A Spirit of Elements Chapter 48 (Korra, The Avatar) (Patreon)

Republic City

"Korra, remember what I told you," Tenzin reminded Korra for the tenth time as she stepped into the Auto Mobile, and if Korra was being honest, she was getting tired of this; Tenzin didn't need to watch her every step like she was a toddler who still didn't know how to walk.

'Korra remembered what I told you.' 'Korra, don't get angry with them.' 'Korra, they might ask very uncomfortable questions; you shouldn't allow yourself to lose control,' that was all she heard from Tenzin since yesterday. Korra understood that he and his brother and sister had made a plan ready to aid Naruto. Korra fully supported it; she wanted nothing more than to help Naruto just like them, but the constant words from Tenzin were getting into her head and annoying her to no end. In this situation, she missed Naruto; he would know how to tell Tenzin to leave her alone and make her laugh.

He knew how to make her smile; he knew how to make her blush; he knew how to make her heart race with a single look; Korra missed Naruto. She remembered his touches that night, how he felt, how he had made her feel good, that night was something Korra wished to repeat again with Naruto and Asami; Korra wanted them both by her side.

Right now, Korra was in an automobile with Mako as the driver; they were both silent and weren't talking to one another; since the day Mako told her that Naruto was dangerous, Korra didn't want to talk to him, at least until he apologized to her and Naruto.

Apparently, Asami had wanted to drive herself, but the wound she had received from Tarrlok many days ago was still healing; Asami had promised her she would help Naruto as much as possible; Korra had no doubts that she would; she just hoped their help would be enough to save Naruto from a life in prison.

Korra gazed out the window and reminisced about the events of that fateful day, which felt like ages ago. Her eyes fixated on the individuals bustling about outside, their countenances evidently plagued by fear and apprehension. Observing the remnants of destruction scattered across certain sections of the streets, such as small fragments of debris persisting on the roads, a feeling of unease settled within Korra's heart. Despite Republic City standing as one of the largest urban centers in the entire world, it came as no surprise that the extensive cleanup process would require a considerable amount of time.

Naruto wanted nothing more than to help everyone; he was always like that, too happy and too eager to help everyone, and seeing people be afraid of Naruto, Korra looked slightly downwards, hoping that one day people would look at Naruto the same way they used to.

"Korra, we are driving through the Bugou District," Mako suddenly told her about their current location, leaving her puzzled and curious. As she pondered over why they were taking this particular road and why Mako chose to bring it up at that moment, her gaze naturally shifted toward the view outside the automobile's window. Korra's eyes widened in disbelief as they fell upon the devastating sight laid out before her. The houses in this section of the city appeared to have endured immense destruction, each one a grim depiction of ruin and despair. The majority of them precariously stood on the verge of collapse, their fragile structure resembling toothpicks on the brink of crumbling to the ground. Korra felt an untimely pang in her chest as if her heart was being wrenched apart.

"Stop Here!" Korra suddenly ordered Mako, her voice filled with urgency and determination. Mako immediately complied without hesitating or seeking clarification, skillfully bringing the Auto Mobile to an abrupt halt. The screeching tires echoed through the desolate streets, the sound of metal against asphalt echoing in the air.

Reacting swiftly, Korra flung open the car door. A heart-wrenching sight greeted her as she stepped onto the broken and debris-laden pavement. The once vibrant section of the city stood in ruins, resembling a haunting reflection of its former glory. The devastation was palpable, with barely any house left standing amidst the chaos and destruction.

Tents dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see, like small pockets of respite in the midst of despair. Eager volunteers and aid workers bustled around, tirelessly serving warm meals to the hungry and tending to those wounded by the unforgiving aftermath. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, a small comfort amidst the overwhelming suffering that permeated the atmosphere. These makeshift shelters offered humble solace, providing a temporary home for the displaced and those seeking refuge from the relentless hardships they had faced.

Amidst the sea of despair, Korra's resolve hardened, making her way through the sea of people, her eyes filled with empathy for those she encountered.

