I do not own Avatar: The Legend of Korra or Naruto

Separating from Tenzin and the airbenders from Ba Sing Se, Team Avatar now joined by Lin went off on their own to continue the search for new recruits to rebuild the Air Nation. Unfortunately, they've run out of leads prompting them to land and take a break in a clearing where Korra took the opportunity to give Naga some exercise, playing fetch with her loyal polar bear-dog. While Lin watched on disapprovingly.

"While you're playing fetch, four of the most dangerous criminals in the world are hunting you down. We should get moving."

"Relax, we just got here" said Korra. "Besides, no one knows where I am right now except us." Returning with her ball, Naga dropped it at Lin's feet; the police chief raised a brow. "I think she wants you to throw it for her."

Lin looked down at the ball seeing it was covered with drool and grass. "I'll pass, thanks."

Asami and Mako then came running out of the airship the former calling to Korra, "We just got a call over the radio about another airbender!"

"Finally!" Korra said excitedly. "Where are they?"

"A city called Zaofu" said Mako. "The home of The Metal Clan."

Korra looked to Lin, noting she looked uncomfortable at the mention of the name. "You know the place?"

"Er, never been" Lin said uneasily. "But I don't want you going there. I'd rest a lot easier if you were back safe in Republic City."

"Sorry, but if there's an airbender in Zaofu, then that's where we're going next."

Lin glared off to the side. Perhaps hoping it would cheer her up, Naga walked over and nudged her ball to the police chief. The metalbender regarded the polar-bear dog for a moment before bending one of her cables at the ball, popping it as it ran it through leaving Naga to paw at the deflated thing, whining miserably.

*Zaofu*

Hours later the airship was approaching a huge gleaming city made entirely out of metal arranged in the shape of a lotus flower, surrounded by smaller metal flowers in the center of a valley flanked by two rivers and surrounded by mountains.

As they approached the members of Team Avatar were in awe of the sight.

"Got to admit, I've never seen anything like this before" said Naruto.

"Really?" Korra said surprised. "I would think you've been just about everything."

"You're forgetting that metalbending is a relatively recent discovery. Meaning Zaofu is a very young city." Still, Naruto could understand the assumption. In his ancient past the Nine Tails was usually found wandering the land, going as he pleased. And while in that time he didn't interact with humanity, he had discovered that cities and civilizations changed along with the people living there. Something that was unique to the human experience. Zaofu appeared to be a perfect example; only possible thanks to the discovery of metalbending and subsequent honing of the technique.

Arriving at the landing pad of the city one of the attendants tethered the airship with a metal cable while two other metalbenders created an intricate flight of stairs for them to disembark. Bolin enthusiastically ran out with the rest of team following after him at a more leisurely pace. Except Naruto who hung back for a moment, noticing that Lin was still in her seat.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked.

"What's there to see?" Lin shrugged. "It's metal, big whoop. Just find the airbender and let's get moving. And don't tell anyone I'm here."

Well that certainly was a surprise. "Why is something the matter?" But Lin remained close lipped on the matter. Seeing no point in trying to force her to talk, Naruto just rolled his eyes and went to join the others, who were meeting the welcoming committee a man by the name of Aiwei and his two guards.

"Is this everyone, Avatar Korra?" Aiwei asked upon Naruto's arrival.

"There's no one else coming" Naruto cut Korra off.

While Korra was confused as to why he was lying, the Avatar decided to back Naruto for now. "Yup! Just us. So, can I meet the new airbender?"

"Of course," said Aiwei. "Right this way."

The party followed Aiwei onto a platform with the guards using their metalbending to direct it downwards, traveling down the side of a tall metal structure before transitioning onto a railway giving them a view of the city and its people.

"That statue honors the first metalbender, Toph Bei Fong, who expanded the possibilities of what benders were capable of" Aiwei explained as their tram passed the monument depicting the famed woman in the center of the city. "Here, everyone is encouraged to reach his or her highest potential."

"Does Toph live here?!" Bolin asked excitedly. "Are we going to meet her?"

"I'm afraid not. She used to visit from time to time but years ago, she left to wander the world, in search of enlightenment. No one has seen her since."

"I could probably find her if I wanted to" said Naruto, seeing the downcast look on Bolin's face. The earthbender looked to the blonde, starry-eyed making Naruto immediately regret saying it. "I don't want too." And just like that Bolin's face fell again, this time more annoyed than anything that Naruto would mess with his feelings like that.

