A/N: Apologies for the delay, one of my supervisor's quit at my workplace, and it has been a pain in the ass getting everything reorganized. I meant to get this and 'Enter the Spider-verse' done sooner, but well... as already mentioned I was delayed. Currently trying to get back on track. Thank you for your patience. If you are willing, please check out my Pa tre on page.
Please note: All written chapters are available to the public. Comic pages will be available to Patrons. I hope you understand, and thank you all for everything.
Special thanks to Midnight Lost, my Soundboard, Beta Reader, and friend. Additional thanks to Ryo-Art26 AKA Fanreader26 for his hard work and assistance in this collaboration.
Chapter Three: Lessons.
Naruto hummed quietly to himself as he rolled a Pai Sho tile across his knuckles as he pondered his next move. He wondered if he should make an aggressive move, or try to be more conservative and begin setting up his defenses. He glanced over his teacher's pieces, trying to guess his teacher's own strategy. Was the aged monk planning to flank him or box him in? He looked up at Gyatso who seemed to be in quiet meditation as he patiently waited for the Uzumaki to make his move.
Before the whiskered teen could decide on his next move, the aged Monk spoke "I believe that we should pause this game for now. We must move on to other lessons." Gyatso then placed a small sign in the center of the board that said 'Please do not touch.' The Jinchuuriki blinked his eyes a few times and briefly wondered how long they had been playing. Two hours? Three? Maybe more? Regardless, he knew that his teacher was right, they couldn't sit around playing Pai Sho all day. Though it begged the question, what was the next lesson to be?
"We shall continue our game tomorrow. Follow me please." Gyatso instructed as he stood up, his hands hidden in the sleeves of his robes as he walked away from the board with the whiskered teen setting his tile down, he the took a few steps before turning around and staring at the board once more. He furrowed his brows as he continued to think about the best move he should make.
"Come along, Naruto." His teacher called out, getting the Jinchuuriki's attention.
Naruto looked over his shoulder at the aged before he grumbled about how he could not think of his next move before he ran after the monk who would lead them to where they would start his next lesson.
They exited the courtyard where they held their game and approached a tall mountain spire that stretched so high into the sky that it touched the clouds. He glanced at the stairs that had been carved into the stone that ascended up and up, around and around in a neat spiral around the towering spire.
"Now then, young Naruto, I wish for you to ascend the spire, as quickly as you can, as high as you can." Gyatso instructed, gesturing towards the stairs. The whiskered teen didn't really understand the purpose of this or how it correlated with Air Bending, but it seemed straightforward enough, so he simply nodded and obeyed as he began jogging up the stone steps as he climbed the spire.
He jogged up the steps, climbing two or three at a time to try and reach the top as quickly as possible. His footfalls seemed to echo off the steps as he ascended, up and up he went, the surroundings of the Bending Camp below, slowly shrinking as he continued to climb.
Every so often he passed by a platform that stretched out from the spire, that he supposed was meant to be used for meditation. Each platform was a uniform size that looked as if it could fit about ten or so people comfortably, maybe more if they didn't mind squeezing together.
He continued on, still jogging up the steps as he was determined to reach the top on the first try to impress his new teacher... or so he originally planned. As he climbed higher, he felt himself becoming short of breath, his lungs burning, and he also began to feel nauseous and dizzy.
He had to force himself to avoid looking down at the ground far below him, and risk further aggravating his nausea. Most fortunately, he was coming upon one of the meditation platforms, which would allow him to take a breather and get his second wind.
He quickly hopped onto said platform and sat down in a lotus position as he tried to catch his breath. It was strange, he could easily run circles around most Chunin after one of his pranks, so why was he feeling so winded now? He couldn't be out of shape, could he?
A shadow then passed over him as he looked up and saw the form of his teacher riding on the back of his Sky Bison, a knowing smile gracing the monk's lips as he asked "Thought you could make it to the top in one shot, did you? I don't suppose you have ever heard of altitude sickness?"
The Uzumaki's eyes widened slightly in realization, now understanding why he was suddenly feeling sick. He had never climbed so high before, and his body wasn't used to the lower oxygen and change in air pressure, hence his current state.
Now he understood why he needed to climb this spire, it was to help get his body used to the higher altitude before he learned to fly with the aid of a glider staff. Such a simple but clever exercise. "Ah. I have, though I admit, I certainly didn't take it into account when I began climbing the steps." The Jinchuuriki responded while scratching at his cheek with a lone finger.
He then recalled that most Air Nomads made their homes and temples high in the mountains, such altitudes would mean nothing to someone like Gyatso. No doubt this Spire was built to help people like him get used to being so high up before learning to use one of the Air Nomad's signature Gliders. The last thing anyone would want would be to suddenly get air sick and lose control, or perhaps worse, pass out in mid-flight. He briefly wondered how the Spire was built to begin with, but quickly came to the conclusion that Earth Bending must have been involved.
The aged monk leapt from the Saddle of his Bison with the great beast floating away from the mountain spire, likely to find something to eat. Gyatso then sat across from the whiskered teen and set down two kettles and a pair of cups, he gave one cup to Naruto and filled it with water from one of the kettles. He then produced a small box from his robes and opened it, revealing that it was filled with plain salted crackers and then gave it to his student as he spoke "Water and crackers. My quick fix for altitude training. It'll help you feel better."
