Chapter 15
"Battle of Sodden Hill"
[Keadwen. Kaer Morhen's courtyard.]
Witcher Wild Hunt Ost - Kear Morhen
Kaer Morhen was an old keep where witchers used to be trained. The name itself was a corruption of Caer a'Muirehen, revealing that there used to be sea around it, which is further indicated by the presence of fossilized sea creatures embedded in the stones on which it was built. In older times, witchers trained and underwent mutations here, but fanatics who considered witchers an abomination attacked the keep and killed most of the teachers and students.
Vesemir sidesteps to avoid Eskel sword. Making quick pirouette, they lock their swords together. They make a circle without breaking their lock. Pulling his sword back, Eskel then plunged his sword forward, but Vesemir sidesteps again. Making his pirouette, Eskel swings his sword to hit Vesemir back. But despite his age, Vesemir was still quick enough to block it. With a smirk, Vesemir hits Eskel with his left fist. Eskel falls and wants to get up, but Vesemir sword his blocking his way.
"That wasn't fair. We're supposed to use swords." -Eskel snorts, and Vesemir chuckles.
"Life isn't fair, Eskel." -Vesermir states, and helps him get up."Your pirouette was sloppy, you know. You have to keep practicing."
"As if it was sloppy." -Eskel blurted. They both put their swords away and then look at each other. "Did you heard that?"
"A flap of wings, yes." -Vesemir agreed with a nod. They look at the sky, and in the distance, a flying creature. Focusing their eyes, Vesemir and Eskel saw that it was an enormous hawk. A kind they never saw before. But there was more. Someone was riding on top of it. A little girl."I hope you see the same thing I do."
"Yeah. Do you see the hawks eyes?" -Eskel asks, and Vesemir nods."The, um, what was it called?"
"The Rinnegan." -Vesemir reminds him."I think I have an idea of who is riding that hawk."
The hawk made a few circles before landing in the courtyard. Vesemir and Eskel watch as a little girl with grey hair jump down. There was a strange creature on her shoulder that puzzled them. She looks at them, confused and unsure.
"Um, is this Kaer Morhen?" -She asks shyly. Vesemir sighs softly. He kneels to her level and smiles at her.
"Indeed, you're in Kaer Morhen." -Vesemir said calmly. "My name is Vesemir. That's Eskel. What's your name?"
"Nice to meet you." -Ciri said while twiddling her thumbs."My name is Ciri, and this is Gyuki."
"A Tail Beast?" -Eskel asks.
"Yup. That's me." -Gyuki said, and shows off his tails. Eskel notices that Ciri looks at his scar.
"Yeah, I used to look more handsome." -Eskel said with a chuckle. Ciri looks away, her cheeks reddish.
"Um, where is Uncle Geralt?" -Ciri asks, and they both laugh. She tilted her head in confusion.
"Uncle Geralt, huh? I guess he's old enough to be an uncle." -Eskel laughs with Vesemir.
"Don't forget, you're the same age." -Vesemir reminded with a chuckle. Eskel responded with a shrug before Vesemir turns back to Ciri."Geralt isn't here. At least, not yet."
"Oh, is that so." -Suddenly, the hawk poof out of existence."We can wait for him, right?"
"Of course you can." -Vesemir said while getting up."In the meantime, how about We show you the castle?" -With a shy smile, she nods.
[Sodden Hill.]
The preparations were finally over. Thanks to Naruto's clones, the whole process took less than two hours. All that they could do was simply waiting. Judging by the dark clouds, the rain will fall upon them soon. The other proof of that was the lighting heard from a distance. Not perfect weather for someone who wears dresses, Naruto thought. He glances at Triss, Yennefer, and Philippa talking before returning to sharpening his sword.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt OST - Yes, I Do
"So, tell us Triss have you been eyeing him for a while now?" -Philippa's question came out of nowhere. It made Triss flinch in surprise."Come on, We're women, so no need to be shy."