Passing through a tunnel the tram came to the end of the line in a compound housed consisting of various buildings, a house, courtyard, waterfall, arena, lake, and a small stadium.

"Wow. Is this where the airbender lives?" Korra asked.

"Yes. But first, her mother wants to meet you." Aiwei then led them inside one of the buildings in which there was a group of standing on a small metal flower.

"Training?"

"Not exactly. They're rehearsing for a dance premiere next month."

The troupe began an intricate dance with the dancers falling from the ceiling and landing on the flower petals which bend upwards to bounce the dancers around. A pair of girls held hands as they dropped down into a flower which closed its petals immediately. Then the petals opened up to reveal the girls with one leg raised up and crossed in an X-shape while their arms are in a pose.

Realizing they have guests their instructor a woman in her forties with slightly greying hair clapped her hands for the troupe's attention. "That's it for today, everyone" before walking over to address the Avatar and her friends.

"Allow me to introduce the matriarch of The Metal Clan, Suyin" said Aiwei.

"Please, call me Su" she bowed to them. "Great to finally meet you, Avatar Korra. And this must be Mako, Bolin, Asami, and of course Naruto; or do you prefer Kurama, or Nine Tailed Fox?"

"Naruto is fine" said the blonde.

"You've done your research" said Mako, clearly impressed.

"I make it my business to know who's visiting my city" said Su.

"So, you're a dancer?" Korra asked.

"Dancer, leader, wife, mother, collector of rare meteorites" Su counted off. "You'll find people here have many skills and interest." Aiwei then leaned in and whispered in Su's ear. The Metal Clan matriarch's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why did you lie when Aiwei asked if there's anyone else with you?"

Korra looked to Naruto for an explanation while the others started to get nervous.

"So, you can sense deception" said Naruto, showing no shame at being caught.

"Thanks to Aiwei, there are no secrets in our city" said Su. "Now what exactly are you hiding?"

Feeling far too curious as to why Lin wanted her presence to remain a secret, Naruto relented. "We came with Republic City's Chief of Police. She didn't want anyone to know she was here."

"Lin's here?" Su said excitedly. "Well, I would love to say hello."

"Wait, you two know each other?" Korra asked, shocked.

"You're joking, right?" an awkward silence fell from the teens as they all shared awkward looks. Su sighed. "Lin never told you about me."

"No... why would she?" Korra asked.

"I'm Lin's sister."

The team stared at Su in shock.

"Well, I didn't see that coming" said Naruto.

"I found out why you were so against coming here" said Korra, returning to the airship along with the rest of the team and Su. "Why didn't you ever tell us you had a sister?"

"Half-sister" said Lin.

"Same Mom, different Dads. So, what?" said Su, placing a hand over her heart. "We're blood Lin, and after thirty years, the least you could do is say hello."

But Lin just stubbornly turned away from Su. "I have nothing to say to you."

"You two haven't spoken in thirty years?!" Korra gasped in shock. "How come?"

"Ask her" said Su. "I've tried."

"Oh, don't put that on me" said Lin, pointing accusingly at Su. "You're the one who tore our family apart."

"And you've done a bang-up job of keeping it that way" Su replied coolly.

"You haven't changed one bit, have you?"

"Look, we can stand here arguing about the past all day but that's not the reason the Avatar came here." Su turned to Korra. "My daughter is thrilled to meet you."

The Avatar smiled and turned to the Chief. "Lin, your niece is the new airbender! Isn't that amazing?"

"Yeah. Terrific" said Lin, sounding bored.

*Suyin's Estate*

Taking the stubborn Lin with them, Suyin led the party to her home giving the group a tour of the estate as they went in search of Su's daughter. As they passed a small arena they could see two twin boys bending a metal disc around three pillars in the center of the ring.

"Those are my two youngest, Wei and Wing" said Su, with all the love of a proud mother. "They're playing a game called Power Disc, they invented it all on their own."

Continuing on their way they reached the courtyard finding it littered with various metal sculptures. With a new one currently being created through metalbending by a teenaged boy wearing green and silver robes, with a piercing on his eyebrow.

"Huan, I want you to meet the Avatar and her friends, and your Aunt Lin."

"Nice to meet you" said Korra.

But Huan didn't even bother to greet them properly, simply throwing a "Hey" over his shoulder as he focused entirely on his art.

"Wow, that's a really nice... banana?" Bolin commented on the sculpture, uncertain about what it was supposed to be. "Yes, very- very life-like."

