Pakku is an incredibly powerful Waterbender. When Aang, Katara, and Sokka arrived at the Northern Water Tribe there search for a Waterbending teacher was complete as they found Master Pakku performing at a feast to celebrate the arrival of Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe and the arrival of the Avatar. After the feast drew to its close the leader of the Northern Water Tribe Chief Arnook introduces Aang to Pakku and asked him to train him in the art of Waterbending. Pakku accepted but made it clear that just because Aang was the Avatar he would get no special treatment. Before Pakku left Aang told him that his friend also needs to learn Waterbending from him and Pakku agreed to teach his friend.
The next morning Aang and Katara go in search of Master Pakku to teach them Waterbending. Upon finding him Aang introduces Katara as his friend that he had mentioned the night before. Pakku tells Aang that there has been a mistake, telling them both that in this tribe it is for females to learn waterbending. Hearing this Katara confronts Pakku telling him that she didn’t travel around the entire world just to be told no. Pakku in turn simply says no. Katara continues by saying that there must be female Waterbenders in his tribe; Pakku says that in his tribe women use their Waterbending abilities for healing he tells her that the teacher would be happy to teach her, even with her attitude. She says that she doesn’t want to heal she wants to fight. But once again Pakku says he won’t, Aang says that if he won’t teach Katara than he refuses to be his student. Knowing that Aang needs to learn Waterbending in order to save the world Katara tells him to be Pakku’s student even though he is a “jerk”.
That night the gang returns to their sleeping area Sokka seems to be having trouble with something but when is he not. He does however come up with a useful idea since Pakku won’t teach Katara; Aang can show her what he has learned from Pakku that day and learn through him. As the started they were soon discovered by Pakku, feeling that Aang had disrespected his teachings, his wishes, and his ure he removed Aang as his student.
The next morning Aang, Katara, and Sokka meet with what seemed like a council consisting of seven individuals including Arnook and Pakku. Pakku agreed to take Aang back as his student only if Katara apologized to him, she would not and in return Katara challenged him to a fight. As Katara left for the outside of the building that they had been in and down the stairs Sokka and Aang try to talk he out of this but she said that she had to do this. Moments later Pakku comes towards the Katara he dismisses her challenge and tells her to join the other women at the healing hut. Katara, having heard enough of the arrogant man, strikes the back of his head with a small water wipe. Pakku’s patients finally ran out and he sarcastically told Katara that if she wanted to learn to fight than she will finally have her chance to learn something. And so a very impressive looking fight began Pakku at first was passive in the fight merely trying to get Katara off balance so not to do any damage but after finding out she could stand up to his skill rather well the battle got fierce each one sending huge waves at one another but Pakku’s skill began to get the better of Katara as she slowly began to ware down. But Pakku was none the less impressed with her abilities but he stated he still wouldn’t teach her. The battle drew to its close as Pakku sealed Katara in a cage of ice spears.
Katara still wanted to fight but Pakku knew that she was beaten as he went to learn he noticed that Katara’s necklace had fallen to the ground during the duel but the necklace had far more meaning to him than Katara knew as he said that he made the necklace sixty years ago to the woman he loved. The woman he made it for was Kana, Katara’s grandmother. Pakku told them that when he was engaged to Kana he carved the necklace for her, he thought that they would have a happy life together but she left. Katara told Pakku that she left because of the tribes rules and that she wouldn’t be held back because of them. Pakku seemed to take what Katara said to heart.
The following morning we find that Pakku has taken back Aang as his student, Katara runs up to the training area and Pakku in a stun voices asks, “What do you think you are doing? It’s after sunrise you’re late.” It would appear that Pakku has decided to train Katara after all. And with that they begin their training. But the training wouldn’t stay peaceful when the Northern Water Tribe is attacked by the Fire Nation. Pakku and a group of volunteers including Aang, Katara, and Sokka decide to fight against the Fire Nation. The assault is a vicious one and after two days of fighting the Fire Nation has broken through the walls and attacks the heart of the water tribe. Pakku and the others continue to fight against them. Until, that is, Zhao kills the moon spirit and Pakku and all the other Waterbenders loose a lot of strength.
But when Aang joins with the ocean spirit the fire nation is finally forced to retreat. When the next morning comes Pakku tells Katara that he will go to the Southern Water tribe to help them rebuild. Prior to him learning, Pakku makes Katara Aang’s waterbending teacher.
