"You are worthy! Worthy of being my opponent!"
Naruto couldn't fathom the sight of the warrior's pulsing right fist, the muscles beneath his arm snaking under his skin. Even the sweat enveloping the warrior turned to steam from his body's heat.
"Naruto..." The boy's name escaped in a murmured breath, steam forming an indelible smile as the warrior bent his knees, causing the ground to sink beneath him. "That's your name... right?"
"…"
"I have to make a request of you... don't die now."
The remaining structures in the small town crumbled as a destructive shockwave slung by Shòukǔ obliterated everything. It took just one step.
One step.
To move at a speed Naruto had seen only once before in his life: Rock Lee opening the fifth door. Unable to match or even see the speed, Naruto only glimpsed the fist inches from his face before his head exploded, leaving destruction in its wake.
It seemed over.
"No..." Shòukǔ examined the ground and his fist, finding no traces of blood—just rocks at his feet and dust on his hand. The hairs on his neck rose as he sensed danger, and he saw Toph, alongside an exhausted Naruto.
With a scream, Toph brought her fists down, creating a fissure in the earth. Shòukǔ staggered as the ground caved in beneath him. Toph, forming a large cannon, closed the gap, crushing the ultimate warrior under tons of solid earth. Her exhausted body shook with pain, having exerted herself like never before.
"I got you." An arm wrapped around Toph, pulling her close. "Are you okay?"
"I'd have to ask that…" The thought of Naruto covered in blood was too much for Toph.
Shaking his head, Naruto rested against Toph's hair, feeling tired from blood loss and pain. But as much as he wanted to rest, this wasn't over.
"You can move?" He asked quietly, helping Toph stand.
"I think that if…"
"Come..." Naruto took Toph's hand, wrapping his arm around her neck to assist her. Both teenagers moved at a slow pace.
It wasn't over yet.
….
The fight was harder than Azula had expected.
A sharp kick to her stomach left her breathless, her face contorted in pain. Her aunt, wearing a dark smile, raised a hand ablaze with yellow flames, poised to unleash scorching fury.
Iroh intervened, executing a 'belly blow' that forced the firebender to retreat. Siu skillfully dodged the flames, but a powerful water jet sent her crashing against a wooden wall, threatening its imminent collapse—an aftermath of Aang's aerial assault.
"Are you OK?"
"Keep your hands off me!"
The banished princess rejected the Avatar's offered hand, struggling to catch her breath. Katara rebuked Azula for her callous response.
"I think you have misunderstood the situation..." Tension mounted as Azula and Katara exchanged glances. "I am not their ally..."
"..." Iroh sighed; his niece's hatred intensified in the presence of her aunt. "Princess Azula!"
Pushed aside by her uncle, Azula watched a fireball strike his back, leaving him sprawled at her feet.
"I should have aimed for the head," Siu, emerging from the rubble, retaliated by shooting a furious lightning bolt countered by Azula.
The clash intensified, exploding into thousands of electrical discharges. Katara, unlucky, took a lightning bolt to the stomach, hurling her several meters to the ground.
"…"
Siu shivered as a change in the atmosphere caught her attention—a silent Aang stared at the unconscious waterbender.
His reaction was immediate, eyes aglow, and the earth trembled throughout the town.
To avoid being bisected by a current of air, the general sprinted away from the Avatar, who pursued her in a sphere of air. Despite her speed, her feet suddenly sank into the ground.
Cold sweat dotted the firebender's forehead as she faced the Avatar's fury.
"Fool..." Siu's expression remained defiant; she smiled arrogantly, freeing her feet from the ground and leaping back. "Fire!"
She had led him to the armored train, which released a cloud of steam. Doors opened, revealing dozens of cannons firing at the Avatar. With a simple raise of his right hand, Aang erected a colossal earth wall that thwarted the barrage.
Despite the protection of earth and wind, the explosion affected Aang. His suit lost one side of its arms, and burn marks marred his body, with bleeding ears from the close-range blast.
"…" The Avatar, undeterred, fixed his glowing eyes on the armored train.
Soldiers loaded cannons again, but the ground opened beneath them, creating a vast pit where the large train tumbled.
The young banished princess witnessed the display of power that disabled one of her nation's best weapons in an instant.
Among all the chaos, Siu ran at full speed towards the body of the water tribe girl, if she could reach her and use her as a shield, she would have the advantage that the Avatar would not attack her.
But before he could touch her, someone ran up to her and kicked her hard in the face, sending her to the ground.
"You..." the general's fury incited boiling blood as she witnessed Zuko descending from a large bird, standing protectively next to the helpless Katara. "What are you doing, boy?!"
"..." Zuko remained silent, his gaze surveying the panorama. His attention shifted to his uncle lying on the ground with a significant burn on his back. "No one hurts my uncle. No matter who it is!" He shouted angrily, unsheathing his twin swords and unleashing a burst of fire.
Azula barely managed to block the fiery assault with another flare. A lightning bolt fired by Azula hit Katara, causing some damage to her shoulder pad and a slight burn.
Siu stepped back as both princes launched an attack. The sound of wind signaled the Avatar's landing, his expression still furious.
"Ha... Do you think the balance is in your favor now?" mocked Siu, launching herself at the princes. "They haven't seen anything yet!" Flames enveloped her fists.
Before she could attack, her wrist was gripped tightly, nearly breaking it. Roku's granddaughter remained silent as Aang's glowing eyes held her in an unyielding grip, manipulating golden flames that danced around them. Aang's control over fire in his Avatar state prevented the flames from touching him.
However, Aang's eyes flickered, the glow dimmed, and his posture weakened until he knelt on the ground. Siu broke free from the Avatar's grasp easily and kicked him down.
Struggling to breathe, Aang attempted to stand but found the air dense and polluting. His Avatar state had dissipated, leaving him kneeling before Roku's granddaughter.
"Do you smell it?" Siu's cruel smile persisted as she kicked the monk and stepped on his chest. The fire continued to encircle them within a dome of carbon dioxide, leaving Aang gasping for clean air. "It's fear..."
A weak current of air escaped Aang's palms. He struggled to breathe and rise, feeling his mind fading.
The golden fire dome burned the air inside, leaving toxic carbon dioxide for Aang to inhale. Siu, untroubled, held her breath.
"You don't know how much I would like to end your life here and now." Siu drew a dagger, kneeling to grab the monk's neck and look into his eyes. "But that would only make the damned cycle start all over again. But... don't worry, we have a plan, a plan that will give you the ending you deserve, Avatar."
"Anggg..." Aang grunted in pain as the knife pressed against the base of his neck.
"Maybe we can't end your life, but that doesn't mean I can't... incapacitate you." Siu's twisted smile grew darker. "The last airbender, reduced to a handicapped man who won't even be able to clean himself. But... sounds like a destiny worthy of you."
As Siu prepared to carry out her intentions, a strange sound reached her ears. Naruto, wrapped in flames, crossed the wall of fire, running towards her with an intense gaze.
"Leave my friend alone!"