This got a response from Huan who sighed, frustrated "It's not a banana!" turning to Bolin as he spoke irritably. "I was inspired by Harmonic Convergence. It represents the dawning of a new age. Obviously."

"Oh yeah, no, I could- I could totally see that."

Korra, Mako and Asami traded amused looks, while Naruto stepped up and pulled Bolin away before he put his foot in it further. "Don't worry, I think it looks like a banana too" the blonde whispered.

Finally, at last they found their airbender a young teenage girl reading book on a bench, with the light of the afternoon sun shining down with the picturesque view of the mountain behind her, Bolin found himself staring at the girl.

Somebody's got a crush Naruto smirked knowingly.

"And this is my daughter, Opal" Su introduced the group.

Closing her book, Opal stood up to greet them properly. "Wow, Avatar Korra. I can't believe you're really here. You're so amazing."

"It's great to meet you, Opal" Korra smiled at the girl's enthusiasm.

"Opal. That's a beautiful name" Bolin sighed dreamily.

"Thanks" Opal blushed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm Bolin" he introduced himself, offering his hand to Bolin's joy she accepted returning the handshake.

"Opal. But uh- you already knew that."

Standing between them Korra glanced back and forth between Bolin and Opal with amused curiosity, sharing Naruto's theory that love was in the air.

"Great, we found the airbender. Let's take her back to the airship and get out of here" Lin cut in impatiently, ruining the moment.

"And the woman apparently trying to abduct you is your Aunt Lin" said Su amused.

"Really?" Opal said excitedly, beaming at her aunt. "I've always wanted to meet you! My Mom has told me so many stories about you."

"I'm sure she has" Lin replied, leaving Opal frowning in confusion at the cold response.

"So, I've set all of you up in the guest houses while Korra trains Opal" said Su pushing past her sister's attitude.

"Oh, I'm sorry" Korra frowned. "But I was hoping she could train with rest of the airbenders at the Northern Temple."

While Opal seemed enthusiastic by the idea Suyin wasn't quite onboard. "Nonsense. This is where Opal's home and family are, you can train her here."

Korra looked to Naruto for some help but he just shrugged. While the blonde was glad things between them had mellowed out to the point she felt comfortable enough to ask for his advice – sadly there wasn't much even the mighty Nine Tails could do to force a mother to let go of her child.

"I guess I could help her get started" Korra consceeded. At least until they could come up with something long term.

"Absolutely not!" Lin snapped. "We're leaving."

Korra turned to Su explaining her sister's behavior. "She's just a little worried because there are a bunch of crazy criminals after me."

"If you're concerned about security, don't be" said Su, ignoring her sister's eye roll. "This is the safest city in the world. Now I will see you all at dinner and come hungry, my chef will blow the taste buds right out of your mouth."

That night they all sat around the dining room table of Su's home. Her chief a burly looking man had just presented each of them with three dishes of food and was in the middle of explain the night's meal.

"Tonight, for your dining pleasure, I present a seared wild Kyoshi-Elephant koi paired with a ginger infused pea tendril, and hibiscus root salad."

"Stunning" Su commented.

The chief bowed and walked away pausing at the door for a moment to bow a second time to a greying middle-aged man accompanied by his much younger looking doppelganger in the doorway.
"Sorry dear, I'm going to have to take dinner in my office" said the elder of the two. "I just had a major breakthrough on the tram station remodel."

"Well don't let me stand in the way of inspiration." Suyin said fondly. The man gave her a grateful smile before taking his leave followed by his younger counterpart. "That was my brilliant architect of a husband, Baatar, and our oldest son, Jr. He engineers all my husband's projects."

"Five kids, what a nightmare" Lin said blandly.

"No, no, my children are a blessing."

"Yeah, Mom used to say that too, but she never meant it."

Su glared at her sister before opting to try a more pleasant topic turning to Korra she asked, "How's your search for the new airbenders going?"

"Honestly, not great" Korra confessed. "We had to rescue a whole group of them from the Earth Queen."

Suyin frowned at the mention of the matriarch, "Oh, she's horrible! She thinks she can just do whatever she wants."

"Sounds familiar" Lin muttered, unnoticed by everyone but Naruto earning the blonde a hard look from the police chief.

Thinking it better not to comment, Naruto instead joined the conversation with Su saying, "She shouldn't be too much trouble now. I'm sure Shukaku will keep her in line."

"That's Naruto's brother" Korra clarified for Suyin. "Turns out he's not much of a fan of the Earth Queen. And he's decided to take a more direct approach with his complaints."

