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Aang stood before Naruto, his eyes narrowed with determination, the wind swirling at his feet. Naruto, his body bruised and bloodied from the battle with Long Feng and his Dai Li agents, stood tall, his breath ragged.
We are friends.
Even now, we are still friends.
"Naruto," Aang growled, his voice carrying both sorrow and fury, "you've gone too far. I can't let this continue."
Naruto's eyes flashed, his hand trembling as he raised it. The trees around him seemed to pulse with his energy, their trunks thick and gnarled, responding to his will. "Aang. I don't want to fight you—"
"Enough!" Aang's voice was sharp. The air around him stirred violently, picking up speed. "You've become something... I don't recognize anymore. I won't let you hurt anyone else."
With that, Aang's hands moved in a blur, a powerful gust surged toward Naruto. The blast of wind hit him like a hammer, sending him skidding across the cracked earth. But Naruto recovered quickly, slamming his hand into the ground. In response, thick roots burst from the soil, twisting into a protective barrier as the wind slammed into them, causing them to groan but hold fast.
Aang didn't wait. His body shifted with the fluid grace of a waterbender, summoning the moisture from the humid air. He thrust his arm forward toward Naruto, forming sharp, slicing tendrils. The water crashed against Naruto's wood barrier, cutting through the thinner roots and splashing against his face.
Naruto gritted his teeth, pushing past the pain. He raised his hands, and with a sharp motion, the trees responded. Massive trunks erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling like serpents. The largest one surged toward Aang, its branches sharp as spears, aiming to force him back. But Aang was quick. He leaped into the air with a gust of wind, flipping over the attacking branches. As he landed, he stomped his foot into the ground, and a shockwave of earthbending cracked the ground beneath Naruto's feet.
The earth buckled, and Naruto stumbled as the ground beneath him split apart. But before Aang could capitalize on the attack, Naruto regained his balance, slamming his palms into the earth. In response, a massive tree erupted from the ground beneath him, lifting him high above the battlefield. The tree twisted and contorted, its branches forming into the shape of a massive wooden dragon. Its wooden jaws opened wide, and with a roar, the dragon surged toward Aang, its long neck whipping through the air like a battering ram.
Aang's eyes narrowed, but he didn't falter. With a powerful sweep of his arms, he summoned a gale of wind, propelling himself high into the air, just barely avoiding the dragon's deadly bite. As he hovered in the sky, he twisted his hands in a circular motion, gathering the air around him into a swirling vortex. He directed the vortex downward, sending it crashing into the wooden dragon, splintering its branches with a deafening crack.
"Naruto! AANG!! STOP!!" Sokka and the others tried to get in between them when a massive windshield formed around Aang and Naruto, creating a massive circle made of wind wall.
Katara, Sokka, and Toph were thrown far from the shield, hitting the ground hard. Toph immediately tried to rush back, but a powerful gust from the wind barrier forced her to stay away, no matter how hard she pushed against it. She slammed her feet into the ground, attempting to tunnel toward the wall, but the moment her tunnel neared the barrier, it collapsed.
Frustrated, Toph dug her fingers into the earth, pulling up a massive boulder the size of a house. With a grunt, she hurled it at the wind wall, but the fierce winds shredded it to pieces, just like Katara's water attacks.
The three of them realized—there was no stopping Aang.
"Aang, stop this! We are friends. I'm not your enemy. The Fire Nation is your enemy."
"You are not my friend. You are just a coward."
"You are the coward here, Aang. You are so fixated on your ideals that you would rather see the world suffer for another century than break your ideals."
"I'm not a coward. I'm just a pacifist."
"So a coward patting himself on the back. Congratulations, Aang; you can stand proud next to the bodies that died from the fire nation the last century."
The dragon's broken remains sank into the ground, only for new trees to sprout in its place, faster and more ferocious. The trees snaked upward, wrapping around Aang's legs, trying to pull him back to the earth. Aang struggled, twisting his body as he bent the wind beneath his feet, but the grip of the trees was relentless, tightening like a vice around his ankles.
"You're forcing me, Aang!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with a desperate edge. "I don't want to hurt you!"
Aang's face hardened. "But you've already hurt so many."
