Rise of the Lightning General (CH 24) (Patreon)

A/N: This story is rated M for mature content and is not suitable for children. This chapter contains depictions of violence, political manipulation, and mature themes.

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Chapter 24: The Puppet Master’s Peace

Ba Sing Se [Morning after the Coup]

The morning air in the Upper Ring was thick with the scent of charcoal and smoke. The fires in the granaries had been brought under control, not by Earth Kingdom soldiers, but by the disciplined precision of Naruto’s elite firebending unit.

Naruto stood on the high balcony of the Royal Palace, his dyed black hair messy and his eyes weary. He had traded the colorful silks of the clown for his traditional Fire Nation commander’s robes, deep crimson with gold embroidery. The transition from "Lars" to the "Lightning General" was complete, and the city below was waking up to a nightmare they couldn't ignore.

"Report," Naruto said, without turning his head.

Captain Kaji stepped out from the shadows of the doorway, his armor clanking softly. "The Dai Li at Lake Laogai were decimated by the Avatar’s group. Those who survived fled into the lower tunnels. Long Feng’s personal guard in the city has been neutralized. We hold the Palace, the communications hub, and the main gates."

"And the Earth Kingdom Army?" Naruto asked.

"Confused," Kaji replied with a smirk. "The King has issued an official proclamation, drafted by you, of course, stating that a 'radical faction' of the Dai Li attempted a coup and that the Fire Nation 'diplomatic envoy' intervened to save the monarchy. Most of the generals don't know who to fight, so they’re doing nothing."

Naruto nodded. It was the classic play. By keeping the King alive and using him as a mouthpiece, Naruto had turned a conquest into a "stabilization effort." The 80,000 soldiers of Ba Sing Se were useless if their King told them to stand down.

"Keep the men on high alert," Naruto ordered. "The Avatar will be arriving shortly. He won't be as easy to manipulate as the King."

The Throne Room - Noon

King Kuei sat on his throne, looking smaller than he ever had. Bosco the bear was hiding behind the heavy velvet curtains, sensing the tension in the room. Naruto stood to the right of the throne, his arms crossed, looking every bit the conqueror.

The massive doors at the end of the hall swung open with a violent bang.

Aang, Katara, and Sokka stormed in. They were covered in dust and grime from their battle at Lake Laogai. Aang’s eyes were wide with a mixture of hope and fury; he was leading a massive, six-legged creature behind him.

"Appa!" the King exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his fear.

Aang stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes darted from the King to the man standing beside him. The white face paint was gone, but the features were unmistakable.

"Lars?" Aang whispered, his voice cracking. "What... what are you doing there? Why are you wearing those clothes?"

"His name isn't Lars, Aang," Sokka growled, his hand flying to his boomerang. "Look at the insignia. That’s a Fire Nation General’s knot."

Katara’s face went pale. She looked at Naruto, remembering the "clown" who had offered them information about Lake Laogai. "The friend... the girl you said was brainwashed. That was a lie, wasn't it?"

Naruto stepped forward, his expression impassive. "The information about the lake was true. You found your bison, didn't you? You stopped the Dai Li’s brainwashing. I simply gave you the map to the destination you were already seeking."

"You used us to clear out the only people who could defend the city!" Aang shouted, his staff spinning in his hands, creating a localized gale. "Why are you doing this?"

"I am doing this because I want the war to end," Naruto said, his voice steady and cold. "If I had brought an army to your walls, tens of thousands would have died. Instead, I took the city with a hundred men and a few well-placed words. The Earth King is safe. The city is intact. The war in Ba Sing Se is over."

"It’s not over! You’re an occupier!" Katara yelled, a whip of water rising from her canteen.

"Am I?" Naruto countered. "Ask the King."

Kuei looked at the Avatar, his voice trembling. "Aang... General Naruto has explained that the Fire Nation wishes for a... a co-prosperity agreement. They have promised to root out the corruption of the Dai Li and provide protection. It’s for the best."

"He’s brainwashed him!" Sokka cried out.

"No," Naruto said, his eyes flashing with yellow sparks. "I just showed him what happens to puppets who have their strings cut. Now, listen to me, Avatar. You have your bison. You have your friends. You can stay and fight me, and I will be forced to burn this palace to the ground with all of you in it, or you can leave. Go to the Fire Nation. See the 'monster' Azula for yourself. Perhaps then you’ll realize that the world is changing, whether you’re ready for it or not."

Aang shook with rage, the air pressure in the room rising until the windows rattled. But then he looked at Appa, who was licking his shoulder, tired and worn. He looked at the Fire Nation soldiers lining the walls, their hands already smoking.

"This isn't over, Naruto," Aang said, his voice dropping into an ominous, low tone. "You’re not a clown. You’re a snake."

"And a snake keeps the rats away," Naruto replied. "Safe travels, Avatar."

