So, apparently, Cici's is a piece of shit and I don't have the job because I was sick. Whatever. So, back to the drawing board. M sister is trying to get me a job at the Dollar General she used to work for, so perhaps I can get a job there? Hope so.

I've been lazy as far as writing goes. I haven't finished Chapter thirty-two et lol. Oh well, I'll get it done one-day :D.

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, 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 Nineteen: Heightened

Orochimaru

Things go back to normal (as best as they can at least). Naruto has become more focused on his training and helping me bring my loved ones back. I'm grateful for that. I feel with his help I can actually do this. Still, we have a long way to go. If only there was a way to connect to the other dimensions…

"You know the good thing about being in peace is that there aren't as many early deaths," Naruto says, filling out the paperwork he offered to help me with.

"That's true, and I appreciate that," I say, stirring up some chemicals together.

"Of course. All that senseless fighting was pointless."

I hum in agreement and pour the contents into a machine.

"What exactly are you doing over there?"

"Trying to create a dimensional jutsu."

"To go into the afterlife?"

I nod. "It's just the first phases. I'll need a lot more preparation before I can truly know what I need."

"Certainly a lot of chakra," Naruto says, turning the page.

"Yes. How's your work going over there?"

"I think I'm doing alright. Some of this stuff is still so strange."

"Just let me know if you get confused. You know I don't mind helping."

"Thanks, Oreo," Naruto smiles.

I smile as well.

We continue our work in silence for a while. I walk over to the large table where a white Zetsu is strapped down and drugged. I cut into the creature and hook it up to the machine. "Kit, will you-" The machine starts up. I look up to see Naruto grinning. "Never mind," I chuckle.

"I've been reading you well, Oreo. I know how you work."

"I see. Well, it goes both ways," I say, observing the changes in Zetsu clone.

"You better know how to read me," he grins.

I lick his face. "You make this even more enjoyable."

He beams. "Seriously? But you haven't experimented on an actual human in almost a year…"

I shrug. "I don't know if a human is quite the right answer. After all, I'm trying to create a jutsu where I can at least go into another dimension and one where the souls of the dead can go into ones of the living that is stronger than the reanimation jutsu."

"Well, couldn't you just use the Zetsu? I mean they're living, but they're not human so…"

"I could, and I believe they are a key to figuring out that mystery. However, I want something more. I'm not sure if the reanimation jutsu would be enough. Perhaps for a bit of time, but…"

"I understand, Oreo. Isn't that why we're doing this?" Naruto asks, walking over to the cabinet and filing the paperwork away as I've instructed him to do before then he walks over to where I am, sitting on a stool out of the way.

"Indeed it is."

"So once you've created a perfect reanimation jutsu and bring them back, will you have them be immortal?"

"That will depend. If Zetsu is the answer here then there will be no need since it's not an actual human."

"Oh okay. That's pretty cool, Oreo. I really love watching you work. You're just so happy and cute. Especially with your hair all tied up in a poof ball so I can see your cute Oreo face," Naruto says, reaching out and poking my bun, giggling.

"You're adorable."

He jumps down off the stool and wraps his arms around me from behind. "That's you, my love."

I sigh contently, relaxing in his embrace. One would think that such things would anger me and cause me to mess up. Not at all. Not with Naruto at least. If anything, it only makes a perfect task that much more reachable.

Bubbles start to foam out of the chest of the Zetsu. I press my hands on the bubbles and release a small flow of chakra. The bubbles cease.

Naruto unwraps his arms from me and hands me a small container. I scoop up the bubbles and store them away after I've changed the settings on the machine.

"It'll take a few days to see any real results. I'm going to take a shower. You're on dinner duty tonight."

"Alright, but think of me while you're in there," he smirks.

I roll my eyes. "Will do."

XXXX

After my shower, I attempt to comb my hair. Attempt, because as soon as I had started, Naruto wrapped his arms around my waist and began kissing my damp neck and pressing his half arousal up against my ass.

