Forever Presence of the Shadows…

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D/C: I own nothing.

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To many, doing paperwork is the bane to everyone's existence. To a selective few, paperwork is preferred compared to going out missions. For Shikaku Nara, he rather do paperwork than to go out in the field. Many will attest to this and will defend their position to the end.

Tonight, of all nights, everyone would have preferred to be at home with their love ones doing mountainous piles of paperwork than to deal with the Nine-Tailed Beast. That night, Shikaku Nara one of many going into the front lines to protect the village, shouting out orders, saving any unsuspecting fellow shinobi or civilians and trying to locate the Hokage. Of nights of all nights, why is this happening now? During the birth of the Hokage's first child…

-.-

That morning was just like any typical morning, well… sort of. The village was finally at a state of peace, negotiations of peace are the talk of the village and the populace is growing as Shinobi and Kunoichi alike are returning from the frontlines. This is true for the Jonin Commander and Head of the Nara clan, coming back to the village just in time to see the birth of his son. Thanks to his longtime friend and the Hokage himself, Minato Kamikaze. (It is under assumption that a heavily pregnant Yoshino demanded Minato to bring her husband back to the village for the birth of the future Heir of the Nara Clan.) Either way, Shikaku got there just in time to hold his wife's hand and breathing in sync with her as his son came into the world.

Returning the favor, Shikaku took over Minato's Hokage's duties as said man awaited the arrival of his own son. Although, the procedure required for Minato and Kushina, are in a secluded location with Biwako Sarutobi, her disciple Taji and several Anbu to help or watch over the birth. Shikaku is one of few that knew the existence of Minato's marriage to Kushina and their pregnancy. How he came to know this top secret?

Shikaku knew since they were all teenagers that something was going on. It was just a matter of time and they finally confessed to him when they needed his help to continue on with the secret. To ensure that the wrong people don't put one and one together. As the one that is creating the plans and so on, it is Shikaku's responsibility to make up a plan and to strategize if a new factor comes into play.

That night, a whole new factor came into play, strategy went out the door and sheer panic began to set in. Shikaku was leaning against the giant windows in the Hokage's office staring out onto the village, taking a break from paperwork. Everything seemed peaceful and everyone went on without much of a care in the world… then out of nowhere an enormous chakra signature suddenly fell over the village and the world seemed to come to an end.

A piercing roar rang out throughout the village, it was quickly followed by screams and death. The Nine-Tailed Fox escaped its jailer and is now attacking the village. Shikaku's mind went a thousand miles a minute, thinking up every probable reason on how the demon fox had escaped Kushina, Minato, a Master Fuinjutsu, was supposed to ensure this was not supposed to happen. As much as Shikaku wants to find out the answer to that question, he must evacuate the area as he saw one of the many tails of the fox headed towards his way. Before he could even make his escape, a familiar sound rang in his ears and the familiar sensation of being pulled back into complete temporary darkness.

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Minato dropped his friend little to no care as he quickly hurried to his wife and newborn's side. Shikaku groaned into his right hand as he leaned heavily onto his left arm. He hated it whenever Minato used that jutsu on him, although considering the circumstances, the Head of the Nara Clan will grumble out thanks for pulling him out of that building.

Once regaining feeling back in his stomach, Shikaku stood up and took in his surroundings. Minato and Kushina's safe house. He looked over to see Minato whispering to Kushina, who is tightly holding an infant close to her. As much he wanted to give the new family time, time wasn't on anyone's side that night.

"What happened out there?"

"I need you to make me a promise, Shikaku… What I am to say to you is an S-Class secret and… I trust you to disclose the information in any way you see fit."

In other words, keep it hidden and only tell those that won't overly react then do something stupid with said information. Typical words from Minato towards Shikaku.

-.-

Hiruzen and several Anbu ran towards the new location where the Nine-Tailed Fox is now located far away from the village, thanks to the Fourth Hokage. As they got closer to the location, they saw a barrier formed over the Kyubi and in turn, Minato too. From their position, they could see that the monster was held down by chains and it was roaring as it tried to escape.

Then another figure suddenly appeared, and dread began to swell within all of them. The Shinigami appeared in their line of sight. All of them started to bang against the barrier and yelling out to get whatever was occurring inside the barrier to come to a stop. It was all for naught in the end.

When the demon suddenly disappeared was when the barrier began to dissolve. Once they could, Hiruzen and the Anbu ran towards the location where they feel two charka signatures and another one that was quickly fading away. Approaching the area, they heard a familiar poof and cooing sounds came from the same area of the signatures.

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Shikaku held Kushina as she held her son close to her. He wrapped his arms tighter around the dying Uzumaki, tightening her embrace around her infant son. The Nara hoped his summon will get to his clan, that will be the fifth time he tried to get word to his family. He needed to know the status of his own wife and child.

"Shik…aku?"

"Save your energy, Kushina…" Shikaku whispered to her.

"Protect Naruto… Protect him, please… Tell him… we love him…"

"I swear to you, I will protect Naruto." Shikaku replied with no hesitation, he saw Kushina smile and it appeared a heavy weight was lifted from her shoulders.

"Than…" Kushina attempted to say but her voice faded out and the light left her eyes.

"Shikaku!"

Shikaku turned his head to see the Third Hokage and several Anbu running towards him. He unconsciously tightened his grasp around Kushina and Naruto. What he was going to say is going to heavily impact the future of the newly created Jinchuriki and the memories of his parents. With a heavy sigh, Shikaku carefully placed Kushina on the ground next to her husband and cradled their infant in his arms. He didn't bother to turn around to face Hiruzen and the Anbu, the things he needed to say cannot be said as there is a fear it will be said to the wrong people.

-.-

The death count' that night is the highest the village has seen by far, in terms of both civilian and shinobi. The count is one of the highest that has been seen by far and it only seemed to grow. Families are scrambling around trying to look for their love ones. There are either tears of joy or screams of anguish once they are found. Even though death was a daily occurrence in everyone's daily life, it was the fact that it occurred in their own home. It was one thing to hear or perhaps see the end results of such actions, but to see it firsthand in such a magnitude shook the survivors to the core.

Once the adrenaline began to wear off, sorrow began to turn into rage. Rage that was directed by the supposed Hero. That hero is a monster, it is the reincarnate of that blood raging demon that killed innocent, unsuspecting people. The innocence is gone, and what is left is ignorance.

To be continued...

R/R.