Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

XxX

"Today is the day."

In his small one-room apartment sitting on his bed, bare-chested Naruto wrapped white bandages around his hands and forearms covering the bruises and scars on his knuckles. Standing up he grabbed the black t-shirt laying on his bed and pulled it over his head covering his torso.

The Chunin exams had finally arrived.

Pulling on his gray Shinobi Sandals he pulled the strap tight and tucked his black pants into them before wrapping his ankles with bandages to keep the pants from coming loose. Strapping his kunai holster to his thigh he then tied two pouches to the back of his pants. Miniature storage scrolls inside the pouches held everything he would need for the Chunin exams.

"And last but not least." Tilting his head down he twisted the ends of forehead protector into a knot securing it on his head before standing up from his bed and walking to the open window.

It was time to begin plan 'change everything bad that happened.'

XxX

"Sasuke, you came!" running up to her crush Sakura tucked a strand of hair she had moved out of place earlier behind her ear.

Grunting Sasuke ghosted past his teammate not even sparing her a glance. Today was too important to be distracted by Sakura's incessant and annoying flirting. He had to focus on the Chunin exams.

"Well, it looks like it's just going to be us taking the exam." Sakura pouted but inside she was cheering. "Cha, alone time with Sasuke. Naruto finally did something right."

"Naruto will be here," Sasuke said stopping at the door to the academy and leaning against the wall closing his eyes. "The exam doesn't start for another ten minutes. He'll be here by then. No way is he going to miss this."

As annoying as the loser was, it seemed like Naruto was the only one who took being a Shinobi seriously. Kakashi was always late and Sakura always did the bare minimum in training so she wouldn't get sweaty and ugly. It was a joke.

"Sakura, Sasuke." Naruto jumped down from the academy roof landing between his two teammates. "Are you guys ready to kick all the asses inside?"

Smirking Sasuke kicked off the wall. "You're cutting it close Naruto. Trying to be like Kakashi?"

"Huh, yeah right." Naruto grinned. "I could say the same to you, Sasuke. You barely beat me here."

"Shut up, Naruto!" Sakura yelled swinging a fist at Naruto who ducked out of the way. "Don't make fun of Sasuke-Kun."

"And there goes the atmosphere." Naruto sighed as Sasuke scowled and opened the door to the Academy heading inside leaving him and Sakura outside. But only for a second before Sakura went running after him leaving Naruto by himself.

Watching the pink haired 'kunoichi' chase after his rival Naruto frowned. He had been feeling different about Sakura since he got back. It was strange that his thoughts on his crush were changing so quickly. Maybe it was because despite his young body he was older and more mature but his teammate just didn't look the same when he saw her.

She was mean and petty and as much as he didn't want to say it, not ninja material. Of course, she would grow into a strong Kunoichi under Tsunade's tutelage, he knew that but it didn't stop him from feeling angry every time she ruined the teams dynamic to try and appease Sasuke.

Like just a second ago, he and Sasuke were having a good time throwing jabs at each other. They weren't serious, the insults were just how they talked. Sasuke was even smiling or smirking until Sakura went interjected herself into the conversation.

In the past he would have blamed Sasuke, probably even made his thoughts vocal which would have made things even worse. Things were different now though, he was different. He could see Sakura ignoring him for Sasuke wasn't his rival's fault. And being better than everyone else wasn't Sasuke's fault either.

"I blamed him for my own faults." It was childish and Naruto was glad he had a chance to fix the mistakes he made in the past. Maybe this time he could keep Orochimaru from getting Sasuke.

Not that Sasuke was blameless but Naruto had to work on himself before he tried helping Sasuke.

"Naruto! Get in here, I'm not going to be late because of you!"

Sighing he shoved his hands into his pockets and trudged into the room doing his best ignore the glare he was getting from Sakura.

"Ha, you want to take the exam with those skills?"

"You should just quit now."

Walking with his teammates Naruto grinned at the Genin sitting on the floor holding his face. "Lee."

"Please, just let us through."

"Tenten." Naruto shook his head as the weapon mistress was knocked to the ground beside bushy brows as the disguised Chunins explained how they had failed three times.

"Those that take this exam and end up quitting as Shinobi, those that die in the exam, we've seen it all."

"The failure of a mission, the death of a comrade...that is all the captain's responsibility. And Chunin often becomes captains of military teams. Yet, kids like you think you can pass?"

