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Thunder and Black Wings 25
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 02:48:13 +0000 UTCChapter 25:
– Blake –
“Don’t stop moving! Standing still equals death!” my mom shouted sharply.
Shuri was relentless, darting from branch to branch above me, barely giving me a chance to catch my breath as I scrambled to avoid the rapid strikes she threw at me. Each punch and kick was precise and hard, aimed at my weakest points and forcing me to constantly move and react.
We had been training like this every day for a week now, deep in the lush forest just outside the towering walls of the Fire Capital. And after that week of constant sparring, Mom had decided she wouldn't hold back anymore.
I had to either match her pace or fall.
And right now, I was barely keeping up.
Sweat dripped from my forehead as I narrowly dodged another sharp jab aimed directly at my chin. My breathing came heavy and fast as I desperately called on the new chakra reserves I'd recently gained, pumping energy through my limbs to speed up my movements and keep my reactions quick.
Mom twisted sharply mid-air, easily adjusting her angle of attack. Before I could react properly, her foot shot out in a clean, precise motion, driving directly through my sloppy guard and into my ribs.
A sharp burst of pain exploded through my chest, and I let out an involuntary grunt. I felt my feet leave the large tree branch we’d been fighting on, my body propelled backwards by the sheer force of her hit.
For a second, my instincts kicked in hard. I felt the familiar sensation in my shoulder blades, the urge to let my wings burst out and catch myself before the inevitable fall. But I forced myself to resist that urge.
Konan had made it perfectly clear—no angel wings, period. At least not until we knew for sure Orochimaru’s spies weren’t watching.
I braced myself and slammed hard onto the forest floor, a heavy thud shaking through my bones.
Leaves rustled softly nearby, followed by quiet footsteps, and suddenly Konan was there, kneeling beside me. She quickly reached out, gently placing a supportive hand behind my back to help me sit upright. “Blake-sama, are you alright?” Konan asked softly as she checked me carefully for injury.
“I’m fine,” I managed breathlessly, giving her a weak but reassuring grin. A week of training with an ANBU Jonin tended to set the bar pretty high for pain tolerance.
There was another, louder rustle from above, and Mom effortlessly landed nearby. Her long black hair fluttered briefly before settling around her shoulders. “You actually did a lot better this time, Blake,” she said firmly, placing her hands on her hips and giving me an approving nod. “Your reaction time improved noticeably, and your chakra usage isn’t as sloppy as before.”
I chuckled weakly, rubbing a hand over my aching ribs. “You say that, but I'm still the one sitting in the dirt.”
Mom just smiled calmly. “True. But it took me longer this time, and I actually had to try. Believe it or not, that’s genuine progress.”
“You need rest,” Konan murmured gently beside me, standing and offering me her hand. “We've been at this for hours already.”
Shuri nodded, glancing upward at the sky before turning back to us. “Yeah, we should head back into the Capital. We’ve done enough for now. Let’s find someplace to eat.”
—
We’d been staying in the Fire Capital for a week now, and honestly, I still hadn't gotten used to it. The city was totally different from Konoha or anywhere else I'd seen in this world. This was the home of the daimyo and all the wealthy nobles—basically everyone important who wasn’t a ninja.
That meant money was everywhere, and it definitely showed.
All the streets here were properly paved, lined with neatly cut stone slabs instead of packed dirt. Buildings were taller, cleaner, and obviously better maintained. They had real glass windows instead of paper, solid roofs, and freshly painted walls. Everything looked like it was taken care of regularly, and it made Konoha look almost primitive by comparison.
Another major difference was that nobody was sprinting across the rooftops.
That was flat-out illegal here. If you wanted to go anywhere, you actually had to walk at normal speed like everyone else, unless there was some emergency. I’d never realized how weirdly civilized and normal that felt, considering I was so used to people bounding from roof to roof back in Konoha.
The place reminded me a bit of my home world—minus the cars, skyscrapers, and pollution of course. It felt weirdly nostalgic just strolling around, seeing people calmly go about their daily lives.