"Damn, you're sexy like this," he whispers seductively, nibbling on my ear and running his hands up and down my thighs.

I set my comb down and close my eyes as Naruto's hands roam my body. He reaches around me, grabbing my growing arousal, stroking it gently into a full erection. I hiss.

"So beautiful," he whispers, pressing against me harder. He kisses my neck then my shoulder as he removes my bathrobe slowly. His hands travel down my body slowly.

He removes his hands and removes his clothes. When he presses his body against me this time, I can feel the heat and muscles running throughout. His lips and tongue are soft against my skin as he kisses and licks. His hand is rough, yet smooth against my cock. I buck my hips and moan.

"Such beautiful sounds," he whispers, kissing and licking down my thighs then up. He pushes me to turn around and I comply. He rubs my thighs and licks the tip of my cock gently.

I hiss, gripping the edge of the dresser.

Naruto takes a bit in his mouth, sucking on it hard.

I moan, gripping the dresser tightly.

He grabs the base of my cock, stroking and sucking it. Not in perfect timing, but it's good nonetheless.

I buck my hips. Naruto coughs. "Sorry…"

He pulls my cock out, licking one side before going to the next, the corner of his eyes stinging with tears. "It's fine, Oreo. Just relax and enjoy it," he says, taking it back in his mouth and sucking hard and fast.

I moan loudly, bucking my hips. My tongue slips out and slithers against my chest.

"Damn, I love when you do that," Naruto says, taking it out of his mouth and stroking it gently. "It's fucking sexy. It makes me want to fuck you so hard!"

"Then… do it," I gasp, shivering.

"I want to make you cum first," he says, taking my cock back in his mouth.

"But… not…"

"Hush," he says around my cock. "Do you think I care about that?"

"Well… no…"

"Then no holding back. I want to taste you," he says before he starts sucking again.

I grip his head (because his hair is cut too short to grab) and steady his movements. I hiss and moan feeling the wonderful sensation flooding throughout my body like wildfire. I try to pull away, and nearly succeed, except Naruto sucks even harder on the tip and I completely lose it.

I moan loudly, saliva running down my body as semen fills my lover's mouth and drips down his chin. He swallows and licks my cock. I shiver.

Naruto stands up, licking his lips. "Mmm, that was beautiful."

I blush, panting heavily.

"Now then, I believe it's time to have some fun," he grins. He steps away for a moment to grab the lube and puts some on his fingers. He rubs a finger against my entrance gently then slips it inside.

I hiss, my muscles involuntarily constricting around it. Thankfully, there's no pain. Just an uncomfortable stretch. Even as he adds more fingers and rubs against my prostate, there's still that uncomfortable burning stretch.

I moan, pushing my hips against his fingers. He continues to rub and stretch me. After I'm reduced to a shivering-hissing-shaking-moaning mess, Naruto removes his fingers, and after a few moments, he stands pressed up against my back and roams his hands down my sides and grips my ass. He removes one of his hands for a moment and presses the tip of his cock against my entrance.

His nails dig into my hips as he spreads me open and slowly penetrates me. I hiss at the overwhelming burning stretch and the hot, slick appendage causing such pain.

"Shh," he whispers gently, rubbing circles with his thumbs on my hips gently. "You know it'll get better."

"Doesn't help there's a hot-iron flesh pole stuck up my ass right now," I pant.

He laughs. "This hot-iron flesh pole will make you scream."

"Crazy," I chuckle breathlessly.

Naruto uses the opportunity to push into me deeper and fully. He waits for a few moments then pulls out slowly then pushes back in.

"Still so tight," he moans breathlessly

I moan, pushing up against him.

Naruto pushes me against the dresser and kisses my neck as he thrusts hard and fast into me, moaning and gasping. His hands slide down my back. I arch into his touch and hiss when his nails dig deep into my hips once again.

He pulls me against his cock, thrusting into me deeply. A hand reaches up and rakes through my hair as he continues.

I feel his powers whipping around us wildly. Through the mirror, I see his eyes flash from his sage eyes to Kurama's to his normal eyes. He growls, moving faster, harder, and deeper into my body.

