Chapter-106

After the awkward conversation, everyone collectively agreed it would be best to pretend it never happened.

While Katara diligently sewed a tear in Toph's pants, Aang fed his bison with lemur-like agility, and Naruto curiously examined the components of the firearm Sokka had salvaged from one of the many left at the North Pole.

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"There's only one way to find out." The boy from the South Pole had spent a decent amount of money to acquire the necessary parts to modify this weapon. Despite being swindled by a blacksmith, he now had what he needed.

With care, Sokka raised the gun and aimed at a glass bottle in the distance. After a soft sigh, he concentrated and took aim.

"..."

"..."

"Did something have to happen?"

"Freaking crap!"

Apparently, his idea was to create a hammer mechanism that would generate a spark when the trigger was pulled, igniting the gunpowder.

"It was a good idea, buddy," the blonde consoled his ponytailed friend. Taking the gun, he examined the compartment where the gunpowder was stored, realizing the Fire Nation soldiers hadn't used that much.

*Bang!*

The animals in the area were startled by the noise, and it wasn't only them. Aang nearly tumbled off his bison, Katara pricked her finger with the needle, and Toph covered her ears.

"What the heck was that?" The noise was painful to her sensitive ears.

"Magician!" Sokka almost toppled his friend, gripping his shoulders and looking into his eyes. "I'd kiss you if you weren't a boy and so weird!"

Taking the weapon back, the teenager celebrated the success of his preliminary model. Even if it was only half as powerful and fast as the soldiers' weapons, it was a significant achievement for him.

"We have to celebrate this!"

This could be a pivotal step for them in balancing the odds against the Fire Nation. If it functioned as well as he hoped, he could share the plans on how he configured it with the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Water Tribe.

...

Night had fallen in the forest, and the firebenders gathered around a campfire outside the house, sipping tea prepared by the old Dragon of the West. He looked up at the sound of footsteps.

With a grim and empty face, Azula walked until she reached them and sat between the two firebenders.

"What am I supposed to do now, uncle?"

She had never felt so empty, lost, and confused. The feeling of not knowing which path to take overwhelmed and disturbed her.

"No one can tell you how to live your own life. It's up to you to choose your own path." The old man carefully handed a cup of tea to the girl, who took it in silence. "It's time to stop thinking about the destiny others have imposed on you. You have to decide, Princess Azula, what is your destiny?"

"I don't know."

"Daughter..."

Azula tensed as she felt her uncle's hand on her shoulder, and his other hand caressed her face, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes. A strange feeling filled the girl's chest at the warm and paternal gaze of the old man.

"You just have to live... to continue... it's what every person should do, yes... you've made mistakes, we've all done it, that's life. We are so focused on our goals that we don't realize the damage we leave behind."

"..."

"I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner... I always had the regret of not having been as present with you as I was with Zuko, but now I'm here. I'm going to be with you on your journey, to see you make mistakes and learn from them. From now on, I'll be there to see you grow and be the wonderful person you can become."

"Why? Why would you do that for me?"

Azula didn't understand. She had always treated her uncle poorly, never respected him, and even insulted him to his face. Yet, here he was, offering to be that pillar of support she might always need.

"Because I love you, daughter, and we always have to help and support the people we love. It's the right thing to do..." Iroh pulled the girl towards him, wrapping his arms around her tightly. The hug broke something inside Azula.

In the end, she was just a young girl who had lived her entire life with a hard, cold, and even cruel mask to adapt and survive the harsh environment around her. But now, she could only cling to her uncle in perhaps the first fatherly hug she had ever experienced.

"..." Zuko hadn't said anything the entire time. It was hard for him to see how damaged his sister was.

Did your father do this?

Did he really want to go back after seeing what he did to his little sister?

Naruto would never admit it, but he had sometimes been very envious of his classmates.

The Ino-shika-cho group was always seen eating together, with their sensei who always received them with a smile and talked with them, from the most banal talks to advice on how to improve as shinobi.

Team 8, he always used to see them in the forest.

Kiba, Hinata, Shino, the three of them were very close, sharing and talking as if they were lifelong friends, training and strengthening themselves like the team they were, all under the guidance of a great woman, such as Kurenai.

A kunoichi, although upright and cold, always had a smile for her students, an ear to listen to them, and always advice for any problem they may have.

Even the brow team seemed like a family, with Gai-sensei being someone lively and cheerful, who, if at times seemed to have a stronger bond with Rock Lee, would never ignore his other students.

They were like a family, a strange family.

Naruto never felt this happen on his team.