Hello sorry for not updating. Things have been a bit busy for the two of us. Jess' Grandma die (and yes it's me, at this rate we should just have an account, but then we'd miss out on reviewing so hey nope. Also, she has a job now! Yay!, but still we've decided to update today because it's my birthday today. Also, we're going to update two stories today. That's right, we have another story in the works each. Technically we shouldn't be updating since we don't have ten chapters, but we're being bad so you all get to read the story. We've just been super excited about the stories after all. Of course, Jess is writing a novel for me to write out for the newest story (probably should have gotten her to write me one too ;)).

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 Thirty-One: Astonishing

Hinata

I bounce Sarada in her bouncy chair. She giggles, using her little legs to bounce. I smile. One day, I'd love to have a child with Naruto.

Naruto…

When is he coming back? It's been over a year since I've last seen him. Is he okay? That mission must have been serious. Of course, all missions are. Even the D and C rank ones. Sure, they're not exciting and fear-inducing, but… well, I prefer a simple mission over a life-threatening one.

Sarada starts crying suddenly. I pick her up and walk to the changing table. Since I help keep the babies sometimes, I invested in baby supplies including a room and changing table.

I set her down and start changing her diaper. "What did you eat, little one?" I ask.

Sarada babbles.

"Hm. Is that so? Well, you might want to cut back on that then."

She babbles more, giggling.

I tickle her tummy after I've cleaned her up and powdered her. "There. Now doesn't that feel better?" I ask, putting a fresh diaper on her.

Sarada claps. I smile.

Suddenly, there's a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I call as I dress Sarada back up, clean up, and wash my hands.

I walk back into the living room with Sarada. I gasp, holding onto Sarada more so I won't drop her.

"N-Naruto?"

"Hi," he smiles weakly.

"H-hey…" I mutter, face flushed.

Dammit, Hinata! Get a grip!"

"Is that Sarada?"

I nod.

"She's gotten so big."

"She's a little over ten months."

"Oh wow! Where has the time gone?"

"It sure does fly by. Come, have a seat. Would you like something to eat or drink?"

"Water if you're going to get some for yourself." '

I put Sarada down in her bouncy and leave to retrieve some water. When I come back, Naruto has her giggling and babbling happily.

"Seems she really likes you," I smile, setting our glasses down and sitting down myself.

"Seems so," he smiles.

Silence fills the air.

"So…"

"So?"

He bites his lip, staring at Sarada.

"What is it, Naruto?"

"I'm not sure how to say this. I suppose I should start at the beginning. Did Kakashi-sensei tell you where I was?"

"A bit. He said you were on some important mission."

"I was. I was on a saving mission."

"Saving?"

Naruto nods. "I was… with Oreo…"

"Who?"

He blushes "Orochimaru…"

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"So he's better now? Is that why you're back?"

"No. Not exactly…"

"What do you mean?"

He scratches the back of his head, staring up. "How do I say this? Well, first, he got sick so we took him here. We meaning Sasuke, Suigetsu, Captain Yamato, Karin, and Jugo. Captain Yamato had found Oreo while I was out. I searched for him for like three or four days then ran into Sasuke. We took him to Kabuto's hospital, but until Sakura agreed to examine him…"

"So you want me to ask her?"

"No, she's already examined him."

"So what's wrong with Lord Orochimaru?"

"He's pregnant."

"Oh. Well, I mean with all of those experiments, it must have done something crazy to his body. I mean I don't know much about it, but…"

"Hinata," Naruto says.

I look at him. Those beautiful blue eyes. He's grown so handsome. A faint blush paints my cheeks as I stare at the man I've longed to walk beside for so long.

I start to reach out to touch his face, but he grabs it and shakes his head. "I can't, Hinata."

"Oh."

"It's not you. I just…" he closes his eyes.

"You love him, don't you?" I whisper. "The baby is yours."

Naruto nods, tears falling. "I didn't… I wasn't… Hinata, I'm so sorry!"

I stand up and wrap my arms around his neck. "It's okay, Naruto. We can't help who we fall for. I'm not angry at you or Lord Orochimaru."

"But you're upset," he whispers, pulling me close to him.

"I am," I admit with a hoarse whisper.

"Hinata-"

"But I can get over this. Your happiness means the world to me. And if your happiness lies with Lord Orochimaru then who am I to judge?"

"Thank you, Hinata. I… I just…"

"It wasn't planned. Such things never are, but they happened. Don't beat yourself up. That'll make him feel like he shouldn't have you."

"I… I never thought of it like that…."

We pull away, wiping the tears away from each other's faces.

"Be happy with him. You have a family now, Naruto. It's what you've always wanted."

He smiles, sniffing. "Yeah, but I wasn't expecting it to be Oreo of all people."

I smile as well. "It happens."

"Thanks, Hinata."

"of course," I say. "You said he was pregnant?"

