Naruto landed softly on the ground, slamming his feet as he touched down. He spun the staff in his hands, causing the orange fins to retract into the staff. With one final slam against the ground, the dense layer of dust raised by the impact dispersed.
The soldiers' reactions were immediate.
"The Orange Pillar is an airbender!"
"That's impossible! The last airbender is the Avatar!"
"It's witchcraft!"
Ignoring the soldiers' ignorance, Shòukǔ began to walk forward, a move mimicked by Naruto as he approached his opponent, closing the distance between them.
There were long minutes of awkward, tense silence until they stood face to face, just a few steps apart.
"Thank you for waiting," Naruto expressed sincerely.
"Would it make a difference?" the ultimate warrior sneered at the boy's gratitude.
"A big one."
Smiling at the teen's gaze, he asked curiously, "New tricks?" scrutinizing the brat's cane closely, realizing it was more than just a Bo cane.
"It's a gift from a friend," the boy responded calmly, sensing doubts as he observed the warrior's expression; he didn't seem surprised.
"A great way to focus the futon chakra of your point system."
"How much do you know?" Naruto no longer harbored doubts; the man before him knew more than he let on.
"I know you're not an airbender."
The boy wasn't an airbender.
No.
Airbenders manipulated air, shaping it to their liking and turning it into a wind capable of destroying a forest.
What the brat did was create wind from scratch from his body and wield it as he pleased.
As if he were the very incarnation of a hurricane.
"Do you come from the elemental nations?"
That was a question Naruto was determined to get an answer to, no matter what. He didn't care how far he would have to go to find out.
….
On the other side of Ba Sing Se, both brothers were frozen by the unexpected arrival of their Aunt, who leaned against the door frame, dressed in typical refugee attire.
"..." Azula's eyes narrowed with rage as she noticed the knife in the general's right hand, a gift given to her last night.
"Nice gift..." Sui noticed her niece's gaze, her smile growing as she observed Azula's anger at the sight of the knife, "But not as angry as that one," she murmured, pointing the knife downwards.
The princess lowered her sleeve, concealing the bracelet, and illuminated her hands with fire, a gesture mirrored by Zuko. Without their uncle present, the two would have to manage as best they could, uncertain if more soldiers accompanied the general.
She planted the knife against the wall, grabbed a chair, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea.
"You have no idea how much I hate tea," she expressed with disgust, staring at the cup, resigned to drink it.
"..."
"But I need something to rid my mouth of the bad taste, after spending 48 hours surrounded by dirty and emaciated peasants," she poured another cup, drinking it with visible discomfort, "I don't know how that pathetic old man can always drink this," the firebender abruptly hurled the teapot to the floor, shattering it at the brothers' feet.
"What are you doing here?!" Azula couldn't contain her frustration, her desire to incinerate her aunt growing stronger.
"Ba Sing Se will fall," Sui dropped the teacup, crossing her legs and fixing her gaze on her nephews, "And when that happens, after we've killed all the earthbenders and enslaved a good number of civilians for labor, you'll be locked up with them... Do you think they'll treat you the same when they find out who you are?"
"..."
"I've heard of a young woman who fought and defended the refugees, becoming a savior and leader to them. You must have earned their respect and affection, but... Do you think it matters when I lock you up with them, Azula? People can change their minds so quickly..."
"..." The two teenagers felt queasy at their aunt's sinister, amused expression.
"You were soldiers, you're firebenders. It's clear what they would do to us if we were defenseless, and I don't blame you, after everything we've done."
"..."
"Let's see," Siu rubbed her chin playfully, giving her niece a wry smile, "Weren't you the one who, at 12 years old, set fire to the crops and homes of a small village, trapping several locals inside? Yes, I remember that."
"Father ordered me, I was just following orders."
"Oh come on, honey, let's not play the 'I followed orders' game. You did it and you enjoyed it, not only killing enemy soldiers but also your own... That's why you're my favorite."
"Be quiet!"
"You are so stupid, Azula. Do you really think that people like us have redemption? After everything we did? My girl... what we did earns us a special place in hell."
"I said shut up!" Azula couldn't bear to hear anymore and shot a large flare of fire, which was met by her aunt's own golden fire, who remained seated in the chair.
"I've been spying on you from a distance, isn't it cute? Watching you play with that stupid brat, go out with him, play, eat, talk about your feelings. I almost got diabetes just watching him... but."
"..." Azula's eyes gleamed darkly at her aunt's hidden smile.
"I won't deny it, it's cute. He would make a nice pet, living under me, doing everything I want, mowing the grass, washing my underwear, raiding a village, fucking me whenever I want... Isn't that what you wanted too?"
"..."
"Hmmm... I guess this whole journey of redemption really affected you. I almost believe you've changed, that you would live among these people, pretending to be something you're not, when we both know what will happen."
"..."
"When Ba Sing Se falls, you will be accused of treason, and I myself will ensure you're locked in the dirtiest and coldest cell there is. But you won't be alone, or maybe you will be. You'll have company, lots of it."
"…" Both brothers looked at their aunt's 'amused' smile with disgust.
"You will be locked up with the survivors, and I will let them know who you are, and well..." the general's smile grew, at the dark idea that occurred to her, "They will break you, they will beat you and do things that they would never do." they will make it so that you can't look in the mirror Zuko, and you Azula, I can already imagine that little mouth of yours, screaming for mercy when they break your arms and legs, only so that you can't defend yourself when all of them rape you over and over again, only when they happen the days and weeks, of incredible pain, when they beg to be killed... I will be the one to get them out of there, and end their pathetic lives..."
Azula had to use all her willpower to keep a cold mask on her face, although inside she felt like she was on her knees emptying the contents of her stomach onto the floor.
Zuko was no better, he was also close to collapsing, his Aunt's dark and dirty expression was a guarantee that she would keep her word, and what she said would only be a small part of all the evil that awaited them.
The prince looked down, seeing the look of his younger sister, the two brothers were doomed.
"..." Azula slowly raised her head, "If that's what awaits us..." the fire in the girl's hands glowed, brighter than they ever did, causing the temperature to skyrocket inside the room, "At least we'll get the pleasure of killing you!"
Zuko overturned the table, retrieving his twin swords hidden beneath. He hurled them at his aunt, who couldn't react in time as the blades pierced the shoulder pads of her clothes, pinning her against the wall.
With no chance to defend herself, she received a hard kick in the stomach from her niece, who was poised to incinerate her alive. Azula's blue flames clashed with her aunt's yellow ones, ready to reduce her to a charred stump.
"I know the truth about your mother..." Siu's cheek was barely singed by Azula's flames as she maintained her playful smile, watching the teenagers motionless.
"You lie!" Azula retorted, igniting her fist once again.
"I may be many things, but you know I was never known for being a liar," Siu calmly interjected, lowering Azula's flaming fist.
"What do you know about our mother?" Zuko, sensitive to the mention of his mother, inquired.
"I know everything..." the general discarded the swords and spoke.
"Then talk!" Azula demanded.
"She is alive."
The revelation stunned both brothers, leaving them in shock.
"But, father said-"
"Will you really take that bastard at his word? I thought you were smarter, Zuko."
"..." Azula pondered, her eyes downcast, "What do you want?"
"In exchange for information, I want something simple... loyalty"
"..."
"Don't you understand? I'm offering you everything you lost. The death of the Avatar and the Orange Pillar will be the greatest victory and the only one that truly matters. Do it, and you will regain your honor, your titles, your right to the throne... even the truth about your mother. I want you to tell me here and now, what you will do."
Both brothers exchanged glances for a few seconds, then turned their attention back to their aunt.
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]