Hey everyone, so it's me again! We didn't upload last Saturday, because today just happens to be Jess' birthday, so we decided to update today instead. Yay! I'm not sure what else to say. I could rant about how my technology is annoying me (and how friggin expensive computer support is), but really that's probably best left to my stories. And I suppose I could also tell you how I'm not going to upload one of my stories until this one can catch up, but again that's probably best left to my story, but I guess I said it anyway. And we have a million other ideas coming into existence so don't worry about that. We have so many plans and so many different ideas that it'll be awesome!

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: NaruOro, 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-three: Lightning

Naruto

"Enough! This time you're all dead!" Oreo hisses, eyes unfocused Captain Yamato barely manages to dodge my lover's tongue lashing out at him.

"Shit, that was a close one. I suppose chakra depletion and being pregnant will do that to you."

Oreo shakes. His tongue extends more and he wraps it around a wood substitution that Captain Yamato made when Oreo started attacking and throws it across the room. It lands under a table, knocking it over, causing said table to fall on top of it.

"You're a fool if you think you can beat me!"

"Naruto, we need to calm him down."

"I know."

I place a hand on Oreo's arm. "Sweetheart?"

"I think you're going to have to knock him out, Naruto. As bad as that sounds."

Before I have a chance to reply, Oreo jerks out of the cords and wires he's hooked up to and tackles Captain Yamato to the ground, who just barely manages to make a wood dome. Oreo hitting it hard.

"Damn, are you alright, Oreo? Captain Yamato?"

"Yeah. I think so," he replies tightly from within the dome.

"Tenzo would never serve you vermins!"

"Oreo, what are you talking about?"

"Naruto, it doesn't matter. Just stop him!"

Oreo attacks the dome. It holds up for a while until Kusanagi gets involved and he slices it open.

Captain Yamato responds with a more powerful dome.

I stand up, walking over to Oreo. This is insane! Sakura, Sasuke, Karin, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Kabuto rush in.

"We heard chaos and-"

"Just tie him up, Suigetsu!"

"We need to calm him down."

"Never!"

"Get him on the bed and tie him up."

I wrap my arms around him and hold him close. He struggles in my arms as Sasuke takes just enough energy away not to harm him or our unborn son.

"he's weak," Suigetsu says.

"Weaker," Kabuto corrects. "He's been weak for a while now."

"Whatever."

"This is no time for fighting."

Karin and Jugo strap him to the bed with metal bands once I've lay him on it.

Sakura places a hand on Oreo's tummy, healing him and the baby.

Oreo's eyes flutter open. He stares at me. "K-kit?"

I take his hand, squeezing it.

Captain Yamato lets out a sigh of relief as he undoes the jutsu and stands up.

Oreo looks around then down. "Why am I strapped to the bed likes science project?"

"To make sure you're okay, Lord Orochimaru."

"Why the hell did you attack Tenzo, Lord Orochimaru? Did he say something?" Karin asks.

"He'll attack us next! You better watch out!"

Karin punches Suigetsu, his head turning into water then reforming again.

"I wasn't attacking him. There was a reaper. Then another came… they were after baby."

"Did they say why?" I ask. Oreo shakes his head, tears falling. "They said Tenzo was on their side and I said he'd never join them." He looks at Tenzo. "R-right?"

Captain Yamato raises a brow to me then looks at Oreo. "I didn't see anything in the dome. I was more focused on not getting murdered. So no, I'm not a part of any cult to kill you or your baby. However, if you don't stop lashing out like that then your baby won't last long. You're lucky you have Sakura and Kabuto here; otherwise, your baby could have died."

Oreo shakes, tears falling rapidly.

I undo the straps, get on the bed, and pull him close.

Oreo grips the front of my shirt, sobbing uncontrollably. "b-baby. My baby is-" he cuts himself off with another wave of sobs.

I thread my fingers through his hair. "He's fine, Oreo. Everything is okay," I whisper against his hair, kissing the top of his head. My eyes snap to Captain Yamato, demand in my tone. "Did you have to bring up the baby?!"

"Don't get angry with me. He needed to hear the truth. It should help him to not do it again."

"That's not the point! He was calming down and you just had to speak of the baby! Like that couldn't wait until after?!"

"He needed to hear it as I said before. Don't get upset because you can't control his actions. Keep babying him and there will be no baby."

"He's got a point, Naruto," Suigetsu says, grinning just enough to see sharp teeth grazing his bottom lip as he chews on the straw of his cup.

"I know! But I just wanted him to calm down first! Now just look at him!"

"Gone! He's gone! Stupid reapers! They took him! Kit they-"

"Shh," I whisper gently. "It's okay, Oreo. Our son is safe."

"This is insane."

"You're going to have to strap him back up so he won't attack again."

"N-no!"

"Absolutely not!" I snarl.

"It's the only way to-"

"Enough!" Sasuke shouts.

The room goes quiet except for Oreo's sniffles, sobs, and gasps.

"Listen; this is no time to be arguing. Orochimaru is harming himself, the child, and others. Taking measures to prevent this again is a sensible idea, but let's be reasonable here." He glances at Suigetsu and Captain Yamato. "Strapping him would only stress him out more." His gaze shifts to mine. "Conversely, letting him be without any restraint is also unwise."

"Then what should I do?" I ask shakily.