With a surge of strength, Aang twisted his body in a fluid motion, using both air and waterbending. A spiral of water surrounded him, slicing through the tree branches that held him captive. He landed back on solid ground, but before Naruto could recover, Aang stomped his foot, and the earth beneath Naruto's feet split apart again, this time sending jagged shards of rock up toward him like a field of spears.
Naruto grunted in pain as one of the shards grazed his arm, drawing blood. He jumped back, using a thick root to catch his fall. He raised both hands to the sky, and the earth responded. Massive trees erupted from the ground, their branches twisting and growing at much faster speed. In mere seconds, a towering wooden golem stood behind Naruto, its eyes glowing with an eerie green light.
Aang's eyes didn't falter as the wooden behemoth loomed over him. The Golem's hand, large enough to crush a building, swung down toward Aang. He barely had time to react, using a powerful gust of air to propel himself backward. The Golem's hand slammed into the ground where Aang had stood, shattering the stone floor and sending debris flying in all directions.
Aang skidded to a stop, breathing heavily. His eyes darted around, searching for an opening. The Golem moved with surprising speed for its size, its wooden limbs creaking as it raised its fist for another strike.
"I don't want to fight you!" Naruto shouted from atop the Golem's shoulder. "But I won't let you stop me!"
Aang clenched his fists, his heart heavy. But his mind was set. "I'm sorry, Naruto... but you've left me no choice."
With a deep breath, Aang reached out with both hands, summoning the full force of his earthbending. The ground beneath the Golem began to tremble violently, cracks spreading across the battlefield like a spider's web. With a mighty heave, Aang raised his arms. Massive pillars of stone shot up from the ground, slamming into the Golem's legs, trying to topple it.
The Golem wobbled, but Naruto reinforced it with more roots and branches, stabilizing its stance. It roared, its wooden mouth opening wide as it brought both fists down toward Aang. But Aang was ready. He leaped into the air, twisting his body as he summoned a torrent of water from nearby trees. The water wrapped around him like a shield, and as he spun in mid-air, he unleashed the water in a powerful burst, aiming directly at Naruto.
Naruto raised his arms in defense, and a thick wall of wood sprang up to intercept the water; the water cut through the wood, splintering it into pieces. Naruto barely had time to react as the water crashed into him, knocking him off Golem's shoulder and sending him tumbling to the ground.
Naruto groaned in pain as he struggled to his feet, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. He wiped the blood from his eyes. He raised his hand, and the ground beneath him began to shake. The Golem, though battered, responded to his call, its massive limbs creaking as it stood tall once more.
Aang landed on the ground, his chest heaving with exhaustion. His eyes locked onto Naruto's, and for a moment, neither of them moved. They were both battered, bruised, and bleeding, but neither was willing to back down.
"Is this how it has to be?" Naruto asked, his voice hoarse, his eyes pleading.
Aang's face softened for a brief moment. "I'm sorry, Naruto."
With that, Aang made his move. He surged forward, bending the wind around him to propel himself at lightning speed. Naruto raised his hands, and the Golem responded, its massive fist swinging down toward Aang. But Aang was too fast. He twisted in mid-air, using a gust of wind to dodge the attack, and as he landed, he slammed his hands into the ground.
Massive boulders erupted from the ground, crashing into the Golem's body and sending it stumbling backward. Aang didn't stop there. He raised his hands, and more water appeared around him, crashing into it with the force of a tidal wave.
The Golem shuddered, its limbs cracking and splintering under the combined assault. The Golem let out a final, pained groan before collapsing, its massive body breaking apart into a pile of splintered wood and debris.
Aang didn't notice Naruto approaching from behind. Naruto's arm was wrapped in three swirling wooden branches, forming a wooden fist at his hand. Without warning, Naruto slammed the wooden fist into Aang's stomach. Aang gasped, shocked and in pain, coughing up blood.
Naruto followed up with another punch to Aang's face, breaking his nose, and then delivered a hard blow to his stomach. In an instant, a tree sprouted, its branches coiling around Aang's arms and legs, pinning him to the ground.
Naruto landed near him, looking down at him with pity, and Aang clenched his teeth in anger.
"Aang," Naruto began. "I've watched you struggle for so long—struggle with who you are, with what it means to be the Avatar. But what I see more than anything is someone who's still running. You've been running ever since the day you left the Air Temple. Ever since the day you found out what your destiny was, you've been running away from it."
