Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

XxX

"We should almost be there." Naruto thought running behind his the clones carrying his teammates. It had been almost twenty-four hours since the confrontation with the Sound Genin and luckily Sasuke was still out of it. Unluckily was that Sakura had only slept at night when she forced them to stop because she was tired. Even when she was being carried and not running like he was.

"We should almost be there," Sakura said as if she heard Naruto's thoughts. Looking over the shoulder of the Clone carrying her she stared at the real Naruto. "Right?"

"Ye-"

"AHHH!"

Freezing on the branch he landed on Naruto ears rung as a terrified scream echoed through the forest.

"Keep moving to the tower," Naruto ordered his clones as he started running to where the sound originated from.

"I don't remember this happening." He thought jumping through the trees. It was dangerous leaving Sakura and Sasuke alone with just a Shadow Clones for protection but he couldn't keep heading for the tower without finding who screamed. What if someone was in danger and he left them to die?

"AHHH!"

"There it is again!" Channeling chakra to his legs he sped up moving through the trees faster.

XxX

"I don't want to die." Literally trapped against a rock and a hard place, the hard place being a super-sized bear trying to eat her Karin covered her head with her arms. It was a useless defense against the razor sharp claws and teeth of the bear but it was all she had left. Her ninja weapons were gone as were her teammates. Ripped to shreds by the same bear that was about to kill her.

"Raaar!"

Squeezing her eyes shut Karin waited for the death blow to strike her. "This is it. I'm really going to die in this place."

"That's one big bear." Naruto jumped over the bear and flipped mid-air coming down feet first on its head knocking the massive beast unconscious.

Karin terrified looks up as thundering thud shook the ground beneath her. Opening her eyes she tried to see what was going on but without her glasses, all she could see was colors mixing in an indecipherable blur. Reaching out with her chakra she used the ability she had kept hidden for so long to search for something, anything that would give her an idea of what was going on.

"Oh, my." She gasped locking onto the chakra signature that was directly in front of her, shining like a miniature sun. It was the purest chakra she had ever felt. Closing her eyes she basked in the warm glow of the chakra blanketing her with its comforting presence.

"Hey, are you alright?" Crouching down in front of the red-headed girl he had saved Naruto picked up the glasses lying in the grass beside her. "Here, do you need these?"

Holding each temple between his thumbs and index fingers he gently slid the glasses onto the girls face. "Man am I glad I came."

Stifling his giggles he smiled and gave a little wave as a pair of exotic crimson eyes opened behind the glass lenses. "This girl is a beauty!"

"Hey, I'm Naruto. What's your name?"

"K...Karin." Stuttering out her answer as she felt the rest of the boy's chakra Karin pressed herself against the rock. "How?"

The blonde, Naruto, he said his names was had the warmest chakra she had ever felt. Yet he also had the coldest. Deep inside of him buried beneath the warm chakra was something dark. Something dangerous. But it was also separate. And there was a third source of chakra as well. It wasn't as dark as the buried one but it was even more revolting.

"How can someone have three chakra sources?" She had never seen that before. Or even heard of it.

"Did you hear me?"

Blinking Karin lost focus of her sensing ability and immediately tried to push herself through the boulder she was pressed against her face blushing a bright red. Naruto' face was so close she could feel his breath on her lips. "Can...can you give me a little space."

"Sure." Backing away Naruto stood up to his full height which wasn't much Karin realized. He was about an inch shorter than her and she wasn't very tall herself. "Where are your teammates?"

"They're dead. The bear got them before you came." Karin said standing up herself. She wasn't very broken up about her teammate's death and it must have been obvious because the blonde ninja frowned at her.

Crossing her arms she glared at Naruto. "Listen, just because you leaf ninja are all 'buddy buddy' doesn't mean everyone else is. They didn't give a crap about me so I didn't give a crap about them."

Why should she? All her so-called teammates cared about was her ability to keep them from dying. The half dozen scars she had amassed over the course of the second test were proof of that. They didn't care if they were scarring her body for the rest of her life. Even for something small like nicking themselves on a branch they were biting into her.

"I didn't say anything," Naruto said raising his hands in surrender. And he wasn't going to. Maybe once upon a time, he would have lectured her on caring about her teammates no matter what but he had been around the Nations and had seen that everywhere else definitely wasn't the like the leaf village.

"So, if you're alone. Do you need help getting to the tower?" He asked surprising Karin who's red eyes went wide. "My teams heading there now and from here we're only about and an hour from it if I hurry."

