Chapter 7
„The Djinn"
[4 years later. Rinde's Forest, river bank]
Geralt let a long sigh. He pulled his fishnet from the river and look at it with annoyance. 28th time today and still nothing. All he found were some rocks or old shoes. Witcher was fishing for about two days. He knew what he was looking for was here. Geralt just knew it.
Suddenly, hearing a familiar voice broke him out of his brooding. Geralt wanted to groan, but he was too annoyed to even to that.
"Geralt?" -Jaskier said with fake surprise."What's been...months? Years? What is time anyway? I heard that you're in town." -He said with a smile that he Witcher didn't see. Geralt was too busy to look, throwing his fishnet to the river again."Are you following me, you scamp? I mean, I'm happy but you should get a hobby." -He paused and took a sip from his canister."Oh! Want some? How are you doing, I hear you ask."
"I didn't..." -Geralt said, while not trying to show how annoyed he was. Jaskier would leave it and bother him even more.
"Well, Countess de Stael, my muse and beauty of this world, has left me." -Jaskier whined with a sad look."Again. Rather coldly unexpectedly, I might add."
"Somehow, I'm not surprised." -Jaskier almost jumped upon hearing someone next to him speak. He turns his head to Naruto in all his glory.
"Fuck! Will, you ever stop doing that?!" -Jaskier shouted at him, causing Geralt to chuckle. Witcher turns around and gave Naruto a genuine smile.
"And miss a chance at seeing your funny expression? Nope." -Naruto said with a huge grin. Jaskier shook his head with disbelief. But then gave the blonde a big bear hug."It's good to see you again."
"Same here." -Geralt shook Naruto's hand after he broke the hug with Jaskier."Shouldn't you be in Cintra?"
"I'm on a break." -Naruto said with a smile."Calanthe was so kind as to grant me a month to do anything I want. So I decided to visit my friends."
"That's very nice of you." -Jaskier said with a smile."At least someone wanted to see me. But, less about me, how about We eat some fish? Have you caught anything today?"
Geralt was annoyed again, and Naruto took notice of that. He also noticed that Geralt seem to look tired.
"Is everything alright?" -Naruto asked concern."Come on, talk to us."
Geralt looked hesitant. As if he didn't want to show any weakness. But, eventually, he let a sigh.
"I can't sleep..." -Geralt finally said and glanced at his fishnet."I'm looking for a djinn."
"What?" -Jaskier asked, unsure if he heard him correctly."For a djinn? Like a genie?" -He paused to laugh."The floaty fellas with...the bad tempers and banned magic, that kind of genie?"
"Yes, It'll grant me wishes." -Geralt said, feeling frustrated by explaining something so simple. Naruto, on the other hand, became more concerned. Why would Geralt look for a Djinn?"It's in this lake somewhere. And I can't fucking sleep!"
Geralt pulled his fishnet back seeing it empty again, he cursed under his nose. Then he starts walking to another spot. Naruto and Jaskier followed him. Geralt tossed the fishnet again and waited.
"Geralt, are you sure that fishing for a djinn is the right idea?" -Naruto asked while placing his hand on Geralt's shoulder. Witcher only glanced at him."We both know that Djinns are dangerous. Asking a djinn for a night of sleep sounds silly...Maybe I can help you?"
"I've been doing this for two days." -Geralt said tiredly."I'm not giving up..."
"You know, just maybe, You're not addressing the root of a problem." -Jaskier said with shrug."Maybe our Witcher friends got feelings after all and fell in love? I couldn't sleep either too."
"I'm not..." -Geralt barked at Jaskier, who chuckled. Naruto let go of Geralt's shoulder and decided to lean on a tree. He knew where this was going.
"You know, Countess de Stael once said to me." -He paused with a dreamy look on his face."That love is the embodiment of the soul's desire to grow."
"Did you sing to her before she left?" -Geralt asked while checking his fishnet. He pulled back and let out a sigh.
"I did, actually, and she..." -Jaskier paused while glaring at the Witcher."Why, what are you implying?" -Geralt looked at him with innocent eyes."Oh...We are so having this conversation. Come on, Geralt. Tell me. Be honest. How's my singing?" - Geralt tossed the fishnet again and glanced at the bard.
"It's like ordering a pie and finding it has no filling." -Geralt replied and Naruto was trying so hard not to laugh at Jaskier's expression.
Jaskier was stuttering and trying to find the right words to describe his anger. But he couldn't.
"You need a nap!" -Jaskier yelled at Geralt, who didn't even listen. Witcher pulled his fishnet again and notice that there was something new in it."I mean, are you trying to hurt my feelings, Geralt? It's..." -Naruto also noticed and saw it was some kind of amphora with lid."It's downright indecorous of you if I'm completely honest, and-" -Jaskier stammers upon seeing what Geralt had in his hand."Wow. Wow. What is- What is that?"
