Chapter 33

It took Sakura and Naruto until noon to reach the tower. They were careful as they moved, avoiding conflict as they went. With Sasuke still out, they did not wish to fight anyone. They entered the tower and were in a very big room. It was dark with very little light. Whatever light was in the room, it illuminated a large plague on the wall. They both looked at it and read the words carefully. Naruto put Sasuke on the ground before summoning the team's scroll.

"Well, since were in the tower and by the words on that plaque, I think we should open both scrolls." Naruto said.

"You think so?"

"It talks about 'earth' and 'heaven' working as one. If I remember, Iruka-sensei use to tell us that the 'earth' is the body and 'heaven' is the mind. You need both to be a complete ninja. Maybe we have to open them at the same time." Naruto explained. Sakura nodded and pulled out the 'earth' scroll. On the count of three, they opened the scrolls. A lot of smoke came out, making the two toss the scrolls away. There was a big 'poof' and the smoke cleared to reveal a Leaf chunin. Upon seeing the team, the chunin turned on his radio.

"Team Kakashi has arrived. I need an escort here now." The chunin reported. It would be seconds when four ANBU arrived. Naruto recognized one of the masks.

"Hey Bird, what's going on?" he asked.

"We know about your time in the forest. The Third Hokage would like a full report." The ninja said. He looked at Sasuke and ordered two of the ANBU to secure him. He looked at the remaining two and motioned them to follow. They walked for a while before coming to an office. The man opened the door to reveal Hiruzen. The two entered the room and saw that Kakashi was there as well. The old man faced the two and gave them a sad smile.

"So, I heard that you ran into one of my students."

XXX

Kabuto had his hands raised and was looking at the person who caught him. Mentally, he cursed his foolishness. How could he not have sensed him? As he looked around for his other teammates, he noticed the look that the Nara was giving him. Did he know something about his true self? That couldn't be possible. He kept his cool as he faced Shikamaru.

"Okay, it seems that you caught me. I would think that because we are from the same village, we could work together." Kabuto said.

"It's like that lady said, this is about survival, gathering Intel. While you might be a Leaf shinobi and have the experience, I don't think that I would trust you with me and my team." Shikamaru said.

"Oh, you do not trust me? If you recall, I did share information with you and your friends when I did not have to." Kabuto explained.

"Yeah and therein lies the problem. While giving that information away could have been you just being friendly, how you got that information worries me. What you have on us, I know you wouldn't get due to the changes I know about. However, how did you get that information on that Gaara person?" Shikamaru asked.

"Well, my source is very reliable." Kabuto said.

"Your source must be very good. It isn't every day you can get such information, especially on a genin that is the child of a Kage. Usually that information is very well guarded." Shikamaru stated. Kabuto's smile dropped a little and he was starting to get annoyed.

"Perhaps I have a good source."

"Perhaps but I think that there is more to you than you reveal. At first, I ignored the chakra pool that you and your team had when you crossed into my Probe Barrier. However, it is too control. It was as if you have had years of experience. You're not who you say you are." Kabuto realized that the time for games were over. He vanished, escaping that minor explosion that occurred. He reappeared behind Shikamaru, his hand glowing. It moved quickly to kill Shikamaru but his hand just went through him.

"Just a clone. Interesting move Shikamaru Nara." He was about to go and hunt for the boy when he remembered that Shikamaru said something about him and his team. Cursing, he quickly made his way to find his two teammates. It did not take him long but he was not happy. Yoroi and Misumi were out cold. Their things had been searched, which meant that the scrolls were gone. He knew that if Shikamaru knew that he was a fraud, he would have done everything in his power to make sure that they did not go forward. It was just annoying him further.

"Very interesting move indeed."

XXX

Hiruzen stared at the two genin as they just finished reporting to him. He was not happy. He did not show it to the two but the experienced shinobi in the room could tell that he was not happy. He eyes would go to Kakashi who had enough sense not to look at him. While he did not know much about his student's seal, the fact that Sasuke acted like that worried him. He knew that he would have to personal step in now concerning Sasuke. Enough was enough.

"Naruto," The blond stood at attention. "will your seals hold?"

"Yeah, I'm confident that it will hold. The two added seals are pretty strong. Just asks Iruka." Naruto said with a grin. This released some of the tension that was in the room.

"I'll be sure to ask him about it." Hiruzen said with some amusement. He then got serious. "While I am proud of the both of you, I am worried for your safety, especially yours Naruto." Naruto looked surprised at that. "Your skill in sealing is incredible. I am not ashamed to say that if you continue on this path you will even surpass me in a few years. However, you have put yourself in Orochimaru's view. He will attempt to find out more about your skill. If he learns just how good you are, he may attempt something against you." Naruto looked really scared at that thought.

"You may be at ease Naruto. I will not allow him to do anything against you. I will even appoint you a shinobi who will be your sensei from now on. He will be training you for the exams. I trust him completely but it might take some work for you two to get along." Hiruzen said with a smirk. Naruto did not like that smirk but said nothing.

"Well, you two must be tied from your journey. My ANBU will escort you to the rooms that you will be staying." With that, the ANBU led the two out of the room, leaving Kakashi and Hiruzen alone. The old Kage looked at Kakashi with a serious expression. "I am surprised that you did not say anything to defend your student."

