Chapter 13
"War never changes."
[Kingdom of Cintra.]
During the journey, Naruto was answering to Gyuki's questions. It felt nice to catch up with an old friend.
Naruto sees that Citra was within their reach now.
"That's Cintra?" -Gyuki asks.
"Yeah. That's my home." -Naruto replies with a smile.
"Seems like a cool place." -Naruto agrees with a nod.
Naruto crosses his fingers, forming a single clone. Without a word, Naruto's clone splits from the group."Where is your clone going?"
"Sweep of the area." -Naruto explains."I need to know the current status of the borders."
"I see." -Gyuki nods with understanding."You sure people won't freak out when they will see me?"
"Maybe at first." -Naruto admits, but then a smile appears on his face."But, when they'll see you with me, everything will be okay."
"I hope you are right." -Gyuki said as Naruto picks up the pace.
Ciri was sitting quietly by her Grandmother and Grandfather's side. She was looking down at her plate. With a heavy sigh, she puts her fork and knife down. Calanthe takes notice of that.
"Is everything alright, Ciri?" -Calanthe whispers to her granddaughter."You barely ate anything. What's the matter?"
"I'm alright." -Ciri said, and Calanthe looks at her."It's just boring in here."
"I understand you believe me." -Calanthe said."But We have guests, you know."
"I miss Uncle Naruto." -She admits, and Calanthe lets out a sigh."I love how he had made things more fun."
"I know." -She agrees with Ciri's statement. Naruto indeed was the Soul of the Company. Calanthe did miss how Naruto could have always entertained them."We both know how important his mission is. I'm sure he'll show up soon enough." -She suddenly heard a knock. She, along with Ciri, turns her eyes toward the source of knock. The doors were halfway open, and only part of Naruto's body was visible to them."Ciri, could you wait in here for a bit? I know how much you want to talk with Naruto, but I just need a minute."
"Um, alright." -Ciri said with a sad look.
Calanthe gets up and walks toward the doors. She opens them and vanishes behind them. When turning her eyes at Naruto, Calanthe can't help and take a step back. There was a creature sitting on his shoulder. Some kind of combination of bull and octopus.
"I take it this is one of your friends, huh?" -Calanthe asks. Because of the creature's strange eyes, Calanthe was unsure where to look.
"I'm honored to meet you, Queen Calanthe." -Gyuki said, and bows his head to her. She blinks and then looks at Naruto.
"The honor is all mine." -Calanthe said with a small bow."Well, did you learn anything new about Nilfgaard movements?" -As she asked him, Naruto's eye widens."They are here, right?"
"Yes, tomorrow they will cross the Marnadal stairs." -He explains, and Calanthe lets out a frustrated sigh.
"Then you know what you must do." -Calanthe said with an icy voice.
"I do, but it won't change how I feel about this." -Naruto said, and looks down."They are just soldiers who follow orders."
"They are not just soldiers." -Calanthe said in a serious tone."You know what they did to get here. How many innocent people had to suffer for them to take a step toward us. They didn't spare anyone, not even children." -Calanthe pauses and locks her eyes with him."They are devils, who wear human skins. Listen, I'm not telling you to stop feeling bad about killing." -She puts her hand on his shoulder."The fact you do means that you have a good heart. All I want you to do is to realize when you shouldn't feel about killing. Do you understand me?"
"I do." -Naruto said, and glances at Ciri. She was looking at them and waiting."But you know, My teacher believed, that one day there will come a day. A day in which everyone will understand each other. That there will be no more wars, pain, or suffering. I know there is an answer about how to achieve it."
"By all means, I don't intend to offend your teacher." -She said with a calm voice."But that kind of world exists only in fairy tales." -Naruto chuckles at that."Maybe it was possible in your world. But in this one, I don't see it happening. Ever."
"Life is full of surprises, Calanthe." -Naruto said."You never know. Anything is possible."
"Whatever you say, knucklehead." -Calanthe chuckles and takes her hand away."You should go to your room and get some rest. I tell Ciri to bring you food. She missed you a lot."
"I can tell by the way she looks at me." -Naruto said with a laugh. With a nod, Naruto slowly made his way toward his room.
Naruto lets out a tired sigh and glances at the scene before him. On his way to his room, Naruto saw Mousesack. Mousesack, being Mousesack, was super excited and wouldn't leave him alone. So naturally, he followed them to Naruto's room. Right now, Mousesack was dancing around Gyuki, who was sitting on a table. He was 'examining', as he called it, Gyuki's reactions. Overall, Gyuki was feeling very uncomfortable.