"It's a wizard seal." -Naruto said out loud."It's a djinn..."
"Do you mind if...?" -Jaskier triad to pull the amphora to himself, but Geralt was holding a lid.
"Guys..." -Naruto groaned while rolling his eyes."Not this again..."
"Jaskier..." -Geralt said calmly, while his eyes were on fire.
"Take it back about my fillingless pie." -Jaskier said while pointing his finger at Geralt's face."Take it back, you get your djinny-djinn-djinn."
"Let go." -Witcher said with bleak expression. Jaskier was using all his strength but to no use.
"No!, No let go, your horse's arse!" -Jaskier mumbled while Naruto facepalmed.
"You're acting like 4-year-olds." -Naruto said with a sigh. Eventually, the lid got loose and Geralt pulled it out."Are you happy now?"
"That's a bit of an anticlimax." -Jaskier said with a disappointing look. Suddenly, the breeze stirred and the wind picked up."Or is it?!" -The area around them got darker and both Geralt and Naruto were on their toes."Djinn, I have free thee, and as of this day, I am thy lord. Firstly, may Valdo Marx, the troubadour of Cidaris, be struck down apoplexy and die. Secondly, the Countess de Stael must welcome me back with glee, open arms and very little clothing." -There were whispers amongst them that Jaskier didn't seem to hear."Thirdly-" -Before he could finish, Jaskier was pulled by Geralt.
"Jaskier! Stop!" -He ordered and Jaskier almost fell, while being pulled."There are only three wishes."
"Guys, calm down." -Naruto said but was ignored.
"Oh, come on, you always say you want nothing from life." -After saying that, Geralt looked away."How was I to know wanted three wishes all to yourself!"
"I just want some damn peace!"
"Well, here's your peace!" -Jaskier said and throw the amphora to the ground, breaking it. Geralt growled at Jaskier and quickly start picking the pieces. He cut himself but didn't seem to bother. Suddenly, Jaskier was choking and coughing."Geralt...Naruto..."
Naruto quickly rushed to Jaskier and was checking if he was okay. He had a difficult time breathing as if something was gripping his throat. Naruto looked around and took his eyepatch off. He saw a dark mass of energy moving around the lake.
"It's the djinn!" -He pointed and Geralt used Ard to stop it. But the djinn was too quick and got away.
"This is why I told you it was a bad idea." -Naruto said and noticed that Jaskier cough up blood."Shit...Jaskier, hold on!"
"What's happening to him?" -Geralt asked and saw fear in Jaskier eyes.
"It was the djinn. It must have attacked his throat." -Naruto explained and gently picked Jaskier. He noticed that Jaskier's throat was swelling."These injuries are of magical nature. If it wasn't for that, I'd use my chakra to heal him. But We shouldn't risk it."
"There is a camp nearby. Maybe they have someone who can help." -Geralt said and Naruto agreed.
After arriving, the elf healer didn't tell them anything they didn't already know. But he gave Jaskier something to buy time. If they won't find a mage, Jaskier could die. Naruto and Geralt pressured the elf to tell them if there was a mage in Rinde. The elf gave up and told them that there was one at the mayor's house.
After some time, they reach the mayor's house. But they were stopped by a guard.
"A fee for entrance." -The bald guard said while halting them. Naruto didn't want to waste time for this, so he put the guard in genjutsu."You may go..."
After entering and navigating through the corridors, Naruto and Geralt ended up in a kitchen. Naruto put Jaskier on a table and then they turn to see...a naked man. A very naked man. He dropped his mug upon seeing them.
"Welcome...to my home." -He said with a smile.
"I think that the mage did this to him." -Naruto said and Geralt noded."You're the mayor of Rinden?" -Jaskier wanted to say something, but for them, it was just mumbling.
"He's in a bad way." -Geralt said while pointing at Jaskier."Is there a mage that lives here?"
"Ah! The apple juice." -Mayor said and pointed at the mug behind Jaskier."She wants some...And she always gets...what she wants."
"Seems like he wants us to get it for her." -Naruto said with shrug. Geralt let out a sigh and grab the mug. With it, they left the kitchen and notice very visible mist."What the fuck?"
"Hmm, I don't like this." -Geralt said tiredly. Why won't this day just end?
Eventually, they found open doors and went through it. What they saw inside shocked them. There was an orgy going on. Naruto was red as a beetroot and Geralt was dissatisfied with this situation. Only Jaskier partially seems to enjoy the views of women playing with each other. He was trying to avoid looking at men. At the end of the room was sitting a young woman in a black dress and a domino mask.
