Naruto: Viking Demi-God (Patreon) (Exclusive) (CH 4)

A/N: This story is rated M for mature content not suitable for children.

A/N2: I will just call Njord Kushinasson the Orange of Kattegat by his original name Naruto. In the story, this makes it easier.

Viking Demi-God (CH 3)/(CH 5)

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Chapter 4: Earl Naruto (Njord)

The journey to Kattegat was interesting to say the least. Froki and his girlfriend were glaring at Naruto, while the blonde was winking and making funny faces at them as they walked towards where the boats were docked to sail back.

Ragnar chose to ignore them, as he was too worried about his brother Rollo to care. Lagertha and Athelstan looked on with irritation and nervousness, respectively.

"Will you all grow up and stop acting like children?" Lagertha exclaimed. She had reached her limit with the foolishness around her.

As she said this, Naruto was making faces at Froki, and the viking was giving the blonde man murderous looks.

"Hey, he started it," Naruto stated childishly with a wide grin on his face. "Froki and his girlfriend have been giving me death stares ever since they saw me."

"You're lucky that is all I am doing, heretic," Froki growled out in anger. He looked like he was ready to charge at Naruto, consequences be damned.

Naruto just gave the man a condescending look; everyone present knew that if Froki attacked the blonde, it would be the last thing he ever did.

"Enough! There will be no fighting between us today. You can settle your differences some other time. We have to rescue Rollo," Ragnar shouted, having heard and seen how Froki and Naruto were about to come to blows. "I am asking you all to fight for me. Whatever you feel toward each other can wait."

Froki looked conflicted, but he ultimately bowed his head, showing he would cooperate with Ragnar and listen to him for now. His girlfriend followed his example.

"Fine, I will stop teasing the fool and his bitch," Naruto said, insulting Froki and his woman one last time.

Lagertha had to keep Froki from attacking the blonde for his remark, but she was unable to stop Helga from attacking Naruto with a knife.

The reincarnated shinobi grabbed the knife by the blade, not caring that it cut his skin. He bitch slapped the blonde woman, forcing her back with the knife still in his hand.

"Your spirit is admirable, woman. It's a pity you're wasting your time with Froki," Naruto said as he placed the knife in his unharmed hand, and everyone watched his other hand heal before their eyes.

"Enough, there will be no more fighting among ourselves," Ragnar declared in a loud voice. "Froki, like it or not, Naruto is an ally for now, and Naruto, please stop antagonizing Froki."

"I had my fun, so I will leave the idiot alone if he and his woman behave," Naruto responded, playing with the knife in his hand.

Froki was about to argue, but a stern look from Regnar stopped him. "Fine, I will not try to kill the heritci for now," was the reply given.

Ragnar knew this was the best response he was going to get from the two, so he turned back to the shore where the boats were. It was going to be a long sail back to Kattegat.

Fast Forward

Kattegat

Naruto acknowledged that he occasionally underestimated Ragnar's intelligence. Rather than launching a direct attack, the Viking instructed Froki to issue a challenge to Earl Haraldson, a duel to the death.

Ragnar planned to feign injury and engage in a duel with the Earl, but for the older warrior, it would be more like an execution.

The duel was about to commence, and Lagertha, Bjorn, Gyda, Athelstan, Froki, and Helga stood at the forefront of the crowd encircling Ragnar and Earl Haraldson, witnessing the start of the battle.

Naruto had adeptly separated himself from the group and positioned himself next to Thyri, a detail that Lagertha observed but chose not to comment on at the moment.

"So, this is it," Thyri stated instead of asking. She knew today her father would die, but he had done what she asked him to. While Naruto was away, he named an heir.

"Yes, it is, but it's not too late for me to stop it if you really want me to," Naruto said, holding his wife's hand and giving it a squeeze.

Thyri gave Naruto a smile; she was really lucky to have a husband who cared about her as much as the blonde man did.

"Did you know that my father was a great warrior when he was younger?" Thyri asked, and Naruto shook his head. "Well, he was, but now he is old and he fears that he will die of old age and not go to Valhalla."

"He wants to die a warrior's death," Naruto was not asking, but Thyri nodded anyway. It was obvious to anyone who watched the battle that Earl Haraldson was giving it his all, but he was not guarding himself from injury; he was fighting to die.

"This is what my father wants, and it presents an opportunity for us at the same time," Thyri said. Despite knowing what was about to happen, her voice remained devoid of sadness and instead conveyed her unwavering determination to achieve her ambitions.

"If you are sure about all this, I will support you," Naruto remarked, he pulled Thyri in for a hug, knowing that deep down his wife was weeping but she would not show weakness in front of others.