Aang flinched, the truth of Naruto's words cutting deeper than any blow he had taken in the fight.
"You ran away, Aang. I get it. The weight of the world was dropped on your shoulders when you were still just a kid. You were told you had to save the world, to be something greater than anyone should ever have to be. And you were scared—who wouldn't be? But the thing is, Aang, that fear didn't just affect you. It affected everyone. The Fire Nation destroyed your people, your culture, and wiped out everything you loved, all while you were frozen in ice."
Naruto's eyes softened, but his tone remained firm, piercing. "I'm not saying this to hurt you. I'm saying it because you need to hear it. You've been carrying this guilt—this idea that you can somehow make up for the time you lost, for the people who suffered while you were gone. But you can't change the past, Aang. None of us can."
Naruto took a step closer. "But here's the thing—running didn't help you then, and it won't help you now. You tried to run away from me just now—tried to kill me, thinking it was the only way to stop what you saw as wrong. You are so fixated on your ways of life because the Air Nomads are gone. But we're still here. I'm still here. And despite everything, Aang... despite the fact that you tried to kill me, I'm still your friend."
Naruto extended his hand towards him. Aang's body tensed. His eyes glazed over, distant, as though he was listening to something far away. He heard them—the voices of past Avatars, echoing in his mind, pleading with him.
"Aang, stop!" Yangchen's voice came first. "Why are you even fighting anymore? Because I know this anger is not because of the Air Nomads. Is not truly because Naruto killed so many people...Wait, you are blaming him!!!"
"I have to stop him," Aang muttered, his voice trembling with rage. "No one else will die because of him."
Suddenly, his eyes glowed. The Avatar State surged through him, and the trees that had swirled around him were blown to bits, freeing himself.
"Aang... no," Naruto breathed, stepping back. But it was too late.
With a deafening roar, Aang launched himself at Naruto, his movements impossibly fast, leaving trails of wind in his wake. Naruto barely had time to react as Aang's airbending slammed into him with the force of a hurricane, sending him crashing through the remnants of the Golem's broken wooden body. The impact shattered the stone ground beneath him, dust rising into the air.
Naruto groaned in pain, his body aching from the blow. He pushed himself to his feet, his limbs trembling. "Aang! Stop!"
But Aang wasn't listening. His eyes glowed brighter, and with a sweeping motion of his arm, he summoned a wall of water from the nearby fountain, shaping it into razor-sharp tendrils. The water lashed out at Naruto like whips, slashing through the air.
Naruto gritted his teeth and raised his hands. Thick roots erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling to form a shield in front of him. The water struck the roots, slicing through some of them, but Naruto held his ground, forcing the trees to grow faster and thicker.
He raised his hand, and the air seemed to twist around Naruto, tightening like an invisible vice. Naruto gasped as the pressure around him increased, the air crushing his chest and making it harder to breathe. A Sphere formed around his head, and he could no longer breathe; he felt his vision getting dizzy.
With a burst of willpower, Naruto slammed his hands into the ground, and a massive tree erupted from beneath him, lifting him high into the air and breaking the hold of Aang's airbending. The tree continued to grow, its branches thick and twisting, forming a towering wooden dragon once more. It roared as it lunged toward Aang, its massive jaws open wide.
But Aang didn't flinch. With a single gesture, he summoned a torrent of earth and stone, hurling it toward the dragon with incredible force. The dragon's wooden body splintered under the assault, but Naruto pressed on, growing new branches to replace the ones that were destroyed.
Blood dripped down Naruto's face from a deep gash on his forehead, his body aching from the relentless assault. But he refused to give up. "I won't kill you, Aang," Naruto whispered to himself, his voice filled with determination. "I won't."
The two clashed again, their attacks growing more brutal, more desperate. Aang's airbending became sharper and more focused, slicing through the trees. Naruto's woodbending lashed out in every direction, forming spikes and tendrils that tried to keep Aang at bay, but Aang was relentless. Every time Naruto managed to gain distance, Aang closed the gap with blinding speed, attacking with earth, water, and air.
Aang summoned a boulder the size of a house, hurtling it toward Naruto with the force of a cannonball. Naruto raised his hands to summon a wall of wood in front of him. The boulder slammed into the barrier, splintering it into pieces, and Naruto was thrown backward, tumbling across the ground.
