Chapter 15
"Aftermatch"
[Sodden Hill]
Naruto ShippudenOST Original Soundtrack 17 - Setting Sun
At first, he was unable to see anything. He lost consciousness, right after that thing hit the ground. When it did, everything became white. He remembered getting push back and hitting the ground. His back was still hurting.
While groaning, his eyes finally adjusted, and he could finally see again. Looking at the sky, he squints his eyes. It was no longer dark, and there was no rain or lightning. The sky was orange, with few clouds. Sunset? How long was he unconscious?
"You awake, Your Majesty." -Said a familiar voice. He looks to his right and sees Vilgefortz with his hand reaching to him. Licking his lips, Foltest grabs his and slowly gets up."You should take a look at this."
He looks at the direction that Vilgefortz was pointing. There was an earth wall. Or what was remaining of it. He had to get up on his feet to see what was behind it. Foltest jaw hanged when he saw the destruction. The forest that was surrounding them before was nothing more than a hole. It reminded a mining hole.
"By the gods..." -Foltest whispers. Hearing groaning, he turns around and sees Vizimir getting up.
"Dammit, I'm too old for this..." -He said hoarsely."Ow, my back!"
"Vizimir, you better get your ass here." -Foltest said, and Vizimir looks at with annoyance.
"I will if someone helps me get up." -Vizimir snaps, and the King of Temeria sighs. Vilgefortz helps him get back on his feet. He shows Vizimir what Foltest wanted him to see."You're kidding. There is no way one man is capable of this!"
"I'm afraid Mr. Uzumaki is that kind of man." -Vilgefortz said with a chuckle. Vizimir glances at him and shakes his head."But where is he? I don't see him anywhere."
"Me neither..." -Foltest said, and looks around. He saw his men getting up or groaning on the ground. But Naruto was nowhere in sight."Where is he?"
Then, he sees Yennefer slowly making her way towards them.
"Yennefer, where is Mr. Uzumaki?" -Vilgefortz asks and then notices her expression."What happened?"
"Your Majesties..." -There was distress in her tone. She has shown signs of crying."Please, this way."
When they reached the tent, they froze upon seeing what was inside. Naruto was sitting by someone who was lying on a makeshift bed. Next to that person was another person in a similar state. They had third-degree burns all over their faces. Barely recognizable, but Foltest and Vizimir knew who they were. Triss Merigorld and Philippa Eilhart.
"What happened...?" -Foltest asks weakly.
"I...I...-" -Naruto was unable to utter a word.
"They were attacked by Nilfgaardian mages." -Yennefer explained to Foltest."Naruto managed to save their lives before it was too late."
"I didn't...There's still a chance they might die." -Naruto blurted and gently touched Triss burned hand with his fingertips.."It's my fault. If I didn't play around..."
"God Dammit! Can't you do something about it?" -Vizimir snarls at him."Look what you just did there! After seeing that I'm having a hard time believing, you can't do anything to save these two..."
"What about Tissaia, Francesca, and Sabrina? Where are they?" -Foltest asks.
"Unconscious." -Yennefer explains."They are in another tent. Unlike Triss and Philippa, their wounds are minor."
"Dammit!" -Foltest snarls with his fist clenched.
[Naruto... Don't give up that easily. You can save them. You know how...]
'Your chakra can only heal me...' -Naruto replies to him mentally.
[So you don't remember your training?]
'What's that got to do with this situation?' -He snorts, and Kurama sighs.
[Rinnegan. Summon King of Hell, Naruto]
'...You're right.' -Naruto thought while rubbing his temples. He then gets up and looks at Kings and Yennefer."I think there's a way to heal them."
"Then do it!" -It was Yennefer who yelled at him. Her eyes teared up."If there is a chance, then do it!"
"I will." -He said seriously."Take a few steps back. I need a room for this." -They obliged. He lifts his headband, revealing his Rinnegan to them. He extends his arm and points his hand at the ground before him. A dark purple circle of flames appears on the ground. They all gasp after seeing what came out. It was some kind of humanoid head.