As Korra gazed upon the seemingly endless line of individuals eagerly awaiting their turn to receive additional nourishment, she couldn't help but be struck by the sheer magnitude of the crowd. The line snaked around the block, extending far beyond what she had initially perceived. Among the multitudes were both adults and children, their faces etched with exhaustion and desperation, their hopes riding on the prospect of securing a little more sustenance.

Tears cascaded down the cheeks of countless individuals, marking their profound hunger and despair. The sound of cries and sobbing reverberated through the air.

Korra's attention was drawn to a particular little boy. As Korra watched on, a sudden, daring impulse seemed to seize the young child. Swiftly, he reached out and nabbed a portion of food from the hands of another, tucking it away before swiftly disappearing into the crowd.

Korra wanted to say something, but her words died in her throat; she wondered why houses hadn't been fixed yet. All it would take were a few good Earthbenders; Korra had seen many of them fixing the center of the city where the Benders and rich people lived, so she couldn't understand why there were no Earthbenders on the side of the city; despite this side seeming the most desperate one.

"What happened here?" Korra asked with a hushed tone, her eyes looking slightly downwards; she knew Mako was behind her.

"This part of the city was hit the hardest from the explosion, Korra; the houses in this whole region were already old, and the earthquake that followed after the explosion made every house crumble down. Many people died from the collapsing buildings; those fortunate enough to survive were wounded." Mako answered with pity in his voice, pointing at the hundreds of people before them, people who had lost almost everything.

Despite the overwhelming surge of emotions swelling within her, Korra managed to suppress the welling tears that threatened to spill from her reddening eyes. Determined to soldier on, she took a resolute step forward, continuing her exploration of the ruins enveloping her. As she pressed forward, the bustling activity of the surrounding crowds failed to divert even a fraction of their attention toward her, engrossed in their own hectic lives.

"Get back here you brat!" Korra's voice echoed through the place as she swiftly turned her head, her eyes widening in concern. In the distance, she caught sight of a small boy, no older than six or seven, darting through the chaotic crowd. The boy's face was etched with sheer terror as he fearfully glanced back at the hulking figure chasing after him.

With each step, the burly man closed in on his prey. Gripping the boy's tunic tightly, the man's colossal hands squeezed around the delicate fabric, his grip threateningly firm. The little boy's tiny arms clung desperately to a loaf of bread, his only means of sustenance, as he struggled to break free from the man's clutches.

With a moment of terrifying brutality, the massive man delivered a forceful slap across the defenseless boy's face, his power resonating through the air. The impact sent the loaf of bread flying from the boy's grasp. Overwhelmed by pain and shock, the magnitude of the blow sent the boy tumbling to the ground, landing with a thud.

As the boy lay sprawled on the gritty cobblestones, his nose bleeding profusely, a trail of vivid crimson staining his tear-streaked face.

Tears streamed down the boy's face, mingling seamlessly with the stains of blood, as he clutched his injured nose and trembled in pain and fear.

"Hey, Stop!" Korra shouted with rage as she ran towards the boy; the large man turned to glare at her as he grasped the loaf of bread from the ground.

"He stole my food." The man excused himself while glaring at Korra, who glared back at him, not feeling fear from him; if he wanted to fight, she would give him a fight.

"He's just a boy; there was no need to do that for him." Korra reasoned, standing in between the large man and the boy, almost like a shield.

"My son is hungry too; the brat stole it from my son; he hasn't eaten in two days." The man shouted with anger; Korra's eyes widened, and the large man turned around and walked away. Korra followed him with her eyes and saw him sitting beside a young boy; before giving him the bread, the boy kissed the man on the cheek before he started eating the bread with delight.

