After leaving Aang to his fate, the two benders, who looked a lot happier than when they had first gone into the forest, walked back to the main hut, where they found Sokka leaning against the banister.
The oldest out of the Gaang had a troubled expression, and his eyebrows scrunched up as he gazed at the statue of Kyoshi, as though hoping to see an answer to whatever question was plaguing his mind in the faded and worn woodwork of the long-dead Avatar.
Naruto glanced at Katara before saying softly to her, so Sokka didn't hear them, "I got this; go check up on the supplies and make sure Sokka didn't eat all of it."
Katara would have rolled her eyes had not Naruto made a strong point, whether happy or sad, Sokka always found comfort in food, usually meat. The younger sister headed into the back of their temporary home to check up on the supplies while Naruto walked up to Sokka and leaned against the same banister, side by side the young South Pole warrior.
"Copper piece for your thoughts, Sokka?" The young woodbender asked as he glanced at Sokka, who still looked down. When Sokka ignored him and continued to stare out into the horizon, Naruto elbowed him, "come on, Sokka. We may have only just met a couple of ... minutes ago, but I can still tell when something is bugging you. I'm here to talk to, you know. What with me being a Woodbender filled with infinite wisdom and guidance as well as a spiritual guide."
Despite his sour mood, Sokka couldn't help but snort. "Yeah, right, like you or Aang are filled with infinite wisdom. You have never enjoyed the rich and juicy flavour of blubbered seal jerky, while Mr Avatar can't see the difference between firewood and blubbered seal jerky."
"When did this happen?"
"Oh, right. You hadn't joined us yet." Sokka said as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Just so you know, I have eaten blubbered seal jerky," Naruto noted, much to Sokka's surprise.
"Really?! I thought you were just like Aang in that department," Sokka said, still surprised.
"Why? Just because I'm a woodbender, that doesn't mean I don't eat meat," Naruto retorted. Sokka spoke nothing seeing the point he was making.
"So, you going to tell me why you look like you had just cleaned up from being snot on by Appa?"
"I went to go find those warrior ladies," Sokka said, where Naruto groaned.
"Let me guess. You found them, probably insulted them, and then challenged the leader to a fight." Naruto said bluntly as he looked at Sokka, who had the decency to blush. Sokka scratched the back of his head, "Well, it may have gone a little like that." Sokka said weakly.
"So what happened?"
Sokka seemed to deflate at the words, and he mumbled something unintelligible under his breath that not even Naruto could understand. "Could you say that again?"
"I got my butt kicked, alright!" Sokka exclaimed as he threw his hands up in anger and embarrassment. "I didn't even have a chance; she used my own wrappings to bind my foot and hand."
"Yeah, Suki is like that; she's a very talented warrior, when it comes to only weapons or fists, without bending, perhaps she's better than me," Naruto said as he remembered one week ago when they sparred together.
Sokka didn't have much reaction but looked interested in what Naruto said about Suki.
"...What am I going to do, Naruto?" he asked sadly. "If I can't even beat a girl in hand to hand combat, how am I supposed to help protect you guys against real firebenders? I'm not a bender, I can't use Katara's magical water, I can't run or move as fast as Aang, I can't grow trees out of anything, and I can't even bend at all. I'm the one nonbender in a group of benders." The boy said, depressed as he realised how much of a disadvantage he was at.
The blonde wanted to point out that he couldn't grow trees out of anything but decided not to speak.
"Well, for one, you could apologise to Suki." Naruto advised, "maybe if you're nice, she could teach you some moves. You know Sokka, just because she's a girl doesn't mean she can't kick butt and win." Naruto smiled slightly as though remembering a fond time. "My mother, she wasn't a wood bender like my dad and me. But she wasn't afraid to make sure we stayed in line. My dad was the greatest bender of all time, But he was absolutely terrified of mom when she got angry."
Sokka was silent for a minute before he asked a question that had been asked by Katara earlier today. "Naruto... what happened to your people?" he asked cautiously, knowing that Naruto's past was something that was considered off-limits, but he was too curious.
Naruto chuckled, but it wasn't a warm one like he usually did. Instead, it was cold and bitter, Naruto looked at him, and Sokka noticed his smile didn't seem to reach his eyes.
