It's been a while since I've touched this story or any writing in a while. Last year was extremely busy! But things are slowing down. I've gotten all the stuff in for immigration and even got my biometrics done back in January! It's more of a waiting game now for the next step. We're supposed to be going on a cruise in March, but we have to see how me leaving the country will affect my status. So that's pretty stressful.

As for this story. I promise I haven't abandoned it. I have until chapter fifty-two written out, and since we're rewatching Naruto, I'm hoping to start dying and writing this story again. This story is nearing its completion. I can't say how many more chapters, but we're getting there. I'm excited to see this story completed and what y'all think!

Thank y'all so much for the support! It means a lot to me even though I take twenty years to update.

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 Fifty: Secrets

Sarada

I sit in a chair and cut up an apple from the fruit basket I brought as a get well gift to Maruta. He's been in the hospital for a few days now. Mitsuki was released yesterday.

"Has Mom said when you can go home?" I ask.

Maruta, who has been staring out the window, looks at me. "She said as long as I pass all my vital tests and I'm not still exhausted, I can leave as early as tomorrow, which is good because I'm behind on eating."

"Well, here," I say, handing him the plate.

He takes it. "Thanks, but I meant my rats.'

"Oh. I didn't know you were on rats already."

"Dad was supposed to have gotten them after his talk with Lord Sixth the night Mama…" he trails off.

"Did he?"

Maruta picks up a piece of apple. He doesn't have teeth like humans do. Mom said he has fangs and his saliva is like acid that allows him to break down food that isn't normal "snake food".

My best friend shakes his head. "He's busy trying to find Boruto, figure out what's going on with Mama, figure out what your Dad found out from Lord Hebimaru, and make sure Mitsuki and I are okay-"

"And let me guess: you didn't remind him you need a rat? You didn't tell anyone, did you?" I chastise.

"I…"

"Maruta, your health is important. Tell me where to get them. I'll get you the rats."

"Sarada, you don't have to. I mean you're busy, and…"

"With what? You're my friend, Maruta," I say, placing a hand on top of his. "Let me help you."

Maruta looks at me. I know he and his mother have strange eyes, but I think they're actually really pretty. If I hear anyone making fun of Maruta for being the way he is, I teach them a lesson they won't soon forget!

"There's an order at the Cold Storage," he replies, handing me the plate. "Are there any pineapples?"

"Yes. I'll cut it up for you," I say, doing just that. "That's the place they store animal food, yes?"

Maruta nods. "Yes. It has different areas depending on the food, but the majority is meant to be frozen."

I nod, and after a bit, hand Maruta his plate of pineapples.

He takes it. We sit in silence with Maruta eating while I stare at the TV. Some show about snakes is on. I watch for a few moments then look at my friend. I take the empty plate, putting it on the table next to us.

"How are you really doing?" I ask.

Maruta doesn't reply right away. "I'm worried about Mama."

"I can imagine. What you went through…"

"I think there's a lot about Mama even he doesn't know."

"Yes."

It's why Orochimaru is in the mental ward being tested by Aunt Ino as we speak. Apparently, before we were born, there were no tests for mental illnesses. It's sad. I can't sau I understand why, but maybe people like Obito and Madara Uchiha wouldn't have gone insane if only they had the help they truly needed.

Still, I can't help feel there could be more to this than just a mental disability. After all, things are rarely that simple.

Ino

I place my hand on Orochimaru's forehead, and close my eyes. I'm in charge of the mental health ward that Sakura and I built together. We have a ward in every hospital in every village, but Konoha's is the best and largest.

Still, I can't believe I have to see if Orochimaru has some sort of mental disability or disorder. Honestly, we all have some sort of trauma being ninja, especially the people who lived through more than just the Fourth Great Shinobi World War.

My assistants record my findings as soon as I enter into the Sannin's mind. At the surface, I see the family he created with Naruto. I still can't believe they're together, but honestly, I don't think anyone can. Still, I'm not about to ruin their happiness. Their children are absolutely precious. I enjoy spending time with Maruta the most. There's just something about him…

I stop as I reach a barrier. It's not genjutsu. I touch it, but it won't open. A mental block he created himself. Well then.

I concentrate and, after what seems like forever, I get through the first barrier. I gasp as tears fall. Pain. So much pain and death. I feel the hopelessness of this once deadly and cruel ninja. He's been hiding all of it. No doubt Naruto broke this barrier based on the crack in it. Still, I know there is much, much more to this.

I continue through his mind. Each barrier gets harder and harder to get through, but that won't stop me! Every barrier I get through reveals more and more secrets. I feel bad for invading like this, but I have no choice. I have to find why he sees things that we do not.