"I know that you do not approve of my favoritism but I am not so blind to Sasuke's faults." Kakashi stated with authority.

"And yet, you have found every excuse to defend him. That ends today. I do not care that he is the last Uchiha. I do not care if he is a flight risk. I am going to let that boy know that I will do something about his actions and should he have a problem with it, he will be introduced to the 'God of Shinobi', not the kindly grandfather." Hiruzen said with force. He walked out of the office, leaving Kakashi alone to think.

XXX

Orochimaru stood at the tower and waited for Kabuto to appear. He did not have his usual smirk that would wear. While pleased that he got his mark on Sasuke, there were just too many questions that he needed answers to. It also seem that these rookies were better trained than he thought. He was very surprised that Kabuto was found out by genin. He knew of the Nara clan's vast intelligence but even he knew that a genin should not have caught Kabuto as a spy.

His attention turned toward the arriving Kabuto. He noticed that one of his teammates was missing. There was also some specks of blood on his hand. He looked at him with some curiosity.

"Yoroi got a little too mouthy for my taste. The animals will deal with his body soon enough." Kabuto said.

"That still does not explain how a boy of thirteen was able to figure you out Kabuto. You are much more careful than that." Orochimaru said.

"I wish that I can tell you. I do not know how he knew. However, he is much different than your typical Nara. He let it slip that he knew barriers. Something he called the Probe Barrier was able to give him some idea as to how strong I really am." Kabuto said. Orochimaru looked surprised by that.

"As it should. My old teammate uses that barrier. It could certainly expose you but it is a B-rank jutsu. The Nara are not known for their high chakra pools. The fact that this boy knows such a jutsu," Orochimaru said softly while thinking.

"You are concerned?" Kabuto concerned.

"Yes. These children should not be so good. My sensei preaches about peace and has reduced the academy to nothing. However, it seems that he has improved his training. That can become a problem going down the road, especially Naruto Uzumaki." Orochimaru stated.

"Naruto? Why would you be concerned about him? He is average at best. His only skill of note is his sealing." Kabuto explained.

"That is exactly the problem. It was something that I ignored because I knew that he showed no interest in the art. However, if he began to learn sealing jutsu, then his skill will grow to threaten my plans. I would think that his heritage would not show but I made a mistake and ignored it."

"His heritage?" This made Orochimaru smirk a little at him.

"Kabuto, that boy is more than just the container of the Nine-tailed fox." Orochimaru did not go into that further. He got off the wall that he was leaning on and looked at the two. "Well, I will keep an eye on Sasuke. Getting him to leave this village might be easier than I thought. However, I want him to ripen first. Kabuto, stay hidden and keep in touch with our partners. For now, do not indulge your curiosity and leave the two boys alone."

"Very well, I will do as you asked." Kabuto said.

"What about me?" Misumi asked, speaking for the first time.

"Oh, I almost forgot about you." Orochimaru said. In a flash, the Sannin cut Misumi's throat opened. The man tried to stop the bleeding but it was already too late. With that business done, the two left the area.

XXX

It would be the next day when Naruto and Sakura made their way to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. They were still a little tired but were refreshed enough to get something to eat. With the sun up, they realized that it was the third day of the exams. They were wondering if team Asuma were okay. They soon got their answer when they saw team Asuma with team Kurenai. They quickly made their way over to them.

"Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, am I glad to see you guys." Naruto greeted.

"We would have been here sooner if someone didn't keep us in the forest." Ino said with irritation.

"Are you still angry about that? Shikamaru knew what he was doing. What do you think would have happened if that Kabuto guy caught either of you? You heard Shikamaru. That guy was bad news. Show a little appreciation." Kiba stated with a growl. Ino had the decency to look ashamed.

"Kabuto? What about that guy? What are you guys talking about?" Sakura asked. That when all three teams began to talk about their time in the forest. There was a lot of wide eyes and gasps as each team talked about their encounters. When everything was done, everybody fell into a silence. It would soon be broken by Shikamaru.

"Something is happening in the village, something bad." He said.

"You're getting that vibe too? There are just way too many things happening in these exams." Naruto said.

"What are you talking about?" Ino asked.

"It's like Iruka t-taught us. We need to l-look underneath the underneath. What h-happened to team Kakashi is terrible b-but suspicious. Why would one o-of Konoha's top missing n-ninja sneak into the exams just for Sasuke?" Hinata answered.

"There is also Kabuto and Gaara. One may very well be a spy and the other might be nuts. How long has Kabuto been a spy and why the hell would the Sand Village send someone who is clearly not right in the head?" Choji asked.

"Orochimaru, Kabuto, this Gaara guy, something is definitely up and I'm worried." Naruto said. The others just nodded in agreement. After a tense silence, Ino looked at Sakura and spoke.

"Hey, where is Sasuke? I don't see him with you." Ino said. It would be Naruto who answered.

"He should still be unconscious. The Curse Sealing Jutsu takes a lot out of the person it is applied to. My guess, he's still out and probably under ANBU guard." Naruto said. The group continued to converse, unaware that someone was watching. This person focused his eyes on them, particularly on Naruto. He did not know why but he was very interested in the blond. Perhaps he would prove his existence like the Uchiha would. He vanished without a trace.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Well, this is a new chapter. I like how this went. Now that I'm here, I can start the prelims. With a few people missing, just how will these exams go? Stay tuned.