"I don't really like to talk about it; it just..." Naruto looked, wanting to say more but pressed his lips, almost trying to stop himself from speaking. Instead, his eyes turned red for a split second before turning back to blue.
Sokka looked at the boy with growing dread in his gut... why did he have a feeling that Naruto's past wasn't a nice one? Sokka nearly winced at the coldness and empathy in Naruto's blue eyes, no longer the colour of the ocean but more of ice.
"We don't need to talk about it," Sokka spoke, knowing Naruto would open up to them eventually.
Naruto felt the tears forming, felt them flowing down his pale cheeks, but he paid them no mind. He just stared at the statue of Avatar Kyoshi. "Yes. That's better," Naruto managed to choke out.
Katara
When Sokka came to her, telling her that something was wrong with Naruto, she wanted to yell at her brother for opening his big mouth, but he just said that it was something about his family.
Katara understood very well; she and Sokka knew how it was like.
They had lost their mother to the Fire Nation, who had come looking for the last waterbender that had managed to elude them since the Raids; their mother had protected her youngest and declared herself the last waterbender in the whole South Pole.
By the time Katara returned to their tent with her father hot on her heels, it was too late. She was already gone, as was her killer.
Just at that moment, Aang decided to show up and noticed immediately that the situation wasn't a good one.
"Uh, did something happen? You guys don't look that good," Aang said in concern for his friends, never had he seen them so upset; even Sokka looked a little misty-eyed.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your fans?" Katara asked harshly; she usually wouldn't have shouted at the innocent Avatar. Still, it was obvious that all her anger at Aang not being the 'simple monk' and with Naruto's past being a bad one, she was a bit angry at the moment.
Aang shrunk back at the venom in Katara's voice. "Uhhh, okay, something definitely happened. Does this involve Naruto?"
"Yes, I... ahh I asked him about his parents, and he left. I don't know where he went," Sokka spoke with regret, inching the back of his head.
Aang nodded before an idea came to mind, "We can ask that girl... ahh what- oh Suki, I'm sure she knows where he went," Aang suggested; Katara nodded that it was a good idea, while Sokka looked suddenly nervous at the thought of going and asking Suki.
Aang seemed not to have noticed the nervousness in Sokka since he immediately left the house, running like the wind, leaving the Water tribe siblings in the dust, literally.
Reaching the house where he thought they were, his eyes checked around to see the warriors of Kyoshi training outside, throwing things with blades in some dummies; while Aang knew they weren't alive, he couldn't help but slightly flinch at the thought of throwing knives at the head or chest of someone.
He was about to make his presence known when he heard tired breathing from behind. Turning around, he saw his friends barely making up to him.
Sokka had his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath before he raised his head to make eye contact with the Airbender.
"Can't you walk like a normal person, Seriously it is Really That Hard," Sokka said, annoyed at him, almost shouting at him; even Katara didn't try to say that Sokka was wrong in this situation.
Aang itched his head in embarrassment before turning to look at the Kyoshi warriors; they had stopped training and were looking at them, more him with curiosity and some with annoyance.
"Can I help you with Something, Avatar?" One of them approached, asking respectfully.
"Yes, we would like to talk with Suki," Aang said, not really noticing that much of the difference between them; they all looked the same to him.
"I'm Suki," the girl who had approached spoke with clear annoyance.
"Oh! Well, we wanted to ask if you know where Naruto is," mentioning the name seemed to get the attention of every Kyoshi warrior there.
"Why? Wasn't he with you?" Suki asked with concern in her tone, taking a step closer.
Aang wondered how to say that Sokka had a big mouth and had asked the wrong questions when Sokka stepped closer.
"Yeh... I asked him about his parents, and he left and..." Sokka stopped when he saw Suki glaring at him, and for a moment, Aang was sure that she might try to beat him up as he was preparing to try and protect his friend.
"Do you know where he might be? We would want to apologise," Katara spoke with a sincere tone.
Suki released a breath before turning to the other Kyoshi warriors. "Rest for Now," she spoke before turning to the Avatar group and gesturing for them to follow her.
Suki leads them inside the forest. "Don't ask questions; Naruto doesn't really like to talk about his family," Suki spoke with a hint of sadness in her tone.
