Hello again everyone. I'm glad you're all enjoying the chapter so far. Jess and I are waiting (*cough*im*cough*patiently) for the next episodes of Naruto to come out (in dub of course) after all the dub coices are great and we like watching the show instead of reading subtitles (and for me that involves pausing every five seconds to stare at the bottom of the screne) but we won't get into all that. We just want to see the whole thing (and probably cry because... anyway I'm ranting :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 Twenty-four: Scales

Naruto

"Hey, Oreo?" I ask, kneeling beside of him and rubbing his back. I can feel him shaking, struggling not to worry me. "Are you alright?"

"Just sick," he mutters, coughing.

"Is it something you ate?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, I don't believe so."

"Well, you've been sick for a while. It's really concerning. I think you need to go see Sakura."

He lets out a humourless laugh. "This is nothing. It's like the beginning stages of rejection."

"Oh. So it must be that jutsu of yours, huh?"

"It's a high poss-" he gasps, cutting himself off and puking all over the grass.

I wish I could do something to help him. This is crazy!

"How long have you even had that body?" I ask, massaging his back. His muscles tense and body shakes. Poor Oreo!

"Since… I resurrected the Hokage…"

"So then why are you getting sick? It hasn't been three years."

Oreo slowly stands up shakily. "I… don't know."

"Are you alright?" I ask as I stand up with him. I pull him close. Slowly, the shaking stops.

He nods against my chest. "Just a little weak."

"I can imagine. How about I make you some soup? Do you think you can hold that down? We can go in our bedroom and just relax."

Oreo nods again. "… okay."

I sweep him up gently, taking a cloth out of my bag and gently wiping his mouth. He's covered in sweat. "You want a bath?"

"That would be nice."

"Alright, love. Would you rather have a bath first or eat?"

"Bath."

I smile, booping him on the nose.

He smiles back, reaching up shakily and booping me. "Boop!"

I laugh, kissing his nose. "I love you, beautiful."

His smile only grows wider. A real, true smile that completely lights up my world.

I walk to the hot springs after gathering our things and putting the soup on low, having one of my shadow clones watch it as I take care of my Oreo Snake.

Oreo sighs happily as he melts into the water. That silky hair pooling around him like a cloud of ink. (Ink isn't pretty, but he sure knows how to make it so!)

"How are you feeling?" I ask. I turn on my side, grabbing some of Oreo's hair, and let it fall through my fingers.

He watches me for a moment. "Better. The sickness comes and goes."

"I hate you're getting sick."

Oreo sighs, sliding into the water more. "Such is life, I suppose."

"Well, I'm going to change it!"

His gorgeous eyes drift to me. "And how do you suppose you'll do that? I got myself into this mess. Granted, it's strange to be getting sick this early, but it's the only logical explanation for this nonsense. Then again, it's strange that this body would react at all."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"This isn't exactly a human body."

"Huh? Then what is it?"

"Do you remember White Zetsu? The creatures made from Hashirama's cells that Tenzo, Yamato-whatever you want to call him-amplified during the war?"

"Of course. They sucked up chakra like it was nothing and could imitate anyone whose chakra they absorbed. Sakura was the one who found out their source because they were too stupid to tell that Tonton was a pig, and obviously, didn't have hands. And, of course, Kurama can sense negative emotions and energy, so once we arrived on the scene it was "bye-bye weird white dudes!" Why?"

"This body is a white Zetsu clone."

"Say what?! Since when?"

"Since before the war ended."

"Why did you choose one of those freaky things?!"

"What choice did I have? Besides, this body is pretty sturdy and resilient. The fact I'm getting sick like I am boggles my mind."

"Well, I'm not sure about all that, but there is something that's very concerning to me."

"And that is?"

"How the hell are you not a tree?!"

"Pardon?"

"Yeah! Like, okay, so if I use Kurama's powers on those Zetsu dudes then they turn into trees! And I have used it on you during our lovemaking! What the hell, Oreo! Why didn't you tell me! I could have turned you into a tree!"

Oreo laughs. "Aww you wouldn't like me as a tree?"

"Well, you'd be a cute tree. Like… one of those white and black trees."

"A birch tree?"

"Yeah!"

"Would you water me and keep me safe?"

"Of course!"

"Yeah! But… I don't want you as a tree. I want you as you are now."

Oreo smiles. "Well, thank you. Though, I must say I had no idea your powers could do such things. How interesting."

"Yeah. I learned about it when I was training with Octopops on the island turtle. Captain Yamato was there and I was having trouble getting Kurama's powers. Captain Yamato had his wood-style jutsu out and yeah trees grew! Then I really saw it in action fighting the white Zetsu."

"Ah. I see. So the cells of Hashirama react to your powers. How intriguing. I'd love to study that some more."

"Well, go ahead. Let me know how that goes. But I want you to get better first."

"Of course. You know I promised you I wouldn't overdo it, did I not?"

I smile, stroking his face. "Of course. Though," I say, taking my hand away and wrapping my around his shoulders. "I do have to wonder why you didn't get turned into a tree."

