So this is kind of a special group of updates because it's Oro's birthday and Naruto and Hashirama's birthdays have just passed. I'm not sure if anyone else from Naruto is born in October, but even so. Then again I guess any update we do each month can be dedicated to the people born in that month, but we don't like all of them so oh well :D. I was going to say more, but can't think of anything, am much sick right now. Though Jess misses talking to you guys so send her a hello while I post up her stories and she gives me all the previews for these stories.

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-five: Reverberations

Temari

I sit on the floor with Shikadai and Mirai. My son and I are busy playing shogi while Mirai watches.

"You made stupid move, Mama," my four-month-old son says.

"Oh, I did, did I? Well…" I say, moving my piece. "How's that?"

"Better, but," he says, taking my piece. "Not good enough."

I smile. My child is simply amazing. He's so much like his father, yet he isn't afraid to speak his mind.

"I wish I could pay that well," Mirai pouts.

"Practice," Shikamaru says as he comes in.

"Big brother Shika!"

"Hi."

Shikamaru frowns. "That's all I get?" he turns to Mirai. "Hello, Mirai. How are you?"

"Good!"

He smiles and looks at the floor. "Playing Shoji I see."

"Yeah. Mama is no good."

"Mama didn't play growing up," I frown.

My husband wraps an arm around me once he's settled on the floor next to me. "Practice," he repeats.

I scoff. "What are you doing back so early anyway? I thought Lord Sixth wanted you to help Sakura figure out how Orochimaru got pregnant."

"He does. But he also said for me to go home."

"Did you fired?"

"No!" Mirai snaps. "Big brother Shika no can get fired! He bestest!"

"not word!"

"Hush you two."

"Shikadai, why don't you and Mirai play with some toys?"

Our son thinks of this. "Kay."

Arai beams. She runs into another room, gathering her bag of toys and plopping down on the floor. She and Shikadai start playing.

"Your brother is coming to visit with his fiance and child."

"Why? Not that I don't want to see them, but…"

"Naruto finally told Gaara about Orochimaru."

"Ah, that explains it."

A knock on the door signals their arrival. I answer the door and let them in.

Shinki peeks out of the yellow bundle he's wrapped up in tied to his mother's front then encased in a sling-like device. Almost all her ninja gear replaced with baby gear.

"Hello, precious," I say gently.

He babbles, pointing to my fan leaning against a chair.

"Do you like my fan?" I ask as Gaara and Matsuri settle in.

"It's nice of you two to come all this way especially with an infant "

"I needed to see him," Gaara replies. "Besides, Shinki enjoys being outside ".

"Father said good to be outside," Shikadai inputs.

Shinki points to Shikadai and Mirai.

"You want to play with them?" Matsuri asks, getting up and placing her child on the floor.

Shinki looks around and grabs a dragonfly toy, giggling as he makes it fly.

His parents smile.

"You'll have to get him a dragonfly then," Shikamaru says.

"He can have it," Shikadai says, shrugging.

Gaara frowns. "There's no need to give up your toys. Your Aunt Matsuri and I can buy him one."

"Mama and father can too. Besides, he likes."

Shinki dives the dragonfly down then back up, giggling.

"It's nice of you to give, Shika," Mirai says.

Shikadai just shrugs.

"So when can we go see Naruto and Orochimaru?" Matsuri asks.

"There are strict visitation rules set out for Orochimaru I'm afraid."

My brother frowns. "Why?"

"What happened? Is he okay?!"

"He had s violent attack about two weeks ago. He attacked Tenzo and stressed himself and the baby out quite s bit. Sakura wants at least Naruto in or around in case something goes wrong. Naruto isn't opposed at all. The visitations are an hour tops and it depends on how well he's doing. "

"What kind of an attack was it?" Gaara asks.

"They're not quite sure. Some form of mental breakdown from the sound of it. They don't want to test him until at least after the baby is born."

"Is the baby okay though?" I ask.

"He's been bad off from the start. At least in terms of growth and development."

"What do you mean?" Matsuri asks.

"Simply this: the child isn't connected to Orochimaru except through his soul snakes. He's not getting the nutrients he needs to grow correctly."

"Does this mean the child will have a disability?"

"Perhaps. He at least will never develop legs if his growth continues the way it is."

"What about his internal organs, bones, muscles…?"

"They're developing through means of chakra. It seems the most prevalent issue would be when he's, outside Orochimaru and away from those snakes."

"What does, Naruto stay about this?"

"He's pretty upset. He believes the child can make it but it puts a huge strain on Orochimaru."

"It's possible he and the baby could die, right?'

"Yes," my husband replies after a while.

"Naruto would be so devastated," Matsuri says sadly.

Shinki crawls over and gives his mom the x dragonfly.

She smiles, picking him up and the plush. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"We have x to be there for Naruto. He was there for us."

"Right! Let's help!"

"First, we need to figure out how this, child was made then we can go from there."