Thyri didn't say anything, but she did put herself further into Naruto's embrace, showing that she was indeed feeling conflicted. However, she would not change her mind; her father must die today for her plans to move forward.

Ragnar vs. Earl Haraldson

Ragnar fixed his gaze on Earl Haraldson, determination shining in his eyes. He pretended to be injured, strategically giving himself an upper hand—although it wasn't strictly necessary. One couldn't rule out the possibility of the Earl's men resorting to shady tactics.

Earl Haraldson studied Ragnar intently. He reflected on the prophecy the seer had shared with him. The man standing before him would ultimately be his demise. The Earl wasn't bothered; he knew he'd break free from his fate today, no matter what.

Neither of the men exchanged a single word. Each of them received a shield and sword in preparation for the impending duel. The Earl discarded his wooden shield and received a sturdier replacement. Ragnar followed suit, and thus the duel commenced.

CLING CLING CLANG

The sound of steel hitting steel filled the air as both Vikings attacked each other with the intent to kill. To some, they might appear equally skilled, but Ragnar, with his experience, definitely had the edge.

The warriors engaged in intense combat, shattering each other's shields. The battle escalated into a sword duel, with blades clashing until Ragnar's sword snapped.

The two men locked eyes, standing less than three feet apart. Both were aware that Earl Haraldson had the power to strike Ragnar down with his sword and end the duel. However, that would not suffice for the Earl. He aimed to demonstrate his superiority over the man facing him.

Haraldson let go of his sword, and Ragnar followed suit with his broken one. Axes were provided to them to resume the duel. They clashed the wooden handles of the axes, each trying to push the other back.

In an unexpected turn of events, Earl Haraldson emerged victorious in the confrontation, largely due to Ragnar's continued act of being severely wounded. The Earl assaulted his adversary using the axe blade, inflicting a deep wound on Ragnar's left shoulder.

The Earl smirked as he sized up his opponent. Little did he realize that this confidence would come back to haunt him.

With a sudden burst of speed, Ragnar engaged the Earl, striking at his stomach and deftly spinning around to deliver a fatal blow across the older Viking's back.

Earl Haraldson fell to his knees and then on his back; he had been defeated. The man could faintly hear his wife, Siggy, screaming in pain and despair. It both broke his heart that he was leaving her alone and warmed his because she genuinely cared for him if her wails are anything to go on.

The Earl saw Ragnar approaching him and knelt beside his downed body. Haraldson noticed that he was in a pool of his own blood, who knew the human body had so much liquid inside it.

"Today, you will feast with the All-Father in Valhalla," Earl Haraldson heard Ragnar state as he took his defeated foe's wrist and cut it, showing mercy, as the old man might take hours to die if left as he was, and it would be a painful death.

"NOOO!" Siggy screamed as she rushed to her husband's side, pushing Ragnar away. She was in tears as she tried to stop his wrist from bleeding.

Earl Haraldson, with his remaining strength, pulled his wife's hand off his wrist to let it bleed out. She looked at him with grief in her eyes, but she understood that her husband wanted this.

"Don't be sad, my love, because tonight I will reunite with our sons in Valhalla," Earl Haraldson said to Siggy with the last of his strength and passed away.

Ragnar vs Earl Haraldson End

Ragnar Wins

"Kill him," Earl Haraldson's right-hand man ordered, but nobody listened. With the Earl dead, they had no obligation to follow his orders.

Rollo, with scars on his face from the torture he endured at the hands of Earl Haraldson and his men, stepped forward. He had an axe in hand and swung it into the weak man's chest, ending his life.

Siggy wiped her tears and stood up. She rushed over to Earl Bjarni of Sealand and stabbed him repeatedly, killing him.

The now-widowed woman looked at the young village girl who had been given to the fat old man with pity. She had been a pawn in the game of men and was only involved because she was pretty.

"Such a splendid duel," Thyri said loudly. Her eyes shifted from her father's dead body to look around. "But we lost an Earl. But thankfully, as you know, my father made my husband his heir. So, all hail Earl Naruto."

Ragnar's group looked shocked at what they were hearing. They looked around, and to their horror, the people around them started to chant Naruto's name.

"Long live Earl Naruto," the people shouted as Ragnar and his companions looked at the blonde reincarnated shinobi with a look of betrayal; he had used them to kill Haraldson to take his title and power for himself.

Flashback Scene Ahead

Kattegat [Earl Haraldson's Meeting Hall]

Days Before Ragnar's Return

"I have lost so many things in my life, friends and family, my precious sons," Earl Haraldson said this with a sad look on his face. He sat in his usual place, with his wife on one side and his daughter on the other. Naruto was beside Thyri.