"I guess that's her." -Naruto said while trying to block the views. He gently put Jaskier down, right next two women kissing each other."Come on, let's get this over with."
Carefully moving through, Geralt and Naruto made theirs to the only person in clothes. Now they had a better look at the sorceress. She had beautiful lush black hair and violet eyes. The sorceress was wearing a choker with a medallion that had an obsidian star on it.
Naruto and Geralt glanced at each other and then at the Sorceress who looked bored.
"Hello..." -Naruto said with a small hand wave.
"Um...We've brought apple juice." -Witcher said and lifted the mug.
"You two seem different than others." -She said with a strong, but yet gentle tone."You're immune..."
"And you're a mage..." -Witcher said and the Sorceress put her cup down.
"Yennefer from Vengerberg." -She introduced herself.
"The Elf failed to mention..." -Witcher said and Yennefer tilted her head slightly.
"What did he failed to mention?" -She asked and Witcher turns around to glance at Jaskier."Just a friend, I hope..." -They both nodded, but Geralt was a bit hesitant."Hmm...Your heartbeat is very slow. A mutant, perhaps?"
"A Witcher...Geralt of Rivia." -Geralt introduced himself and Yennefer gave a small smile.
"The famous White Wolf." -She said while getting up. Then she glanced at Naruto."And you must be...Naruto Uzumaki. Fox Knight or Fox of Cintra, as they call you...My, I'm truly honored." -She added with a chuckle. Then she walked up to Geralt."I've never a witcher up close...I thought, that Witcher had horns..."
"I had them file down." -Witcher said with smugly. She giggled and circle him around."What little spells can you cast? Can a professional curiosity." -She then glanced at Naruto."And you, Fox? I heard a lot of rumors that you cast spells like never seen before. Is that true?"
"Please, Jaskier needs healer attention." -Geralt finally said and looked her in the eyes."And then We can feed your curiosity all night long..."
"Fine..." -She said with a sigh."What happened to him?"
"He was attacked by a djinn." -Naruto explained."It's of magical nature, of course. Sadly, I'm afraid I can help him myself."
"A djinn?" -She wondered and glance at Jaskier.
"Whatever this is, it's spreading." -Geralt added and seem worried about Jaskier for once. He gave her a lid from the broken amphora."Fix it and I'll pay you..."
"You two will have to do better than juice." -She said while eyeing them. Naruto got a nasty shiver up his spine. He didn't like her tone right now. She moved her eyes to the crowd behind them."Ragamuffin!" -Everyone seems to snap out of the trance. Yennefer smile at them.
Geralt was walking back and forward, while Naruto was sitting by a table. He was resting his eye, while Geralt couldn't stop thinking about worst scenarios.
"If it's gonna make you feel easier, he's still alive." -Naruto said while opening his eyes."I can sense his chakra. It's not weak anymore."
Yennefer walked down the stairs and look at Naruto and Geralt.
"He's in a deep healing sleep." -She explained and Naruto smiled. At least Jaskier was in the right hands.
"How will he be sleeping?" -Geralt asked, now a bit more relaxed.
"Long enough, for you two to get a bath." -Yennefer threw them their spare clothes."When did you...? Ah, magic."
"Wait...Oh, no...no,no...I'm not doing that again." -Naruto said while shaking his head furiously.
After a few minutes, Naruto punched the water in the bath. Again, just like 6 years ago he and Geralt were sitting back to back, naked. How did this happen again? Last time, it was the fact that the tavern was expensive, but this? Well, at least there was more space.
"I know what you feel..." -Geralt said with a sigh."I don't like this either."
"At least one of us is enjoying this." -Yennefer said while watching them. Naruto gave her a look and she simply smiled at him."I'm still finding this hard to believe that you're looking for a djinn to cure narcolepsy. And yet you didn't ask me to help you with that..."
"Well, he rejected my offer." -Naruto said with a shrug and Geralt glanced at him.
"I have no idea if I can afford you..." -Geralt admitted to Yennefer."Have I agreed to eternal service?"
"Tell me, are all witchers as gifted as you?" -Yennefer asked curiously. Naruto rolled his eyes at that.
"Well, I didn't ask anyone about." -Geralt replied casually.
"Why do I get a feeling that you're getting a lot of satisfaction from this?" -Naruto wondered out loud, causing Yennefer to chuckle.
"Maybe I am...But, what about you?" -She asked and Naruto glanced at her."You're quite mysterious yourself. I tried to find about where you came from, but there is nothing. Only that you're found near Blaviken." -Naruto almost flinched at that. He didn't want to remember his last time in Blaviken."Witcher promised that you'd talk as well..."
