Su stopped for a moment before deciding to keep walking. Lin bent one of her cables and latched it to her sister, who in turn broke it off with her knife. This saw the cable lash back and slash the older sibling across the cheek.
Acupuncturist: Present…
Lin was back to sweating as memories just kept coming.
Flashback
Lin and Su are in Toph's office, glaring at each other, while their mother paced before them.
"What were you thinking?" Toph asked Suyin. "And what were YOU thinking?" She then referred to Lin before addressing them both. "You two have put me in an impossible position."
"You're mad at me?" Lin asked, offended. "She's the one running around with criminals."
"This is your fault!" Su yelled.
"I was doing my job!" Lin yelled back.
"Enough!" Toph shouted. "Here's what we're going to do. Su, you need to leave the city as soon as possible."
"What!?" Su exclaimed. "Where am I supposed to go!?"
"You'll go stay with your grandparents." Topher declared. "Lin, give me the arrest report."
Lin did just that, only to be shocked as her mother ripped it up. "Mom, what are you doing?! You can't cover this up! There were witnesses!"
"I'm the Chief of Police!" Topher declared. "I can't have a daughter in jail!"
"So, once again, Suyin gets to do whatever she wants with no consequences." Lin stated.
Toph sat and put her hands on her face. "This is our only option."
Acupuncturist: Present
The acupuncturist removed the needles. "You're going to feel a bit fragile, so it's best for you to take it easy."
"I don't need to rest." She sat up. "I need to do something I should've done long ago."
Courtyard
Korra and Su were back to practicing Metalbending while Sasuke was nearby training with his new platinum sword. While he had no formal training with the blade, he understood how to use a kunai, and Jinora had shown him a bit on how to wield a staff to the point he could manage.
"Congratulations, you're the first Metalbending Avatar." Su declared.
"You'd think Aang would've been the first since he travelled with the person who discovered it." Sasuke commented.
Just then, Bolin came to them. "So, um, I've been thinking. and I'd like to try to learn Metalbending. I mean, I'm sure you have a waiting list or something of a couple years so…"
"Let's get started." Suy interrupted, smiling.
Suddenly, the ground cracked beneath them, and they turned to see an angry Lin.
"I think Lin's mad about something." Bolin whispered to Korra and Sasuke.
"Gee, ya think?" Sasuke asked sarcastically.
"Su, it's time to talk." Lin declared.
"After thirty years, you're finally ready to talk?" Suyin asked.
"When we were in mom's office that day, you could have taken responsibility for what you did." Lin voiced. "Instead, you stayed quiet and let mom throw her whole career away."
"Mom didn't throw her career away." Su argued. "She retired the next year as a hero."
"You think she WANTED to retire?" Lin asked. "She was guilt-ridden about what she did to protect you, to the point she didn't feel worthy of her badge."
"Look, I admit I was not a perfect kid." Su stated. "I've made some mistakes in the past, but…"
Lin scoffed. "You made SOME mistakes?"
"Lin, mom and I already talked about this years ago and worked things out." Su retorted. "If you had gotten together with us like we'd ask, you would know I'm a different person now. I've been a different person for a long time."
"You think just because you live in a big fancy house, with a chef who cooks you fancy food, you're a different person?" Lin asked. "Maybe you could fool everyone else, but you can't fool me. I see right through you."
"You know what Lin, you're the one who hasn't changed." Su returned. "You're still a bitter loner who only cares about herself. No wonder Tenzin ended things with you years ago."
Lin bent a rock and threw it at Su, who smashed it with her Earthbending. "Okay, I guess this is how it's going to be."
Suyin bent a fissure to trip Lin before hurling one of the nearby meteorites into her gut. Lin got up and Earthbent a staircase while Suyin Metalbent a panel at her sister, who dodged it with a backflip. She then Earthbent many fragments of small rocks at her sister, who weaved through.
"Should we stop them?" Korra asked.
"You obviously don't have siblings." Bolin commented. "Fighting is part of the healing process."
"Not with Itachi and I but whatever." Sasuke said.
Utakata ended up arriving with Suyin's family.
"Go, Mom!" Wei cheered.
Lin Metalbent Huan's Harmonic Convergence sculpture at Su, who in turn Metalbent it away and ended up smashing it against a wall.
"My sculpture!" Huan ran to it before taking a closer look. "Actually, it looks better."
Suyin Metalbent three panels towards Lin, who managed to deflect them before Earthbending a large boulder, but Suyin curled a part of the metal wall to shield herself. She then curled out another section to smash Lin into the pavilion.
"You got it out of your system yet?" Suyin asked.
"Not yet!" Lin yelled back.
She Earthbent part of the staircase at Su, who, in turn, Earthbent a boulder from the ground.
"That's enough." Sasuke declared, rushing in.
The sister's charged, only for Sasuke and Opal, who also came in, to get between them. The former threw kunai infused with enough lightning to break apart Lin's staircase while Opal blew the boulder her mother had away with Airbending.
"This fight is over!" Sasuke berated.