The group nodded before they kept walking for almost an hour. Sokka was starting to get tired of walking when they reached a clearing, there were no trees around, but only houses, empty houses, in front of them was a big gate, with a strange symbol at the top.
Looking at the symbol, Aang could have sworn he had seen the same symbol before.
Aang looked at the houses; they were very simple houses; in one glance, they seemed as simple as a house could get, but all of them were made of wood.
Walking inside, he saw a thick layer of dust had covered every house; some of the houses were even destroyed from outside. Stuff was on the way, and doors were broken. Several houses were born to a crisp, while some were half burned.
Aang was about to ask what this place was when. "This was Naruto's home. This is where his people lived for a long time when Avatar Kyoshi had parted the island of Kyoshi from the rest of Earth Kingdom, the tribe of Woodbenders were here as well, my mother used to say that the Woodbenders started to die a hundred years ago, no one really knows what caused it. Naruto is the only one left," Suki spoke with sadness, holding herself back.
Aang slightly lowered his head in shame. He wondered if anything would have changed if he hadn't run away from his fate, Aang couldn't help but blame himself.
Katara and Sokka spoke nothing as Suki started leading further into the village, soon reaching the centre; Aang's eyes widened, and so did Katara and Sokka's eyes.
In front of them stood a mass graveyard, what looked like over a hundred graves, with wooden crosses. Each one had a name carved into them; Aang's heart almost stopped seeing some had died on the same year they were born.
In the centre stood a statue of a Buddha, but it had what looked like hundreds of small hands behind.
Naruto stood kneeling in front of it, whispering words to himself.
Aang was about to greet him when Suki put her arm in front of them, silently telling them not to walk further and put the finger on her lips, not to speak. The Avatar group nodded in understanding and waited until Naruto was done.
After a few minutes, Naruto stood up. "What are you guys doing here?" He asked, not turning to look at them.
Sokka glanced at his friends before walking forward. "I wanted to apologise. I'm sorry for asking that question," Sokka said with clear sadness in his voice, something Suki found as a good sign.
For a minute, Naruto spoke nothing as he was still staring at the wooden statue in front of him before turning to look at the group.
His face looked brighter to them. "Is nothing Sokka, don't worry about it," Naruto finally said with a smile that reached his eyes.
Walking up to them, he hugged Suki, who hugged him back, and they left the village in the forest.
Aang saw Naruto whisper something to Suki, but he couldn't hear what.
After one week
The Avatar Gang was still on Kyoshi island, but Katara had stated strictly that they would leave tomorrow morning; they had already wasted enough time there, according to her.
Aang smiled as he remembered what had happened five days ago.
Aang couldn't help but be reminded of the time when he was... well, younger than now. Two days ago, after they returned from the forest, Naruto had told Aang that he wanted to make a prank.
Aang and Naruto had carried the two pies out of the kitchen and into the main hut they were staying in with utmost care, making sure that nothing would ruin the baked perfections they were holding in their hands. Nobody tried to get in their way, though a couple turned their heads in the direction, either at the Airbender and woodbender themselves or the heavenly scent that wafted throughout the village due to the pies.
Once they reached their temporary room Aang motioned for Naruto to place his pie on the window still next to his own; the pie Aang was holding was a pale yet somehow elegant violet colour, the smell of baked moon peaches wafting into the room. That with its golden crust nearly made the two salivate at the thought of nibbling into the delectable pies.
The pie Naruto was carrying was dark red, or crimson in Naruto's opinion. Like the other pie, the dark red custard was raised in the air due to airbending and was still suspended in its form; the whole cream was swirled and seemed to keep its airbending roots within the desert itself, Aang had helped Naruto with it.
The smell of baked Lychee Nut was nearly enough to have Momo (who had entered the room the second he smelled the pie) into trying to devour both the pies.
"So, now what? Do we just eat it?" Naruto asked Aang, who still looked like he had something else up his sleeve.
Aang used his airbending to cut two large slices out of the Lychee Nut pie before turning around to face Naruto. "There is another part of the traditional and sacred art of pie baking, and that is this," Aang whispered in Naruto's ear about the other piece. Naruto's eyes widened before his grin matched Aang's.
Naruto grabbed the Moon Peach pie and placed it on the table with the two slices of Lychee Nut pie; the rest of the dark red pie still rested on the window still.
