Chapter 1: Trading Places

Sakura and Sasuke had just escaped from the dangerous grass ninja and had hidden about 20 kilometers away on a huge moss covered oak tree. They were both panting, both out of exhaustion and fear.

"Sasuke, I think that grass ninja is just targeting you," said Sakura.

"I know Sakura, I know," replied an irritated Sasuke. "We need a plan Sakura, and fast. That grass ninja is probably tracking us right now and we don't have much time, plus Naruto's still missing."

They thought in silence for a minute. Then Sakura looked at Sasuke, knowing that what she was about to suggest was a dangerous idea and would probably make Sasuke angry.

"What is it Sakura? Did you come up with a plan?" asked Sasuke after he saw Sakura staring at him.

"Well yes, but its probably dangerous."

"Sakura, whatever it is will have to work."

"Well… Okay Sasuke," and Sakura leaned over to whisper her plan in Sasuke's ear, so that no prying ears could it.

"Sakura not only is that plan dangerous but it might not even work," said a frustrated Sasuke.

"But Sasuke, you're our squad's best fighter! We can't afford to have you go down with Naruto still missing! This plan has to work or else you might be able to pass let alone survive and I couldn't live with myself knowing I could have done something to stop that from happening." Tears had started coming to Sakura's eyes and Sasuke could tell she was determined for this plan to go underway.

Giving up Sasuke said, "Fine but lets move, we've stayed put too long."

So they got up and ran about 30 kilometers away from their current hiding spot.

To Where Naruto Is

"Let me out you slimy snake! I'm not dinner!"

A giant snake was lying down with a huge lump in its middle, showing signs of digesting Naruto Uzumaki.

"Fine if you won't let me out, I'll force my way out! SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"

The lump in the serpent grew until it burst open with at least a dozen Narutos jumping out of it. A slime covered Naruto released the jutsu and started running back to his teammates. "Hang on guys! I'm comin'!"

Sasuke and Sakura

"Okay lets rest here Sakura, I think we're far enough away." They rested on huge limb of a giant tree about 30 kilometers away from their last hiding place.

"We need stay silent now Sakura and listen to anyone who approaches."

Sakura nodded in understanding. They were quiet for minutes until Sakura noticed something and tried to speak but Sasuke covered her mouth.

"I said we need to stay silent Sakura," whispered Sasuke. But Sakura didn't listen, she moved Sasuke's hand off her mouth and shouted, "Sasuke watch out!" Sasuke looked behind them and saw that a giant serpent was about to attack. Both ninjas jumped out of harms way as the serpent slammed its upper body on the spot they were just resting on.

"How in the world did I miss that? I must be really losing it!" Thought Sasuke to himself as he frowned and jumped about 5 yards away but the serpent was already striking for his second attack on Sasuke.

"No! Stay away!" yelled Sasuke as he threw his shuriken and kunai desperately at the giant serpent. The serpent fell against a tree 2 yards away and died. Sakura had moved several yards away and what happened next surprised both ninjas. The skin on the back of the serpent had cracked and a figure slowly rose up. The grass ninja had hidden in the serpent. She jumped and landed 3 yards away from Sasuke on the tree he was on.

"You are strong Sasuke and your resilience is impressive but…" she stopped her sentence and had started to stretch her body around the huge tree limb like a snake and stopped a yard in front of a fear stricken Sasuke. "It's still not enough!" She was about to strike when shuriken had landed an inch from her face. She looked up in the direction of the attack.

"Looks like I got here just in time you guys!" shouted Naruto who was at least 10 yards away from them.

"It seems you escaped my snake," said the grass ninja as she uncoiled and stood upright to stare at Naruto. Naruto stared back and thought to himself, "So that wasn't a random snake attack! This weirdo sent it!"

"Naruto run and get out of here! This ninja is dangerous!"

"What are you talking about Sasuke! I'm not goin' anywhere!"

The grass ninja was about to attack again when Sasuke pulled out the heaven scroll and said, "This is what you want right? Then take it and go." Sasuke tossed the scroll but, with incredible speed, Naruto grabbed the scroll and landed between the two ninja as he put the scroll in his tool bag.

"What're you doing you idiot? Are you tryin—" but Sasuke never finished his sentence because just then Naruto kneed Sasuke in the stomach and sent him flying against the tree trunk.

"Naruto why the hell did you do that to Sasuke? He's trying to save us you idiot!" shouted Sakura.

