Get a job in less than half an hour, in the worst part of the city.
Only his uncle could pull that off.
It's a pity that it wasn't a job, which both princes will really like.
"It's a pleasure to have three new employees in my humble establishment, who will do their best to serve good tea," the boss welcomed them.
"I hate this," Zuko muttered to himself, having to take one of the lowest jobs he thought he could ever take, being a waiter at a tea shop, wearing an apron that had more holes in it than a commoner's underwear.
"You're not the only one," Azula grumbled, wearing a pink apron with a drawing of white flowers.
"Don't you have one in my size?" As for Iroh, he struggled to put on his apron, given his larger build.
"No, now please have some tea," their new boss urged, pouring them each a cup. The tea didn't impress them; it was just hot water with leaves.
"This is just hot water with leaves," Iroh complained, feeling offended.
"All tea tastes like that, Uncle," Zuko remarked, swallowing the tea without tasting it.
"Zuzu is right, they taste just as bad," Azula agreed, hoping she could discreetly dispose of her tea.
"I never thought the day would come when I would hear my family members say something like that. Be thankful I don't have a belt with me, or I assure you I'll spank your butt right here," Iroh threatened.
Both teenagers shivered, knowing he wasn't joking.
"If I'm going to work here, there's going to be a lot of changes." Iroh tossed the tea pot out the window, unaware of the three figures lurking in the alley across the street.
"Jet, this is ridiculous. The girl just told you to go to hell. I would have done it too," the girl of the group interjected, hoping to prevent Jet from acting impulsively.
"You heard what she said, 'I like to play with fire... Do you want to play with me?' She's a firebender, and I'm sure you are too," Jet insisted.
His comrades exchanged worried glances. While the girl seemed eccentric, accusing them of being firebenders without evidence was risky given the local laws.
The laws were clear: no one should talk about firebenders unless they had real proof and reported it to the Dai Li.
It was a strange request, but they had no choice but to comply to avoid stirring trouble in their sanctuary.
"They are firebenders" Jet had no proof, but he also had no doubts, that girl was a firebender, she had the same look as the soldiers, who went to her home and reduced everything to ashes.
People like her were the ones who killed her parents.
And he would do anything to prove that he was right, tightening his grip on the hilts of his swords, he glared at a bored Azula who was sweeping the entrance to the teahouse.
….
The journey felt super long and boring for them.
They followed Joo Dee around the big city on a float, visiting places the teens didn't really care about. They felt like they weren't getting any closer to seeing the king.
"And this will be your new home." They finally stopped in front of a big house in the fancy part of town.
"Are we gonna live here?" Naruto felt out of place standing in front of the fancy mansion, kind of like Toph's place. Fancy houses weren't really his thing.
"Of course! It's the least we can do for the Avatar, Miss Beifong, and their pals."
"Pals? Hey, that's not cool."
"Sokka, she didn't mean it like that, right?" Katara hoped the woman would take it back.
"I'm afraid she's serious." Toph frowned. "Ba Sing Se still sticks to the old ways. There's no friendship between rich folks and regular folks, just bosses and workers."
"The lady's right. That's why we've got a second wall dividing our city." Joo Dee pointed to the walls.
The guys and the shinobi gave each other confused looks.
"One is to keep our fancy people fancy, and the other is for the workers. It's a system where we help each other out, giving jobs to those who need 'em and making the rich folks happy. Sounds great, huh?"
"What does that even mean?!"
"Naruto!" Katara couldn't stop him as he got in Joo Dee's face. The woman, despite her smile, looked scared.
"No! I won't listen to this junk! Why should regular folks like me serve rich folks like you just 'cause we're poor? Would you take advantage of someone who's gotta beg to feed their family?!"
"I…" Joo Dee took a step back, shocked.
"You gotta treat folks with respect! Even those who wash your clothes, cook your food, and take care of your needs."
"But... it's just how things are."
"Then change it!"
"Naruto, calm down!"
Naruto realized he'd made Joo Dee sit down, her smile gone, replaced by fear. Folks from the fancy neighborhood were coming out of their houses, wondering what was going on.
"I... I'm sorry."
"No problem," the woman declined Naruto's hand, choosing to get up on her own and dust off her clothes. Her smile returned, albeit slightly forced. "Enjoy your new home. You'll hear from us. For now, please stay here and make yourselves comfortable," she said before departing in her carriage.
"Did you hear how she talked to him?"
"Yeah, such an ungrateful kid. They give him a home in the best part of town, and that's how he thanks them?"
"What do you expect from a filthy, ignorant commoner?"
Naruto wasn't interested in hearing any more of his neighbors' gossip. He walked into the house and closed the door behind him.
But things wouldn't end there.
"Why so much gossiping?! Is your life so boring that you have to spy on others?! Leave us alone!"
The neighbors quickly shut their doors, avoiding the wrath of the feisty blind girl, who entered the house without waiting for the others, finding Naruto by the window.
"Thanks, Toph."
"No problem. And don't worry, you're probably 99% right about everything you said. Rich folks can be a pain sometimes. Except me, of course. I don't care if you're rich or poor. We could live in a cave and eat bugs, and I wouldn't mind."
Naruto chuckled as he watched Toph flop onto one of the many pillows on the floor, then slowly joined her.
"I'll hold you to that, especially since I'm broke now."
"Heh... we could still hustle the rich. Wouldn't be too hard."
"I don't know... I think I could make ramen out of whatever we find in the forest."
"Hey, not a bad idea. Your ramen's delicious."
"Well... it's the only thing I know how to make."
"At least you'd handle the housework well. You'd make a good wife, Naruto."
"I'm a guy, Toph."
"I know, but I can't help picturing you in an apron, using one hand to dust and the other to stir soup. It's a funny image."
"You can't see, Toph, and I'm not a housewife."
"My bad, Naruto. Did I hurt your feelings?"
"You little brat!"
"Get off me, Little girl!"
Katara, Sokka, and Aang didn't have to worry about their two friends, who were now wrestling on the ground. They decided to go explore and search for clues about the bison's whereabouts.
Little did they know, someone was always watching them.
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]