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Chapter 34 (Naruto and Kyoshi), Chapter 35 (Firebenders in Ba Sing Se), Chapter 36 (Tales of Azula), Chapter 37 (A Face of Death), Chapter 38 (Avatar's Anger), and Chapter 39 (The City of Lies) are already available for Patrons.
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When Naruto and the others finally stepped foot into their new home. Naruto's eyes caught sight of Aang quietly ascending the stairs. Naruto couldn't help but wonder why he went upstairs.
Naruto assumed that Aang may have been drawn towards his duty as the Avatar. Naruto mused that Aang could simply be seeking a moment of solitude and rest. After the whole Drill incident and the crazy woman following them everywhere in Ba Sing Se, he figured he was exhausted.
Knowing they would probably stay in Ba Sing Se for a long time. With this in mind, Naruto made the choice to explore their new house. Naruto diligently scoured every corner, searching for elusive passages, covert rooms, or any signs of suspicious activity.
"Toph," Naruto questioned, his voice filled with curiosity as he turned to face her, his gaze fixed on her, "is there anything unusual about this house?"
Toph raised an eyebrow, her pinky finger used to alleviate an itch in her nose. Once she retrieved it, she blew a gentle breath onto her digit. Her expression morphed into one of deep contemplation, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Actually, yes, but is not exactly part of the house!" Toph's voice echoed with certainty. With a swift and precise motion, she lightly tapped the floor with the fingertips of her right foot, causing a distinct sound to resonate throughout the room. Toph then leaned down, peeling back the crimson carpet that concealed the flooring beneath. Revealing the hidden metal surface, she tapped her feet's fingertips against the metallic floor.
"What do you mean?" Naruto questioned, as he looked around the room. Sokka, was busy sleeping on a mountain of pillows. Meanwhile, Katara was focused on studying a drawn map of Ba Sing Se.
"It feels like there's a tunnel under the house, but is not just under our house, from what I can tell, this tunnel covers every house," Toph diligently informed him.
Naruto's brow furrowed slightly. These intricate tunnels now seemed like an ideal means for anyone to stealthily infiltrate and gain access to any desired house, regardless of their intention, whatever that was, to assassinate or kidnap someone.
"Do these tunnels have some kind of way to connect with the houses above?" Naruto questioned as he leaned downwards, his fingertips lightly brushing against the cold, stone floor. Despite his heightened senses, unlike Toph - Naruto couldn't discern anything beyond the smooth, lifeless surface beneath him.
"I don't think so, but the ground between the tunnel and our house feels strange," Toph informed him with a hint of uncertainty in her voice, tilting her head slightly as she observed her surroundings. As she continued to explore the expansive interior of their house, an odd sensation beneath her feet caught her attention, prompting her to tap the fingertips of her right foot against the cool, smooth surface of the stone floor. With each tap, Toph couldn't help but notice the unfamiliar texture and reverberation that seemed to emanate from the ground.
"Strange?"
"Yes, it feels all moist, it feels as if a strange substance is right under our house, and not just ours, I can feel every house within a hundred metres diameter, and all of them have this strange substance," Toph explained.
"Any idea what it could be?" Naruto questioned with a finger on his chin and a thoughtful look before placing his open hand on the floor.
"No idea, but whatever it is, it feels very strange," Toph answered, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Frustrated, she tapped the floor with the tip of her feet several times, hoping for an answer that eluded her.
With a deep breath, he grew a tree to grow beneath the foundations of the house. However, despite his immense strength, the tree stubbornly refused to sprout, perplexing him. Huh, Naruto thought, his brows furrowing in confusion as a surge of frustration coursed through him. He swiftly dashed outside. Sensing his urgency, Toph wasted no time and hurried after him, the gust of a gentle spring wind brushing against them with fleeting freshness. As they stepped onto the open ground, the surrounding trees began to sway ever so slightly.
"Toph," Naruto questioned, directing his gaze towards the multitude of houses surrounding theirs, "do you think every house in Ba Sing Se is like ours?" The neighborhood sprawled before them, stretching far and wide. Naruto couldn't help but notice that no one was walking around.
"No idea, when we were on the tour around Ba Sing Se, we spent the majority of the time on that stupid carriage with the crazy lady," Toph replied with evident annoyance in her voice. Naruto, chose to remain silent. Placing both hands firmly on the ground, a tree vein shot forth from the ground, forcefully splitting the earth asunder. Towering at a height of ten meters.
