Balance: A Maelstrom's Tale Chapter 2: The Journey Begins, a Naruto + Avatar: Last Airbender Crossover fanfic

Here we are with the second chapter of this story!

Balance: A Maelstrom's Tale

Chapter Two: The Journey Begins

Naruto fought his building tears as he stared at the visage of his grandfather, who had a tearful smile on his face. Iroh, the Dragon of the West and father of his father, here before him after so many years apart. The last time he had seen his grandfather was before the man left to take part in the siege of Ba Sing Se.

The very siege that claimed the life of Lu Ten.

"You're traveling with Zuko," Naruto noted, his voice almost a whisper as he looked away in shame. "That's good. He needs someone like you at his side…"

Wiping his eyes, Iroh grabbed one of the chairs near the prison cell, placing it before the doors so that he could sit and face his grandson.

"After he was banished, I knew that someone he could trust would need to be there for him."

"…What happened after we left?" the redhead asked despairingly. "Why is Zuko hunting the Avatar? Why does he have that scar? Why aren't you Fire Lord?"

Iroh's eyes closed as he gave a deep sigh, part of him wishing he had brought some tea to help his nerves. "I returned home not long after you and your mother left, being told about how the two of you were enemies of the Fire Nation for treason and corruption. I was also told about your gift."

"More like a curse," Naruto bit out.

"Bending is no curse, Naruto. It is a gift that must be both cherished and respected. In my eyes, I didn't care that you are a Waterbender; you were and are my grandson."

Naruto stayed silent, letting Iroh speak.

"I never hated you or your mother. I was saddened that you fled, but I understood that staying would've meant death for you both. And I believe that both you and I know Kushina wouldn't have stood for that. She loved you too much."

Despite his guilt, Naruto still smiled at the memory of his beloved mother. "Yeah… Mom was awesome…" he choked out.

"I'm sure she's at peace now," Iroh consoled, fighting his own emotions at the confirmation of his daughter-in-law's death. "May I ask…?"

"She got sick, and there were no healers in the Tribe there to help her. She passed in her sleep with a smile on her face…"

"A silver lining, if ever there was one."

"I wish I could've done something…"

"So do all who feel powerless in the face of loss. Every day, I feel regret for not being able to help Lu Ten before his death…"

Both men were silent for a moment, taking time to silently offer a prayer for Naruto's parents.

"How did you both manage to escape?" Iroh asked after their moment of silence. "I'm happy you were able to, but I know it couldn't have been easy."

Naruto's gaze grew distant at the question. "Our escape…"

The moon was full that night, and two people with red hair were seen fleeing from pursuing Fire Nation soldiers.

"Hurry, Naruto!" Kushina ordered her son, pushing him further ahead so that she could shield him from any Firebending. "Don't stop running! Don't look back!"

Naruto was panting as he ran as fast as he could, tears stinging his eyes at how everything had gone so horribly after one of the servants of the Palace caught him showing his best friend Ty Lee some of his Waterbending. Not long after he was pursued by Palace Guards and he ran to his mother, who had locked the door and had them jump out the window.

Now, the two were racing down the main streets of the Capital, heading for the docks so that they could take a boat for freedom. He only had time to grab his iron rods and the lotus charm Ty Lee had made for him, unable to say goodbye to anybody so that he could flee for his life.

"Stop right there!" a Royal Firebender called out, sending forth a blast of fire at the fleeing mother and son.

"Don't stop, Naruto!"

Knowing that his mother would get hit, Naruto spotted some barrels of fish swimming in water. Desperation drove him, and he willed the water to move, making it rise out of the barrels as he turned and directed it at the flames. Steam was created on impact, and the charred remains of the now dead fish fell to the streets as Kushina grabbed Naruto and dragged him into an alley so they could hide.

She pressed them against the wall, with some crates covering them from sight. Hearing the soldiers pass, she bent down and saw that her child was full of tears. Brushing his bangs aside, she gently pressed her lips to his forehead, pouring her love and gratitude into the kiss.

