Chapter- 58

"Hey?" Naruto released his grip on Sokka's neck, and Sokka gratefully took in a breath of air. He couldn't help but sense Katara's gaze, which seemed peculiar as she deliberately avoided looking at him. It felt strange. Had he done something wrong?

"Aang is right; we can do it together." With determination, the waterbender extended her hand to the shinobi. Naruto, with a shrug, nodded and took her hand.

However, as they were on the verge of entering the cave, Naruto abruptly halted, causing Katara to stop while still holding his hand. He turned back to see a cloud of black smoke looming on the horizon. "I think we have no other option." He sighed resignedly and followed the group.

But then he felt it.

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he heard an electrifying scream. Without thinking, he grabbed Katara, who was very close, and pushed her aside just as a bolt of lightning passed mere centimeters from her.

Cold sweat trickled down his face as he looked up and saw him at the entrance of the grand canyon.

"Holding the hand of a waterbender? You must be desperate... Naruto."

Everyone turned their attention to the source of the voice and saw three silhouettes on large reptilian creatures standing on a hill. They wore typical Fire Nation attire, but the one leading them, a young woman about Katara's age, donned the armor characteristic of high-ranking generals.

For the Avatar team, she was a stranger.

But for Naruto...

"Run to the cave." There was a noticeable shift in Naruto's demeanor, and he kept his gaze locked on the strangers.

"Do you know them?" Aang and the rest of the group became alert as the Fire Nation girls descended from the hill, coming just a few feet away from them.

"So you are the famous Avatar," Azula examined the monk from head to toe, disappointment clearly etched in her eyes. He appeared to be just a child, a couple of years younger than her. "I'm ashamed that Zuko couldn't help you. As always, I'll have to fix his problems myself." A sinister smile curled on her lips, sending shivers down Aang's spine.

"Hello, Naruto!" The tension in the air eased somewhat when Ty Lee greeted the shinobi with a warm smile. "It's been months, but look at you. You've grown up and you look stronger. Great!" She raised her thumbs in approval, noticing the subtle but significant change in him.

"Stop fawning over him," Mai scolded, also acknowledging the change in the boy. Training, perhaps? It meant that capturing him would be more challenging.

"Naruto, who are they?" Katara cautiously tightened her grip on her water bag as she stood beside him. Azula didn't seem to appreciate her presence.

"I am Azula, daughter of the Fire Lord," she introduced herself with an air of arrogance, always emphasizing her noble name. "But that's something a filthy water peasant like you should know... Or should I carve it into your skin?" Her fingers crackled with blue flames, a menacing threat that sent shudders through some.

"You won't touch her." Naruto instinctively positioned himself in front of Katara.

"Defending your little girlfriend... adorable." Azula dismounted and cracked her neck, a thunderous sound. Her two escorts flanked her. "I know who I'll target first."

Naruto glanced over his shoulder and signaled to Sokka, who nodded and began to lead Katara away, with Aang following. They retreated into the cave.

"What are you doing?" Katara looked bewildered, as did Aang, as Sokka pulled them into the cave.

"Come forward!" Naruto's sudden shout caught everyone's attention. He wore his usual bright smile. "I'll just take care of taking out the trash and catch up with you! That's a promise!"

"What? Wait!" Aang and Katara didn't have a chance to protest as Sokka led them further into the cave, and the group followed, with Appa bringing up the rear.

"Do you think I'll just watch?" Naruto cursed under his breath as Azula unleashed a bolt of lightning from her fingers, striking the cave entrance and causing several rocks to tumble.

However, Aang used his staff to summon a powerful gust of air that cleared the rocks away, creating a brief distraction. Azula seized this opportunity and sprinted towards Naruto at full speed.

The girl's fiery fists forced the latter to retreat as they almost struck him. "Don't let them escape!" The princess's order was swiftly obeyed by her two escorts, who rode their formidable beasts toward the cave entrance.

However, they were met with an unexpected attack from clones that materialized above them.

Azula's surprise was evident as fifteen copies, surprisingly strong, overwhelmed the large reptiles. She quickly turned and launched a wave of fire from her feet, burning the clones just in time to prevent Ty Lee and Mai from getting scorched.

In her momentary lapse of attention, Azula was seized around the waist and hoisted into the air. She was then hurled toward her escorts, who barely managed to catch her. "I don't have time for you," Naruto knew that taking on all three of them in direct combat was unwise.

"Stop him!" The princess, now on her feet, grew furious as she witnessed the original sprinting towards the cave entrance. Without hesitation, she unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts.

"Not Azula!" Mai was the first to recognize the danger of being so close to the cave entrance as the electrical attacks struck the ceiling, causing it to crumble.

"Move, Mai!" Ty Lee reacted swiftly, pushing her friend away just in time to avoid a massive rock crashing down on her. "We have to get out!" The falling rocks threatened to crush them, and they had no choice but to flee.

"No!" Azula, however, paid no heed to the danger, entering the cave determined to pursue her target.

"Azula, don't be foolish!" Mai couldn't stop her and, along with Ty Lee, had no choice but to follow. Unfortunately, Ty Lee was struck on the head by a falling rock and knocked unconscious. Mai halted instantly and rushed to assist her fallen friend. "Azula, help me!"

With conflicted footsteps, Azula paused for a moment to watch Mai's efforts. Yet, she soon turned her back on them and dashed deeper into the cave.

"Azula?" Even Mai's heart ached as she witnessed her supposed friend continuing onward, abandoning her and Ty Lee. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here." Mai didn't pause her advance but continued to drag the unconscious brunette with her.

Cursing softly under her breath, Mai sprinted as the collapsing rocks became increasingly dangerous. She harbored dwindling hope as she spotted a massive rock, ten meters in size, plummeting directly toward her.

Falling to her knees, she hugged Ty Lee, a futile act of protection.

But the impact never came. Instead, she heard a roar.

"Move!" Mai glanced up and saw Naruto beside her, struggling to hold a massive rock over his head. Her face turned red as she strained to help carry the rock, veins bulging on her forehead. "Now!"

Without hesitation, she picked up her friend Ty Lee and rushed deeper into the cave.

"Ahhhhh!" Naruto let out a powerful scream as he used every ounce of strength to lift and roll the rock off himself onto the ground. Exhausted, he ran after the two girls.

"Hey!" Mai was taken aback when she felt someone grab her around the waist and lift her off the ground. She watched as the golden-haired boy carried her and Ty Lee to a safe area.

A final roar echoed as the cave entrance became completely blocked.

In the darkness, Mai retrieved a flare from her clothing and lit it, casting light throughout the cave.

"Are you alright?" She didn't know how to respond when she saw the boy kneeling next to her, trying to catch his breath. His exhausted and pained expression revealed the swollen lumps forming on his shoulders and legs.

Muscles torn.

"Yes," she replied dazedly, nodding her head, and remained on the ground, still holding Ty Lee in her arms.

"That's good," Naruto felt like he was on the verge of fainting. Despite being strong compared to the people of this world, as an Uzumaki and a Jinchuriki, he was just a 12-year-old boy who had pushed his body to lift a rock weighing five tons. He counted himself lucky not to have been crushed like a bug.

"That was surprising." Out of the darkness, a blue flame illuminated Azula's dark silhouette. She pointed her fingers directly at Naruto's face, her smile growing wider and more sinister as she observed the sorry state of the Uzumaki. "But useless... I win."

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