BELATED HAPPY PRIDE MONTH ā (but itās celebrated all year round) I finally gave myself the chance to finish this and celebrate this month after so much hesitation and a more conservative environment. Both are wearing the colors of the non-binary flag šš¤šš¤ like a spectrum; it all starts with Orochimaruās kimono and ends with Kanonās obi. Orochi was my first visual example of a gender-ambiguous character and the natural way they expressed themselvesāsomething that always caused me personal discomfort. Theyāve been a source of comfort ever since, and Iāve learned to accept myself as I am without so much fear.
Hello there! I was wondering if you can write a fic with orochimaru with an innocent reader and they have a baby?? If not I totally understand! Love your work! <3
tainted; orochimaru x reader
synopsis ā orochimaru was feared by many, which is why team taka, along with many of his loyal followers didnāt understand how he ended up with someone who was the complete opposite of him
content warning ā yandere undertones, pregnancy, being his experiment, clear favoritism
a/n ā aww thanks, it is a pleasure writing for you all :)
the halls of the hideout are always cold. the kind of cold that sinks beneath your skin and stays there, even when you breathe in warmth or light a candle or press your palms against your own belly. youāre fiveāmaybe sixāmonths along now. youāve been counting by moonlight.
āsheās always with him,ā karin says from where she leans against the wall, chewing on the end of a pocky stick.
ābut who is she?ā sasukeās voice is low. new, sharper than when he first arrived. heās only been here a few days, but heās already noticed you ā soft steps, gentle hums, hair always pinned up with those dull little flower clips.
āyouāll see,ā suigetsu shrugs, sipping from a canteen like heās bored. ātheyāre always together around this time. he checks on her or something.ā
sasuke narrows his eyes. he doesnāt like being left in the dark.
the sliding door opens and there you are.
your back is to them, but sasuke still notices everything. the way orochimaruās hand grazes your lower back as he guides you into the room, the way your head tips just slightly to the side when you laughāsoft, unsure, like youāre not quite used to doing it. he notices the baby bump beneath your robes. the soft flutter of fabric that hides your stomach when you turn.
āthere she is,ā suigetsu murmurs, grin curling. āorochimaruās favorite experiment.ā
āshut up,ā karin hisses. āsheās not like that.ā sasuke watches. his mouth is a line.
in the room beyond the doorway, orochimaru helps you sit on the elevated cot. his voice is calm, the same one he uses when explaining chakra flow or forbidden jutsuābut itāsā¦different, with you.
āā¦tell me if anything feels unusual,ā he says. āiāll be gentle.ā
āyou always are, lord orochimaru,ā you murmur. your voice is light, like sugar. youāre not from here. the dialect is different.
he hums, placing two gloved fingers over your pulse. āyour heartbeat is fast.ā
ābecause youāre touching me.ā he lifts a brow, amused.
āthen youāll have to be brave.ā
his hand rests over your stomach next, ungloved nowāsomething he never does for anyone else. the skin-on-skin contact makes you shiver. not because itās cold, but because itās him. the man who saved you. the man who brought you here. the only one left who says your name softly, like it means something.
āā¦sheās kicking,ā you whisper. āshe kicks when you talk.ā
āshe?ā he echoes, tone curious.
āi donāt know for sure. but i hope itās a girl.ā
his hand pauses. then it slides higher, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. āyouāll make a kind mother. soft enough not to ruin her. strong enough to raise her alone.ā
āā¦but i wonāt be alone,ā you say. itās not a question. itās hope.
his golden eyes flick to yours. āno,ā he agrees. āyou wonāt.ā sasuke is still watching. silent. unreadable and for the first time in days, he speaks.
āwho is she?ā his voice cuts across the hallway, sharp as a kunai.
orochimaru doesnāt even look back. ācurious, sasuke?ā
āi didnāt realize there were civilians here.ā
āsheās not a civilian.ā now orochimaru turns, slowly, like a snake basking in the attention. āsheās mine.ā you blink.
āi belong to myself,ā you say, softly. but your fingers are tangled in orochimaruās sleeve.
āā¦of course,ā he murmurs, lips curving faintly. ābut youāre safe here, because of me.ā sasukeās gaze lingers. he doesnāt speak again, but he doesnāt stop looking either.
not even when you tilt your head and smile gently at him. not even when orochimaru steps just slightly in front of you, voice dark with a warning only sasuke can hear.