"Where did you get that idea, Philippa?" -She asks with her cheeks red. Triss was not able to hide her embarrassment about the question."I am not eyeing him or anything."
"You better get him before someone else does." -Yennefer recommends her. Looking at her troubled friend, she gives her a reassuring smile Triss."You know, if it wasn't for the fact that I met Geralt and Naruto at the same time, then who knows...?" -Triss looks away, and Yennefer sighs."At least go and talk with him. You haven't seen each other for some time."
"If I do, will you stop nagging me?" -Triss asks, and Yennefer smiles.
"Yes." -She replies shortly. Triss shakes her head and licks her lips.
Why was she so nervous? She liked Naruto, but she didn't know him as long as Yennefer. And yet, her heart was going crazy. If she had to be honest, she was thinking about him for the past eight months. She was looking for any leads of Tail Beasts like crazy just to see him. But, to no luck. Although she was a bit scared to join King Foltest in the battle with Nilfgaard, Triss changed her mind after seeing him with Yennefer. She felt better knowing that he'll help them in a fight.
"Hey, long time no see, Triss." -Naruto said with a warm smile. Triss blinks at him, not knowing when she got closer to him."Is everything okay?"
"Ah, yes, I'm fine." -She quickly said, as her cheeks flush."It's been some time, huh?" -She added while sitting next to him."How are you doing?"
"I'm doing fine." -Naruto replies with a smile as he puts his sword away."I found one of them. The Eight-Tails, Gyuki."
"Yen told me about it. Did you have to fight with him too?" -She asks, and Naruto nods."Where did you find him?"
"In Skellige." -He said."Luckily my seal worked. But I still need to yours and Yennefer help in taking off that mark."
"I'll try to get to Kear Morhen as soon as possible." -Triss said, making sure no one was listening."But I have to convince King Foltest to let me off the hook first."
"I'm pretty sure that with your charm, he won't be able to say no." -Naruto said with a grin. Triss blushed, and looks away."Did I said something wrong?"
"Um, no, it's nothing." -Triss responds with a small smile.' Come on, girl. You had many men before! They all said similar things, so why does it work now?!'
"Triss, you are nervous. I can feel it." -Naruto said, and Triss looks at him surprised. I forgot about that, Triss thought."Are you scared about the battle with Nilfgaard?"
'Ah, thank goodness.' -Triss thinks to herself."Yes, it's the first time I'm going to fight in a war. I'm just not sure if I'm up for this."
"Not everyone is, and yet here you are." -Naruto said while looking at her."You could've thought of any sort of excuse to stay away from this." -He pauses and gives her a big smile."I think you are brave for being here. Being scared is not wrong. I can tell you that there are many men here that are scared."
"Really?" -She asks, and he nods."Thank you. I mean it."
"No problem." -He blushed after noticing her smile. His eye widens, and his smile vanishes. He gets up and looks in the forest direction."They're close. We need to get in positions." -Triss immediately gets up and stops as Naruto places his hand on her shoulder."Everything will be alright. I promise."
Without another word, they nod to each other.
After alerting everyone, it took a few minutes to get in position. The sorceresses split in half and went for a different hill. Yennefer, Triss, and Philippa were in the front, next to the soldiers. They will provide offensive support, while Tissaia, Sabrina, and Francesca will provide a protective shield from possible missiles. The rest of up to the soldiers and those who will lead them. Naruto, Vilgefortz, Vizimir, and King Foltest were standing in front of four armies.
"I can't wait to fight by your side, Naruto." -Vilgefortz said with the smile on his face. Naruto was surprised by his choice of weapon. A staff. Most likely a magical one.
"Just don't stand in my way." -Naruto said impassively.
"Are you still upset about me trying to read your mind?" -Vilgefortz asks with an amused expression."I did apologize for that. Don't you remember?"
"I remember, but I don't remember accepting your apology." -Naruto replies smugly.
"Can't you argue later?" -Vizimir snarls."We have a Nilfgaard to crush."
"Don't you want to say a few words to the soldier, Your Majesty?" -Naruto asks while looking at Foltest.