As Korra turned around, her heart sank when she noticed the little boy still lying on the ground, his fragile form seemingly defeated. Tears streamed down his face, tracing a path through the dirt and smudging his cheeks. His clothes were full of mud and dirt. Determined to help, Korra crouched down, bringing herself to his level, her compassionate gaze meeting his tear-filled eyes. With a graceful motion, she used her waterbending abilities to mend his wounded body. The moment her soothing touch connected with his vulnerable skin, a rush of energy surged through him. Startled, the boy turned his face towards her, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"You're a Bender?!" The boy exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment and a hint of excitement. Korra responded with a little comforting smile. With gentle yet skilled hands, she carefully focused her healing power on the boy's injured knee, exhibiting her prowess as a master healer. The cut on his knee, which had previously been causing him pain and discomfort, began to gradually close up as the bleeding subsided.

"Korra, we have visitors," Mako's sudden declaration caught her attention, and she turned to face him with a puzzled expression etched on her face. Perplexed, she followed his gaze and instantly comprehended the reason behind his words. The public demonstration of her Waterbending skills had attracted a large gathering of individuals, their expressions reflecting a whirlwind of emotions - suspicion, relief, anger, rage, and various other sentiments. Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Korra swiftly rose to her feet, uncertain of how they would receive her presence. Observing their penetrating gazes, she quickly ascertained that they remained oblivious to her true identity as the Avatar.

"Waterbender, are you here to help us? Have the higher-ups finally sent someone to help us?" The man in the center asked, looking at her up and down with a hint of suspicion. Korra opened her mouth to introduce herself as the Avatar, but she quickly realized that perhaps keeping her identity hidden for a bit longer would be better for her; she didn't want everyone to suddenly start asking questions about Naruto and the explosion.

"Korra, we should leave, we will be late for the interview." Mako suddenly spoke to her in a hushed tone from behind. Korra knew he was right; she knew she would be late, but as she looked at the faces around her, all of them looked at her with hopeful eyes, even the children.

"I will help, but not for long," Korra accepted, her heartfelt words bringing immense joy to the group. The children, filled with excitement and gratitude, cheered and erupted into big, toothy smiles on their innocent faces. Appreciative of Korra's offer, the man leading the group gestured for her to follow him, and without hesitation, Korra complied. Mako, never one to let his guard down, stayed close to Korra, his vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings, ready to protect her in case any of them decided to unleash an unexpected attack.

Korra's eyes widened as she followed the man, her gaze fixated on the long green tent that lay before her. However, this tent was not the only one that greeted her sight. Standing in front of her was a vast expanse of a large open field, its once prosperous beauty now marred by the haunting remnants of destroyed buildings scattered everywhere. Tents were pitched in haphazard arrangements, dotting the landscape as far as her eyes could see. Overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction that surrounded her, Korra felt a lump form in her throat, and her heart skipped a beat as she bravely stepped inside the first tent.

Upon entering the tent, a pungent combination of blood and medicine assailed her senses, aggressively overpowering her nostrils. The sight that unfolded before her eyes was overwhelming - rows upon rows of beds filled with injured individuals, their pain and suffering palpable in the air. Gasping audibly, she couldn't help but register the sheer magnitude of the injured, their numbers seemingly never-ending. With victims of various ages and backgrounds strewn across the room - some bearing the unimaginable loss of limbs, while others were heartbreaking children, their innocence tragically robbed from them.

Korra looked at the sea of faces. Each person wore the visible marks of pain and anguish, carrying the weight of injuries borne from that fateful night. It was an overwhelming sight for Korra, incredulous at the sheer number of individuals who had been affected by the events that unfolded. As her gaze meandered across the sea of suffering, her attention was captivated by a small boy resting on a bed. His young face mirrored the agony of countless others, but it was his missing left arm that struck a deep chord within Korra's heart. Wrapped meticulously in bandages, the still-healing stump served as a constant reminder. Yet, despite his grievous loss, the child tightly clutched a toy plane in his remaining hand.

Why were there no Waterbenders and Earthbenders helping these people? Korra asked herself, trying to find an answer, but she quickly escaped her thoughts as she heard someone coughing. Korra reminded herself why she was there; she needed to help as many as she could.

Quickly using her Waterbending, Korra used everything Katara had taught her, helping as much as she could; the more people she healed, the happier she felt.

"Thank you," the first said with a raspy voice after she healed him. She quickly moved to the second person, using her waterbending to heal.