"Well that's different" Suyin said simply.

"You're certainly handling this well" said Naruto surprised by Suyin's easy acceptance of the situation.

"Why shouldn't I" Suyin shrugged. "Different is good. The world is evolving, and the Earth Queen should evolve with it. Step aside."

"Hey everyone" Lin interjected with forced enthusiasm. "my little sister is an expert on world affairs now."

Su glared at her sister "You want to talk about what's really bugging you because I'm right here!"

The rest of the table stared awkwardly as the Beifong sisters glared at each other, Lin in particular was tense and ready for a fight. Their focus on each other was only broken with the arrival of two additional dinner guests.

"Sorry we're late, everyone."

Lin and the members of Team Avatar couldn't believe it when Varrick walked into the room. As always accompanied by Zhu Li, both wearing Zaofu style robes.

"What are you doing here?" Asami demanded.

"Great question, Asami. I mean, what are any of us doing here? Wow. Food for thought." Ignoring the hostility Varrick took a seat at the table across from Asami. "Anyhoo, how's our company doing?"

"You mean my company?" Asami said pointedly. "Future Industries reverted back to me after you plotted to abduct the President."

"Allegedly plotted to abduct the President. Never convicted."

"Err, that's because you escaped prison" said Mako.

"No, the universe decided to set me free. So, I looked up my old friend Su Yin here, pitched her a few ideas, and BAM! We're in business together!"

"Varrick's setting up my new technology division" Suyin explained.

"I've seen the future and the future is…Magnets!" Varrick exclaimed enthusiastically. "I'm working on a high-speed rail that would revolutionize transportation and shipping as we know it! But that's not all, I'm-"

"Alright, enough!" Lin interrupted snapping angrily at her sister. "I'm trying to keep the Avatar safe and you're harboring a criminal?"

"Ease up, Lin" said Suyin. "Sure, Varrick's made a few mistakes in his past but that doesn't mean he should pay for it the rest of his life. My chef was a pirate but now he's a culinary master. People change."

"You haven't!"

Having had enough Lin stormed off.

Hours later, Lin sat in her room reading a news paper eagerly waiting for when they'd be able to leave Zaofu once and for all. When suddenly there was a series of knocks at her door.

"Who is it?"

The door opened slightly and Korra stepped inside "Hey. It's me" the Avatar said politely with a smile. "I brought someone who wants to talk to you."

Lin raised a brow prompting Korra to open the door all the way revealing Opal standing there shyly.

"You want to talk?" Setting her paper aside, Lin crossed her arms, "Then talk."

"I'm sorry being here has been so hard for you." Entering the room, Opal stepped towards her aunt. "When you showed up, I was so excited to get to know you. I heard so many great things about you from Mom and Grandma Toph. So, I guess I was kind of sad that you didn't want to get to know me."

Unresponsive, Lin just narrowed her eyes a bit at the mention of her mother and sister. But undeterred Opal carried on:

"Believe me, I know my family can be a little crazy and overwhelming sometimes, but I would love it so much if you would be a part of it" she finished hopefully.

But it wasn't meant to be as Lin coldly told her, "Get out."

Opal flinched at the harsh response. "Sorry, did I say something wrong?"

Barring her teeth Lin repeated her command yelling, "Get out!" sending Opal running from the room in tears.

Shocked by her behavior Korra turned on Lin, "What's your problem? Don't get mad at Opal, I asked her to talk to you because I thought it would help you snap out of whatever funk you're in. And I guess I was wrong."

In no mood Lin got to her feet and glared at the Avatar, "Why don't you focus on fixing the world and stop trying to fix my family!"

"Su's right. You're never gonna change." Lin turned away from Korra. "You're always going to be a bitter, lonely woman."

Nothing more to say Korra left the room, slamming the door behind her. Unbeknownst to her as tears flowed down Lin's cheeks.

"You got something to say too?" she called out suddenly to the room.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Naruto appeared in the open.

"Sorry about Korra. I tried to tell her that she shouldn't get involved in family matters. But you know how she is."

"Yeah too damn nosy" Lin harshly wiped the tears from her face. "Now what do you want?"

"Well for one I'm not here to judge you" said Naruto. "As someone who also has issue with their sibling I figured I'd offer to listen if you wanted to talk. Maybe swap stories I mean you know how things are between me and Shukaku and I've got seven other siblings."

Despite herself Lin actually seemed to consider the offer.