As Naruto staggered to his feet, pain wracking his body, he saw Aang standing before him, his hands raised, his glowing eyes glaring down at him. "This ends now," Aang said, his voice echoing with the weight of a thousand lifetimes.
Aang thrust his hands forward. Naruto quickly tried to back away from the spikes, but one of the spikes slashed across his chest, drawing a deep, bloody wound. He gasped in pain, clutching his chest as he stumbled backward, his vision blurring.
Naruto staggered, his body broken and battered, his breath ragged as he tried to stand. Blood dripped from the wound on his chest, and his vision blurred from exhaustion. Aang, still consumed by the Avatar State, hovered before him, his silver eyes glowing with terrifying power, his face cold and emotionless. It was clear that Aang no longer saw Naruto as a friend—he saw him as a threat that needed to be neutralized.
Naruto's heart raced as he realized the end was near. He had fought with everything he had, but he could feel his strength fading.
His vision flickered, and for a brief moment, Naruto's right eye began to glow—fiery red. A sudden surge of energy coursed through his body, like a flood of life force being awakened within him. His trembling hands steadied, his pain seemed to recede.
"No," Naruto whispered, his voice hoarse but resolute. "I won't die here."
Suddenly, the ground beneath him rumbled, and the earth split apart. From the depths of the earth, a colossal tree began to grow—larger and more powerful than anything Naruto had ever summoned before. Its trunk shot up into the sky, towering over the battlefield, its branches thick and gnarled, spreading out in every direction. The sheer size of it dwarfed everything around them, casting a dark shadow over the ruins of the palace.
Naruto, now standing atop the colossal tree, extended his hands. The tree responded instantly, its massive branches twisting and forming hundreds of wooden dragons. Their serpentine bodies coiled and writhed as they surged toward Aang, each one roaring as they closed in on the Avatar.
Aang's glowing eyes narrowed. He raised his hands, and the air around him swirled violently. With a swift motion, he summoned a powerful tornado, its winds howling like a storm. Aang guided the tornado, launching it toward the wooden dragons, sending hundreds of slicing air blades through their ranks.
The wooden dragons shattered under the onslaught, their bodies splintering and exploding into pieces. But there were too many of them. Despite the tornado's power, one dragon slipped through, its jaws snapping shut around Aang's left arm with a sickening crack.
Aang let out a cry of pain as his arm twisted unnaturally, the bone snapping from the impact. His silver eyes flared brighter, and with a furious roar, he blasted the dragon away with a surge of airbending. His left arm hung limp at his side, useless.
Naruto saw the brief opening, but he couldn't celebrate. He knew Aang's wrath would only grow. And he was right.
Aang raised his right hand and launched several powerful wind attacks, cutting through the enormous tree and cutting it into tiny pieces.
The tree began to collapse, its massive branches falling in every direction, and the sky above filled with the sound of splintering wood and crashing stone.
Naruto's heart pounded as he tried to hold the tree together, but Aang's power was too much. The tree was being torn apart piece by piece. He knew he couldn't stop it.
In a last-ditch effort, Naruto raised his hands and decided to use something he would rather never use against a friend: Black Fire. Dark flames erupted from his hands. The fire roared to life, consuming the wooden dragons that remained, their bodies turning to ash as the black flames spread across the battlefield.
With a desperate shout, Naruto hurled the black fire toward Aang. The dark flames surged forward, a wall of death that could consume anything in its path.
Aang's glowing eyes locked onto the approaching fire. He thrust both hands forward, summoning the full force of the Avatar State. The air around him exploded in a violent gust, and with a roar, he unleashed a devastating wave of wind, water, and earth. The elements swirled together, forming a massive force that collided with Naruto's black fire.
Aang's attack overpowered the black flames, cutting through them like a knife through butter. The force of the attack slammed into Naruto, and a massive slash wound appeared across his chest. Blood poured from the wound, his body convulsing as the pain tore through him. The impact sent Naruto flying backward, crashing into the rubble of the ruined palace.
He hit the ground hard, his body limp, blood pooling beneath him as he struggled to breathe. His vision blurred, his chest burning from the wound, and he felt consciousness slipping away, but he noticed that the wind wall Aang had created was no longer there.
