Chapter 173 Kahn’s Obsession

After leaving Yu Island, the group arrived at a beautiful resort beach, officially beginning the Avatar Team’s vacation.

However, at this very moment, one person was conspicuously out of place, meditating alone in the shade—

That person was, of course, Kahn.

“Kahn, would you be willing to manage the Fire Nation with me?”

Kahn stared at this sentence in his mind. It would’ve been fine if it appeared once or twice. But clearly, it had been appearing far too frequently lately.

This was not normal.

Or rather—when a certain scene, sound, or conversation repeatedly surfaces in someone’s mind in a short period of time, it’s usually not ordinary.

Such recurring flashes might be the abstract expression of one’s emotions, a premonition of change, an echo of a buried memory, or an obscure message from the depths of the soul.

In short, it must be meaningful, purposeful—an unusual existence that reveals the truth within.

But even if most people notice such signals, tracing their origin is nearly impossible.

In Kahn’s previous life, there was even an entire discipline dedicated to such things: psychology. Too bad he never studied it seriously.

However, as a Spirit Bender, he could clearly feel that this sentence was tied to the two Meditation Chakras still blocked inside him.

“Kahn, would you be willing to manage the Fire Nation with me?”

These were Azula’s words when she confessed to him.

But at the time, what really made him realize she was confessing wasn’t the sentence itself—it was what she did afterward.

That… yeah, that part.

Returning to the words alone, now that he fully understood his feelings for Azula, he finally understood why she used that sentence to confess.

Azula loved power. She wanted to conquer the world—not for ideals, not for justice, but simply and brutally to possess absolute dominance.

And yet, this very Azula told him she was willing to share that power with him—to rule the Fire Nation together.

And considering that Azula’s real ambition was to unify the entire world under the Fire Nation, this sentence was basically her saying:

“I want to rule the entire world—with you.”

It was dramatic, unrestrained, borderline insane, and filled with ambition.

Very Azula.

But the problem was—

He didn’t want to rule the world.

He didn’t want to manage a nation.

He didn’t want to touch politics at all.

He had no intention of joining Zuko and Azula’s struggle for the throne. He just wanted to live freely.

Ever since he transmigrated into this world—witnessing Earthbending, encountering spirits, seeing strange and wondrous animals—he had always wanted to travel the world. To see every corner of it.

But things hadn’t gone his way.

Until Ozai’s defeat, he was trapped in the Fire Nation Capital, in the military, in the palace—forced to play political games.

Because of that, his yearning for freedom grew stronger. The instant Ozai fell, that long-suppressed desire reached its peak.

And right at that moment… Azula asked him to manage the Fire Nation with her?

Did she want him trapped all over again?

Thinking about it now, he finally understood.

Perhaps the reason he had immediately run away back then was because some part of him was subconsciously fleeing from this exact issue.

So that was his obsession?

His fear?

No… not completely.

Yearning for freedom—yes, that had been an obsession of his. But not anymore.

Because now, he had become the version of himself he had always wanted to be: free, unbound, able to go anywhere he wished. His obsession had been fulfilled.

So his current obsession must be—

A refusal to go back and manage the Fire Nation.

A refusal to be tied down.

A refusal to step into politics.

As for his fear…

He was afraid Azula might forcibly keep him. That much was true. But instinct told him there was something more, something deeper that he still hadn’t uncovered.

And for now, he couldn’t find the answer.

So he set it aside and focused on the Meditation Chakra again.

That was his obsession.

Kahn let out a helpless smile.

He originally thought he could clear all the Meditation Chakras first, understand everything, and then go back to face Azula openly and honestly.

But now it seemed impossible.

His compatibility with Azula wasn’t that high.

Love may be the prerequisite for two people to be together—but love alone doesn’t guarantee they can stay together.

Personality, background, values, dreams, hobbies… When all align, a couple becomes a match made in heaven.

But most couples aren’t perfectly matched. That’s when compromise and adjustment matter.

He loved Azula. But could he give up his freedom to rule the Fire Nation with her?

He didn’t know.

Azula loved him. But could she give up her throne to travel the world with him?

He didn’t know.

And could the two of them adjust for each other and find a balance point?

He didn’t know.

So… should he give up?

Of course not.

“I guess I have to go back.”

Kahn sighed.

No matter what happens in the future—whether they work out or fall apart—the only way to find answers was to talk to Azula directly.

And he would leave the outcome to fate.

“It seems this trip to the parallel world is ending soon. I’m actually a little reluctant.”

Kahn shook his head, opened his eyes, and a smile returned to his face.

In any case—play first.

He stood up, ready to join the others, when he noticed Aang, Zuko, and Sokka huddled together, deep in discussion.

“…Please, do you know how many people he ordered his army to kill? Leaving him alive will only cause more harm!”

“My thoughts exactly, Sokka. Aang, Ozai is far more dangerous than you imagine. Killing him is the best option.”

“But… is there a better solution…?”

Aang’s face was full of hesitation.

After listening for a bit, Kahn immediately understood—they were arguing about how to deal with Ozai.

Zuko, Sokka, and the others all believed Ozai needed to be executed as soon as possible.

But Aang, for some reason, refused to deliver a fatal blow and wanted to find a more “peaceful” solution.

Kahn felt numb listening to them. He genuinely wanted to crack open Aang’s little head to see what was inside.

The no-kill ideology, huh?

Does your previous life have a man named Batman?

Because you definitely don’t have that level of intelligence!

As Kahn silently roasted him, Aang finally noticed him and called out:

“Kahn, did you hear what we were talking about? What do you think?”

“Me?”

Kahn thought for a moment, then shrugged.

“Just do whatever you think.”

Because no matter what they chose—

He was going to take Ozai’s head anyway.

…

The full completed version of Avatar: Rebirth of the Strongest Firebender —