I reach the last barrier. This one is a lot different. It's a large metal door with some writing I can't read with a complex lock and chain barricading the door.

"Damn," I hiss, moving to the door.

I touch it then immediately pull my hand back. The door is hot! This isn't going to be easy that's for sure, but I can sense something behind this door. I just have to get behind it!

I reach out again, this time, the door is cold.

"Orochimaru, please open the door so I can help you."

Nothing. Does he even realize this barrier exists? The others weren't too terrible, and I was able to get through once I asked him to let me through, but this one isn't even budging.

Perhaps it has something to do with that lock? I float up and study it. I touch it, putting my chakra inside of it. I let out a cry as I'm thrown backwards into the opposite wall.

"Hey, what-" I gasp, standing up shakily.

The door turns into a sinister face with fangs. Bloody saliva drips from the grinning mouth. What the?

"You're the only one."

"Don't let them die."

"We'll take them all!"

"You're the chosen one."

"Fall at my desire!"

I blink, and look around.

"Who's there?" I demand.

They don't answer. I concentrate more. The voices are quieter. They seem to be coming from that door that's now back to normal.

Orochimaru screams.

"Ino! Get out of there!" Sakura shouts.

I pull myself back. Sai holds me as I come to. "What…?"

"It seems the last area you were in caused Orochimaru to have an episode. Luckily, we had the thought to restrain him," Sai says.

I look at the Sannin. His eyes are glazed over and saliva runs down his chin.

Sakura tosses the empty syringe. "Indeed. Let's get him to his room, and go over these findings of yours, Ino."

I nod. What I saw… that's not normal! But what…?

Anko

I hold Orochimaru-sensei's hand as Sakura, Ino, Lady Fifth, Shizune, Kabuto, and Naruto talk about what Ino found in Sensei's mind. I wanted to be a part of the conversation, but Lord Sixth suggested that it would be best if someone were here with Sensei when he woke up. Naruto's shadow clone is here, of course, asleep in the recliner, snoring.

The real Naruto is with Tenzo, and Team Kureni to search for Boruto. I still can't believe the kid just up and disappeared.

Still, I know they can find him!

"Princess Snakelet?" Orochimaru-sensei groans, slowly opening his eyes.

"Yeah, it's me. How are you feeling?"

He rubs his temples. "My head hurts, but I think I'm alright."

"Well, you can't take anything yet. Ino just used her jutsu to check inside your mind, so that's probably what it is."

"I see," he says, closing his eyes. "Have you and Naruto been behaving?"

"Of course," I scoff.

He looks at his husband sleeping, smiling a bit. "Foolish Kit; he does too much."

"He loves you."

Sensei closes his eyes again. "I know. Where is the real Naruto?"

I bite my lip. "Out searching for Boruto."

"Boruto is gone. They''ll never find him…"

"What are you saying? Don't give up, Sensei!"

"Anko…"

"I believe in my husband, yours, and Team Kureani! They'll find Boruto!" \

Orochimaru-sensei reaches up shakily, touching my face.

I touch the hand on my face, smiling softly. I know this is difficult for him, but I truly believe Boruto will be found, and Ino and Sakura will find out what's going on with Sensei!

Naruto

Captain Yamato, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, and I have been out for several days, splitting off into three different groups to search for my son, Boruto. The kids are being watched by Kureni-sensei, one of my shadow clones, and Gamatsuri.

Things have gotten quite hectic. I've left several shadow clones back in the village, and have put out even more to search for Boruto. Kakashi-sensei even let us use his ninkin in order to track Boruto faster by scent sense Kiba sucks at shadow clones.

Hinata and I were put in the same group with Pakkun. We've been searching the Land of Fire. I had my shadow clones tell the other Kage what's going on. They've sent out their own search parties as well.

Still, what could have happened? According to Mitsuki and Maruta, Boruto complained about his right eye then just "disappeared". Did someone use a jutsu that we don't know about to grab Boruto? Is it the Otsusuki clan that Sasuke has been secretly investigating? No, I didn't sense any chakra like Kaguya's, and besides, why only take Boruto? I'd think if anyone would want any of my children, it would be Maruta. After all, his whole existence is unique in itself.

"Naruto, are you alright?" Hinata asks, looking at me with worry on her face.

I smile. "Sorry, Hinata, I guess I got lost in thought and stopped walking."

"Worried about Boruto," Pakkun says.

I nod.

She smiles warmingly. "We should rest. We've been going nonstop for a while. Your shadow clones will vanish if you don't rest."

I open my mouth to protest, but Hinata just glares at me.