Karin frowned. "If you hurry?"

Grinning Naruto shot forward scooping the girl into his arms and jumping back into the trees as she screamed gripping his shirt with both hands. Laughing he made his way through the branches until he was standing at the very top of the tree. "See, look."

Opening her eyes Karin saw the tower the examiner had told them to reach. "He's right. It is close."

"Let's get going. I've got to catch up to my team before they reach it." Naruto dove back down into the trees coating the bottom of his sandals in chakra so he wouldn't slip of the branches. It wouldn't do good to slip and fall in front of the girl he had just saved. "Especially when she's a looker like this one."

XxX

"Where is Naruto?" Sakura checked over the shoulder of the clone that was carrying her. They were close to the tower and the examiner had said only full teams could pass.

"Huh, ah you shouldn't worry about the boss, Sakura." The clone who was an exact replica of Naruto said with a grin that just proved what he was. "He might even be waiting for us at the tower. You never know with us."

"Cha, if he is I'll pummel him."

Sakura glared at the clone. The real Naruto wasn't here so it would have to do. She was already angry that he had given Ino-pig a scroll and now he had gone and left her and Sasuke-Kun alone. The proctor had said this was a test that involved death and everyone in the forest had agreed to it. "He shouldn't be worried about the other teams."

Sasuke-Kun was hurt, really hurt. And he needed help that they could only get at the tower and Naruto goes to play the hero.

"I wouldn't be mean enough to go to the tower by myself." Naruto landed next to the clone carrying Sasuke and fell into step with it. "Besides, I wouldn't even be able to get in without you two."

On the other side of Sasuke, Sakura eyes blazed. "Who is that?"

In Naruto's arms was a red-haired Kunoichi who looked far too comfortable for he liking. "This is what he left us for? Some red haired bimbo?"

"Oh, this is Karin. Karin, that's my teammate Sakura, and the unconscious guy is Sasuke." Naruto introduced the two girls.

"Tch, next time you want to go play hero to some damsel you idiot, don't. This is a test and we want to pass. Helping someone who isn't on our team is counter-intuitive."

"Damsel?" Karin glared at the pink haired bitch. Who was she to be calling people damsels when she was being carried around? "I'm sure if I had someone as strong as Naruto-Kun on my team I wouldn't need help either. It's obvious he can pull the weight of more than himself. No matter how heavy the baggage is."

"Is she calling me fat?" Sakura returned Karin's glare in full force. "Cha, I'll destroy her!"

Caught between the two now angry Kunoichi Naruto sighed. "It's a good thing we're close to the Tower."

Because at the way Sakura and Karin were staring at each other he wasn't sure how long it would be before glaring wasn't enough and fists started flying.

XxX

"Hokage-sama," An ANBU member with a bird mask appeared kneeling before the Third Hokage and Anko. "Team 7 has just finished the exams. It's true, Naruto and Sasuke have the Cursed seal."

"What?" Anko eyes widened. "He didn't say anything about Uzumaki."

She knew her sensei. He was a braggart, he should have thrown the fact that he marked this year's dead last Genin in her face before he said anything about the Uchiha. Why would he keep it a secret?

Faster than the special Jonin, Chunin and his ANBU guards could see the third Hokage was out of his seat and across the room leaving through the door.

"What is Orochimaru thinking?" Sarutobi thought moving through the halls of the tower. "ANBU bring Naruto Uzumaki to the medical ward."

"That fool." To put the Cursed Seal on a Jinchuuriki. Had finally gone truly mad? There was no telling what could happen to the Eight Trigrams seal if another seal is introduced. Was he trying to let the Nine Tail's loose in Konoha? "No, he has to be there in person to administer the seal."

Orochimaru wouldn't risk his life like that. "Has he done this to other Jinchuuriki?"

Could that be why he did it? Because he knew what was going to happen. And if so, what was going to happen now that Naruto had the Cursed Seal?

XxX

In his room, Naruto had his feet to the ceiling doing handstand push-ups trying to burn some energy. "Maybe I should have stayed in the forest longer."

It wasn't really a viable option but facts didn't stop his brain from thinking it. He just had too much energy to spend days waiting in the tower for the end of the exams. It was just so boring and ever since he had woken up it was like his body was dialed to the max.

"It has to be Orochimaru's seal."

