As team seven left Wave and parted ways with Zabuza and Haku, Shikaoi pondered upon what to do about the upcoming events particularly the Chunin exams since "his" memories didn't show much between the C rank turned A rank mission and the exams.
Shikaoi debated telling his teammates and brother about "his memories." He was afraid of what they might think, especially Sasuke.
Shikaoi knew if his future knowledge came up then the topic of "knowing" about the Uchiha massacre would also come up. It didn't matter that he wasn't actually aware of the massacre until after the fact, because then all of the young Nara's work of pulling Sasuke away from his dark path of vengeance would all go to waste. If the massacre comes up then Shikaoi would have to tell Sasuke the truth behind it. And all the psychology books in the world would be unable to help Shikaoi predict what Sasuke's reaction to that news would be, and Shikaoi wasn't sure if he would be able to stop Sasuke from going on a complete rampage and straight up murdering Danzo.
On the other hand, Naruto knowing who his parents were, and about how much they loved him would be good for the jinchuriki. Of course, Shikaoi could end up messing up that explanation as well, and the blond boy could grow to resent the village and the villagers for scorning his father — the Yondaime's— last wish that he be treated as a hero. Naruto could also band together with Sasuke to take down both Danzo and the third hokage for essentially ruining their lives through wilful ignorance and manipulation (in Danzo's case).
As for Shikamaru, Shikaoi feared that his twin would feel that these memories would mean that he was not his brother, and if he found out he wasn't supposed to have a twin… Shikaoi knew he was catastrophising, but he couldn't help but worry and overthink all the possible outcomes. He theorized that he was probably the worst person to gain future knowledge due to the fact that he was too anxious to figure out how to fix things— if he even can fix things. He really doesn't want to accidentally cause the death of someone who isn't supposed to die. And having a fourth shinobi war hanging on his conscience was the last thing the Nara needed.
He sighed looking up at the clouds his brother enjoys watching, and ignored the concerned looks of his teammates and friends, along with the contemplative look in his sensei's uncovered eye.
Shikaoi let out a sigh as team seven makes their way to Hokage Tower to give their mission report. Kakashi sensei seemed unbothered as he read his little orange book halfheartedly. Team seven greeted the chunin at the mission desk who raised an eyebrow at the overall disheveled appearance of the four shinobi.
Naruto bursted unceremoniously without knocking into the hokage's office the other three males not far behind.
"Old man! We are back," Naruto yelled.
Shikaoi was surprised to see that his father was evidently reporting to the hokage before his team had burst in. His father lazily looked over his son, eyes calculating, and waved before turning back to the homage waiting to see what the "old man" would say.
"Ah Naruto, it looks like you and your team had an eventful C rank mission," Hiruzen stated smiling at the amicably at the genin.
"Actually, Kakashi sensei said it is an A rank because we had to fight Zabuza, and Haku, and the demon brothers, and Gato's men, and we…" The hokage raised a hand silencing the jinchuriki and turning to the Hatake.
"Kakashi, report," he sternly commanded.
The Nara clan head surreptitiously moves to examine his son as the silver-haired jonin goes on to describe the mission they had just returned from. The Nara head noticed how his son's teammates seemed to flank his son protectively as the report progressed, and after hearing how his son was gravely injured not once, but twice asked the hokage for permission to take Shikaoi to get checked out at the hospital. The hokage nodded dismissing everyone except Kakashi.
Shikaku scooped up his son sprinting uncharacteristically to the hospital, the boy's teammates not far behind.
Shikamaru had been walking back from a mission with his team, and upon spotting his father carrying his twin, tripped over himself to follow leaving his teammates and sensei confused.
It didn't take long for a medic nin to examine Shikaoi complementing the person who had already healed him. Shikaoi mused that Haku must have done a good job. His father was thinking how he owes his son's life to two missing nin. Naruto and Sasuke we're being interrogated by Shikamaru who was not happy that his younger brother (by a few minutes Shika-nii) had gotten injured. Shikaku was surprised by Naruto's account of "a super awesome shadow grabby jutsu" that his youngest son has used against one of the demon brothers.
"Shadow strangle jutsu?" Shikamaru asked his twin unknowingly echoing their father's thoughts.
"Well Kakashi sensei was obviously pretending to be dead. He replaced himself and was observing to figure out who they were after. I knew that the next logical actions for sensei to take would be to kill them, and if I used shadow possession then I would feel it and I didn't want to experience that. It was a drag to expend so much chakra, but necessary," Shikaoi explained.
Shikaku hummed thoughtfully at his sons who both gulped at the promise of more training for their kekkei genkai.
Like Shikaoi promised himself before the mission, he invited his two friends to dinner at his house.
Yoshino was delighted that her little boy had returned from his first C rank mission. The three male Nara decided not to tell her that it hadn't been a C rank. Sasuke and a surprisingly shy Naruto hadn't corrected her either.
The Nara twins' mother had welcomed the two boys with open arms. She insisted on feeding them a feast fit for an army of Akimichis much to the embarrassment of her children.
The twins moved in tandem, Shikaoi grabbing Sasuke and Shikamaru grabbing Naruto, and dragging the two boys to their shared room much to their parents' amusement.
As the four boys hung out, Shikaoi internally struggled with the idea of telling the other three about "his memories." Unbeknownst to the youngest Nara, the other genin had picked up on the fact that he was hiding something, and had resolved to ambush him after dinner.
Dinner had been a quiet affair with minimal conversation. Shikamaru had (to his twin's surprise and their mother's delight) invited his brother's teammates to sleep over, and they had accepted. Shikaoi realized that his brother, and his friends had picked up on the fact that he had been hiding something. He knew that it would be smart to share the burden of his future knowledge to increase the likelihood that together they could change things. So, he decided to explain things whenever they choose to confront him.
AN: I made sure to make this chapter longer to make up for the length and lateness of the previous chapter. I hope you enjoyed.
Happy reading,
A. Sparks