Well, I have a job now. I make bubble wrap. So y''all can thank me for the squishy bubbles (actually, I don't make the bubble part) anyway, it's a pretty good paying job, so hopefully, I can get me a car soon. I work third (because I hate the other two shifts. Especially second. I will never work second again).

Anyway, so I'm still living with my Energizer work friend. I probably will for quite some time.

I'm really trying to get my schedule in order. So, I've decided I'm going to update all of what I've written for Coiled thus far on here and Archive (honestly, I kinda forgot I even put this story on there then I was on to read some stuff and saw I have "comments" and I was like ooo!) Previews will still appear.

I will try and write some chapters for this story. I'm hoping I can get at least one written up. I really do miss this story. Life has just been hectic and I apologize for that. I also plan on going back to school in August, so that will also tie me up quite a bit. But I'm sure everyone understands :)

But hopefully, things will start calming down and I can work out some sort of writing and updating schedule. I still plan on doing the ten rule, so that's why yáll are getting the rest of the chapters until I can find the time/energy/motivation to spring some more. We have a lot more of this story to go.

I apologize in advance for the lack of editing. I only did a quick sweep of these chapters.

Anyway, enough of this blabbering. Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden. This is just for fun, no profit will be made from this (and I don't want to either). This is purely for my and the entertainment of Naruto fans.

Dedication: To my beautiful, amazing, intelligent, girlfriend Phillipa (Shadow Spirit Dragon-wolf) for being there for me through not only my writing (both fanfiction and my original story) but real life in general. You have been my inspiration and my support through everything.

Warnings: Violence, explicit sexual conduct (no rape!) homosexual relationship, relationship with a large age gap, struggles with belonging, self-hatred, obsession, self-harm, self-experimentation, human experimentation, mental disorders, a dark view of the "afterlife", (bonding of) pain and isolation, self-worthlessness, and male pregnancy.

Pairings: NaruOro, canon pairings (except, obviously, NaruHina).

Summary: Sometimes, the deepest scars are the ones no one can see, but in a world moving into the light even the oldest inner wounds can be seen

Enjoy! :)

Chapter Thirty-seven: Hopeful

Orochimaru

After Anko leaves, Naruto comes back in with Gaara, Matsuri, and a baby.

The child has barely hatched. He grips his mother's shirt with one hand and flies a toy dragonfly with the other, giggling merrily.

I flick my tongue, enjoying the taste of tanuki, bat, dragonfly, and of course, Kit.

"Well, well, seems I'm quite popular today. Why the visit, Kazekage?"

"Sakura thought it could help you if you were around a baby," Kit supplies, getting on the bed and rubbing my swollen abdomen. The child within kicks.

"I see."

"You guys don't have to just stand there. Come sit. There's plenty of places to sit.

They sit next to each other at a window seat.

The child hides in his mother's breasts, dragonfly forgotten. He peeks out a tad, eyes locking onto mine.

"Who are you?" I ask softly.

The boy stares a bit more then grabs his dragonfly from his mother and points to it

"I see. So you're a dragonfly. Seems you're well informed."

"A dragonfly?" Matsuri blinks.

"Oreo has this cool ability to smell-taste-chakra with his tongue. He said we all smell like animals either from our summons, totems, or both."

"How interesting."

"Is that ability from an experiment of yours?"

My fingers twitch slightly, itching for an experiment. It's been so long. Especially for a real one. But, I promised Naruto. And, well, I'm with child so I suppose I'll have to wait to play.

"No. I was born with the ability."

"That's so cool! What about your tongue?"

Why am I so popular?

I glance at my lover who shifts his hand under my hospital gown and rubs my abdomen. His hand is so warm! I close my eyes, leaning against him, and hissing contently.

"He was born with that too."

I open an eye at the baby staring at me. "You never told me your name little dragonfly."

"His name is Shinki."

"Hello Shinki. How are you? My name is-"

"Do you see this, Shinki?" Naruto cuts me off, holding an Oreo cookie.

(Where the hell did that come from? I have the weirdest lover…)

Shinki reaches for it.

He holds the Oreo next to my face. "The black part is his hair, and the cream," he says, pulling the cookie apart, "is his skin. He is Oreo Snake Yashagoro!" Naruto pops the Oreo in his mouth. "Mmmm! Good Oreo!"

Matsuri and Shinki giggle. Gaara chuckles. "So that's where that comes from."

"Everyone knows I'm an Oreo Snake?"

"Pretty much!" Naruto grins widely.