Naruto's room was rather modest. He had an alchemist table where he could prepare potions, smoke bombs, explosive tags, etc. There was also armor stand with his Cintrian armor. It was much lighter than typical knight armor. Instead of being mostly golden in coloration, Naruto's armor was more orangy with black accents. His chest plate was crafted with the fox head, while his shoulders had lion heads. His armor did lack the cape, as well as the helmet though. There was also a stand for his swords. A silver sword, a gift from Kaer Morhen, and Cintrian steel sword.
"Mousesack, stop nagging Gyuki!" -Naruto snaps, and Mousesack almost jumps."Can't you see he doesn't like it?"
"I am not nagging him!" -Mousesack declares, and puffs up his chest."I'm simply examining him to see what he can do."
"What for?" -Naruto asks with a tired eye.
"For my bestiary, of course." -Mousesack responds with a proud smile."After all, he is extraordinary in our world. He's one of a kind!"
"Please, don't do it. There is no point to it." -Naruto groans and Mousesack simply shrugs him off. Then they heard a knock. It's Ciri, Naruto muses in his thoughts."Come in, Ciri."
"You should have come and eaten with us." -Ciri said as she walks into the room. She had a large plate with food for him."I missed you, Uncle Naruto." -She said and puts down the plate on a drawer. Then she noticed something she did not expect. Her eyes lit up."Is that, is that-"
"Oh boy..." -Gyuki sighs, and drops his head. Ciri rushes and pushes Mousesack away. Druid furrows his eyebrows and grunts, but said nothing."Wait! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...eight! It's Eight tails!"
"That's right." -Gyuki said, and show her his fist."Name's Gyuki. Nice to meet you."
Grinning, Ciri knows what his gesture means. She bumps her fist with him, making Gyuki smile.
"Name's Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, or Ciri in short. Yo!" -Ciri introduced herself. She made both Naruto and Gyuki chuckle.
"She seems cool." -Gyuki said, before pointing one of his tentacles at Mousesack."Unlike you and your nosy hands!" -Mousesack simply crossed his arms and looks away. He didn't say anything again.
"Anyway, I have a mission for you Ciri." -Naruto said as he walks to his drawer and picks up a piece of a chicken leg."You will be looking after Gyuki. You can even take him around the castle. Just make sure that you won't freak out the guards or servants."
"Alright. What will you do?" -Ciri asks, and Naruto takes the last bite off the chicken.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to send a message to Nilfgaard." -Naruto replies with a sigh. He didn't want to mix Ciri into this just yet. She was still young and innocent.
"You mean, You're going to butcher them?" -Ciri asks, and Naruto's eye widens."You don't have to explain it. Grandmother told me everything."
"I understand." -Naruto said with a displeased tone. He knows that Calanthe wanted to toughen up Ciri in her way. But there was still time for that. That was the reason why Naruto was mad at Calanthe.
"Ciri, it's getting late." -Mousesack said, noticing the look on Naruto's face."Why don't you show Gyuki your room? Hmm?"
"I don't mind." -Gyuki said, and everyone looks at Naruto. Looking at Ciri, he nods."Hope it's not far. This place is huge."
"Don't worry, it not that far." -Ciri said with a smile and walks to Naruto. She embraces him with a warm hug. Chuckling, he hugs her too. After saying goodnight, Ciri picks up Gyuki and they leave the room.
"Someone is mad at Queen, I see. That she's teaching Ciri about war?" -Mousesack said, and Naruto snorts."I, for one, am with the Queen on this one."
"You cannot be serious." -Naruto said with disbelief."Listen, I understand that war inevitable. But, We both know Calanthe. I would rather explain this to her myself."
"You can't treat Ciri like a child forever, Naruto." -Mousesack said, sitting down on a table."After all, it won't be long before she'll inherit the throne."
"I know that." -Naruto said tiredly."I just wish Calanthe was better at explaining it. Ciri is still young and innocent. I just wish she could stay like that for a little bit longer."
"I know. Sadly, in this world innocence is a fragile thing." -Mousesack said."Sooner or later, someone will rob you from it." - He pauses. He looks at Naruto, who was lost in his thoughts."Tomorrow's an important day, right? You should get some rest." -Mouse added while getting up and walking to the doors. He opens them and glances at Naruto one last time."Goodnight."