I moan loudly as the tip of his cock rams my prostate hard and clench tightly around his pulsing cock.

"Fuck," he hisses, sinking sharp teeth into my shoulder. He hooks an arm underneath one of my legs and slides into me even deeper.

I moan as his other hand tightens in my hair and he pulls at it. My tongue slithers down my chest and wraps around my cock.

"You're so amazing," he pants, slowing his pace. "I love you so fucking much!"

I hiss, tightening my grip on my cock and bucking my hips against him.

He licks between my shoulder blades and thrusts deeply, rubbing his cock against my prostate.

"I'm going to…" I moan, shaking against Naruto.

"Do it, baby," he whispers against in my ear.

Naruto's hand wraps around the base of my shaft and strokes my cock as he rams into me.

I moan loudly, spilling.

Naruto growls, thrusting into me wildly and spilling deeply within me, moaning my name.

He falls on top of me, panting heavily. "It gets better every time."

I pant as well. "Yes, but next time, can I please comb my hair?"

He looks up in the mirror and grins. "Maybe. Though, I think it's time to take a shower," he says, moving away from me then scooping me up.

"Oh hell no. We're not going to get clean-"

He cuts me off with a kiss as we head to the shower.

"You shouldn't have been so sexy," he says, turning the water on, grabbing our towels, then sets me on the cabinet.

"Control those hormones, Kit."

"Nope! I will get that pastry!"

"Pastry?" I laugh.

"Yup! You totally have a pastry ass!"

"Pastry ass? What? I've been told I have a pasty ass, but not-"

"Oh, no. Totally wrong. You definitely have a pastry."

"And how do you figure this?"

"Well, pastries are sweet and most of them are filled with cream," he smirks, squeezing m ass then slipping two fingers into me, and fingering me.

I gasp.

He pulls his fingers out. "So that's why you have a pastry."

"Silly," I laugh, licking his face.

He giggles.

"So cute."

"You are! Just look at you! So beautiful! So sexy! So cute! I love you so much!" he beams, kissing me deeply and running his fingers through my hair.

I smile against his lips and respond as well. He picks me up and steps into the shower, pressing me against the shower wall and kisses me deeply as water falls down our bodies.

XXXX

Naruto

After another round of amazing lovemaking, we finally get around to sitting down and eating.

"I can't believe you forgot to cook," Oreo sighs, filling his bowl for another round.

"Well, someone's hungry," I grin.

"I wouldn't be talking. That's your fifth bowl. Though, I suppose it's a step up from ramen."

"Well, I don't always won't ramen."

"Could have fooled me. I saw you transforming into a noodle the other day."

"The only noodle around here is you!" I laugh.

"I'm not a noodle."

"Totally are!" I grin.

"How so?"

"Because you're an Oreo Snake, and since snakes are noodles, that means that you are a noodle!" I grin.

Oreo licks my face then snatches my bread roll.

"Hey!" I exclaim with a laugh as Oreo eats it and smirks.

"That bread roll wanted me to devour it, not kits."

"It was on my plate! So clearly, it was mine!"

"Nope!" he smirks.

I use Kurama's powers to grab one of his eggs and use a small fire-style jutsu to cook out. I peel off the shell then pop it in my mouth. "Take that, Oreo!"

"Noo! You ruined it! How dare you!"

I laugh. "I prefer my food cooked, thank you. We all can't be snakes like you, mister."

Oreo gets up, and after focusing some of his chakra. From his waist down turns into the tail of a snake. The scales are black with white splotches across them, and glisten beautifully when the kitchen light hits them.

Oreo smirks and then takes off quickly.

I laugh, chasing after him. "Come back here, you!"

I know I can easily outspeed him, but this is too much fun to make it end so quickly!

"Nope! I am snakey. I do a hide!"

"You're so cute when you talk in snake-talk!" I giggle.

The first time he did that was when he was talking to Sabiniji's noodlelets. It certainly was strange, but (apparently) that's how you talk snake. I don't question him about such things.