"So do I put down my actual name on the birth certificate or do I have to put "Oreo Snake" down?"

Naruto considers it. "Oreo Snake."

I scoff, closing my eyes. The feel of his chakra pulsing into me is exhilarating. My tongue slips out of my mouth as I feel the seals activate.

Shinki giggles.

"You like Oreo's tongue?"

I open an eye to see Shinki trying to stick his tongue out as far as mine is. Which, by my standards, isn't very much.

Matsuri walks over with her child. "Please be careful," she whispers, warning suffocating her kindness.

"Of course," I reply, reaching out and taking the baby.

He stares at me. I can't help but lick him.

"Why did you just-"

"I… umm sorry…"

I'm about to hand the child to his mother, but said woman stops me.

"I'm not angry. Just curious."

"My clan."

She nods.

I'm glad I don't need to elaborate. Neither Gaara nor his lover asked me to talk about my clan. A clan few know even existed. I like to keep it that way.

I return to the task of licking the baby's chubby cheeks. He giggles, trying to reach my tongue with each sweep across his face.

The baby (or rather the egg) kicks.

"The little one of is happy."

"Indeed."

"How can you feel him kicking if he's in an egg?"

"It rolls against my inner walls. The sensation is similar to that of a baby kicking, according to Sakura, anyway "

"Shinki barely kicked at all. I thought something was wrong with him so I had Sakura to look me over."

"Yutaka was having problems as well."

"The baby is due next month, right?"

"Yup! Yukata and Kankuro are so excited. "

"Seems everyone is mating these days. "

"It's a good time. We're in an era of peace. Besides, I didn't hear you complain about our mating." my lover smirks.

I smile, looking down at the child sleeping in my arms.

"Well, I suppose I'll just have to protect this little dragonfly too."

Hinata

After about two and a half weeks of getting everything prepared and scheduled, and the birth of Kiba's and Tamaki's son, Kegawa, I finally can take Lord Orochimaru to his first chakra therapy. Naruto offered to be there, but I wanted to get to know his lover more. Plus, I don't exactly trust Naruto to let Lord Orochimaru do anything. He gets really excited over him and their unborn child.

(Not that I can blame him.)

The Tsuchikage, her grandfather, the Kazekage and his fiancée left a few days ago, promising they'd keep in touch. Lady Tsunade went back with them as Sakura promised she had things under control here. Lady Tsunade had Sakura promise to take care of her friend and to make sure to keep her up to date.

Everyone promised to be here for the birth of the child of the prophet and hero of the world and one of the Legendary Sannin.

I grab a wheelchair and head to Orochimaru's room. Seals and ANBU assigned directly to Lord Sixth are stationed outside. I place my hand on the center of the seal releasing a small burst of my chakra. It snaps open and I knock on the door.

Naruto answers the door.

"Oh, hi, Hinata! What are you doing here? Not that I don't wanna see you! I mean-"

"It's chakra therapy day, Kit," Lord Orochimaru says.

I look at him as he sits up. He's hooked to so much stuff and he looks like death. His already pale skin doesn't reflect the moon, but death.

"Oh yeah!" Naruto laughs nervously, scratching behind his head. "Forgot."

"That's alright, Naruto," I say, smiling a bit.

"Kit, Lioness, are you two going to come over here and help a pregnant old man or not?" Lord Orochimaru snaps.

He's on the edge of the bed, feet planted against the cool white tile floor, hands gripping the edge of the bed as he tries to push himself to stand.

Naruto rushes over when a millimeter of his lover's butt leaves the bed.

"Of course! Just don't over do it! I told you I'd help, you know."

"Yes, yes," Lord Orochimaru sighs, waving my previous love interest off.

"Hinata can you-"

I wheel the chair over and steady it as Naruto helps the mother of his child into it.

"There. Are you sure you don't need me?" Naruto asks, looking up at me while running his fingers through Lord Orochimaru's hair.

"No, I've got this. Thank you, Naruto."

"No, thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you, Sakura, Kabuto-"

"That's one for the books. I'll have to tell Kabuto how much you adore him." Lord Orochimaru smirks.

Naruto gasps in horror. "You better not, Oreo!"

His smirk just grows wider.

"Gamatsuri please keep an eye on this Oreo snake " Naruto tells a purple and black toad who hops on Lord Orochimaru's lap.

The man stares at it, flicking his tongue. "Just don't stay in my lap for too long or my garter snakes may decide to take a snack."

"Hmm. I'll eat them first."

"Toads can eat snakes?"

"I certainly have."