Naruto just waves at him and closes his eye. War was such a stupid and terrible thing. Strangers kill each other meaninglessly, and for what? For kingdom and glory? They make excuses that another side is evil. But after a while, the line gets blurry. You don't know who's good or evil. The same thing can be said about tomorrow's day. When he will kill them, Cintra will view him as a hero. But, for Nilfgaard Naruto will be view as a monster. And how will Naruto view himself after this?
Despite Calanthe's words, Naruto finds it hard to believe that every imperial soldier was the same. Not everyone was capable of doing cruel things. Maybe there was a way to reason with them? At the very least, he could try. Opening his eye, Naruto walks to the window. He looks at the night sky.
[Naruto, there is no point in reasoning with them. They won't listen to you]
"Are you telling me not to try, Kurama?" -Naruto asks furrowing his eyebrows. The tail beast sighs.
[No, but I'm telling you this so you won't feel disappointed]
Naruto decided not to make any comments. Kurama was silent as well. Neither of them had the strength or need to argue.
[Next day, Fields of Cintra.]
Naruto was sitting down on the ground. His breathing was slow and steady. After sitting for almost an hour, Naruto was slowly getting inpatient.
With a sigh, he enters the Sage Mode. Finally, Naruto thought. They are getting closer. With sage mode, Naruto was able to tell the number of soldiers.
The Cintrian army was rather small compared to other kingdoms like Temeria or Redania. About twenty thousand soldiers. To some, it might look like a lot, but Temeria, Kaedwen, and Redania have over a hundred thousand soldiers. As for Nilfgaard, Naruto was unsure of their numbers. Especially after hearing rumors that Scoia'taels might be working with them.
"Is this some kind of joke?" -Naruto opens his eye to see the Imperial army in front of him."Does the Lioness of Cintra think so low of Nilfgaard?!" -Although they were a bit far away, Naruto was able to hear them.
"Don't you think you are being a bit too rude?" -Naruto said, and gets back on his feet."What's your name?" -His loud voice surprises the man.
"Menno Coehoorn, a Field Marshal of Imperial army!" -Menno introduced himself with a proud voice."Now, where is your army?"
"There is no army." -Naruto responded with a shrug.
"What?" -Menno said with confusion."What do you mean there is no army? Are you looking down at us?!"
"Not at all." -Naruto said with a chuckle."I'm more than enough to handle your army, Menno. But I don't want to kill you. We can avoid all of this. Let's just talk."
"Talk?! With you, Nordling?" -Menno was amused. Even his horse snorted."Since when do the Nordlings talk? All you seem to be doing is killing and fucking each other."
"If you think Nilfgaard is so better, then prove it." -Naruto said seriously, and Menno laughs again."You don't want to talk, do you?"
"No." -Menno said with a smile."But you did amuse me. So, I'm going to give a warrior death." -He lifts his hand and looks at his men. With a heavy sigh, Naruto picks his steel sword and looks at it. Gripping it tightly, Naruto flares his Sharingan.
"Charge!" -Menno yells, and a small group dash toward Naruto.
Naruto dashes as well and channels his wind chakra through the blade. Before reaching them, Naruto makes a wide horizontal slash. The wind chakra, that covering the blade, extended and cuts the Imperial soldiers in half. Their bodies fell, and the blood quickly paints their surroundings. Menno gasps, and his horse takes a step back. But, Naruto didn't stop. He continued his mad dash toward them. As if there was an invisible force field, Naruto charges right through the Imperial soldiers. They went flying as if hit by a cave troll. Menno turns his eyes and looks in horror at what was happening. Naruto was copping his soldier as if they were dummies. His soldiers were trying but were unable to land a hit on Naruto. He was too fast for them. Suddenly, Imperial soldiers charges at Naruto all at once. Now We got him, Menno thoughts. But to his shock, it didn't work. Naruto plunges his sword to the ground and shouts."
"Chidori Nagashi!" -His engulfs in electricity. Said electricity runs through his sword and into the ground and surrounds the area. Imperial soldiers quickly stop as electric current runs through them. Soon, their bodies turn into a crisp.