"God bless you."

"Thank you, I knew the city hadn't given up on us."

"Oh, Thank you for healing my daughter." The woman cried as she hugged her daughter, who was still unconscious, but her skin color slowly started returning.

Korra couldn't help but smile; healing so many people brought her great joy and a sense of pride. Despite now healing thirty of them, it seemed the number of people that needed healing would never end; the sea of beds full of injured people seemed to never stop.

As she started healing a boy's ankle. "Don't worry, just hold on a bit longer," The woman beside the boy said with a hushed voice, holding the boy's hand while her other hand caressed his hair tenderly.

"Mother, have they decided yet what to do with that monster?" The boy asked, his voice now sounding clearer. Korra felt a shiver in her body as she heard his words, full of hate; she already had an idea about which monster he was talking about.

"No, sweetheart, but don't worry. Avatar Korra will make him face the punishment he deserves, your father will soon rest in peace." The woman said softly, kissing her little boy on the cheek.

Korra stopped dead in her tracks just as she fully healed the boy's ankle, as the voices surrounding her suddenly felt like echoes. Korra knew the woman was calling her, but Korra could hardly hear anything around her anymore; she heard their voices, yet they sounded like distant voices that she could hardly make out.

Before she knew it, Korra's legs moved on their own, and she walked away from the tent hastily. She wanted to scream at all of them that Naruto was innocent and that he hadn't wanted any of this to happen, but how could she? They would never listen to her. Why would they? They wanted justice for their loved ones, not her telling them that they were all wrong.

Before she even realized it, Korra was back in her automobile, and Mako started driving away without asking any questions; once the car was far enough away, only now Korra noticed how much she was sweating; she felt the cold sweat on her face, she quickly bends away the sweat, before hugging her legs, trying to find comfort somehow.

"Korra, are you alright?" Mako asked her from the driver's seat, his eyes briefly looking at her over his shoulder.

"I-I don't know." Korra answered with a defeated voice, sounding way less energetic than she used to sound.

"Korra, I know it is difficult for you to accept, but many people will be openly against you if you support Naruto," Mako informed her, speaking almost carefully as if he was trying to find the right words to say.

"So What?" Korra almost shouted at him, her eyes looking up at him with rage. "Why are you against Naruto?"

"I'm not against him." Mako quickly objected, still keeping his eyes on the road. "He helped me find Bolin; he helped me to save my brother; that is something I will never forget. But I won't allow anything to blind me from the fact that Naruto is dangerous; what if he loses control and you can't stop him this time? What if Bolin tries to help and he..." Mako's words choked on his throat, trying to get rid of the thoughts in his mind.

"If I have to choose between my brother and Naruto, then I'm sorry Korra, but Bolin is the only family I have left," Mako said with a tone that made it clear that he would never budge from his decision. Korra had no argument to that; she couldn't blame someone for simply wanting to protect their brother.

Korra fell silent and decided to look out the window, watching as the buildings passed as the Auto Mobile was getting closer to the center of the Republic City. Korra decided that she needed to help those people somehow. She didn't know how yet, but she wouldn't rest until she saved everyone she could, including Naruto.

'I really don't think you are doing the right thing, Korra." A voice suddenly spoke in her head, taking Korra by surprise; for a moment, she looked around, only to recognize the voice that spoke to her.

"Avatar Kyoshi is that you?" Korra asked doubtfully.

'Who else, girl? Where else am I supposed to be? You remember we all are here, right?' Kyoshi asked with a hint of sarcasm.

Korra rolled her eyes, but then she remembered that Kyoshi was talking to her, and this was the first time she had ever talked with any of her past lives besides Aang, who had talked to her a few times before.

"Hold up, how are you talking to me? I'm not meditating, and how can you just talk to me out of nowhere? second, why didn't any of you talk to me before?" Korra asked a barrage of questions, trying to make sense of everything that was happening around her.

'Well, usually we can't,' another different voice spoke to her.

"Wait, is that you Avatar Yangchen?" Korra asked, hoping her past lives could help during all this trouble she was facing.

