Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

A/N: I would like to thank everyone that added this story to their favorite and follows as well as everyone that reviewed the last chapter.

(Three and half years ago)

Why is it wrong for me to act my age?

Naruto couldn't help but ask herself as Sakura-chan eyed her and Konohamaru with visible anger. She didn't need to ask her teammate about her anger. The way her eyes kept darting from Sasuke's disappearing figure to her spoke volumes of what happened. Why can't he ever be gentle with her? Now she had to deal with their teammate's anger.

And she was the innocent party.

"Why is a kunoichi playing ninja?" Sakura grumbled, green eyes narrowing at her. "You aren't a child, Naruto."

"And you aren't an adult." Naruto scowled as Konohamaru darted his eyes between them, almost uncertain of whether he should be near them or not. He shouldn't be scared. Sakura-chan and her might argue but it was nothing like the argument between Sakura and Ino. Now that was a cat fight. But her teammate was just upset because of Sasuke.

Sasuke was the only one who could make her teammate this upset.

"We are considered adults the moment we get the Hitai-ate." Sakura puffed her cheeks and Naruto knitted her eyebrows. Were they really adults? She knew if they just walked over to the bar across the street and ask for some sake, then they were going to get kicked out. The Hokages weren't stupid enough to do this to them.

Although she was really curious to go and try sake.

"Just because we have these Hitai-ate doesn't mean we are adults," Naruto folded her hands over her head as her eyes shifted to Konohamaru. The brown-haired boy inched away from them, looking ready to flee like a little rabbit at the scene. I'll toughen him up later. Right now, she would rather not deal with the headache that was Sakura-chan and Konohamaru.

Sakura raised her eyebrows. "The laws says otherwise!"

"The law also states that not even a shinobi who is below the age of eighteen is allowed to drink in bars." Naruto deadpanned. Sakura blinked and swirled her head at her, green eyes widening like she didn't expect the answer. The blue-eyed girl frowned and tilted her head at her teammate.

Was it really that surprising she knew about the law?

As someone who was constantly getting scolded by the Hokage, Naruto had to find a loophole to wiggle her way out of arguments.

"That is just one thing!" Sakura grumbled. "Since you have the Hitai-ate, you shouldn't waste your time—"

"Then when can I play if not now?" Her green-eyed teammate gawked as Naruto darted her eyes to the direction of the training field Sasuke went. In the past four years since the death of his parents, her best-friend stopped playing around. His smiles faded and he stopped acting like the fun little boy in their childhood.

He was just too serious and Naruto just wanted to enjoy what little childhood they had.

"Naruto, what do you mean?" Sakura asked after taking a deep breath. Green eyes shone with so much confusion that it made whatever anger and annoyance inside of Naruto fade away. Right. Her teammate wasn't like her. Unlike her, Sakura-chan always wanted to grow up. Most of the girls in the Academy did and she could never really understand.

But maybe she should make Sakura-chan see her point of view.

The blonde inhaled. "I mean right now we are at the age where no one in the village would judge us for playing around and messing about. There is no war for us to worry about so we can do all the things that Kakashi-sensei and the others couldn't do. Can't we just take advantage of it?"

They didn't have such huge responsibilities on their shoulders now. What was the point of being twelve if you couldn't act like it? Sometimes when Naruto watched Sakura-chan and Sasuke, she thinks the two of them would wake up and realize just how much of life they missed up. But of course she couldn't tell her teammate this.

If Naruto was really honest to herself, the reason she refused to act like her teammates was because she didn't want to grow up just yet. Growing up meant accepting her responsibilities of being a jinchuuriki. It meant acknowledging the fact she was a weapon for Konoha, and she didn't want that.

She just wanted to be like the other 12-year-olds in their village.

Maybe that was why Naruto could had some guess of where Aang would go, because they weren't really any different from each other.

"You better have a good reason for asking the guards to wake me up, Angry Pants!" Naruto growled as she swung the door opened. The door smashed to the side and the blonde hunched her shoulders, marching straight to the prince that dared to wake her up early in the morning.

Zuko narrowed his eyes at her. Those amber eyes, in that moment, resembled like a furious little cat and that only made Naruto bristled. If anyone should make that expression then it should be her. Didn't he know how precious her sleep was? Unlike him and the other firebenders, she wasn't someone that just rise with the sun.

"Do you have any idea where the Avatar is going?" Zuko growled.

"You woke me up from my sleep for that?" Naruto's eyebrows twitched and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you realize I was having a nice dream until your stupid guards knocked my door like a bunch of monkeys?"

