Chapter 12: Brink of Death

A barren wasteland is what could be described as the former Fire Nation base. Bodies everywhere, all Fire Nation soldiers, buldings destroyed, fires burning, but in the middle of it all stood two warriors face to face, Madara Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha. Two prodigies of their clan, but from two very different eras with very different goals. There was a difference in power, and it wasn't in Itachi's favor.

Two massive fireballs clashed with each other causing the entire area to be engulfed in flames. Itachi and Madara, clashed with each other, with kicks and punches, Madara being the most skilled between the two overpowering Itachi. He kicked him to the ground and Itachi backflipped up and swung at Madara with a kunai, to which Madara countered with his own. They went back and forth, Itachi managing to cut some of Madara's hair and Madara kicking him the chest launching him back. Madara then activated his susanoo swing a giant sword at his to which Itachi blocked with a giant sword from his own susanoo. As they collided swords and fists, giant shock waves shook the entire island base and created massive tsunami sized waves in the ocean around them. People from miles away could feel the intense battle, and only prayed it wouldn't lead anywhere near them. One man watched the battle from a distance, Prince Zuko. He had brought Itachi along with him on his mission to kill his father, however they must've suspected an attack as they got Madara instead. Zuko let Itachi battle Madara alone, he understood why he wanted to but after all this, it seems like Itachi was trying to save Zuko from Madara really. Zuko couldn't just leave him though, but he had to help him somehow.

"I know you're getting tired Itachi, though strain from the mangekyo is starting to get to you. You may have a few months left, but if you keep up with this battle you would be down to just a few weeks, maybe days, maybe even mere hours to spare. You can't keep this up, why not join us for real this time? Come back to the Akatsuki, we'll even let Zuko back into the Fire Nation. What do you say?" Madara asked

"I...Can't...I can't do that..." Itachi responded

"And why not? For Konoha? The same village that discriminated and berated the Uchiha for so long until they finally ordered you to murder ever last one emotionally scarring your little brother for life? Or maybe that's it, maybe this is all for your dear brother Sasuke. But truth is Itachi, if you truly cared for Sasuke, you would join us, otherwise you're not leaving here alive." Madara said

"I don't care if I die, as long as I die for what's right. I planned to die by Sasuke's hand, but if I die by yours then so be it." Itachi claimed

"That may be so, but would you really want to die with your brother hating you for life? Thinking of you nothing but a killer? You said you wanted to tell him the truth about what happened, and he knows you want to talk to him about it. Would you really want your brother to go on never knowing the truth, never finding out what you needed to tell him?"

"You won't convince me Madara."

"How utterly disappointing." he said as he used an Almighty push with his rinnegan to vaporize Itachi's susanoo and blow him back.

"Planetary devastation!" Madara shouted as a giant meteor in the sky came down at the island.

"Run!" Zuko shouted to Itachi as they both made a break for it. The meteor crashed down exploding the island and causing a massive tsunami that went on and even wiped out a nearby small village. Madara then flew away in his susanoo sure that if they somehow survived they would drown anyway. After a few minutes, Itachi came up in his susanoo carrying Zuko, they landed on the ground and his susanoo disappeared. Itachi dragged Zuko a little further before passing out as well, just before seeing figures in the distance.

"Aang did you see that? It was the craziest thing I ever witnessed!" Katara said

"Yeah and the winds were intense! Maybe we should go check it out, people could be in trouble." Aang said as they headed towards the area near where the battle just took place.

As Aang and Katara landed to the sight, they noticed a trail of footprints leading somewhere and Katara noticed a whale's tooth scimitar

"Aang, this is a water tribe weapon! Let's keep searching for more clues before following these footprints." Katara said excited

"Alright, just be careful Katara. This could be a trap." Aang said staying cautious

Iroh was sitting in his room drinking tea, worried sick about what have happened to Itachi & Zuko. He then suddenly heard a lot of commotion from the main deck and went to investigate. He saw a dark haired girl dressed in all black and standing right behind was some kind of beast with brown fur, he saw the unconscious bodies of the soldiers laid out on the ground.