"You know, you can be scarier than Sakura at times."

She giggles behind her hand. "Sorry; I just wanted to make sure you didn't pass out. Now, come on, let's eat something," she says, starting to pull her pack off, and setting it at the base of a tree. "I made bento lunches."

My stomach growls. Maybe a small break won't hurt. I sit beside her. She hands me my lunch, and we begin to eat.

We eat in silence for a while. It's peaceful. I still can't believe we don't have to worry about being attacked just for having a different symbol on our headbands.

Still… if someone took Boruto then that means his right eye is more important than we realize.

We finish our lunch, clean up, and Hinata packs up. We start to head out when I feel very familiar chakra.

"No way," I whisper, feeling something familiar.

"What is it, Naruto?"

"Hinata, can you use your Byakugan over in that direction?" I ask, pointing back towards the direction of the village.

She nods, activating it. "I can't see anything," she says after a bit.

"Naruto, you should know the Byakugan can't sense me," a very familiar voice says as the world warps where the voice is coming from.

Obito Uchiha appears all of a sudden with Boruto and umm Kakashi-sensei?

"Boruto!" I exclaim, running over to him.

"I''m fine, Dad. Don't embarrass me."

I smile, stopping in front of the only one of my children who looks slightly anything like me. I put my hand on his head. "I'm just glad you're safe."

"Sorry; it took so long. It's been a while since I've had to travel outside the afterlife," Obito says.

"You were in the afterlife, Boruto?" Hinata asks.

"Yeah, apparently. It was really cool! I met Madara Uchiha-"

"Landed on his head too. Lord First hasn't stopped teasing him about it since Boruto arrived," Obito smirks.

I laugh. "Is that so? Well, I'm happy you're back. Now we can go back home. Though, you didn't need to pick up Kakashi-sensei, Obito."

He chuckles. "I'm Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi's father. I asked Obito to take me here."

"Oh. Well, Kakashi-sensei will be so happy to see you both!"

"I'll get going then."

"Thanks, Pakkun!" I exclaim as he disappears.

"What about Mitsuki, Maruta, and Mama?" Boruto asks.

"I'll explain everything on the way. I want you to as well."

"We're using Kamui. It'll be faster. Besides, it'll take too long to repeat ourselves."

"Alright. Let me deactivate my shadow clones then," I say. "Hinata, are you ready to be inside a mini-dimension of boxes?!"

"Sure," she giggles.

"It's a pocket dimension. They're more like cubes and rectangular prisms, but I'll let that one slide," Obito scoffs, preparing both of his Mangekyou.

I stick my tongue out, and in moments, we're back in the village.

"Wow! That was…!"

"Yeah, it's pretty handy," Hinata says.

"Thank you, Obito, Hinata."

"Of course. I'm going to greet everyone once they return and check up on the children," Hinata says.

"Thanks, Hinata."

She smiles, and leaves.

"What do you want to do next, Naruto? Sakumo needs to talk to Kakashi, and there is a lot all of us need to discuss."

"Like where Mama is," Boruto says,crossing his arms.

I rub my eyes. "Yes. Let's go see Kakashi-sensei first then we can see Oreo. I left a few shadow clones, and it seems that the tests results aren't back yet."

"It's a new thing; it's not surprising. Still, I agree, and we're already here at the Hokage door."

"Boruto, I want you-"

"No. I want to help Mama too!"

I look at my son. "Then go be with him. Snake Lady and my shadow clone are with him. He's being guarded by ANBU and seals, but they'll let you through."

Boruto looks at me for a while. "What about Mitsuki and Maruta?"

"Maruta is with Sarada. Mitsuki has been spending time with Jugo."

"Alright, I'll go check up on them then I'll go see Mama. You better hurry up, Old Man. Oh, and I know not to tell Mama where I've been. Later," he say, leaving.

"He's like the spoilt version of you, Naruto. Are your other two kids like that?" Obito asks.

"Boruto is really intelligent. He could have gone into the academy ten times over and passed without a problem, but he's lazy."

"Like the Naras usually are," Old Man Sakumo says.

"No, Shikadai is definitely more intelligent. It's more that he doesn't want to try unless it comes to his brothers. He's very protective of them, especially Maruta. Since Maruta is… different."

Old Man Sakumo puts his hand on my shoulder. "Let's talk to Kakashi."

I nod, and reach up to knock on the door.

Obito stops me. "Now, Naruto, why must you be so boring? Surely, you want to catch Kakashi doing something he ought not be doing?" he smirks.

"I…" I blush.

