(I got another one all ready for you guys.)
Ino and Naruto who was carrying an unconscious Sasuke on his back were jumping from branch to branch to avoid any ninja squad that might come after them.
"Ino," Naruto called and they stopped, "I don't think we can continue any further with Sasuke in his condition. We better stop for the night."
"Ok," Ino agreed as they jumped down to the ground and took shelter underneath a tree. Ino checked Sasuke's signs seeing he was still alive, but was starting to burn up, "He's coming down with a fever."
Naruto reached into the pouch of his armor and brought out a washcloth and a canteen with cold water, "Use this." He said handing them to Ino.
Ino started to try and bring Sasuke's fever down while Naruto stood guard outside in case any intruders showed up. As Naruto paced around he was deep in thought, 'This is all too weird. A rogue ninja like Orochimaru showing up here of all times comes after us, and marking Sasuke with something. What's he trying to do? And that different forehead protector he was wearing. It was the same one those sound ninja were wearing. They must be his minions.'
Ino watched as Naruto continued pacing in thought. Even though he was wearing a helmet she could tell he was troubled by the events just as much as she was. Hours had past as the moon rose above the forest and Naruto was getting tired. Sasuke was still unconscious and Ino didn't know what else to do for her comrade, but she did know what to do for Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, it's late. You've already exhausted yourself with patrolling," Ino started, "Rest up. I'll continue watch."
"Are you sure Ino?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. You need your rest right now more than I do." Ino answered.
"If you insist, Ino." Naruto yawned as he rested under the tree.
Ino then stood outside the tree and patrolled through the night. When morning came Ino was sleeping and Naruto woke up seeing Ino fast asleep, "You did well Ino, take a well deserved break." He said as he laid her under the tree. Before he left to scout up ahead he felt three chakra signatures closing in on them.
Naruto readied himself as three figures dropped in revealing to be the three sound genin who he noticed amongst all the other candidates when they first entered the exams, "Well what do we have here?" one wearing bandages around his face save for one eye asked.
"Why're you here?" Naruto asked squinting beneath his helmet.
"We've been sent to fight the one called Sasuke Uchiha." The girl said.
"So where is he?" the black haired boy asked.
Naruto looked back seeing Sasuke still unconscious, "I'm afraid Sasuke can't come out to play today, but instead you three are welcomed to try your luck with me; the Shredder."
"Not this again." The bandaged one said.
"You think we're scared of a walking can opener?" the girl asked.
"You should be." Naruto squinted his eyes.
"Zaku, Kin, it seems we'll have to go through this one if we wish to get to Sasuke." The bandaged one said.
"Ok, Dosu." Zaku said smirking.
Naruto beckoned them to come, "Come at me if you can, worms."
Zaku smirked holding up his palms to reveal tube holes in them, suddenly gusts of air blew from those holes at Naruto who was being pushed back by the force, 'This is strong wind!' Naruto thought.
"Kin, Dosu, go get him!" Zaku called as the two went for him.
Naruto couldn't let their combined efforts do him in so he held out his left arm which shot razor blades from his armor right at the two, "Look out!" Kin called as she and Dosu avoided them.
"Time to take it to the offense," Naruto said forming a hand sign, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" he shouted summoning a dozen clones, "Let's see how you three handle the combined forces of thirteen Shredders!" the real one called as they all went at it with each other.
Soon Ino woke up, and to her surprise saw Naruto going at it with the three Sound genin by himself. "Naruto-kun!"
Naruto turned to see Ino awake, "Ino, protect Sasuke!"
Ino noticed the girl Kin was coming right for her, so she took it to the offense and began using her knowledge of the Foot clan moves against the sound girl, "Not bad moves, Blondie." Kin remarked.
Naruto continued fighting against Zaku and Dosu who started emitting irritating sound waves from the metal devices on his arms, "Gah!" Naruto groaned beneath his armor, "So this is why you're known as a Sound ninja!"
Kin finally took a shot at Ino knocked her over to Naruto and the two were surrounded by all three of the sound genin.
"Looks like you're both all out of options." Dosu said as he and his team cornered the two.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?" a dark voice shouted.
The five of them turned to the tree to see Sasuke awake and standing, "Sasuke." Naruto and Ino gasped in joy but looked confused seeing a purple and black like chakra aura radiate from him, along with black flames covering his face.
"Sasuke?" they asked.
Sasuke looked to everyone and looks at his two teammates with a frown, "Naruto, Ino. What happened to you two?"
'Sasuke, he doesn't look the same or feel the same.' Naruto thought.
"Well which of these people was responsible for your injuries?" Sasuke demanded out of them.
"So looks like you finally came out to play huh?" Zaku asked as he approached.
Sasuke turned his attention towards Zaku, "You! It was you wasn't it?"
"I might've had something to do with it, what's it to ya?" Zaku asked smirking.
Sasuke frowned and begun fighting with Zaku, but soon their match started turning ugly when Sasuke began fighting dirty. He got behind the Sound genin pulling his arms backwards much to the Sound genin's dismay. Everyone watched as Sasuke pulled so hard the bones in Zaku's arms snapped. Even Naruto looked freaked by this, 'Sasuke just broke that guys arms.' Naruto thought.
