Naruto struck a sign against the wall, marking the end of their task.
"You regret it, don't you?" Toph stood beside him, keeping her head down, sensing several people watching them through her feet.
"Yes..." Naruto had noticed them too but chose to continue to avoid causing a scene in the streets.
"Should we attack?"
"No, I have a plan. Trust me."
"Good."
As minutes passed, the boys regrouped at the meeting point, the sun already setting on the horizon.
"You there."
"Us?" Sokka questioned as he noticed one of the many Dai Li agents approaching them.
"For unauthorized distribution of these pamphlets, you will be arrested."
"Why do we always have problems with authority?" Sokka grumbled as he and the others were led away by the agent, guiding them out of the great walls of Ba Sing Se.
*Pofff*
The agent disappeared in a cloud of smoke, revealing a smiling Naruto, who laid out a map on the ground, with his companions forming a circle around it.
"Toph."
"The Dai Li agents retreated when your clone escorted us."
"So, Fox 1, what did you find out?"
The clone named Fox 1 pointed to an area marked on the map.
"Exactly what we needed, boss."
"Well…" Naruto stood up with a contagious smile for his friends. "Operation Fox Fang."
"I thought it was called Operation Blizzard," Katara remarked.
"I voted for Operation Rock."
"Lonely Wolf."
"Bison Comeback."
"..." Naruto pondered for a moment. "Very well... Operation Lone Flying Snow-Covered Rock Fox begins now."
"Yeah!"
….
Long Feng frowned as his office window unexpectedly opened, cautiously scanning for any signs of a sneak attack. Only when he confirmed no one was there did he rise to close it. Almost immediately, he spun around guardedly, noticing a silhouette slipping behind him.
"I want to make an arrangement."
"..." The earthbender regarded the intruder curiously, annoyance evident on his face. "To what do I owe your visit, Orange Pillar?"
The boy's intrusion was unexpected. Long Feng was confident that, with the civilian family under his control, the boy wouldn't dare approach him, let alone challenge him.
"I've already told you... I want an arrangement." Naruto remained relaxed, standing in the middle of the office, ignoring the silhouettes lurking in the corners.
"You're a fool for coming." Feng shook his head, slamming his foot against the floor, causing his office to quake and the ground to give way.
"..." Naruto didn't flinch as they descended into a large earthen dome, surrounded by Dai Li agents.
"You should have stayed outside the village with the Avatar," Feng said dryly, snapping his fingers to summon more agents, forming a perfect circle around them.
Even the Orange Pillar wouldn't stand a chance against 100 Dai Li, the best earthbenders in the world.
Taking his time, Feng satisfied his curiosity. "Why are you doing this? You and your friends could have lived peaceful lives here, without trouble."
"Avoiding problems isn't my style. I always face them, even when I don't have to. That's my ninja way."
"..." Lord Feng frowned, sensing something was amiss. "Your actions have endangered an innocent family. My agents will harm them if anything happens to me."
Two loud bangs echoed as a serious Aang dropped two Dai Li masters into the dome.
"You said it, old man..." Naruto remained defiant amidst the agents. "I have the courage to do what's necessary, and what's necessary is for you to leave. A coward like you has no place with the Dai Li."
"And what will you do? Kill me?" Feng mocked, knowing his life wasn't in danger.
"No, I'll break every bone in your body, and you'll spend the rest of your life eating through a tube."
Feng's smile vanished. The boy's demeanor had changed since a month ago, more fierce and yet calm, making him far more dangerous.
"Why are you doing this? Why waste your time on us when you could be attacking the real enemy?"
"Because it angers me to know that this town is under the control of trash like you..." Naruto surveyed the agents around him, stones poised in their hands, ready to strike.
"Could you do it better?" Feng mocked, confidence in his control of the Dai Li.
Perhaps he had lost the leverage of holding the family hostage, but he still commanded the most powerful army in the four continents—the Dai Li.
"Yeah."
"Kill him..." Feng ordered furiously at Naruto's audacity, but before they could attack, a burst of white smoke erupted.
Everyone tensed as they heard the sound of a cane striking the stone floor.
As everyone watched, Naruto stood up, wielding his new weapon—a Bo staff given to him by Aang—sharing the same characteristics as the Avatar's. It became evident after what he did.
Long Feng had to brace himself to avoid being blown away, like his agents who were pushed by a powerful air current, dispersing all the smoke.
Cold sweat dripped from the earthbender's forehead as he observed a slight swirl of wind enveloping the boy, as if it were his natural aura.
"It's impossible..." he murmured, clenching his teeth.
Was the boy airbending?
The cave seemed to tremble as Naruto slammed his staff against the ground once more, cracking his neck and maintaining a calm yet penetrating gaze.
"You know... I feel like I've lost some muscle mass," the boy said thoughtfully, noticing his muscles weren't as big as after his training with the Kyoshi warriors. While he wasn't complaining, he felt faster and lighter.
"Are you mocking me?" Long Feng growled at the boy's arrogance, who flexed his arms and stretched as if preparing for a warm-up.
"No, I just realized it took me almost a year to understand what Iruka-sensei wanted to tell me. Strength and fortitude aren't everything; calm and intelligence are as important as power." Opening his jacket, the boy took out a book and tossed it at the earthbender's feet.
"..." Long Feng picked it up. It was a book recounting Avatar Kyoshi's life, one who left her mark within Ba Sing Se, familiar to every child and adult.
"Long Feng, I challenge you for the position of commander of the Dai Li." Tapping his staff against the ground again, he summoned another gust of wind. "Avatar Kyoshi was clear: the Dai Li's purpose is to serve the people, preserving their culture, and only the strongest are worthy of leading them."
"And you think I'll accept your challenge?!" Throwing the book aside, Long Feng's blood boiled. This brat was playing a game he didn't anticipate.
"This is foul play." Naruto grinned playfully, raising his staff as a large box fell from above. Several clones emerged carrying a curious Bosco, who looked around while munching on a fish.
"Bastard bear kidnapper!" The Earth King leaped from a twenty-meter drop, somersaulting to stand in front of the cage and kick down the door. "Are you okay, Bosco?"
A growl was the bear's response.
"Sorry, sir! The King went berserk when we told him the bear was here!" Sokka, Toph, and Katara emerged from above, having fulfilled their part of the plan.
"You stole my bear!" The King accused, furious about his beloved Bear's kidnapping.
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]