The Seedy Merchant’s Pier: Final Part

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

Naruto was confused with Azula's sudden outburst. Did Azula not like Suki? Naruto was aware of Azula's apprehension towards other people. It was just in her nature. However, he could not understand why she was angry at him over something so trivial like shopping. Naruto sighed inwardly to himself; he doesn't understand girls at all.

Azula groaned at Naruto's ignorance; she knew that he didn't knew any better, but she had a nagging feeling in her heart. Seeing Suki and Naruto acting all flirty filled Azula with anger.

"Why would you want to hang out with her when you have me?"

Naruto furrowed his brows in response. There was no reason for Azula to be so worked up like that. Suki was a close friend of his. Of course Naruto wouldn't mind following her around to buy stuff if it made her happy. He would absolutely do the same thing to Azula and Tenten.

"Suki's my friend, Azula," Naruto answered. "Something like this isn't a big deal."

"Then what about me?" Azula glared at him. "I guess I'm not a big deal to you as well."

Tenten glanced back-and-forth between Azula and Naruto. She wanted to butt into the argument, but she felt like it wasn't her place to talk. She watched silently, hoping the two of them would be able to talk it out.

"You are!" Naruto raised his voice. He felt angry and upset that Azula would say something like that. They had been through thick and thin together and formed a special bond unlike any other. For Azula to say that was just an insult to their precious bond.

Naruto continued," You're precious to me, Azula. For you to say that really hurts."

Azula paused for a moment, slowly taking in his words. A precious person. Those words swirled around her head the more she thought about it. Naruto will always be a precious person to her. Was it wrong for her to have him all for herself?

"I didn't mean that, Naruto," Azula hastily replied. "I- I just want-"

"Want what?" Naruto interrupted.

"Just listen to me."

"Oh, I see what's going on here," Suki crossed her arms. "Princess here is just jealous."

Azula tightened her fists, struggling to subdue the pent up anger from bursting again. If looks could kill, Suki would be dead a hundred times over.

"I. Am. Not," Azula denied, her frown deepened even more.

"Yes you are, Azula," Suki argued. "You can't always tell Naruto who to be with. Let him live how he wants to and quit being such a control freak."

The wall that struggled to hold her anger back collapsed, and Azula finally snapped.

"Shut up!" Her piercing scream silenced the entire restaurant. Customers stopped eating and looked at Azula with interest and confusion. Azula saw Naruto's saddened expression and regret quickly kicked in.

"I didn't think you would be like this, Azula," Naruto finally said.

"No, Naruto, please-"

"I... I don't want to hear it, Azula," Naruto turned away from her, looking at his empty ramen bowl instead.

Azula felt her heart sunk. She looked at Tenten and Suki who turned away from her as well. Her lips quivered and tears threatened to pour from her eyes. Was she in the wrong this time? Not wanting to be there anymore, Azula ran out of the restaurant.

"Azula!" Naruto got up from seat. He wanted to chase after her, but he was held back by a hand.

"I think it's best if the both of you spend some time apart from each other and think things out," Tenten said, firmly gripping his wrist. "I'll follow her to make sure she doesn't run into trouble."

With that being said, Tenten dashed out of the restaurant, leaving Naruto and Suki behind. The atmosphere turned normal, and all the customers went back to eating. Naruto leaned back against the chair as his thoughts wandered back to Azula. He needed to talk to her again later.

"I know I came out a little harsh on her, but I felt like it needed to be said," Suki explained.

The atmosphere grew tense as Suki waited for him to respond. Looking at Naruto's frown, Suki reached for his hand, squeezing it to comfort him.

Naruto sighed, pulling his hand away from hers, "It's not your fault."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," Naruto replied. "I'm just really worried for Azula."

Suki grew a sad smile. It seemed that Naruto truly cared for Azula. At that point, Suki felt as if she had already lost to the princess. However, it wasn't in her heart to give up just yet.

"You really like Azula, don't you?" She suddenly asked.