"Monkeys?" Zuko asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "What the hell is that?"

Oh right, these people had strange animals.

Naruto pinched her nose and waved the question off as the prince unrolled a scroll. He placed the open scroll on the ground, laying it flat for the whole world to see. That looks like a really weird pattern. With the way those lines kept crossing around, she could feel a headache was incoming.

Was this how Iruka-sensei felt whenever the teachers begged him to find her?

"I'm not a mindreader," Naruto finally said. "So I can't tell where he might be going except that he has to reach the North Pole since the South Pole has no waterbender for him to learn from."

The blonde took in a deep breath and chewed on her bottom lip. If he gets furious from my sentence then I'm really going to give it to him. She balled her hands into a fist as golden eyes eyed her. Was he going to yell at her? She couldn't imagine her words were of any help but it wasn't like she was lying to him.

"If he had to reach the North Pole then why is he doing this path?" Zuko finally asked, eyebrow twitching. "Uncle and I had the same belief but the path he is making tells us that he is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering."

Naruto snorted. If only he met me as a 12-year-old, I would give Aang a run for his money. She curled her lips into a smile and let out a little laugh. God, Iruka-sensei had a hard time tracking her down whenever she did her pranks. Sometimes she just let him catch her out of pity. Her smile faded and she focused her eyes on the map again.

"There is nothing funny about the situation!" He growled. "People have confirmed seeing him but nothing about his movements tells us what he plans to do next. It is all over the place."

She sighed. "It's funny because you are acting like the Avatar knows that you are following his every movement."

Zuko scowled and Naruto rolled her eyes. Honestly with the way the trail was, she could guess Aang either had no idea of how to reach the North Pole or was trying to have some fun before he reached the North Pole. I think it would be the latter. Chewing on her bottom lip, she nodded.

If she was in his position, she would want to have some fun before the burden became too real.

"Then what do you think he is doing?"

Naruto darted her eyes from the map to Zuko. The teen folded his arms against his chest and tapped his feet against the floor like he couldn't wait for a single moment for her to collect her thoughts. Pain in the neck. She scowled and traced the red dots that were scattered all over the place.

"Can you confirm if there are anything fun in those places?" She took in a deep breath and looked away from the map. Blue eyes focused on amber eyes which now flashed with uncertainty and confusion. If an idiot like me can realize this, why can't he? Not the time for her to think like this.

The prince frowned. "What do you mean fun? Why would he care about fun?"

"He is a 12-year-old boy." Naruto reminded him. "Do you really think because he's the avatar that he wants to stop having fun? That doesn't work like that. The day he woke up from the Ice Berg, he asked Katara to go penguin sledding with him. Now is that something an Avatar should do?"

Zuko frowned. "But his duty—"

"If he cared about his duty then the whole world wouldn't be in this situation," Naruto shook her head and let out a sigh. "And well he might be a coward but I can't really blame him either. Not many people could deal with the burden placed on him…so I guess it was natural for him to run away."

The scarred prince pressed his lips into a thin line and knelt beside her. Even from where Naruto sat, she could feel the intense heat radiating from his body. Damn, he is like a personal heater. If her fingers had ever felt the slight tingles of the cold, then the heat from Zuko's body was enough to chase it away.

Shaking her head, Naruto turned her head around to look at the prince.

"So he is looking for fun?" Zuko pressed his lips into a frown. "But if that was the case then some of the spots he went to, had nothing to do with fun. Mind explaining that?"

Naruto raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Some of the locations do have aspects where a kid would have fun," Zuko admitted, pointing to three locations in the map. Naruto rubbed her chin and lowered her head. Her blue eyes followed his fingers, where it finally landed on some locations that were either near water or in the middle of the woods. "Those places have nothing that would be considered fun."

She sighed. "But he has a flying bison, Angry Pants. It is an animal that still needs to rest and recharge after flying a couple of miles…he can't force it to fly all the way to the North Pole without rest."

Then he should force the beast to fly faster. She could almost picture the prince screaming those words to her and the thought of him yelling those words brought a frown on her face. While Zuko wasn't a monster, she would never deny the fact that the boy lacked empathy when it came to either people or animals.

"That is a factor I didn't take into consideration," Zuko muttered. "You can go now."

Would it kill you to say the words thank you? She sighed and shook her head. Right. Even if Zuko was a banished prince abused by his father, he never really had to learn how much those words meant to someone. Taking in a deep breath, Naruto pushed herself off the ground and began to walk towards the door.

Naruto paused and turned her head around. "Oi Angry Pants, y'know it won't kill you if you say the words thank you to me."