'Good to finally have a talk, Avatar Korra, and yes, I'm Avatar Yangchen. As for your question, we are not sure how we can talk to you right now.' Yangchen answered; her voice sounded smooth and soft, unlike Kyoshi, who sounded almost angry, or maybe that was her default voice; Korra wasn't sure.

"What do you mean?" Korra asked, still feeling strange to talk in her mind; thankfully, she knew those were actual voices in her head, and she wasn't going crazy.

'Usually, we can talk with you only when you are meditating, and even then, you can talk with only one of us at a time. But since a few days ago, something has been happening, and we can communicate with you more freely.' Yangchen answered. Korra suddenly remembered the pain she had felt on her spine a few days ago; she remembered Aang calling out to her and telling her not to give up. Korra wondered if that had to do with anything.

"I see, well, I'm happy to hear more from you, and I really need some help. I really need to free Naruto," Korra said, hoping her past lives would help her.

'Yeh, about that, I don't think you should really try; if anything, Naruto is too dangerous to be left alive,' Kyoshi said bluntly without a hint of hesitation.

"What! How can you say that Koyshi? Are you saying I should just stand down and do nothing and simply watch as Naruto is being executed?" Korra demanded with rage in every word, but Kyoshi was barely fazed by it.

'Yes. That's exactly what you should do, or do I need to repeat myself again.' Kyoshi answered right away without missing a beat.

Korra almost growled in anger. She couldn't believe one of her past lives was telling her to simply give up on Naruto, the one person she loved the most. Korra's hands turned to fists. She felt the need to punch Kyoshi for saying something like that, but Korra couldn't really do that unless she punched herself. Would that even count? Korra wondered.

"Well, I'm not doing that Kyoshi, Naruto is innocent in all of this, is not his fault that Tarrlok wounded Asami and he lost control." Korra countered back, bringing up the fact that Naruto couldn't control himself when he was under the influence of whatever spirit controlled him.

'Girl, you seem to have forgotten that you are an Avatar; your job is to keep the balance. While what happened to your boyfriend is tragic and all, you need to remember that in his rage, he was far more powerful than the Avatar State, and that is our ultimate move. if that is not enough, nothing can stop him if he loses control again.' Kyoshi reminded her, speaking in a scolding voice.

"Last time I checked, you did nothing when Chin the Conqueror took over the Earth Kingdom. You are not in the best position to tell me anything." Korra countered back, getting irritated with Kyoshi for speaking so high and mighty when she herself had made many mistakes in her life.

'I'm afraid I agree with Kyoshi on this one.'

"Yangchen, why?"

'Korra, you need to understand that when you are an Avatar, your duty always comes first before your personal feelings; we have no idea how powerful Naruto could be if he lost control again. I don't know which spirit is controlling him, but it can't be allowed to live.' Yangchen advised with a grim voice. Korra groaned even more; she didn't understand why none of her past lives seemed to agree with her.

'Korra, I fully support you on this,' another voice suddenly spoke.

"Avatar Aang." Korra said in shock, happy to hear his voice again.

'As do I, Avatar Korra,' Roku spoke spoke.

'Water tribe has your side, Korra.' Kuruk spoke with an energetic voice.

"Wow, I didn't really expect to talk with all of you," Korra said with relief, happy to know that she had support from Aang, Roku, and Kuruk.

'Roku, you have no place in this conversation.' Kyoshi quickly interjected with bitterness in every word she said before any of them could say anything else.

'Kyoshi, it has been almost two centuries. Are you ever going to stop?' Roku asked, but deep down, he already knew the answer.

'Never.'

"Guys, while it is fun to finally hear from all of you, I need to focus on how to get Naruto out of prison, Aang. Can you help me?" Korra interrupted their discussion before it could go any further. Finally, being able to talk with them was an achievement for Korra; she really hoped they could help her, and the last thing she needed was to hear them bickering with one another.