The group retreated, their hearts heavy with the sting of a betrayal they hadn't seen coming. Naruto watched them go, feeling a weight lift from his chest. The Avatar was a wild card, but for now, he was out of the city.

The Guest Quarters [Afternoon]

Naruto entered the room where Angela and Song were being held. It wasn't a cell, but the Fire Nation guards at the door made it clear they weren't free to leave.

Angela was sitting at a table, her face buried in her hands. Song was standing by the window, staring out at the smoke rising from the lower rings. When Naruto entered, she didn't turn around.

"The city has officially surrendered," Naruto said.

"Congratulations," Song said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You’ve won. Is that what you came here for? To gloat?"

"I came here to offer you a choice," Naruto said, ignoring the bite in her tone. "I am leaving for the Fire Nation in three days. I want you both to come with me."

Angela looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. "Why? So you can keep us as trophies?"

"So I can keep you safe," Naruto said firmly. "The transition of power in this city will be bloodless if I can help it, but there will be those who resist. Anyone associated with me, even as a 'friend', will be targeted by the Earth Kingdom rebels. In the Fire Nation, you will have a clinic of your own. You will have a life."

"A life built on the ruins of our home," Song said, finally turning to face him. Her expression was hard, but her eyes were searching his. "You’re a monster, Naruto. But you’re the only monster that’s ever looked at me like I was a person."

Naruto walked over to her, stopping just inches away. He could smell the lingering scent of their encounter from the night before, a mixture of sweat and their mix bodily fluids.

"I cannot change what my nation did to you," Naruto whispered, his hand coming up to hover near her cheek. "But I can change what happens next. Come with me. See the children I’ve brought into this world. Help me make sure they never have to do what I just did."

Song leaned into his hand, a single tear escaping. "I hate you," she whispered.

"I know," Naruto replied.

Fire Nation - Naruto’s Home

While the General consolidated his power in the Earth Kingdom, a different kind of war was being waged in his own house.

Sah was sitting up in bed, her son, whom she had decided to name Kaito, clutched to her breast. Mira was across the room, folding laundry with a vigor that suggested she was trying to take her anger out on the fabric.

"He’s been gone too long," Sah said, her voice soft. "Do you think the Earth Kingdom got him?"

"I hope they did," Mira snapped, though her eyes softened when she looked at the baby. "But that man is like a weed. You can’t kill him. He’ll come back with another girl on his arm and a kingdom in his pocket."

The door opened, and Kya walked in, carrying her own daughter. The girl, whom she had named Hikari, was fast asleep.

"The hawks arrived this morning," Kya said, a rare smile breaking across her face. "Ba Sing Se has fallen. Naruto is coming home."

Sah let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Mira just grunted and turned back to her work.

"He’s bringing guests," Kya added, her smile faltering slightly as she read the rest of the scroll. "A mother and a daughter. He says they are healers."

Sah’s eyes narrowed. She knew what "healers" meant when it came to Naruto. She looked down at her son, then at Kya’s daughter.

"The house is getting crowded," Sah noted.

"It’s not just a house anymore," Kya said, looking at the two infants, one Earth, one Water, both Fire. "It’s a dynasty. And when he gets back, the real struggle begins."

The Palace Interrogation Room [Late Night]

Naruto stood before Long Feng, who was strapped into a metal chair designed for benders. The Grand Secretariat looked pathetic, his robes torn and his pride shattered.

"I want the locations of every Dai Li safehouse in the Earth Kingdom," Naruto said, his fingers dancing with small, harmless sparks.

"You’ll kill me anyway," Long Feng spat.

"No," Naruto said, leaning in. "I’ll make you the new 'Governor' of the Lower Ring. You’ll be my eyes and ears. You’ll keep the people in line, and in exchange, I won't tell the Earth King that you were the one who authorized the kidnapping of his favorite bear three years ago to 'test' him."

Long Feng’s eyes widened. "How did you..."

"I was a clown, Long Feng. People talk to clowns because they think they’re too stupid to listen." Naruto’s hand moved to the metal armrest of the chair. Electric Heating surged through the metal, making it glow a dull red. The heat radiated toward Long Feng’s skin, making him sweat instantly.

"The location," Naruto commanded. "Now."

Long Feng broke. He whispered the names, the codes, and the hidden entrances. Naruto listened, committing every word to memory. When he was done, he left the man shivering in the dark.

As Naruto walked back to his quarters, he felt a strange sense of emptiness. He had won. He had done the impossible. But as he looked at the moon, he thought of the blonde-haired girl and the dark-haired boy waiting for him in the Fire Nation.

He wasn't just a General anymore. He was a father. And a father had to make sure the world stayed broken exactly the way he wanted it, so his children wouldn't have to fix it.

Chapter End

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A/N: Ba Sing Se is officially under Fire Nation control. Next chapter, Naruto begins the journey home and faces the emotional fallout with Song and Angela.