Proving His Identity

The cold wind poured in through the half-collapsed wall from last night, sending the documents at Shikamaru's feet swirling and blowing away the last traces of his morning sluggishness.

He did not pick up the pen that had fallen to the floor.

The battle instincts honed over the years took control of his body first. His right hand gripped his ninja tool pouch, his fingertips pressing against the corner of an Explosive Tag.

Last night, that red-haired woman who had appeared out of nowhere had punched the Seventh Hokage clean out of the village, even bringing down half the wall of the Hokage's Office.

Shikamaru had dispatched several ANBU squads to search the mountains overnight. It was not until the latter half of the night that he received confirmed intelligence that Naruto had returned home safely.

He had thought the matter was over.

Yet early this morning, Naruto walked in with half his face still swollen like a pig's snout, dark circles beneath his eyes, and an unsteady gait.

And behind him stood a living, breathing Fourth Hokage.

The hem of the Hokage Haori was lifted by the wind. Shikamaru had seen that gentle face during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

But the grayish skin and cracks were gone. His Chakra was clean and steady, without the slightest trace of Impure World Reincarnation.

A bead of cold sweat slid down Shikamaru's temple. He did not raise a hand to wipe it away, but his fingertips had creased the edge of the Explosive Tag.

The instant Naruto entered, he noticed Shikamaru's vigilant posture, as though facing a formidable enemy.

He hurriedly sprang forward two steps, waving both hands frantically in front of himself as he tried to explain.

"Wait, wait, wait, Shikamaru, don't panic! That's my dad!"

"The Ley Line went