Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

XxX

"Uzumaki Naruto. What are you doing here?" Gaara asked turning his head on the pillow of his hospital bed. The only people who had come into his room had been the nurses and Temari and Kankuro in some fake show of compassion. He knew it wasn't real. Yashimaru had shown him the truth, no one could love a monster.

Sitting in a chair next to Gaara's bed Naruto shrugged. "I understand your pain. You talked to Sasuke who you thought could understand you, but he can't. He's not one of us."

Sasuke had suffered, yes, but it wasn't like he had to. The whole village was waiting, begging to be able to help the last Uchiha. All Sasuke had to do was reach out. But he hadn't. He had decided to shoulder the weight alone in his own world where there was only him and Itachi.

Unlike Gaara and himself who had been forced into a life of solitude. Hated and feared by those around them for not who they were but what they held. He wasn't saying he suffered more than Sasuke, it didn't matter. Suffering is suffering no matter the type.

"You are like me?"

Naruto nodded and lifted his shirt channeling a little of his chakra so the seal on his stomach became visible. "The day I was born, the nine tailed fox attacked the village. The Fourth Hokage sealed it inside of me to stop it from destroying Konoha completely."

"And yet you fight for the same people who shunned you. You saved them and they hated you." Gaara didn't understand. Why fight for anyone but yourself when you were the only one who loved yourself?

"I was alone for so long. Nearly all my life. But people noticed me. Iruka-sensei, the old man, my friends. They saw me and accepted me." Naruto frowned as he thought of the future where he had lost Jiraiya. "When you've been alone when you know the kind of pain that comes with the loneliness. You'll fight harder than you ever had to protect the ones you care about. The village may not like me but I have friends here who I want to protect."

Naruto felt two chakra signatures rapidly getting closer to Gaara's room and smiled standing up from his chair. "Someone once told me that you become strong only when you have someone precious to protect. Like your brother and sister."

Gaara shook his head. "They don't-"

The door behind Naruto burst open and Gaara watched with wide eyes as his older siblings ran into the room. Temari pressing her fan against Naruto's face and Kankuro moving his crow between the two Jinchuriki.

"What are you doing in here? This room is off limits?" Temari glared at the one responsible for Gaara being in the hospital in the first place. Twelve years of never being hurt and now her little brother was laid up in a hospital bed. "And all because of this bastard."

Looking at her little brother who was staring at her Temari frowned at the surprise in his eyes. Gaara rarely showed any emotion and when he did it was anger. "Gaara, did he try and attack you? Did you try and hurt him again!"

Raising his hands in surrender Naruto stepped away from Gaara's bed his smile still in place. "See, Gaara. You're not alone."

Disappearing in a puff of smoke Naruto left the sand siblings alone. If he knew Gaara those three would have a lot to talk about.

Sitting on a water tower a few streets away from the hospital Naruto smiled watching Temari sit on Gaara's bed and Kankuro take the seat he had been using. They were still a little hesitant but that would fade.

"Uzumaki Naruto."

Looking over his shoulder Naruto grinned. "Hey, Anbu-san."

"Lord Hokage requests your presence."

XxX

(Uchiha Compound)

"Chidori!"

Running his hand through a third tree in the Uchiha clan training ground Sasuke heaved deep breaths as the black markings receded into the curse mark on his neck. "Naruto, I now have this power too."

He was stronger now and it was because of a traitor to the village. Not his sensei or his friends but because of a man who had betrayed Konoha.

"Do not use that power, Sasuke. It comes with a price you don't want to pay." Kakashi had said that when he had been released from the hospital. But his sensei was wrong. Naruto had grown in strength this past month. The dobe was strong enough to fight other shinobi that had the Curse Mark. Because he used the power of the seal.

"Yet when I use the seal, I'm still too weak!"