"Hold it! I don't know who you are but you are trespassing on-

"Shhh" The girl said interrupting Iroh

Iroh grew a confused look on his face as the beast started sniffing around, it tears a hunk of metal from the deck with its strong teeth and finds its a man who immediately tries to make his escape but is stunned when the beast uses its whip-like tongue to temporarily paralyze him.

"Who are you?" Iroh asked

"Name's June, sorry about your boys but they were in my way. We were just looking for this stowaway who was hiding on your ship."

"But how did you find him?" Iroh asked

"This guy sniffed him out by following his scent." June responded

"So he can track anyone's scent? Do...Do you think he could track my nephew?"

"For a price"

"100 gold coins"

"Deal"

Iroh then went and grabbed a piece of Zuko's clothing and let the beast sniff it, it picked up his scent and him and June were on the move with Iroh following.

'Itachi should still be with Zuko...If not then we may be running into a bigger problem...' Iroh thought to himself

"Aang look, a burned arrow." Katara says showing it to Aang

"There must have been a fight here between waterbenders and firebenders, they must have fled after that giant explosion far off in the ocean." Aang concludes

"Yeah, and these set of footprints have headed into the forest." Katara says

She then notices a boat, which she recognized as part of her father's fleet. She and Aang then followed the footprints heading into the woods to hopefully find Katara's father.

Zuko awoke to find himself in some sort of cabin, he then noticed a man sitting across from him cooking something in the pot that's between them.

"So you're finally up, you and your friend got washed up on the beach after that huge tsunami, still not sure how you survived that. I was left behind from my crew after being injured in a fight with the firebenders, are you a firebender?" the man asked

"Yes, but I do not align with those bastards anymore." Zuko then took off his mask

"Prince Zuko...Last I heard you were chasing the Avatar, guess you changed your mind." the man said

"I was attacking the base with my friend, looking for my father. This other guy showed up, he was incredibly strong, dropped a fucking meteor on us." Zuko explained

"A what?" the man said awestruck

"Nevermind. Who are you? I assume you're with the Water Tribe?" Zuko asked

"Yes, I am Bato of the Water Tribe, the southern one actually."

"I-I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused your people" Zuko apologised

"No hard feelings." Bato said offering Zuko a bowl.

"So where will you two head now?" Bato asked

"What's the nearest village?" Zuko asked

"Makapu Village" Bato responded

"Then I guess we'll head there to rest up for a few days. Thanks for the food and watching over us." Zuko said as he picked Itachi up carrying him on his back

"No problem Zuko, until we meet again." Bato responded

After a while Bato went back out when he ran into Aang & Katara, who she immediately recognized as he was a good friend of her father's. They went back to the cabin to catch up on things.

"Wait, so Zuko isn't hunting me anymore and is a good guy now?" Aang asked

"And he went to the Fire Nation base to try to kill the Fire Lord? Geez, I wonder what made him change so suddenly." Katara commented

"Yes it's all true, though he did have a friend with him but I never saw his face and he was unconscious the entire time." Bato explained

'Itachi...If they both failed, just how powerful is this other guy?' Katara & Aang both simultaneously thought in fear.

"Anyways it's good to see you again after all these years Katara. Where's your brother?" Bato asked

"He's...been off training with some friends of ours in order to get stronger." Katara answered

"Ah, I see. Well, I wanted to tell you that there is a messenger that is supposed to be coming through about your father's location, so you could go see him." Bato says

"That's great news! However...I have to travel with Aang to the Northern Water Tribe, so I'm afraid I won't be able to go." Katara said

"Katara, if you want to go see your father then you should go." Aang said chiming in

"But then who will be with you on your travels? I won't allow you to be all alone, we stick together no matter what." Katara exclaimed

Aang happily smiled hearing this, secretly he was afraid of Katara leaving him but glad that she decided to stick around. A while later after eating and preparing for bed, they heard a knock on the door. Katara and Aang were on defense while Bato carefully opened the door, to their relief it was just the messenger with the whereabouts of Katara's father. Bato then put the map up and they headed off to bed.

