It's still me everyone. Though Jess does have a tablet now so she may be back to updating herself like she's supposed to instead of making me do all the work. I may have to make her upload some of my chapters for me to compensate for all the chapters I had to upload for her. I'm down at her house now so it's a lot of fun. Though my dog also passed away today so I'm sad about that. Still, I won't bother all of you with that stuff. We had an interesting day out though because most of it was good, but one of our stops wasn't that great. Still, hope everyone had a good Holiday and a good new year. Also, our anniversary is coming up so that's another thing to be happy for. Going out for that for certain.

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-six: Clipped

(A few days earlier)

Orochimaru

It just doesn't add up. I've went over every scenario, and nothing adds up. This body… it's not a human body. So then why am I getting symptoms for rejection? Why do I feel as if I'm dying even though that's impossible?

Naruto has been helping me. Making sure I am fed and hydrated, but my body is unable to contain the nourishment. And yet, despite this, I've been gaining weight. It could very well be weight gain from not eating enough. But that theory wouldn't explain my other predicaments.

I feel as if I stay in bed all the time. That, or the bathroom. These days, Naruto has to help me shower because I fall over too much (according to him, anyway.) I sigh, staring up at the ceiling. Naruto must have gone out to get some supplies while I was asleep.

'Nagi, have you been able to find anything about the body?'

'Our chakra flow and levels are disturbed. Well, more so yours.'

'I see. Can you do me a favour?'

'What is it?'

'Help me get to my lab.'

'Should you really be doing experiments in your condition?'

'I must find out what's wrong.'

'I've been searching.'

'If you haven't found anything by now then it's out of your control, Nagi.'

'Your mate will be highly upset.'

'Fine. We'll go to another one. I just need to find the answer. I can't have him taking care of me like I'm an old man.'

'But you are an old man, Orochi,' she teases.

'I hate you.'

XXXX

After much struggling and delicate chakra leaks from my bond snake, I managed to make it outside. The cool air breezes through my hair. I shiver.

'It's too cold,' Nagi complains.

'We'll get somewhere warm soon, my dear.'

I slowly walk into the forest, leaving my favourite hideout behind. The hideout that has so many memories. Memories with Sasuke and with Naruto.

Kit…

He'll be upset; I know he will. But I can't have him doing everything. It's not his job to take care of me. I don't want to be a burden. And I am. I know he doesn't like seeing me ill like this. And that's why I have to find out what is causing this.

Halfway through the forest, and I fall to my knees. I shake, cough, and gasp. I hate this. I'm so weak! I struggle to stand, my head throbbing and spinning.

'Take it easy.'

"I… can't…" I gasp aloud. "Kit… is…"

'Naruto loves you. He wants to help you.'

'He's just…' I vomit, shaking and curling up.

Everything on me hurts. My muscles are sore and my bones feel like they've become liquid calcium. My heart pounds violently against my chest. And no matter how much air I take in, it's not satisfying enough.

'I feel like a balloon that's going to pop if someone touches me,' I groan.

'Just take it easy. Let's go back inside, Orochi. You're not strong enough for this.'

'You're supposed to be giving me chakra.'

'I am, but I can only do so much. We are connected, after all.'

'I know. We can make it to the nearest lab.'

'You mean the one underground about a mile and a half from here?'

I nod.

'You haven't used that one in ages. Do you even have enough supplies?'

'Suigetsu stocked my labs before going off to play.'

'I see. And does Naruto know about this lab?'

'No… not yet.'

'Well, get some rest. I'll be on watch.'

'Not too long. We need to get there.'

'No, I know that. Though, Naruto can sense you.'

'My chakra and life-force are dangerously low, so I doubt he could. Then again, he is Kit.'

XXXX

Tenzo

"Where is he?" I muse to myself from the tree branch I'm sitting on.

About every three months or so, I receive a letter to give to Lord Six and a verbal report on Naruto's mission. At first, I stayed around to keep an eye out just in case I needed to step in, but after talking with Naruto and Kakashi, we decided it was best that I tend to other matters (like rebuilding villages) and check up on Naruto every three to four months.

It's been about three and a half since I've last seen him. We try to keep our rondeau as close as the same time as we possibly can. But, it seems this month won't be like the last time.

Time passes slowly, and still, Naruto never comes out. What could he be doing in there? Then again, he may not be. Orochimaru should be. But, we agreed it would be wise if I didn't make contact with him.

