Naruto adjusted the armored bracelets covering his wrists and arms, part of his battle uniform provided by the Dai Li. His attire comprised a green armored yukata fastened with a dark belt over pants adorned with several metal plates. He even swapped his sandals for heavy steel-toed boots. Despite the significant change, he retained his forehead protector bearing the leaf symbol.
Once dressed, he was escorted by two Dai Li agents. Glancing at the soldiers being gathered near the walls, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gravity in the air.
Upon reaching the wall's summit, his body tensed at the sight before him.
Thousands.
No, hundreds of thousands of soldiers spanned the entire horizon, accompanied by various metal machines and hot air balloons, all bearing the fire nation insignia.
"We've rallied all soldiers from our lands," the Dai Li reported, gesturing toward the amassed forces behind and above the walls, with more on the way. "In the underground tunnels, we've stationed hundreds of earthbenders, our strongest, awaiting your command to commence the attack."
"My command?" Naruto asked incredulously, noticing the generals and Dai Li surrounding him expectantly.
"The Earth King has placed our entire military force under your command," the earthbender stated matter-of-factly, unwavering in his loyalty to their leader. "We trust you to make the right decisions."
"..."
Naruto fell silent, pondering the weight of his newfound responsibility. Was this what leadership felt like? Would this be akin to his future role as Hokage? With so many relying on him to lead, he couldn't help but think of Shikamaru.
"At times like this, I wish you were here," he thought, knowing Shikamaru's knack for wise counsel and leadership.
"Naruto!"
The time for contemplation vanished when the entire Fire Nation army parted ways, allowing only one figure to advance: Shòukǔ.
The formidable warrior emerged, sporting a menacing grin that reverberated with each step, causing the ground to quake. Soldiers scattered to avoid even glancing at the most perilous man on the planet.
"NARUTO!"
Shòukǔ bellowed his rival's name, his voice resonating across both sides of the battlefield.
Naruto frowned, recognizing the summons to settle their long-standing feud.
"NARUTO!"
The warrior's cries grew more forceful, causing the shinobi to tense and glance at the soldiers awaiting his command.
With a resigned sigh, Naruto signaled for the soldiers to retreat with him behind the wall, rather than advancing into battle.
On the opposing side, the Fire Nation army stood motionless, awaiting orders from their new general.
Remaining as still as a statue for several minutes, Naruto finally spurred them into action, signaling that the inevitable confrontation loomed, whether within or beyond the walls.
Shòukǔ waited patiently for approximately thirty minutes of inactivity, his gaze narrowing as he observed a smoke explosion atop the walls of Ba Sing Se.
All eyes turned to the silhouette atop the walls, which leaped into the air, descending with a swirl of wind that softened the landing and raised a cloud of dust.
Before the vast army, Naruto stood resolute, clutching his staff earned through effort, pain, and blood.
Flash back:
The pain was overwhelming, but the reward was worth it. Aang almost pleaded with her to slow down, not to push herself to the brink of exhaustion every night.
But he wouldn't relent. He'd never stop pushing himself, always striving beyond his limits, even at the risk of his life.
The Kage Bunshin technique was designed for brief combat and infiltration, not risking the user's life. Typically, only one clone was used at a time. However, it offered a unique advantage beyond its primary functions: experience. Each clone accelerated learning, offering multiple perspectives and knowledge.
It was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. With this technique, a user could achieve an almost divine power, omnipresent and omniscient. Yet, such power was too much for an ordinary person to bear, overwhelming their mind with constant feedback.
Tobirama, the technique's creator, believed it could only be fully harnessed by a user capable of healing as quickly as they were destroyed. Uzumaki Naruto was that user, born to wield the technique.
Training six hours a day, with five hundred clones, followed by fifteen hours of rest resembling a coma, Naruto compressed over 10 years of training into just thirty days.
In a candlelit temple, Aang stood before a statue of a flying bison. At the foot of the stairs knelt Naruto, bearing dark circles under his eyes, pale and breathing heavily from the mental strain.
Aang placed an ancient staff before Naruto, a relic from the air nomads. "I, Aang, last airbender of the Southern Air Temple, declare you an airbender. Though you've not mastered all techniques, you are worthy in the eyes of my people."
"It's an honor... thank you…"
Naruto took the staff with utmost care, feeling the old wood between his fingers, and rose to his feet. The two teenagers exchanged a long look before Aang guided Naruto towards a hole at the center of the temple.
A daunting journey awaited them in the dark valley below. Gripping the staff tightly, Naruto approached the hole and without hesitation, allowed himself to fall.
As he plummeted, he unfurled his staff and with a burst of speed, he soared into the sky, enveloped in a swirl of wind. Calling him an airbender would be inaccurate; he didn't control the air. He created it, using it to ascend to the clouds.
End of flashback.
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PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]