The Jinchuuriki accepted the proffered snack and took a bite, then a sip from his cup. His teacher was right, his nausea was beginning to subside and he was feeling a little better already. "Much obliged." The Uzumaki spoke gratefully, with his teacher smiling warmly at him.
The mustached Monk gave his student a minute or two to catch his breath and get over his nausea. The whiskered teen seemed like he wanted to continue ascending the Spire but was stopped when his teacher spoke "I do not think it wise for you to continue climbing any higher. Your body isn't used to such heights, and attempting to force yourself before you are ready could prove dangerous. I admire your drive, but you must learn patience and to pace yourself."
"In my head, I kind of know that... but I was hoping that I could... I don't know... prove myself to you." The whiskered teen explained, earning a soft chuckle and whimsical smile from his teacher.
"You have nothing that you need to prove to me. You are here to learn, I am here to teach. Speaking of which... I think it is time for another lesson. You must learn the true essence of the Elements." Gyatso stated at end as he adopted the lotus position and closed his eyes, taking on a meditative pose as he hid his hands in his sleeves.
"The true essence? What do you mean?" The blonde questioned, wondering what his teacher was talking about.
"Try to breathe deeply, young Naruto. Let the air fill your lungs. Feel them expand and contract as you inhale and exhale. Breathe slowly and focus on the flow of the air as it moves throughout your body." The Monk spoke, his voice low and soothing as his pupil listened to his words. The whiskered teen didn't fully understand at first, but did as he was told, as he tried to slowly breathe in and out.
"Whether we know it or not, all of the Elements are connected, forming a sort of circle of life. The waters of the earth help create clouds which are carried on the winds to create rain. The rainfall helps give life to all the things that grow within the Earth, such as the trees, which in turn give us the air we breathe. The earth we stand on, gives all living things a foundation from which to grow. Fire gives us warmth and life as well by allowing us to cook meals to fill our bellies, and when necessary, burns away the old to make way for the new." The monk explained in a soothing tone.
"All four elements work together in relative harmony, thus forming a natural balance, the balance between the elements is vital, and without it, life could not exist. All things have a part to play, and none are more important than the other. When the balance is disrupted and things begin to run out of control, then disaster is sure to follow." Gyatso continued his lecture, with the Uzumaki slowly absorbing his teacher's words.
"I kind of understand what you're saying... but isn't Fire considered the most destructive element?" The Uzumaki questioned, with his teacher thoughtfully stroking his mustache.
"All of the Elements are capable of great destruction. Tsunamis, Great Earthquakes and Hurricanes are all different forms of destruction from the other Elements, no? Fire is erroneously attributed as the most destructive because it is the most volatile, and perhaps the easiest element to abuse and cause harm to others. Even so, it does not matter what Element a Bender uses, all of them are capable of great good and evil depending on the desires and intentions of the user. Much in the same way as a knife can be used as a tool to aid or be used as a weapon to harm." Gyatso explained in a slightly more stern tone of voice.
The whiskered teen nodded slowly as he processed these words. So that is what Monk Gyatso meant by the 'True Essence' of the Elements; by learning and deepening one's knowledge and understanding of the Four Elements in their purest form and their place in the world, one would be able to further master their own bending... though that did beg another question...
"I see. That makes a lot of sense. Given what you have told me, I understand how the Elements themselves fit into the world... but if 'everything is connected' as you say, then how do human beings fit into everything? What is our place in the grand scheme of things?" Naruto asked, his question making his teacher smile a bit.
"That is a rather complicated question, isn't it? We humans are, after all, complicated creatures. I suppose that ultimately, it is up to the individual to determine their place in the world. Me for my part, I knew that long ago, that I was meant to be a teacher.
A guide for my students, to help them learn the Bending arts, to learn about the world, about the Elements, about life, and in some cases, about themselves. You, Naruto, have already determined your path to be that of a Shinobi, where your path leads you, I cannot say, but one thing I do know, is that you do not have to be a perfect Shinobi... you just need to be a good man." The aged monk answered, earning a small smile from the whiskered teen.
He didn't think that he could be a 'perfect' Shinobi, he didn't have the same talents or advantages as many others... but a good man? He could certainly try. He would certainly do his best to live up to his teacher's faith. "Thank you, Sensei. I'm curious, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to... but how old are you exactly?" The Jinchuuriki asked at the end since that was a question that had been nagging at him for a while.
"Oh-ho-ho. That is something that many students have asked me. Truthfully, I have long since stopped counting the years. I can say, with confidence, that I am one of the few remaining people in the world that still vividly remembers the horrors of the Clan Wars before the founding of the Shinobi Nations and have lived to see the formation of the Nations themselves, most especially Konoha, through both the good and bad times." The aged Monk answered with a look of reminiscing on his face.
"Did you know the Hokages, Avatar Kyoshi, or Madara?" The blonde asked, wondering if his teacher had personally interacted with the founders of Konoha. Given that the man had lived for so long, the Uzumaki was certain that his sensei had to have met them at some point or other.