He had thought it was the Kyuubi's chakra and maybe Orochimaru had done something different than the Five Elements Seal. When he called on the nine tails he felt stronger and faster but he was also angrier and more violent. Which he did feel in the forest but it wasn't a large amount of anger so he ignored it and he was sure the thing telling him to kill the sound ninja was the Kyuubi.

"Why didn't Sakura tell me, Orochimaru bit me to?" He hadn't even been awake when it happened. "I would have remembered being bitten. why did that bastard put the seal on me anyway?"

As much as he shouted and bragged he knew he wasn't anything special. Sure he was strong and a good ninja but he didn't have a clan or a Kekkai Genkai like the Sharingan. He was just a normal ninja who trained hard. The only thing different about him was the being of mass destruction sealed in his gut. He wasn't a prodigy or someone who got something the first time he saw it. It was like Bushy Brows said, he was a genius of hard work.

What could Orochimaru want with him?

"Unless he's after the Nine-Tails?" But he was pretty sure the Sannin had left the Akatsuki by this time.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

"Gah!" Flipping to his feet Naruto's hand was halfway to his kunai holster when he finally noticed the white painted bird mask staring at him. "The ANBU black ops? The old man must have heard about, huh?"

"The Hokage has requested your presence." The ANBU member said confirming Naruto's question without actually answering it."

"Okay, let's go." As soon as Naruto finished his sentence he felt a hand on his shoulder and his world blurred as the ANBU used the Body Flicker technique dragging him along as a passenger.

In an empty room in the medical ward of the tower, Naruto stumbled forward as he and the ANBU arrived at their destination. It was only thanks to the Hokage who grabbed him by the back of his shirt that he didn't embarrass himself by falling flat on his face.

"First time using the Body Flicker?" Anko asked and got a stern look from the Third Hokage. Now wasn't the time for jokes.

"Ugh, that sucked."

Taking advantage of his hold on Naruto Sarutobi pulled his hand back shifting the collar of Naruto's shirt so he could see the boys neck. Displayed on Naruto's skin, easy for all to see as it stood out on his tan skin were three slightly curved lines, spread in a rip-like pattern. "Damn you Orochimaru."

"Hokage-sama, this is a different seal," Anko said moving her hand that was covering her mark so the Hokage could see her Curse seal again. It wasn't necessary as the old man had seen it thousands of times when he tried to remove or suppress the mark of his student. He had never been able to but Anko never held it against him. The Hokage tried, he had even called Jiraiya the only Seal master in Konoha back to the village and even he could do nothing but suppress the mark with the Evil Sealing Method.

"I know Anko." Sarutobi let go of Naruto's collar and set a hand on his shoulder turning him around. "Naruto, I need to know what happened in the Forest. When you fought Orochimaru."

Naruto realizing he wasn't talking to the old man but to the Third Hokage nodded. "He came at us disguised as a Grass ninja. At first, I didn't know who he was. Not until he summoned a Snake and I remembered from the academy that the Three Sannin, your students could all signed summoning contracts. And Orochimaru's summons were snakes."

(Flashback)

"You guys know the plan."

As two of his Shadow Clones transformed into Sasuke and Sakura the real Naruto stood next to them watching his real teammates leave with his clone. "I'm sorry guys but I need to buy enough time for you to get away."

Orochimaru would see through his clone ploy and run them down like dogs if they all tried to escape together. This was the way it had to be.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu." Around him, two dozen of his clones popped into existence. From out of the massive smoke cloud they took off in teams of three running in different directions.

"Kukuku, the Shadow Clone Jutsu. How interesting seeing a Genin use such a high ranking Ninjutsu." Orochimaru watched blonde, black and pink vanish into the trees. It would have been a good plan, confusing the enemy. If their enemy had been a fellow Genin. Licking his lips as three of the clones stepped out to face him the Sannin shook his head. "Oh, so you decided to stay and fight? How surprising."

Did they really think he believed that after going through all the trouble to create such a large diversion they would stay behind and fight?

"Don't underestimate Team 7 you bastard!" The real Naruto shouted and drew two kunai, one in each hand.

Charging straight toward the snake Sannin he threw one of his knives and watched Orochimaru catch it with his fingertip. He hadn't expected to really hit the traitor but he was still pissed he was being toyed with.

As Naruto closed in on Orochimaru the Sannin tossed the kunai he caught away. "Prey should not run towards the predator."