"I already did before you came." -Foltest replies with a shrug."They know the stakes."
With a nod, Naruto feels a single raindrop on his face. He looks up and sees how one raindrop transforms into a downpour. But there was something else. A red spot was growing larger and larger. Realizing what it was, Naruto prepares to jump and absorb the incoming attack. To his surprise, the energy orb simply bounces off of some kind of invisible wall and explodes. Looking at the hill on his left, Naruto sees how Tissaia, Sabrina, and Francesca are holding their hands up. With a smirk, he turns his head and sees black figures walking out of the forest. Nilfgaard, Naruto thought. Just like in Cintra, a Field marshal leads them. Naruto did notice that there were few elves there and there. But where were the sorcerers of Nilfgaard? Probably somewhere in far back.
"It futile to resist." -Marshal said loudly."I, Havart var Moehoen, shall deliver this land to the Emperor. Your pathetic army won't stand a chance against the might of Nilfgaard."
"Then you haven't heard what happened in Cintra." -Naruto remarks with a snort."You lost against one kingdom. Now, you are facing four armies. Are you sure that you can stand a chance against us?"
"Stupid Nordling..." -Havart snarls. He heard what happened in Cintra two days ago.
"You won't win against us!" -King Foltest shouts and roars erupt from behind."We're going to give you free advice. Either turn around and leave or die here." -For a moment, there was no response. That is until Havart drew his sword. The message was clear."So you choose death..." -Naruto channels lighting chakra through his sword.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt OST - Steel For Humans
Naruto flares his Sharingan to life, as Foltest and Vizimir drew their swords. As the lighting cracks, the armies charge at each other with war cries. Naruto was the first to reach their enemies. Five of them wanted to gang up on Naruto. But thanks to his fast reaction, he cuts them down before they can even swing their swords. Moving forward, he cuts more soldiers. Eventually, he jumps up and forms a giant Rasengan in his left palm. He slams his Rasengan on top of a small group of Nilfgaardian soldiers. The explosion created a medium size crater that Naruto was standing in. The chaos and shock allowed the allied armies to cut down a lot of confused soldiers. As Naruto jumps from the crater, he grabs a few kunai with explosive tags. He throws them in few directions and remotely detonates them. The explosions were powerful enough to send them flying. After landing in the middle of a large group, Naruto begins to slash and cut everyone around him. He landed every hit and swiftly avoided every blade coming his way.
But unlike him, the Allied forces and Nilfgaardian soldiers were at a stalemate. Without his skills and abilities, each side was unable to move forward. By now, Naruto was already in the middle of the enemy side. Surrounded by enemy and without anyone to help him. Not like he needed that. After all, Naruto was like an army. Literally and figurately speaking, of course.
Suddenly, Naruto notices how his enemies pause. They surrounded him but did not move any closer. Looking at their faces, Naruto quickly understood the situation. They were afraid, and rightfully so. Naruto's body was covered in blood. His hair, face, armor, hands, feet, and his sword. Despite the downpour, the blood wasn't washing off.
"What? A minute ago, you wouldn't stop attacking me." -Naruto said casually, and the soldiers looked at each other."Come on, let's dance."
[Keadwen. Kaer Morhen, sometime later.]
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt OST - After The Storm
Geralt sighs softly. He looks and admires the nature around him. Despite having a lot of terrible memories of this place, the Witcher had to admit it's perks. It was, at least, beautiful and disconnected from the world. From everything that was going on. War, hunger, pain, and suffering. It was a place to clear your head and rest. Of course, if you killed any pesky monsters in the area first.
As he was getting closer, Geralt couldn't help but be surprised. After being on the path with Naruto for a few years, he picked a few of Blond's tricks. Such as sensing the chakra. It proofed to be quite useful during one of his jobs. But that wasn't the only thing. He learned basic skills like tree climbing, water walking, enhanced jumping, etc. To learn of that took a full year. But in return, it made him more deadly and expended his arsenal.