"Behave Gamatsuri. And Oreo, keep your noodles at bay."

"Yes, mother."

Naruto smiles, kissing his lover then kneeling down, cradling the seven month old pregnant belly gently. "You be good for Mama, okay? Don't give him too much trouble."

"He's saying he promises."

"Good," Naruto says, standing up.

While they say their goodbyes and tease each other about how they're going to eat each other, I set the machines Lord Orochimaru is hooked to to the portable ones.

"There, now you're all set." I say, moving behind the chair. "See you soon, Naruto."

"See you! Love you, Oreo!"

XXXX

We enter a large room filled with various machines to increase or decrease chakra flow.

Lord Orochimaru looks around. I made sure no one would be here at this time. I knew it would only upset him.

"How are you feeling, Lord Orochimaru?" I ask.

"You don't have to call me that, dear. But to answer your question, I feel like a pregnant old man."

"You are-"

Lord Orochimaru grabs the little amphibian and puts her in the pocket of the wheelchair.

"Don't make me come out if you misbehave "

"I'll make sure he behaves."

Lord Orochimaru scoffs. "So what will we be doing exactly?"

"Well, as you know, your chakra flow has been heavily disturbed due to you being with child. These machines will help you get that flow back. The goal is to have to you be healthy enough so you can have a faster recovery rate and the baby will be healthy."

"I see and will we be using any of these machines today?"

"Perhaps, but I need to see which would be suited best for you first so if you don't mind, please build up some chakra."

He does as I asked. I activate the byakugan, studying the pattern and flow.

"Alright, I believe the best thing to do is to see if we can't expel that chakra around the egg. It's too much."

"And you have a way to do that?"

"Indeed."

I wheel him over to a table with a blue cushion mattress. I lower the table and help him on it.

"Now just lie back. I'm going to try and release this tension in your belly. It may feel uncomfortable. If you're in any type of pain, please let me know."

"I will."

I activate my byakugan and press my hands against his stomach. I feel his chakra beginning to stir, trying to push the foreign invader-my chakra-out.

The snakes swim about in chaos. Lord Orochimaru hisses.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," he responds through gritted teeth.

I study him then nod to myself. I press on, using the technique my sister taught me of dragging chakra from one place to another.

I take a small portion, stretching it out from the outside of the egg's plane to his heart.

The heart monitor beeps.

I take my hands away.

Lord Orochimaru pants, face flushed. "What did you do?"

"I took a portion of your chakra and stretched it."

"Stretched it? How does that work?"

"By using the gentle first technique, I can go into your chakra network, grab wherever amount I desire, and stretch it where I wish for it to go. I took a small portion to your heart. How do you feel? "

"Hmm. Interesting." He places a hand over his chest. "I can feel the chakra stirring now. Will you do more?"

"Paintece. It's best not to do too much. I think focusing on getting chakra to your heart will be s good start "

"I suppose you're right."

"Whenever you're ready."

He nods and I resume.

About half hour in, and I'm able to get a handful of his chakra to his heart.

"Why are you doing this?" He asks, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?"

"Helping me," he asks, stilling my movements with a weak, cold grip.

I look at him, staring into his eyes. Eyes that most people said were full of evil.

"Hinata, why are you crying?" Shino asks, sitting beside if me on the bench.

I stare out, tears falling.

"Naruto is back."

"Then why haven't you seen him? Don't be nervous about telling him. He cares greatly for you. Don't let the opportunity slip you by. "

"I've already seen him. The chance already has."

"What do you mean?"

"Naruto… he loves someone else."

By all rights I should be angry with this man. He took Naruto from me after all. But I'm not like that. I'm not petty. I see how happy he is. How excited he is about being a father. How worried he is for his lover and unborn child.

"Because I love him."

"Then shouldn't you be trying to kill me?"

"I don't like doing that. And I already know you can't be killed "

(Another long topic we had in our meeting)

"True, but why keep the threat? It'll just keep getting bigger. "

"You're no threat. I understand that people may love another even if a person loves that person. Life is strange like that. I'm not saying it's easy, but I don't blame you or wish you harm in any way, shape, or form. "

"I don't wish it on you either. That's why I don't…"

"It's fine. Naruto is happy. That's what makes me happy, seeing that beautiful smile."

Orochimaru smiles. "Me too."

Preview

Karin

"Yes, and ultra moody," he frowns. "Did you know he threw Kusanagi at me because I told him he was fat?"

I punch him in the head. "He's pregnant you idiot!"

Next update date:

I hope y'all enjoyed! Until next time :).