"As long as you are on this ship, this is considered to be your duty." Zuko declared and Naruto didn't need to look at his eyes to know he was rolling his eyes at her.

Duty huh? She curled her lips into a frown and shrugged. Was it her duty to help him? Her duty seemed to be more about helping Aang evade this prince but she was also helping the prince chase him. Life was so much easier when Aang was asleep. With a final shake to her head, Naruto walked out of Zuko's room.

Now she needed to make a plan of what to do when Zuko actually got close to the Avatar.

"The Avatar is in Kyoshi Island!"

Naruto paused as Zuko jumped up from his seat with his amber eyes glinting with excitement and hope. Of course he is happy with the news. The thought annoyed her, almost making her ready to throw the rice away but Naruto only tightened her grip on the chopsticks. Right now she had no right to be annoyed, not when she made a deal and helped him with figuring out where the Avatar might visited.

But still for the news that Aang is there means he must have been there for the last few days.

She took in a deep breath, steadying her trembling arms as Iroh glanced at her. Naruto didn't need to look at the old man to know he was concerned for her. A strange thing when Naruto thought about it. Why was he concerned? She had no connection to Aang except for the few hours they spent together.

But he is still the Avatar and the Kyuubi will be a pain in the ass if I don't delay things. She shifted her weight to the left as Zuko looked at the cook before them. With the way Angry Pants seemed so excited, Naruto almost felt a stirring of guilt of what she might do. It would be terrible of her to think of a way to stop him from getting the Avatar but it was better for everyone.

Both the world and him.

"If your father really loved you, he would let you come back without the Avatar."

If Zuko came back with Aang, Naruto wasn't certain of whether or not the Fire Lord would actually welcome the prince with open arms. He is a cruel bastard. The blonde chewed on her bottom lip, pushing it back and forth as her eyes focused on the prince. No, if she helped Zuko take Aang then it would ruin him and the world.

Even if she disliked the prince for his attitude, she didn't want to see him to go through another round of abuse.

"Ready the Rhinos!" Naruto jerked her head as Zuko barked the commands to Iroh. I need to buy time. She inhaled and exhaled as several thoughts and ideas rushed through her head. Just one idea was needed. An idea that would make sense and give enough time for Aang to leave. Something that wouldn't connect to her.

"You do realize that the first lesson of being a shinobi is to hide, right?"

Thank god for Kakashi-sensei and that stupid genin exam for giving her an idea.

"Are you sure you want to use the Rhinos?" She raised the cup of tea as Zuko and Iroh swirled their heads at her. One set of amber eyes flashed with curiosity and suspicion while the other set of eyes looked at her with understanding. I hope Iroh won't figure out what I'm planning to do. It would be bad if he figured out her plan.

"And why wouldn't I want to use the Rhinos?" Zuko growled.

I have got one shot to do this right. She steadied her arms and focused her eyes on Zuko. If her eyes faltered or if she even sounded like she wanted to help Aang run away then everything was game over. The South Pole needs my deal. She took in another deep breath as amber eyes flashed with irritation.

"Well it would be obvious if you are coming to get him if you used the Rhinos," Naruto kept her tone light and cheerful as Zuko narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't give me that look, Prince Scowl! Animals can be very loud and if any of the villagers hear the sound of rhinos then they will just tell Aang and the others."

The prince eyed her. "If we don't use the rhinos then the Avatar would get away from us."

"And what would be a better tactic for you?" She raised an eyebrow as her hand reached out for the cup of water that the cook had poured for her. "To go there by foot and launch a sneak attack or to use the rhinos that can be heard from a mile ahead? If you got the news from the cook then it means that Aang has already been there for days and has no desire to leave just yet."

Zuko narrowed his eyes. "And if I go by foot then he would escape from me."

"Naruto does have an excellent point," Iroh commented, stroking his beard as his amber eyes flickered to her. The understanding in his eyes made Naruto pause. He knows what I'm planning to do. The thought made her sweat as she waited for the man to either disagree with her or help her with convincing the prince. "The people of Kyoshi Island are filled with warriors that would attack us if they hear the rhinos come."

"Do you hear yourself? We will never catch up to them by foot." Zuko snarled.

Naruto raised her eyebrow. "And they will escape the moment they hear the rhinos, so either way you have nothing to lose. At least with my advice, there is less chance that they will hear you come."

Will he listen to my advice? She chewed on the inner corner of her cheek as Zuko eyed her and his uncle. It might be a pain in the neck for him but her plan didn't make it seem like they were trying to help the Avatar. It will just give enough time for them to escape. She steadied her arms as the prince kept flickering his eyes between them.

