88: Grandpa.

Shisui kept smiling as he saw what he had brought about with his power. Even though he was exhausted, he welcomed the feeling he got from being able to interact with and change the world in various ways.

'This is what makes bending valuable,' Shisui thought as he bent down to gently pick up one of the poppies he had sprouted a short while ago. He felt the flower's vibrant breath of life.

'Using Blood-bending just to manipulate and harm others is the stupidest thing anyone can do,' the Sage thought, grimacing at certain thoughts that came to his mind.

He was not pleased with the knowledge that one could violate a person's chi field to subjugate their blood. Luckily, Bloodbending had non-harmful uses and was the gateway to a greater concept: Life-bending.

'If I had become obsessed with the pure power that Blood-bending brought me, I would not have reached these heights. I would just be another Yakone. But now I have a longer road to travel, slow but much more distant,' he thought as he brought the flower to his nose and enjoyed its soft scent.

'That's why, if I want to prevent Blood-bending from becoming an unknown problem, I must teach the Waterbenders to understand its nuances, its opportunities, and the abyss someone can fall into when obsessed with it,' Shisui finally concluded. However, there was one big obstacle to that purpose: the lack of talent.

He could think of a few Waterbenders who could accomplish this feat, except for himself. He didn't count Hama; for him, that woman had stopped being human a long time ago.

Katara, however, was a talented Waterbender who could benefit greatly from this discipline, especially since her healing abilities were exceptional. She could become the world's best healer, surpassing him.

'After all, I don't focus on healing.' Shisui smiled when he thought about that. Although he knew how to heal, he didn't devote all her attention to this sub-bending. His focus was on Life-bending, which had healing as a side effect, among other things.

'There's also my aunt and that guy named Yakone. He should still be alive, right?' Shisui's thoughts went back and forth as he thought about the figure mentioned in the Korra show. Although he didn't care much for the meta information he possessed, he recognized its necessity in these cases.

'That guy had two talented sons who were led astray, especially Noatak. He brushed up against Energy-bending, which is remarkable.' Thinking about how a mere mortal had beaten the 'Avatar,' Shisui couldn't help but laugh.

He didn't trust the meta information because, if he had gone by the supposed 'canon' and 'official data,' he would have died in a ditch in the Earth Kingdom a long time ago.

Although Noatak was talented and caused Korra a lot of trouble with his alter ego, Amon, Shisui knew it was implausible and impossible for that to happen in real life. This meant that what was shown in the show was mere fiction, not attached to the reality in which he lived.

'The real Avatar could never be blocked by Blood-bending unless Noatak knew energybending. Besides, the Avatar's raw power was superior to that of any bender.' Shisui remained immersed in his thoughts as he watched the unaware people around him marvel at his feat of filling the entire area with green and making poppies bloom.

The golden dragon still danced in the sky, shrouded in constant lightning and black clouds. However, Shisui could barely maintain his grip on that construct. Right now, he was in a strange state of tranquility, much like the clarity every man feels after sleeping with a woman.

'Then there's Korra. I doubt she'll be the Avatar. If she's born. I won't let Aang die so young. But that girl has talent. Oh yeah, will Aang and Katara have three children? I remember Kya, their daughter, was an excellent healer too.

What about Bumi? If I study Energy-bending, I might not be able to give or take away items like the Avatar or the Lion turtles, but could I awaken latent bending talent in someone?' Shisui glanced sideways at Ty Lee, who was making a wreath while chatting sweetly with Petra. Then, his eyes shifted to Mai, who now had a poppy in her hair, placed there by her boyfriend, Zuko.

'I don't look down on them. They're strong, and they use Chi. But it's not like they're not talented. They'd make excellent Firebenders. Though Ty Lee has a strong Airbender vibe.

Considering the way that tribe is, I wouldn't be surprised if one of their ancestors was one.' Shisui sat cross-legged. No one approached him except for Azula. She didn't say much. She just hugged him around the waist and leaned on his shoulder.

'No, I shouldn't let Aang have only three children. If I'm going to have a soccer team of offspring, I should drag everyone with me.' Shisui's thoughts jumped abruptly, as they always did. This time, a strange idea settled in his mind: he was going to let all the couples in his social circle have as many children as rabbits.

'But first, we should pacify the world, don't you think, Aang?' Shisui looked up at the sky and saw a blurry figure of a man in red and yellow robes admiring the Sage's work.

"Hmm? Looks like Shisui noticed me!" the figure exclaimed. It appeared transparent and greenish-blue.

It was Aang who had felt a pulse of spiritual energy coming from the North Pole. It was very different from a few days ago when Shisui was fighting the Kraken. Aang was curious and decided to use Airbending spiritualization to send his spirit this way.

Realizing that Shisui was indeed watching him, Aang's spirit descended and hovered quite close to the Sage, who simply nodded. The Avatar had not made himself visible, but Shisui could see him because of his high spiritual level.

