Toph

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The plan wasn't nearly as crazy as Naruto had assumed. They've done worse. Aang got them into the house using his Avatar status to visit. They had invited them in for dinner even. How nice. Naruto sat down next to Aang and Katara at the table and glanced over at Toph. She did not look happy. One of the servants set a steaming bowl of soup in front of her.

"Blow on it for her. It's too hot." Toph's dad, Lao Beifong, insisted. Wow, a little much there. Naruto was sure she could blow on her own soup.

"Allow me." Aang, never one to give up a chance to impress, swiped his hand to send a mini tornado right on top of her soup. It blew gently before fading away. The rest of the table, consisting of Toph's parents and Master Yu, for some reason, clapped in awe.

"Avatar Aang, it's an honor to have you in our home." Toph's mom, Poppy, bowed. Sokka was totally ruining the whole decorum thing by stuffing his face with rice.

"Avatar, in your opinion, how much longer do you think the war will last?" Lao questioned. Aang shifted forward slightly, eyeing Toph.

"I'd like to be able to defeat the fire lord by the end of summer, but I can't do that without finding an earth-bending teacher first." He explained, sending her a smirk. She just glared at her soup.

"Well, Master Yu is a fantastic teacher. He's been teaching Toph since she was little." Lao informed, waving at the man.

"Then she's probably a great earth bender! Probably good enough to teach someone el-Ow!" Aang suddenly shrieked, jumping slightly in his seat before glaring at Toph. She just smiled innocently and continued to eat her dinner.

Naruto understood what was happening here and nudged Aang to stop. She clearly didn't want them to know about her abilities.

"I've just taught Toph the basics." Yu countered. Naruto tried hard not to roll his eyes, he hadn't seen that many Earthbenders, but he was sure Toph was one of the best.

"Yes, and sadly due to her blindness, I'm afraid she won't ever become a true earth bender." Lao sighed.

"Ohh, looks like someone's hiding something from daddy." He whispered under his breath. Based on the sharp pain in his foot, he assumed she heard that. Naruto grimaced but managed not to shriek like Aang. Totally worth it.

"Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think-Ah!" Aang was interrupted again as his chair suddenly slid forward, sending his face into his bowl of soup. He glared menacingly at Toph and smacked his face. Another devious smirk formed on his face making Naruto back up slightly. He let out a giant air-bending powered sneeze, sending all the food flying at Toph, her mother, and Master Yu. Innocent casualties.

"What's your problem?!" Toph exclaimed, standing suddenly.

"What's your problem?!" Aang joined her. Naruto lifted his hands.

"Okay...they've all got problems." He said as he tried to sit Aang back down.

"Well...Let's move into the living room for dessert. Shall they?" Wow, Poppy was not fazed by much, was she? They all walked into the living room, where trays full of little cakes and deserts were waiting. Naruto sat down to dig in when Lao suddenly spoke.

"So, Avatar, is it true that you're traveling with a fire bender?" He questioned with a raised brow. Toph's eyes widened, and she immediately turned her head towards their group. Naruto narrowed his eyes. If they tried to attack him, he would beat their asses.

"That would be me." Naruto nodded right away. No point in trying to hide it. Toph's father looked at the blonde with a calculating stare, probably wondering how far to place his daughter from him.

Toph, on the other hand, looked confused for the first time.

"But Naruto's no threat. He's my friend, and he didn't even grow up in the fire nation! He grew up on Kyoshi Island." Aang explained, standing up for him. The Beifong's just looked at each other before Lao turned toward him with a slight glare.

"The only reason they are letting you stay in this household is due to the Avatar's trust. Make one misstep, and we won't hesitate to remove you from the premises." He stated bluntly. For the sake of Aang, Naruto decided to play along.

"Understood. At least you guys aren't arresting me. It's been done before." He sighed. Katara put her hand on his arm with a sympathetic smile as the conversation turned back to the war.

After dinner, the Beifong's had let them stay in one of their rooms. It was really lovely. There were huge beds and a window big enough for Appa to stick his head through, which he did.

"Night, Appa," Aang said as he petted the bison's forehead. Glancing over at the doorway, he jumped in surprise when he saw Toph. Naruto heard a yelp behind him and saw that Aang had seen her too. He was glaring at her, posing in preparation for battle, it looked like.