What surprised him was the fact that he couldn't sense Naruto's chakra. Instead, he sensed Ciri's and something/someone else. But whatever it was, it's chakra was just slightly below that of Nine Tails.
'Must be the Eight tails.' -He thought as he reached the gates.' But where is Naruto?' -Once he passed the gates, Geralt jumps down and leads Roach to the stable.
He notices that they were waiting for him. Vesemir, Eskel, and Ciri look at him with a small surprise. Ciri takes a few steps forward but stops as if unsure of herself.
"Uncle Geralt?" -She asks with wide eyes. He nods slowly, and Ciri rushes toward him."Uncle Geralt!"
Hello, Ciri." -Geralt greets her with a hug."You've grown." -He added with a smile.
"I haven't seen you in so long." -She said after breaking their hug.
"I know. But as you know, Witchers are always needed. Even if people don't like us." -Geralt explains, and Ciri frowns."Now, don't be like that. I did promise to teach you how to use a sword, right?" -Her frown turns into a smile. Geralt looks at the Witchers and asks."What?"
"Don't you think you own us a greeting, Uncle Geralt?" -Eskel remarks with a smirk.
"He's right, you know." -Vesemir agrees with a smile.
"Heh, it's nice to see you too." -Geralt said with a smile. He looks around and notices a creature sitting not that far from them."I take it it's the Tail Beast."
"Name's Gyuki! Nice to meet you!" -Gyuki introduces himself with a wave of his tail.
"Likewise." -Geralt said with a nod. He looks around again and asks."Where is Lambert?"
"Believe me, it's best he's not here." -Eskel said with a serious tone."Knowing him, he'd want to kill Naruto's friend over there."
"Yes, We both know he doesn't care if the beast is intelligent or not." -Vesemir agrees with a sigh.
"Who's Lambert?" -Ciri asks, noticing that Gyuki didn't seem to enjoy the thought of meeting Lambert.
"Lambert..." -Geralt pauses and ponders for a moment."Lambert is Lambert. If he comes in winter, you'll understand what I mean."
"Um, okay?" -Ciri said with a confused tone.
"Anyway, where's Naruto?" -Geralt asks, and Ciri starts explaining what happened."Is that so? Hmm..."
"It won't take them that long, knowing Naruto." -Vesemir said, and Eskel agrees with a nod.
"You're probably right." -Geralt agrees as well. He looks up and sees black clouds by the mountains.' Yennefer and Triss will be fine with Naruto.'
[Sodden Hill.]
Mud, blood, rain, fire, lightning, war cries, and clanking of swords. Everything.
All of that can be heard amid the raging battle. Even from the hill that Triss was standing on.
It's so unbelievable for her that Yennefer and Philippa were so focused and calm about this.
"Triss, you have to stay calm." -Yennefer said calmly.
"I agree. We still have a job to finish." -Philippa agrees."We cannot afford to lose focus now."
"I'm trying! But look at what's happening!" -Triss grits her teeth. She could hear screams even from here."This insanity!"
"For fuck sake, calm down." -Yennefer snaps at her."You knew the stakes!"
"I wonder, what would Naruto think of you right now." -Philippa said with a snort. Triss glances at her and clenches her fists."Because if I were him, I'd be disappointed."
That did it.
Triss shouts incantations, and rain of fire falls upon Nilfgaardian soldiers.
"Atta girl." -Yennefer said quietly.
As Yennefer was about to join in, she heard something. A calling of some kind. The voice was familiar. She moved her eyes to the source of the voice.
'Geralt?' -She thought while looking at the Witcher next to a tree. But there was something wrong with him. He was bleeding and in pain.' The illusion. I must break it.'
It didn't work.
Instead, she was hearing him calling for her help. His was voice made her flinch. She knew this wasn't real! It was an illusion cast by the Nilfgaardian mage.
She has to focus on something else. Something more pleasant. Maybe a memory? Yes, this could work. She focuses and remembered how a few months ago, Geralt was trying to make an omelet for her. He forgot about the egg, causing her to laugh.