Aang, still in the Avatar State, hovered above him, his eyes glowing with the cold, silver light. He raised his hand, preparing to deliver the final blow. But before he could strike, a voice cut through the chaos.
"STOP!"
Katara's voice echoed, filled with desperation and anger. She rushed forward, her body moving in front of Naruto's limp form, her arms outstretched. Her blue eyes, wide with fear and sorrow, locked onto Aang.
"Aang, stop! Please! You're going to kill him!" Katara shouted, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.
Aang's glowing eyes flickered for a moment, the power of the Avatar State wavering. He looked at Katara, his expression cold and distant as if the Aang she knew was buried somewhere deep.
"Move, Katara," Aang's voice boomed, echoing with the power of the past Avatars. "He's dangerous. He has to be stopped."
Katara shook her head violently, standing her ground. "No, Aang! He's not your enemy! He's our friend! This isn't you!" Her voice cracked, her hands trembling as she stepped closer, placing herself between Aang and Naruto.
Katara looked back at Naruto, her heart breaking at the sight of him. She turned back to Aang, desperation filling her voice. "You are Aang. You are still the Aang that I met that day in the iceberg, remember who you are!"
Aang's eyes flickered again, the silver glow faltering. For a moment, the cold expression on his face softened, and the glow in his eyes dimmed. The wind around them stilled, the violent energy dissipating as Aang's body trembled.
Aang trembled as he landed on the ground, and Katara hugged him close. "Shh, it's alright. You are back; that's all that matters," she told him, but Aang didn't think that way. How could he ever think that way? Nothing was okay anymore. Nothing. He looked at Naruto but didn't say anything.
Aang knelt in the rubble, his hands trembling as the realization of what he had done settled in. His body was still aching from the exertion of the Avatar State, but the weight on his heart was far heavier. He could hardly bring himself to look at Naruto, his friend, lying broken and bleeding in front of him. The glow had faded from his eyes, replaced with guilt and horror.
"I almost killed him..." Aang whispered, his voice barely audible, as his mind struggled to process the gravity of the situation. The tears streamed down his face, mixing with the dust and blood.
Katara quickly turned her attention to Naruto. She rushed to his side, kneeling next to his motionless body. "Naruto, hold on," she murmured, her voice trembling as she summoned water from her pouch. Her hands glowed with the soft blue light of healing as she placed them over Naruto's chest, her heart racing in panic.
But as soon as the water touched his skin. A black flame erupted from his right hand.
"Naruto!" Katara gasped, her hands pulling back instinctively as the black fire danced across his skin. His eyes fluttered open, red and burning with the same intense energy that had surged through him earlier in the fight. Without hesitation, he slammed his flaming hand against his own chest, directly over the gaping wound that Aang had inflicted.
A scream of unimaginable pain tore from Naruto's throat, echoing through the ruins of the palace. His body convulsed violently as the black flames seared into his flesh. Katara stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock, unsure of how to help him.
The sound of footsteps pounding against the rubble broke the moment. Toph came running, her face etched with fury and worry, her senses already telling her that Naruto had been gravely injured. She skidded to a stop beside him, her hand immediately reaching out to steady his still-trembling form.
"Naruto! What the hell were you thinking?" Toph growled, her voice rough with emotion, her grip on his arm firm but careful as she helped him sit up. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart, the tremor of pain radiating through his body. She was angry—furious—but more than anything, she was terrified of what could have happened.
Naruto coughed, his body still trembling from the black fire's lingering effects, but he managed a pained, tired smile as he glanced up at Toph. "Guess... I didn't have much of a choice," he whispered, his voice strained but laced with a familiar defiance. The scar on his chest was still glowing faintly, the last remnants of the black flame fading away.
Toph huffed, her hand gripping his shoulder tightly as she pulled him to his feet, the anger still evident in her voice. "You idiot! You could've been killed—again! And this time, I don't think any spirit water would've saved you." Her voice cracked with emotion as she steadied him on his feet, her blind gaze turning toward Aang, who still knelt in the rubble, staring at Naruto with wide, guilt-ridden eyes.
"Aang, what were you thinking?" Toph spat, her voice low and dangerous, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "You nearly killed him! You lost control!"