"What the fuck is that?!" -Vizimir shouted, and even Vilgefortz felt uneasy looking at the thing."How is that supposed to help them?!"
"I'm getting to that." -Naruto replies calmly."That's King of Hell. A deity of a sort."
"What kind of deity?" -Vilgefortz asks with a curious tone.
"Doesn't matter." -He replies with a cold tone."One of its abilities is restoration. Which means I can restore their bodies to original form."
"Do it." -Yennefer said with a firm nod. She trusts him that much was obvious.
King of Hell opens his mouth wide, and then two tentacle-like tongues came out of his mouth. Extending, they reach and gently wrap themself around Triss and Philippa. Lifting them, they retract back to the King Of Hell mouth and vanish in the darkness. Everyone who was witnessing this couldn't help but gulp. After closing its mouth, the dark flame around him changed to light green color. Within a few moments, the mouth opens again. With a shock, they look at how Triss and Philippa come out of King of Hell. Healed, but still unconscious. The tounges moved them back to their bed and then retracted back. With a hiss, The King of Hell goes back to the ground and vanishes.
"Triss..." -Yennefer said with a relieved voice. She walks to her friend and covers her body with a blanket. Vizimir walks to Philippa and does the same."Thank you, Naruto..."
"We have to thank you as well." -Foltest said, and Vizimir nods."Thanks to you, We won."
"Hate to admit it, but Foltest's right." -Vizimir said with a chuckle."He lost against Cintra, and now against combined forces of Northern Kingdoms."
"Right, but what if Emhyr won't stop?" -Vilgefortz throws in a question.
"Then he's stupid, reckless, and insane." -Naruto said harshly."He lost at least one hundred and twenty thousand men."
"All We can do is wait now." -Yennefer said, and looks at them."It'll take him a lot of time to look for recruits. We can all use it to get stronger and be better prepared."
"Indeed." -Foltest agreed with a nod."We need to check on our soldiers, but before that, I have to do something." -He walks to Naruto and extends his hand to him."I want to make a vow."
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" -Naruto asks, confused.
"If you or Cintra ever need help, then don't be afraid to ask." -Foltest said seriously, surprising everyone."I'm not taking no as an answer."
"I think I own you one." -Vizimir said with a small smile."So, you have the full support of Redania as well."
"Thank you, but I don't think Calanthe will like that." -Naruto said with a smirk."She likes being independent, you know."
"We know, but that doesn't matter." -Foltest said with a smug smile."If you don't mind, We'll go to and check on our soldiers."-With nods, Foltest and Vizimir leave the tent.
Vilgefortz gives Naruto a strange look before following the Kings. He could feel his anger. And jealousy? Typical, he thought.
"When...when do you think they are going to wake up?" -Yennefer asks while glancing at Triss and Philippa.
"Dunno, it depends on them, not us." -Naruto replies and looks at Triss. He won't be able to get rid of the image of her previous state. Not anytime now."
"Then maybe use this time to go and clean yourself." -She said and points at his bloody clothes and hair. He looks at himself and sighs. There was almost no spot without dried blood.
"Luckily, I have spare clothes." -He said after taking a small scroll from his pocket.
"There's a lake north-east from here." -She explained with a smile."Go. I don't want Triss to wake up to see her hero covered in blood."
"Yes, Ma'am..." -Naruto blurts out while trying to hide his slight embarrassment.
[Later. Lake.]
Today was a full moon. Its beauty was reflecting on the surface of the lake. The wind sounded through the trees as Naruto let out a soft sigh. There were also crickets, chirping in harmonic tune. Combined with fireflies flying around, it created a calming aura. An aura that was helping forget. It was helping Naruto forget, even for a moment, about what happened not so long ago.
Unfortunately, this aura didn't last long. From a distance, Naruto heard shouts of the soldiers celebrating the victory over Nilfgaard.
Having enough of the bath, Naruto decided to get out and dress up. But after putting on his pants, he felt that something was wrong. Someone was watching him. He didn't recognize who it was. But it was someone with powerful magic.
"Seriously..." -He said tiredly. Extending his hand toward the person hiding behind the trees, he whispers." Banshō Ten'in..."