It didn't work either.
Now, she could hear him screaming for help, right by her ear.
It was getting unbearable.
She wanted to stop everything and help him. But Yennefer knew that the real Geralt was in Kaer Morhen. Not here, not wounded. She was trying not to look.
But she couldn't. She felt drawn to him against her will.
"What's happening over there?!" -Triss asks with disbelief."Philippa, do you see this?!"
She was seeing shadows moving around Tissaia, Francesca, and Sabrina. The shadows were attacking them!
"What are you talking about, Merigold?!" -Philippa snarls at her."There is nothing wrong!" -Triss blinks and wipes her forehead.
"Nothing. I swear-" -Philippa pulls her and slaps her across the face.
"Pull yourself together! Right about this instance!" -Philippa yells as the lighting cracks."Yennefer, say something to her, otherwise I'll-" -Yennefer was nowhere to be seen."Yennefer? Where is she?!"
"I don't know." -Triss replies while nursing her cheek. She looks back at the other hill and sees flames and smoke. But Tissaia, Sabrina, and Francesca were nowhere in sight."Look!"
Philippa looks at the other hill and gasps. What was happening?
Triss looks up and notices an incoming magical missile. In the last second, Triss was able to put the shield up, but it was too late. The momentum and speed were far too great for Triss to handle. The magical missile exploded, cracking and breaking the shield. Naruto..., Triss thought, right before the white light consumes her.
"Fuuton: Rasenshuriken!" -Naruto shouts as he throws his jutsu at a large group of soldiers.
He was losing count as to how many did he kill. No matter how much was trying, the number was just increasing. Just how many soldiers did Emhyr send? He was quite deep in the forest, already leaving the allied armies far behind. He had to get through and get rid of the sorcerers. That way, Tissaia, Francesca, and Sabrina will be able to join in a fight.
Naruto's eye widens as he sees black hooded figures. Finally, he thought. But there was more. He saw a female sorceress in a navy blue dress with short black hair. And Yennefer? Why was she there? On the ground and in pain. The sorceress was looking down at Yennefer with a small smile. Not knowing what happened, Naruto quickly lifts his headband. Whoever the sorceress was, she was going to pay for what she did.
'I fell for an illusion like a little child! Fuck!' -Yennefer thought painfully. Before she knew it, someone slashed across her eyes. She was blind now, with no idea where she was.
"You disappoint me, Yennefer." -She knew that voice too well. Fringilla Vigo."To fell for something so simple? It's just like in Aretuza. Remember?"
"Fuck off!" -Yennefer snaps at her.
"Language, Yennefer." -Fringilla remarks with a serious tone."Don't test my patience."
"Heh, you and patience." -Yennefer snort through her teeth."Why not just kill me?"
"It's easy. And I don't like doing things the easy way." -Fringilla replies calmly."I was hoping you'd beg for mercy. Oh, well..."
"I don't need my eyes to kill you!" -Yennefer yells, taking out her dagger. But either Fringilla or someone around her kicks it off her hand. The next thing she wanted to do was to cast a spell. For that, she was kicked in the guts."Ugh..."
"Yennefer, please refrain from spoiling my fun." -Fringilla said with an amused tone. Two men picked Yennefer up and hold her arms."Now, where should We start?" -Yennefer spits at her dress, at least she hoped she did. She could hear Fringilla gritting her teeth."If that's how you want to play-!"
Something happened. Fringilla starts to scream an agony out of nowhere. The air became hot for some reason. The men who were holding her let her go. After falling on her knees, she heard some things hitting the ground. Their heads? Yennefer thought. Fringilla was still screaming. Then she heard her falling to the ground. She screams for a few more moments before stopping.
Then it hit her. The smell. The smell of a burning corpse. The air was still hot.
"Who's there?!" -She yells while moving her head around.
"It's me! Naruto!" -Naruto said frantically."Oh my god. Did she do this to you?"