"You have been using quite a bit of power during our lovemaking as of late. My guess is it only works when you're attacking those cells. The power acts as nourishment for the cells. It seems to be some sort of overload for them, thus, creating the trees. How big do these trees get?"

"Pretty big. They grow pretty fast as well."

"Yes, it would stand to reason it'd be like that. The force of your power when you attack is different than letting your power flow into someone. That, is my guess, at least."

"Well, I don't get it all that much, but I suppose it makes the most sense."

"I'll be able to explain it better once I know the full story of what's going on. This is only a hypothesis."

"A scientific guess?"

Oreo smiles. "Correct. See? I knew you'd remember. And you told me you wouldn't," he says, booping me on the nose.

I laugh. "Well, it took forever, but after studying it and seeing you do a few small experiments first hand, I learned rather quickly."

"Just another thing we have in common."

I frown. "Not really. I mean you get things in 0.2 seconds or less and I-"

"What have I told you about that, Naruto? You and I both know that you're a genius. You need to stop comparing yourself to me."

"But you just said that we have learning quickly in common!"

"We do. We both learn rather quickly. I never said how we learn it. I learn through reading and observing. You learn through experience and practice. Granted, you need to understand what you're doing, which you achieve through your practice and observations. And I have to know how to do it, which I learn through trial and error after I understand the concept of what I'm reading or observing."

"I… I suppose that's true…"

"I don't want to hear you say such things again, okay?" he says, turning and placing a hand on my face. I stare into his eyes as he strokes my face. "You're special. Never forget that."

I nod slowly. "Thank you, Oreo. You're so sweet."

"Well, not sure about that, but I appreciate the compliment."

"Do you think your soul is getting sick?"

"I don't believe souls can get sick. Then again, I did create it…"

"Exactly. I want to see it!"

"You want to see my soul?" Oreo blinks.

"Yeah!"

"Why?"

I shrug. "I dunno. I mean… I'd like to see what you use for that jutsu of yours and I dunno. I just wanna see it."

"Alright, I need to prepare first though, and I'd rather do it inside."

"Alright, I think we've soaked long enough in here anyway. My toes are prunes! See?" I say holding my leg up and wiggling my toes in front of his face.

He moves his head back, scrunching up his nose. "Think those things need to be soaked a bit more," he teases.

I stick my tongue out, putting my leg back down. "And what about yours? Are yours all nice and smell free?"

"Naturally," he scoffs, climbing out of the water.

I do the same. I point to his toes. "What are those?"

"My toes?"

"No! They're Oreolets!"

He chuckles, wrapping a towel around his waist, I doing the same. "You're so crazy, Kit."

"Nooooooo! I was enjoying that view!" I pout, grinning.

He rolls his eyes. "You can enjoy such a view later."

"Really?" I perk up.

"Next year."

"You're so mean!"

He turns, licking me on the nose. "Ah, but that's why you love me. Now then, shall we-" He cuts himself off, running behind a tree and puking again.

I sigh, walking over to him. "Sick again?"

"Yeah. I think I just moved a bit too quickly."

"You get sick if you move too fast?"

"Yeah, sometimes… I think I'm alright now."

"You sure you want to do this today?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Just give me an hour or so to prepare. After we eat, of course."

"Damn! I forgot about food!"

Oreo laughs as we head back inside. "Figures you'd forget something like that."

XXXX

After we eat and Oreo relaxes for a bit, we go into our bedroom. I sit on our bed. He stands at the foot of the bed. I wait. Watching him carefully.

"I don't know how well this will go. I know I can exit a body, but I've never re-entered the same one. Granted, this isn't an actual human body, but…"

"Is there anything I can do to make this easier?"

"I don't believe so," he says after a moment. "No, actually, give me one of your shadow clones."

"What for?"

"In case I have trouble entering the body, you can hold it down for me."

"Oh okay!" I say, making one.

"Alright, one more thing before we get started. I have some advice for you, so I want you to listen carefully."

"Which is?"

"Don't make it bleed."

I frown. "Why would I do that?"

"Just don't."

"Alright, but why?"

"Because the vapours from the blood are paralyzing and will make you go numb."

"Huh. Why would you do that?"

"Think about it," Oreo says as he prepares himself. "I would need some sort of way to stop the person I was trying to possess, no?"

"Well, I suppose that's true. So you have like a paralyzing jutsu in your soul blood?"

"Something like that," he grins.

"Makes sense."

Oreo starts gathering chakra to summon his soul outside of his body. He shakes, blood and trickling down his chin.

"Hey, are you okay?!" I exclaim, rushing over to him and helping him sit on the bed.

Oreo gasp. His skin is burning hot. What the hell is going on?!

"It's okay, Oreo. You don't have to do this. You're too sick."

"I want to-" he coughs, blood splattering on his hands and a small white snake.

The snake squirms in the blood.

"A little white snake?"

"It's… from my soul," he gasps.

"Oh. Can I…?"

Oreo nods.

My shadow clone brings me a damp wash cloth and begins washing his face.

"thanks…"

"Of course," I smile. I take the snake gently. "Hello little guy."