"What are you trying to test, plant boy?" Toph inquired with a mischievous expression, finding the situation amusing. Naruto responded with a light chuckle as he extended his open palm toward the tree's sturdy trunk. As his hand made contact, his senses seemed to transcend the tree's surface, allowing him to experience the intricate network of roots below the ground. He could also perceive the peculiar substance beneath the house, which had a peculiar resemblance to the taste and texture of dirt-infused water.
"Well," Naruto began with an emotionless expression on his face, his hand shifting away from the trunk, "It seems the Dai Li and whoever is in charge of them have more power than we thought," Toph, furrowed her brows and leaned against the wall.
"What makes you say that?" Toph questioned. While she had noticed something was off about Ba Sing Se, she didn't want to believe the entire city was controlled by a group of people who were obviously wrong on the head.
"The moment we entered, the crazy woman was with us all the time, she was the one who decided what places we could go, and is clear the people here are afraid to talk, even the mere mention of the War seems to make them afraid, as if saying such a word is forbidden," Naruto explained not looking at her, Toph nodded in agreement, it was true that they had been in a way ordered by the crazy woman to visit the places only she wanted to visit.
"You think the Dai Li controls the city?" Toph asked. It was as if she already knew the answer. Suddenly, she jerked her head to the right in a swift motion. An undeniable feeling crawled up her spine, feeling as if someone had been watching them.
"Not just this ring, I think the entire Ba Sing Se, including the King is controlled by whoever is in charge of the Dai Li," Naruto responded solemnly.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Toph questioned as she leaned forward, away from the wall, and walked over to him, standing side by side with Naruto.
"This whole thing is planned, Toph. It's clear that everything in the city is controlled, that means the entire city is controlled by the Dai Li, they're the biggest strength inside the City, they're the one guarding the gates and the palace of Ba Sing Se, they're the police and they decide who should be arrested, so my guess is either the King is trying to deceive the city he rules, or someone close to the King is doing the deed, and the King is simply a figurehead," Naruto explained, as he keenly observed his surroundings, he noticed a hidden Dai Li agent concealing himself amidst the branches of a tree located not too far from Naruto's residence.
Toph remained noticeably silent for sixty seconds following Naruto's statement.
Toph's foot tapped twenty-five times in perfect synchrony, the sound reverberating through the air. Suddenly, she punched Naruto's shoulder.
Caught off guard and clutching his aching shoulder, Naruto looked at her annoyed. "What was that for?" he demanded with irritation. Rubbing his sore shoulder.
"It was fun," Toph answered casually, a slight smirk dancing on her lips, before turning around on her heels, her footsteps echoing against the pavement as she confidently walked towards the house. Naruto followed behind. He closed the door. Toph leaned closer to Naruto.
"They took the bait," she whispered with a mischievous smile of amusement. Naruto smiled back at her with a triumphant grin. As a gift, he kissed her beautiful cheek.
This caught her off guard, causing her face to instantly flush a bright shade of red, and her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. Finally, gathering her courage, she took a deep breath.
"That's it?" Toph questioned with annoyance but an amused look on her face; Naruto couldn't help but be caught off guard.
"Ohh," Naruto chuckled mischievously, thoroughly enjoying Toph's playful reaction as he teasingly inquired, "does my princess want more?" The sound of his laughter filled the air, resonating with amusement, as Toph's fist once again collided with his arm in mild frustration. Unaffected by the light punch, Naruto watched as she walked away from him while murmuring, "Stupid Naruto."
Naruto's attention quickly turned towards the kitchen. To his surprise, Sokka was there, his hands balancing a mountain of meat that could easily feed an entire battalion. Naruto's eyebrows.
"Who's that for? We are only five people here." Naruto's questioned caused Momo to let out a loud shout. Naruto couldn't help but roll his eyes before extending his index finger towards Momo, an impish smile playing on his lips. "I meant six," he remarked, punctuating his words with a nod of agreement from Momo.
"Don't forget about Appa, does he count?" Toph asked with a chuckle as she lay comfortably on her back, surrounded by a mountain of plush pillows.
"Well, that makes us seven." Naruto walked over and sat beside the earthbending girl. She gently shifted her legs and outstretched them, placing them atop Naruto's own legs. Their laughter filled the air as Toph's feet dangled slightly above the ground.