"I did indeed meet them all, back during the days when the village was being built, taking its first steps towards a more peaceful, or should I say, less savage era. However, I can count the number of times I met each of the Hokages on a single hand, and Madara I only met once, but even then I immediately sensed the darkness that lurked within him.
I had very little to do with the formation of Konoha as I distanced myself as far as possible from the realm of politics and focused on teaching my students. I had the privilege of knowing Avatar Kyoshi who helped build the Bending Camp; this Spire we are on now? She built it herself. Good woman, that one, a very strong bender." Gyatso stated with a nostalgic expression.
"What was Avatar Kyoshi like? Most books I have ever read about her, often talked about her prowess in battle or how she contributed to Konoha's founding, but they never specified how exactly." Naruto questioned, hoping to learn more about the famed Avatar that helped build the village he lived in.
"Ah yes. Kyoshi was a somewhat complicated woman, like you, she was an orphan and grew up in a life of many hardships, most unfortunately, those hardships took place during the Clan Wars. I do not know the whole story, but to my knowledge, Kyoshi befriended the Senju brothers fairly early on, early enough to know all four of the brothers." Gyatso stated, with his words prompting the whiskered teen to raise an eyebrow in confusion.
"All four? I thought there were only two. Hashirama and Tobirama." Naruto questioned since the Shodaime and Nidaime respectively were often referred to as the Senju brothers, and there was no mention in history about there being any additional brothers.
"Yes, four of them. The other two, whose names I do not know, both tragically died during the course of the Clan Wars. From what I was told, they both died very, very young. Their deaths hit the surviving brothers and Kyoshi rather hard.
Later on, when the Uchiha's and Senju's finally declared a ceasefire, Kyoshi often served as a mediator between them and the various other clan's during the formation of Konoha and helped keep the peace. She helped found this very camp so that Benders could learn the Bending arts in relative peace and harmony.
As the village grew and began to form, politics became more and more prevalent as Konoha's government began to take shape. I think that Kyoshi became increasingly incensed and exhausted by the ongoing rivalry of the Senju and Uchiha Clan's and the Hokage's policies.
I think the final straw that broke the proverbial Bison's back was when Hashirama and Madara had their legendary duel at what is now known as the Valley of the End. I don't know the reasoning, but not long after she had some sort of falling out with the Nidaime, and then disappeared entirely. What became of her after, I cannot say. A deep shame too." Gyatso spoke, an obvious lingering tone of sadness in his voice.
"Something must have gone wrong somewhere down the way that prompted her to leave." Naruto mused with a contemplative expression, earning a small nod of agreement from his teacher.
"Indeed, though I do not know what her exact reasons were, I imagine that she didn't leave the village lightly or without just cause. If you two had ever met, I think that you would have formed a very strong bond together. She was a strong, kind and empathetic woman, but she often hid her true feelings behind a hardened mask. If it was the ideals for peace and harmony from the Senju brothers that helped form Konoha, then Kyoshi was undoubtedly the glue that helped hold everything together, up until she vanished." Gyatso added as he slowly sipped on his own water.
"I've always wondered... how are Avatars born? Why do they have the gifts that they have? I mean, The Uchiha's have their Sharingan which is passed through their genes, for example. How does it work for Avatars? Do people just spontaneously pick up the ability to manipulate all Four of the Elements?" Naruto mused aloud, to which his teacher gained a thoughtful expression.
"That has been a great mystery of the Shinobi world. As you said, the Sharingan is passed through the blood, as are many Bloodline Abilities. Avatars? They don't seem to fit into this pattern, do they? There have been a number of Avatars throughout history, some more famous than others of course, all of them cropping up at seemingly random times and places with no clear connection to one another.
There are some who speculate that Avatars are potential reincarnations of the Rikudou Sennin from long ago, though this has never been proven. I strongly suspect that there may be more to it than that, but I do not have any evidence to prove it. Who knows? Perhaps one day this mystery shall be revealed to us?" Monk Gyatso spoke with a small wink, earning a brief chuckle from his student.
"For now, continue to focus on our breathing and do your best to meditate. Remember, the air is everywhere and all around us, and you connect with it." The monk instructed, returning to his meditation, his hands folded neatly on his lap.
The Uzumaki copied his teacher and resumed his own meditative stance, letting out a breath as he slowly breathed in and out. He concentrated and tried to feel the flow of the air around him and his body. The howling winds made it difficult to concentrate on meditating, nevertheless, he at least focused on his breathing as his teacher told him as he tried to empty his mind of all his other thoughts.
Every so often, he thought he heard the mocking whispers of the villagers behind his back, but shrugged it off as a mere trick of the mind coupled with the wind. He tried to quiet his thoughts once more... but then from within his mind... he saw a baleful crimson eye glaring at him. He snapped out of his meditation and found himself sweating bullets and his hands shaking, a sense of dread washing over him.
Without even opening his eyes, his teacher spoke "Normally, the goal of meditation is to clear one's mind and rid oneself of all thoughts and distractions, however, in your case... that is most difficult since your mind isn't truly empty, is it? You do have a tenant after all." The monk spoke, obviously inferring to the Kyuubi no Kitsune that slumbered within his student.
