Goodbye and Hello Ba Sing Se!: Part One

"Is Suki going to be okay, granny?" Naruto couldn't help but worry. The wounds on her back were quite ugly to look at.

Tenten held Suki's hand protectively as she brushed her best friend's bangs away from her eyes. She felt guilty for not being there for her. However, Tenten understood that Suki did what she had to do. After all, she was a Kyoshi Warrior.

Tenten grew angry everytime her thoughts wandered towards Haku. Naruto may have forgiven Haku, but she didn't. But, Tenten knew she had to keep herself calm; they weren't the enemies anymore.

Haku's wounds had also been treated along with Zabuza and Azula. With a couple days of rest, they should be up and about in no time at all.

The village doctor had just cauterized the wounds on Suki's back with the help of Iroh. She then wrapped Suki's upper naked body with gauze.

"The girl should be fine with some rest," the village doctor answered. The old lady stood up and collected her medical supplies into her woven basket. "Make sure she doesn't partake in too many physical activities lest those wounds open up again."

"Thanks a lot, granny."

"Mm," with a slight bow, the village doctor left Tazuna's house.

Naruto looked back at Suki's resting face. He hoped that she could wake up soon. Naruto placed an a hand over Tenten's shoulder, "We should leave Suki to rest, Tens."

"Yeah...I guess you're right," Tenten gave one last look at Suki before she stood up.

However, there was something in her mind that still haunted her. It was about Naruto. Tenten vividly remember the scary changes Naruto went through, and that... that energy. It felt incredibly evil.

Tenten had to know.

"Naruto..." Tenten uttered, almost afraid to even ask.

Naruto quickly noticed the change in Tenten's demeanor, "Something the matter, Tens?"

"What happened to you back there, Naruto? That thing you turned into - It's nothing I'd seen before. It honestly made me scared."

"I..." Naruto was at a loss for words. This was what he was afraid of the most. Having the people close to him afraid of him. "I don't know..." It was all he could say.

"Naruto, how long since you could do that?"

"I don't know... the only other time I did it was when I was angry at Azula's dad."

"Why didn't you tell us, Naruto? About that power you possessed?"

Naruto didn't answer her; his blue eyes looked towards the ground instead.

"Naruto, answer me," she demanded.

He stayed silent, refusing to look at Tenten.

"Answer me, Naruto!" Tenten shouted.

"I was scared, okay!" Naruto shouted back, balling his fists. His sudden outburst drew Tenten silent. It was only for a moment before Naruto calmed down. "I didn't want you two to be scared of me."

"Naruto, I -"

"You think I'm a monster, right?" He smiled to himself. He heard it many times before.

Tenten suddenly held his cheeks and lifted his face to meet her eyes. She could see sadness under those bright blues. Tenten hated to see him like that.

"Naruto, listen to me. I never thought of you as a monster. Don't ever say that. You may be reckless, dumb, hyperactive and a loudmouth sometimes, but at the same time, you're caring, headstrong and protective, and that's what I love about you.

So don't think like that ever again."

"So, you don't hate me?" He asked.

Tenten gave him a little smack on the head, "Do I really have to spell it out for you, you knucklehead?"

Naruto quickly blew a raspberry at her. It was only a moment of silence before the two of them started to giggle.

"And why are you two causing such a commotion? I could practically hear your voices a mile away," Azula suddenly said, slipping through the curtains. She had heard yelling from outside and decided to find out what exactly was going on.

"Ah- we were just talkin', right, Naruto, " Tenten answered.

"Right," Naruto nodded vehemently.

"Well, if you're done chit-chatting, the both of you should come outside already. Everyone's waiting," she said.

They soon left the hut and made it outside. The sun shined bright on a cloudless day. Naruto felt the beaming heat across his tanned skin.

"Ah, Naruto, Tenten, c'mon ova!" Temujin beckoned them over, rum in hand, and a drink away from being drunk. "Food's nearly done."

Everyone sat around the open fire, having a barbecue while Zabuza and Haku stood under the shade of a tree and away from everyone else.

Tenten saw Haku and gave him the stank eye. Haku seemed to notice her as well and smiled.

Azula, Tenten and Naruto sat around the campfire as grilled meat sizzled over the flames.

"Woah, that smells good!" Naruto licked his lips in hunger.

"Quit starin' at it and chow down, boy," Temujin said, laughing.

Naruto swiped a beef kabab from the firepit and chomped down the whole thing in one fell swoop.

"Why do you always eat like a gorilla, Foxy?" Azula asked in disgust.

"I can't help it if it's good!" He answered, ripping another piece of meat off the stick. Azula just rolled her eyes at him.

"Ah, so you're young Naruto," Iroh glanced at the blonde boy. "Azula told me all about you."

Naruto looked up at the General with both confusion and curiosity. He gulped down the beef kebab and asked, "Who are you, old man?"

"Naruto!" Azula bonked him on the head. "He's my uncle - show some respect."

"Your uncle?!" Naruto looked back and forth between Azula and Iroh.

Naruto heard stories of the Dragon of the West - a great general that was unmatched in the fields of battle. The same man who lost his only son in battle.

"You're the Dragon of the West?!" Naruto pointed at him. Azula suddenly bonked him again, causing him to yelp out in pain.

"Sorry, Uncle. Naruto tends to be a little... crude most of the times," Azula apologized on Naruto's behalf.

"He has quite the personality," Iroh let out a hearty laugh. "But, to think you actually go against your father, Azula. You'd always got along with him , but this... I could have never imagined it."

"I don't even want to associate myself with him," she crossed her arms angrily. "He abandoned us and mother."

Iroh frowned. He knew about his brother's grand ambitions, but to think he would go to this extent to cast away his family like nothing. "What about your older brother, Zuko?"

"He's... he's still with father," Azula's eyes grew downcast.

"Hmm... well, I plan to go back to the Fire Nation soon," Iroh said.

"Really?"

"Someone's got to look after your brother," Iroh gave her a little wink. Azula couldn't help but smile. If there was someone she could trust, it would be her uncle.

From the shade, Haku watched as Naruto and everyone else were enjoying themselves around the fire. It was nice to see something like this. If only he could experience this when he was younger.

"C'mon, Haku," Zabuza brought a hand over Haku's shoulder. "We should get going."

"Right," he nodded. Haku glanced over at the group, finally at Naruto. A smile slowly graced his lips. Haku turned around and followed Zabuza along the winding dirt path.

"Wait!"

Haku turned around again. He didn't expect Naruto to go after them.

"Are you guys leaving?" Naruto asked.

Haku nodded, "This will be our final goodbyes, Naruto."

"Oh..." Naruto seemed a bit downcast. "I guess it really is a goodbye, then."

The loudmouth blonde suddenly pointed at Zabuza and shouted, "Listen up, Zabuza! Haku cares about you a lot and even go to extraordinary lengths just to protect you!

So, you better start treating him like a normal human being. Otherwise, even if you're on the other side of the globe, I will personally come over there and beat it through your head if I have to, got that!"

Zabuza simply smirked at the little brat, "Don't push it, kid." Zabuza turned back around and walked off.

Haku bowed one last time towards Naruto before he followed Zabuza. Naruto watched them leave as their backs slowly disappeared over the hill.

"Hah..." Naruto sighed out, walking back.