"If you mean Fringilla, then yes..." -She replies as the pain hits her again."Where are We? Why do I smell a burning corpse?"
"Wait, I have an idea." -Naruto said calmly, and cover her eyes with his right hand."Just breathe, okay?"
"I don't think you can help-" -The pain stopped. She felt better. Far better than before."What did you...?"
"Open your eyes." -Naruto said calmly. Yennefer was hesitant."Do you trust me?" -She nods slowly.
Then carefully opens her eyes and is momentarily blinded by lighting. To her shock and disbelief, she could see! Yennefer knew of ways to heal damaged eyes, but it wasn't instant.
She looks around and gasps in shock. Black flames. Black flames were surrounding them. She looks where she last heard Fringilla and almost puked. Her body was barely there anymore. It was being consumed by those black flames.
"How did you-?" -Yennefer was out of words."Ah, never mind. You have to go back! Triss and Phillipa-"
"Can you stand?" -He asks quickly, and she nods."Do you need help?!"
"No! Go!" -She yells at him, and Naruto turns around. He jumps and vanishes behind the black flames. Yennefer gets up and looks at her surroundings. She was in a circle of flames. Something was telling her not to touch those flames. She glances at Fringilla for the last time before teleporting away.
Naruto jumps from tree to tree. It was a moment before he reached the still-raging battle.
He gasps at the sighted fire on a hill where Triss and Philippa were supposed to be. Momentarily glancing at the other hill, Naruto saw the same thing. Making a single shadow clone, they split and go to each hill.
Upon landing, what Naruto saw was upsetting. Triss was alive, that much certain. But her current state reminded him of Gai Sensei, after his fight with Madara. More bloody, though. Her long and beautiful chestnut hair was gone. Replaced by the third-degree burn. The upper part of her dress was burned off, revealing her burned skin. He almost wanted to gag. Philippa state was no better. But she was alive as well. The fact that they survived this was a miracle.
"Triss..." -He said weakly, and then kneels before her."How did I allow this to happen?"
[Now is not the time! Focus! We need to save them! Make a shadow clone! Now!]
Naruto obliged. A single shadow clone pops into existence. Kurama quickly took over and gently put his hand on Triss body. With his right hand, now coated with chakra, he reaches for Philippa. Within a moment, their bodies were coated with his chakra cloak.
"I'll keep them alive." -Kurama said with his deep voice."You have to end this battle right now."
"I...I know!" -He quickly replies and gets back on his feet. He takes a few steps and looks at the battle before him. Nilfgaard managed to push the allied armies back. With his teeth gritted, Naruto waves a series of hand seals."Doton: Taju Doryuheki!
Vilgefortz, Foltest, and Vizimir were fighting side by side. Despite their best effort, they're being pushed back. Suddenly, the ground before them starts to shake. Then, an earth wall erupts from the ground, splitting both armies apart. Some went flying like ragdoll because they stood in the wrong spot.
"Where did that came from?" -Vilgefortz whispers and then sees a man standing on the wall."Ah, Mr. Uzumaki..."
"Enough!" -Naruto shouts on top of his lunges. They all look at him now."I had enough of you! I'm going to end this!"
"Ha! You think that little wall will stop us?!"
"Our mages will destroy them with ease!"
"Well, where are they then?" -Naruto asks smugly. No said anything."They're dead. And in a second, you all will be as well." -Bolts of Lightning became more violent above them.
"Ha! Did all of you heard that?!"
"What a joke!"
"So be it..." -Naruto said, coating his hand with electricity."Brace yourself."
No one knew at the time to who he was speaking. But what happened next was something that the Allied armies will talk about for years.
Suddenly, there was a roar coming from the clouds. A dragon appeared. Made out of the lighting, with red terrifying eyes. It was staring at the Nilfgaardian soldiers.
'Beautiful...' -Vilgefortz though as he licks his lips.
"Vanish with a roar of thunder..." -Naruto snarls and points his hand at the Nilfgaardian Soldiers."Raiton: Kirin!"