Zuko somehow mustered the strength to carry Itachi all the way to Makapu Village, he rented a room for the two and set Itachi down on one of the beds. Exhausted, the fire prince planted himself on the other bed and dozed off. In the morning, he was awoken by some beast bursting through the door, he jumped up and was about to attack until he saw his uncle with some girl.

"Uncle?"

"Zuko!" Iroh ran and hugged his nephew

"I'm glad your alive, what were you thinking!" Iroh scolded Zuko that it was foolish to launch an attack like that

"We didn't know that Madara dude would show up Uncle." Zuko said

"Either way I'm happy to find that you two are safe."

"Yeah, and who's this?" Zuko asked his uncle

"June, I'm a bounty hunter. This big guy, he's the one the found you." June said

"Yeah, I hired her to find you by using a piece of your clothing for the beast to sniff you put." Iroh explained

"Ugh..What's going on?" Itachi tiredly said waking up and taking off his mask.

"Itachi, you're up" Zuko said

"Zuko? Where are we? What happened?" Itachi asked

"I'll explain everything later. Uncle where's the rest of the crew?"

"They stayed behind on the ship, I didn't want them to scare the villagers. So are you ready to head out?" Iroh asked

"Not yet, me and Itachi need a few days to rest so we'll be staying here for a while." Zuko said

"I'm fine." Itachi said weakly standing up and almost falling before Zuko caught him

"Yeah...sure you are. You need to regain you're energy so take it easy." Zuko said

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Itachi responded

"We'll I guess I'll stay here too then." Iroh said

"No uncle, what about the crew they'll have to just stay on the ship and won't have anyone to lead them." Zuko said

"Lieutenant Jee can lead them, and I'll just tell them to return here in a few days." Iroh insisted

"Fine, if you insist." Zuko said

"Oh, I almost forgot. Thank you for you help miss." Iroh said paying June her money

"Well that's it for me." June said hopping back on her pet.

"Hey" she said looking at Itachi

"Yes?" he responded curiously

"You're cute." She said before riding off leaving the place

The three had a look of disbelief on their faces before Iroh started nudging to Itachi calling him a "Ladies Man".

Bato took Aang and Katara on a coming-of-age ritual called ice dodging. Since there was a lack of ice in the region, they were forced to navigate through jagged rocks instead. With the help of Katara's waterbending and Aang's airbending, they were able to pass the test but just barely. Back on the beach, before they go Bato had something to give them.

"These are ceremonial marks, here you go Katara, you get the mark of bravery." Bato said handing it to her. "And Aang, you get the mark of trust."

"Thanks Bato." Aang thanked him

"Yeah and it was great catching up with you, hopefully we meet again." Katara said

"Hopefully, and take care you two." Bato responded

He then waved the two off as they hopped on Appa and headed off into the sunset.

"So Katara, where should we head now?" Aang asked

"Next? North Pole." Katara responded

That's gonna wrap up this chapter, now let me tell you guys of an idea I had. Would you like to see different chapters from another character's perspective? Here's what I mean, as you know I've been going episode by episode and focusing on the main characters a lot while also adding some side things here and there. But would you like me to start making chapters that are centered around other people like Kakashi, Sasuke, Sokka, Naruto and crew, the other Jinchuuriki that landed or even the Akatsuki and Fire Nation people. They would basically be filler chapters pretty much but would still move with the story, so let me know if you guys want that or not. Catch ya guys later

Oh yeah, and I might just rewrite the first 3 chapters because there's too many punk bitches complaining and "reporting" me for having a script format in the beginning of this fic. Especially those same bitch ass guests that always talk shit...