"Lightening flashed across the blood red sky. Screams of the dying filled the battlefield in a tortured harmony, sending shivers down the spines of the still fighting shinobi forces. Smoke, thick and heavy, hung in the air; lingering with the scent of charred flesh and spilt blood. Only a handful of the once powerful forces remained, their numbers dropping steadily as each day passed. Those left felt nothing except a void in their hearts. It was hard to remember what they were fighting for; friends and family were dead. Whole villages of civilians had been wiped from existence; clans annihilated; heroes ripped to shreds all under that never-ending full ruby moon.
A figure stood alone, atop the crumbling remains of the Hokage mountain. Their robes torn and dirty as they flapped in the breeze. The figure had tilted their cap down to cover their eyes as they surveyed the destroyed remains of the Hidden Leaf village. They stood tall as they gazed around with hard brown eyes, unwilling to admit defeat, despite knowing it was coming. He had sacrificed so many of his cohort to prepare the final plan. He had taken up the role of Hokage, and he had failed. His people, the king, were dead. Few of their ranks fought day in day out, holding on to the hope that this plan will work; that he could fix this, save them, save their home. He sighed and tilted his blood and ash streaked face to the sky; a single tear slowly rolled its way down his gaunt cheek. Since Naruto had died, he had tried (and failed in his mind) to fill Naruto's shoes; to keep his dream and spirit alive. Now… now it was time. With the rain starting to fall, the figure turned and staggered over to a pre-drawn sealing array. In the last few months, his people had paid in blood, sweat, and tears for him to learn this. He had crammed as many of the formulas and calculations into his head as possible, just to make this plan possible.
With a weary sigh, the last Hokage of this time stood in the center of the seal and pulled out a tanto. He fed his chakra into the sealing array, as quickly as he could, before Madara felt the surge of chakra building. He could see the insane Uchiha, heading his way, rage glowing in Madara's eyes as he took in the glowing seals. Oh yes, it was time. He was tired, so so tired of fighting. It was time to die. The Hokage lifted the blade in steady hands, tears of relief streaming down his face as he plunged the blade into his stomach. His sacrifice the final piece to the seal that would save them all. He smirked at the Uchiha before his eyes closed one last time..."
Shikamaru woke with a scream, drowned out by the slamming of his door opening, his father stood protectively over him in a flash. Shikamaru curled into himself and sobbed as parts of his dream flashed through his mind, phantom pain seared through his belly, as though he had been stabbed. Warm, strong arms wrapped around him, his father's chakra coiling defensively around his own as he cried in confusion, pain, and terror. The deep baritone of his dad's voice rumbled in his ear, but he couldn't hear the words said; couldn't stop the panic rising as the pain became a burning heat. Faintly aware of being lifted into his father's arms, Shikamaru lost his battle with staying conscious. Oblivious to the worried looks passed between his parents as they tucked him between them in their bed. They would guard his sleep for the rest of the night, they could talk with him before he went to the academy tomorrow.
Gentle shaking dragged him back to consciousness the next morning, Shikamaru scrunched his eyes closed and whined at being woken up, before turning to bury his face into the warm, nice smelling pillow next to him. Slowly the scent started to register, as did the fact that his pillow was shaking with laughter. The smoky, woodsy scent tinged with a hint of steel and fresh earth could only belong to one person.
"Dad, why are you in my bed?" Shikamaru yawned as he forced himself to talk. Really, it was just too early for this, and his dad made a great nap buddy. Snuggling closer, he buried his nose into his dad's chest, inhaling deeply the scent that he has always associated with love and protection. A large callused hand rested softly on his head, before stroking down his neck and spine. Just enough pressure for Shikamaru to relax under the petting.
"I believe that is my question for you, son. Do you remember last night?" Shikaku's voice was light, ragged from sleep, but carried none of the worry and concern he felt. Shikaku smiled down at the small human curled into his chest, his wife slipping into the bed next to him, wrapping her arm over their son. The need to just touch overwhelming in both of them. For Shikaku, the screams and thrashing chakra reminded him of his days in the war. The war he fought for his son to grow in peace. To hear his ten-year-old scream as through he was seeing the horrors of war... Shikaku suppressed a shiver. This was the worse nightmare Shikamaru had had, though they had been getting worse for the last two weeks.
Shikamaru froze, and frowned, before glancing up at his dad. Thinking back Shikamaru remembered waking up screaming, and in pain. He remembered looking at a figure and feeling an overwhelming feeling of despair and loneliness.
"I remember fear, and despair. Exhaustion, like I had been up for weeks on end. I remember choking on smoke and not being able to breath from it clogging my throat. Then searing pain through my belly, which is when I woke up." Shikamaru spoke hesitantly, like he wasn't sure if he was about to be laughed at. He adored his father. His father was his hero, someone to watch and follow in the shadow of. It would kill him if his dad laughed at him for his nightmare, after all a man shouldn't show fear. The warm weight of his parents' arms around him was reassuring, especially when they tightened at his words. His mother, his darling mother, nuzzled the back of his neck softly; her soothing words whispered lovingly into the silence following his explanation. Shikamaru relaxed into the grip of his parents, safe within their grasp, their continuous love reassuring him after his harrowing night.
"It was just a dream, my son. Probably because I've been taking longer missions recently, your imagination has been kicking into overdrive, worry causing these nightmares to happen." Shikaku paused to tighten his grip on his child, his other hand coming up to run his fingers through the soft, thick, raven-coloured hair being rested on his chest. "We can stay here for another few minutes before you have to get ready for the academy." Shikaku's voice was soft, so not to shatter the comfortable atmosphere. He didn't want to send Shikamaru to the academy, he wanted to keep him close today, but it was better to keep his day to his normal schedule especially after last nights terror. They didn't want to feed his fear by stopping him going about his day as normally as possible. Still, there was no reason not to take advantage of the rare clingy and cuddly mood his son was in. With a gleeful grin, Shikaku snuggled into his warm bed, tugging his family closer for good cuddles, under the guise of comforting his child of course.