He was now four and his formal training had begun with private tutors for everything, history, etiquette, politics but also sword and unarmed combat and of course fire bending.
All his teachers were baffled. I mean how would you react if a four year old explained you the cause and consequences of inflation.
Right he exelled in everything. The only subject he was bad at was etiquette...there were just too many useless rules and things you should not do but he followed the teachings as good as he can.
He also didn't want to brag but his constant practice of fire bending while only being two years old trained his chi pool to the extreme.
His theory was that the younger you start the training the more effective it is.
As he growed up he developed wild black hair and he had bright blue eyes that were captivating in some weird way standing out as if opposing the fiery red robes he was wearing.
Azula was trained alongside him and they soon developed a fierce rivalry on who is better.
Well even through Azula is a prodigy she us still a child in her mind and stood no chance.
The longer they trained the father the gap between them became.
Well even through Azula was an annoying bitch Zuko was pretty alright.
Akira loved it what a naive ordinary child Zuko was and they grew closer with each passing day.
"Look Akira I did it. I can also control fire like you and Azula" Zuko said and Akira really found him adorable and smiled softly.
"Good job then you better hurry up and train your ass of if you want to catch me and Azula" Akira taunted "I can help you if you want"
Zuko's eyes lit up and he nodded.
"Alright this is the basic stance of firebending" Akira said and showed him a stance which the over eager Zuko tried to copy.
"Raise your right hand a bit higher" Akira said "good and now you channel your ki to your fist and punch with everything you got"
He showed him and a big ball of fire shot out of his hand.
Zuko also did it but his fireball was much smaller.
"Good job you did it on the first try" Akira praises.
"Zuko, Akira! Come here lunch is ready" Ursa, the mother of Zuko said and winked to them.
"We're comming" Akira said and raced with Zuko who would be in the palace first.
Ozai who sat besides fire lord Azulon narrowed his eyes at their childish acting compared to Azula who was sitting in perfet posture and sipped her tea.
"Akira I have told you countless times that you should not play with Zuko" Ozai said and sternly looked at Zuko "You are hindering his training by being so childish"
"Oh on contrary, just a few moments ago we were practicing firebending and I showed his a few basic stances. If anything I educated him further" Akira spoke up not intimidated by Ozai's threatening demanour.
'One day I will kill this bitch' they both thought as Akira sat down on the table.
"Oh is that so?" Ozai just grumbled but didn't stop to shoot him icy glares "And how is your training comming along?" he asked.
"Quite good, quite good. I learned the basics perfectly and am now working on the advanced techniques" Akira said.
"What about a demonstration?" Azulon said and smiled "I want to see how good my grandchildren are in their studies"
"Of course" Akira said and stood up.
Deciding to stop holding back he summoned his flames and gave it more of his power and drained nearly all the oxygen out of the air to fuel his fire that now turned blue.
Be performed the Kata of the spiraling inferno, a defese technique that considted of rotating forms and required incredibly agility and control to pull it off but he did it in near perfection.
Everyone was staring at his performance in amazement and Ozais eyes narrowed further.
After his performance ended everyone clapped lightly.
"Very good, you have even mastered the secret technique of Avatar Roku it seems" Azulon said in interest "but I don't remember giving it to you"
"This is something I came up with myself it may use the same principles behind it but it isn't Avatar Rokus technique" he said shameless. 'It wasn't his fault that someone before him thought of the same thing' he just thought already thinking of possible modern inventions he could create but not give the fire nation more military power.
"Impressive" Azulon sad "Anyways you should get a reward for this incredible archivement. Is there anything you want?"
Akira smiled and bowed "In this case would I like permission to get trained in the ancient chi arts" he said.
"Oh? How do you know of this?" Azulon asked.
"I read it in the library" Akira said.
"Hmmm...alright your training will start the next morning. I have just the right person who can teach you" Azulon said and Akira bowed before heading back to the table.
Ozai and Azula glared at him both angered by the attention Azulon wae giving him.
"Anyways, how is father doing?" he asked ignoring those two.
"He has been leading the war in the earth kingdom with great success and is conquering one city after the other" Naemi said "He told me he will come back for your birthday".
"Father is comming?" he said suprised. Since his birth Iroh had heavily neglected him in favor of his military duties. He sent gifts and letters from time to time but he bareley saw Iroh.
"Yes after all he can't miss the fifth birthday of his little prince" Naemi said.
"Great then I can show him everything I have learnt" he said. Well it sucks to act like an overmotivated child but he just got permission to practice chi arts so for him this was one of the best days of his life so far.
They finished eating and Akira continued his training doubling the intensity and kind of neglecting his other more theoretical subjects but whatever.
Like this time went by until his fifth birthday arrived.