'Korra, right now I think Tenzin's idea is the best one. Don't forget that you are the Avatar, and your word matters. If I was there I could have used my energy bending to try and take away whatever Naruto's source of power is, but I'm afraid I can't do that,' Aang said wisely.

"Why not?"

'Because my physical body is gone, Korra, the only way for you to learn Energy Bending would be to meet a Lion Turtle or to meet someone else who can use Energy Bending, but I'm not sure there's anyone out there who is able to help. Another way to help would be perhaps to somehow free Naruto from the spirit that is inside him.' Aang answered, but before any of the other avatars could voice out their opinion.

'I don't think this Naruto is possessed by a Spirit.' Kuruk suddenly interrupted, gaining the attention of everyone.

"How do you know that?" Korra asked right away; from all the books she had read about the past Avatars, there wasn't much that spoke about Avatar Kuruk; many books even called him the 'Worst Avatar.'

'Korra, I have hunted Spirits my whole life. My entire life was spent hunting down and slaying spirits. I have seen all kinds of spirits, from Father Glowworm, Vaatu, Heartwalker, and many others. So I know for certain that Naruto is not under the control of any spirit.' Kuruk explained with a voice that reminded Korra of Tenzin but much more serious.

"Oh, so what is wrong with Naruto?" Korra asked almost desperately, hoping that any of her past lives would give her a valid answer and perhaps a way to permanently fix the problem.

'Korra, I'm not sure, but I will tell you that I understand your drive to save a loved one, and the fear of losing one.' Kuruk answered, his voice full of sadness.

"What you mean?"

'Korra, my wife's face got stolen on our wedding day by the face stealer. I was crushed, so I understand your desire to help Naruto. You should carve your own path as an Avatar; we are simply a helping guide in your journey; we don't try to interfere in your life that much. This is your life, not ours, but if you want advice, then I'm happy to help.' Kuruk answered. Korra couldn't help but feel her eyes burning with unshed tears, hearing Kuruk's words; she didn't want to experience something like that.

"What advice do you have?"

'Korra, you need to remember who you are; you are Korra, you are an Avatar. Others might tell you that this or that decision is the best one to make, but the truth is that no one knows for sure. No one knows the Future. This is why it's important to make the decisions that you are going to live by and not regret. It is alright to listen to advice, but remember that the decision should ultimately be yours, not someone else. You are no longer the Avatar when you allow someone else to make decisions for you. You are just a tool in someone's game. Remember, you are Avatar Korra.' Kuruk advised; Korra listened to every word he said and couldn't help but understand what he meant.

'Korra, I still stand by what I said. I just hope you won't come to regret this decision.' Kyoshi said.

'I agree with Kyoshi, Korra. I hope you remember that sometimes you have to make very difficult decisions.' Yangchen said.

'Korra, I think your decision is the right one to make; Naruto is innocent; I'm sure you will find a way.' Roku said with encouragement.

'Korra, I really I wish I could have been there to help more, but if I had been in your shoes. I would have protected Naruto, all life is sacred, and that includes Naruto's Life.' Aang said wisely with a smile.

"I understand. Thank you, all of you." Korra said with relief and felt the voices in her head slowly fading away. Her mind returned back to where she was, and only now did she remember Mako was driving her to the center of the Republic City, where a sea of people had gathered to listen to Korra.

Let's do this, Korra thought to herself with an unwavering determination gleaming in her vibrant blue eyes, which almost seemed to sparkle with anticipation. As they made their way towards the grand podium, the bustling scene unfolded before them, with a sea of people lined in every direction, eagerly celebrating and cheering on her arrival with enthusiastic shouts that echoed through the air. Their resonating voices reached even the ears of Korra, fueling her with an overwhelming sense of empowerment and a reminder of the immense support she had garnered.

As soon as the Auto Mobile came to a halt, Korra swiftly turned the doorknob and swung open the door, stepping out into the bustling scene that awaited her. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the mesmerizing sight before her – a vast sea of individuals, all with their attention fixated upon her. It was an overwhelming sight, and Korra couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nerves as she realized the immense crowd that had congregated to witness her presence. As her gaze swept across the throng of people, she marveled at the sheer magnitude of the gathering. From where she stood, the multitude of individuals stretched far and wide, extending in all directions and filling the entire expanse of the Republic City's central square.

