Kunyo was designated as Zuko and Azula's teacher. In 94 AG, during a lesson, he told Azula that one of her forms was incorrect, saying she was holding her arms too far apart. The young princess asserted that her stance would result in the biggest fire blast, but Kunyo told her to do the form his way, which prompted Azula to set his pants on fire. When his daughter told then-Prince Ozai this story, the prince said that Kunyo sounded "like a fool" and ordered him to be sent to the colonies. Zuko tried to defend Kunyo, but was silenced by his father. He eventually settled in Yu Dao and started a new dojo.