"Relax! Look, I'm sorry about dinner. Let's call a truce, okay?" She offered, shrugging her shoulders. Aang cautiously relaxed his stance and shot her a look. Naruto just shrugged. Toph turned around and waved for them to walk over to her.

"C'mon, walk with me." She called out, beginning to head out the way she came. Aang and Naruto glanced at each other before following her out. They caught up to her and slowed down to walk beside her. She tilted her head slightly in his direction.

"So, fire bender, huh?"

"Yup." He shrugged with a grin. She smirked.

"How, though? You bend Wood back at the fight?" Toph asked, sounding curious.

"I'm not sure myself. I can fire and wood. I don't know how, but it is quite useful." Naruto said with a shrug.

"Pretty cool, not as cool as earth, though." He sharply turned to her with a glare, opening his mouth to protest when suddenly a wall of earth formed in front of him. Naruto bumped straight into it. Cursing the little brat under his breath, he rubbed his forehead as he heard Aang and Toph laughing.

"You're lucky I'm not allowed to fire bend here..." He grumbled, crossing his arms with a huff as the earth wall lowered.

"About that, I'm sorry about how my dad reacted. You don't exactly seem like someone trying to take over the world." She stated with a raised brow. Naruto shrugged.

"Eh, who knows? I might put that on my to-do list later on." He smirked, grimacing as Aang elbowed him.

"I'd like to see you try. Katara would knock some sense into you." He countered with a smile. Naruto groaned. Too true. They walked out into the garden as Aang spoke up again.

"Toph, I was wondering something. You're an amazing earth bender, but how do you do it with your blindness?" Aang questioned as they approached a little stone bridge. She jumped up onto the railing of the bridge as she answered.

"Even though I was born blind, I've never had a problem seeing. I see with earth bending. It's... kind of like seeing with my feet. I feel the vibrations, and I can see where everything is. You, him, that tree, even those ants." She explained, pointing in a vague direction. Naruto assumed that's where the aunts were, but he couldn't see them himself.

"That's awesome. You can see those tiny ants?" Naruto stated in awe as he squinted, trying to see what she could.

"My parents don't get it. They've always treated me like I was helpless..." Toph mumbled. She looked down at the ground sadly. Naruto bet that was hard. It's hard enough believing in yourself sometimes. Having parents that don't even believe in you would make it worse.

"Is that why you became the Blind Bandit?" Aang questioned. She just nodded in reply. "Then why stay here? Why stay when you aren't happy?"

"They're my parents. Where else am I supposed to go?" She asked, shrugging helplessly. Aang and Naruto shared a look before smiling.

"You could come with us. We were telling the truth about Aang needing an earth-bending master." Naruto offered.

"Yeah, you guys get to go wherever you want. No one is telling you what to do or when to do it. That's the life...it's just not my life." Toph stated simply. Naruto walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

"It could be, though." He knew it would be hard to just up and leave her life right now. But she just really seems unhappy. She shouldn't be held here like some caged animal.

Toph looked to be thinking about it, and that's when Naruto remembered. "By the way. I'm sorry for what I did back at the fight,"

"What about it? You won!" Toph said, genuinely confused about why he was apologizing to her.

"When my trees lifted you from the ground. I saw... the look of fear. You couldn't see at that moment because your feet weren't touching the ground. I'm sorry." Naruto explained, knowing that to Toph, that wasn't pleasant.

Toph pressed her lips into a thin line before punching his shoulders. "Don't worry. Next time I won't lose." She promised, smiling, as Naruto rubbed his arm slightly.

"I will be more than happy to fight you again." The blonde said, smiling at her. Toph opened her mouth to say something when she suddenly stopped. Before Naruto could ask her what was wrong, she suddenly Toph knelt on the ground, an alarmed look on her face.

"We're being ambushed!" She grabbed both of them by their arms and began to run back to the house. They stumbled to a halt as one of the earth benders from the arena suddenly popped out of the ground in front of them, smirking.