"My suggestion would be to make sure at least two people are in here," Captain Yamato says.

"One has to be Lord Naruto."

(That is still so weird!)

"If that's the case then two people shouldn't be in here all the time," Sakura points out. "We can have them near."

"You know it's not wise to encourage naughty behavior from these two whilst Orochimaru is pregnant and this weak," Suigetsu smirks.

This time it's Sakura who punches him. The punch is to his stomach.

He gasps, water spilling from his mouth and from the closing hole in his stomach. "Damn. I can see why Sasuke-"

"Don't finish that sentence."

"As I was saying," Sakura says, giving Suigetsu a glare, who in turn, just smiles at her. "I think it would be wise for Orochimaru to have Naruto with him and one of us near. Of course, the other person is welcomed to come in if they so choose to and if Naruto and Orochimaru are okay with it."

"You're forgetting the other way around though," Granny Tsunade says as she comes in.

Kurotsuchi comes in behind her, wheeling Old Man Tsuchikage.

"You were right, Gramps. He is weirder."

Tsunade

When I heard the news that Orochimaru was sick and in the village, I knew I had to get back as soon as possible. I couldn't leave Onoki, however. Sakura was upset with me, but she made an amazing discovery. She should be proud. After all, who discovers a man carrying a child?

Who would have ever guessed this would transpire? Then again, Orochimaru has always been androgynous.

When I told Onoki and Kurotsuchi about the pregnancy, they couldn't wait to see Orochimaru and the baby.

I didn't agree at first but after heavy bribing and a lost bet…

Well… here we are.

"Seems you've gotten yourself in quite a predicament, say Orochimaru?" Onoki says, coughing a bit.

Orochimaru looks up. "Why are you here, Tsuchikage?"

"I'm not the Tsuchikage."

Orochimaru raises a brow.

"Say what?!" Naruto exclaims. "But you-"

"Naruto! You know Onoki's been sick."

"Well, that doesn't mean he's not Tsuchikage."

"He does have a point, but, I'm Tsuchikage now," Kurotsuchi says.

"If you're Tsuchikage then…"

"I wanted to see if it was true. Plus, I can't have Gramps having all the fun."

"Kurotsuchi and I won't be here too long. I just wanted to see what kind of nonsense you and Naruto got into," Onoki laughs, coughing a bit.

"That cough sounds awful," Sakura frowns.

"Well he's-"

"Don't say that word," Tenzo cuts me off.

"Hmm? What word? You mean dyi-"

"No!" They shout.

"That's not even happening. No point in bringing that up," Onoki scoffs, waving a hand dismissively.

Orochimaru smiles. "The reapers could never get you, Onoki."

Onoki looks at my old teammate for a bit. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, but nothing will bring me down! I am the great Onoki, the fence sitter, and former Tsuchikage!"

Kurotsuchi laughs. "Careful you don't overdo it with that boasting."

He glares over his shoulder at her. "Respect, Kurotsuchi. And shouldn't you be making sure Kirotsuchi is behaving himself?"

"Like Dad could?"

Onoki wheels himself over to the bed. He reaches out a bit shakily and takes Orochimaru's and Naruto's hands. "It's amazing what changes have been brought not only to the shinobi lands but to us as individuals. Who could have imagined you two would get together and create a life."

They both smile and blush.

"May I?"

They nod.

Onoki places a hand on Orochimaru's abdomen. "How far along?"

"Six months."

"Can I see the baby?" Kurotsuchi asks.

"We need Hinata for that," Sakura replies.

"Why is that?" Onoki asks, looking up at my recent student while keeping his hand on my friend's swollen stomach.

"The child is encased in an egg surrounded by Lord Orochimaru's soul snakes and heavily condensed nature energy chakra," Kabuto replies, pushing his glasses up.

"What does that mean?"

"We're still trying to figure out the details," Sakura says. "We have pictures that the ultrasound machine was able to take after Hinata pinpointed the baby."

"May I see them?"

Sakura nods, leaving the room for a moment then coming back with a binder. "We have Hinata come in when we need pictures and in-depth evaluations."

"It's becoming easier to examine him as long as Naruto or Sasuke is around."

Kurotsuchi nods and flips through the binder. "Why does he have a tail?"

"He does?" Onoki asks.

"Yeah. It's so cool!"

"How is the child overall?"

"Cute," Orochimaru says, smiling at Naruto.

"Hell yeah! I can't wait to meet him!"

"When is he due?"

"April 30th!" Naruto beams.

"You two better start thinking of names and where you want to live then."

"Right," Naruto says, looking at his lover.

"I still can't believe you two are together."

"I want to hear that story."

"Later," Naruto promises. "Oreo needs rest. He was stressed out earlier."

"And that's something you'll need to tell us as well, Naruto," I say.

"I know, Granny. I will."

Preview

Gaara

"Now who's the one worrying? He'll be just fine. Besides, he has your fighting spirit and my DNA. On top of that, we're going to take breaks more often. Perhaps it's not ideal for a baby to go out, but I want Naruto to see what he has to look forward to."

Matsuri frowns. "What do you mean?"

I look down at my son. I smile, ticking his belly. I make a small cloud of sand.

He giggles, trying to grab it.

"Orochimaru is pregnant."

Next update date: June 14th

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