Iroh lowered his favorite cup of tea, alarmed as a long crack nearly split it in half.
A sense of foreboding washed over him.
The old man sighed deeply, enjoying the fresh air. He noticed the bustling crowd on the street, but one familiar figure caught his eye.
"Hey, I know you."
"..." Toph paused as she passed the tea shop at the city's center, the shortest route to the northern exit. "It's you..." she muttered, her suppressed anger palpable for miles.
"Yes, it's me." Ignoring the girl's hatred, the Dragon of the West maintained his serene smile. "What's shaking? Or was it... How about it? Honestly, I still struggle with the slang the kids use, but hey, I give it a shot."
Toph's expression remained stone, her feet grounding into the earth, knuckles white with tension.
She wanted to lash out.
"..." Letting out a long sigh, Iroh shook his head. The old man's calm demeanor and soothing voice helped quell her urge.
He's not like her.
At least, that's what he hoped.
Observing the turmoil in Toph's expression, Iroh approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, sensing her tension. Despite her initial reaction, the poor girl seemed distressed.
"You seem like someone who could use a cup of tea. The shop is still closed, but we can open early for you. What do you think?"
"Are you mocking me?" Toph snapped, angrily swatting the old man's hand away, thinking he was jesting.
"No, you seem very angry and on the verge of making a mistake. Why not find peace with a good cup of tea and an old man willing to listen?"
"..."
"..."
"Do you have cookies?"
With a smile, Iroh gently patted the girl on the back and guided her to his tent.
She became the first customer of 'The Dragon of the West.'
….
"Do you hail from the elemental nations?"
"Would you like to know?" With a mocking smile, the marked giant tilted his head. "I can provide the answers you seek, in exchange for one thing... stay out of my way."
"That's not happening." Tightening his grip on the staff, the Uzumaki stood firm and prepared for a fight.
"Why are you doing this?"
"…" The question gave the Uzumaki pause.
"Why fight for people you don't even know?" he asked, curious about the shinobi's resolve.
Since leaving his lair, he had only heard praise for the child who was hailed as a savior, bringing hope to the people. It was almost amusing how desperate people could be.
"Because it's the right thing to do," Naruto calmly replied, offering a simple and straightforward answer before Shòukǔ's eyes. "What about you? Why do you want to kill all these people?"
"Because it's the right thing to do." She maintained her smile, gently caressing the necklace hanging from her neck. "All I want is a world of peace and prosperity."
"Joining the Fire Nation?"
"Don't compare me to those scoundrels. I see beyond the military and earthly power that foolish Ozai desires. Let's just say they make my job easier." The gleam in her eyes as she spoke those words caused Naruto to grit his teeth.
"Job?"
"One hundred years ago, there was one elemental master for every twenty inhabitants. Now, with the extinction of the Air Nomads, the same fate has befallen the Water Tribes. Wasn't the little girl accompanying you the last waterbender of the South Pole?"
Naruto clenched his teeth at the disrespect toward his friend but maintained his composure, for now.
"All this collateral damage has also affected the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. Their numbers have dwindled from 20 to 1 of masters to just a handful of 1 to 1000. The odds are in my favor."
"Odds?"
The warrior's smile alone and his enjoyment in recounting the deaths of thousands, even millions of people over the years, made Naruto's blood boil.
"Is all this just numbers to you?"
"No," shaking his head, his smile widened at the brat's furious expression, "It's a joy that you will never understand. When this war is over, we won't have to worry about the next one because I will put an end to them all, the benders of the planet." His fingers stopped caressing the necklace around his neck to look at it one last time before turning his gaze back to the teenager.
"End them? Is this a joke?"
"Doesn't that sound wonderful? A new world without people who abuse gifts they should never have possessed. The wars for supremacy will end, and at the end of the day, we will all only be human in a purified world."
"You're crazy…"
"Maybe... or it's just the world that's crazy..."
"That's your plan?! Finish them all off?!"
"Yes, it's that simple."
"Removing the doublers from the map, things were not different."
"You're right, at the end of the day, humans are dangerous and stupid even without powers. I wouldn't be surprised if the conflict still continues with the disappearance of the elemental masters. But at least they will be much more balanced than now. But it doesn't matter, I'll be there."
"And you're going to kill anyone who disturbs your perfect world?"
"Yes," the warrior's eyes shone with determination, leaving no doubt in his words or posture. "It is time for someone to take the reins of this world. I will not be the hero who promises a better tomorrow. I will be the man who makes this world a better place, with my own hands."
"That's not peace! It'll just be a world living in fear of you!"
"And isn't that true peace? A threat that keeps all people united and grateful for what they have. This world doesn't need the Avatar! Not even a supposed savior like you! They need someone like me! A monster! That won't give them the peace you want! But the peace they really need!"
"Well, not on my watch, you son of a bitch!" Naruto had heard enough. Reasoning with this guy was pointless.
"Please, you're just a brat playing the hero. Tell me something... Will you kill us?"
"..."
"Will you kill us all?" He mocked, pointing at himself and the army behind him. "That's why it will be the only way to stop this! If you don't have the courage to end my life! You're not a threat..."
When the marked giant was about to advance with his army, a strong current of air made him stop.
"Take just one step... and I'll kill you," said Naruto coldly, his staff pointed at Shòukǔ's face.
His threat was met with an immediate response.
The ground shook as the ultimate warrior took another step, disappointment filling his gaze as he saw the boy still standing, doing nothing.
Naruto did nothing, but from the great wall behind him, dozens of doors opened, and thousands of soldiers from the Earth Kingdom poured out, charging against the army of the Fire Nation with heartbreaking screams.
"I expected more from you," the ultimate warrior raised his arm, and immediately the gears of all the weapons were heard turning.
Cannon shots.
Firearms firing.
A rain of fire.
Chaos descended upon the soldiers, who kept running until they were overwhelmed.
Instead of encountering the blood of all those soldiers, they only saw white smoke and hundreds of yellow flashes hurled like spears against the soldiers of the Fire Nation, who were terrified, facing a rain of clones of that boy.
Shòukǔ turned around to see on the other side, behind his army, the rising earth and the arrival of hundreds of soldiers from the Earth Kingdom.
The real soldiers.
They didn't hesitate to attack the rear of the Red Army, overwhelming them on both sides.
Chaos broke loose as Naruto and Shòukǔ spun around to strike their fists together with monstrous force.
The fate of Ba Sing Se would be decided in this battle.
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]