Pippa will be here tomorrow! Yoy! 100% yoy! (do y'all like my word? That's my word. It belongs to me :D ) I stole one of my sister's friends and we're going out Monday with Pippa, my other sister (not the sister I stole the friend from) to this new reptile store that opened up beside of said friend's work. Ah! so excited! Should I come back home with another noodle? :D (I wish. I don't have enough outlets in my room because why would I? *pouts* Plus, the next noodle I get will be a rescue :D But maybe I can work there. I'd die! )

I still haven't done a damn thing to this story as far as writing new chapters go. Good thing I'm way ahead of y'all. :D See, it's good to do what I do. Write a shit ton of chappies out and be lazy for a few months lol.

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: OroNaru, cannon 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 Eleven: Woven

Hinata

I kneel down, placing flowers onto Neji's grave. I trace the engravings of his name etched deeply on his gravestone. To his right is his father and my uncle, Hizashi and to his left is his mother, Aimu. A woman who neither of us had a chance to meet as she had died during Neji's birth.

It's one thing that Neji and I were able to form a connection on as both of our mothers were stricken with the unfortunate consummation that gives life for another. It is a shame, but… I glance over two gravestones down where my own mother, Ranna was buried. Father's gravestone between Uncle's and hers.

I know for certain that I will see them all again someday. I grip the Topaz necklace that Neji had left for me for my birthday two months after the war. The stone was encased in silver along a thin silver chain. When Father brought it to me, I was beyond speechless. Now, every time, I am off duty or visiting my dear cousin, I wear it.

"I thought I'd find you here, Hinata," Shino says.

I look over my shoulder, smiling at my teammate. Over these past few months, he and I have been getting closer. It's a nice change since Kiba is very much busy these days with his five-month-old pregnant wife, Tamaki

Shino and I never actually met until after the war. She owns a shop and has a bond with cats in the same way that Kiba's clan has a bond with dogs. She also has knowledge in veterinary care and helps Hanna.

I turn to Neji's grave again. "Seems you know me quite well, Shino."

"I'd hope so," he says, kneeling down beside of me.

We sit in silence for a while. Both of us occupied with our own thoughts.

"Are you alright, Hinata? Do you need anything?"

I smile, shaking my head. "Neji is right here," I say, placing a hand over my heart. "He is always with me as is my mother and uncle."

"That is true," he says, extending a hand and letting a small bug crawl onto a petal of a bluebell flower.

"What kind of bug is that?" I ask watching as the creature crawls deep within the flower.

"It's called a Haka spider," Shino replies, summoning more onto the flowers. "They're able to keep flowers put on graves alive longer than they normally would. By giving its chakra to the flower, the flower uses it for life. In turn, the flower gives food for the spider as insects love to burrow their way through the flower for their food, naturally."

"Oh," I say watching the spiders.

They're slightly larger than the beetles Shino and his clan are known to hold within their bodies. Each spider is a beautiful combination of oranges, reds, and yellows or blues, purples, and blacks. Their legs are either a deep red or yellow. I watch in fascination as they make a home in the flowers for Neji.

I smile, turning my head towards Shino. "Thank you."

I can't see his face, but I know for certain that he is indeed smiling. I know him all too well.

"These spiders are helpful in such a situation, but they piss Ino off."

"Well, Ino has never been one for bugs or other creepy crawlies."

"True, but I meant more of the fact I mess up her business."

I frown. "I'm sure she gets plenty, Shino."

"She seems to think not."

"Ino is Ino. She will be alright. She does well."

"As will you, Hinata. Remember, I'm always here. For you and Kiba."

I smile, taking his hand, and lacing our fingers together. The movement of his eyes goes unnoticed by me, even if it is just a fraction. I place my other hand on the side of his face.

"Thank you, Shino. I'm here for you and Kiba as well."

XXXX

Orochimaru

After getting settled for my sunbath, I watch Naruto train with the Wind-style jutsu I taught him. We've been coming out here almost every day.

He definitely has better control of his chakra. He can execute just the right amount of power and force, but he still needs to work on aim and precision. I will have to work on that with him. After all, I can't get too ahead of myself. He's not Sasuke, after all.