(Or, anyone for that matter until Naruto was done fixing him. And that… (what even is he?) Needs a lot of fixing.)

I jump out of the tree and head into the forest. Perhaps he's training and forgot our rondeau time? I wouldn't put it past him. This certainly isn't the first time he's done so and certainly won't be the last time.

I walk through the forest. I stop when I see a pretty decent size snake wrapped around someone. I step closer. Wait… that's…! I wonder if this snake can talk. Maybe it can tell me what's going on and where Naruto is.

"Snake."

"Nagi."

I clear my throat. "Nagi," I correct myself. "Why is Orochimaru lying out here in this weather?"

"He is much ill."

"Then all the more reason…"

"He wants to discover. Asked for my help. I don't agree, but do as bond hooman wishes."

"And Naruto?"

"Out getting supplies. Went out when Orochi was asleep."

"I see. How long has he been out here?"

"Not sure. I can no tell a time."

Do snakes always talk so weird?

"N-Naruto…" Orochimaru groans.

"He'll be back soon, Orochi."

"Need… to…"

"What you need is to get back in the bed."

Orochimaru barely manages to open an eye halfway. "Who… are… you?"

"It's wood boy," Nagi says. "He came here for his rendezvous with fox-boy, no?"

"Well, yes. Though, it seems that I will have to do more than just talk to him."

"Didn't the Hokage tell you not to come near me?" Orochimaru coughs.

"It wasn't ordered. It was highly suggested by Naruto and Lord Six that no one come near you."

"Because I'm evil?"

"Why do you want to save him, Naruto? He's not like the others you've saved. He literally doesn't care. What do you hope to gain by helping him? Who's to say he won't turn around and stab you in the back? Who's to say he's not pretending? He should be locked up. He's a danger to society and even to himself. You can't save everyone. He doesn't even want to be saved. He's evil!"

Naruto looks up at the sky, the sun shining brightly and the clouds floating by slowly. "I know he has problems. I know he's done wrong. But he won't go back to that. I won't let him."

"How do you know?"

"Because I believe in him. I told you, Kakashi-sensei, Granny Tsunade, Kurama, Nagi, and Oreo that I would save him. And you know what my nindo is by now, Captain Yamato."

"And how long do you plan on being here?"

"Until I can bring Oreo home."

"You want him home?"

"He's a Konoha shinobi, isn't he? Don't you think it's time for him to come home?"

Orochimaru smiles weakly after a rough cough. "It's always like this. I suppose you wish to kill me."

"You hurt me."

"I know."

"I should kill you, but I won't."

"Oh? Then what will you do?"

I walk closer to the older man. The man who ruined my life. Who took me and subjected me to torture. Torture that resulted in so many nightmares. Yet, at the same time, allowed me to protect my home. Gave me a purpose.

A sense of pride that I could actually be useful. And yet, this power I have, it's not mine. It's not even in the same league as Lord First's. After all, the original is usually better.

I stare at the man who took so much from met, yet gave me so much. Even without abilities to sense and see chakra, I can tell he's beyond his limit. I close my eyes. Should I leave him or help him?

My fingers twitch by my sides. How I wish I could cut into his body the way he cut into mine. How I wish I could watch his blood flow. How I wish I could watch his life slowly slip away only for him to shed and repeat the progress again and again and again until he ran out of chakra. How I wish I could-

Orochimaru coughs and shakes violently, coughing up blood and vomiting.

"Orochi..." Nagi says, wrapping around her master. "Just hang in there. I'll get you back to the hideout.

"N-no… must… must get to lab… will find… answer…"

"Can't you find the answer in your lab in the hideout you and Naruto have been in?"

Not that he can do much in his condition.

"Kit… will disapprove…"

I inwardly scoff. Naturally. How the hell Naruto can be around this man is beyond me; what does Naruto see in him? Is he really worth it? Is he worth saving?

"Yes."

Naruto would say, and has said over and over again. I can't help but be angry that he would want to save him. It's to stop revenge. Because whether like it or not, there are people who do care for him. And, it seems, Naruto is one of them.

But just how close have they gotten? The last time I saw Naruto, he seemed… happy. Or, happier than I've ever seen him. But, what has caused this? Certainly not Orochimaru.

And yet, what else could have caused such a change in the next Hokage?

Preview

Naruto

I still can't detect him. If only… I fall to my knees, sobbing. I can't… this isn't happening! Oreo… Oreo… please… please… just… come back to me. Please…

"Orochimaru, where are you?!"

Next update date: January 13th

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