(Flashback)

"So this is the power of the Uchiha clan? Very disappointing." Tayuya clucked her tongue staring down at the black hair boy glaring at her with his red eyes. Not that she cared. Even with those special eyes, he was still just another piece of garbage pretending to be a Shinobi. "If you want to beat us you're gonna need to use the seal. Maybe then I'll actually have to try."

Sighing she pushed the hair that had fallen in front of her eyes out of the way. "You're just lucky Lord Orochimaru wants you alive. If it wasn't for his mercy I'd just kill you and be done with it."

"NO!" Sasuke roared pushing himself up from his knees and charging the two Sound ninja that had attacked him. He would not be at the mercy of his enemy again. Not after wave. Not after the training, he had been through.

He didn't need his enemy to spare his life. "I spare their lives!"

"Chidori!" Running down the hallway of the building he had been knocked into his left hand covered in lighting chakra sliced through the wall with ease as the sound of one thousand birds chirping echoed.

Smirking Tayuya jumped back dodging the lighting attack. "Gotcha."

Lord Orochimaru would be pleased Sasuke had broken the seal placed on his Curse Mark. "Sakon, now!"

Sasuke gasped as a fist embedded itself in his stomach. Gagging he fell to his knees coughing as he tried to breathe.

Sakon and Tayuya watched as the curse mark receded from the Uchiha's body before stepped closer to him. Tayuya kicked the leaf trash in the ribs flipping him onto his back so he could see them.

"You felt it, right?" She asked confusing Sasuke. "That power right before you used your Chidori? You already used it twice and were on the verge of chakra exhaustion."

"How do you think you used it again?" Sakon activated his curse mark letting the black marking s cover half his face. "The Curse Mark is a gift Lord Orochimaru awards to those that have the greatest potential. Your power is being squandered here in this weak village. If you desire real strength the only one who can give it to you is Lord Orochimaru."

(Flashback end)

"Are they right?" Sasuke knew the answer to his question. Everything pointed to those guys being right. Naruto had somehow grown stronger than him in just a month. How could the dobe have done that? And he himself had noticed the rise in his skills. In just a week of training with the Curse Mark, his power had grown more than it had during the whole month he spent with Kakashi.

It was clear to him. He could see the truth.

Konoha was holding him back.

XxX

"Hey, Shikamaru!" Naruto waved at the shadow user waiting outside the Hokage's office. "So you're getting promoted to, huh? Awesome!"

"Promoted?"

Naruto nodded. It had been a week since the Sound and Sand invasion had been repelled and while the village was still recovering it had been a tremendous win for the Leaf. Not even half the number of Shinobi that died the first time had died this time. With Jiraiya and Tsunade's presence as well as Orochimaru's quick retreat with the Sound shinobi, the Sand had surrendered without much of a fight. They knew a lost cause when they saw one.

The village still took a lot of damage though. Orochimaru's mountain-sized snake summons had crushed nearly one-third of Konoha turning hundreds of houses and buildings into rubble.

And with the higher ranked ninja out of the village taking missions to show the other nations that Konoha wasn't wasn't weakened by any means, the rebuilding was left to the Genin.

"Naruto-Kun, Shikamaru, the Hokage will see you now," Shizune said opening the door for them.

Walking in Naruto's smile brightened seeing the old man still sitting behind his desk. The Third Hokage didn't look as healthy as he had before the Chunin exams but even the tubes running to whatever machines Tsunade had brought in didn't damper Naruto's mood. The old man had survived.

Behind their Sensei Tsunade and Jiraiya stood, the latter smiling just as widely as his student and the former trying to hide her small smile. She was still uncomfortable in the village but after having the chance to talk to the first two Hokage's she had decided to trust in the brat that reminded her so much of the ones she had lost.

(Flashback)

"You really think a kid like that can master one of the Fourth's Jutsu?" Tsunade hadn't heard anything so stupid in a while. "I guess that's what I get coming back to this village."

Konoha really was full of fools.

"What did you say, granny!" The blonde brat shouted and Tsunade eye twitched as did her hand.