ācareful,ā he says. āshe startles easily.ā
the room smells faintly of lavender, only because kabuto insisted it would help you relax. orochimaru had barely tolerated the suggestion, but when you entered the room and smiledāthat soft little smile you only gave when something reminded you of homeāhe had said nothing more. you sit up on the medical cot, legs folded to the side, your fingertips resting against the curve of your belly.
āsheās been moving more lately,ā you say quietly. āmostly when iām lying down. sometimes it feels like⦠little bubbles. sometimes like wings.ā his fingers press gently into the side of your abdomen. not hard. not clinical. justā¦precise.
āligament stretching,ā he murmurs, eyes fixed on the swell beneath your robes. āher movements are stronger now. your body is accommodating her.ā
you blush faintly. ādo you think she can hear us?ā
āthe inner ear is developed enough around this time.ā he glances up at you. āshe may not understand, but she can feel.ā
his hand stills. you feel his thumb lightly trace a line just beneath your navel. you think it might be absentminded. but it lingers too long to be meaningless.
āyour health is stable. your blood pressureās even. no signs of premature contraction.ā he tilts his head, voice lower now. āyouāve been walking less.ā you look down.
āi didnāt want to get in anyoneās way. everyone here seems busy.ā
āyou never get in my way.ā
your head lifts. āyouāre always working too, lord orochimaruā¦ā
ābut when it concerns you,ā he murmurs, gloved hand now slipping off, āitās not work.ā you donāt know what to say to that. your cheeks burn, so you look away, running your hand gently along your belly in silence.
āā¦when i first came here, i thought you might be cruel.ā his eyes narrow slightlyānot angry, but intrigued.
āwhy?ā
āeveryone said you were. that you experimented on people. hurt them.ā you pause. your gaze softens.
ābut youāve never hurt me.ā
he doesnāt answer immediately. instead, he retrieves a small stethoscope, cold metal tapping against your collarbone as he slides it beneath your robe. it rests against your chest. his gaze remains fixed on the hollow of your throat.
āand if i had?ā he asks, softly.
you meet his eyes. āi wouldāve run away.ā
āā¦would you?ā
you nod. but something about his voice makes your stomach twistānot in fear. something else. something you donāt want to name.
āand yet youāre still here,ā he says. āyou donāt ask to leave. you donāt question what i do.ā
ābecause youāve given me safety.ā
his voice dips lower. āor obedience.ā
you blink. āi donāt think so.ā
he studies your expression. then he smilesābut not the smile others see. this one is faint. human. real.
āyouāre not like the others,ā he says.
āā¦is that good?ā
āitās dangerous,ā he answers, voice a whisper. ābecause it makes me want to keep you close.ā your heart skips.
he leans forward, fingers brushing the edge of your wrist where your pulse flutters. itās not quite romantic. not quite clinical either. somewhere in between.
āwhen you give birth,ā he murmurs, āyouāll be in pain. it wonāt be easy. but youāll survive.ā
āā¦because of you?ā
ābecause iāll make sure of it.ā after the examination, the room stays quiet.
youāre still sitting on the cot, robe pulled loosely back over your shoulders, legs drawn up like a child curling into warmth. orochimaru is writing something in your chart with that sharp, elegant pen of his, the scratching sound the only thing breaking the silence.
but you arenāt looking at him. your hand rests on your belly again, thumb tracing the faintest outline of your navel, the way you always do when youāre nervous. the thoughtās been there for weeks now. youāve tried to forget it. but you canāt.
āā¦can i ask you something?ā
he doesnāt look up. āyou just did.ā
you frown. āa real question.ā
now he glances at you, pale eyes patient but unreadable. āthen ask.ā
you swallow hard.
āwhat happened to my village?ā his pen stops.
for a moment, neither of you speak.
you feel your stomach turnānot the baby, but something colder. heavier.
ākabuto said they were gone when he found me. that he pulled me out of the ruins. but i remember the sky was red. i remember smoke. i remember hearing people scream before i blacked out.ā you glance up.
āwas it an accident? a war? iāve never asked because i thought maybe⦠maybe it would hurt more to know.ā his silence stretches.
ābut now iām going to be a mother,ā you say quietly. āand i canāt protect her if i donāt understand what happened to me.ā
orochimaru finally closes the folder. his gaze meets yours, and this time it doesnāt look clinical or detached. it looks ancient. tired.
āā¦it was not an accident,ā he says, your heart sinks.
āthen what was it?ā
āa decision.ā you blink.