Old Man Sakumo looks away, blushing, and clearing his throat. "I'd rather not."
"I'm sorry to tell you this, Lord Sakumo, but your son is a closet pervert."

Before either of us can reply, we're inside Kakashi-sensei's office.

Kakashi

I nearly jump out of my skin as Obito, Father, and Naruto appear in the Hokage office suddenly.

"F-Father? O-Obito?"

My old teammate crosses his arms over his chest. "So dirty, Kakashi, and you're supposed to be setting a good example for Naruto. Then again, I suppose that's why he has three kids already, being your student and all."

"Two of them are twins!" Naruto exclaims.

Father just chuckles. "We're sorry to disturb you, Kakashi."

"Don't apologize. It's great to see you both, but why are you here? How are you here?"

Obito sits on the desk. Naruto leans against the window, and Father pulls up a chair beside me.

"You had my left eye for years, and you still don't remember how it works? Stupid Kakashi."

I blush a bit. "I thought what you did right after you died was just a one time thing. I didn't realize you could use it whenever."

"I can't. It takes a hell of a lot of chakra. I suppose it doesn't matter coming here, but going back can be tricky since I'm using more chakra just to be here."

"I see. And how long are you planning on staying?" I ask, looking between Father and Obito.

"As long as needed," Father says.

"They brought Boruto back," Naruto says.

I look at my student then at Obito. "Boruto was in the afterlife?"

He shrugs. "Don't ask me how he got there. It's part of why I decided to come back instead of dropping the brat off."

"And what's the other reason?"

"It's about our clan and the connection it has to the Yashagoro clan."

"I've read a bit on it, but there are a lot of questions I have."

"That's not surprising. Well, how about you tell me what you've found out."

I tell them what I found out: the Hakate clan head protected the Yashagoro clan head, and passed Kusanagi to them to test their "worthiness" to control and master the sword, and that no one until Orochimaru was able to truly tap into its great powers. And that there was an ancient power being kept secret.

"Yes, but there is much more as you probably surmised."

I close my eyes. "It's about what Lord Hebimaru told Sasuke, isn't it?"

"You mean about Shiromaru being a dragon?" Naruto asks.

"Yeah."

"So even the Snake Sage is sensing something," Father says.

"What do you mean? Are you sensing something, Father?"

He looks at me for a while and sighs. "This is my fault. I never thought it possible. To be honest, I thought the legends were a myth, but it seems that may not be the case."

"Gramps told me all myths are born from some sort of truth that gets bent out of proportion somehow," Obito says.

"Gramps?"

"Madara Uchiha."

"Why are you calling him "Gramps" though?"

"He's my great grandfather."

"Say what?!"

"I know, but he is. He had a daughter-my granny who raised me, that daughter had a son, and then had me. We look a lot a like when I had longer hair too."

"Then why not have long hair during the war?"

Obito shrugs. "I don't like it. It brings bad memories more than usual. Still, we have more important matters, no?"

"Right."

"What legend are you talking about, Father?"

"Have any of you ever wondered where the ability to summon animals came from?"

"Not really. I mean Pervy Sage just gave me the Toad Contract, told me the hand seals, I signed the contract, then after nearly dying, I summoned Gamabunta."

"Just as there was history on how we received chakra, there is a history on how animals were made into creatures with chakra and abilities of their own to be summoned. And it has to do with the Ryutenkei clan."

"I've never heard of that clan," Obito says.

"Nor have I."

Naruto is clearly lost as well.

"Yes, well, I'm not surprised. They no longer exist. Although, the Yashagoro clan was a direct descending clan."

"Like how umm the Uchiha, Uzumaki, Senju, and Hyuuga clans are to the Otsutsuki clan?" Naruto asks.

"Yes. The Ryutenkei clan has more descending clans along with the Yashagoro: Hatake, Chiyu, and Yogen."

"What did the Ryutenkei clan do, and what about these other clans?" Obito asks. "I assume it has to do with summoning and these dragons you mentioned before we came here. You said that the Hakate's real purpose was to protect the dragon summoner…"

"Dragon summoner?" Naruto asks.

Father nods. "Indeed, but first, I need to tell all of you about the history of the Ryutenkei clan and its descendant clans. The Ryutenkei clan had a special chakra that could call on dragons. Dragons used to roam the earth. This clan formed a sacred bond, using their special chakra to bond and communicate with the dragons. They worshiped and admired the great beasts. Unfortunately, there were many clans who were jealous of this, and the Ryutenkeis slowly died out.