"I agree." Opal stated. "What are you two doing!? You're sisters! Why would you want to hurt each other!?"
Lin and Suyin were both breathing heavily before the former suddenly fainted.
Utakata rushed in to catch her. "She just passed out." He looked to everyone before walking off. "I'll take her to her guesthouse."
Lin's Guesthouse, Next Day…
Sasuke, Korra, Mako, and Bolin were standing outside Lin's room.
"So, who's going to knock?" Korra asked, pushing Bolin to the door.
"No, no, no, no, no, no! Not me!" Bolin freaked, backing up. "You're the Avatar. Why can't you do it?"
"I can, but…" Korra stopped.
"I'll do it." Sasuke sighed before walking up to the door and pounding on it. "Lin, you've been asleep for sixteen hours. Get up!"
At that moment, the door opened to reveal Lin in Zaofu attire. "Good morning."
She walked past them, her good mood a rather strange sight for all of them.
"Okay…?" Mako voiced, confused.
Dining Room
Lin was seated as she received a drink from the chef. "What's this?"
"I call it the kalenutsco." The chef said. "It's a mixture of kale, coconut water, and walnuts."
Lin took a sip before downing the whole thing. "Not bad." She then spotted Opal standing outside the doorway before starting to leave. "Opal, don't go. Please, sit. I want to talk to you." Opal entered the room and sat with her aunt. "Look, I'm just not really comfortable talking about these kinds of things and…well, I wanted to say I'm sorry about the other night."
"It's okay." Opal said.
"Your mother and I have…a complicated relationship and…" Lin tried.
"It's probably difficult for you to be here." Opal interrupted.
"You're a smart young woman, and an excellent Airbender." Lin voiced. "I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to train with the other Airbenders at the Northern Air Temple."
"There's a part of me that wants to go, but…I don't want to upset my mom." Opal said.
"When I was younger, all I wanted to do was please my mother." Lin informed. "I become a police chief because I thought it would make her happy, but it didn't. You need to make your decisions based on what you want. Don't make the same mistakes I did."
Opal smiled and hugged Lin, who returned the gesture.
Suyin's Office
Su and Baatar were having tea when Opal entered."Mom, Dad, can I talk to you…?"
Zaofu: Later…
Lin looked at a statue of Toph when Suyin joined her. "Opal has decided to go to the Northern Air Temple. I guess you had something to do with her decision."
"Well, I was just…" Lin tried.
"It's okay." Su interrupted. "I'm glad she was honest with me. I want her to do what makes her happy. Mom gave us too much freedom, but I feel like I made the mistake of giving Opal too little.
I think it's about time I let her choose her own way. I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time when we were younger. I can't imagine what my life would've been like if Mom hadn't sent me away, if I stayed in the city."
"You would probably be in prison." Lin stated flatly.
"You're probably right." Su laughed a little. "Mako told me you're an excellent police chief. Republic City is lucky to have you, and I know mom is proud. Can we move on? I'd love for you to be part of my life again. There's plenty of space in the house, and the kids would love having their aunt around. I also need a new co-director for my dance performances."
"Whoa, slow down." Lin interjected. "How about for now, I just promise not to show up at your house and attack you again?"
"Deal." Su voiced, as they shook hands.
"Well, they made up." Sasuke had watched them from afar before turning his gaze skyward. "Sibling relationships are a complex thing. Isn't that right, Itachi?"
Forest
Itachi was staring at the sky himself before going to join Kisame, Sasori, Deidara, Zaheer, Ming-Hua, Ghazan, and P'Li at the camp fire.
"We should've grabbed one of the cops." Sasori said.
"Agreed." Ming-Hua nodded. "Maybe they know something about where the Avatar and that Uchiha kid are hiding."
"They could be anywhere." Ghazan said.
"The world's too big!" Deidara complained. "We'll have to turn this damn country upside-down to find those punks!"
"Relax. It's just a matter of time until we find them." P'Li said, looking at her boyfriend who is meditating nearby.
"The Avatar is with the Metal Clan." Zaheer said.
"The what?" Deidara asked.
"A clan of Metalbenders, eh?" Kisame grinned. "Interesting."
"There's no time to waste." Itachi declared.
Plains
Orochimaru and Kabuto were walking along a dirt path.
"Where do you think Sasuke could be hiding now?" Kabuto asked.
"Don't worry." Orochimaru smiled. "Before they left, I managed to place a tracking device without them knowing."
Flashback
As Jinora blew back the snake he sent their way, a second snake, traveling within the first's shadow, just managed to get under the air current that was produced. It then managed to plant the device on Sasuke before they got on Oogi.
Present
"According to my tracking device, he's with the Metal Clan of Zaofu." Orochimaru said.
"Zaofu, huh?" Kabuto noted. "I heard it's a secure place, so how can we get in?"
Orochimaru smirked evilly. "I always have a plan, Kabuto."
alwynonlinereading: Yep
WindyPeanuts: Thank you. The krew does give Sasuke something he was missing all thid time.