Naruto ended up just outside the Nara residence, and flashed to the Nara forest, crumpling on the ground in a boneless heap. Gut wrenching sobs tore through his, as Kakashi's death, life, everything, flashed through his mind.

"K-kashi. Why? Why is it so hard!?" The blond tore up the grass, his forehead pressed to the cool earth. He could sense the deer surrounding him, yet they were at ease. One, a fawn, approached him. It was brown, like the others, but instead of the occasional white patch, this fawn had orange patches. It looked as though it was on fire, and two little antlers had begun poking out.

This fawn walked up to Naruto, who sat up, wiping his tears, and watched the baby deer. It tilted its head down, and nudged Naruto's shoulder. It stayed there, Head resting gently against Naruto, and Naruto slowly wrapped his arms around the deer, Who just laid down, pulling Naruto with it.

The other deer watched, and the Largest buck, the leader of the herd, loped forward and settled himself next to Naruto as well. The rest of the herd slowly circled Naruto, laying down around him. Naruto clung to the fawn, trying to find a name.

"Your name... Is it Sesshin?"

The fawn just made a grunt like noise.

"Sesshin it is."

Naruto found himself being poked by the nearest of the deer's noses. They tickled, and Naruto chuckled. He felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he soon succumbed to sleep.

Shikaku went to herd the deer, and pulled out a flute. The music attracted the deer, making it easier to herd them. He felt no small amount of confusion when they didn't come. Not even one came at his call. He couldn't sense anything wrong, but rather, a sense of stubborn refusal.

Sighing, he muttered a 'troublesome' under his breath, and trudged into the forest. He walked for around ten minutes, before he stumbled upon a doe, the herd leaders mate. She turned her head away from him, and he couldn't help but wonder...

"Follow you?" Her head dipped, and she turned and began walking calmly in the direction she had earlier turned. Shikaku followed, still wondering at the odd behavior of the deer. They came upon a small break in the trees, and Shikaku was utterly baffled by the sight handed to him. The blond who had stayed the night with Shikamaru, Naruto, was surrounded by sleeping deer. The blond himself was asleep too, his eyes slightly red, as though he had been crying.

He took a step forward, and instantly every deer's head shot up. He froze. Were they... Protecting Naruto from him? 

"I won't hurt him. It's herding time, and he needs to wake up." The leader snorted, and let out a low grunt. The deer stood, well, all but one. Shikaku stared wide eyed as the lead buck's fawn nuzzled deeper into the blond, who was embracing it like a lifeline. The sun filtering through the forest canopy hit the fawn and the blond, creating an illusion of a halo of fire circling around them. The fawn nudged Naruto, who groaned, and blearily opened his eyes.

"Sesshin? Was I out long?" The fawn leaned its head to the side, indicating no.

"Good. Wouldn't want-..... oh. Hey Shikaku-san."

Shikaku had to stifle a smile at the lost look on Naruto's face.

"It's dangerous to be here without a Nara, The deer should have attacked you immediately, but instead, they see to be more loyal to you than their own clan. Wait! You called that fawn Sesshin?"

"Yeah, he seems to like it. Why?"

"Naruto, That is the heir to the herd. It never accepts a name from someone not of Nara blood, or without a blood bond to the clan. This has never happened before. Though I suppose, There is nothing we can do about it now. Sesshin it is. Now, I don't know why you are here in our sacred grove, but please, let us go to dinner. Wouldn't want to keep Yoshino-chan waiting. Let me finish herding the deer, and we'll go."

Naruto nodded, and laid back against a tree, eyes closed. He felt a presence and looked up to see Sesshin staring at him. Naruto reached out, and the moment his had touched the fawn, pain exploded through his mind.

Fire

So much Fire. The village was burning, giant snakes breaking through the east wall. Naruto stood on the Hokage monument, a grim look of determination o his face as he deactivated his henge. He turned, and shouted, yet the shout was inaudible. Hinata, clad in a battle kimono, and Shikamaru, wearing his clan's traditional battle armor, wrapped in shadows, both out of henge, jump off, into the fray.

The blond turned, a single voice breaking through.

"Naruto! I remember! We need to find Lady Tsunade and Lord Third!"

Naruto was sucked back to reality, and found himself slumped against Shikaku's back, panting harshly. He tried to slip off, but the Jonin's grip was strong. fatigue clawed at his body, and he slipped back into the world of unconsciousness.

"Naruto Uzumaki.... You are an odd one."

Naruto opened his eyes to see a upset Hinata, Shikamaru next to her, worry on their faces. For an instant, the vision flashed in his mind. He sat up fast, clutching his head, and giving out a raspy shout.

"Agh!"

"Ho-Naruto! Are you okay? Shikaku-san wouldn't tell us what happened!" Hinata passed her hand over Naruto's face, and the blond felt a relieving wave of medical chakra wash over him. The pain in his head ebbed, and he sat up straight.

"Thanks Hinata. Now, Shikamaru, I have much to say, and it would be better that it go unheard."

Shikamaru nodded, And flashed through a set of seals, slamming his palms down on the floor. Webs of Sealing kanji flew out, and soon, the room was silenced.

"First thing I feel I should address. Shika, I'm sorry. I thought I could deal with seeing Kakashi again, but I couldn't... I was in your forest. The herd found me,, and I calmed down. I accidentally named the heir of the herd, and then Sesshin, the heir, It was like a vision. I think it was during the Chunin exams. Orochimaru invades, and we go all out to defend, and-"

Finally, the pressure exploded, and Naruto wailed, sobs wracking his body. "K-Kak-shi. He- remembered. My Kakashi was there!"

Shikamaru and Hinata embraced Naruto, and the silencing barrier fell. Naruto continued to cry, and Hinata eased hm back down, until they were all curled around each other in a familiar position. Hinata and Shikamaru were curled around Naruto. It was a way of guarding injured teammates, and became instinctual between the three most reckless survivors.

They soon fell asleep, and Shikaku frowned from the doorway. The cries he had heard from Naruto had been heartbreaking, and he had immediately rushed to see what was wrong, only to see his son and the Hyuga girl going into an old protective sleep position that was forgotten with the last war.

He had a lot to think about. He turned, and smiled at Yoshino, who grinned and snapped a few pictures of the sleeping genin.