"One," Aang stated as he started to channel wind to their palms.
"Two." By now, he had formed a large ball of condensed wind within his fingertips.
"Three!" Aang yelled and let his air ball fly and watched it hit the Lychee pie, sending it flying into the sky thanks to the boost of the Airbender. Naruto and Aang rushed to the banister and watched the dark spot high in the sky start to get bigger and bigger as the pie started to descend.
"I have a really good feeling about this, Katara." Sokka was saying to his younger sister as they walked back to the hut they were staying at. "I'm going to ask Suki if she can teach me, surely if I apologise, she'll let me, right?"
"I don't know, Sokka." Katara said worriedly, "They aren't like Naruto, and even I wouldn't forgive you that easily if you weren't my brother. I don't want you to get hurt. Maybe you could ask Aang to apologise for you since you're, well, you know, not good at apologising?" She added weakly when Sokka sent her a glare.
"I don't need Aang. Besides, he and Naruto are doing some sort of... ahhh, I have no idea. I don't even understand why Naruto is even interested in Aang's culture, probably meditating or something weird and boring stuff like that," Sokka said with a wave of his hand.
Then the two Water Tribe members heard something; Sokka suddenly realised that there was a shadow on his even though he wasn't near any trees.
SPLAT!
The pie crashed into Sokka, covering the young warrior head to shoulder in the creamy red custard. Almost immediately, Momo appeared and tried to lick off the residue of the pie. "Ahh! I'm bleeding!" Sokka cried as he tried to scratch off what he assumed was blood before looking at Momo.
"Ah, Momo is a vampire bat, but in the furry form!" The boy cried out as he tried to shoo the animals off of him, unknowingly opening his mouth and his tongue hitting his flailing hand. Sokka paused as he tasted the red substance, "Hey, wait a minute..." Sokka licked his hand, smacking his mouth as he tried to figure out the taste. A realisation struck him, "This is some type of berry sauce!" He declared aloud.
Katara resisted the heavy urge to hit her boneheaded brother. "Something falls from the sky and douses you in a mysterious red substance, and you just lick it off of your hand!" The girl yelled at him in disbelief.
"Well, I'd like the option," Sokka started to say before he heard a familiar laugh high above him, joined in by another familiar voice. Once again, realisation struck the boomerang user. Sokka's tanned face turned bright red. If he had been a firebending, then the custard covering him would have been boiling and melting off of him. "AANG! NARUTO!"
The two benders immediately stopped laughing; both looked at each other before Aang yelled, "RUN!" And with that, the two benders disappeared a small puff of cloud and a trail of dust, the only remains of their existence and where they were headed.
Nonbender or not, Sokka gave chase to the two, all the while yelling how when he caught them, he would show them just how much pain a nonbender of the Southern Water Tribe could give to them.
Luckily the two benders had managed to calm down the fuming Sokka and offered him the olive branch, which was in the form of a slice of pie. The food lover immediately forgave them when he had a bite, declaring that they could make as many pies as they wanted to, as long as they changed the target to Katara instead of him.
Katara immediately whacked the boy on the head while Aang and Naruto laughed.
Naruto
Naruto felt something furry crawl up his arm, and a little pink tongue licked his cheeks while Naruto scratched the back of Momo's ears; the little animal purred as he hit a certain spot.
"Naruto!" Aang suddenly ran into the room, a broad grin on his face, "Guess what!?"
Naruto raised a brow at the energetic Airbender. "Please tell me it doesn't involve fan girls and that marble trick," He sighed wearily.
Aang shook his head, "No, something else. Sokka's wearing a dress!"
"Sokka... In a dress?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion, "Did spending a century in that block of ice mess up something in your head?"
Aang ignored the jab and instead pointed at a lone dojo high up the mountain, "Looks like Sokka took your advice. He went to go see those Kyoshi Warriors, and they agreed to show him how to fight, but he still has to wear the dress and make-up."
Naruto laughed at the thought of Sokka in the forest green garb, complete with fan and make-up. It did give him a funny sight.
Naruto soon left the house and went into the forest, needing to train his bending.
Naruto felt the sunlight hitting his face and inhaled, enjoying the warmth of the sun. For a while, he merely sat there almost in a trance, his form relaxed and free of any tension.