"Granny? Do I look old to you, brat?" She demanded and Jiraiya's new student sniffed turning his nose up at her fueling the anger she already felt at being forced to come back to her home.

Naruto stuck his tongue out. "Jiraiya said you were on his Genin team. He's old and that means you're just as old as him."

"Why you little-"

"I'll finish this Jutsu before the Chunin exams are over!" Naruto declared interrupting Tsunade who scoffed.

"That Jutsu was created by the Fourth Hokage. A type of genius Shinobi that hasn't been seen since. Even if he was a fool, you could never even hope to match his skills."

Next to her Jiraiya frowned. "That was uncalled for Tsunade-Hime."

"Fine then, how about a bet." Naruto pointed a finger at the green jewel resting on Tsunade's chest. "I heard that's the First Hokage's necklace. If I can master the Rasengan before the exam ends I want you to give it to me. And admit that I can surpass the Fourth Hokage and every Hokage before him. Because I will! I'm going to become Hokage and become stronger than all of them!"

(Flashback End)

"Naruto-Kun, Shikamaru-Kun," Hiruzen smiled. Moments like these were why he was glad he was still Hokage. Seeing the next generation grow into the splendid Shinboi he knew they could be. "For your performance not only in the Chunin exam finals but also your undeniable help in keeping Konoha safe during the invasion I grant you both the rank of Chunin. Jiraya-Kun, Tsunade-Hime."

Stepping forward the two legendary ninjas held out two green flak jackets both smiling widely now. Shikamaru took his from the toad Sannin with a sigh that made the self-proclaimed super-pervert laugh.

"Hahaha! Such a Nara thing to do, complaining about a promotion!"

Naruto darted forward practically snatching the vest from Tsunade's hand. It was another change in the timeline but he didn't care. He was finally not going to be a Genin any longer. And as far as everyone else was concerned he was one of the first rookies to be promoted.

"And this as well." Tsunade leaned forward sliding her grandfathers necklace over Naruto's head as he struggled to get his arms through the vest in his excitement. "I saw you use the Rasengan in your match against, Gaara."

As Naruto grinned Tsunade smirked and kissed his forehead causing his face to glow bright red as Shikamaru snickered next to him.

"What are you doing? You can't just go around kissing people like that!"

"Aw," Laying a hand on her cheek Tsunade smiled. "Is Naruto-chan embarrassed in front of his friend?"

"Tch, whatever." Naruto zipped his jacket up and tucked the Shodaimes necklace inside where it would be safe. He didn't mind Shikamaru's snickering. Tsunade was in the village, the old man was alive and he had taken down two of the Sound Four. Things were going good and he was happy.

Hiruzen waved a hand dismissing the two new Chunin. "Naruto-Kun, Shikamaru-Kun as newly minted Chunin the village will call on you now more than ever."

"I'm ready to help wherever I can!"

Shikamaru shoved his hands into his pockets. "Great, more work."

XxX

As Naruto and Shikamaru left the Hokage's office the mood in the room shifted.

"You aren't telling him, sensei?" Jiraiya asked. He was one of the few who knew the truth and when Minato wanted that truth revealed. The time was now and yet the Hokage was hesitating.

Hiruzene closed his eyes wishing more than ever he had his pipe. Of course, that was impossible since Tsunade-Hime had crushed it the first time she saw him smoking after the invasion.

"Let's give Naruto-Kun time to adjust to his new position and the village time to recover from the attack. When things settle we can tell him then."

Jiraiya nodded even if he didn't like it. Minato had wanted Naruto to be told of his lineage when he became Chunin. Not when the village was ready to hear the truth. "Naruto's suffered enough because of the village."

He shouldn't have to wait to hear about his parents any longer. Jiraiya was an orphan himself and knew the feeling of always questioning why you didn't have a family. Were they dead? Did they not love me enough to stay? Those questions were always there. And trying to find the answers only resulted in crushing disappointment.

"I know you do not like it, Jiraiya-Kun. But it is for the best."