"Shut up! I may not know the password but that is not the Sasuke that I know! He would never give up so easily! So if he won't fight to protect this team then I will Sakura!" Naruto turned around to face the grass ninja to see that she had rolled up her left sleeve and saw she had markings on it.

He was about to attack when she bit her thumb and rubbed it across her tattooed arm, revealing a line of blood and then she said, "Summoning Jutsu!" Out of a huge cloud of smoke appeared another giant serpent that immediately went for Naruto who went flying into another tree.

"My serpent friend here likes to play with his food, so please entertain him," said the grass ninja, as the snake went in for another attack, Naruto turned to face it but he looked different. His eyes had turned red with slits for pupils, his nails had turned to claws, his hair had grown a bit longer and was shaggier, and his teeth had grown to long fangs. Naruto raised his fist and started pounding on the serpents head.

The snake fell a bit and turned to attack Sasuke instead. Sasuke just stood there stricken with fear and the snake had almost reached him but Naruto reached Sasuke first and stopped the giant serpent with one hand holding it back and the other shoving his kunai into its mouth.

"What's the matter kid? Scared, you chicken!" shouted Naruto at Sasuke who could only stare at the changed Naruto in front of him. Out of nowhere a long pink tongue wrapped itself around Naruto and pulled him up to the grass ninja. "Gross! You better let me go before I rip your tongue out of your head!" screamed Naruto as he struggled to free himself from the enemy ninja's holding.

"Amazing, so this is what has become of the child who had the nine tailed fox sealed in him." The grass ninja looked at Naruto's stomach and saw some writing on it. "So this is the seal the 4th Hokage used on the child. I had better seal it before this child grows to be troublesome to my plans." The enemy ninja raised his hand and 5 purple things of chakra appeared on her fingertips. She pulled her hand back and shouted "5 pronged seal!" and shoved her hand right on the seal that contained the 9 tailed fox.

Naruto shouted out with pain as Sakura shouted out his name but he couldn't respond as he fell into unconsciousness. The ninja tossed Naruto aside and he started to fall to the ground. "There's no way he'll survive that fall!" thought Sakura before she tossed a kunai that caught Naruto and attached firmly to the adjacent tree to her.

"Say what you want about Naruto! That he's a loser or that he's too hyper! But at least he's doing something Sasuke! At least he wasn't afraid to fight for his team!" shouted Sakura. Sasuke looked at Sakura then Naruto and realized that she was right this wasn't like him. He turned towards the grass ninja and drew his kunai.

"Oh are you ready to fight now Sasuke Uchiha? Lets see how strong you are!" and she ran toward Sasuke to attack him. Sasuke moved back a step and raised his kunai to do battle with her own kunai. She ended up winning that battle and Sasuke jumped back and ran through hand signs and shouted, "Firestyle! Fireball jutsu!" the engulfed the grass ninja who appeared to be beaten but as the flames died away it turned the enemy ninja had used the substitution jutsu. The ninja appeared behind Sasuke and sent him flying with a kick to the gut.

Sasuke was sprawled out across a giant tree limb. The grass ninja appeared in front of him and said, with disappointment in her voice, "Really Sasuke? Is that all the strength you have?" Sasuke stayed silent and the enemy ninja was about to make another move when something exploded. Sasuke had put small bombs on the ninja and as she went down Sasuke got up and used some wire to firmly attach the enemy ninja to the tree then performed another Firestyle jutsu that ran along the wire. The ninja looked burnt to a crisp but something was wrong.

The grass ninja's face was peeling, revealing a snake like eye with purple eye shadow outlining the top. The grass ninja broke the wire binding her and walked forward a bit. "You are indeed strong Sasuke, I'm going to take my leave now but before I do, I have a parting gift for you." The grass ninja's head extended until her mouth had reached Sasuke's neck and had fangs protruding into his neck. After she released him a mark appeared on his neck and Sasuke fell down in unimaginable pain screaming and Sakura rushed to his side.

"Who are you and what do you want with Sasuke?" screamed Sakura.

"My name is Orochimaru, and soon Sasuke will come searching for power and come to me and in exchange he'll give me his obedience and his body. In the meantime make sure they don't stop the Chunin exams, little girl." And with those last words he disappeared with laughing manically. After he left Sasuke and Sakura became covered in smoke and when it disappeared Sakura was screaming in pain while Sasuke had a worried face.