With a sudden jolt, the man sat upright, gasping for breath as though he had just emerged from underwater. His heart was pounding, and he was covered in sweat. The room was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything beyond the four walls of his bedroom. The only sound was the thudding of his heart, which seemed to reverberate through his entire body.

As he struggled to catch his breath, he looked around the room frantically, trying to ascertain his whereabouts. After a few moments of disorientation, his eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he could make out the outlines of the familiar objects in his room – the dresser, the bookshelf, and the window.

The relief that washed over him was palpable, and he let out a long, ragged breath. He had never been so grateful to be in his own room before. It was as if the walls were embracing him, providing him with a sense of security and comfort that he had never experienced before. He had always taken the familiarity of his surroundings for granted, but now he realized how much he relied on the stability of his home.

As he calmed down, he realized that he had just woken up from a nightmare. The details were hazy, but he could remember a sense of impending doom, as if something terrible was about to happen.

He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself, reminding himself that he was safe and sound in his own room. He could feel his heart rate slowing down, and the sense of panic that had consumed him began to dissipate. He leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes, willing himself to relax.

As he lay there in the darkness, he felt a sense of gratitude for the small things in life – the familiarity of his bedroom, the softness of his bed, and the safety of his home. He realized how much he had taken these things for granted and how much they meant to him. He vowed to never take them for granted again and to appreciate them fully, every day.

In that moment, he felt a sense of peace wash over him, and he knew that he would be able to fall back asleep. The nightmare was over, and he was safe in his own room, surrounded by the familiar comforts of home. He closed his eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep, grateful for the walls that surrounded him and the safety they provided.

He contemplated taking the day off to recover from the harrowing dream. However, before he could finish his thought, something strange happened. The walls of his room began to transform, changing colors from their familiar hues to an ominous red.

The once-peaceful ceiling started dripping with blood, and the objects in the room were consumed by menacing shadows. As the shadows grew thicker, a colossal face emerged, the same one that had tormented him in his previous nightmare. The face drew closer and closer to the man, filling him with an overwhelming sense of dread.

_____________________________

Shikaku received the news of his firstborn child with mixed emotions. He had been away on a mission for two long weeks, and it was unfortunate that his wife Yoshino had gone into labor during his absence. However, as the Nara clan head, he was grateful for the abundance of servants at his disposal, which would allow him to concentrate on his missions without worrying about his wife.

But his joy was short-lived as he received the distressing news that his newborn child was behaving abnormally. Although the delivery had gone smoothly and Yoshino was in good health, the baby did not cry at birth and lost consciousness during cleaning. Despite seven hours having passed since birth, the child had not woken up. The doctors warned Shikaku that the situation was critical, and the baby's life was in danger.

As soon as Shikaku entered the ward where his wife Yoshino was recuperating, he could sense her uneasiness and trepidation just by looking at her. She had deep bags under her eyes, and they were red from crying. As soon as Yoshino saw him, she broke down and couldn't stop her tears from flowing.

But Shikaku knew that he had to be strong for both of them, so he spoke gently to her. "Sshhh, it's going to be alright, Yoshino. Our baby boy is going to be just fine. He's probably being all lazy just like a proper Nara should."

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Yoshino sniffled and looked up at him with teary eyes. "But the doctor said that he could have some serious problems, Shikaku. What if something happens to our baby? I don't know if I can handle it."

Shikaku took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Don't worry, Yoshino. Our child is a Nara, and we're going to do everything in our power to help him. We have the best doctors in the village, and they're doing everything they can to ensure his safety. We just need to have faith and trust that everything will work out."

Yoshino nodded weakly, still crying softly. Shikaku stayed by her side, offering her comfort and support as they waited anxiously for news about their newborn son.

"I think i should spe..." Just as Shikaku was about to finish his sentence, a loud wail was heard from the room next door, catching his attention.

"Was that him?" Shikaku asked, hope and concern lacing his voice.