āwhose?ā he doesnāt answer.
you stare at him. ālord orochimaruāā
āi made it,ā he says, voice flat now. āi ordered it.ā your breath catches.
āyouā¦?ā
āi saw you,ā he murmurs. āyou were by a well. drawing water. iād only stopped in the village for a moment. i wasnāt supposed to linger. but i saw you. and i knew.ā
āknew⦠what?ā his golden eyes narrow faintly, but thereās something almost mournful beneath the gleam.
āthat i would not forget you.ā youāre quiet.
your hands curl in your lap.
āyou destroyed everything⦠because of me?ā
ābecause of what you stirred in me.ā he stands now, slow, deliberate. ādesire is a dangerous thing. especially when it comes from someone like me.ā you should feel angry. horrified, but all you feel is hollow.
āā¦you took me,ā you whisper. āand made it look like a rescue.ā
āyou wouldāve died otherwise.ā
āi mightāve rather.ā
āno,ā he says sharply, crossing the space to kneel beside you. āyou say that now, but it is not true.ā
his hand rises, brushing your knee. the contact startles you, not because itās coldābut because itās tender. unbearably so.
āiāve kept you safe,ā he murmurs. āfed you. sheltered you. studied you. and now you carry something no other has ever given me.ā
your hand touches your belly.
āour child.ā he nods once.
you whisper, āi donāt know how to feel.ā
he doesnāt push you. but he does stand again, voice like silk stretched over steel.
āfeel whatever you wish,ā he says. āhate me. love me. just stay.ā
your voice is small. āwhy?ā
his back is to you, but his answer is quiet.
ābecause when she is born⦠i want the first thing she sees to be someone beautiful.ā
sasuke notices you the second day he arrives. you arenāt hard to miss ā young, soft-spoken, with wide eyes and a hand always resting on the swell of your belly. you donāt wear a headband. you arenāt a kunoichi. and yet you glide through the halls of the hideout like you belong, as if the shadows themselves part for you.
whatās worse is the way orochimaru looks at you. not just with ownership. not just with control. with something softer.
sasuke doesnāt say anything at first. he doesnāt like asking questions. but it sits in the pit of his stomach like rot, and finally, one day at breakfast, when karin is pouring herself tea, he breaks the silence.
āwho is she?ā
karin blinks. āwho?ā
āthe girl with the baby.ā
suigetsu snorts into his cup. āoh, her? thatās orochimaruās little experiment.ā
āexperiment?ā sasukeās voice is flat, but his brow twitches.
āyou know how he is,ā suigetsu smirks. ālikes to mix his obsessions. science, immortality, hot women.ā
jÅ«go, who rarely speaks, glances up and says simply, āhe protects her.ā
āmore than us,ā karin adds bitterly, adjusting her glasses. āyou should see the way he watches her. like sheās some kind of treasure. sasuke narrows his eyes.
āshe doesnāt act like a prisoner.ā
āsheās not,ā suigetsu shrugs. āi mean⦠sheās not not one. but she doesnāt seem to know it.ā sasuke turns away, jaw tightening.
later that evening, he catches sight of you again. youāre in the corridor outside the library, giggling softly. your hand is in orochimaruās, your head tilted up as he murmurs something only you can hear. his other hand rests against the small of your back, dangerously familiar.
and sasuke sees something he wasnāt expecting āyouāre smiling, genuinely. a warmth spreads beneath his ribs, sharp and acidic. not because he cares. not because heās jealous. because it doesnāt make sense.
heās seen what orochimaru does to people. what he did to kimimaro. what he did to him. and yet here you are, cradled in the belly of the beast, and all he can think isāhow long until you realize what he really is?
how long until he breaks you?
you canāt sleep. itās not unusual, not lately. between the baby pressing into your lungs and the quiet fear that claws at your chest when the corridors fall silent, rest feels more like a privilege than a promise.
the hideout hums with faint chakra barriers and echoing pipes. you know it well now ā the flickering lights, the cold floors, the eerie way the walls seem to breathe with you. but tonight it feels heavier. sharper. like something is coming.
you shift on the futon, your hands sliding to your bump. the baby stirs, a slow roll beneath your skin. you smile faintly, but the warmth doesnāt last. you keep hearing his voice.
āā¦youāre the reason that place burned.ā kabuto had said it was a rescue.
he said orochimaru sent him to save you. but if you think back hard enough ā if you let your mind touch the edges of what youāve buried ā the fire started the same day you saw that pale man in the treetops, eyes slitted like a serpentās, watching you.
watching you, not the village, you rub your eyes. maybe itās nothing. maybe itās everything. then comes the knock. not loud, not sharp ā just a soft tap, deliberate and measured.