"Well, this is breaking a rule, but it's for a good purpose!" Naruto yelled. Swinging his arm out, he launched a stream of fire at the earth bender. He yelped in surprise and quickly brought up a stone wall to protect himself. Just as Aang and Toph were about to join in, metal cages suddenly fell on top of them. Naruto looked behind in surprise just as a cage fell on top of him too. The rest of the earth benders, and Xin Fu jumps down in front of them. He glared at them heatedly from his cage.

"I think you kids owe me some money."

Later

"Stop that!" Xin Fu yelled as he shot another blast of fire down at him. Naruto just glared, shooting more at the men down below. The squeal from the Boulder put a smile on his face. Suddenly a rock hit the side of his cage. They were hanging from the ceiling in their metal cages. They appeared to be back in the Earth Rumble VI arena.

"Come up here and fight me like a man! Or are you too scared you'll get beat up by a couple of kids?!" Naruto yelled down. Another rock to his cage was his answer.

"You think you're so tough?! Why don't you come up here so I can smack that grin off your face!" Toph added. Looking down, all he saw was Xin Fu glaring.

"I'm not smiling."

"Toph!" He looked to the back of the arena and saw Sokka, Katara, Master Yu, and Toph's parents down below.

"Here's your money. Now hand them over." Sokka ordered, dropping a bag of coins onto the floor. Master Yu shot his hand forward to send the money over to Xin Fu, who waved his arm at Toph's cage. Her cage was slowly lowered and opened once it was on the ground. She quickly ran out of the cage and over to her dad, who wrapped a protective arm around her.

"What about Aang and Naruto?" Katara questioned. Xin Fu waved out two pieces of paper with both of their faces on them.

"I think the fire nation will pay a hefty price for the Avatar and the fire bender. Apparently, Princess Azula herself sent out the bounty for the boy." He announced smugly. Naruto just groaned up in his cage. He knew that meeting with Azula was going to come back to bite him.

"Now, get out of my ring!" He yelled. Naruto looked down at his friends and saw them staring nervously at the hoard of earth benders that was gathered in front of them.

"Go, we'll be okay," Aang shouted from his cage. Naruto just stuck his hands out from the bars, giving them a thumbs up. They slowly backed away and off the ring as they disappeared from his sight. Naruto felt his cage being lowered and looked out to see the same thing happening to Aang. Somebody grabbed his cage, making him fall to the side as they tilted it over. Suddenly he heard Toph's voice ring out.

"Let them go! I've beat you all before, and I'll do it again!" She yelled. Naruto grunted as he was suddenly tossed to the side, landing on the ground harshly. He heard some screams and crashed as he beat on the door of his cage. Katara's face appeared above him, and he heard Sokka grunting as he attempted to open Aang's cage.

"Go help Sokka! I've got this." Naruto assured, waving her away. She looked doubtfully down at him before nodding and disappearing to the side. Naruto reached around the top of the cage and felt the latch that held the doors closed. Concentrating on his hands, he heated the metal as much as possible. He could feel it heating up as it turned red under his hands.

"C'mon, just a little more..." He muttered under his breath. Naruto smiled as he felt the latch give way. Punching upwards, he quickly opened the cage and jumped out. Over to his side, he could see Aang get released as well. They both turned towards the ring, preparing to fight. But Sokka just patted his arm and shook his head.

"I think she's got this handled." He pointed. Naruto looked over just as Toph sent the Boulder, Hippo and some guy swinging on a rope flying out of the ring. The three men crashed onto a pile of earth benders, similarly knocked out.

Turning around, she faced the last earth bender, Xin Fu. He glared at her as he cracked his neck and knelt into a stance. Toph simply spits off to the side. Nice. With a grunt, Xin Fu sent a barrage of rocks flying at Toph. She quickly raised her arms, creating a stone, tent-like wall in front of her for protection.

Once the barrage had ended, she kicked one foot forward. Half of her shield went flying toward Xin Fu. He quickly leaped to the side, burying his hand in the ground before chucking a rock at her face. She just side-stepped it before facing him and striking the ground herself. They watched as a wall of dirt headed for him. It slammed into him, sending him flying into the bleachers.

"Woo!" Naruto cheered, pumping his fists above his head enthusiastically. He vaguely saw Sokka faint out of the corner of his eye. Ignoring him, he ran over to Toph with Katara and Aang. He held up his hand for a high five with a smile. Seeing that she wasn't about to reciprocate, he just grabbed her arm himself.