Naruto opened his eyes and took in the view; since he was at the highest point on the island, he could see everything. From the small collection of huts that formed the village they had been staying in, he could even faintly see the stark white fur of Appa in the distance, the ocean surrounded him, and he could see the bay where they had arrived in.
While a beautiful island, they only had enough resources to feed themselves; no army would think of wasting soldiers to take this lone island when they have their own mortal enemies to worry about.
Naruto suddenly tensed when he saw something in the bay, a large something rising from the water, its form serpent-like, and it seemed to be shaking as though trying to throw something off.
Naruto understood that was Unagi but wondered who was foolish enough to try and mess with him.
Deciding to look closer into it, he grew trees and slowly descended from the high point, the tree around him holding Naruto tightly not to fall; now closer, he saw Unagi was pissed.
The reason?
Aang was currently hanging on one of the whiskers of the beast for dear life, his yells echoing throughout the bay. Glancing down, Naruto saw Katara standing at the coast. Naruto snapped his attention to Aang when he saw that the Unagi had managed to shake the Avatar off.
"Aang, grab on!" Naruto yelled as he swooped down, his hand held out to grab the quickly falling Aang.
Aang reached for Naruto, their hands met, but Aang's hand slipped out of Naruto's grasp.
Using his trees, the trees moved fast and tightened around his legs stopping him from hitting the water.
Sadly Unagi tried to hit Aang as Naruto tried to get him away.
Seeing Unagi coming close, he grew several more trees tightening around him, stopping him dead on track.
Seeing he was blocked, that only pissed Unagi even more as he used his strength to break free from his binding, the wood around him started breaking.
"Unagi, Stop," Naruto shouted as he got closer to him; the creature turned his eyes at the voice, his body stopped resisting against the trees around him, he didn't try to destroy them.
Naruto sighed in relief and dropped Aang on Katara's arms before turning to Unagi, who almost looked ashamed.
"Is okay, buddy? I'm not angry at you," Naruto spoke warmly. Unagi raised his head and looked at Naruto again with what looked like a smile.
Naruto moved the trees away, the serpent left, disappearing into the depth of the ocean.
Aang slowly opened his eyes to see the relieved benders bending over him. "K-Katara?" He asked, his voice hoarse from the saltwater. "Don't ride the Unagi. Not fun."
"I need to put a bell on you," Naruto said as he shook his head, "Make sure you don't do something so stupid again."
Aang slowly focused on him. "Naruto?" Aang managed a small smile, "You saved my life."
Naruto chuckled. "Don't mention it, mister Avatar. If Unagi didn't already know me, we would be in deep trouble."
"Thank you," Aang said wearily, completely exhausted from the whole ordeal.
Naruto glanced over the rocks and saw the Unagi going back into the murky deep. He immediately gasped as he saw the unmistakable form of a Fire Nation cruiser making its way to the beach. "I don't want to alarm anyone, but there is currently a Fire Nation battleship making its way towards us."
"What!?" Katara gasped as she came to Naruto's side. Her eyes widened when she saw the familiar ship. "Zuko!"
"Who?"
"It's a long story, Naruto. We'll tell you about it later," Katara said worriedly as she realised why Zuko was here. For Aang.
The two watched as the ship docked at the beach, and three komodo rhinos lumbered out, soldiers on their back. The three were silent as they heard them riding above them, Aang tried to move, but Naruto and Katara pushed him down. "Not yet, Aang." Naruto hissed as he heard the rumbles of the mounts, "There are too many of them, and you almost just became a snack for the Unagi."
"They're going to the village," Aang said with wide eyes, "It's Katara and Sokka's village all over again."
Aang tried to stand up, but Naruto pushed him down. Aang glared at the boy but was met with a glare of equal ferocity. "You're hurt, Aang. I'll deal with this. The time has come for me to join the war. I don't want any more orphans and refugees to be created. I don't want anymore...I can do this." And with that said and done, Naruto grew more trees as they helped him reach the village after the Fire Nation soldiers.
Village
"Come out, Avatar! You can't hide forever!" Prince Zuko yelled from atop his Komodo Rhino, two others flanking him with benders and non-benders on them.