After a quick lunch with Mom and Konan, I decided to walk around alone for a bit. I needed some time to unwind without anyone fussing over me.
Both Mom and Konan had agreed, telling me this city was one of the safest places we could possibly be. Ninja who caused trouble here usually ended up with huge bounties placed on their heads by angry daimyos.
As I moved further down the bustling street, something caught my attention—a weapons shop, carefully nestled between a clothing boutique and a tea house.
Samurai were far more respected here than ninja, and the difference showed clearly. Most people here seemed to look down on shinobi.
Mom and Konan had made a point of hiding their ninja headbands when we'd entered the city, trying to avoid any unwanted attention.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I ducked inside. The shop was quiet and immaculately kept, with polished wood walls and shelves filled with an impressive display of weapons. Swords of every size hung proudly on the walls, lined up in perfectly neat rows, each blade gleaming in the gentle glow from the lanterns overhead.
I stepped closer to one wall, fascinated by the collection of katanas.
They looked nothing like the cheap replicas I remembered seeing back in New York pawn shops. Those swords were toys compared to what was right in front of me. These were clearly genuine.
"You have a good eye, young man," came a calm, gravelly voice. An older man stood behind the counter, watching me with mild amusement. He wore simple, dark robes, and his gray hair was tied back neatly. He gave me a friendly, approving nod. "That's not just any blade you're looking at," he continued. "That katana was forged by one of the best swordsmiths in the Land of Iron. It’s the prize of my shop!"
"Really?" I replied with genuine interest, stepping closer and studying the blade again. I felt the gentle thrum of chakra emanating from the sword, strong and steady. It was impressive—no denying that. "That's amazing."
The shopkeeper smiled proudly. "Only the finest blades make it into my shop."
"Then I'll take that one!" a young but haughty girl's voice suddenly announced from behind us.
I turned around, surprised at the interruption. Standing at the shop's entrance were three teenage girls, probably around fifteen or sixteen years old. The girl in the middle—the one who’d spoken—stood with confident authority, her head held high. She had glossy black hair styled neatly, two long strands framing her face elegantly as they fell over her shoulders. She was pretty in a sharp, slightly intimidating way, her eyes clear and calculating. A confident smirk played at the corners of her lips.
Two other girls stood with her, flanking her sides. One had black hair, pale skin, and a distinctly bored expression, like she’d rather be literally anywhere else. The third girl was completely different—her brown hair tied neatly into a thick braid, smiling openly and excitedly, clearly the bubbly and outgoing type. All three wore finely made, elegant clothes that screamed wealth, making it obvious they belonged to high society here in the capital.
The lead girl stepped forward, entering the shop like she owned it. She glanced briefly at me and paused abruptly. For a second, she seemed frozen, her eyes widening slightly as color rose lightly in her cheeks. I raised an eyebrow, confused by her reaction. Before I could say anything, she quickly looked away, composing herself as if embarrassed by her hesitation. Her two friends noticed and exchanged quick glances, giggling softly behind their hands.
The girl quickly moved past me, confidently striding to the wall display and pulling down the beautiful katana I’d been examining moments ago. She lifted it with practiced ease, testing the sword's balance in her hands.
"I suppose this will have to do for Zuzu's birthday tonight," she said coolly, inspecting the blade carefully. She tilted her head thoughtfully, examining the fine craftsmanship. "It's a decent find."
"Hey," the shopkeeper protested mildly, clearly offended at her casual dismissal of his prized weapon. "Young lady, that sword is far better than 'decent.' It's a masterpiece!"
She scoffed quietly, turning the sword in her hand dismissively. "I've seen better," she stated flatly. Without bothering to look at the shopkeeper again, she glanced over her shoulder to the bored-looking girl. "Mai, pay the man."
Mai sighed heavily, clearly accustomed to this behavior. Without any real enthusiasm, she stepped toward the counter, pulling out a small purse to count out coins.