"Yeah. I tried to meditate like you said, and for a second I could have sworn that the Kyuubi was glaring at me from... somewhere." The blonde answered as he tapped a finger to his temple, earning a small sigh from the aged monk.
"I strongly suspected that would be the case. Your previous teacher Iruka made a grave error when you were in his class... he tried to hold you to the same standards as all of the other students... except you are not like any of the other students. Your burden gives you certain gifts, but also certain difficulties." Gyatso stated with a solemn expression, making his student frown a bit. It seemed that his teacher suspected that meditation would be difficult for him, given his occupant, and this only confirmed it.
"No kidding, but what am I supposed to do? It's not like I can make this problem go away." Naruto spoke with a small huff, feeling that it was the Kyuubi's fault that people treated him so poorly and that were it not for the beast, then maybe he would have experienced the joys of having a family and relatively normal childhood.
"You must make peace with yourself, your past, and with the Kyuubi." Gyatso stated in a sage-like tone, his words making his student look at him as if he had grown a second head and stare at him with a dumbfounded expression. Make peace with the Kyuubi? The source of his misery? Was that a joke? If it was, it wasn't in good taste.
"You can't be serious. It's the Kyuubi's fault that most people hate my guts." Naruto responded bitterly, earning a sympathetic expression from his teacher.
"Tell me Naruto... what do you know about the Bijuu?" Gyatso asked with a raised eyebrow, causing his student to tilt his head and look at him in confusion.
"Not much. I know they're pieces of a greater whole, the Juubi, that they are directly connected to the origins of Chakra, and that they are so powerful that they are basically walking cataclysms and that they are demons." The Uzumaki answered to the best of his ability, since his knowledge about the Bijuu was rather limited.
"Technically, referring to them as 'Demons' is something of a misnomer. I suppose that the term was pinned on the Bijuu due to their vast powers. Their true nature is somewhat more obscure. Some believe that they may be Spirits or forces of nature, though that isn't exactly clear. What is certain, is that even if they die, they do not stay dead as they eventually reform. Perhaps most importantly, contrary to popular belief, they are not mindless beasts. They are thinking and feeling creatures, just the same as you and I." Gyatso explained, surprising the Uzumaki.
"That... doesn't make sense. If the Bijuu are capable of reasoning, then why did the Kyuubi attack Konoha so suddenly all those years ago?" Naruto questioned, finding it strange that an entity capable of thinking would lash out and try to destroy the village without provocation.
"Why indeed? Perhaps you should ask the fox when you speak with it?" Gyatso advised, which made his student nod in agreement since his curiosity was now aroused as he wondered what could possibly motivate the attack. According to history, Madara Uchiha often used his Sharingan to control the beast. Did the Kyuubi attack as a sort of revenge? Though that didn't make much sense either since the rogue Co-founder was already long dead.
"How do you know so much about the Bijuu? What's your interest in them?" Naruto questioned with a raised eyebrow, finding it a little odd how his teacher knew that the Bijuu were capable of reason.
Gyatso gained a somber expression as he answered sadly "Long ago, I was friends with a fellow monk named Bunpuku. A kindly and peaceful man, who had the misfortune of being one of, if not the first Jinchuuriki. He was the host to the Ichibi. He was locked away and kept under constant guard in Suna, most people came to believe him to be the Ichibi itself and his true name was largely forgotten by the world itself. I am perhaps the last living person to know his true name now. Even so, he held onto the hope for peace and we continued to write to each other despite his captivity."
Naruto felt a deep sense of sympathy... even if the villagers mistreated him, at least he wasn't locked away like that. A grim reminder that there were those who had suffered and may still be suffering far more than the Uzumaki himself. "Is that another reason why you are training me privately? Because of what happened to your old friend?" Naruto questioned, making his teacher nod slowly.
"Indeed. To a degree, I am aware of and understand your pain. The deep sadness and longing in your heart. That is why I am here. To guide you through your pain, and help you reach your full potential. Even if others only see you as the beast you carry, please know that there are still those who view you as a person.
Whatever happened that fateful night, it was not your fault, you are merely a victim of circumstance. Even so, you are a Jinchuuriki. It is up to you to learn how to harness and wield the power inside of you, the powers of the Kyuubi." Gyatso stated in a kindly tone, making his student cross his arms and give a confident grin.
"Heh. You're not wrong. If I learn how to use the Kyuubi's power, I'd become really strong. Maybe even unstoppable." Naruto spoke as he briefly imagined himself wielding the raw and destructive power of the Bijuu, a mental image of shattering a mountain entering his mind. He was broken from his musing as he noticed that his teacher had a disapproving expression.
"It is true that the powers of the Bijuu are most potent and destructive... but you must never rely on them too much, lest they become a crutch. Remember Naruto, no matter how powerful an ability or technique is, if you rely solely on it, then not only do your other skills weaken from lack of practice, but your enemies may find a means to counter it." Gyatso spoke as he offered this piece of wisdom to the Uzumaki, who quickly deflated as he realized that his teacher was absolutely right.
He simply nodded in understanding and replied "I see. Thanks for telling me that. You're right. I can't lean on my powers as a Jinchuuriki. I can't use it as a shortcut either." These words earned an approving look from the aged monk who gave a pleased smile.