Sasuke…

What is he up to? Naruto mentioned that Sakura was pregnant, but that was when Naruto started bothering me. Back in September. It's already May. It has already been eight months since we've been around each other? Why haven't I chased him off? I don't need him. In fact, I really should get back to my experiments. I have gotten letters from Karin. I never reply. I don't know why. They're becoming worried, and yet, I just don't care. I know she, Suigetsu, and Jugo can handle the other hideouts and let me know if anything serious comes up. For now, I'm just going to let my wind blow.

I watch Naruto call on several shadow clones. Not as many as he could, but enough to be impressive. He has them blast the trees.

"Are we trying to recreate the landscape? I like the trees, thank you."

"Well, after I finish training, I'll replant them, kay?"

I snort, rolling my eyes. "Just don't overdo it. I wouldn't want to carry you back because due to exhaustion because you were too stubborn to know when to stop."

"Don't worry about me, Oreo. I have plenty of chakra and stamina to train for days!"

"Be as that may, it doesn't mean you should. You should conserve your energy and chakra as much as possible. Don't waste it by over training. It will only backfire in the end. Say an emergency comes up where the village is in need of your powers. How can you perform at full capacity if you're too exhausted from training?"

Naruto seems to think on this for a moment. "I suppose I should take a break," he sighs, walking over to me, and sitting in front of me, cross-legged.

"You did well today. You've been training for a few good hours now."

"It sure didn't feel like it. I feel like I didn't get anything accomplished."

"Why not?"

Naruto shrugs. "I don't know. I mean, I just blasted a few trees down. I could easily do that with one of my other jutsu."

"Yes, but people who know you will expect those jutsu. And there is more to every jutsu than just the concept of it. Everyone performs jutsu differently. It speaks volumes of who you are."

Naruto is silent for a while. "I guess I never really thought of it like that."

"How can you possibly be unpredictable with the same jutsu?" I smirk.

He grins that cute grin of his. "Do you believe that about chakra natures?"

"Of course."

Silence surrounds us except for the birds singing and the squirrels chattering. The sun beams down on us, lighting up his already bright face and filling my back with warmth. I close my eyes. I feel safe. Content. The silence, it's not an uncomfortable silence. It's one I welcome. Naruto doesn't even attempt to ask me a million questions like he once did. He's certainly changed since being around me. Yet, he hasn't changed at all.

"You said you know all five chakra natures?"

"Yes. What of it?"

"Well, I was wondering what was the hardest for you to learn."

"Fire-style."

"Same here!"

I shift on my side, propping my arm up, and resting my face in my fist. The sun beats down on my chest and feels me with delicious warmth. "Interesting. I thought for sure fire-style would come easily to you based on your mother's and your fiery tempers. And the fact you summon toads. They're known for having fire-style masters."

"Chief Toad was pretty upset when he learned I couldn't perform any fire-style jutsu. Honestly, I still have trouble with it, but I can at least do some. Especially with Sage of Sixth Paths and Biju powers."

"It must have been quite a shock."

"Oh, it was. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I can do. I like this training we've been doing. It's helping that a lot."

"I'm glad. You're doing well with wind-style."

"I still can't believe we have the same chakra nature. Who would have thought?" he grins.

"It certainly is interesting how much we truly have in common."

"I'd say. I'm glad I'm getting to know you. I like you a lot."

A strange feeling I haven't felt in so long fills me. I smile and lick his face.

Naruto giggles. "Why do you do that?"

"Does it bother you?"

He shakes his head. "Nah. I was just curious is all."

"It's a clan thing."

"Oh?"

"You're aware that snakes smell with their tongues, yes?" He nods. "Well, I can do the same. I can smell and taste chakra-"

"Wait; chakra has a smell and taste?"

"Indeed it does. Although, I'm the only one left who can actually taste it. Everyone has a unique chakra flavour."

"Can you taste everyone's chakra then?"

"I could, but it would take a long time. It's easier once my tongue has had direct contact with that person."

"Which would explain the licking."

"That's only partially why I lick."

"And the other?"