While that transaction went on, the third girl—the one with the cheerful energy—immediately approached me, smiling brightly. "Hi!" she said warmly, leaning forward slightly, hands clasped behind her back. "You have a very warm and happy aura, you know that? I'm Ty Lee! What's your name?"
I blinked at her directness, caught off-guard by her bubbly personality. But her smile was infectious, and I found myself returning it naturally. "Blake Himejima," I replied, offering a casual nod. "Nice to meet you, Ty Lee."
Her smile widened even further. "Sorry Azula bought the sword before you did," she said apologetically, glancing back briefly at the haughty girl—Azula, apparently.
I chuckled softly, waving it off. "No worries. I don't even know how to properly use one yet anyway."
Azula, overhearing us, turned sharply, fixing me with an intense stare. Her piercing gaze traveled slowly from my head down to my feet, evaluating me carefully. "You there," she said firmly, stepping closer. "I've never seen you around the capital before. And you even have a surname—are you a noble visiting from another nation?"
I shook my head lightly. "No, I'm actually from Konoha," I explained casually. "But I guess my mother's clan could be considered nobility…”
At least back in Japan she was.
Azula's eyebrows rose slightly, clearly intrigued by my explanation. "Is that so…" she murmured thoughtfully to herself, a slight smile tugging at her lips. There was a strange softness in her expression for just a moment, which puzzled me.
Beside her, Mai rolled her eyes and let out a quiet sigh, clearly bored with the entire exchange already. Ty Lee, however, was smiling widely, eyes shining with excitement as she suddenly grabbed my sleeve gently.
"You should totally come to Azula's brother's birthday party tonight!" she said enthusiastically, practically bouncing on her heels. "Zuko's turning eighteen, so it's going to be a really big deal! Everyone who's anyone will be there!"
Surprised, I glanced uncertainly at Azula. "Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude," I said politely, genuinely hesitant about crashing some noble's birthday celebration. I barely knew these girls, after all.
Azula straightened immediately, placing a hand firmly on her hip as if I'd personally challenged her authority. Her eyes narrowed slightly, making it clear she didn't tolerate arguments. "Nonsense," she said sharply, her tone leaving no room for disagreement. "You will come. I've decided, and my decisions are always final!"
I blinked, taken aback by the sheer force of her personality. "Um…okay," I finally relented, deciding it wasn't worth arguing. She didn't seem like the type who accepted no for an answer easily.
It’s not like I had anything better to do anyway…
Ty Lee squeezed my sleeve again excitedly. "It'll be so much fun!" she promised, nodding energetically.
Mai sighed deeply again, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Whatever," she muttered, clearly unimpressed by the idea.
Azula fixed me with one final, lingering look, as if appraising me once more. And then she turned, telling Ty Lee to give me the address for the party.
“Don’t be late and upset Azula!” Ty Lee warned me playfully, saying the party started at 8pm sharp…
—
When I finally made it back to our hotel at the very edge of the capital, the sun was already beginning to dip low.
Mom and Konan had chosen our lodgings carefully, right next to one of the larger gates leading out of the capital. The placement made perfect sense—if shit suddenly hit the fan, we could slip away unnoticed in seconds.
Very ninja-like of them.
Stepping inside, I found both Mom and Konan already back from their errands, relaxing at the table in our small, neatly kept room.
Konan glanced up first, giving me one of those quiet, welcoming smiles that always made me feel calmer.
Mom leaned back in her chair, stretching lazily, a cheerful grin spreading across her face as soon as she saw me. "Hey Blake," she called out. "Did you have fun wandering around today?"
I let out a half-laugh, shrugging as I moved closer. "Yeah, you could say that. It was definitely… interesting."
Her eyes immediately lit up, intrigued. "Interesting? Interesting how?"
"Well…" I hesitated, scratching the back of my head awkwardly. "I might've sort of gotten invited to a party tonight."