Yoshino nodded, her eyes widening with relief. "Yes, the doctors put him on the ventilator in the room next door. I don't think there's anyone else in the room. I'm going to check on him," she replied as she started to get up from her bed, her voice laced with urgency.

Shikaku didn't stop her, recognizing the importance of a mother's presence at such a critical time. Despite her weakened state, Yoshino was a fully-fledged chunin and more than capable of taking care of herself. He accompanied her to the room next door, his heart beating fast with anticipation.

As they entered the room, they saw their newborn son hooked up to machines, the sound of his cries filling the silence. Yoshino approached him and gently stroked his cheek, tears rolling down her face. "You're going to be okay, little one," she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion.

Shikaku stood by her side, his hand resting on her shoulder, silently lending his support. Despite the uncertainty of their son's condition, they knew that they would face this challenge together as a family..

______________________________

"Aaaaaahhhhhh......"

As he opened his mouth to scream, all that came out was a babies wail making him feel even more helpless. He tried to sit up but realized he couldn't move his arms and legs properly. The crying intensified as he saw the giants getting closer, their faces looming above him like mountains. He felt small and vulnerable in his tiny body.

He could see a woman with outstretched arms and a kind smile on her face approaching him. Behind her, he noticed a man with a fierce expression and a deep scar running across his cheek. The man's presence made him feel uneasy, but the woman's warm demeanor gave him some sense of comfort.

Yoshino hugged the baby tightly, whispering soothing words to him as he cried. As she looked up, she saw the doctor walking into the room.

"Doctor, thank goodness you're here. Please check on our son, we're very worried about him," said Yoshino with a worried expression on her face.

The doctor approached the bed and carefully picked up the baby. After a few moments of examination, he placed the baby back on the bed and reassured the worried parents.

"Congratulations, he's perfectly fine. He's a healthy little boy," said the doctor with a smile.

Shikaku let out a sigh of relief while Yoshino had tears of joy streaming down her face. "Thank you so much, doctor. Can I hold him now?" she asked.

The doctor nodded and handed the baby over to Yoshino. "Of course, but I think he's just a little hungry. You should feed him," he said before leaving the room to give them some privacy.

Yoshino smiled and looked at her husband. "Our little boy is finally here, Shikaku. I'm so happy," she said as she cradled their newborn son in her arms.

As soon as the doctor left, Yoshino's relief turned into tears of joy and Shikaku comforted her with a tight embrace.

"I was so scared, Shikaku. I didn't know what I would do if something had happened to him," cried Yoshino.

"But look, our boy is perfectly fine. I told you there was nothing to worry about," said Shikaku reassuringly, holding their baby in his arms.

Yoshino joined him at the bed, and the new parents admired their little bundle of joy. The baby's eyes were wide open, taking in his surroundings.

"He's got your eyes," Yoshino commented, looking at Shikaku with a smile.

Shikaku chuckled. "Shikarai Nara," he said, deciding on the baby's name.

"Finally, I thought you'd never decide. Nevertheless, I like the name," said Yoshino, feeling Shikaku's embrace from behind.

The happy family spent the rest of the day in the hospital room, getting to know their new addition and feeling grateful for his safe arrival.

___________________________________

As Shikarai's memories flooded back, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loss. He had been content with his old life, despite its hardships, and had accepted it as his own. But now, everything he had known and loved was gone. He was in a new body, with new parents, in a world he didn't recognize. It was overwhelming, and he didn't know how to deal with it.

He started to cry again, feeling helpless and alone in his confusion. He couldn't express his feelings, couldn't make anyone understand what he was going through. He was just a baby, and he was trapped in this new life without any control over it.

Shikarai's parents noticed his distress and quickly went to him, trying to soothe him. They held him close and whispered soft words to him, trying to calm him down. And eventually, their warmth and love began to seep into him, easing his pain and fear.

For a moment, Shikarai forgot about his old life and simply basked in the comfort of his new parents. He had been an orphan in his previous life. He felt safe and loved, and he knew that he could count on them to take care of him. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep, his little body finally at peace.