At first, there was resistance, but after a moment, it was too strong for the person to resist. He came out of the trees as if shot from a slingshot. Naruto caught him by the collar of his clothes. When he first saw him, Naruto was surprised. He was dealing with an Elf. An Elf with grey hair, blueish eyes, and sunken cheeks. He was wearing a dark blue cloak and black clothes beneath with a big brown belt wrapped around his waist. He had many different sized pouches around his torso. He also had light brown boots that reached his knees.
The Elf was shocked and in disbelief at what just happened to him. Naruto smirks at him with his Sharingan and Rinnegan glowing.
"I guess no one told you that peeping is wrong, huh?" -Naruto asks smugly, as Elf raises his eyebrow."You're not a Scoia'tael. Must have come from very far away."
"You're right." -The Elf agrees, raising his arms in surrender. But there was another thing that surprised Naruto. The Elf was holding a sketchbook in his right hand."Now, could you please let go of me?" -He obliged.
"Got a name?" -Naruto asks and picks up a shirt next to him.
"Crevan Espane aep Caomhan Macha." -The Elf introduced himself. He then saw the tired look on Naruto's face."But you may call me Avallac'h."
"Name's Naruto Uzumaki." -Naruto introduced himself after putting on his shirt."So tell me Avallac'h, what brings you here? Don't tell me you were drawing me in that sketchbook."
"Oh, no. I merely came here for inspiration." -He explained and then, opens his sketchbook."Here, care to take a look?" -Naruto raised his eyebrow when he saw Avallac'h drawings.
"You know, other than looking primitive, the bison's aren't purple." -Naruto said, and Avallac'h chuckles.
"Perhaps not in this or your world." -Avallac'h said with a small smile.
"What?" -Naruto asks, confused.
"No need to act confused." -Avallac'h said calmly."After all, I'm not of this world too."
"How do you know?" -Naruto asks with a curious tone.
"Well, no one has that kind of eyes in this world for starters." -Avallac'h said with small amusement in his voice."Secondly, there is a specific aura around you. It's faint, due to your long interaction in this world."
"Why do I get a feeling you want something from me?" -Naruto asks, and Avallac'h smiles.
"You are not wrong." -Avallac'h said, and his smile fades."I came to ask you how is Zirael doing?"
"Who's Zirael?" -Naruto asks, now even more confused.
"Forgive me, you know her under a different name. Tell me, how's Cirilla doing?" -Avallac'h asks as he's closing his sketchbook."Is there any need for this?" -Avallac'h sighs, as cold steel touches his neck.
"What do you know about Ciri?" -Naruto asks coldly, his Sharingan changing to Mangekyou.
"That she's the Hen Ichaer, Elder Blood." -Avallac'h calmly explains."The descendant of Lara Dorren."
"I heard that name before." -Naruto said, furrowing his eyebrows."She was an elven sorceress who fell in love with Cregennan of Lod, a human mage, after the Conjunction of the Spheres. Their union was very controversial for both races."
"I see you know the story." -Avallac'h said.
"Still, what do you want with her?" -Naruto asks as the moon reflects itself on his sword.
"I want to help her. She's in danger." -Avallac'h explains."What do you know about the White Frost?"
"I heard that term before. What's the White Frost?" -Avallac'h looks around and sighs again.
"You can say that the White Frost is a poetic metaphor for an upcoming ice age caused by changes in the planet's orbit and axis, which will cause most of the northern hemisphere to freeze around...three thousand years from now on." -He explains, and Naruto's eyes widen.
"What's Ciri's got to do with any of this?" -Naruto asks another question.
"Because she's the key." -Avallac'h explains quietly."Her child would be a savior. The child would be able to stop the White Frost."
"Why does it matter? You said We have at least three thousand years." -Naruto said, raising his eyebrow.
"Because it's not only this world. Other worlds were touch by it." -Avallac'h explains, and Naruto puts away his sword."And there are many more in danger."
"Including yours?" -Naruto guessed.
"So is yours." -Avallac'h said, and Naruto looks down."But now, We're running into a problem."