Mom instantly sat upright, clapping her hands together excitedly. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. "Oh, that's wonderful! You really need to make more friends your age, Blake! Even if we won't be here more than a few more weeks, it'll do you good. I know you miss your girlfriends already…"
"What kind of party was it, exactly?" Konan asked thoughtfully.
"...It's actually a birthday party. A girl I met invited me—her name was Azula. She said it was for her brother, Zuko," I explained to both of them. Their reactions, next, threw me off.
Both women froze completely, eyes widening as they exchanged a startled glance.
Mom blinked a few times, then looked back at me with a serious expression. "Blake… Are you absolutely sure those were their names? Azula and Zuko?"
I nodded slowly, now thoroughly confused by their reaction. "Yeah, that's what she said. She seemed pretty sure about her own brother's name." I paused, suddenly uncertain. "Why, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong exactly," Mom said, clearly fighting back a smile as she exchanged another knowing look with Konan. "Where exactly is this party taking place? Did one of those girls give you the address?"
I pulled out the small piece of paper Ty Lee had handed me, holding it out to them. "Yeah, here. Honestly, it's not like I have any idea where anything in this city actually is."
Konan took the paper first, scanning it quickly. Her expression immediately shifted into amusement, a faint chuckle escaping her lips as she passed it to Mom, who let out a deep, resigned sigh.
"What's so funny?" I asked, glancing between them.
Mom shook her head gently, smiling in a way that suggested I was in for a surprise. "Blake, you realize this address is literally the daimyo's palace?"
"Wait, what?"
Konan nodded calmly. "The girl you met—Azula—is Princess Azula, niece of the Fire Daimyo himself. Her brother, Zuko, is heir to the throne. He's turning eighteen tonight, and I expect the whole nobility of the Fire Country will be attending."
I stared blankly at them both, processing this unexpected bombshell. Azula had absolutely acted like a spoiled princess with that haughty attitude. But she wasn’t that bad really from a first impression. Plenty of High School girls acted the same way at Midtown High…
"Holy shit," I muttered.
Mom laughed gently at my expression. "The current daimyo is a good and kind older man named Iroh. His own son unfortunately died young. Instead of having another heir himself, he named his younger brother's children as successors. From what I've heard, Iroh absolutely dotes on Azula and Zuko."
Konan sighed lightly. "Yes, though apparently their father—Ozai—is, to put it bluntly, an asshole. It's typical royal politics. Younger brother jealous of his older sibling holding power, causing family drama behind palace doors."
I shook my head slowly, chuckling quietly under my breath. "Well, Azula definitely seemed haughty enough to be royalty, I'll give her that."
Mom suddenly stood up, clapping her hands together decisively. "Alright, Blake. If you're really attending a party at the daimyo's palace, we need to go shopping. You're not showing up dressed in sweaty training clothes. My only son has to look presentable tonight!"
—
– Kabuto Yakushi –
Kabuto scoffed quietly under his breath as he brushed past a pair of arrogant samurai guards. They sneered at him openly, eyes narrowing as they tracked his movements through the halls.
He ignored them easily. He was here for business, not to trade petty insults with glorified bodyguards.
Samurai were trash compared to shinobi after all.
He moved silently into a spacious meeting room, glancing around carefully before stepping forward.
Standing in the middle of the room was Prince Ozai, the Fire Daimyo’s younger brother. Ozai stood with perfect posture, his arms crossed tightly across his chest, glaring impatiently toward the doorway as if Kabuto’s very presence irritated him.
Physically, Ozai looked strong—tall, broad-shouldered, and clearly in better shape than his older brother Iroh.
Despite this advantage, Kabuto had heard from reliable sources that Ozai’s mastery of their royal family’s legendary kekkei genkai—an inherited ability to summon and manipulate fire chakra—still paled in comparison to Iroh’s power.
Ozai's eyes flickered past Kabuto toward the empty doorway. His expression darkened immediately, lips twisting into an irritated scowl. "Your master didn't see fit to show himself personally?"
