Chapter 5

Sasuke was more than a little annoyed at his abrupt arrival here. The last thing he could remember was heading into a fight with Danzo. After facing off with him, he couldn't recall anything.

Currently the Uchiha was seated on a throne, slouched over resting his chin on his fist. His long black hair fell past his shoulders, completely unkempt and his Sharingan eyes spun lazily. He raised his right hand and flashed it through several handsigns, before allowing electricity to race up and down his forearm.

Lee and Lo, a set of twin Fire Bending prodigies (a really old set at that) walked into the room, after spying on the boy. "Uchiha-sama..." Lee began. "We can always teach you how to Firebend, then you won't have to use those antiquated handsigns," Lo finished.

Sasuke looked up at the women and growled. "You two are fools. Firebending is the just the beginning!" he thundered as he produced a large flame in his right hand, throwing it at the twins. Both flinched back, expecting to be burned. But the fire never reached them, as Sasuke redirected the flames to join those that surrounded the Fire Lord's throne.

"But... That's impossible!" Lee decreed, having watched the tail end of the fire manipulation. Lo merely stared, watching Sasuke in awe.

Sasuke scoffed and went back to his Raiton training. "I need to find me a master weaponsmith to forge me a new sword. It seems my old one was lost to the ages," Sasuke ordered, his emotions never coming to light outside of annoyance.

Amegakure

The sun was high in the sky and not a cloud was in sight. The heat that used to permeate the desert was once again making itself known. Several people wandering the streets wondered what was causing the miserable day's high temperature. Some even mumbled something about Pein being defeated, though they were quickly hushed.

Without warning several clouds made their way from the middle of the former desert nation to the edges of Amegakure cooling the nation and providing shade from the harsh sun. "Praise Pein-sama!" rang out along the streets.

Near South Town

Pein turned to the tightly bound Fire bending princess and shook his head. Princess Azula, the prodigy and favored child of the Fire Lord had be defeated, and what's more she was captured. Any leader in his right mind would have ransomed the girl in exchange for an end to this war. However Pein saw no reason to do so. Instead, he and his Six Paths marched the defeated girl along the streets of Amegakure, right towards the capital city.

Aang, the young Avatar, and his entourage trailed the Paths with large grins, waving to the crowds. Several people looked at the children with mixed reactions, mostly wondering whom they were and why their god would allow them to walk in his shadow. Then again, Pein was a merciful god.

Katara elbowed Aang in the ribs, gaining his attention. "Somehow I don't think they know who we are, Aang. You should tell them," she offered. Katara's brother, Sokka, whispered an emphatic negative. "It's bad enough that half the world is run by the Fire Nation, but from what I've heard, these people feel like the Avatar betrayed them!"

Katara glared at Sokka and wrapped a loving arm around the now depressed Aang. "Really, Sokka? You can be such a jerk sometimes!" she accused much to Sokka's confusion.

"What? What did I do?" he asked, raising his arms and shrugging his shoulders.

"Avatar Pein," Princess Azula called out, in spite of her bindings, she refused to be led around looking less than immaculate. "If I might make a request? Please kill me or rip out my ears so I don't have to listen to the babble of these three idiots anymore!" she requested.

The Paths all stopped cold and Pein (Nagato) turned around to face the girl, his silver-ringed eyes boring a hole deep into the Firebender's soul. "Why should I maim you? And I've stated before to many soldiers and warriors that have come seeking a bounty; I am not this Avatar you seek. That bald child with the tattoos is the Avatar." he addressed, his tone level as he stared at the girl.

Azula's jaw hit the ground as she stared at the bald monk. He was currently doing a jig in the middle of the street trying to get a laugh out of a younger boy. A big goofy grin was plastered on Aang's face as he continued to tap dance, until the child laughed, walking away while shaking his head.

"That... That's the Avatar? But, I've come across the ocean, traveled half of the desert and brought my army here, to fight you. You, the master of all five elements! The man that has laid waste to armies of Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation soldiers." she tried, hoping that Pein would change his mind and accept the title.