"What is it?" -Naruto asks dully.
"Our King, who was supposed to be the father, was killed." -Avallac'h replies with a sad tone.
"Wait...Your King was supposed to be a father?" -Naruto asks with disgust."Don't tell me it was some kind of destiny."
"Partially, yes." -Naruto clenches his fist."But that doesn't matter anymore."
"Who killed your King?" -Naruto asks, looking him straight in the eyes. Avallac'h could see the anger in his eyes.
"His name is Eredin Bréacc Glas." -Avallac'h replies, venom filling his voice."He wants Zirael."
"What for exactly?" -Naruto asks.
"Eredin beliefs that he's superior to everyone else." -Avallac'h shakes his head."He wants Zirael for her blood. The Elder Blood that stops the White Frost and helps him conquer other worlds."
"How so? How can her blood help him conquer other worlds?" -Avallac'h looks up and looks at the stars.
"Because Zirael is the Lady of Time and Space." -Avallac'h said, and notices even confusion on Naruto's face."Before the Conjunction of the Spheres, We, the Aen Elle, were able to travel between worlds. But now, We are having an incredibly difficult time doing that."
"Let me guess, thanks to Elder blood Ciri can easily travel between worlds?" -Avallac'h nods with a small smile."If Eredin thinks I'll let him touch her, then he'll be in a world of pain."
"You might find it harder to do." -Avallac'h said seriously."He's controlling the beasts from your world."
"What did you say?!" -Naruto grabs him by his collar again."Where are they?! What did Eredin get his hands on them?!
"Calm down...I will tell you everything I know." -Avallac'h calmly looks at furious Naruto. He let go of Avallac'h collar."It happened four years ago. A woman with pale skin and an eye in her forehead appeared in our world-"
"Her name is Kaguya." -Naruto explains, and Avallac'h nods."She was after me..."
"I see." -Avallac'h said."Kaguya was weak when she came. Most likely from her dimensional traveling. Our soldiers surrounded her, and then she started to scream. Her body was transforming into some kind of creature with tails that had different heads." -He pauses, remembering that day with pain on his face."Many died while trying to fight her. Eventually, thanks to our magic, We're able to defeat her. Or so we thought."
"The Tails Beasts split from her, right?" -Avallac'h nods."So, what happened after that?"
"Not understanding what was going on, We attacked them." -Avallac'h continued."That caused even more deaths. It took everything we had to subdue them and then send somewhere far away from our home."
"But, Eredin saw their potential. So he wanted to control them." -Naruto added, causing Avallac'h to sigh."Tell me, was there the body of a human?"
"I do not know. I passed out and was unconscious for days." -Avallac'h admitted."Everything started to go downhill from that point."
"So you don't know where are the Tail Beasts?" -Avallac'h shakes his head.
"But, I am trying to look for them." -He said, and looks at the lake."I'm taking a risk by talking with you. But I needed a few words with you."
"Then consider me warn." -Naruto said, but the Elf shakes his head.
"There's more." -He said, and looks at Naruto."You have to train Zirael seriously. Teach her everything you can, and when the time is right, help her with her gift."
"How am I supposed to teach her something I don't even understand?" -Naruto asks with slight annoyance in his voice.
"She needs to take her first step with magic. Ask the Sorceresses you are with." -Avallac'h explained."I'll contact you when I learn more. For now...I need to leave." -He notices the look on Naruto's face."You don't trust me, do you?"
"Don't take it the wrong way. I'm thankful for the warning." -He started."But I'm not naive to trust you right off the bat. Your intentions might good, but I need to be sure of it myself. I hope you can understand that."
"I understand, Naruto." -Avallac'h said with a smile."I'm glad I came to talk with you. Until We meet again."
"Va fáill, Avallac'h." -Naruto said in Elder Speech. Avallac'h smiles before turning away and going back to the woods."Man, what the fuck is going on?"
[Don't ask me. I'm still confused about all of this. Hard to believe they survived the battle with Kaguya. Do you think We can trust him?]
"We'll see, Kurama." -Naruto replies with a sigh."For now, let's go back to the camp."