CHAPTER 3: First Encounter Fire Nation and Freedom Fighters
Konichiwa! We're coming to that time of the year, that's right Fall. And as the air grows colder, we want more time under the warmth of our covers. So why not enhance that with some new chapters to enjoy.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: I NEED YOUR HELP. It can be a lot to write different stories consistently, and at times it helps to get opinions.
So I have started a time limited Poll regarding Kunoichi amongst Heroes. The link is on my Tumblr Page. Free for all to cast their vote.
Join my Tumblr Page as new projects and updates will be shared more frequently in the future.
https: / / www. tumblr.com / blog / katsura369
Once again Sakura was on the hard trail of the forest, where she had been for the last three days. But she wasn't complaining because this scenery would soon be lost to her and things were going to become more rocky in a manner of speaking.
She was going to have to cross a place called the Great Divide to get to the other side of the Earth Kingdom. There would be more villagers following, and according to the doctor, there might be fewer Firenation colonies, unlike the area where she currently resided.
Coming across a river, Sakura stopped to refill her animal skins, taking in the chill that seeped through her hands, while admiring the tranquility of her surroundings, the sound of the flowing river, and the soothing winds that helped calm her restlessness.
A noise broke the silence, and it wasn't a mere rustling in the nearby bushes or some forest creature. No. These were people's screams, the sound of steel clashing in the near distance. Sakura's body tensed on instinct, as she dashed through the forest, into the trees as the commotion grew louder.
"What is that?"
..
..
..
Sakura stayed perched high in the trees, her sharp eyes scanning the scene below. Amidst the dense forest, a battle was unfolding. Soldiers in red and black armor, covered head to toe shooting flames from their hands and feet without any signs. Though every movement was a purposeful combatant stance.
'So this must be fire bending,'
What an intriguing technique.
They weren't just doing this for fun either, but were taking battle, nearly thirty against three…boys. Yes, those were young teenagers who were fighting against all that fire and the arms that came with it.
One boy, wielded a pair of hook swords with incredible agility, deflecting the soldiers' attacks with fluid, precise movements. The second boy, with a serious expression and a bow slung over his shoulder, had arrows flying and effortlessly hitting their marks. Then there was the most petite of the group, throwing daggers at the men, throwing off their flames.
This was all taking place in some kind of camp, judging by the fire pits, tents, and crates. The teenagers were holding their own, but they were outnumbered and beginning to tire.
She saw one of the men grabbing the youngest from behind, knocking the weapons out of their hands. Before either boy could step in, Sakura decided to make her presence known. She jumped from the trees, appearing behind the soldier, and knocking him down from behind. He fell easily.
The boy…no girl, looked at her skeptically. "Who are you?"
Some of the other soldiers turned attention to her, as Sakura strengthened her stance. "Someone who definitely has a better way to spend her afternoon,"
She could feel the heat of the flames before they had even gotten close but even so, Sakura didn't hesitate to move. She ducked through the flames, before pushing on her soles to strike, blurring across everyone's field of vision before hitting her mark. She didn't watch the soldier go down.
"Seriously who is she?"
"No idea, but we could use the help!" the boy with the hook swords shouted back, a grin spreading across his face.
She dodged a fire blast, feeling the heat sear the air inches from her face, and retaliated with a chakra-infused punch that sent the soldier flying back, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.
She darted towards another soldier, ducking under his swinging blade and delivering a swift kick to his midsection. The soldier doubled over, and Sakura took the opportunity to elbow him in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Meanwhile, the boy with the hook sword whirled his blades through the air, cutting through the soldier's defense. The archer, provided cover from a distance, his arrows flying with deadly precision.
"Thanks for the assist," he said, panting slightly but flashing her a quick grin.
"Don't mention it," Sakura replied.
A soldier charged at them, fire blazing from his fists. Jet deflected the flames with his hook swords, creating an opening for Sakura. She rushed forward, her fist glowing with chakra, and struck the soldier in the chest. He flew back with a force that left him unconscious on the forest floor. That was the last one.
"That was impressive,"
"I could say the same," Sakura commented back scanning over the camp sight now littered with unconscious bodies. "Why were they attacking you in the first place?"
"Let's just say the Fire Nation has it out for us," The dark-haired boy said, "I'm Jet, and this is Smellerbee and Longshot," He pointed to the girl and then the archer boy.
Sakura nodded to them, "My name is Sakura."
"Well, Sakura it looks like we're relocating camp. We should go before they wake up."
Before they could respond, a groan from Longshot caught Sakura's attention. The archer was clutching his side, a painful grimace on his face.
"Longshot were you hit?" There were some slight burns on his arms where the fire had grazed him during the confrontation. Jet and Smellerbee looked over his wound, discussing treatment. Sakura stepped in.
"I can take care of that. Excuse me." She knelt beside him, hovering her hand above the burn, assessing the wound before pouring some chakra into it. The wound closed and his pain eased, leaving no signs of burns anymore.
"That's interesting, so you're a water bender with healing."
It sounded more like an observation than a question but Sakura had heard something similar from the doctor and decided to play along with that when convenient.