Korra looked away and instead looked at the only familiar faces she could; seeing Tenzin brought a great deal of relief, even Lin; while their first interaction with one another hadn't been the best way to meet one another, Korra was still happy to see her.

Korra confidently made her way toward the podium, fully aware of the multitude of microphones positioned around her face, ready to capture every word she uttered. The reporters diligently captured her every movement, their cameras flashing incessantly. Feeling the weight of the audience's expectant gaze upon her, Korra took a moment to compose herself, clearing her throat to signal the imminent commencement of her address. Her voice resonated through the speakers with perfect clarity as she spoke, effortlessly overcoming the vast expanse of the gathering. Excitement and anticipation filled the air, momentarily silencing the once-buzzing crowd.

"I'm Avatar Korra, and I'm happy to see that the Republic City is still standing strong despite everything it had gone through the last weeks from the Equalist. I'm happy to see that the people of this city are still strong." Korra spoke, earning a round of 'Yay' and applause amongst the people. Korra couldn't help but feel suffocated; she had been at the center of attention many times before, and that was to be expected since she was the Avatar after all, but having what seemed almost a million people looking at her made her slightly insecure, a part of her wanted this whole thing just to end as soon as possible, she was afraid that she would mess up everything.

Don't forget who you are. You are Avatar Korra, Korra reminded herself of Kuruk's words as she looked at the sea of people. Soon, the barrage of questions came, so many questions that Korra could hardly understand them.

"Avatar Korra, what happened to Amon, are benders safe from him?"

"During the fight against Amon..." Korra went on and explained how Amon was a Waterbender and used Bloodbending to take people's bending away; almost everyone gasped in shock since the use of Bloodbending was forbidden by law by all Kingdoms unless it was for self-defense, teaching anyone bloodbending was considered illegal, same for an airbending technique that was invented by Avatar Yangchen many years ago.

As Korra explained more about Amon, one eventually asked the univenteable question. "Avatar Korra, what about Naruto, the Monster of Republic City?" One asked, raising her microphone towards Korra, who mustered all the strength she had to not shout at the woman for calling Naruto like that, but Korra knew this was her opportunity to aid Naruto, and she wouldn't let it go to waste.

"When it comes to Naruto, I understand the danger he presents to the Republic City, but I also need to acknowledge that during the fight, I found out that a vengeful Spirit was controlling Naruto," Korra explained the moment she said those words, all the reporters started writing in their notebooks.

"How did the fight between you and The Monster go?" Another asked, much to Korra's fury for calling him that name once again. She almost opened her mouth to yell at him but reminded herself that Naruto needed her.

Korra went on and explained Tenzin's version of the fight, how she was able to easily defeat him with the Avatar State, and how she had been able to deflect the bomb upwards with her Avatar State, but as she explained more about Naruto returning back to normal once he was defeated, another question arises.

"Avatar Korra, are you saying that all the blame should go on the Evil Spirit and not to Naruto, who allowed himself to lose control and cause all this havoc in our city, resulting in many deaths?" The reporter asked, her voice echoing, and all eyes turned towards Korra, who felt a weight on her shoulder that only got more unbearable, but she wasn't afraid, not anymore. I am the Avatar, Korra reminded herself.

"As the Avatar, it is my duty to keep the Balance between the Spirit World and the Human World. My duty also forces me to protect those who need protecting and punish those who need punishment; Naruto is nothing but a vessel for the vengeful spirit that forced him to cause havoc in our beautiful city. It could have been easier to just execute him, but by doing so we would take the life of an innocent man, someone that until that night was someone who fought and saved many people, and desired nothing more than for the benders and non benders to be united. I know in my heart that Avatar Aang would have been by my side; he always said that all life is sacred, and my duty is to continue his legacy." Korra spoke, her voice echoing throughout the entire place

The moment those words left her mouth, all hell broke loose.