"High five!" He cheered, slapping her hand with his. She just rolled her eyes, but her lips quirked up in amusement. Remembering earlier, he swiftly punched her arm.

"Hey!" She grumbled, rubbing her limb as he just grinned.

"That's for the rock wall earlier." Fire bending at her probably wouldn't be very nice.

Beifong Residence

"Dad, I know it's probably hard for you to see me like this. But, that obedient, helpless, little blind girl you think I am just...isn't me. I love fighting. I love being an earth bender, and I'm really good at it. I know I've kept my life secret from you, but you were keeping me a secret from the whole world. You were doing it to protect me, but I'm 12 years old, and I've never had a real friend! Now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me..." Toph finished, looking down at the ground as she stood before her parents.

Naruto looked at her sadly. He can't imagine being cooped up somewhere for all his life. He is honestly surprised Toph didn't say all this sooner.

"Of course, it doesn't change how I feel about you, Toph. In fact, it's made me realize something." Lao sighed. She looked up at him with a hopeful gaze.

"It has?"

"Yes...I've allowed you far too much freedom! From now on, you are to be guarded 24 hours a day!" He announced, Poppy just nodding from beside him. Naruto gaped. Seriously?! That's what he's choosing to do?!

"But dad-!" Her mother cut off Toph's protest.

"We're doing this for your own good, Toph." She insisted. Naruto stood up with a glare.

"You saw how she took down all those earth benders! She doesn't need protection! You can't keep her trapped here like she's a prisoner for the rest of her life!" He countered. Two guards suddenly grabbed both his arms and held him back. Lao just glared at him from his seat.

"Please escort the Avatar and his friends out. They've overstayed their welcome." He announced coldly. Naruto released himself from their pitiful grips. He glanced over his shoulder at Toph as they walked away. She was looking down at the ground in defeat.

"I'm sorry, Toph..." Naruto stated as he trailed behind. She just shook her head.

"I'm sorry too...goodbye."

Outside

They stared back at the estate as they loaded Appa up. Sokka sat up on the saddle, polishing the belt as Katara, Aang, and Naruto stood at the hill's edge.

"Don't worry, Aang. We'll find you a master. There are plenty of great earth benders out there." Katara said as she patted his arm in comfort.

"Not like her..." He responded sadly. Naruto sighed as they turned back to climb up on Appa. It's too bad, Naruto thought Toph and him could've gotten along well. At least, for the most part. Just as Aang prepared to lift off, the sound of someone running caught his attention; Naruto turned around and smiled as he saw Toph running up to them.

"It's Toph!" Naruto announced happily.

"What're you doing here?" Aang questioned as she stopped next to them.

"My dad changed his mind! He said I was free to travel the world." He just shot her a look. Naruto was 99% sure that was not true. But, he was all for assisting in her escape from this place.

"Well, we better get out of here before your dad changes his mind again," Sokka responded, going along with the lie.

"You're going to be a great teacher." Aang insisted gleefully. Now they wouldn't have to start searching again for a new one.

"Speaking of which, come down here. I want to show you something." She stated a hint of mischief in her tone. Aang ignored all warning signs and jumped down, only to be launched into the air by a rock slab a moment later. Naruto laughed as he hung upside down in a tree.

"And I'll be taking the belt back," Toph added, holding her hand up in the air. Sokka sadly untied the thing from his waist and simply tossed it down at her. Uh, did he forget she was blind? The belt smacked her on the head, knocking her down to the ground with a grunt. Naruto snorted into his hand as Sokka apologized.

"That's what I call karma." Naruto laughed, swiftly ducking under a rock as it flew over his head. She launched herself up into the saddle as Aang got down from the tree. He hopped onto Appa's head and took them up into the sky. Naruto sat next to Toph as she leaned on his arms on the edge of the saddle. She was just gazing contentedly out. Naruto nudged her with his shoulder.

"Welcome aboard. High five?" He questioned, guessing that she probably couldn't see on Appa's saddle. Naruto smiled as he held his hand out in front of her. She smirked as she slapped it with her own.

"Good to be here."