Hiss…

"Aww! That was so cute!"

Oreo smiles. "I'm sorry I couldn't summon my soul…"

I hand the snake to my shadow clone and swoop up Oreo gently, putting him in the bed and sitting on the edge of it, gliding my hand over his flawless face. "I'm not angry about that. I just want you okay."

"Thank you, Naruto," Oreo whispers, placing a hand over mine and interlocking our fingers together.

I smile. "Of course. I'm always here for you."

"The snake wants to get down," my shadow clone frowns.

"Just let her down," Oreo coughs slightly.

"Will she be okay? And hey, wait, "she"?"

"The snakes are different genders within me. That one is a female. They can live in or out of my body. They're just scales."

"Yeah but they're snakes!"

"That they are."

My shadow clone places the snake down gently and she slithers off.

"Bye-bye, snakey!"

Oreo closes his eyes. "Kit?"

"Yes, Oreo?"

"Can you get me some ice cream?"

XXXX

Sasuke

I take a large gulp of water from my container before putting it away. I gaze around the area. Naruto sure did a number here. All for me. Rebuilding this bridge is the least I can do. I wish I would have been able to see that fight. Sakura said it was unlike anything she had ever seen. Well, naturally, that would be the case in such a situation.

The bridge is halfway done. It was my idea to rebuild this bridge, after all. Most people had forgotten. People from all over have been helping me. Jugo has been a huge help as always. I had Karin helping me, but she was getting on my nerves. (It's not like she's an expert in rebuilding things) so I had her move elsewhere and set up a medical tent nearby just in case we were attacked, someone grew ill, etc. And Suigetsu? Well, he never showed up. Jugo said he was busy doing other things. Whatever that means.

Oh well. It's not my problem. I have an important task to achieve. This bridge is only a small portion of that tasks. For nearly the past two years, I have been going around helping each village rebuild and put order into their world. At first, people were wary of me, but after they remembered Naruto's words and I proved myself worthy of those words, I was allowed to help.

Kumo has been my main focus because I had hurt them the most. (Besides Konoha, of course.) I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for what I did. Still, I have to. I can't wallow in self-pity. I refuse to sink that low and take my pain out on everyone. We fought too hard for that.

I make a Lightning-style sword and cut the wood of the logs with perfect precision.

"You sure do make a clean cut, Sasuke," Jugo says, coming up to me with a large stack of wood.

"Concentration and skill are key."

"Seems like this bridge is really starting to look like it once did."

"I want to make it better. A breeze shouldn't blow it away."

Jugo arches his brow. "A breeze? I thought this was the spot that Lord Naruto and Lord Orochimaru fought?"

"Indeed, but it was still a breeze that torn this bridge apart."

"Well, it was certainly a strong breeze," he says.

We turn to go back to work. "Sasuke?"

"Hmm?"

"Isn't that one of Lord Orochimaru's snakes?"

I turn and watch as a white snake slithers onto Jugo's waiting hand. He stands up fully and walks over to me.

The snake flicks its tongue. "Lord Sasuke, Lord Jugo."

"You're one of the immortality jutsu snakes."

"Soul-snake would be simpler, but yes. I came all this way to find you."

"Me? What for?"

"How did you escape?"

"Escape?"

"I was wondering that myself. Yes, Orochimaru shouldn't have to change bodies especially not right now. So what's going on?"

"There's a lot to explain. I'm not sure if it's my place to, but Orochimaru is in trouble. He needs your help."

"Help? Where is he?"

"In the snakey hideout with Naruto."

"Naruto? What the hell?!"

"We should go before something disastrous happens."

"No, no. It's not like that. Naruto isn't the issue."

"Then what is?"

"Orochimaru is really ill. We need to save him!"

"Alright, little guy," Jugo says, petting the snake. "Just let us get Karin."

The snake nods, coiling up and shivering.

Jugo calls over a bird.

"Are you alright?"

"Just… Orochimaru… is…"

"Sasuke!" Karin beams as she runs over to us.

I sigh. "Karin, calm yourself. We need to get to Orochimaru as soon as possible."

She frowns. "What for? What's going on?"

"We're not sure. He's grown ill. This snake came to find us."

She peers into Jugo's hand where the snake is still shaking. "One of Orochimaru's soul snakes."

"We gathered that intel long before we called you over. Now then, will you help or not."

"This poor little guy doesn't deserve this," Jugo says, putting it in his inner pocket. "There you go, little one."

"Of course I'll help Lord Orochimaru! Let's get going!"

"Will everyone here be alright?"

"There are a few medical ninja in the tent. Granted, they're not all that wonderful, but…"

"It'll have to do," I say.

After Jugo tells someone we have to leave for a while, we head out.

What the hell have you gotten yourself into now, Orochimaru?

Preview

Sasuke

"So why the sudden visit to Orochimaru? You already know what he's doing: experimenting, wishing he had Sasuke's young body, being weird with the snakes…"

"He is not weird!" the snake hisses.

"Hey, aren't you one of Orochimaru's soul snake things?"

"I am not a thing! I am a snakey! I am much venom!"

Next update date: December 16th

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