"With all my heart," Naruto did not hesitate one bit.

It was Suki's turn to feel jealous. She wished that Naruto had said that to her instead. "As catty as Azula is, I'm sure she'll come around in no time," Suki said.

Pushing her jealousy away, she grabbed Naruto's hand again and pulled him away from the counter. Suki was going to find a way to worm her way into his heart.

"What are you-"

"Come on!" Suki dragged him across the street. "You said that you'll come shopping around town with me."

"What about Azula?"

"I'm sure she'll be fine with Tenten." Suki replied, pulling on him harder this time. "Now come on!"

Naruto scratched his cheek, "Alright, maybe just for a little bit."

*****

Azula gazed at the vast sea, bringing her knees up to her chest. She muted the bustling background behind her, dealing with the turmoil that went through her mind. Azula never meant to make Naruto sad. Would Naruto hate her now?

"What would you do, mom?" Azula wiped the tears from her eyes. If her mother was here, she would know what to do.

Azula regretted running away like that. Azula wanted to go back there and apologize to Naruto, but she was too scared to see him right now. She didn't know what his reaction would be like. Naruto would probably still hate her and that was her biggest fear. Azula brought her head down between her knees; she didn't know what to do anymore.

"There you are, princess," Tenten called out.

Azula was startled by Tenten's sudden arrival. She quickly wiped her tears away to hide her grief.

"What are you doing here?" Azula asked. "Aren't you supposed to be with them?"

Tenten shook her head, "I came to see how you were doing."

"Well, I was perfectly fine until you showed up," Azula lied.

Tenten sat down next to her and stared at the overcast clouds slowly drifting by. Her brown bangs fluttered against the gentle breeze as she soaked in the salty air of the ocean. Tenten turned her attention again towards Azula, and saw her puffy red eyes.

"What is Naruto to you?" Tenten suddenly asked.

Azula was taken back by her sudden question. Instead of being angry at Tenten, Azula looked down at her own reflection over the rippling water. Closing her eyes, Azula thought back to the times she had with Naruto.

"He's everything to me," She finally said. "Naruto is always there when I needed him; he goes out of his way to make me happy even if I didn't need him to. No matter where we go to, we would have each other. Even if the whole world turned against us."

Tenten didn't know what to say. She was amazed and jealous how close those two were. However, Tenten was more surprised that Azula had such a soft side to her. She was always antagonistic and unfriendly to everyone else but Naruto. To see Azula's soft side made her a bit happy.

"I bet he is," Tenten giggled. "Naruto's a huge softie to everyone he cares about."

"But what I said to him back there is unforgivable," Azula said. She remembered his pained expression, and she never wanted to do that to him again. "I can't believe I let my emotions get the best of me."

"Trust me, we all been there before," Tenten replied. "I totally understand how you feel."

"I just don't want him to hate me," Azula tightened her arms around her knees. Tears threatened to spill once more.

Seeing the tears that were forming, Tenten wrapped an arm around Azula's shoulders, "Are you crazy? Naruto will never hate you!"

"How would you know?"

"He's got the biggest heart I know, princess," Tenten grinned. "He may be upset with you, but I don't think he would hate you. Besides, this whole situation would blow over if you just apologize to him."

Azula smiled faintly, "Maybe you're right. If it's like that, then I probably don't need to be scared."

Tenten quickly patted her on the back, "That's the spirit, princess!"

Tenten stood back up and raised a hand out to Azula, her bright smile not wavering at all. Azula glanced at Tenten's chesnut eyes with mixed emotions. For all the times Azula had been rude to her, Tenten never really seemed to have a grudge with her. She suddenly felt guilty about it all. After a brief moment, Azula reached for Tenten's hand and stood up with her help. Without warning, Azula brought Tenten over for an embrace.

"Thank you."

"That's what friends are for," Tenten replied. After a few seconds of embrace, they pulled away from each other.

"So, what do you say we go and find them?" Tenten asked.

"Sure, let's go."