"We need to keep moving," she urged softly, ushering Naruto down the alley and grabbing some worn out cloaks hanging from some clotheslines.

They quickly put them on, and she had them step out of the alley and blend into the crowd as she checked to see if she had any money on her person. To her relief, there was a small handful of silver pieces; enough to curry favor for a ride on one of the many fishing vessels that frequented the Capital.

As surreptitiously as she could, she led Naruto through the crowd and avoided the view of the still pursuing soldiers, who had split into groups and taken to the streets in search of them. When the docks were in sight, she noticed how the crowd had thinned considerably between the boats and the streets; making their risk of being spotted increase significantly.

She bit her lip and went for it, knowing that they wouldn't get another chance to board a ship. Her focus was so intently on the vessels for freedom that she never noticed the streets becoming uneven. Tripping, she was caught by Naruto as the part of the cloak covering her head dropped, revealing her crimson hair.

"There they are!" the two heard a soldier shout.

"Run!" Kushina urged, getting back on her feet and grasping her son's hand as they ran for the ships.

However, because of his shorter stature, his strides couldn't match hers and their gait was hampered enough for the soldiers to close the gap. Kushina knew this and she had her free hand reach for the silver pieces and thrust them into Naruto's pocket.

"Don't stop running," she ordered softly, slowing down enough to push him forward before turning around to face the soldiers.

Naruto listened to her at first, but he stopped and looked back to see the soldiers almost upon his mother. Fear gripped his heart at what would happen to her, and that fear stirred something else inside: anger.

Anger at the soldiers out to kill Kushina…

Anger at himself for not heeding her warning…

Anger at the Fire Nation for so readily branding them with treason…

Anger at his weakness…

That anger grew and he rushed back over to Kushina, putting himself in front of her as her expression changed from grim acceptance to utter shock. She would've ordered him to leave her, but he spoke before she could, aiming his words at the soldiers.

"Don't. Hurt. My. MOTHER!"

As he roared the final word, he thrust his arms forward with his hands taking the position of palm strikes. The full moon empowered him, and he unknowingly called upon a branch of Waterbending that would haunt him for many years to come. For as the soldiers were thrust back and thrown into a tangle of unnaturally twisted limbs, Naruto had used the taboo art of Waterbending.

He had become a Bloodbender.

Seated with his back to his grandfather, Naruto fought angry tears as he finished explaining their escape. "I just felt so much…hatred. I hated them for what they were going to do to mother. And I hated myself for putting us in that situation. I couldn't take it, and so I…"

When it was obvious Naruto couldn't finish, Iroh continued, "You acted. Out of pure desire to stop them from killing Kushina, and out of desperation to save her, you acted on your baser instincts. There is nothing to be ashamed of for doing this, Naruto."

"Yes, there is… I'm a monster…"

"No," Iroh declared firmly, prompting Naruto to look over his shoulder at him. "You are no monster, my grandson. You were just a frightened child who did whatever he could to keep his family safe. Did Kushina ever treat you any differently after that night?"

Memories flooded in, none of them showing any fear or disgust in her eyes; only love for him.

"…no…" he answered softly.

"Do you regret what you've done?"

"…no," he answered again, sounding less doubtful of himself.

"And if you could go back to that moment, would you have done anything different?"

"No," Naruto replied, firmer than ever before.

The elderly man smiled warmly at his grandson. "Then you are no monster. All Bending Arts have a taboo branch or technique of their style. Bloodbending is no different; though it is a rare ability and old records show that it has only ever been recorded during nights when the moon was full."

Naruto was silent at that, looking away guiltily.

"Naruto…?"

"…what if I didn't need the moon to be full?"

"So," began Aang as he was led to a separate holding area by a pair of Firebenders under Zuko's command, "I guess you've never fought an Airbender before." A sly smile formed on his face as he thought of a way to escape. "I bet I could take you both on with my hands tied behind my back."

His taunt didn't stir them, and the one in front of Aang ordered, "Be silent, child."