"Because I am getting along in age, it has been brought to my attention by my wife and daughter that I should name an heir in case something happens to me," Haraldson declared to everyone's surprise. The Earl was the type who would usually not even entertain the idea of someone other than him ruling, but they guess because it was his wife and daughter who came to him with the idea, he considered it.

"Long and hard have I thought about who would be the best person to replace me and protect Kattegat and everyone in it after I am gone," the Earl continued, giving a meaningful look to his wife and daughter as he spoke. "There is only one person that I know who can, and that is Naruto, my daughter's husband."

There was silence as the Earl made his announcement. Everyone hoped that one of them would be named as the Earl's heir, but it was not meant to be. Naruto, the blacksmith and demi-god in the flesh, was the Earl's heir.

"Let's celebrate my new heir, may he reign long after I am gone," Haraldson exclaimed, making the other Vikings follow.

Thyri and Siggy shared a glance, they had both worked long and hard to convince Haraldson to name Naruto his heir. Siggy would bring up the topic after being intimate, and Thyri would bring it up every time they had some father-daughter bonding time until the man started to see things their way.

Thyri had brought up the idea of making Naruto her father's heir. At first, the mother was hesitant, but a secret agreement was made between the mother and daughter. Thus, they started to work together toward the same goal.

It was later that day that Naruto would set out to find Ragnar and tell him of Rollo's capture to force the final confrontation between the Earl and Ragnar.

Flashback Scene End

Naruto just smirked at Ragnar's group. He knew that they wouldn't try anything right now. It would only lead to their deaths.

Thyri had a happy look on her face, besides Naruto. She tried not to let her father's death affect her too much because it was ultimately what he wanted, and it was her and her husband's time to rule.

Thyri looked at her mother Siggy as she came up to them her head slightly bowed, she looked into her daughter eyes briefly and they had a silent conversation without words.

Thyri nodded her head, and her mother smiled. The pair made some of the Vikings take the husband and father's body so it could get a proper send-off later. Now was the time to solidify their new rule.

Naruto retreated to the Earl Haraldson Hall, or to be more precise, his halls now. The blonde Viking looked at all who gathered, especially Ragnar and his group. They had sour expressions on their faces, as if Naruto had stolen something that should have been Ragnar's.

In a sense, they are right, but Naruto couldn't see himself living under Ragnar's rule. Hell, he lived under Haraldson's rule only because he was the ruler before he was reborn, and the now-dead Earl was smart enough not to cross him.

"Who wishes to be the first to swear their loyalty to me," Naruto announced somewhat jokingly, but everyone tensed. They knew that despite the blonde man's demeanor, this was a serious matter.

At first, no one moved. They looked at each other before an older Viking man with gray hair stepped forward. He was one of the oldest people alive here. He was born before Earl Haraldson ruled.

"Earl Naruto, I swear my loyalty to you, now and forever," the old Viking man swore with conviction, and soon others followed suit until only Ragnar and his family and friends remained.

"Before we continue, I have one question for you," Ragnar said boldly as he stepped forward towards Naruto, who looked at the man. "What of England? What are your plans for raiding it?"

"Plans for England?" Naruto asked. "I haven't thought of anything yet, but I can promise you and everyone now that I will not hoard all the treasure from the raids like Earl Haraldson did." Then his eyes turned cold as he gazed at Ragnar. "Now I have answered your question somewhat, bend the knee."

There was tension in the air, and an unsaid threat made by Naruto: bend the knee now or die, not just him, but all of his group.

Naruto looked behind Ragnar to see Froki and his woman getting ready for battle, their hands on their weapons. Rollo was doing the same, but oddly enough, Lagertha just looked back at him straight in the eyes, unflinching. She had a look on her face of confidence that he wouldn't harm her.

This made Naruto raise a brow. Did Lagertha think just because she was a good lay that he would not eliminate her along with Ragnar, or was there another reason? The blonde man decided that he would have to look into that later.

Naruto observed that Bjorn and Gyda appeared anxious. Despite the boy's attempt to be courageous, his trembling legs betrayed him. They were positioned beside Lagertha.

"Excuse me, but you haven't replied to my question," Ragnar insisted, but one look into Naruto's eyes, and he saw himself dying over and over again, each time more gruesome than the last.

"Ragnar, I think I have. I will repeat it again: I have no grand plan for England. At most, we will raid the lands for now. That is all," Naruto declared as he got to his feet. Everyone was paralyzed in fear from the killing intent the blonde released.

"Let's all cool off. The day was long, and we still need to send Earl Haraldson off," Naruto said, walking past Ragnar and intentionally hitting his shoulder to push him out of the way.

Chapter End

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A/N: Next time, Earl Haraldson's funeral, the secret agreement between Thyri and her mother, and a lot more.