"Very good. Remember though, if you do seek to pursue control of the Kyuubi's chakra, you must find a way to cooperate with it. If you can find some form of common ground with the beast, then I strongly believe you will have a far easier time learning control. After all, whether you like it or not, the very moment that the Kyuubi was sealed inside you, your fates became intertwined. Neither of you can now live without the other." Gyatso added, offering an additional piece of advice which the blonde accepted with an appreciative nod.
"I believe we can end things here for today. I have talked your ear off enough and given you plenty of food for thought." The grandmaster Air Nomad stated in a half joking and half serious manner, as he pulled a bison shaped whistle from his sleeve and blew into it.
After a few moments, his Sky Bison obediently returned as it floated up alongside the platform to pick them up. After collecting the water and snacks, the master and student pair hopped onto the Bison's saddle as it began its steady descent to the ground to drop them off.
The whiskered teen mentally promised to try and climb further up the Spire on his next try, and to keep climbing higher and higher with each attempt until he made it to the top so that he may get used to the high altitudes and master Air Bending.
His teacher was right though; he did have a lot to think about. As they descended, the Uzumaki quietly pondered over the Kyuubi attack and what he knew about it from secondhand information.
According to the stories, the fox appeared out of nowhere and started rampaging across the village, killing many Shinobi and Civilians until the Yondaime sacrificed himself to defeat it.
The whiskered blonde couldn't help but wonder why he had been chosen to be the Kyuubi's vessel. Was there a particular reason behind it? How did the Yondaime come to choose him anyway?
The whiskered teen puzzled over these questions, intrusive thoughts and questions he had never thought to ponder or ask himself began to appear in his mind. Then another thought came to him... one of the few consistencies of any account of the Kyuubi attack clearly states 'The fox came out of nowhere'.
How was that possible? How could a gigantic nine tailed fox just sneak up on the village? He had heard that the fox was taller than most buildings within the village, that it damaged and crushed many structures beneath its paws. Not exactly an example of subtlety. So how in the world did the beast get the drop on the village?
The whiskered blonde found himself with many questions he had never bothered to consider... and the only one that may be able to answer them was the source itself. The Kyuubi. Though that begged yet another question: Would the Bijuu be willing to talk?
The whiskered teen chose to put this on hold for now and revisit later. For now, he had a distinctive feeling that even if he tried to meditate and speak with the beast, it wouldn't go well for him. Not at this time, at least. Call it gut instinct.
His musing came to an end as they landed on the ground with a soft thud, prompting the blonde to hop off the bison's saddle while his teacher gently floated down with the use of Air Bending and affectionately patted his bison on its head.
"You may go now Naruto. The rest of the day is yours." The aged monk said in a friendly tone as he dismissed his student. The whiskered teen gave an appreciative bow and thanked him for his teaching.
He decided to head back to his dorm and perhaps take a shower. The Uzumaki departed with his hands clasped behind his head and walked towards the dorms.
He wondered how Korra was doing in her own training and if she would be up for continuing their Princess Gale Marathon. He felt like they really connected on their first night together at the dorm.
It wasn't very long before he arrived at his dorm and unlocked the door. Upon entering inside, he was greeted by the form of Naga who was sitting in front of the entrance with a saddle and harness in front of her.
The Polar Bear-Dog gave a friendly 'borf' and licked at the Uzumaki's face in greeting, making him chuckle a bit as he returned the affectionate gesture by scratching the Canine hybrid behind the ears. It seemed that after clearing up their earlier misunderstanding, Naga quickly accepted him as a friend.
"Waiting for Korra to take you out for a ride?" He asked with a knowing smirk, which prompted Naga to give another 'borf' as if to answer 'yes'.
He figured that to be the case, not just because of the obvious saddle, but the fact that Polar Bear-Dogs were pretty famous mounts that loved to run. It was only natural that she be taken out for a ride every once in a while for exercise.
He kind of wanted to ride her himself, but did not wish to do so without Korra's permission since he didn't want to accidentally step on any toes or cross certain boundaries.
"Don't worry. She'll be here in a while. You need anything while you wait?" He asked the Canine hybrid, who gave him no answer and instead seemed to be laser focused on the door as she patiently waited for her mistress.
"Okay then. Bark if you need anything. I'll be in the shower." He spoke off-handedly, which earned a small snort from Naga.
He grabbed a fresh set of pajamas and underwear from his closet before entering the bathroom and set them to the side near the sink. He stripped off his dirty clothes which smelled of sweat after his climb up the Spire and deposited them into the nearby laundry basket.
Once that was done he turned on the water, causing it to cascade down from the shower head as he adjusted the temperature. After a few moments, he got it to a comfortable lukewarm temperature before stepping inside and enjoying the feeling of the water raining down on his body.
He inwardly laughed as he found himself enjoying the little things like good water pressure and temperature control. At his old apartment, it took forever for the water to warm up.
Sometimes, it never did and was an icy cold spray. Sometimes the water would cut out randomly on him without any viable reason, even after he had the plumbing checked on multiple occasions.