āā¦youāre awake,ā orochimaruās voice slips in before you even answer.
you donāt flinch. you never do with him.
āā¦couldnāt sleep,ā you whisper, smoothing your gown. āthe babyās been moving more.ā
he steps into the room with no hesitation, closing the door behind him. for once, heās not wearing his full cloak ā just loose robes, undone at the throat, his hair damp at the tips like heās just come from a bath. youāre not used to seeing him this way. soft. undone. he walks over, kneels beside you without asking.
āā¦may i?ā he gestures to your stomach, you nod.
his hand is warm ā surprisingly so ā as it presses to your bump. the baby kicks beneath his palm, and a rare smile pulls at his lips. not cruel. not calculated.
āā¦strong,ā he murmurs. āyouāll give me something strong.ā
āis that all i am to you?ā you ask it before you can stop yourself, voice cracking just slightly. āan experiment?ā heās quiet.
his fingers move slowly, tracing the outline of your belly.
āā¦you were never just that,ā he says, almost too softly. ānot to me. you swallow.
āā¦why me?ā you ask, voice tight. āyou couldāve had anyone. someone stronger. someone trained. someone who knew what you were.ā he tilts his head.
āā¦do you want the truth?ā you nod.
āā¦because you were beautiful,ā he says without blinking. āthe kind of beauty that draws blood. the kind of beauty men burn cities for.ā your breath catches.
āand because you were soft,ā he adds. āand soft things should be protected. even if they donāt know it.ā
āā¦did you burn it?ā you whisper.
he doesnāt answer, you look down.
āā¦i thought you saved me.ā
āi did.ā
ābut you sent the fire, too. didnāt you?ā he exhales.
āit was never personal.ā
you feel something tighten in your chest. grief. confusion. betrayal, maybe.
āi should hate you,ā you say softly.
āyou donāt.ā
āā¦i know.ā thereās silence.
then he shifts closer, his forehead pressing gently to the top of your bump, both hands resting on either side of your belly.
āā¦youāre mine now,ā he says, more to the baby than to you. āand i donāt let go of whatās mine.ā your heart stutters, but you donāt move.
because despite everything ā the truth, the darkness, the weight of all thatās been taken ā his touch is careful. reverent. almost human and youāre so, so tired of being alone.
āā¦stay,ā you whisper.
he lifts his head.
āā¦just for a little while,ā you add quickly, cheeks flushing. he doesnāt answer.
but he does lie down beside you, one arm beneath your neck, the other resting gently across your belly. his eyes close.
you lie awake beside him for a long time, listening to his breath, feeling the weight of his presence like a tide. you donāt understand him. you donāt think you ever will.
but for now, you feel safe.
youāre alone in the garden behind the hideout. itās one of the only places with natural light ā small, hidden, barely tamed. the soil here is dark and damp, and though no flowers grow wild, orochimaru had kabuto plant a few for you. theyāre simple things. violets. a sprig of lavender. an odd crooked tulip that refuses to die.
your fingers are caked in dirt as you press your palm to the ground. the baby kicks once, then stills. you hum softly under your breath, a lullaby from a village that no longer exists.
and then you feel it. chakra. cool and sharp, like the edge of a blade. you donāt turn. not yet.
āā¦youāre always watching me,ā you say gently.
sasuke steps into view a moment later, arms crossed.
āā¦youāre always with him,ā he replies.
you glance up, brushing your hands off on your skirt.
āi live here,ā you smile. āiād hope thatās allowed.ā
āwhy donāt you run?ā you blink. he doesnāt look angry. just⦠unsettled.
āyouāre kind,ā he says. āyouāre not a fighter. you talk to everyone like they matter. even suigetsu. even me.ā you tilt your head.
āā¦is that so bad?ā
āyou donāt belong here.ā you look down at your stomach, then back at him.
ābut i do, donāt i?ā he says nothing.
āā¦i know who he is,ā you say softly. āi know heās done awful things.ā
āyou donāt know,ā he snaps before he can stop himself. āhe destroys things. he uses people. heās⦠heāsāā
āi know,ā you interrupt gently. āi know about the fire. i know what kabuto really is. i know what youāre afraid of.ā he falls silent.
you stand slowly, placing a hand on your belly.