"I guess he did that." -Naruto hit Geralt with his elbow. Witcher's lips twitched, but other than that he didn't react."But, I warn you, I'll quite cryptic."
"That's fine. It'd be boring and stupid if you said everything." -Yennefer said with shrug.
"I come from a very, very far away. You've never been there" -He started with a small smile."Whereas you call it magic or chaos, We call it chakra. Because many could use it, it was implemented into militaries. There were many conflicts and wars between us. Pain, suffering, and sorrow. Even the youngest were dragged into this mess...Even me. I didn't think about it back then, but We're child soldiers. We would be used to wage wars later in our lives...But one day it changed. We found a common enemy. We joined forces and forgot about the past. Still, everything went wrong and my friends paid the price." -He paused, as memories of his times with team seven came back."Before losing, an old wizard sends me far away. But in doing so, I lost my memories. I was wandering around and eventually met Geralt. The rest is history."
"You're an interesting person, Naruto." -Yenner said with a small smile.
"Wanna know what I find interesting?" -Naruto asked and Yennefer noded. Geralt was curious as well."The fact that We all share one thing...We're forced into this kind of life." -He paused and notice that Geralt and Yennefer lower their heads."Geralt was turned into a Witcher, You've become a Sorceress and me...I became Jinchuuriki."
"What's Jinchuuriki?" -Yennefer asked confused.
"It means 'Power of Human Sacrifice'. They are humans that have beasts sealed within them." -He explained."They exhibit extraordinary powers due to the immense chakra reserves they possess."
"A sealed beast within a human?" -Yennefer wondered out loud."Sound kind like a curse..."
"Some may see it that way." -Naruto agreed."Image a Werewolf. But the wolf part has its own personality. You can even talk to It"
"Sounds wonderful." -Yennefer small disgust. She wouldn't want some kind of monster to live in her.
"It's not as bad as you may think." -Naruto said with a grin."Anyway, that's enough of a sharing bath for me. You're free to join Geralt whenever you want." -He added while getting up and leaving. Before exiting, he gave Geralt a wink.
"You have an interesting friend." -Yennefer commented while turning her eyes toward Geralt."But he's not my type..."
"And you're telling me this, because...?" -Geralt asked and Yennefer simply smiled.
"Hmm...Oh? I apologize, sometimes I think out loud." -Yennefer replied with a playful smile.
Naruto was sitting next to Jaskier's bed. His swollen throat was gone and everything seems okay. Naruto touched Jaskier's shoulder and closed his eyes. There was nothing wrong with Jaskier chakra. Jinchuuriki was surprised to believe that in this world chakra also existed. It was like a separate source of energy that people didn't seem to notice. It fact, chakra here was almost identical to magic. Everyone was connected, just like in his World.
Then, he heard doors being open. He takes his hand back and turns around. It was Geralt and Yennefer.
"He's fine, Geralt. Nothing to worry about." -Naruto and Geralt let out a sigh.
"Are you doubting my capabilities?" -Yennefer asked with annoyance.
"Not at all...Just your intentions." -Geralt said and walk closer to Jaskier's bed."I said something to him. I don't want them to be his last memories..."
"He wouldn't remember much if he was dead." -Yennefer said with shrug. Naruto and Geralt gave her a look. She chuckled."It's a joke. He'll survive...And recover his vocal talents. Happy now?"
"Yeah..." -Naruto said with a small smile."If you don't mind, I'll go and take a nap..."
With a yawn, Naruto left the room. He went to the kitchen and found a makeshift bed. At first, he was surprised, but then again, maybe a chef was sleeping here. It was clean and didn't smell, so he lay down and closed his eye. Let a big sigh, he prepared himself for sleep.
[...You sure about taking a nap right now?...]
[...Look who's talking. You sleep all the time! And now you're telling me no to take a nap...]
[...Unlike you, I have nothing to do. Anyway, do you trust Yennefer?...]
[...She doesn't have any ill intentions. We both know that...]
[...So what? Even Mousesack said not to trust Sorceress or Sorcerers. Maybe she wants the djinn wish?...]
[...Considering that Yennefer saved his life, Jaskier owns her now...]
[...You're still naive, you know...]
[...If she tries something, I'll stop her...]
[...You're too confident. Naruto, when did you face an actual mage? Magic is similar to chakra, and We have no idea if there's anything that can be dangerous to us...]
[...It's been over a decade and nothing happened. I understand, I do. But I don't want to live in fear that there is someone who can harm me...]
[...Fine. I'm just trying to look after you...]
[...I know. Thanks...]