"What is the distance from here to the village that the Avatar is currently in?" Zuko asked.

The cook frowned. "I believe that the fish merchant mentioned it was only a three day journey by foot."

Zuko rubbed his chin and stared at his food before glancing at Iroh. It will be a surprise if he just immediately agrees to what we say. The prince inhaled and exhaled as wrinkles formed around his forehead. The only sound that could be heard was Zuko's breathing. Naruto darted her eyes at Iroh while Iroh looked back at her.

"We will travel with the rhinos half way and then switch by foot," Zuko declared.

Well I've enough time to warn Aang.

Now she just needed to think of a plan to send him the warning.

I have only a limited time before we need to leave.

Naruto clasped her hands together and took in a deep breath as her eyes scanned her room. Her room was not only small but had no windows for her clones to escape. Even though I'm not a prisoner, I certainly have a room that suits a prisoner. The thought almost made her want to growl but Naruto held her temper.

Nothing good would come out from her anger.

"You can always disguise your clone as one of that prince's soldier." The Kyuubi commented. Naruto blinked and pressed her lips into a frown as her eyes darted to the doors. There was some truth behind the beast's words. That kind of thing had always been her specialty and Zuko would never question if a soldier went out of the ship.

He would probably believe the solider had gone to visit a brothel.

"For someone that hates humans, you have no problem helping the Avatar." She took a seat on her bed as her eyes flickered to the uniform Iroh had given her. It wasn't completely bad. The armor didn't seem to be thick, light enough for her to run in. Although it has a skirt. She grimaced as her eyes flickered to the red pants and thick boots. It would be good enough for her to run.

Although I will have to slow down my speed for the soldiers' sake.

The thought made her frown.

"The Avatar is probably one of the few humans I don't hate." The Kyuubi grumbled. "Unlike most humans, they never treat me like I'm some kind of weapon."

Naruto paused. "If that is the case then why do you come back to my world?"

"Even if I like the Avatar and its world, it isn't the world I was created in." The Kyuubi replied with a sigh. Naruto hummed and bobbed her head. The words might be a little bit vague but she could guess what the beast was trying to tell her. No matter how much time had passed, there was always a desire to return to the place that you were born in.

Even if that place treated you like crap.

"Kyuubi, if I was ever to go back to our world then how much time would pass?"

The Kyuubi sighed. "Who knows? One time I spent a six years here but only a year passed in your world. Another time I spent three months here and no time have passed at all. Time is relative…you might grow older here but your friends and teammates might still be 12."

The knowledge numbed her to the point that Naruto felt her arms trembled. If that was the case then what would be the point of her going back home? Sakura-chan and Sasuke might still be twelve but she would be sixteen both in body and appearance. It would be irony for her if she went back to them as an adult while they were stuck as children.

"Then why does Gamakichi and the others know how much time have passed for me?" Naruto asked.

The beast paused. "Did you forget when that toad was surprised to see how much you have grown when you summoned it after your fight with that Uchiha brat? Unlike you, that toads is smart enough to realize that time is different for you now. When you first summoned him, he didn't know that you were missing or had a mission or have you forgotten?"

Well she was never going to admit to him that she forgot.

"Not only are you an idiot but you are forgetful too!" The Kyuubi growled. "Why do I always have bad luck with my containers?"

Because you are an asshole.

Of course she wasn't going to tell him that since the Kyuubi was her only source of information.

Growling, Naruto took in a deep breath and placed her fingers together into a familiar hand seal. There was no time for her to talk to the Kyuubi. Right now, she needed to focus on making her clone. Pop. Clouds of smoke enveloped her room as a figure stepped out of a smoke.

"Y'know what to do." Naruto declared to her clone as the smoke evaporated into nothing. Her clone grinned, bobbed her head before weaving her hands through another set of seals. The blonde rubbed her chin as smoke enveloped her clone. Were they going to do it perfectly? She hoped so. This couldn't fail.

Seconds passed before the smoke disappeared, revealing her clone that was now dressed as one of Zuko's foot soldier. Naruto clasped her hands behind her back and began to circle around her clone. Flawless. There was nothing about the uniform that indicated her clone wasn't another soldier for Prince Zuko.

Her clone saluted her before marching out of her room, leaving Naruto to sit back down on the bed.

I just hope Sokka doesn't knock out my clone before it gives Aang my message.

Hopefully, those three weren't furious enough not to hear what her clone had to tell them.

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think about the chapter.