The normally boisterous village had turned into a ghost town as the villagers saw Fire Nation soldiers for the first time ride into their home. They watched from locked doors and windows, waiting for the Avatar or the Kyoshi warriors to save them.
"Find him," Zuko commanded his men, who ushered their beasts forward.
Suddenly there were flashes of green and gold, and the men were thrown from their mounts. The Kyoshi warriors had arrived.
Suki rushed towards Zuko, who used his fire bending to try and kill her, but with speed and agility that would of made Naruto and Aang proud, she managed to dodge it easily. She leapt into the air, her fans poised to knock the banished prince from the mount, but the Komodo's tail hit her and sent her crashing into the ground.
Zuko shot another fire blast at the downed warrior, but she was saved by none other than Sokka, who was decked in the traditional Kyoshi Warrior dress and makeup, though he was now short one fan as he had used it to stop the fire blast.
Before Zuko could do anything, he suddenly found himself on the ground. Another warrior had jumped off the roof and kicked him in the chest, sending him crashing into the ground.
Suki, Sokka, and the other warrior surrounded the prince, who used his upper body strength to twist his feet in a full circle, sending the warrior crashing into the house, Suki into the post, and Sokka on the ground.
By now, most of the village houses had caught on fire, black smoke billowing everywhere. Zuko glanced around to see that Aang had yet to appear, "Nice try, Avatar. But these little girls can't stop me!"
In reply, a large tree hit him in the chest, sending him crashing against a house. Zuko got back up, a little sore for wear but nothing he couldn't handle, his hands now covered in the deadly flame that was his element. He turned in the direction he knew the attack had come from.
He expected to see the Avatar, but instead, he saw a boy with bright blonde hair, older than the Avatar, with a sword tightened around his back, and ... whiskers on his face?!
"If you think you can just raze a village to the ground without me stopping it, well, you got another thing coming to you!" The boy exclaimed. His blue eyes seemed to be miniature storm clouds as he looked at the disgraced prince.
With a cry of fury, the timber exploded as Zuko stood up, flames erupting from his mouth as his anger got the best of him. He glared at Naruto, his amber eyes burning as bright as the sun that gave him the ability to bend fire.
"The monks raised Aang, and he was taught that violence was always bad and never fought to kill or hurt," The boy said before looking at Zuko with a levelled glare, "But I don't have these beliefs."
"You made that tree move; how did you do that?" Zuko demanded, astonished.
Naruto faked a yawn. "Are you done yet?" He asked with an air of boredom.
Zuko growled before shooting fire at him, the size easily around the size of the rocks they use for catapults.
Naruto jumped up into the air and spun his sword around in a circular motion before Zuko kicked upwards, and a large wave of fire came towards him.
Suddenly water from the barrels rose and hit the fire. Steam rose and covered the battle scene for a couple of seconds. When the steam had disappeared, the two benders saw that it had been Katara who had come to Naruto's rescue.
"Thanks for the save," Naruto said to Katara, who, while panting slightly at bending such a large amount of water, looked proud of herself. "No problem, Naruto." She said.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the Water Tribe peasant," Zuko sneered at the bender who glared at him with hatred in her bright blue eyes, he was the one who had attacked her village after all, and now he was doing it again.
Zuko punched his right hand, and a large torrent of fire came from his knuckles; the large ball of fire headed straight towards Katara before it was blocked by the timely wood coming from the ground.
"Katara, go make sure everyone is safe. I got this," Naruto told the girl who looked like she wanted to protest before she nodded her head and dashed off into the burning homes, making sure everyone had gotten to safety.
"I don't know why you want Aang, but he's my friend. And I don't let Fire Nation take my friends," Naruto told the boy who could only be older than him by about a year; Naruto's eyes were squinted in concentration, for some reason that he couldn't put his finger on it, the attacker in front of him looked familiar.
Zuko clenched his hands into tight fists, fire taking the shape of daggers. Naruto held his sword tightly. For a second, there was only the sound of burning timber before a wind started to breeze through lightly, sending dust swirling.
Both benders charged forward at the same time, Zuko's hands held as though he was about to stab Naruto with his fire daggers, Zuko swung his hand, but Naruto dodged it. The tip of the fire dagger nearly nicking the spikes of hair on his head.