Aang's gaze dropped to the ground, his body shaking as he tried to reconcile the reality of his actions. "I... I don't know what came over me. I just wanted to stop him," Aang whispered, but Yangchen knew that wasn't the real reason he fought against Naruto; it was part of it, but not the true reason.
"You were trying to kill him!" Toph snapped, her voice rising.
Aang's breath hitched, and he looked up at Naruto, who was now standing with Toph's help. Aang's eyes filled with tears again as he took in the sight of his friend, scarred and bleeding because of him.
"I'm so sorry," Aang choked out, his voice trembling with emotion. "I lost control. I was scared... I didn't know what to do. I thought I had to stop you—no matter what."
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to—"
"It's not just about meaning well, Aang," Toph cut in, her voice cold. "You almost killed him. If Katara hadn't stepped in, you would've ended everything. Do you get that?"
"They are right, Aang. You agreed with our plan. You knew people would die. You knew that, and you looked at us and lied that you agreed with our plan. Look at what you did. You almost killed Naruto...and for what?...because you blame him." Sokka said, his voice sharp like swords, causing Aang to look up at him, almost with a pleading look.
"Wait, what do you mean 'blame him'?" Katara questioned, not understanding what Sokka was talking about.
Sokka looked down at Aang, unimpressed, and Aang looked up at him as if begging with his eyes not to talk. "While killing so many people wasn't something Aang agreed with, he would have never done all of this to Naruto because of that, but he blames Naruto for being forced to kill someone," Sokka revealed, and the rest of the group shook. Aang's face went pale.
"What are you talking about?" Katara asked.
"During the fight with Long Feng and the Dai Li agents, Aang killed one of them who tried to attack us. While he agreed to let Naruto kill, he never wanted actually to get his hands dirty. The entire mission we were executing already went against everything that Aang belives in, but he was willing to break the line a little, he was ready for that much, but not kill someone himself, and when he saw that Naruto has killed so many agents and Long Feng something that he would have not agreed with anyway, it added to him blaming himself for killing the soldier, and that guilt turned into anger towards Naruto, and I think during the whole fight, he blamed Naruto that he was forced to kill someone and break his most important rule, of course, he soon realised that Naruto wasn't at fault and he was just projecting his guilt, but it took a while." Sokka revealed, and the way Aang's expression shattered made it clear that it was all true.
Aang no longer felt like an Air Nomad. How could he be one anymore if he killed someone? All the lessons they taught him, the lessons that Monk Gyatso taught him. They all were for nothing; Naruto realized that Aang wasn't really thinking when he attacked him; he was simply allowing his emotions to control him. Again.
So he tried to kill me because deep inside he is still a child, Naruto realized, feeling his anger growing, but he wasn't like Aang or Zuko. He kept his emotions in check, but this was the final push. He could not stay here any longer.
"Aang," Naruto began, his tone firm and unrelenting, "grow up."
Aang's eyes snapped up, the sting of Naruto's words cutting through the fog of his guilt. He opened his mouth to respond, but Naruto didn't give him a chance.
"You act like you're the only one suffering, like the weight of the world is something only you carry," Naruto continued, his voice sharp with frustration and a deep-seated anger that had been simmering for too long. "But open your eyes. You've seen the suffering around the world—the Fire Nation burning villages, families torn apart, children growing up without hope. You know how much pain this world has endured. And for a century, while you were gone, all of that suffering continued without an Avatar to protect them."
"You think you're the only one burdened with this responsibility? Look around. Do you even realize how many people fought, how many people died trying to resist the Fire Nation while you were frozen in that iceberg? Ask anyone in the Earth Kingdom, the Water Tribes, even the people of the Fire Nation who didn't agree with their Fire Lord, and they'll tell you the same story about their heroes—about those who stood up to fight back. And every single one of those stories ends with 'And then he died too.'"
Aang flinched, the truth of those words sinking deeper than any wound he had suffered in their battle.
"I understand why you ran away, Aang. I really do," Naruto said, his voice softening but only slightly. "You were still a kid, and you still wanted to be one. Becoming the Avatar meant no longer being a kid anymore. And I get that. But you're not the first Avatar to be handed such a big job."
