Kaito's instincts screamed at him to be cautious. He slowed his pace, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of a traitor.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the tunnels. Kaito spun around, his firebending skills at the ready.
A figure emerged from the shadows, a sly smile spreading across their face. It was one of the Earth Kingdom soldiers, but Kaito could sense that something was off about him.
"Welcome, Kaito," the soldier said, his voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for you."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he demanded.
The soldier chuckled. "My name is Sergeant Tong," he said. "And I'm afraid I've been playing both sides all along."
Kaito's eyes widened in shock. "You're the traitor," he accused.
Sergeant Tong nodded, his smile growing wider. "That's right," he said. "And now, you're going to pay for meddling in the Earth Kingdom's affairs."
With a swift motion, Sergeant Tong summoned a blast of earth to knock Kaito off his feet. Kaito struggled to get back up, but Sergeant Tong was too powerful.
Just as all hope seemed lost, Kaito remembered the words of Instructor Wong: "A true warrior always has a plan B."
With newfound determination, Kaito reached deep within himself and unleashed a powerful blast of fire that sent Sergeant Tong flying across the room.