"You're also really strong huh?" said Smellerbee, pointing back to one of the soldiers she had smacked into a tree trunk to which she just laughed coyly.
"I'm tougher than I look," Sakura laughed tightening her scarf.
"And what brings you here? Escaping the Fire Nation too?"
"I'm searching for someone," Sakura explained. '
"Who?"
"The avatar," The three exchanged looks with each other, telling Sakura that they knew of this person. "So you've met?"
"Yeah we know him," said Jet, hand on his hip. "Not sure where he is now though."
Sakura deflated, she didn't know if she would find any more leads but she couldn't just stand still.
"I can say this much if you're looking for him, he won't be staying around the Fire Nation. So any towns they're occupying, not your best bet,"
Sakura groaned, she wouldn't know which of those villagers and towns were until she went to them. At this rate, she was going to be scouring the entire continent. But what choice was there?
Adjusting her bag and brushing off whatever remnants of the forest she picked up from her fight, Sakura waved to the three ready to depart, "Well, I'll be off now."
But Jet intercepted her, "Hey, wait up! Where are you heading?"
"I'm heading through the Great Divide."
Jet exchanged glances with Smellerbee and Longshot. "The Great Divide, huh? We're headed that way too. But first, we have to get through this forest. It's crawling with wild animals and Fire Nation soldiers. It's not exactly the safest route."
Sakura didn't seem overly concerned. "I can handle myself,"
"I got that," Jet grinned, overlooking the camp once more, clearly impressed. "But since we're heading in the same direction anyway…"
..
..
..
The Great Divide was stretched before them, like a colossal scar carved into the earth, its sheer walls rising hundreds of feet on either side. The rock faces, weathered by centuries of wind and water, displayed layers of rich hues—deep reds, burnt oranges, and pale yellow. The canyon floor was a labyrinth of rocky outcrops and winding paths, where sparse vegetation clung to life in the crevices.
The air was thick with the scent of earth and stone.
It was a breathtaking view, that Sakura could appreciate even under the circumstances. Her current travel companions seemed just as impressed by the magnificence of it all. As well as concerned that they would need to cross through it.
Just standing out, near the edge of the canyon was a small worn-out shed.
"Wasn't there supposed to be a canyon guide?" asked Smellerbee, folding her arms.
Jet came out of the little shed, carrying a piece of paper, "Apparently he quit, and no one's replaced him. It's now travel at your own risk, according to the guidelines."
"A guide?"
"An earthbender," said Smellerbee, "He took people across this canyon safely but now we're going to have to do this on our own."
"It'll be fine," Jet assured her. "We can make it together. We always do."
Sakura realized quickly that Jet was the one leading this band, and his companions held a lot of respect for him. Even when he instructed them to finish up their food supply and leave behind whatever they couldn't finish. It would take at least 24 hours for them to travel through the Great Divide on foot, and they would likely be spending a night or two there.
"Why exactly do we need to eat now?" Sakura asked, taking a handful of bread she had.
"There are canyon crawlers down there. We're more likely to run into them if they smell food on us,"
This world's dangers still eluded Sakura, and for that time, she was grateful for having agreed to join the three on their travels. She still wasn't familiar enough with this place, and for a shinobi, information was critical for survival. Not just skills. And she had to adapt, fast. And with the time to spare, she might be able to learn even more about her new reality.
After finishing a sufficient amount of her previous food supply and tightening the scarf on her head, Sakura asked if they were ready to go.
..
..
..
The trek through the canyon from the starting point was arduous as they had to climb the narrow ledges and steep descents demanding their full attention and caution. The sheer scale of the place was humbling and the heat smoldering, which did not make for a comfortable environment to journey a canyon. The path they followed twisted and turned, sometimes narrowing to a precarious strip of rock that clung to the canyon wall.
Of course, this was no issue for one particular member of the party.
Sakura moved with the grace and agility that came from shinobi training, her pace and stamina far surpassing those of her new companions. Her every step was sure and steady, even along the treacherous ledges where a single misstep could mean a deadly fall.
Jet led the way, his sharp eyes scanning for danger, but even he had to be careful as he maneuvered the canyon walls. He jumped across a gap in the path, using one of his sword hooks to stabilize himself, landing deftly on the other side, and turned to offer his assistance to Longshot and Smellerbee. Ensuring they didn't lose balance when they leaped across the larger spacious gap.
"This is why we would've needed an earth bender," observed Smellerbee.
"Come on," Jet urged, his voice steady. "We've got to keep moving. I'm not sure they would but soldiers might patrol the area."
Longshot leaped first, his agile form easily making the distance. Smellerbee followed, a little more hesitant, as her size wasn't an advantage for this task, but managing the jump with Jet's steadying hand. As Jet extended his hand to Sakura, she merely smiled.
"Thanks, but I've got this," she said, and with a fluid motion, she leaped into the gap, landing lightly on a small stone that jutted out from the canyon wall. From there, she sprang over their heads, her scarf fluttering behind her like a banner.
Jet raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're something else," he remarked as they continued their descent.