Naruto twirled his sword, but Zuko managed to move his head at the last second, preventing himself from getting cut in the head, but that didn't stop Naruto's foot from colliding into his jaw though, blasting Zuko backwards.
Zuko fell to the ground with a dull thud, his helmet falling off his head and bouncing a couple of times before rolling face up. Zuko pushed himself up and balanced on his hands as he used both his feet to kick towards Naruto. A large torrent of fire was unleashed and headed towards the young bender.
Naruto put an open hand on the ground; a tree grew in front of him, completely blocking the blast of fire.
Zuko's one good eye widened when he saw one of his most powerful and deadly attacks be stopped by something as simple as wood, that and the dull ache of his ribs that signified they might have been broken. He stumbled to his feet, his arm pressed against his side.
"You're different from the Others," Zuko said through gritted teeth. "Your fighting style is different, more direct and forceful."
"I told you, I wasn't raised like Aang. I'm not that bothered if I have to kill you guys?" Naruto said with a scowl.
The two benders stopped their fighting. Instead, both just looked at one another, both gazes calculating as they tried to plan their following and final move.
Naruto rushed towards the crowned prince, his sword held high in the air. Zuko rushed forward as well, fire burning in his palms. Naruto swung downwards while Zuko punched, the two elements of wood and fire collided and the fire burned through the wood, but it still hit Zuko on the chest, but the wave of the fire threw Naruto away.
Both benders were thrown backwards; Naruto hit the ground and rolled over a couple of times before he slid to a half, Zuko on the other hand, collided into a ruined house.
Both benders were gasping for breath, Naruto's hand slowly twitched towards the sword at his side.
And then suddenly Appa appeared above them, "Naruto!" They could faintly hear Katara yell to the woodbender, "We have to go!"
Naruto threw his sword into the air and jumped and grabbed the sides; he flew up to Appa and landed in the saddle. Everyone was on the bison, Aang guiding the giant bison while Katara and Sokka were huddled in the back, Momo sitting on his lap.
Naruto and the others glanced down to see the still burning village below them.
"It's all my fault," Aang stated, tears forming in the great pools of his eyes. His eyes focused on the burning statue of Avatar Kyoshi.
"You did the right thing in leaving. Zuko would have killed everyone had we stayed. They're going to be okay, Aang." Katara assured the distraught Avatar.
Aang looked ahead for a second before something flashed in his eyes, and the next thing the others knew was that Aang had leapt from Appa's head and was heading towards the bay that sheltered the Unagi at the speed of an arrow.
"Please tell me he didn't just jump off Appa," Naruto yelled as they rushed to the edge of the saddle. They couldn't see Aang as he had disappeared underwater.
The water where Aang had dived in rippled, and suddenly the Unagi itself emerged from within the ocean, its serpent-like body nearly as high as Appa. And on its head was Avatar Aang, who held the two whiskers as though they were the same reins he used for Appa.
With a great deal of effort, Aang pulled the whiskers back, and a large jet of water erupted from the Unagi's maw, dousing the burning village and effectively putting out the fire.
The Unagi reared its head, and Aang went sailing into the air, only to be caught by Appa.
Aang climbed up his spirit companion's flank and sat down on the saddle, dripping wet from the ocean. "I know I know," Aang started to say as he sat down. "That was stupid and dangerous."
"Yes, it was," Katara said though she was smiling. Suddenly Katara lunged forward and engulfed the boy in a hug. Aang breathed a sigh of relief though Naruto was the only one to notice the blush.
"So, where are we going next?" Sokka asked Aang as he looked at the map. "Are we going to go to Kangaroo Island as you planned?"
Aang thought for a second before shaking his head, "No, I don't want to see if the wallaby's have evolved into giant man-eating rodents. I think we're done with the small detours."
"So, then where are we headed?" Naruto asked before looking at his burned clothes that had been scorched by Zuko. "Please tell me it's a place I can get some new clothes."
"Don't worry. This city has it." Aang said, beaming at them. "It's one of the greatest cities in the world, it's an Earth Kingdom stronghold that I used to visit a hundred years ago. We're going to the city of Omashu!"
As they fly away, Naruto looked at the island seeing the fire benders leaving and chasing them instead, Naruto sighed in relief knowing Suki and the other were alright.