That was something he definitely wouldn't miss, amongst some other things. The Uzumaki stood under the water for a few minutes before grabbing his shampoo and began massaging and lathering it into his scalp.
He then lathered his body wash onto his loofa and scrubbed his body with it, making sure to remove any dirt, grime, or sweat that may have accumulated from the day's training.
He decided to finish up as soon as possible to free up the bathroom for Korra in case she wanted or needed a shower as well. Once he washed off the excess shampoo and body wash, he dried himself off with a towel before slipping on his pajamas so that he would be both decent and comfortable.
He then stepped out of the bathroom after depositing the used towel into a separate basket. He smirked a little as he saw Naga still waiting patiently for her mistress.
As if on cue, he heard the dorm room's entrance unlock as the Avatar herself entered inside... except she seemed to be limping a bit. Naga padded over to her mistress and offered her neck to give Korra some much needed support as she helped the ponytailed girl over to the couch.
If the Uzumaki didn't know any better, he would say that this wasn't the first time this had happened. He approached the Avatar with a look of concern and found a number of fresh bruises forming on her body. "Holy crap. What the hell happened Korra?" He asked in a worried tone.
She looked up at him in some confusion before her face turned into a warm and appreciative smile as she casually waved a hand and began to explain "Oh, you're worried about the bruises? It's nothing. My fault really. I kept on trying this Air Bending exercise and didn't know when to quit."
"What kind of training does that to you?" Naruto questioned with a raised eyebrow. Not even class spars bruised that badly, for him or anyone... of course most of the Academy students hit like four year old kids.
"Something I like to call 'the spinning planks of pain'. The goal is to try and navigate your way through these spinning boards without getting hit... but I keep on getting smacked around. It's... really frustrating." Korra stated, evidently more annoyed by her failure rather than the physical pain she was enduring.
"Anything I can do?" He asked, hoping to offer some form of assistance to help alleviate her pain, if even a little.
"If you can fill a bucket or something with cold water, that would be swell. You'll find one under the kitchen sink." She requested, earning a nod from her roommate as he quickly retrieved the bucket in question and filled it with water.
Once it was full enough, he brought it over to the ponytailed girl. In a smooth and practiced motion, she manipulated the water and brought it over her bruises and tenderly placed her hands over her injuries, causing the water to glow.
It didn't take long for him to figure out that she must have been trained in the healing arts. A very valuable skill to have which made many Water Benders highly sought after and desired amongst Shinobi teams due to the versatility of Water Bending and their healing abilities.
The Uzumaki noted that Naga was sitting close by, patiently waiting for her mistress to patch herself up which was further evidence that this was likely an almost regular ritual. "I know Naga. I'll be with you once I'm done." Korra stated, already knowing that her companion's desire.
The whiskered teen wanted to help out and then offered "If you want and don't mind, I can take her to go for a run. You need to relax and let yourself heal."
Korra paused briefly, the water losing its glow for a moment as her concentration slipped as she stared at the Uzumaki for a few moments. Most often, people only made such offers when they wanted to get in her good graces or wanted something from her... but she knew that Naruto wasn't like that.
It was genuinely touching that he was willing to volunteer himself like that. A small smile spread across her lips as she shook her head and replied "Thanks for the offer, but no. You don't know how to set the saddle, much less how to ride. Polar Bear-Dogs can run wild if you can't maintain control of them."
The Uzumaki deflated a bit, but nodded in understanding since he didn't take his lack of experience into account. Naga then padded over to him and offered a sympathetic whine as she nuzzled the whiskered teen. Almost as if she were saying 'Thank you' as well for the offer. This action made the Avatar raise an eyebrow since it seemed that Naga welcomed the idea. That was kind of funny… she never allowed anyone to ride on her back without her being present.
The ponytailed girl and Canine hybrid then exchanged looks, as if they were having some sort of silent conversation. The former seemed to understand the latter and then Korra added "If you're serious about it, I can show you how later on. There have been days where I have ended up too banged up to ride Naga. It would be nice to have someone else take her when I'm not feeling up for it."
The Polar Bear-Dog barked happily while wagging her tail wildly from side to side, clearly pleased at the prospect of having another rider take her for runs when her mistress wasn't feeling well. "Not to sound like a cliché, but it would be my honor." Naruto stated with a beaming smile as he gave a somewhat dramatic bow.
The gesture making the Avatar snort in amusement as she continued tending to her bruises. She then decided to change the subject and ask him "Hey Naruto, I've been wondering. How did your training go with Monk Gyatso?"
The whiskered teen smirked a little as he took a seat next to her and answered "It was... well... not quite what I was expecting. We played some Pai Sho together and talked a lot. He gave me loads to think about. Oh, and I also tried to climb up the Spire. Still… it felt pretty productive."
"Oof. The Spire? I've done a few climbs up there too. Can be pretty intense, especially if you push yourself too hard. I heard that Monk Gyatso is more unorthodox in his style of teaching. Still, he is a grandmaster for a reason." She spoke with a small chuckle but then her expression faltered a bit as she stared at her new roommate for a moment, almost as if contemplating something.
"Something wrong?" The whiskered teen asked out of concern, getting a sense that something was bothering the dark skinned girl.
