Over the next few days, Kahn began to learn Firebending from Uncle Iroh.
Although Zuko still couldn't leave the royal palace, and Kahn couldn't currently enter it, Uncle Iroh still possessed the necessary clearance to visit his nephew.
According to Uncle Iroh, Zuko's emotions had sowhat stabilized, and the prince was looking forward to playing with Kahn again soon.
Kahn scratched his head, feeling as if he had suddenly acquired a cute younger brother who loved to cling to him.
He asked Uncle Iroh to relay a ssage to Zuko, letting the prince know that he was equally looking forward to their next eting.
As for the Firebending Academy, Uncle Iroh personally went to speak with the instructors, and Kahn was no longer required to attend classes.
The intensely envious gaze of Kahn's forr Firebending teacher, upon hearing that the boy would be personally tutored by the Dragon of the West, was incredibly morable.
Although Kahn still didn't fully comprehend just how powerful Uncle Iroh truly was, seeing that envious look from a professional instructor confird that he had definitely hit the jackpot.
Later on, Kahn specifically asked Uncle Iroh about the hierarchy of benders and learned that Benders were generally classified into ranks.
Although it was a rough classification, it was mostly divided into two distinct levels: an ordinary bender and a Bending Master.
However, despite the classification being sowhat broad, the actual requirents to achieve the title were incredibly strict.
Given the current imnse population of the Fire Nation, those who could rightfully be called Firebending Masters were exceedingly rare.
And Uncle Iroh was undeniably one of them.
Kahn deeply understood this fact.
Even though he had not yet witnessed Uncle Iroh's true combat strength, the old man was definitely the person he had t who possessed the most profound understanding of Firebending.
Granted, Kahn hadn't actually t that many people in this world yet.
After beginning his Firebending training with Uncle Iroh, Kahn clearly felt his progress skyrocketing.
He even began to develop the grand illusion that he might actually be able to defeat Azula now.
Fortunately, every ti this dangerous illusion cropped up, Azula would tily arrive to help correct his misconception and force him back to reality.
That was correct; even though they had already established their secret alliance, Azula still frequently sneaked into his courtyard by scaling the wall over the past few days.
It deeply puzzled him, and he genuinely didn't know why she kept doing it.
Looking at Azula, who was currently making herself entirely at ho on his sofa and scattering discarded lon seeds and fruit peels everywhere, a vein throbbed violently on Kahn's forehead.
"Don't you have your own palace to be in?!"
"The trash can is literally right next to you; can you please throw your garbage in there properly?!"
"Tsk, mind your own business."
Azula accurately spat a sunflower seed shell directly onto the floor, purposely missing the trash can, and shot Kahn a highly provocative glance.
If it weren't for the fact that you are a highly useful tool right now, I would have beaten the tar out of you long ago!
Thinking this, Kahn ntally beat Azula to a pulp once again.
However, Kahn actually didn't have much of an objection to Azula coming over to hang out, mostly because she was an incredibly effective sparring partner.
Her combat strength was exceptional, but not quite to the point where she could instantly crush Kahn.
This slight, manageable gap in their power levels made their sparring sessions highly productive and comfortable for him.
Every ti he finished a lesson with Uncle Iroh, as long as Azula was present, he would imdiately challenge her to review and consolidate his newly acquired skills.
Azula was actually sowhat dissatisfied with Kahn blatantly treating her as a re training dummy.
But when faced with Kahn's infuriatingly scoundrel-like evasion techniques, she found herself completely helpless to catch him.
Whenever she grew truly annoyed by this, she would vent her frustration by incinerating the discarded potted plants in Kahn's courtyard or resorting to petty pranks like littering his living room.
This was exactly why he couldn't do anything drastic about Azula's behavior; he was the one who needed her help, after all.
After their intense sparring sessions, the two would sotis lie exhausted on the ground, idly chatting to pass the ti.
Most of the ti, Azula dominated the conversation.
She would boast about which highly restricted area of the palace she had successfully infiltrated that day.
She would casually recount the dark secrets she had uncovered about certain nobles.
She would brag about the cruel pranks she had played on specific palace servants, or how she had acquired damning blackmail material on a Royal Guard.
It was safe to say her behavior was utterly wicked.
At first, Kahn had been genuinely terrified listening to these treasonous confessions.
But as the days passed, he slowly grew numb to it all, eventually resorting to simply complaining about Azula's atrocious behavior.
