  The effect of correlated scalar-isoscalar two-pion exchange (CrTPE) modes is
considered in connection with central and spin-orbit parts of the NN force. The
two-pion correlation function is coupled directly to the scalar form factor of
the nucleon which we calculate in the large-N(C) limit where the nucleon can be
described as a soliton of an effective chiral theory. The results for the
central NN force show a strong repulsive core at short internucleon distances
supplemented by a moderate attraction beyond 1 fm. The long-range tail of the
central NN potential is driven by the the pion-nucleon sigma term and
consistent with the effective $\sigma$ meson exchange. The spin-orbit part of
the NN potential is repulsive. The large-N(C) scaling behavior of the
scalar-isoscalar NN interaction is addressed. We show that the spin-orbit part
is O(1/N^2(C)) in strength relative to the central force resulting in the ratio
$\simeq 1/9$ suggested by the 1/N(C) expansion for N(C)=3. The latter is in
agreement with our numerical analysis and with the Kaplan-Manohar large-N(C)
power counting. Unitarization of the $\pi \pi$ scattering amplitude plays here
an important role and improves the tree level results. Analytical
representations of the CrTPE NN potential in terms of elementary functions are
derived and their chiral content is discussed.