XxX

(Hours later)

"Being Chunin sucks." Shutting the door to his apartment behind him Naruto kicked off his sandals at the door and walked over to his bed collapsing face down. "I am so tired."

Which was a first for him outside of a fight. He had great stamina but with the old man having him span Shadow clones to help with clearing out all the rubble in the village he was really feeling the burn. However, he had created more clones today than he ever had before. Which meant his already large chakra reserves were growing. Something he didn't think was possible. But he would take any advantage he could get to become stronger so he didn't have to rely on the Kyuubi's chakra.

"Chunin, Uzumaki."

Lifting his head Naruto stared at the Anbu outside his window who was interrupting his rest. "Yugao."

He could tell it was her from the purple hair her mask couldn't cover but he didn't say the name out loud. A regular Chunin like him wasn't supposed to know the names of Anbu. "Yes?"

"Lord Hokage requests your presence." With that, the masked woman vanished in a puff of smoke.

"So much for being tired." Getting up from his bed he walked back to his door and started pulling his sandals back on. He hadn't even gotten to celebrate being Chunin yet.

As he was tightening the last strap three knocks rapped on his door from the outside.

"I'm just getting my-" Naruto's mouth went dry and his eyes seemed to grow three sizes as he opened the door. "Why are they here!"

On the other side of his door frame, a blue-skinned man with gills and sharp teeth grinned at him as his partner stood stoically beside him, each wearing a black robe decorated with red clouds.

"Naruto Uzumaki, please, come with us," Itachi said in an impassionate monotone voice.

"No," Naruto shook his head. "I don't think I want to."

Itachi didn't blink at the refusal. "I wasn't asking."

Kisame grinned showing off his sharp teeth as he reached back grabbing the barbed hilt of Samehada. "We can't let him escape, Itachi. Maybe I should cut a leg off so he can't run."

"Dammit, I'm not ready for this!" Naruto cursed trying to come up with an escape plane. He wasn't even slightly prepared to deal with any member of Akatsuki so soon. His escape plan to get away from Itachi before Sasuke showed up and got hurt was for the motel room they would stay in. Not his apartment!

Who the hell attacked a Shinobi village anyway? Even if Kisame was a monster and Itachi was crazy freaking strong it was still suicide to attack a Hidden Village with just two guys.

"I should have seen this coming." Tsunade was already in the village and Itachi and Kisame had infiltrated Konoha the first time around as well. They must have had a plan to kidnap him from within the village if they went through the trouble to get in undetected.

With his mind running a mile a minute he did the only thing he could. Try to slam his door shut.

His plan was foiled by a blue hand slapping against the wood holding it in place.

"Ah, did you really think that would work?" Kisame's smile drew and he pushed the door back open sending Naruto tumbling to the floor as the door flew off its hinges.

Landing on his but Naruto spread his legs as Samehada smashed into the ground between his knees. Letting out a sigh of relief he scooted back. "That was close."

Looking at the remains of his door that had shattered like glass against the wall he frowned. He was going to have to pay for that.

"Haha, is this child really the nine tails Jinchuriki?"Kisame laughed hefting Samehada back onto his shoulder. "I expected more."

"Naruto, do not resist," Itachi said ignoring his partner. Stepping into the apartment he looked around at the sparse decorations. A few plants in the window and a picture on the nightstand next to the bed. "We do not wish to hurt you."

"Itachi!"

Naruto eyes widened as the two Akatsuki members backed out of the doorway. "No! Why is he here?"

"It's been a long time...Sasuke."

Next to Itachi Kisame looked from Sasuke then back into Naruto's apartment at then only picture in the room. "It's the same kid."

"Heh, your teammate come to try and save you brat." The mist swordsmen asked before his feral grin turned into a frown. "Hey, Itachi. That kid, he looks an awful lot like you."

Down the hall, Sasuke activated his Sharingan and wove the signs needed for his strongest Jutsu. He was going to kill Itachi and avenge his clan right now!

"Chidori!"

Eleventh 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!