"I'll do a find then!" I smirk, scanning the area. We're in his lab, so I must be careful. Of course, I know he trusts me with all of his heart and soul. "Now where could that Oreo Snake have gone off too. Hmm…"

I walk further into the lab. I'm so glad he's letting go and being himself. I've never seen him so happy and free the way he is right now. I hear some movement and a blur passes my vision. I grin widely and grab my lover.

"Gotcha!" I say, holding him close.

His tail wraps around my waist and one of my legs and his arms wrap around my neck.

"You only found me because I let you," he smirks, booping me.

"We both know I could have had this play done much earlier, silly," I say, booping him back.

"But then it wouldn't have been fun," he pouts.

"True, and that's why I didn't, love," I say, kissing his nose gently.

"Let's go in our room, Kit."

"And cuddle?"

"Only cuddling?"

I give him a cute look.

"That has no effect."

I make it even cuter.

"Still no effect. You have to remember I was with a poof ball for years."

"Pervy Sage was a poof ball?" I laugh.

"Indeed he was. I'll have to show you some pictures."

"You have pictures?!" I exclaim.

"Of course. I'll go get them,"

"Sounds good to me, Oreo," I say.

XXXX

After cleaning the kitchen and Oreo grabbing the albums, we settle on the bed. We lean back against the pillows. My arm wrapped around Oreo's shoulders and the first album on both of our laps.

Oreo turns to the first page. It's the picture of his team. The team picture every team makes when they're genin.

"Awwwwwwww! Look how cute you are!" I beam, pointing to little Oreo. "You're a mini Oreo Snake!"

"I'm not that cute," he mutters, blushing.

"Are you kidding me? I've never seen someone so cute in my life!"

"Jiraiya was much cuter. He was a poof ball toadoaf."

"A what?" I laugh.

"Toadoaf. Jiraiya is a toadoaf. I'm Snakey, Tsunade is Sluggy, and Jiraiya is Toadoaf."

I laugh. "What's that supposed to mean, silly?"

"What it sounds like, Kit," he says, licking my face.

"So what about me?"

"Well, you're kit, but you're also toadoaf."

"Is it because Jiraiya and I summon toads?"

"And smell like them."

"We… smell like them?"

"Your chakra has a toad scent to it, yes. But yours also has a fox scent."

"I assume you're smelling Kurama?"

"Not quite. Though, his scent does mix into yours at times especially when you use his powers, but right now, I just smell yours. I can't smell him if he's dormant."

"Ah, I see. So what about Sasuke and Sakura? What are they?"

"Sasuke is Hawk-Snakey and Sakura is Swan-Sluggy."

"Well, I get the hawk part for Sasuke because he did summon one in the war, but how is Sakura a swan? I don't get that at all."

"Because everyone thought she was weak-including herself-but then she grew beautiful and powerful, like a swan."

"Oh, that's pretty cool. So it's not just summons that makes us smell a certain way?"

"Not at all. Although, they do play a major role. Of course, Sakura could summon swans if she so chooses to."

"Are there swan summons?"

"I'm sure there are. I just haven't seen any before."

"Huh. Well, now I wanna tell Sakura about this and see if she wants to summon swans! I think it'd be cool!"

"It would indeed," Oreo smiles, flipping the page.

"Ah ha!" I exclaim, pointing at the picture with Jiraiya hanging upside down with a rope tied to his leg and the silver bells on the ground as bait. "I knew he went through that too!"

"Oh yes," Oreo chuckles. "It was quite amusing. He and Tsunade had a bet."

"I wonder what Pervy Sage had Granny Tsunade do," I laugh.

"Tsunade won."

"Seriously?! She never wins!"

"Perhaps she should have betted lives and her body instead of money. She would have won more."

"So what were they betting for?"

"Jiraiya wanted Tsunade to go out with him if he got one of the bells, and Tsunade wanted him to leave her alone if he didn't. But," Oreo says, pointing to the picture on the next page. It's one of Jiraiya tied to a stump (the same one I was!). "As you can see, that didn't happen."