As he reached for some keys hanging on his belt to open the locked door in front of him, Aang saw his opportunity. Inhaling deeply, he unleashed a powerful breath of Airbending, stunning both soldiers. The Firebender before him slammed hard into the door and was subsequently knocked out from the impact, falling with a groan. Aang himself was sent several feet back, slamming into the guard behind him. They both were flung back even further, where they crashed into the stairs; the soldier behind Aang also knocked out by the impact. Now free in a sense, Aang propelled himself onto the deck and kicked open a door using Airbending, quickly running down the hallway in search of his confiscated glider staff.

Meanwhile, another soldier saw his knocked-out comrade and no sign of the Airbender. Looking up to the helmsman, he called out, "The Avatar has escaped! All crew members: search the ship for him, top to bottom!"

Back with Aang, he was keeping away from the other members of the crew with his agile usage of Airbending, literally running on the walls and ceilings of the inner hallways while ducking between and under the soldiers. One of the soldiers had been used to get him free, the sharp horn of his helmet being used to cut the binds that had tied Aang's wrists together before he ducked down another hallway.

With a moment of respite, he took a moment to search the rooms for his staff. He opened the doors to many crew quarters and supply rooms before one of the rooms opened to what looked to be personal quarters. Resting before him was an ink portrait of a family of four, and the youngest in the portrait was familiar to him, as seen by the whiskered markings on the child's cheeks.

"Naruto's from the Fire Nation?" he questioned aloud curiously before filing the information for later and closing the door. He opened another door to the sight of another personal quarter, and the sight of his staff placed on a display stand. "There it is!"

He made to grab it as he entered the room, but the door was closed by Zuko who had been lying in wait for him since he heard one of his men shout about the Avatar's escape. Aang turned in shock at the sound of the door closing, surprised to see the Fire Prince standing there.

"I suppose I underestimated you, Airbender," he spoke before assuming a Firebending stance.

Naruto and Iroh heard the alarms and the sound of soldiers and crewmen rushing around almost in a panic. "Looks like Aang is causing trouble for Zuko's men," Naruto noted.

"Is that his name? I find myself curious about who the Last Airbender is as a person," Iroh mused. "A shame we probably won't have a moment to talk privately."

"I think you'd like him, grandfather. He's still a child, but I can see that he follows his heart; despite only knowing him for less than a day."

Chuckling, the man nodded in agreement. "I think I will, as well."

Still smiling, he reached through the bars and placed his hand atop his grandchild's head. Warmth that wasn't from any Firebending flowed through Naruto, and he stared into the somber gaze of his grandfather.

"You need to be there with him on his journey."

"Me? I'm just a runaway from the Fire Nation. What could I do for the Avatar?"

"It's what you both can do for one another. Plus, I don't want to stand by and let someone of my blood be sent to his own death."

Naruto's gaze turned guilty. "…You'd be committing treason," he tried to warn.

"Maybe. But if it means you'll be safe, then I'll do it with a smile. I wouldn't be able to face my son or your mother if I didn't try to help you."

Reaching into his sleeves, he procured a key that he used to unlock the cell door before using the same key to unlock the ankle restraints placed upon Naruto. Both men stood to their full heights, and Iroh was proud to look up into his grandson's eyes; a gaze that was a little over a head above Iroh's own.

Saying nothing, both embraced one another and held tightly as their tears finally fell. They stayed like this for a few moments and ignored the outside world, only recognizing this embrace that was many years late.

Finally letting go, Naruto wiped away his tears as Iroh pulled out Naruto's weapons and handed them to him. "Now go. You have a journey to start."

Naruto headed for the stairs, stopping at the bottom step so that he could give another look to Iroh. "Thank you, grandfather…" he bid before rushing up the steps.

To Iroh, he would've sworn that the spirits of Lu Ten and Kushina were standing beside him during that farewell, smiling gratefully to him for letting their son go free before fading away. And that made him smile in return.