"Yeah, well if I wasn't holding back so much," Naruto growled swiping his kunai through the air missing wildly as Orochimaru leaned back just enough to dodge the knife.

Stumbling forward he set his free hand on the ground to stop himself from falling completely down.

"How foolish." Orochimaru frowned lashing out with his foot catching Naruto on the side sending the boy flying through the air.

Gasping as he collided with one of the many trees in the forest Naruto fell to the ground cradling his stomach. He swore he felt his ribs crack when Orochimaru's foot made contact. "For such a lean guy, the bastard kicks like a mule."

Of course, he already knew that but it was different when he was on the receiving end of the beating and not watching from the sidelines or coated in Kyuubi's chakra.

"He didn't dispel." Watching the blonde crawl to his feet Orochimaru glanced at Sasuke-Kun and the pink haired girl still standing away from him. "Are you not going to fight Sasuke-Kun? How disappointing. I expected more from the brother of Itachi."

'Sasuke' didn't react to the jab and Orochimaru frowned. Kabuto had reported that Sasuke-Kun hated his brother with a passion and had dedicated his life to killing him. Avenging the deaths of his clan's men. Was his spy wrong again like he was with Naruto-Kun?

"No, I see." Smirking Orochimaru turned around and blocked a fist heading for his head with a flat hand. "Naruto-Kun, did you stay behind to buy time for your teammates to escape?"

"Dammit, he already saw through it." Spinning Naruto tried to follow his failed punch with a kick but a hand wrapping around his ankle stopped his attack short.

Twisting his arm to an unnatural angle that should have broken his elbow Orochimaru held Naruto upside down in front of him. "Which way did the real Sasuke-Kun run?"

"Heh, gotcha," Naruto smirked. "Shadow Clone Explosion!"

Hidden in the trees still nursing his throbbing ribs Naruto watched as his clone exploded taking with it ten yards of the forest in a ball of fire and smoke. Scanning the area for any sign of Orochimaru he frowned. "Come on you bastard. I know something like that wouldn't kill a Sannin. So where are you?"

"Oh, so you know who I really am?"

Feeling the hissed words on his neck Naruto spun on leg coming up of the ground using the momentum of his spin to put more power behind his kick.

Ducking the kick Orochimaru swept Naruto's legs out from under him and set a foot on his back holding him flat to the floor. "The only way for prey to survive is to give the predator another meal. So, tell me, Naruto-Kun. Which way did Sasuke go?"

"Screw you," Naruto mumbled against the bark his face was pressed against. "If you want the Sharingan you better go find Itachi cause you're not getting Sasuke. Not on my watch."

"So he has deduced what I'm after, Kukuku." Orochimaru chuckled drawing a kunai from his holster. Kabuto would be saddened to learn that his information was wrong. "Your Shadow Clones will disperse once your dead, Naruto-Kun. You've put up quite a good fight and I'm sure Sarutobi-Sensei would be proud of your sacrifice, Kukuku."

Stabbing Naruto through the back Orochimaru licked his lips as blood splattered against his face. His joy didn't last past two seconds though as the 'Naruto' he killed went up in smoke.

(Flashback End)

"So you used a Substitution Jutsu to escape, then what?"

Naruto hung his head as Anko, the Hokage and the ANBU guy all stared at him. "I thought he would think one of the other clones I left behind would be the 'real' me and stay and fight them while me, Sakura and Sasuke escaped."

Pulling his collar to the side so his Cursed Seal was showing he scoffed. "Obviously it didn't work since Me and Sasuke got matching tattoos."

"Do not feel guilty of bearing that cursed mark, Naruto," Sarutobi said feeling the guilt himself. If he had killed Orochimaru all those years ago the none of this would be happening now.

"Orochimaru is one of the Three Legendary Sannin. No one in the village could hope to beat him."

And Naruto didn't blame anyone but himself for that. He could have whipped out Sage Mode and while it might not have been enough to beat the Sannin it would have kept him at bay long enough for Sasuke and Sakura to escape. But he didn't in fear of giving away his future knowledge.

"Is it even worth keeping it a secret?"

Looking up at the old man Naruto frowned. How many lives could he save trying to stop the invasion himself? "And how many could I save with the old mans help?"

Maybe if he had told him from the beginning Sasuke wouldn't be laid up in a bed with the Cursed Seal on his neck.

"Hey, old man, can I talk you." Naruto glanced at Anko and the ANBU guys still standing in the corner like a statue. "Alone."

Chapter Seven 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!