āā¦you think iām trapped,ā you say. āyou think iām some sweet little victim too scared to run.ā
āarenāt you?ā he mutters as you look him in the eye.
āno.ā
āwhy not?ā you smile ā not wide, not smug, but real. calm.
ābecause i love him.ā he stiffens.
āand i know what love like this looks like,ā you continue. āitās not kind. itās not pretty. but itās real. and heās never lied about who he is.ā
āyou donāt owe him anything.ā
ābut i want to give him everything.ā
your voice trembles, but not with fear. with joy. anticipation.
āthis baby ā our baby ā is the first thing iāve ever had thatās truly mine. i wake up every morning and feel it growing, feel him getting more careful when he touches me. he asks me how i feel now. he feeds me better. he tries.ā you touch your stomach again.
āā¦he doesnāt know how to be good. not yet. but heās learning. and thatās more than most people ever do.ā sasukeās brow furrows.
āā¦what if he changes his mind?ā you shake your head.
āhe wonāt.ā
āhow do you know?ā
ābecause he already changed everything else.ā sasuke looks at you for a long time and finally, he steps back.
āā¦youāre strange.ā
āso are you,ā you smile.
he turns, cloak swaying behind him, and vanishes down the path without another word.
you exhale softly and turn back to the garden, placing both hands over your belly. from the shadow of the wall, you feel a familiar chakra. warm. curious.
āā¦you heard all that?ā you murmur.
orochimaru steps out without a sound, arms loose at his sides, a strange look in his eyes.
āi did.ā you wait.
he walks over slowly, stopping just short of you. his fingers ghost your cheek, brushing a smudge of soil away.
āā¦you still want this?ā he asks quietly. āeven after knowing everything?ā
you look up at him ā at the pale skin, the yellow eyes, the voice that could command nightmares ā and feel nothing but calm.
āmore than anything,ā you whisper.
he doesnāt smile. but he presses a hand to your stomach again. the baby kicks. and this time ā for the first time ā he leans down, kisses the spot gently, and says:
āthen letās raise him together.ā
you close your eyes, leaning into his warmth, into the strange, terrifying comfort of a man the world would never understand.
but you do. and thatās enough.
the baby is quiet. thatās the first thing sasuke notices. no wailing, no squirming, no sharp burst of chakra flaring in newborn protest. just soft coos, rhythmic breaths, and the faintest hint of sound as you hum to him ā low, melodic, off-key in a way that feels heartbreakingly maternal.
youāre cradling him near the window of your room, bathed in weak morning light. your hair is tied messily, circles under your eyes, and yet you look⦠peaceful. not exhausted. not trapped. just in love.
sasuke doesnāt step closer. he watches from the trees, silent, hidden, like he always does when his conscience flares. the child isnāt swaddled in anything extravagant ā just simple cloth, stitched by hand. your handiwork, probably.
you lean your head down and whisper something into your sonās tiny ear, he doesnāt hear it. but he watches the way orochimaru enters the room seconds later. slow. cautious. like heās learned to ask for permission without using words.
he moves to you, brushes your shoulder with two fingers. you donāt flinch. donāt recoil, instead you smile. sasuke sees the faintest twitch of something human flicker in the corners of orochimaruās mouth.
āā¦i wanted a daughter,ā you laugh softly, tilting the babyās head so he can see. ābut i guess the world needed a boy this time.ā
orochimaru crouches beside you, hand moving to the childās head, he doesnāt say much. but he presses his forehead to your shoulder, just briefly. and sasuke, hidden in the shade of the trees, realizes something strange.
heās not sure if this is evil anymore.
maybe wrong. maybe twisted.
but not loveless.
not fake.
you lean your head against orochimaruās, closing your eyes. the baby stirs, and both of you move without thinking ā you adjusting the blanket, him cupping the back of the childās head like itās glass.
sasuke exhales, leaving without a sound.
because for the first time, heās not sure if you need saving.
Code and tool; where the most delicate hands have the capacity to be those as lethal as the edge of metal, those that create chaos around them. Code; where those subjects are the interests of a third party, where said code determines a whole reputation coming from the surname among the union of their families.
"Are you asking about the origin?" He replies in the same tone, feeling the young adult's fingers moving to cradle his cheek. But before she reaches the curve of his neck, he holds her by the wrist, earning a stare from her. Though a certain condescension of usual can be palpable between his words, "I have long thought that your curiosity would cause you numerous conflicts someday, Kanon."