"Avatar Aang… Please look after my grandson for me…"

Having managed to retrieve his staff and escape Zuko's assault, Aang made it back to the deck of the ship and was using the staff to deflect multiple blasts of fire from the Prince and his men. The boy's efforts were successful at first, but he soon began evading more than deflecting and the Firebenders took advantage of that by forcing him to the edge of the ship.

"Nowhere to run, Avatar!" Zuko declared before a groaning roar caught the attention of everyone. Turning slightly, he saw Katara and Sokka riding atop a giant furred creature with horns and six legs that was flying towards the ship. "What in the…?" he questioned before recomposing himself.

"Appa!" Aang exclaimed excitedly, being too distracted to avoid another fireball from Zuko.

"Aang!" Katara called out in worry before everyone was caught off guard by a tendril of water rising from the icy seas the ship was upon, intercepting the fireball with ease.

"You really should pay more attention instead of being so easily distracted, kid," they heard a familiar voice speak, revealing that it was Naruto who performed the Waterbending.

"Naruto…?" Katara whispered to herself, shocked that he was a Waterbender like herself all this time.

"So…the stories of why you fled were true," Zuko deduced. "You really are a Waterbender…"

Naruto said nothing as he reached behind him and grabbed his iron rods, flourishing them and taking a stance as more water rose up and flooded toward the tips. Taking shape, the water froze and Naruto was seen holding a pair of icy clubs

"Let's do this," he muttered to himself, rushing toward the soldiers and making himself a target.

He swerved around some blasts of fire before sliding beneath another before using the momentum to leap and swing at one of the Firebenders. Slamming the frozen club into the man's torso, the chest armor dented from the impact and he was sent hurtling into another Bender that knocked them both out. He then spun in place and smacked another fireball, the flames barely making the club start melting before Naruto refroze it with Bending.

Using the water on the deck, Naruto had it push him upward so that he could flip over a rushing soldier and twist his body in midair to kick the back of their head. Landing with a roll, he chucked one of his frozen clubs at another soldier, nailing him in the gut and knocking all the breath out of him before he melted the water in his other club and used it to absorb the fire from Zuko.

Seeing his men incapacitated, Zuko held his stance and circled the deck with Naruto. As they circled each other, Naruto instinctively reached down and grabbed his thrown weapon as he passed by the unconscious soldier he had hit with it. He then slammed the grooved ends of his rods together, forming them into an iron staff with a frozen club on one end.

"I never wanted this, Zuko," Naruto explained. "You and I… We were like brothers. I cared about you, and I still do. I don't want to fight you."

"Then stand down!" Zuko ordered, sending a fireball at Naruto that he weaved around before resuming his stance. "This doesn't concern you! If you walk away now, I'll make sure nobody from the Fire Nation knows that you were living here. But if you keep helping the Avatar, then you'll be just as wanted as him!"

Naruto's gaze turned to disappointment at that. "What's made you become like this, Zuko? Was it the person who gave you that scar?"

Zuko growled at the mention of his visible mark of dishonor.

"Who did that to you? Who hurt you so badly?" he pressed, showing genuine concern for his cousin. "Talk to me, Zuko…"

Roaring in fury at the painful memories flooding in, Zuko sent forth a massive wave of fire fueled by his building rage. But it wasn't Naruto who he targeted.

No, the fire instead was shot toward Aang who was once again caught off guard and pushed off the deck, falling unconscious before his body even hit the water.

"Aang! No!" Katara cried out while Sokka and Naruto both looked surprised at what happened.

Regaining his focus, Naruto spun his staff and launched water from the frozen clubbed end, melting it into a heavy ball of liquid that was turned into steam by Zuko's fire. He then ran forward and used his staff as a kickstand to help launch himself into the air before descending with a spinning heel drop.

Zuko dodged the attack and made to punch some more fire, but Naruto ducked beneath it and jabbed the Prince's wrist so that the fire was pointed upward. He then twisted his own wrist to grab Zuko's, pulling him in before hitting him in the chest with a powerful knee. Letting go of him, Naruto watched sadly as Zuko was sent sprawling backward and rolled to a stop against the rail of the ship.

