Chapter-59

One of the earliest lessons learned in becoming a warrior was to never, under any circumstance, lose sight of the enemy. It was the first lesson his father had imparted.

"If your enemy falls, do not hesitate to step on his throat and break his neck.

If he is distracted, don't hesitate to attack.

And if they turn their back on you, don't waste a shoot-to-kill shot."

Azula ran her fingers over Naruto's cheeks as he knelt before her, displaying vulnerability yet retaining that fierce look she admired. She traced her fingers down his face to his chin before moving away, signaling the end of the battle.

"Now I just need some chains to tame the beast." She patted him on the cheek and stood up victoriously, leaving her target behind.

Creating a flame in her hand to illuminate the cave, Azula knew she had to find an alternative exit since the main one was destroyed.

Mai sat where she was, casting a deathly glare at Azula. The fire princess approached the saddle of her deceased lizard and retrieved heavy chains.

"Mai, take care of Ty Lee. There's a medical kit in one of the bags," she ordered as she passed one of her escorts. However, she paused to lock eyes with Mai. "What's with that look?"

"You were going to let us die," Mai spat angrily as she stood up to confront the princess.

Both girls exchanged penetrating and unyielding gazes. The tension in the air grew with each passing second.

"If you were going to die crushed by rocks, you don't deserve to be one of the Fire Nation's upper-class escorts," Azula's words were flat and forceful, leaving no room for doubt. Her expression remained cold and indifferent, and she continued to gaze into her 'friend's' eyes.

"…"

"Are you getting angry just because of that?" Azula snorted and crossed her arms. "I knew you wouldn't die, you know why... look at it." She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming maliciously.

Following Azula's gaze, Mai's stomach clenched when she saw the golden-haired boy carefully tending to Ty Lee's head. He was tying bandages around her head to stop the slight bleeding from a cut.

"Her problem is her nobility," Azula didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for Ty Lee's current state. She considered Ty Lee strong; a blow to the head wouldn't stop her. This was just a minor mishap. "I hope she learns not to be so careless." Azula let the chains fall to her escort's feet and turned her gaze toward Ty Lee. "Wake her up. She's of no use to me unconscious." With that order given, she turned her back on everyone, ready to venture into the cave to search for a possible way out.

Mai's blood boiled with fury at Azula's callous treatment of Ty Lee. Ty Lee was the only person in the world who offered Azula unconditional support and loyalty. Clenching her fists, Mai took a step forward, and a pair of daggers emerged from her sleeves.

They were alone in a cave within Earth Kingdom territory.

No one would know what transpired in this dark place where only they were present. She would lie to Ty Lee, but she knew Ty Lee would be much better off without a monster like Azula. The boy had the same look of rage as her; he would support her.

She could be free from any threat from the Fire Lord. She belonged to one of the most prestigious and wealthy families in her nation, and the ruler of her nation wouldn't risk losing the significant financial support her family provided. Everything could be resolved here and now.

Silently, she crept up behind the princess, a sharp dagger gripped tightly in her right hand, with a singular intent.

It's a shame someone beat her to it.

Azula's world shook as she felt a hand grab her armor's shoulder pads, forcing her to turn around. She was met with a fist that slammed into her face, causing a painful pulse on her right cheek. It stunned her momentarily as she crashed against the cave wall, tasting the blood that flowed from her lips in disbelief.

"You...damn," the princess was seized by the collar of her armor and forcibly raised to her feet, then slammed roughly against the stone wall. She was left speechless by those furious blue eyes, which held such an intense gaze that even she was taken aback. She shuddered, and the person before her uttered, "You're utterly foolish!"

Neither of the two Fire Nation girls expected such an outburst from the boy who had his hands on the princess's armor, pinning her against the wall.

"How dare you?" Azula, recovering from her surprise, returned a look of fury and rage at the boy who dared to lay a hand on her. "Let go of me!" One of her hands lit up with fire, ready to burn his face.

"Be quiet!" But that hand was seized and slammed painfully against the cave wall. The firebender couldn't help but gasp in pain because of the strong grip that twisted her wrist, which could have been broken by such force, preventing her from concentrating to defend herself.

"..." The princess had never felt this vulnerable and unprotected before. She even glanced at Mai for help, but Mai just stood there with a darkened look in her eyes.

"She's your friend, and you... you treat her this way! After what you did, you dare speak that way! You were going to let her die! You left her behind!" The sudden scream shook the princess, who was forced to look into the eyes of the Uzumaki. With heavy, labored breaths resembling a beast's, he squeezed her tighter. "As if she was worthless! What kind of person are you?!"

"..." At that moment, Azula didn't know what to feel. On one hand, anger coursed through her veins for being treated this way, and on the other hand... fear, fear of the immense power that the boy possessed, which didn't even allow her to move, made her apprehensive.

But she also felt a strange sense of wrongdoing when she looked down and saw Ty Lee lying on the floor.

"How can you do that to her...?"

"..." The feeling of wrongdoing grew within the princess as she saw tears welling up in the boy's eyes. For a few seconds, he cried in front of her, and after an awkward moment of silence, he finally released her.

Stunned, the firebender tumbled onto the ground when she was freed from Naruto's death grip, and he concealed his gaze with the bangs of his hair.

"..." The firebender couldn't react when she saw his hand move to her neck. Being pinned against the wall, she watched as the bandana hanging from her neck was taken away from her.

"..." With his sash in his hands, the blonde turned around, his back to the princess, and approached the circus girl.

With extreme care, he knelt down, extending his arms to lift her gently. As if she were made of glass, he delicately cradled her in his arms and walked alone into the darkness of the cave. Behind him, Mai appeared, still holding a flare to light their way.

"..." She cast one last glance at Azula, who remained seated alone in the darkness with a lost look in her eyes. The blade girl then walked over to what remained of her saddle to retrieve her bag and continued following the ninja.

"If you still have anything left in your heart... you will apologize to her when she wakes up," were Naruto's final words directed at Azula.

It didn't take long for them to distance themselves from the princess, leaving her alone in the darkness of the cave.

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