Basically, their dynamic evolved into Azula casually recounting a cri, Kahn imdiately complaining about said cri, Azula getting annoyed and trying to hit him, Kahn dodging, and when they finally grew tired, they would sit back down and continue chatting.
It was a never-ending cycle.
Kahn genuinely couldn't understand what kind of bizarre, magical dynamic he and Azula had managed to develop.
And for so inexplicable reason, Azula seed to thoroughly enjoy this endless cycle.
Kahn bluntly asked her a question.
"You probably don't have any actual friends, do you?"
"What?"
"After all, not to sound arrogant, but among kids our age, besides , who else could possibly hold their own against you and still have the guts to be your friend?"
Azula imdiately retorted.
"Nonsense, you can't beat either!"
"But I did manage to beat you that one ti."
"Besides, that's not the point."
"The real point here is that you aren't actually denying my claim that you have no friends, are you?"
Kahn waved his hand, casually dismissing the entire debate about their win-loss record, and then raised an eyebrow in triumph.
Just as he was preparing to use this opening to persuade Azula to be a bit less violently destructive in the future, Azula suddenly raised a delicate eyebrow of her own.
"Besides, when did I ever say that I didn't have any friends?"
"Eh?"
Kahn was completely stunned by her counterattack.
"Did you honestly think that I, much like my pathetic brother, am soone completely devoid of friends?"
"Well, I am terribly sorry to disappoint you."
This ti, it was Azula who flashed a malicious, victorious smile.
"Actually, considering I only ever see you practicing Firebending with Uncle Iroh or hiding in your house all day, I'm starting to think you're the one who doesn't have any friends."
"Isn't that right?"
"Who told you that?!"
"I still regularly attend the academy!"
Kahn weakly retorted.
"Oh, really?"
"Do you actually have any friends at this academy, then?"
"I...!"
Kahn was montarily left completely speechless.
Why would I ever bother making friends with a bunch of literal children?
But he never expected to be completely backed into a corner by such a simple question.
A massive miscalculation!
"Hahahahaha!"
Seeing Kahn, who was rarely ever at a loss for words, looking so utterly defeated, Azula burst into unreserved, genuine laughter.
She then patted his shoulder, feigning deep sympathy.
"Alright then, I suppose I can help you out."
"When you finally return to the palace to play in a few days, I will introduce you to my friends."
"That way, you won't look so incredibly pathetic and lonely, hahahaha...!"
Upon hearing Azula's casual revelation, Kahn completely abandoned the argunt about friends and focused on the new information.
"You said I can enter the palace in a few days?"
"Why is that?"
Azula shrugged dismissively.
"Didn't I already tell you?"
"In exactly two more days, Father will have completely systematically eliminated the last remnants of Uncle Iroh's political influence."
"He will be reduced to a completely harmless, retired old man."
"Once that happens, Father won't care in the slightest where he goes or who he brings into the palace."
"How could you possibly know all of that?"
Kahn asked the question subconsciously, imdiately realizing how foolish it was the mont it left his mouth.
Sure enough, Azula's answer was exactly what he expected.
"Obviously, I overheard it."
Even though he had already guessed the answer, Kahn still couldn't help but internally exclaim.
Good heavens!
True to Azula's prediction, exactly two days later, Uncle Iroh surprisingly announced the good news that Kahn could visit the palace again.
Kahn cooperatively acted suitably 'surprised' and then obediently followed Uncle Iroh into the royal grounds.
"Kahn!"
As soon as Zuko spotted Kahn, he happily rushed over, just as eager as usual.
"It's been so long!"
Kahn carefully examined Zuko.
On the surface, he couldn't see any obvious physical changes, but it was practically impossible for there to be no psychological toll after everything that had happened.
"It has been a while."
"Are you... doing well?"
He returned the greeting, then asked his question hesitantly and with subtle caution.
According to Uncle Iroh's strict warnings, it was absolutely imperative not to ntion Ursa's na anywhere within the palace walls right now.
"...Mm, I'm fine."
Upon hearing Kahn's gentle question, Zuko paused and slowly shook his head.
He finally revealed a deeply complex, pained expression, speaking with a slight choke in his voice.
"Thank you for caring about , Kahn."
"You really are my best friend!"
At that exact mont, a familiar, maliciously teasing voice suddenly drifted over from the side.
"Oh~"
"I think I see soone crying like a little baby."
"Is that you, Zuzu?"
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