Naruto's eye burned with intensity as he continued. "Yangchen, Kyoro, Shuzen, Kysha, Tara... All of them were Air Nomads. All of them were Avatars before you. They faced their own struggles. And they didn't run. They didn't hide. They fought because they had to. Because that's what it means to be the Avatar."
Aang's heart pounded in his chest as Naruto's words struck him like hammer blows.
"You think your way of living is the only right way?" Naruto asked his tone hardening once more. "You cling to this idea of pacifism, of never killing, of staying out of the fight until the last possible second. But what if I wasn't there, Aang? What if I hadn't made the choices I made? We'd still be waiting for an invitation from the Earth King—if we weren't already dead at the hands of the Dai Li. While you are busy playing pacifist. Evil would have triumphed; we would be dead, and your so-called pacifism would've crumbled into blood-stained dust."
Aang's breath caught in his throat as Naruto's disdainful words cut deep.
"You stand there, the 'Good Man,' doing nothing while the world burns around you," Naruto said, his voice dripping with bitterness. "The only victory afforded to you is that you stuck true to your guts. You were a coward... to your last whimper. So Aang...Kill the boy, kill the boy, and let the Avatar be born."
Naruto stood silently, his expression hard as stone, while Aang remained silent, staring at the ground. The weight of everything that had happened hung thick in the air, but Naruto's patience had worn thin. He sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment, not just at Aang but at the situation itself. For a moment, he simply stood there, looking at the Avatar who had nearly killed him—his friend, who had lost control so completely.
Finally, Naruto turned away, his steps deliberate, filled with a finality that made the rest of the group's hearts sink.
"Naruto, where are you going?" Sokka called out, his voice tinged with fear, sensing something was terribly wrong. Katara was already running to catch up with Naruto, desperation in her eyes.
"I'm done here." Naruto's words felt like a cold blade cutting through the tension, each one a sharp slice of truth that landed hard on everyone. They were words that cut deep, wounding them more than any physical blow could.
Aang's eyes widened in shock, but he stayed silent. His hands slowly moved to cover his ears as if trying to block out Naruto's voice—trying to avoid the harsh reality he didn't want to face. His gaze stayed fixed on the ground, not daring to meet Naruto's.
"No! Why are you leaving?" Katara shouted, rushing in front of Naruto, trying to stop him from walking away.
Naruto's eyes, dark with frustration and simmering anger, met hers. "Because, Katara, it's clear that Aang can't work with me. The way I handle things? He'll never accept it. You saw what happened. He almostkilled me. That wound might be closed, but it's not healed—and it won't ever be."
His voice was laced with anger, but more than that, it was dripping with disappointment. Katara could hear it, feel it—Naruto had lost faith in Aang.
"He chose his feelings over the suffering of the world, Katara," Naruto continued the bitterness in his voice rising. "He's clinging to some ideal, to the person he wants to be, instead of facing reality. And because of that, because he refuses to see what's right in front of him, I nearly died. If you hadn't been there, I'd be dead. Does that make it clear enough? Aang and I can't work together. I can't stay in a group where someone's going to hesitate when lives are on the line because they can't let go of their precious beliefs."
Katara blinked, stunned by the raw disappointment and anger that dripped from Naruto's words. She realized at that moment how much this hurt him, how much he believed that staying with them was only going to drag him down, endanger him—and maybe endanger the rest of them, too.
Naruto was disappointed with Aang.
Naruto turned, his eyes locking on Aang, who was still silent, still refusing to look up. His voice grew colder. "Aang's going to lose control again. It's only a matter of time. Things are going to get worse. I've tried to get through to him, but my words don't reach him. They never have. And I can't keep trying to change his mind when he's clinging to an ideal that's going to get more people killed. I think it's time I did things my way."
He stepped past her, his decision final. He wasn't going to wait around for Aang to figure things out. He had his own path, and it didn't include waiting for someone who couldn't face the harsh realities of the world.
Toph stood there, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her blind eyes narrowing in Aang's direction. She tilted her head slightly, her voice steady but laced with disappointment.
"You know what, Aang?" Toph started. "You're already good enough with earthbending. You don't need me to teach you anymore."
Aang's head jerked up at her words, his eyes wide with confusion and guilt. He opened his mouth to speak, but Toph wasn't finished.
