Chapter-104

"Toph… Are you sure you don't want me to help you?"

"I'm not a baby, so you can't hold my hand."

"Well, you walk like one." Naruto rolled his eyes, waiting impatiently for the girl to follow him across a bridge of ropes and wood that connected two cliffs. Both of them needed to collect firewood and fruit, and exploring the area was part of the task.

But they were taking too long, thanks to the earthbender who walked distrustfully and cautiously across the bridge. She could only see through the earth; once her feet touched the wood, everything was darkness.

She hated that feeling of vulnerability she had now, taking step by step to cross the seemingly endless bridge. Little did she know, she was only 5% of the way.

"What was that?!" She tightened her grip on the rope when she felt the bridge move from side to side. She felt dizzy.

"It's just the wind," Naruto was barely interested in the strong breeze that shook the bridge a little, enough to make the girl stop. "You can go back to camp; I'll go get the firewood and something for dinner."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Leave the blind girl behind."

"Come on Toph, don't take it so hard."

"Of course, the blind girl always needs help. I don't need Katara to help me wash my clothes, I don't need Sokka to put up a tent or Light Feet to help me with my luggage. I don't need pity; I can handle myself."

"They just want to be nice."

"Well, I didn't ask for them to be."

"You're a brat with a head that's as hard as the rocks you like to use to crush people."

Now Naruto knew what Kakashi-sensei, Grandma, and others felt when dealing with him; this girl was as stubborn as he could be.

"And you are a crying little girl."

"You know what?! That's it!"

"Hey! Put me down!"

"Stop kicking me!"

"Let go of me, squeaky-voiced girl!"

"No!" Maybe she was stronger than she looked physically, but the shinobi was stronger and carried her like a sack of potatoes, ignoring how she squirmed. He continued walking along the bridge that didn't stop moving.

"When we get to dry land! I'm going to drop a mountain on that hard head of yours!"

"Yes, yes, yes," he downplayed what she said, until they finally reached the other side of the bridge, and he carelessly let the girl fall. Although her butt hurt from the fall, she was relieved to be on solid ground.

"Is this how you treat all girls?"

"Only those who act like nomos with rage."

"Do you think you're funny?"

"The truth is, not for nothing was I the king of jokes in my town."

"And here I thought you were just the king of idiots; well, now you have two titles to brag about."

"And then you wonder why you don't have friends."

"That you are all babies who can't stand my harsh nature; it's not my problem."

"You call it tough, I call it trouble."

"Hhhfff." Giving a snort, she crossed her arms. They still had to continue looking for something to eat, and she wanted meat. She didn't want the Light Feet diet. She wanted grilled meat, fatty and tasty. Was that too much to ask for?

Stomping her feet, the girl realized something.

"How many bridges are there?!" She was stepping on another plank of wood, meaning another bridge, and another pain in the butt for her.

"I see at least twelve."

"…"

"All good?" Naruto was concerned by the expression on the girl's face as she let her shoulders slump in defeat.

Toph wanted to turn around and leave, but her pride wouldn't allow it. She never backed down; she always remained firm and motionless like a mountain. Mountains don't move; they make others move.

"...?" But she stopped thinking about that when she noticed that the boy had crouched down.

"Come on, go up."

"…"

"Or I can carry you like a sack of potatoes. Your decision." Naruto didn't have to wait long; the girl relented and slowly wrapped her arms around Uzumaki's neck, pressing against him as he began to walk across the bridge.

"No word to anyone. Am I clear?" If she could see, she would not dare to look down, where a free fall of hundreds of meters would surely be waiting for her.

The cold wind and the movement of the bridge were enough to make her feel very uncomfortable.

"Calm down..." That feeling of insecurity was disappearing when the blind bandit felt the boy's hands wrap her legs in a firm grip, and as he stood up, he made her come even closer.

"..." Toph felt a strange feeling of comfort, resting her head on the boy's shoulder and being able to hear his heartbeat that was faster and more powerful than that of a normal person.

"You can trust me."

"I'll take you at your word." Smiling, Toph tightened her grip around Uzumaki's neck. Feeling more relaxed, they continued walking across the wooden bridge, the two teenagers continued with their task.

….

The road was too long and uncomfortable for someone like Iroh.

That had to be the point of neutrality between both princes. In all the time they had traveled together, they didn't even exchange glances.

"I think this is a good place." The Dragon of the West had proposed to both nephews to take a different path than the other refugees took, to have some time of privacy and to be able to speak more civilly among themselves.

Something that obviously didn't happen.

Now that they were alone, it only made everything very boring for the former general, who wanted to take a break.

Luckily for them, they found an old abandoned house. It wasn't a big deal, but at least it would serve as shelter at night.

"I'll look for something to eat."

Zuko did not wait for an answer; he only turned halfway back to enter the forest, leaving his uncle and younger sister alone. The latter went to the house and with a hard kick knocked down the fragile door that had a padlock.

Apparently, the house was not so abandoned.

"That was rude." Iroh moved the mat where the key was with his foot; breaking the door was unnecessary.

"I don't care." Azula dropped to the ground, and with just a gesture of her hands, she shot a flare of fire to light the bonfire, which was in the middle of the house.

Heavily, she dropped to sit before the fire and took off her heavy cloak.

Iroh noticed how the girl had a blank stare focused only on the fire as she carefully stroked the scarf around her neck.

"I see…"

"See what?" Azula frowned, looking into her uncle's eyes; she gave a soft sigh. "Months ago, when I was banished by my father, I lost the ability to manipulate and create fire. Only when my life was at risk was I able to regain it."

"Are you sure it was your life that was at risk?"