7 Chapter 7

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I surveyed the streets of the Northern water tribe, asking where I could find Pakku, and I had yet to find someone that knew or wanted to tell me. As I walked the snow beneath me squeaked as someone put his hand on my shoulder. I turned and looked, wondering who it was, finding a large man with long hair and a rugged bearded face. He had the typical attire I had soldiers wear, with a blue headband tied on his right arm. The man's menacing expression immediately put me on edge.

"So, are you the kid asking for master Pakku?" inquired the man. His voice was rough and had a threatening tone to it as his hand clenched in a tight fist.

"Yes," I answered, not backing down, though deep down I knew, the man standing in front of me, was vastly superior in water bending, and that I had no chance of defeating him, at least for now.

"Why?" Inquired the man, gripping my shoulder with enough strength to make me flinch a bit, and it was clear to me now, this man was a bully, I knew how to tell when someone was simply looking for trouble… and this man, was only looking to fight… maybe overcompensating for something… why else would he want to beat a kid.

"That's my business," I said.

"It mine now," said the man. As he glared at me.

"Well good luck finding out," I didn't mind answering questions, heck if this idiot had done his job better, he would've known I was looking for Pakku to learn Waterbending…. But I simply don't allow bullies to push me around, even if they can beat the crap out of me.

"Follow me," said the man, after giving a long scrutinizing look, knowing I really had no chance of winning, I decided to do as he said, as I found a way to escape, and so I followed him as he led me up some stairs in a building nearby. As soon as my foot touched the first step, I felt ice forming beneath my feet and instinctively jumped backwards to avoid the spike of ice that had formed.

"Huh, so you couldn't wait to kill me on a private spot, I'm flattered," I said, taking my stance, if I was going to die, I would go down fighting.

"Not bad," said the man, with a…. Smile? God, please tell me he is not the Hisoka of this universe.

"I need an adult…." I muttered.

"I am an adult," said the man, with a confused look, "Do you want to meet master Pakku, yes or no?" he offered.

Pointing at the ice spike, I chuckled, "I was already on edge with you before, now… well, turn that to eleven,"

"Wise, never trust anyone blindly," said the man, as he pointed to the roof above us, where a man with a bored expression was sitting, "He was the one that attacked you, to see if you had any talent,"

"And if I didn't?" I asked.

"Oh calm down kid, I only solidified the spear after you dodged it," said the man in the roof, with a low chuckle, lying bastard… I felt the ice forming, he wanted to hurt me.

Well, Akira, you have two options here, you either confront the crazy duo, and die, or you try to play along… play along it is, "Oh I see," I sighed, pretending to be relieved.

"So you want to meet master Pakku?" inquired the man once again.

"Yes," I nodded.

Going back to following the man, he led me to a corridor inside the building, that in the end had one single door, the man nodded at me to go in. And taking a deep breath I slid open the door wide, a cleanly-shaven man old man sitting on a blue sky cushion on the ice-cold floor, and it didn't take another look to confirm I was standing in front of Pakku. Though he was missing his trademark goatee and moustache.

"Come in, Akira," Pakku said pleasantly, gesturing to another cushion, "Please have a seat."

A while Pakku spoke in a calm, and pleasant manner, I knew he wasn't asking me, he was ordering me. "I heard you were looking for me?" asked Pakku.

"Yes," I nodded, cautiously.

"Why?" inquired Pakku.

"Well… I want to learn… I want to be the best Water bender to have ever lived," I answered, trying to sell my case.

Pakku looked me with a very slight smile. "Where are you from, Akira?"

Damn it, my one weakness! A background check! "From the Partas clan, fifty miles away from here," Let's hope they don't send someone there… then again, the tribe people said I was part of them…. So who knows.

"Very well," Pakku smiled, standing up his cushion, "I shall teach you how to Waterbend, but for me to do so, you would have to be part of the military, is that something you are interested in?"

"Do I get paid?" I asked.

"Yes," answered Pakku with slight amusement on his face.

"Can I leave anytime I want to?" I asked.

"Yes, though you have to let your superiors know one year in advance you are retiring," clarified Pakku.

"Alright, I'm in," Well, today was a rollercoaster of emotions, but in the end, I had managed to do what I had come to do, finding a real master that would help me achieve the highs I was aiming for.

"Very well," said Pakku as his amused smile vanish from sight, turning in to a stern expression, "I want to see you tomorrow at FOUR AM, in the training grounds… is that clear?"

"Yes sir," I nodded, soon realizing I had no idea where that was, "Sir…. I have no idea where that is…" I added.

"Then good luck, and just to be clear…. I will punish you if you arrive late," Pakku added with a frightening look.

"Roger that," I smiled, as I mentally added a new thing to do in my head, find the damn training ground, or face the unknown consequences.

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It took me eight hours to find the damn training yard…. I hate this city, but at least know I would know where to go… but like every world, once an enemy its defeat a new one arises, and mine was… waking up early, without an alarm clock.

"How was your day?" inquired Sakura, as she served me a big plate of food for dinner, "You seem tense,"

"Well, I did find Pakku…. And I got into his class… I guess? But I have to wake up at FOUR AM, and well, I suck at waking up early…" I answered with a sigh.

"Well… I could wake you up, if that helps?" offered Sakura with a smile, "I close my shift every day around three, so is right around my schedule."

I hugged Sakura, as I said, "You are an angel," and to think I once thought the name Sakura was cursed.

"Pfff hardly, but thanks," Sakura chuckled.