"It's over, Zuko," he announced, using his foot to throw his staff into his waiting hand. "Don't force my hand any further."

Zuko glared at Naruto before they both heard water churning and turned to see Aang riding a swirling waterspout that dropped him onto the deck just as the Prince and some of his soldiers got back to their feet. What was different about Aang was how his Airbender tattoos were glowing along with his eyes, the light fully encompassing them. He then raised his arm and swirled it around, making the water he was riding surround him in a protective ring that quickly spread outward and slammed into the members of the Fire Nation while opening a gap just wide enough to avoid hitting Naruto at the last moment.

Everyone hit by the water was knocked overboard, and Aang's body soon lost the glow as he fell to his knees with a groan and soon fell over while still barely conscious. Naruto, while impressed with the expert use of Waterbending, rushed over and carried Aang over his shoulder before he ran over to the edge of the ship, leaping over the railing just as Appa lowered himself enough for them to land in his saddle.

With the two of them safely aboard, the Sky Bison elevated himself above the ship and took off for the open waters away from the glaciers of the South Pole. However, Zuko and a few of his Firebenders had managed to climb the anchor's chain and get back onto the ship just in time to see them leaving.

"Shoot them down!" he commanded before he paired with one of them. They and another pair of Firebenders combined their power into a pair of enlarged fireballs that were launched at the escaping group of four.

"Shit," Naruto cursed, seeing the approaching flames before Aang leapt toward the back of the saddle.

Opening the small tail wing of his staff, Aang swung his glider around and used a powerful swipe of air to redirect the closest fireball into the other, with both being pushed into a nearby cliff side. The impact caused an explosion that summoned an avalanche of snow and ice, which fell onto Zuko's ship and buried it enough for it to be halted completely.

Seeing the damage done to his ship, the Fire Prince gritted his teeth and seethed before slamming his fist against the railing. "Dammit! We had him!"

Glaring at the distancing Sky Bison, Zuko clenched his fists furiously and mentally promised to make sure both the Avatar and Naruto paid for this embarrassment.

Naruto, unknown to Zuko, was looking back to them as the ship grew smaller and smaller in his sight. With a sigh, he solemnly muttered, "I'm sorry, Zuko…"

Turning around, he saw that his three companions were looking at him with mixed expressions. He wasn't surprised to see Sokka looking at him with no hidden amount of betrayal and some hurt. Meanwhile, Katara looked relieved and was smiling softly at him, and Aang was simply curious.

"You have questions…"

"Damn right, we do," Sokka cut in before Katara could try and soften anything. "You were a member of our Tribe for years. Years!"

Naruto silently sat and let Sokka vent.

"I trusted you more than many others with the safety of the Tribe, and all this time you were from the Fire Nation! The same people who took our mother from us and made the other warriors leave to join the war! Why didn't you say anything?!"

He didn't answer immediately, waiting for Sokka to calm his breathing from his furious rant. When he was sure the aspiring warrior was relatively calm, he finally spoke.

"My mother and I were trying to hide from the Fire Nation. She was originally from the Southern Tribe before she ran away from the Tribe, eventually being found with the wreckage of her stolen canoe by a Fire Nation ship. That ship was commanded by Lu Ten, a Prince of the Fire Nation and the man my mother soon fell in love with and married."

"He was your father," Aang spoke up in surprise. "You're of both the Water Tribes and the Fire Nation! That's incredible!"

Nodding once but hiding his wince, Naruto continued, "I was born as a member of the Royal Family of the Fire Nation, with my grandfather meant to become the next Fire Lord after the passing of Azulon. I grew up not knowing anything about my Water Tribe heritage because my mother didn't want to be killed. She was hoping to never have it be brought up and live a life of peace…"

"…But something happened," Katara guessed. "Something awful."