"Should we speak with someone who's examined him?"

"Yes. Let's head to, the hospital."

Orochimaru

I flick my tongue smelling the approach of my official student approaching.

"Naruto," I say.

Naruto looks up from his ramen, slurping some noodles. I'm not sure whether to feel disgusted or jealous. "Yes, Oreo? Is something wrong?"

"When you're done, do you mind leaving the room for a bit?"

He frowns. "Why?"

I point to the door as the sound of Anko knocking echoes throughout the room.

"Oh." Kit says. He places his bowl aside and answers the door. "Hello, snake lady."

"I thought the Kusa ninja was "snake lady"."

(Even though lady is completely wrong, but I'll just let a Kit suffer.)

"No. See, you said she didn't summon snakes and the only reason she was using them is that you were using her body. So, since you're an Oreo Snake that means that Anko is Snake Lady."

Anko laughs and lets herself in. "Hello, brat. Hello, Orochimaru-sensei."

"Hello."

Anko and I stare at each other.

Naruto looks between us for a bit then grabs his ramen, slurping on the noodles as he watches us.

After a bit, he places the bowl to the side and leans close to me, brushing some hair behind my ear. "If you need anything just let Gamatsuri know."

I sigh inwardly. These stupid "rules" and "babying codes" I have to live by.

"I will, Kit."

Naruto kisses me on the forehead then the lips before waving Anko good-bye.

Silence fills the room except the beeping of all the various machines I'm hooked up to.

"Going on your seventh month I heard. Are you excited, Sensei?"

"Why are you here?"

She doesn't reply for a moment. "I wanted to see you."

"I see."

"Do you not want to see me?"

"I've wanted to see you. I didn't think you would since you tend to pout over things that don't matter."

A mixture of emotions flash in her eyes.

"They told me you weren't doing well. I didn't want to upset you."

I feel raw pain flare up from deep within my soul. "Do you know what you mean to me?"

She's taken aback. "What?"

"You are one of the very few people who wanted to be near me. You demanded I be your sensei. You made me feel I could be close to someone. That I could open up and tell you all my dreams and hopes. You made my life just that much better. I wanted to give you the world, but you never took it. At the time I didn't understand why, but now I do. Looking at you, I'm reminded of how much I failed and hurt you. How I wanted to change you but I'm the one who needed to change, not you/".

"Orochimaru-sensei… I…"

"If I could have one regret it'd be hurting you and seeking out someone better."

Anko walks over and sits in the chair beside the bed. She takes my hand. "I've already forgiven you, Sensei. It took s long time, but Tenzo has helped me and Naruto's light shone upon me as well. I don't want to live in a world of pain. I want you in my life, Sensei. It's not the bad things I remember. It's the good. Like when you held me during nightmares or let me sign the snake contact. Or let me kiss you even though it made you uncomfortable. Those moments are what I remember most. I learned that good memory outweigh the bad because the good is how someone truly is. I want that bond with you again. I want to be a part of your son's life and I want you to be a part what's going on in my life as well."

I lick her face a bit. "Are you sure, Princess Snake let? After everything…"

She touches her cheek where I had just licked her, smiling. "I'm sure. Like I said, I want to remember the good times. I don't want to live in regret. Besides," she smirks, "whose gonna teach your baby?"

I smirk back. "Oh? Is that so? So are you wanting to teach a team or personally spoil my son like I spoil you?"

"Hmm. I think I like the spoiling better. Although, I have been spoiling Chocho with dango so I'm afraid your little maggot will have to share. "

"Ah. I see. So you're close with her then?"

Is that why she's… not that I care. As long as Princess Snakelet is happy then…

"she's sweet. Cries a lot, but sweet. "

"Babies always do."

"Is Naruto going to be okay?'

I arch a brow. " hmm?"

"For the baby. I mean you know he didn't have parents and you know how weird he is. I mean I never expected you and he to even be together much less have a baby on the way."

"The wind blew up a storm, what can I say? Don't worry about Kit, Anko, he's going to be just fine."

"What about him becoming Hokage?"

"Kakashi wants to wait and see how the rest of my pregnancy and the birth of the child plays out."

"Kabuto told me it's draining you pretty badly. If you need chakra, Orochimaru-sensei…"

"I'm fine, Anko, but thank you. If I am in desperate need, I'll take you up on your offer. As it stands, however, the seals keep my chakra levels in check. The baby uses most of it, but Naruto is able to fill them up."

"I see. Have you and Naruto thought of any names?"

"We wanted to wait until the baby was born."

"Makes sense."

"Anko," I say after a dream out silence.

"Yes, Sensei?"

I grip the comforter. So many emotions run throughout me. "Will you be there?" I whisper.

She takes my hand and stares into my eyes, smiling. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Preview

Naruto

I do a help hooman figure out," a white snake says slithering out of Jugo's pocket.

"Wait! I know you! You're that snake that Oreo coughed up when he was trying to show me his soul snake!"