"Poor Pervy Sage," I laugh. "He never did make it with the girls, huh?"

"No, but he never truly loved them. He had a crush on Tsunade when we were children. She had a crush on me, and I had a crush on Jiraiya."

"A love triangle?"

"Unfortunately. He would try so hard to get with her, but she always rejected him. It hurt watching him get hurt, but it hurt, even more, seeing him go after her. I thought I had no chance with him."

"How did you and he get together then?" I wonder, flipping the page. I smile at the picture of Oreo and Pervy Sage sleeping against a tree trunk with their heads against each other's and Tsunade hanging upside down on a tree branch with her tongue sticking out.

"We become extremely close. I would confide in him about nearly everything. He was there for me when my parents died. Sarutobi-sensei took me in and helped me, but Jiraiya and I… We were so different, and yet, I felt as though I could trust him. He didn't shy away from me or call me a freak or monster. He wanted to be my friend. He helped me through my darkest hours. He held me and fought me. He made me a better ninja and person. And I fell in love."

"And Jiraiya? Did he….?"

Oreo closes his eyes. "I don't know. I want to think he did, but after I left, it seemed so easy for him to just forget…"

"I don't think he forgot Oreo. How could he?"

"We wanted to bring our relationship out, but he stayed in Ame and then Dan died and Tsunade left. It hurt so much. Both of them just left. I had no one. I didn't have Jiraiya to ground me and pull me from crossing those boundaries. I was so angry with them. I lost it. I knew that we could never come out and say we were in love…"

"I'm sure something could have worked out, Oreo. Everyone makes mistakes, but you can't dwell on such things."

"If I hadn't lost myself then he wouldn't be suffering…"

Oreo, don't you realize that it's the fact that you believe death is suffering that caused this obsession for power and to know everything, thus leading to your downfall?

"Well, you have my help now."

"Yes, and I appreciate that."

I run my fingers through his hair. "It's so nice just sitting here and being with you."

"It is," Oreo says, flipping to the next page.

The pictures sure are cute and amazing. I'm surprised he kept them, but then again, they were his teammates (well, lover for one…) so it's only natural to have something to remember those moments.

"How long are we going to be here?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?"

"Well… I mean… I want to be Hokage, and I want you to come back…"

"I don't have an issue coming back as long as everyone leaves me alone."

"Well, alright, but…"

"But what?"

"Well, I want to tell my friends-"

"No."

"What? What do you mean 'no'?"

"Exactly that. No. We're not telling anyone about us."

"What?! Are you kidding me?! I have to hide that I'm in love with you?!"

Oreo closes his eyes. "Naruto, I'm not Hinata. You can't just waltz in Konoha and claim that you've fallen in love with me. People will hate you. You'll lose your friends."

"The hell I will! If I lose friends because of who I love, then they were never true friends to begin with! You never trust me with anything! I always have to hide!" I exclaim, jumping up and storming out the door, tears falling down my face rapidly.

Relationship problems already :D. What fun! This is only the beginning of the torture! *smirks* So where the pastry thing came from? Well, I'm sure y'all are familiar with Kat's "Snake in the Grass, Wolf at the Door" story? So in the story, Tsunade tells Orochimaru to get his "past ass upstairs" and little Kakashi's like "ass!" and I thought it was so cute so Pippa and I started doing this hilarious voice and one day we had Naruto going "Pastry!" and then it just kinda stuck so I was like "might as well add a bit of humour and hilarity into this :D.

And poor Oreo can't even comb his hair without Naruto wanting to "pound his pastry" Haha!

Preview

Nagi

"Because… because I'm… a freak…" he whispers shakily.

It hurts, doesn't it Lord Ryuko and Lady Ayame? To watch helplessly as your son tears himself apart…

"You're not a freak, Orochi."

"Then why am I like this?!" he exclaims. "Why can't I just be normal?!"

Next update date: October 7th

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