"Yes… My grandfather and father both left to take part in the Siege of Ba Sing Se, but my father was killed during his time away and my grandfather, in his grief, abandoned to siege and started to withdraw his men back home. During this time, while I was spending a regular day with my mother, I discovered my Waterbending. While I was happy to be a Bender, my mother ordered me to hide it from everyone; saying that nothing good would happen."

He sighed and looked distantly to the horizon, his voice layered with shame and guilt.

"I should've listened to her, because I thought it was safe enough to show my best friend my gift. Unsurprisingly, one of the servants saw us and informed the rest of the staff and soldiers about me being a Waterbender. Because of this, my mother and I were forced to flee without even being able to say goodbye to my family and friends. We managed to escape and stowed away on a fishing vessel before paying them for one of their lifeboats and a small amount of supplies."

"And from there, you made you way to the Southern Tribe," Sokka finished, "where Kushina begged Gran-Gran for sanctuary."

Naruto nodded in confirmation. "Just like back in the Fire Nation, she ordered me not to reveal my true heritage to anyone from the Tribe. This time, I made sure to listen; even going so far as to hide the fact that I was a Waterbender from everyone in the Tribe." He sent a guilty look to Katara and finished, "Even you…"

Katara was fighting her tears at hearing what Naruto and his mother went through, and she didn't waste a minute moving over to his side so that she could pull him in for a tight hug.

While he was surprised and almost tempted to push her away, she stopped all notions of that by stating, "I don't care who you were… All I know and believe is that you are a member of the Tribe; a member of our family. And I refuse to turn you away."

Deeply touched by her words, Naruto returned her hug and choked out, "Thank you, Katara…"

Sokka, having come to let go of his anger after hearing Naruto's story, sent the redhead a supportive smile of acceptance. "I'm sure there's more to your story, but I'm willing to ignore it for now. I trust you, Naruto; one warrior to another."

Naruto smiled gratefully and, after letting go of Katara, clasped arms with Sokka before the two pulled one another for a brief, but brotherly, hug. Pulling away, they nodded to one another before retaking their seats on Appa's saddle.

"So," Naruto spoke up, "what's our next destination, Avatar Aang?"

The Airbender cringed at the title while Katara perked up and asked, "How did you do that with the water, by the way? It was amazing!"

"I don't know… I just…did it," Aang answered, unsure of his own response.

"Why didn't you say anything about being the Avatar?" Sokka questioned.

"…I never wanted to be."

"Aang," Naruto spoke up, "most of the world has been waiting for the Avatar to put an end to the war. Now, I know you can't do that now; but that doesn't mean you can't take steps to do so."

"But how?" the Airbender asked, looking unsure of himself.

"Well, according to legend," Katara spoke up, "you need to master Waterbending, then Earthbending, and finally Firebending. Right?"

"The monks said that was the way."

Naruto smirked at what Katara was suggesting. "If we go to the North Pole, there's bound to be a Master there that could teach you."

"We can even learn together," Katara added, her own excitement growing.

"Plus, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to knock some Fire Nation heads around, Sokka," Naruto said suggestively, earning a smirk from the warrior.

"I'd like that," he agreed. "I'd really like that."

"Then we're in this," Katara declared cheerfully. "Together."

Nodding, Aang agreed, "Together!"

"Together," Sokka repeated determinedly.

Naruto smiled and looked to the setting sun lighting up the ocean with its glow. To him, it was the perfect blend of both lives he had left behind and was starting to accept once again.

"Together," he promised, his heart ready for the journey ahead.

Alright! Chapter Two is finished!

I hope everyone liked Naruto and Kushina's escape and Naruto showing some of his combative skills. And yes, Naruto being a Bloodbender was a plan I had since before I posted the first chapter; as well as him being able to use it outside of the full moon like Yakone did in Legend of Korra.

Naruto refuses to use it though. So only expect to see it when he is in a truly desperate situation. Next chapter will deal with the Southern Air Temple and maybe some of the Kyoshi Warriors episode!

Stay safe! Stay healthy! Stay together!

Dreaming of the Future

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