Sakura merely shrugged, offering a modest smile. "I've had a lot of training. It comes in handy in these situations."
Although she realized this journey would've been faster if she had taken it alone, Sakura decided her choice was morally correct as she used her skills to assist the three and keep them from tumbling down the canyon wall. She helped them navigate the trickier sections of the path, pointing out loose rocks and potential hazards before they became a problem. She moved with the confidence of someone who was completely at home in the wilderness, and her companions found themselves relying on her more and more.
"Watch your step here," she warned, pointing out a particularly unstable section of the trail. "The rocks are loose. Move quickly but carefully."
Jet nodded, following her lead. "You know, if we ever need a new guide, you'd be at the top of my list."
Sakura chuckled softly. "I'll keep that in mind. For now, let's just focus on getting through this canyon."
With Sakura's help, they managed to traverse the most dangerous parts of the trail, her presence a steadying force in the midst of the wild, untamed landscape. As they reached the bottom and the path leveled out, Jet couldn't help but feel grateful for their unexpected companion.
"You really are something else, Sakura," he said, his tone genuine. "Thanks for helping us through."
Sakura smiled, her gaze sweeping over the canyon's floor, "We've still got a way to go. Let's keep moving."
..
..
..
Despite the headway they managed to make after climbing down the wall, the sun eventually dipped below and the world fell into silence. While Sakrua was able to keep going, she knew the heat and terrain had drained the stamina of her current companions. They were able to at least make it this far without further incident.
"We should make camp here," Jet suggested, surveying the area for a suitable spot. "It's too dangerous to keep moving in the dark."
They found a small, flat area near where the canyon rocks offered some protection from the wind. The group quickly set about gathering firewood and arranging their supplies. Longshot and Smellerbee worked on setting up a makeshift shelter using the tarps they carried.
The fire was already crackling, casting a warm glow against the rocky walls. They settled around it the warmth a welcome comfort against the cool night air. The flames danced and flickered, casting shifting shadows that played across their faces. The canyon, which had seemed so daunting in the daylight, took on an even more mysterious air in the dark. The sounds of the night – the distant calls of nocturnal creatures and the whisper of the wind through the rocks – surrounded them. As well as the sounds of their growing stomachs.
"Nothing we can do about that till we get out of here," said Jet.
It wasn't a loss to go a day without food, at least not for Sakura. She hadn't been going at her usual pace all this time, so she had conserved plenty of energy.
But with nothing left to do aside from rest for the next day, Smellerbeen and Longshot were quick to turn in for the night, their exhaustion taking its toll.
But Sakura was still restless and with energy, and Jet seemed to notice this as well. "Aren't you going to sleep?"
"I'll stay and keep watch for a while, I'm not that tired," Sakura shrugged. Staring into the flames, her eyes had slipped somewhere else and Jet could see that.
"I can stay up for a while," Jet said, sitting next to her by the fire. "So, why are you looking for Aang?"
"Aang?"
"The avatar," Jet Clarified.
Sakura already anticipated this question at some point and had her answer prepared. "So that's his name?"
Jet nodded, "Yeah, he's a pretty laid-back kid but he's a powerful bender."
"Kid?" She was looking for a child. So far from what she had gathered, the avatar was an important figure in the world, and now she learns he was merely a child. "How old?"
"About 12,"
She graduated as a kunoichi at that age, but even so, Sakura remembered where her mentality stood at that age, despite her intellect. It was the same for Sasuke and Naruto. And the matter she had to face was literally otherworldly and it honestly put a lump of concern in her stomach. And she had yet to meet this person, but at least she could get information from Jet about him.
She realized she still hadn't answered Jet's question, "I need him to help me with a dilemma I'm in, but I can't specify."
"Oh…Well, the avatar does have that job description." Jet glanced away into the darkness. "He's traveling with some friends, on a giant sky bison. And he's a hot topic, so you'll probably hear some rumors from the villages,"
There was definitely a lot that Sakura could learn from Jet, and she spent that time trying to learn as much as she could from him. Learning about the two companions who were water tribe, and his sky bison that flew them everywhere, and a trademark that only he had. The avatar was the only one who could master all four elements but he had to learn them first. Jet believed that was the reason for his travels. She tried to hear more about his experience with the avatar but that's when Jet seemed to become more closed off. He didn't specify much there.
"So why are you all traveling through here?" Sakura asked after Jet had ex
"We're heading to the Earth Kingdom capital and stronghold Ba Sing Se. It's where refugees run from the Fire Nation. It's one of the last safe places left." Jet leaned back, lying to stare up at the sky. "We want a fresh start, and that's where we're going to get it."
Of course, there was still more for Sakura to learn about this world, including this war that was raging around it entirely.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!
If you want to get a hold of these latest chapters check out my Tumblr where you can join as a member. You can also get the update schedule to follow. As well as Fanart posts.
MEMBERS NOW:
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia
-NEW STORY: Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (2, 3, 4, 5,6,7)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter 69, 70, 71
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter 29, 30, 31
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 20, 21, 22, 23
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi
Want more INFO on my STORIES and ARTWORK lookup Katsura369 in your search Tab!