"Who said this precious meat was for any of you?" The intensity of his glare matched his firm grip on the meaty treasures as if they were the most valuable possessions in the world.
"Sokka, I will never understand what Princess Yue saw on you?"
"Me too," Katara quickly added with a cheeky smile, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she playfully provoked Sokka with her words, evoking a glare from her brother.
"I'm a growing boy; I need to grow up," he declared confidently, attempting to justify his actions.
"Sure, at this rate, you will become as big as Appa," Naruto added with a deadpan look. This humorous comment earned a giggle from Toph, who appreciated the remark.
However, she wondered about who they were talking about, "Who's Princess Yue?" The moment she said her name, Sokka turned a bit red in the face. Katara bursted into laughter.
"Ohh, Princess Yue, the poor girl, young and beautiful, such tragedy for her fate," Naruto exclaimed passionately, his voice filled with deep empathy and profound emotion. However, his theatrical words earned a glare from Sokka.
Katara cleared her throat with a teasing smile.
"Indeed, Princess Yue, she had a bright future, full of hope, but one day, Sokka came into her life, and turned her world upside down. Now, she yearns for Sokka's arms around her," she wrapped her arms around herself. Naruto and Toph couldn't help but chuckle at Katara's animated performance.
Sokka, didn't seem to appreciate what they were doing. His gaze locked firmly on his sister, he prepared himself to deliver a verbal retort, words weighted with annoyance and frustration. However, before he could express his rebuttal, the sound of the creaking door on the second floor grabbed everyone's attention.
They heard the sound of approaching footsteps, Aang appeared before them. Naruto's eyes couldn't help but catch a subtle change in Aang's countenance; he looked much more serious than he usually was.
"What were you doing upstairs, Aang?" Katara asked, as he reached the first floor.
"Not much, I was training on water bending," Aang answered with an innocent smile while rubbing the back of his bald head. Naruto couldn't help but notice the discrepancy in Aang's words, it puzzled him a little, Aang was never one to lie. Even Katara, knew he wasn't being sincere.
"Well, we are preparing food," Katara kindly invited Aang to join. Aang nodded in acknowledgment. As Aang passed by, Naruto caught a glimpse of wariness in his glance, which puzzled him. He couldn't help but wonder what could be bothering the Avatar.
Reflecting on recent events, Naruto remembered the look Aang gave him when Naruto destroyed the drill. Naruto noticed that ever since the incident, Aang seemed somewhat distant and guarded towards him.
As everyone sat around the table, Katara used her Waterbending to fill their plates with stew.
"Aang, can you please cool her stew, is it too hot for our dear Toph?" Naruto teased with a dramatic voice; Aang chuckled a little, before letting out a soft blow of wind to cool down her stew.
Toph, clearly unimpressed by their antics, shot a menacing glare in their direction. In an instant, she subtly shifted her feet, causing both Naruto and Aang to abruptly lose their balance. Consequently, their faces descended swiftly, landing squarely onto the plate brimming with hot, aromatic stew.
Naruto's hand shot up to his face, he moved the plate away, as did Aang, thankfully, Katara showed mercy for them and bended away the stew from their faces.
Toph couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggles.
"Very funny."
Night
With a fluid motion, he extended his arms, causing the very ground above him to recede. He and his companions, a group of four, began their ascent towards the elevated domain. Step by step, until they finally stood upon the solid stone floor, a handle of polished metal. He stretched his arm towards the handle and clasped it firmly within his grip. He moved it. Once the door opened, he continued his upward climb. And before long, he emerged into the first floor of the house.
The group crept through the hidden doorway onto the first floor, their footsteps echoing eerily in the silence. As they entered, their eyes darted around the dimly lit room, struggling to discern any sign of movement or sound. One of them advanced towards a closed door. He turned the doorknob, making sure no sound was made. The door gradually swung open, a bed occupied by an unknown figure hidden beneath a thick, blanket.
He reached into the depths of his pocket, retrieving a knife.
Finally, he stood within striking distance, his grip on the handle of the dagger tightening. He swiftly and forcefully brought the blade down with expert precision, aiming for the throat. But to his bewilderment, instead of blood torrents, a cloud of ethereal feathers exploded into the air, swirling in the air like a ghostly apparition.
He had stabbed a pillow.
"You are not as stealthy as you think," it taunted, sending shivers down his spine. Before he could even muster a response, a surge of pain erupted in his throat, leaving him gasping for air.