"I like the way certain chakra tastes. The more powerful the chakra of a person, the more difficult it is for me not to want to taste them."

"That's really cool! Man, why didn't you just say so? I don't mind if you lick me."

"You… don't?"

"Nah. Why would I? I mean it's your instinct, right? I trust you."

"You're too kind."

"Kindness is what was needed. Isn't your life better now?"

Yes, because of you, Naruto

I nod.

"I want to use my powers to protect people, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. We have peace, but we must work together to maintain it."

"Yet, you're here with me instead of ensuring and maintaining that peace."

"Like I said before, you need me. There's too much pain in your eyes for me to ignore. I want to help you. You're doing a lot better, don't you think?"

"I suppose."

I shift, letting the sun warm my back. I close my eyes; content, and safe.

"I hope this doesn't sound weird, but you look beautiful like that."

I open an eye. "What?"

Naruto blushes. "I mean I'm so used to seeing you so wound up and upset. It's nice to see you relaxed for a change."

I smile.

"I can't believe this world could have disappeared."

"Yes, it's fortunate for the rest of us that you and your team were able to defeat Kaguya."

"Yes, she was a pain in the ass! I had to use the reverse harem jutsu on her!"

"Leave it to you to come up with some weird jutsu to defeat your opponent."

"Hey, I wouldn't be talking about weird jutsu, Oreo!"

"My "weird jutsu" has saved my life many times and Sasuke's for that matter."

"It did?"

"Of course. He used my powers in the fight against Itachi."

"So he spits up snakes and had a long tongue and swallowed people?"

"No. He used my substitution jutsu to escape Itachi's Amaterasu

"You have your own substitution jutsu?"

"Of course. You've seen me do it before."

Naruto thinks about it for a bit. "Oh! That shedding jutsu of yours?"

I nod. "The only downside about it is it takes up way too much chakra."

"I can imagine. It's still interesting to have a jutsu like that. I mean you're just impossible to kill. Not that I'd want to kill you, but…"

"A lot of people want me dead even to this day."

"I know…"

"But they will fail and thank me later."

Naruto looks at me for a bit. I wonder what's going on through his head?

"Hey, what was your world like?"

"Hmm?"

"You know; your dream world."

"Nothing too special."

"Aww! C'mon, Oreo!" Naruto pouts. "I wanna know."

"My parents, Sarutobi-sensei, and Jiraiya were alive. They had their dreams fulfilled. And, I was Hokage."

"You wanted to be Hokage?"

"You didn't know that?"

"Well, no. I mean, honestly, I don't know much about you other than what I've heard and what you tell me, which isn't much."

"I suppose that's true. Yes, I wanted to be Hokage. I would have been Fourth Hokage, but your father took that position instead."

"Why?"

"At the time, I was going through a lot. I was caught experimenting, and turned rogue."

"Do you still want to be Hokage?"

"The possibility of me becoming Hokage are slim to none. I no longer care about the position."

He studies me for a while. "I don't believe that. I mean, if it was in your perfect world, then you have to desire it, right?"

"I suppose, but a dream and reality don't always cross paths. Besides, don't you want to be Hokage?"

"Of course! That's never going to change. I just want you to realize your dream as well."

"I appreciate your concern, but this new dream requires a lot of work. I wouldn't have time to be Hokage."

"When did all of this start?"

"What start?"

"You know, you believing death is suffering."

"I was shown the truth the day I found the Divine White snakeskin."

"Will you tell me about this? I want to understand why you think they're suffering."

"Alright, but it's going to be a long conversation."

Naruto shrugs, biting into his apple.

I sit up, doing the same. Perhaps this child will be the one person to understand? I know one thing for sure: even if he doesn't understand, at least he won't judge me.

This chapter changed a pretty fair amount and some of it I actual wrote today. I felt it made more sense than what I had before. And look, we got some more Oreo headcanon and the answer to Naruto's question back in chapter five? Six? I can't remember when it was lol.

Preview

Orochimaru

"When someone dies, they are placed in this world. The reapers chase their prey into the labyrinth."

"And you expect me to believe this?" I scoff.

"Believe what you will, child. It will come in due time."

Next update date: July 3rd*

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