"However, one Ryutenkei remained. He was but a child at the time, but his mother hid him in the Dragon Domain in Ryuychi Cave. There, the child was raised by the dragons. This child was very gifted and could befriend any of the dragons. His name was Dorako Ryutenkei. He knew he had to do something to protect the dragons, so he returned to where his clan used to be, and was able to call on the Eight head-eight tailed white dragon: Orochi. The dragon bestowed great powers, including the sword of Kusanagi. The man was able to protect the secrets of his clan and Orochi, but he knew that he could never summon the dragons again for fear they would be used and abused.

"The Ryutenkei clan members who were able to summon dragons received their dragon from an egg. This dragon, once hatched, would bond with that human in accordance to their chakra nature, making their combination attacks even more deadly, but as I said before, the clan died out. Less and less generations could truly summon the egg, much less the dragons themselves.

"After Dorako had grown old and had a family with a member of the Yashagoro clan, he used the last of his strength to gift his four children the ability to summon animals: snakes, toads, and slugs. And for the last child, he was gifted the power of his chakra. What we know as the White Chakra, Kakashi."

"Slugs, toads, and snakes? Aren't those the Dead-lock Summons?" Obito asks.

Father nods. "That's what they're called these days, but they're the Noble Summoning Clans."

Naruto frowns. "But why only summon those specific animals? I mean what about things like Sasuke's hawk, or Temari's weasel?

"The clans have specific animals they can summon, but they hold the contracts for others as well. The Yashagoro clan is in charge of protecting reptile and bird contracts-"

"So Sasuke got his hawk contract from Oreo?!" Naruto gasps.

"Orochimaru was dead at the time, Naruto," I remind him.

"Oh. Well, then how did he get it? So weird!"

"The Noble Summoning Clans are all but dead, so it's not surprising there are more and more summomings than in the past," I surmise.

Father nods. "Correct. You, Orochimaru, and Tsunade are the last, Kakashi."

"Granny Tsunade is one of these Summoner people of the dragons?!" Naruto exclaims.

"On her mother's side, yes. She is part Senju and part Chiyu. That clan summons slugs-specifically Katsuyu, and was in charge of sea creatures, bugs, and the like. It was a clan adept at healing."

"Oreo said his clan made poisons and antidotes."

"Yes, that's correct. The Yogen summoned toads and were in charge of amphibians and the other half of the sea creatures."

"Other half?"

"There are too many for one clan to take care of after all."

"Oh, guess that makes sense. So, umm what about things like dogs?"

"The Hakate clan. Although, we had another task other than protecting mammals," Father says.

"Protecting the Yashagoro clan head," I say.

Father nods.

"But why only them? I mean don't the other clans need protecting too? Aren't they part of that Noble Summoning Clan Dragon thing?" Naruto asks.

"The Hakate clan did protect the other two clans, of course, but the Yashagoro and Hakate clans had a special bond."

"I told you about it before, Naruto. Do you remember?"

My student thinks for a while. "So it's because you held Kusanagi, gave Oreo's clan food, and them resistants to poisons that you made this bond?"

"Partially. Remember that all of these clans come from the Ryutenkei clan."

"Which means, through one of these four clans, there's a possibility that one of these clan members will be able to summon dragons," I say.

"That still doesn't explain why your clan was so hellbent on protecting Oreo's clan."

"Think about it, Naruto, which clan would be more likely to have someone who could summon dragons?" Father asks gently.

Naruto rubs his head. "Hm… hmm… I… I don't know."

"The reptile clan, Naruto. The one who summons snakes."

"Oh, guess that makes sense. I don't get what this has to do with Oreo though."

"Before I died, I discovered something. To be honest, I didn't think it was possible, and I didn't want to deal with it. Rather, I couldn't. I wasn't in the mindset to explain this to Kakashi or understand it myself."

"What did you find, Father?"

He looks at all of us. "All of the members of the Ryutenkei clan had elliptical pupils."

Preview

Orochimaru

"Did you get me a burger, Aunt Anko?"

My old student pulls the dango stick out of her mouth and tosses it in the trashcan, landing in it perfectly. "Who do I look like to you, your Mama? If I'm getting you three maggots any food then have your Mom pay up."

Boruto looks at me. "Mom, can we have some burgers?"

I chuckle. "Sure. Anko, you know where my checkbook is, get the kids and yourself something too."

"You want anything, Sensei?" she asks, getting up and walking over to the closet where my things are. After a bit, she pulls out my checkbook, flipping through it. "Holy shit, Sensei! You're loaded!"

"I wanna see!" Boruto exclaims, jumping up and running over to Anko. She shows him and he gasps. "Mama! We could afford a snake mansion with all those zeros!"

"Anko, that's my savings," I deadpan with a smirk.