She sent the water back into the bucket as she finished her healing session before replying hesitantly "I'm… not sure. Kind of? Maybe? I've been wondering… What was it like? How did it feel when you used Air Bending?"
The Jinchuuriki scratched his cheek with a lone finger, not entirely surprised by Korra's question given her struggles with Air Bending as he answered her to the best of his ability "It happened pretty fast… but what I do clearly remember was a strong feeling of happiness at having such a gift, and seeing Sasuke's face was utterly priceless. For a second, I felt powerful, almost as if I could do anything at that time if I wanted to."
"Hmm… I wonder how that feels… to bend the air itself." Korra mused to herself as she stared at her hands, a frustrated expression forming on her face as her eyes narrowed as she continued "I just… don't understand… what am I doing wrong? All the others came so easily…" She whispered to herself at the end with a growing bitterness.
Naga let out a loud 'Borf' which snapped her mistress out of her souring mood and realize that she had almost forgotten to take her loyal mount out for a run. "Sorry girl. I'll get your saddle." Korra responded as she scratched her companion behind the ears before getting up to fetch the aforementioned saddle.
From his seat, Naruto laced his fingers together and gently set his chin atop them as he quietly mused to himself. It was clear that Korra was understandably annoyed by her lack of progress in Air Bending. He could easily relate given his own struggles with the Clone Jutsu… perhaps he should ask his teacher about these 'spinning planks of pain' that the Avatar mentioned?
He wasn't sure what he could do for her… but the blonde wanted to help Korra in any way that he could. If her teacher, Tenzin, couldn't help her… then maybe she needed a little assistance from someone who could offer her a fresh perspective? One thing he did know… was that he hated seeing her upset like that.
Meanwhile. With Gyatso.
Gyatso sat in front of the Pai Sho table he and Naruto played at, a thoughtful expression on his face as his eyes wandered over the placement of the pieces, most specifically Naruto's. The boy's movements were often aggressive, but also filled with doubt and uncertainty at times. Though this could perhaps be interpreted as a lack of experience with the game… or that Naruto's own inner struggles were affecting how he played.
He was young and inexperienced, and the world had not been kind to him. While the world was not kind to anyone, Naruto faced far more hardships than a child should be forced to face. His musing was interrupted as another figure sat across from him, making the aged monk look up and find that his visitor was none other than the son of his old student Aang.
"Ah. Tenzin. Welcome. I was just thinking to myself." Gyatso greeted his fellow monk with a warm smile, the bearded man nodding respectfully in understanding.
"I can imagine. I apologize if I am disturbing you… but I need your advice." Tenzin spoke respectfully, trying to maintain a calm and neutral expression… which was failing as his eyebrow seemed to be twitching slightly.
"Speak your mind." Gyatso offered in a kindly tone, already having an idea as to what his fellow Air Nomad wished to speak of.
"It is Korra… she has been under my tutelage for a while now, but she has made no visible progress in her training. She is becoming increasingly irritated by her block, and I can't help but share in her frustration and sympathize with her.
I'm uncertain if the problem is in her ability to learn, or my ability to teach. Please… I could really use your advice. I wish to help Korra, but I do not know how." Tenzin confessed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling as if he were failing the Avatar as her teacher.
Gyatso nodded in understanding as he spoke "That is indeed quite concerning. It takes great integrity to admit one's faults and to seek help and guidance when needed. Remember Tenzin, each and every student is unique, and some may need more help than others. Some may even need certain accommodations to help them."
"I understand but… what accommodations can I give her? I have already tried everything that I can think of." Tenzin asked while stroking his beard, wondering what sort of arrangement he could make to help support Korra's growth and give her the boost she needed.
"I might have an idea… perhaps what she needs is a fellow student that she can connect to?" Gyatso suggested with a small twinkle in his eye.
"Surely you don't mean that Naruto boy, do you? While I certainly don't have anything against him, he is brand new here. He has no real experience as an Air Bender. He is practically a blank slate. How can someone like him help her when even I cannot?" Tenzin questioned, briefly wondering for but a moment of the aged Monk's wisdom had transformed into senility.
The mustached monk gave a broad smile and laughed as he surveyed the Pai Sho board once more before answering "Yes, he is a Blank slate, isn't he? Perhaps he can see things from a new perspective with fresh eyes, that even we masters cannot see. In my experience, one should never underestimate a Wild card."
Gyatso then pulled a Pai Sho tile from his sleeve, most specifically a White Lotus piece as he continued "Naruto and Korra are opposites in many aspects. Korra grew up in a life of relative peace, comfort, privilege and a steady home with a loving family. Naruto grew up facing resentment, anger, fear, isolation, and many other hardships.
Korra has largely lived a sheltered life and has little experience with the harshness of the world. Naruto has learned early on the cruelties of other humans and how unkind the world is and has experienced little in the ways of kindness and compassion… but he has not lost his own heart. I firmly believe that the two of them together, can help them learn from each other, and grow in a myriad of ways. Children who grow up in comfort, often develop different values than those who have lived in hardship or poverty. They can balance each other out."