Pein turned back to the front and continued his walking. "I'm from another land. Another time. In my life there was no such a thing as an Avatar. I have a special attribute referred to in my homeland as a 'Dojutsu', or Eye Technique. It's a bloodline trait that only has occurred twice in the history of my world."

"Your world? Are you some kind of alien?" she asked, incredulously. "Well, that would explain his strength and those freaky eyes," she noted as she stared at the tall man with the bright red hair.

"No... More like I died several thousands of years ago, killed by my own hand as I tried to set right the wrongs I caused. Everything I do now is in remembrance of the closest thing I had to a little brother, alongside Yahiko, my adopted older brother's, dreams. A world of peace, where fighting can finally end."

Azula stared at the man. She'd never heard of someone coming back from the dead. "So, what are you gonna do with me?" she asked, a small bit of trepidation in her voice.

Pein (Nagato) remained silent, his Paths equally as silent as they continued to walk with the girl.

"Seriously? Now you're gonna get quiet?" she asked. One of the Paths, a man she could swear was the missing military leader: Commander Zhao, spoke up. "The Avatar asked that Lord Pein not kill you or your men. Instead, he requested that we rehabilitate you into the community. Perhaps you will realize that peace is far more preferable to this endless war your great grandfather started."

"Commander Zhao? Is that you? Since when did you become a traitor?' she demanded, glaring the man with the heavy sideburns down. She noticed several piercing all across his face and into his neck and collar bone. It made her wonder if the man had more that were hidden. "I never figured you for the S&M type, either," she taunted, hoping to get a rise.

It was when he replied in a calm voice that she took a hard look at his visage, especially his eyes, seeing the same ringed sclera and irises as Pein (Nagato). "I am not the same man you once knew. Commander Zhao died many years ago..." he began.

Flashback

Commander Zhao managed to slink into the Hidden Library uncontested. He'd spent many years researching its location and now that he was here, he was going to do whatever was in his powers to find a way to further the war effort and take out the Northern Water Tribe.

Zhao shimmied his way down a rope, further and further into the bowels of the only exposed peak; a tower, branching the east wing of the library. It would seem that some 99% was buried by the sand in the desert and he was determined to find his information before the remaining 1% went down as well.

"Finally, I've made it here! Now where's the information on the Water Tribes?" he pondered aloud.

To his amazement he was actually answered. "The Water Tribes' information is located in the W's, sir. Please be careful as these books are rather old and I'd like to not have them damaged." came the witty reply of a giant great horned owl. By giant, it stood 10 feet in height, with a wingspan to match.

Commander Zhao's eyes widened in surprise and he stumbled back, tripping on his rope and falling to his behind. "Wh-Who?" he asked intelligently as he pointed at the magnificent creature.

"I'm the keeper of the library. I've been collecting these books from around the world for a very long time."

Zhao nodded weakly, his face as white as a ghost. "Okay.. Well then, I'll be on my way to study, then," the commander commented, trying not to give away his true intentions.

The owl nodded his head and seemed to walk away. At his returned privacy, Zhao went to the W's and read through every book and scroll he could find on the Water Tribes until finally he found it...

Unseen and unknown to either the owl or the commander, a young boy was slipping into the tower as well, walking along the wall as quiet as a church mouse...

End Flashback

"As soon as Zhao discovered the way to destroy the Northern Water Tribe Pein-sama stepped in and killed him, preventing him from burning down the Fire Nation's history. It was then that Pein-sama placed his control rods into Zhao's body and gave life to me," he finished.

Princess Azula's eyes widened at the tale. "How? How can I destroy the Northern Water Tribe?" she demanded, earning the eyes off all the Paths as well as Pein himself. All seven sets of eyes glared at the girl with each man speaking at the same time. "You will never know, Princess Azula. I will see to that."

Princess Azula shivered at the display... Despite herself she could not deny the power that this Pein exuded. "Maybe he really is a god?" she wondered as they resumed their trek through the streets.

AN: Alright folks, sorry for the delay! Here's a new chapter, and as promised I'm giving a back story for the things I skipped over. Next chapter I'll explain how Aang met Pein and the agreement between the two.

R&R

SSTR87