They were really laying it on thick. Naruto folded his arms and looked up at the ceiling. Any minute now Sasuke would demand the Genjutsu be dropped and then he would be attacked and Bushy brows would stop it.

As things started playing out the way he knew they would Naruto debated whether or not to get involved.

"Sakura," Sasuke looked to his teammate. "As the one who improved her analytical abilities and Genjutsu the most, you must have noticed first, right?"

"Of course. We're only on the second floor."

Naruto grinned as Sasuke glanced at him showing he knew the Genjutus had been there was well. Sasuke smirked and turned back to Sakura who was explaining to the rest of the Genin about the illusion.

"Maybe I should have stopped him from saying anything." Naruto thought as most of the gathered applicants ignored Sakura and headed for the stairs. It would have thinned out the herd but it would have also changed things. Which was what he came back to do but it would be too risky to change the Chunin exams. He needed the future to be as he knew it to get his team through and save the old man.

Knocked from his thoughts by a gust of wind ruffling his clothes Naruto decided to just head forward to the third floor. He already knew what was going to happen and none of it involved him.

XxX

"Naruto, why didn't you wait for us?" Sakura seethed trying to help Sasuke walk but having her efforts constantly brushed off. All she wanted to do was help.

She giggled her cheeks going red. "And maybe have Sasuke's body up against mine."

"Huh, Bushy brows wanted to fight Sasuke, not me," Naruto said with a shrug. "Besides I watched the fight from over here. And from what I saw the Uchiha clan isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"Naruto!" Sakura clenched her fists her blush vanishing as she glared at Naruto. What was that jerk doing saying something like that?

Beside her, Sasuke growled.

"Sasuke, don't listen to him. He's just an idiot." She said reaching for his hand.

"Don't patronize me." Sasuke tore his hand away and marched forward past Naruto to the exam room. "I'll beat him next time."

Naruto continued disregarding Sakura's shushing hisses and angry glare. "Didn't you see his hands? He trains, probably more than you. That's all it is."

"Pft," Sasuke smirked. "This thing is getting fun. This Chunin exam."

Clenching his fist the Uchiha avenger raised his head. "Are you ready to go? Naruto, Sakura!"

"Hell yeah!" Naruto cheered punching the air. "It's like I said outside. We're going to kick every ass in this place. And become Chunin!"

Walking forward the group stopped as they turned the last corner and saw their sensei waiting for them.

"Oh, so Sakura came to. Now we can properly take the exams."

"What do you mean sensei?" Sakura asked in surprise. Why would it matter if she had chosen to show up or not?"

"The truth is that this test can only be taken by teams of three."

Sakura frowned. She could have ruined Sasuke's chances of becoming Chunin. There were so many times that she tried to talk herself out of showing up. "You said taking the exams was an individual choice. You lied to us."

Kakashi eye smiled. "If I told the truth, Naruto or Sasuke would have pressured you to take the exam. Even if you didn't want to, if Sasuke asked you, you would. For the sake of Sasuke. So if only Naruto and Sasuke had shown up the exam would have ended for them, right here. But you came of your own free will. You guys are my proud team, now get going."

"Tch, Kakashi sure knows how to give a speech." Naruto thought watching Sakura change from depressed to determined. He hadn't caught it last time but she had looked ready to cry when Kakashi said the exam could only be taken by teams of three.

"Then let's go." He shouted and shoved the double doors leading into the exam room open forcing them open.

"What?" Sakura gasped at all the gathered Shinobi. There were so many. And they all looked so much older than her team.

"Sasuke-Kun, you're late." Ino Yamanaka jumped onto Sasuke's shoulders holding tight and rubbing her cheek against his. "I haven't seen you for a while so I've been waiting in excitement."

"Get of Sasuke-Kun, Ino-pig!"

Ino looked up from Sasuke and at her rival a bored look on her face. "Oh, if it isn't billboard brow. What is someone like you doing here?"

"What did you just say, piggy!"

Naruto tuned out the bickering of the two girls and waved to the other rookies. "Shikamaru, you're taking this test too? I didn't think I'd see a lazy guy like you here."

"You know what Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted before sighing. "You're not even worth all the effort it would take to get angry."

Grinning at the familiar words Naruto looked at the other rookies taking the exam.

Shikamaru Nara, from team ten, a lazy bum who's always complaining about something.