"You… really think so?" Tenzin asked in surprise, he had to admit to himself… he never thought about it that way before. Gyatso was right… Korra was rather sheltered, and as such, may be unprepared for the dangers of the world. The bearded monk then cleared his throat and asked "Not that I doubt your words, that makes a lot of sense. However, Naruto doesn't exactly have a good reputation, and I mean no insult to him. I'm sure he is a good boy but…"
Tenzin was silenced as Gyatso raised a hand and then began to speak "You are afraid that him being around Korra would affect her negatively in some way in the eyes of the village? Oh, Tenzin. Pay no mind to that. Contrary to whatever people may think, the world has always been ruled by emotions. Ruled by fear, ruled by anger, by envy.
People fear others, they fear uncertainty, they fear the future. They are angry about wrongs done to them or to others, angry about minor inconveniences or perceived slights, angry about what they do not have or what they have lost. Envious of what others do have, of what they have gained, and what they have achieved.
People have always feared the Jinchuuriki. Many think of them as only weapons of war. I asked young Naruto why he wanted to be a Shinobi, and he told me that he 'wanted to do his part'. I pointed out that he could have chosen another career path that would allow him to do so, but it was not what he wanted. I suppose that it doesn't matter, does it? Being a Jinchuuriki, a life of peace likely isn't in the cards for him. While he may walk a path of conflict, he doesn't necessarily need to walk a path of violence, does he?"
"What are you saying?" Tenzin questioned as he listened attentively to the grandmaster.
"I am old Tenzin. Very old. I have lived far longer than any man should get to live. I have seen firsthand many wonders and many horrors. I think that the original purpose of the Jinchuuriki was not to be weapons, but guardians to safeguard the villages from harm, but their intended purpose was corrupted by the greed of others.
While we are currently living in a period of relative peace, it is only a matter of time before the peace ends. The world needs Guardians and leaders. Protectors. The kind who are strong and brave enough to fight off the monsters that hide in the dark, and compassionate enough to shine a light and guide others towards a better way." The aged monk explained in a sage-like manner.
"You think that he and Korra are the ones?" Tenzin asked, earning a firm and decisive nod of confirmation from the grandmaster.
"It is the duty of the old to give guidance to the young and give them the tools they need to continue on and build a better future. Unfortunately, there are those of us who continue to cling to the old and violent ways that impede progress, or those who seek to entirely undo the progress that is made towards the path of peace.
It is up to the next generation to realize the dream of a more peaceful world… and it is my firm belief that both Naruto and Korra will be the architects of a brighter future, even if they themselves aren't yet aware of it." Gyatso spoke as he closed his eyes, almost as if he were in deep meditation before continuing to speak "Our Era… is coming to a close, and it is coming soon."
"Our Era?" Tenzin asked as he stroked his beard, wondering what the grandmaster meant.
"I doubt that I am much longer for this world, Tenzin, soon it will be time for you to take my place as Grandmaster. However, I shall continue on and stay until Naruto's training is complete. That is the least I can do for him as his teacher." Gyatso announced, earning a grim nod from his fellow Nomad who understood perfectly well that it was almost the grandmaster's time.
"As for what I meant by our Era… one has to wonder… has anyone accomplished anything?" Gyatso questioned in a serious tone, as an ominous wind blew through the area making Tenzin stiffen up.
The aged grandmaster then continued "All the Sandaime Hokage has done is maintain the status quo. In spite of events like the Kyuubi attack, the Uchiha massacre, and the Hyuuga/Kumo incident, not a single one of the big timers have taken any action. Kumo did not seek further action and began solidifying their position. Iwa, despite their animosity towards Konoha, has merely sat on the sidelines.
Kiri is of course embroiled in their Civil War and is unable to take any real action. Suna, while allied to Konoha, has been reorganizing and consolidating their forces. The minor villages, who are often caught in the crossfire of the conflicts of the major villages have also been unsettlingly quiet, most especially Ame. Then there is the matter of that new village forming, Oto… which gives me a very bad feeling."
"I thought that you weren't interested in politics? How do you know all of this? What does all of this mean?" Tenzin asked as he felt increasingly unsettled by the atmosphere and how unusually serious that Gyatso was being.
"Normally, I am not… however… I sense that something in the world is changing. I asked an associate in the Torture and Interrogation department, to keep me appraised of the world's events… and I feel that in the not-so-distant future… something will happen.
It is my duty to see that our students are ready. Whether or not the other villages are aware of this, I know not… but it is almost as if everyone is preparing for something, regardless if they realize it or not." Gyatso spoke as he opened his eyes slightly until they were half-lidded, his face darkening as he spoke in a rather out-of-character fashion.
He closed his eyes once more in meditation as he attempted to connect his spiritual energy to the wind, the sky, and the earth. The mental images of a certain crimson haired sand user, a man with ripple eyes, a man in an orange spiral mask, a slug summoner, a ponytailed Avatar, and of course a certain whisker marked teen all entered Gyatso's mind.
"It is only a matter of time before the next Era begins, and it will begin with bloodshed. Mark me, here and now. The New Era of the daring ones, is coming with all the force of maelstrom. Once those floodgates open… there will be no turning back." The grandmaster spoke in a warning tone, knowing full well that the time for peace was almost over… he could only hope that the next generation would be prepared enough and ready for the future.
End chapter three.