He tried to breathe, but he fell another hard stroke on the neck,
With a fierce glint in his eyes, Naruto's gaze descended moron who tried to kill him. He swiftly seized a rope, wrapping it around his arms, he kept tightening it until the assassin groaned in pain.
As the knots tightened, Naruto heard the sound of the others fighting in the other rooms. The blonde ventured beyond his room, venturing into the communal area. Laying on the floor, with their arms bound were four Dai Li agents, they were all unconscious.
"It seems your plan worked, Naruto," Sokka praised him with a mixture of relief and admiration evident in his breathless voice. He paused for a moment, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath after the intense fight they had just endured. Amidst this display of exhaustion, a subtle grimace of concern formed on Sokka's face as he inspected his trusty boomerang, only to find dark, crimson drops staining its sharp edge.
"What now? Should we tell someone?" Aang anxiously inquired, his gaze fixed upon Katara, expecting her to agree with her. However, he was slightly surprised as she shot a fierce glare towards the motionless bodies of the unconscious Dai Li agents sprawled across the floor in front of them.
"Tell who?" with a hint of disdain in his voice, Aang understood that it was a rhetorical inquiry, not expecting any direct response. "They rule the city, we can't tell anyone," Naruto firmly voiced his belief. After making his point, Naruto strode towards his room, leaving Aang and the others waited.
Until Naruto reappeared, this time with the fifth Dai Li agent slung over his shoulder. The agent remained conscious, whimpering softly. Acting without hesitation, Naruto dropped the agent onto the floor, causing him to cry out in pain.
Aang couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he observed Naruto's gaze fixed upon the Dai Li agents. Reminding him of the way Azula once looked at him when they first crossed paths.
"What are you doing with them?" It took a moment for him to understand that it was Katara's voice.
"There's only one way to learn information from them, in the way Ba Sing Se is right now is worthless to us and the world. Whoever is in charge is more fund of lying to everyone and act as if everything is okay, rather than face the harsh truth. I don't know if is the king or someone else, but those agents are the only ones who can answer our questions." Naruto answered firmly.
Aang couldn't help but agree in a way. Ba Sing Se was controlled, and he knew they needed information, but how would they get that information from the Dai Li agents? It was unlikely they would just tell them everything out of the goodness of their hearts.
"They won't talk, Naruto," Sokka grumbled, frustration lacing his voice, as he pondered the situation. "I doubt they will open their mouths, so how do you think we can learn information from them?" He paused, waiting for Naruto's response. The blonde turned to face Toph.
"Bound them to the wall," Toph nodded resolutely. With an assertive stomp upon the floor beneath her, a cascade of earth rose up from the floor, encasing the agents' hands and legs in an unyielding grip. The solid rocks constricted tightly around their limbs, leaving no room for movement or escape.
Their backs pressed firmly against the imposing wall behind them.
Naruto quickly slapped each one of them, making sure they were awake, they couldn't really give information if they were sleeping. Their fixed upon Naruto, who pulled out a small dagger from his pocket. The sight of the glinting blade made Aang gulp, his face becoming pale as beads of cold sweat formed and trickled down his forehead. He hoped Naruto wasn't about to do something drastic.
"What are you doing with that, Naruto?" Aang questioned, his voice filled with curiosity and concern as he took a step forward. With his staff tightly clenched in his hands, however, Naruto completely ignored him as if he wasn't even there.
"I will ask one time, who is your leader? What is happening in Ba Sing Se, and we will let all of you live." Naruto's words csme out emotionless, one of the agents locked eyes onto Naruto with a blend of derision and scorn.
"You have made a great mistake. you might have the Avatar, but Ba Sing Se doesn't need him, no one needs the Avatar anymore." In a fit of rage, he couldn't help but shout. With a mix of anger and amusement, he released a scornful chuckle.
"Do you really expect me to believe that children like you will tort-" his words cut off as he suddenly felt a sharp and agonizing pain pierce through his chest, causing him to gasp. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief as he glanced downwards, only to see a dagger that had punctured his heart.
His vision blurred and distorted, the edges fading away as if being devoured by an insatiable void. His weakening heartbeat echoed in his ears.
Slowly, all semblance of light and hope waned, plunging him deeper into an abyss. The last vestiges of life slipped away.
"One down. Four to Go."
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