Choji Akimichi, also from team ten, a big-boned ninja who is always eating something.

And the last member of team ten, Ino Yamanaka, always fighting with Sakura because their rivals.

"She's quite pretty, even now." Naruto stifled a giggle watching Ino longer than he had her teammates. She had grown up to be quite a stunner and even now still skinny and budding she was quite easy on the eyes. Mostly around the face, since she was still growing. Not that the rest of her wasn't nice to look at. She definitely more developed than Sakura but she was no Hinata.

"He...Hello, N...Naruto-Kun." Hinata Hyuga, member of team eight, and the heir to the Hyuga clan. A shy but beautiful girl.

Speak of the devil. Naruto beamed at the Hyuga heiress. She was still wearing her baggy tan jacket and less baggy but not form-fitting pants. No one could tell she was bigger than the other girls in all the right places. "No one but me."

His smile widened as the memory of her under the waterfall came to mind. Oh, yeah, Hinata had it going.

"Hey, Hinata-chan, Shino, dog breath."

"What'd you call me!" Kiba Inuzuka, member of team eight, and even louder than him. Always acting like he was the boss.

"You guys should keep it down. You're attracting quite a bit of attention."

"Kabuto." Naruto hissed the name inside his head. The traitor was smiling and fixing his glasses like nothing was wrong. No one but him knew he was working with Orochimaru. "Too bad I can't get rid of him in the forest."

The medic-nin was still too strong for him to beat. If they fought he would lose and Kauto would be suspicious of him for knowing that he was a spy.

"I have to let him go for now."

Maybe he could come up with a way to get him out of the picture during the test. If a chance cropped up he would take it but he couldn't afford to tip his hand. If Kabuto even suspected him of knowing his true allegiance then he'd probably be killed. Orochimaru wanted Sasuke, his underlings wouldn't hesitate in killing anyone else.

"Hey Naruto, don't be so down."

"Huh?" Naruto blinked and looked around. Everyone in the room was staring at the Rookies from the Leaf. "Oh right."

This was where he declared he was going to beat everyone.

"Alright, listen up." Pointing his finger out he trailed it over the room. "Everyone I just pointed at is going to get their asses kicked by yours truly. Naruto Uzumaki from Team 7!"

Not exactly the same but close enough.

"Naruto you idiot!" Sakura grabbed him by the collar and pulled his face up to hers. "What the hell is wrong with you, your going to get us killed. Everyone is going to come after us."

"Good. More strong people for me to fight."

Sasuke seemed to agree as he nodded in approval to the plan.

"That's enough!" A booming voice called from the front of the room dragging the attention away from Naruto. A huge smoke cloud had enveloped the front of the room and dissipated revealing the group of proctors.

The lead man, Ibiki Morino, head of the ANBU torture squad stepped forward. "I am Ibiki Morino, the examiner for the Chunin exams first test. Now, you Hidden Sound Genin, you want to be eliminated before the first test even begins?"

"I apologize," Dosu if Naruto remembered correctly said. "It's our first time. We're excited."

Oh right. The sound trio had attacked Kabuto because of what he said about their village being new and small. Looking around Naruto spotted Orochimaru's henchmen getting to his feet and wiping the blood from his chin. "Damn. Can't believe I missed that." He needed to start paying more attention when things were going on.

"Bah...This is good a time as any to say this then. There will be no fighting without the permission of the examiner. And if permission is given killing your opponent will not be tolerated." Ibiki glared at every candidate in the room. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Of course, sir." Dosu nodded.

"You see these," Ibiki held up a stack of small white papers. "Instead of the seats, you're in now each of you will take one of these tabs and sit at the desk with the number you chose. Get moving!"

After all the Genin hopefuls had taken their seats Ibiki continued. "Don't turn your tests over. Listen closely to what I'm about to say. There are many important rules to the first test. I will write them on the board as I explain, but questions are not allowed.

Stretching back in his seat Naruto tuned Ibiki's voice out. He already knew the rules, how to pass the test and what he had to do to make sure his team passed. The first test was going to be a breeze.

"I'm worried about the second test." That would be where the real challenge of changing the future began.

The third chapter of my Time Travel Naruto fanfic. Let me know what you think so far.

For now, the story will stay T-rated but that will change in later chapters. So leave your choice for which girl or girls you want to see Naruto with.

Thanks for reading and See you next time!

P.S: If you want to see what Naruto looks like check cover image.