Crossing his fingers, Naruto forms four shadow clones. The Imperial soldiers take a step back. Looking at the terrified faces of Imperial soldiers, Naruto couldn't help but feel bad. He didn't want to do this. But Menno gave him no choice. Now, he had to go through it. Simultaneously, the four clones jump in different directions. The First one holds eight kunai with explosive tags and then throws in few directions. Before landing, he makes a single sign, and every kunai explodes. Screams of terror fill the fields. The Second one, perform a series of hand seals and spits few medium size fireballs. The Third one throws few shurikens and performs Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu. Few shurikens turn into a rain of steel stars, killing a large portion of soldiers. The last one simply lands between his enemies. He coats his hands with electricity and starts massacring them. The original Naruto was still standing around burned bodies. The smell was horrible. But, he had to remain stoic. He lifts his arms and points them in different directions. As his Rinnegan glows beneath his headband, an invisible force pulls his enemies toward him. His Sharingan shifts to Mangekyou and, jet-black flames surround his body. Suddenly, they transform into spikes and pierce the Imperial soldiers.
Menno stares in disbelief. What was he? A devil? Monster? Why wasn't he informed about this? Did the Emperor himself send his men to death?
Without realizing, Menno locks his eye with Naruto's single eye. For a brief moment, Menno forgot how to breathe. His eye wasn't human. It was the eye of a devil.
"Fall back!" -Menno shouts at the top of his lunge. Everyone around him was waiting for that order."Everyone, fall back!" -Menno's horse snorts and gets up on his legs. He fells and hits the ground with his head. Trying to stay conscious was futile. The darkness quickly consumed him.
Menno was brought back by a slap across the face. Blinking, he adjusted his eyes.
"Took you long enough." -Naruto said with slight disappointment."You should feel ashamed of yourself."
"What? Where am I?" -Menno asks and looks around. He was lying in a pool of blood. Screaming in terror, Menno tries to run away. But Naruto grabs him by the ankle and pulls Menno back."Where do you think you're going? We're not through just yet."
"Please! Spare me!" -Menno begs with tears in his eyes.
"I have already spare one of your men." -Naruto said and points at the young man not too far from them. He was sitting in a pool of blood. He wasn't looking anywhere in particular. It was a shock.
"You Monster! Demon spawn! What's wrong with you?!" -Menno yells at Naruto. He was surprised by a sudden change."Damn you and Cintra! You fucking barbarians!"
"Do not judge others, simply by their preconceptions and judgment based on their appearance. Nilfgaard failed to measure its capacity and our own. As a result, you lie here, beaten." -He lifts Menno by his collar."You did this, Menno. Your men are dead not because of me, but due to your choice. I wanted to do this peacefully. But you just laughed at me. Look around you!"
"You think I had any other choice?!" -Menno exclaims."I was following my order!"
"So did I! I had to protect Cintra from you, but you call me a monster?! You fucking hypocrite!" -Naruto couldn't contain himself. He punched him hard in the gut."You would kill innocent people! And why? Just because of someone who can't even do it himself?!
"Fuck you, bastard!" -Menno spats out. Naruto slams him into the ground and punches him again. He puts his hand on his chest and grits his teeth."What are you going to do? Kill me?!"
"Yes, but not before getting every information you have." -Naruto said, and Menno snorts.
"I'm not going to talk!" -Menno shouted before he starts feeling weird. He looks at his chest and gasp. Naruto was pulling something from him."What is this?!"
"I'm ripping your soul from your body." -Naruto explains through his teeth."As soon as I get my information, you'll die."
"Argh! Stop!" -Menno screams in agony. He never knew this kind of pain was possible. As his eyes roll back, Naruto extracts all the information Menno had.
Naruto clenches his first and gets up. He looks at the young soldier he spared.
"Hey you, what's your name?" -Naruto asks, and the young soldier looks at him with terrified eyes."I asked whats your name."
"Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep -"
"I'm not going to memorize your entire name, Cahir." -Naruto said, and Cahir bits his lips."Listen, I'm not going to kill you. All I need from you is to deliver a message, alright?" -Cahir nods slowly."The first message is from the Queen herself:'Dear Emhyr var Emreis. You've underestimated the power of Cintra. I do not recommend sending another batalion. Otherwise, you'll lose more men.
I hope that this defeat will open your eyes. Queen Calanthe of Cintra.'" -Cahir nods, memorizing the message."Go on, leave." -Nodding, Cahir turns around and carefully moves around the bodies. Naruto looks around himself and sighs."What a mess..."