Naruto almost dropped the glass of water when he heard the door to Toph's room open.
His feet pounded against the floor as he hurried towards the hallway to see her emerge from her room.
He halted abruptly upon seeing her with a backpack slung over her shoulder.
Speech escaped him as he realized the significance of what he was witnessing.
The silence between them stretched, each waiting for the other to break it, but moments passed without a word.
Finally, Toph, her gaze fixed downward, broke the silence.
"Aang is already a great earthbender... we found Appa... I think it's time for him to come home," she murmured softly, barely audible, before starting down the hallway towards the mansion's exit, heading home.
But her path was blocked when Naruto's arm collided with the wall next to her, halting her progress.
"Are you leaving? Just like that?" Naruto questioned dryly, his gaze unwavering as Toph raised her head, meeting his with her white eyes.
"Yes," she replied, her tone growing harsher, "Now step aside, and say goodbye to the others. When the Fire Nation invasion comes, look for me. You know where I live." She lowered her head, attempting to pass under Naruto's arm.
But he seized her wrist, preventing her from moving further.
The silence was heavy, each breath resonating in the quiet.
"Let me go, Naruto."
It wasn't a request; it was an order, one with serious consequences if ignored.
"No," Naruto responded firmly, tightening his grip on her wrist, refusing to release her.
Clearly, this was not the answer Toph wanted to hear.
The ground beneath their feet trembled as a large marble plate rose and slammed Naruto against the wall, shattering it and leaving spiderweb-like cracks reaching the ceiling.
Despite the forceful blow that would have incapacitated most, he held onto Toph's wrist tightly, his grip unyielding.
Gritting his teeth with fury, he attempted to strike back, but found his other hand seized in her grasp.
"Let me go!"
The next blow was even more brutal, a pillar emerged from the ground and struck Naruto's face, causing blood to flow from his now broken nose, yet he held on steadfastly.
"I won't release you..." He could see the desperation in Toph's attempts to break free, but he wouldn't relent, even if it meant breaking bones or demolishing the mansion, "Until you listen to me."
"..." Toph stood silently, her eyes lowered, ceasing her struggle against Naruto's grip, which had softened.
"I..." He knew his wrongdoing all too well.
He had betrayed not only his best friend, but also his first.
He felt worthless, knowing that even if he begged for forgiveness, it wouldn't undo the damage.
But Ayame used to say that admitting one's mistakes and making amends was the path to redemption, starting with just two words.
"I'm sorry," his words rang out, accompanied by a gentle tightening of his grip on Toph's hands, not to harm her, but to reassure her of his presence.
He stood before her, apologizing for destroying their friendship.
Unfortunately, it wasn't their friendship that had been shattered.
"You lied."
The girl's face remained blank for a moment, then shifted to one of pure fury, her teeth clenched and brow furrowed.
"…?"
Naruto seemed bewildered by her words and didn't get a chance to ask what she meant before she withdrew her hands and pushed him hard, causing him to step back.
"You lied!"
Toph didn't stop at just pushing him. No, she raised her fists and began to punch the shinobi in the face with all her strength.
It didn't hurt her much, being almost 13 and able to endure even a dynamite explosion to the face.
Naruto patiently endured her onslaught, waiting for her to tire out. After what felt like endless minutes, she finally stopped.
But he wasn't about to calm down.
"You said you'd always be there when I needed you most! And where were you?!"
"I already apologized."
"I don't care!" The girl's face flushed with fury, her blood boiling. "I went out looking for you, thinking something had happened to you! And what do I find? You making out with that… that… trash!" She spat with venom and disgust at the thought of that girl. No, that damn bitch.
"What's wrong with you?!"
Naruto could endure Toph's insults and hits all day if it helped her vent and calm down. But speaking about Azula like that behind her back? He couldn't let it slide.
Needless to say, Toph became even angrier when he dared to defend that girl.
"She's just using you! She doesn't care about you and she never will!"
"You don't know her!"
"But I know you!"
A heavy silence fell between the teenagers, the weight of that last sentence lingering. It lasted even longer until Toph broke it, her tone now low and somber.
"You see the good in people even when it's not there. You said it yourself. She attacked you, she hurt you. Who's to say she won't do it again?" She asked, placing her hand against his chest, fearing those heartbeats might cease because he trusted the wrong person.
"She's changed."
Toph withdrew her hand from his chest upon hearing his words. Frustration welled up in her eyes as tears formed, and she raised her head, squeezing his right hand.
"You're so stupidly amazing!"
That slap stung him. Naruto ignored the burning sensation on his cheek, which had turned slightly red, maintaining his firm stance.
But everyone had their limit, and he had reached his.
"Why does it matter now? I trust Azula! She... means something to me..."
Those words ignited Toph's anger.
"What about me?!" she screamed, pounding her hands against his chest. It hurt, more than she realized, so much so that she didn't notice the tears welling in his eyes.
"You?" Naruto didn't expect to be grabbed by his jacket and slammed against the wall by the girl, who, more than angry, seemed... hurt.
"Everything..." She pressed him against the wall, exerting all her strength to make him meet her gaze, though she couldn't see him. She focused her sightless eyes on his face. "Everything... all the time we spent together, every laugh and fight... aren't they enough?"
"..." Naruto fell silent, grappling with a question he'd never faced before.
"Am I not special enough for you?"
"No... I..." It was an even tougher question, and he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes, lowering his head instead.
"Why did you kiss her?" It pained Toph to ask, but she needed an answer.
"What's the point of that question now?"
"Tell me why you kissed her?!"
"I don't know!" Naruto felt the weight of the moment bearing down on him. His heart raced, his palms sweated, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. "I... I kissed her... because... I think I like her."
Those words sent Naruto crashing to the ground as Toph released him, standing where she was, stunned.
"Because I think I like her..." Strange emotions swirled inside the earthbender, leaving her unsure how to handle them. "It hurts..." But what she felt most was the pain in her chest, a sensation entirely new to her, one she couldn't compare to anything she had ever experienced before.
Naruto sat on the ground, bewildered and lost amidst the unfolding events. Yet, something caught his attention—a sprinkle of water droplets falling onto his face.
His heart ached witnessing the tears trickling down Toph's cheeks. Never did he imagine the tough, rough, and mocking girl would cry before him, appearing so vulnerable and fragile.
All he wanted now was for her tears to cease. He couldn't bring himself to ask her to stop, though, as she dashed away, pausing only briefly at the door to utter a few parting words that would leave an indelible mark on Naruto.
"I... I wanted us to be more... more than... I... I just wanted... to be happy and be with you."
Naruto remained rooted in place like a statue, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him. He watched as Toph distanced herself from him, her figure receding into the distance.
When he finally managed to rise to his feet, an impulse surged within him to chase after her. Yet, a barrier of ice blocked his path, preventing him from pursuing her.
"You need to stop," Katara intervened, intercepting Toph as she hurried past. Ignoring the earthbender's determination to leave, Katara focused solely on Naruto. "And listen to me."
"But Toph," Naruto began, his mind racing for another route of escape. If necessary, he would tear down half the house to reach her.
However, a firm hand gripped his shoulder, compelling him to remain in place.
"If you truly want to make amends for what happened... I need you to stay here. Toph needs solitude; she's angry and needs time to calm down."
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]