Shisui wasn't the only one who could perceive it. Yue, for example, had winked at it as it descended. Zuko looked in its direction. Although he couldn't see it, he could sense it.

Azula also felt it without seeing it. The same was true for Petra, Mai, and Ty Lee. Pakku was also able to feel it, but not knowing what it meant, he attributed it to a sensory phenomenon caused by Shisui's actions. After all, every inhabitant of the North Pole had recently felt a strange spiritual resonance because of the Sage.

After greeting Shisui and showing Yue both thumbs up because he thought she was nice, Aang's spirit faded away, returning to its place of origin.

'Looks like the Avatar is having quite a bit of fun,' Shisui thought before focusing his attention on a Chi sign rapidly approaching him.

He wouldn't usually pay attention to these kinds of signals, but this one was striking because it seemed connected to him on a deeper level. He could sense this connection with Chang'e, his mother, and Yue, his aunt.

A relative of his was approaching. The only person with the physical ability to move at high speeds was his grandfather, Arnook. But Shisui didn't make the effort to stand up out of politeness, after all....

'Azula is leaning on my shoulder. How could I ruin this moment? Wait a minute. I seem to have spent all this time thinking too much.' Just in case, Shisui took some cold snow from nearby and put it in his hair in a childish attempt to 'cool' his head.

Shisui watched as a middle-aged man with long black hair wearing the typical Water Tribe clothes, full of blue and white tones with decorations such as fangs and bones, approached the Sage.

He held a long, bone spear that did not appear fragile despite its age. The man's bearing was regal, causing people to make way for him with just a glance.

Arnook arrived with his entourage. At first glance, the difference between him and the chief of the Southern Water Tribe, Hakoda, was enormous. While Arnook looked like a king, Hakoda did not hide his wild, pirate-like temperament.

However, Shisui did not think Arnook was just another nobleman. He could feel the vibrant energy of a warrior forged by war in his grandfather's body. Arnook was a dignitary who truly deserved his position. In the end, though, he seemed not to be such a good father.

Shisui did not express his animosity with words, but his posture was clear. He did not stand but only glanced at the man before turning his head and staring into the golden eyes of his betrothed.

"Excuse me, Chief Arnook, but Shisui is tired..." Zuko approached the ruler of the Northern Water Tribe, ignoring the golden dragon made of water that was churning on the stormy ground. The dragon seemed to have focused all the drizzle on Arnook; it was one of Shisui's petty vendettas.

"Don't worry. I understand young rebels. I raised two," Arnook dismissed easily. He didn't care about Shisui's reaction, or so he showed on the outside. Internally, he felt a pang of pain and deep remorse.

'I must not repeat my mistakes.' However, Arnook's will was as hard as 10,000-year-old ice, holding firm despite this setback.

The man looked up, appreciating the work of his grandson and feeling pride rush through his body. That was the power of a Waterbender! No, the power of his lineage, the power of his grandson!

"How do those in your nation say it? Oh yes, Prince Zuko. You look like a dragon among men. Welcome to the North Pole. Welcome, Fire Nation, to our homeland." Focusing again on important matters, Arnook reciprocated Zuko's greeting, making the prince feel more relaxed.

'First, I had to grow up with a monster. Shisui always stares at nothing, lost in thought. Now, his grandfather does the same. Does it run in the family?' Zuko thought with a sneer. However, his exterior showed a knowing smile as he finished greeting Arnook.

"First of all, I would like to thank you, on behalf of my father, Fire Lord Ozai, for allowing us to land peacefully in your lands. It is the royal family's and our nation's wish that this peace extends beyond this gesture to future interactions," Zuko said cautiously, maintaining his bearing as crown prince. This made Arnook narrow his eyes.

'There he is! He squints just like Shisui. Even Azula learned that gesture from living with him so much.' Zuko kept grumbling internally, and only two people in the crowd could more or less realize the prince's thoughts. 

Ty Lee and Shisui could see Zuko's aura constantly flickering in different colors like a firework. They kept silent, though. This was no time for jokes. Even if Shisui wanted to make a fuss, he considered himself mature enough to keep quiet.

Ignoring the fact that it was snowing only on Arnook at that moment, as if the weather had something against him, and in a sense, it did, because Shisui was using his newfound ability to manipulate the weather against his grandfather.

Arnook was about to respond when he felt the cold enveloping him intensify. He looked sternly at Shisui, as a father might look at a mischievous son, and simply shook his head.

"Give me a moment, Prince Zuko." Without waiting for an answer, Arnook raised a hand and performed complicated movements with his fingers that only a Waterbender with a good understanding of water katas could understand.

Then, the snow that had fallen on Arnook melted and transformed into an ice dome floating above his head like an umbrella. The dexterity and ease with which he did this caused Shisui to squint his eyes slightly before smiling.

'Grandpa seems to have some interesting tricks.'

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AN: I'm feeling better, but I'm still sick, lol.