He nods. "It's hard to see cause there's like this egg and a lot of snakes and chakra flows all weird. We can't see what's in the egg, but Sakura is guessing there's a baby."

"Do you want me to look at him?"

"Would you?"

"Of course, Naruto," I smile.

Orochimaru

"Hello, beautiful. I can't wait to see those gorgeous eyes of yours and hear that beautiful laugh," I hear Naruto say through the haziness of my mind.

I slowly open my eyes to see Naruto cradling my abdomen and kissing it. Is he…?

"Naruto," I rasp.

He looks up at me, tears stinging his eyes.

"Oreo!" he exclaims, throwing himself at me. "Oh, Oreo!"

"Kit," I gasp. "You're hurting me."

"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" he apologizes profusely, kissing me gently then rubbing my abdomen. "Are you okay?"

"Naruto…"

He smiles up at me, taking my hand. "I found out why you've been sick. Well, Sakura did, but Hinata confirmed it…"

"Oh?"

He beams. "We're going to be parents! You're pregnant, Oreo!"

I blink. "I'm…" I look down at Naruto cradling and kissing my abdomen. Well, that would explain why he was talking to it and why I'm so fat.

"How…?"

"Not sure. Something about natural energy, soul snakes, sperm? They're still trying to make sense of it, but the point is we're going to have a family, Oreo!"

"I don't understand… I want to know how this happened, Naruto. I can't get pregnant. It's not possible…"

"Well, apparently, it is because you are!" Naruto beams. He stands up and messes with the ultrasound machine. "These are pictures it automatically took when Hinata used her Byakugan on you."

I study the screen closely. There's a heavy flow of different kinds of chakra, mostly senjutsu, my soul snakes and a large blue-violet egg with patches of gold and orange splotched on it. Another picture reveals a fetus curled up and surrounded by even more senjutsu chakra. Tiny hands grip a tail.

Tears sting my eyes. "That's…" I whisper.

Naruto takes my hand and places it on my abdomen. We look up at him as our fingers laced together.

"How far along…?"

"At the end of this month will be six months. Sakura said you're due April 30th."

"So that must mean we conceived our first time…"

"Umm, yeah, guess so," he laughs.

"I assume you know the sex of the baby?"

"No."

"Women usually know during the fifth month…"

"Well, it's hard to read things like that right now. The baby is developing a bit slower than normal. Sakura said we may be able to tell at the end of this month or next."

"I see. Do you mind getting my medical chart?"

"Umm sure," Naruto says. He makes a shadow clone, and a few moments later, comes back with it and hands it to me then disappears.

I open the contents, reading it thoroughly.

"So the biggest issues are getting my chakra flow to return to normal and getting nutrients for this baby."

"Seems so. Since there's no umm… identical-"

"Umbilical cord," I correct him.

"Yeah, that. Since there's no umbilical cord then the baby can't eat it's growing super slow."

"So then there's a chance…" I whisper hoarsely as I feel a flood of tears coming.

Naruto moves so he's on the bed and pulls me close. "No thinking like that! We will figure this out! We're not losing this child!"

"Naruto…"

"Shh, it's going to be okay. If I do anything, I will make sure you and this baby live!"

"Me? But I'm…"

"Oreo, while you're pregnant you can't... and that means…"

I shiver, curling up next to my lover, who holds me closer.

"I can die," I whisper.

Of course. I knew I wouldn't be able to use any jutsu. It'd explain why trying resulted in failure and total exhaustion. My body was preparing itself and growing a child within. Of course, I have no energy for such things.

Everything makes sense from the sickness to the cravings. I just never thought it possible. I have to find out exactly how this happened. I'll need to talk to Sakura or Kabuto. Kabuto would be the safer bet. I'm sure he knows enough. He better.

"Like I said, I won't let you. I'm here for you."

I smile as I snuggle into Naruto. He rubs my abdomen for a bit. I gasp feeling a strange sensation.

Naruto pulls his hand away. "What is it, Oreo?"

"Not sure… just…" I take his hand and place it on my abdomen again.

"Oh! Sakura said that means the baby is kicking! It's its way of saying 'hi'. She said that it'll do it more and more if you talk, sing, or read to it."

"Well, that would explain why I've seen pregnant women do such things," I say then I soften my voice. "Hello, precious. How are you?"

Two kicks. Naruto and I smile.

"I've been telling it about you and how we can't wait to meet it."

"You haven't promised it ramen and the toad contract have you?" I frown.

"Of course!" Naruto grins.

"We're doomed."

Naruto laughs, pulling me close, and kissing me. I kiss back as our baby happily responds to its parents' love.

Preview

Tenzo

"Death is a part of life. I know it hurts to lose people we care about, but-"

"Death is not a part of life! It is evil thrown in! What is the point in living if we die?!"

Next update date: March 24th

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