Kabuto suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, hiding his disdain behind a carefully neutral expression. Internally he sneered at the prince’s arrogance, but outwardly he lowered his head slightly, adopting a tone of respectful apology. "Lord Orochimaru deeply regrets he couldn't attend personally, Prince Ozai," Kabuto explained smoothly, adjusting his glasses. "He's busy overseeing preparations and gathering forces for our upcoming invasion of Konoha."
Ozai glared sharply, his voice cold and hard. "An invasion that will only be sanctioned once I am Fire Daimyo," he reminded Kabuto pointedly, the threat clear behind his words.
Kabuto gave a small, patient smile. "Yes, of course," he said calmly. "That’s exactly why we’re here today!"
The prince narrowed his eyes, but his posture relaxed fractionally. Ozai was a man driven purely by ambition and an insatiable hunger for power, but he had been cursed from birth as the second son—forever destined to live in the shadow of his older brother, Iroh.
Worse yet, even Ozai’s own son, Zuko—whom Ozai famously despised—was ahead of him in the line of succession!
Kabuto found it amusing in a twisted way, how royals managed to complicate their own lives to such an absurd extent.
It had been Orochimaru who first approached the jealous prince with a tempting offer. The Sound Village would place Ozai on the throne, eliminating his inconvenient relatives and paving his path to absolute power!
In exchange, Ozai would officially sanction their invasion of the Hidden Leaf Village afterward.
Ozai would claim the Leaf Village had plotted rebellion. The specific reasoning didn't really matter, what did matter was legitimacy. Without official daimyo approval, other nations would shun Sound Village, branding them as outlaws and terrorists, which was an outcome Orochimaru preferred to avoid...
Prince Ozai uncrossed his arms impatiently, leaning slightly toward Kabuto. "Enough pleasantries! Are your ninja fully prepared for tonight's strike?" His voice dropped into a darker register, filled with barely concealed anticipation. "I want my brother and that failure of a son of mine dead without complications! Zuko’s birthday tonight will be his last!"
Kabuto nodded calmly, ignoring the intensity radiating off Ozai. "Of course," he assured the prince quietly. "My operatives are already in position in the capital. Everything will proceed smoothly." He paused briefly, studying Ozai’s harsh, unreadable expression. Curiosity prompted him to ask, "However, Prince Ozai—are you absolutely sure you wish to eliminate your own child…?"
Ozai’s face hardened instantly, eyes blazing. "Children," he corrected harshly, voice dripping with disdain. "I've changed my mind. Kill my daughter Azula as well!" Kabuto's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. Ozai noted his reaction and immediately began ranting, gesturing angrily as he paced across the polished floor. "Azula was once my greatest pride!" he snapped bitterly. "Ruthless, cunning! A perfect heir! But my fool brother, Iroh, ruined her! He coddled her, softened her, and now her spark—her fire—is gone. She is no better than Zuko now! Both must be removed. I'll suffer no more embarrassments once I have the throne!"
Kabuto listened impassively, maintaining his carefully blank expression. Privately, he thought Ozai was completely insane. Ordering the deaths of both his children without hesitation or remorse. But ultimately, it was none of his concern.
He wasn’t here to judge this man’s twisted ambitions, he was simply here to complete the job Orochimaru wanted him to do.
"As you wish," Kabuto finally said calmly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Here’s how tonight’s plan will unfold…"
XXX
Comments
WhatAFungi
I came into this chapter expecting Pain. I got Avatar and it slapped me in the face like a fish. Sane Azula is one of my favorite girls in all of fan fiction, so one “FUCK YES!” to this. It looks like Osai caught all the family crazy this time😬 I LOVE where you’re taking this, thank you for the chapter and I can’t wait for more!
Rycork
I'll be honest: I didn't expect to see any characters from Avatar the Last Airbender at all, but when you think about it for two seconds, it's far from being off-topic since Konoha is really in the Land of Fire.