"I've taught you everything I can," she continued, her voice colder than usual. "But what I can't teach you is how to face your responsibilities. You've got all this power, but you keep running from it. You're the Avatar, Aang. But right now? You're just a scared kid who can't make the tough calls."
Aang flinched, her words hitting him harder than any earthbending attack ever had. He wanted to protest, to explain himself, but Toph's disappointment was palpable. She wasn't just angry—she was hurt.
"I thought you were different," Toph added, her voice quieter now but still firm. "I thought you'd face things head-on, like you were supposed to. But after what you almost did to Naruto..." She trailed off, shaking her head in frustration. "I can't stick around waiting for you to figure it out. Not when people's lives are on the line."
Toph's words left Aang speechless. He stared at her, guilt and shame mixing in his chest, but nothing he could say would change what had happened.
Without waiting for Aang to respond, Toph turned toward Katara, her expression softening slightly. "Bye, Sugar Queen. Take care of yourself," she said with a small smirk, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. Despite her playful jab, there was genuine affection in her words.
Katara blinked; her emotions conflicted, but she managed a small, sad smile. "You too, Toph," she replied softly.
Toph's next move was swift. She turned and pulled Sokka into a tight hug, her arms wrapping around him with more strength than usual. Sokka, always the one to keep his composure, felt his heart tighten at the gesture. He hugged her back, his hand resting gently on the top of her head.
"Keep them safe, Sokka," Toph said, her voice barely above a whisper but firm enough that Sokka understood the weight of her words.
"You know I will, Toph," Sokka replied, his voice gruff, though there was a crack in his usual bravado.
With that, Toph pulled away, her face set with determination. She didn't hesitate, didn't turn back at the others as she turned on her heel and sprinted after Naruto, who was already walking away in the distance.
Naruto, hearing her approach, slowed his pace slightly but didn't stop. He knew she was coming. He had known the moment she said goodbye to the others. And as Toph caught up to him, her breath heavy but determined, she fell into step beside him without a word.
They didn't speak. The silent understanding between them said everything. They would face whatever came next together—because, no matter what, Toph wasn't going to let Naruto walk this path alone.
.
.
.
Aang awoke, disoriented, his head spinning. The world around him felt different—soft, surreal, like waking up from a long dream. He blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Gone were the familiar sights of the physical world—the trees, the ruins, the ground beneath his feet. Instead, he found himself in a strange, ethereal landscape, with glowing tendrils of light weaving through the air. The sky was a blend of deep purples and blues, shimmering with the presence of ancient spirits. He realized quickly—this was the Spirit World.
But why was he here? He hadn't entered it willingly, and his last memory was of Naruto walking away, Toph following close behind. Aang's heart tightened at the thought, but before he could process his emotions, he heard someone clear their throat behind him.
Aang froze. Slowly, he turned around, and there, standing in the shifting light of the Spirit World was a man he had never seen before. Yet, somehow, Aang knew exactly who he was.
The man's presence was commanding yet gentle, his expression warm, his eyes filled with experience, and his eyes were different from everyone's eyes. He wore simple robes, and his posture relaxed, but there was a gravity about him.
Aang's breath caught in his throat, his heart racing as recognition washed over him. His voice trembled as he spoke, his wide eyes locking onto the figure before him. "Wan..."
The man smiled a kind and knowing smile reaching his eyes. The light in the Spirit World glowing gently around him as though the world itself was welcoming his presence. "Good to see you, Aang," Wan said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that eased some of the tension in Aang's chest. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to recognize me. It's been centuries since I last spoke with one of my past lives."
Aang's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment settling in. He was standing face to face with the first Avatar—the one who had started it all. Wan has existed so long ago that his story was considered a myth by many, many people. Aang struggled to find words, but all that came out was, "Wan... I... I don't understand. Why am I here?"
Wan's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression, though his eyes remained compassionate. "I brought you here because we need to talk, Aang," he said, stepping closer. "I've been watching you, and the choices you've been forced to make. I understand the burden you carry, perhaps more than anyone else can. I want to show you the worth of life and death."
"The worth of life and death?"
"Yes, and in the end. I will ask you something. It will be important to know."
"To know what?"
"To know if you truly can be the avatar this world needs."
Book 2 Completed
Book 3 - The Death of Fire
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