Sasuke looked ready to do worse, "Sasuke knock it off it's over you've won!" Naruto shouted.
"Quiet Naruto, I'm not done yet!" Sasuke smirked ready to go for the kill.
"Sasuke, no!" Naruto and Ino shouted together as they ran over and restrained their comrade pleading for him to knock it off.
Sasuke tried to pry them off but suddenly jerked and strained as the tattoo flame markings on his face started fading away retreating back into the seal on his neck.
"What the?" Naruto gasped until he looked ahead seeing the two sound genin collect Zaku, "Hold it, what of your master Orochimaru, why has he given that cursed marking on Sasuke?"
"We were only sent to test Sasuke's abilities. That is all we were told," Dosu said as he took out a Heaven Scroll, "Take this as a token of our loss." He said and the three vanish.
"They're gone." Naruto said.
"Guys, what happened?" Sasuke asked finally coming to.
"How do you feel?" Naruto asked.
"Like my head is spinning." Sasuke answered.
"You really flipped out there just a second ago." Ino explained.
"Man what's going on?" Sasuke asked.
"We'll figure that out later. Luckily we have both scrolls, so let's head for the tower before something else happens." Naruto said as he and his squad headed out while Ino carried Sasuke under his arm for a bit until he was strong enough to walk on his own again.
Naruto surveyed the scene around them readying the sword of Tengu should anything come at them. Suddenly Naruto heard hissing and saw a python launch at them from the side until a kunai nailed it into a tree, "Huh?" they asked looking at the side seeing a figure in the shadows who came into the light to reveal it was Kabuto Yakushi.
"You gotta be careful around here. You never know what you'll run into." Kabuto smiled.
"Kabuto?" The squad gasped.
"That's me," Kabuto answered, "Wow. Judging from the looks of you guys, you've sure been through a lot."
"That's a long story." Naruto answered.
"What do you want, are you here for a fight?" Sasuke asked getting defensive.
Kabuto waved his hands in protest, "I mean you no harm. I already have the necessary scrolls for the next phase of the Chunin Exams."
"Then why're you out here?" Naruto squinted his eyes through his helmet.
"I told my team to go on ahead to make sure there was nothing in our way when we reached the tower." Kabuto answered.
"I guess that makes sense." Ino admitted.
"But hold on, how do we know you won't just take our scrolls anyway to keep us from reaching the tower anyway?" Sasuke asked.
"What reason would I have to want to keep you guys from entering the tower?" Kabuto asked, "I'm not one of those guys interested in just keeping others from making it to the finals. Besides if I fight you I'll only irritate my team by making them wait."
"I see." Naruto said lowering his bladed gauntlet.
"Listen I know a shorter route there, if you let me join you I can guide you there personally." Kabuto offered.
"You'd do that?" Naruto asked.
"Sure." Kabuto nodded with a smile.
"Ok, but no funny stuff." Sasuke warned him.
So Kabuto led the way through the forest while the others followed him. Naruto had finished telling them their run in with the sound ninja, "Wow. Looks like those sound genin are tough ones." Kabuto said.
"To a degree yes, but their abilities are the dangerous ones. Using sound to disrupt concentration, that Dosu guy nearly damaged my ear drums." Naruto answered.
"I see," Kabuto said until he noticed the marking on Sasuke's neck but kept silent about it.
Naruto caught up to Kabuto's pace to talk with him, "Kabuto I know we hardly know each other, but you have such high intelligence about the ninja world."
"Why thank you." Kabuto replied.
"Which is why I want to extend to you an invitation to join the Foot Clan at my side." Naruto explained.
"Me part of the Foot Clan?" Kabuto asked in shock.
"You would make an excellent candidate." Naruto said.
"Well I-uh." Kabuto was confused as to what to say.
"I would not ask you to decide here and now. When we get to the tower, meditate on this question and give me an answer when you're ready." Naruto said.
"Well arigato for your generous offer… Shredder." Kabuto answered and Naruto chuckled.
They finally reached the tower by nightfall, where two more individuals were waiting. Both of them were dressed like Kabuto, only they wore headband bandannas over their heads and clothe over their faces minus their eyes. One of them wore black contacts over his eyes, while the other appeared to be wearing regular glasses.
"Kabuto you're late." The glasses one said.
"Sorry Misumi. I got a little sidetracked." Kabuto apologized.
"Well thanks for your help Kabuto." Naruto said.
"Yeah we really appreciate it." Ino added.
"No sweat." Kabuto gave them a thumb's up.
So the two squads entered separate doors and Squad Seven entered an open area, "Now what do we do?" Ino asked.
"They said we were only allowed to open the scrolls here right?" Naruto asked his team who nodded, "Well then now's a good time." he took out the scrolls and unraveled them to reveal markings on them. He tossed them both on the floor and in a poof of smoke revealed Haku in a Chunin uniform, "Haku?"
"Ah you three made it, Zabuza and Kushina will be very pleased." Haku said.
"Hold on, how'd you get here?" Ino asked.
"Those scrolls you were assigned to obtain were actually summoning scrolls. If a ninja tried to open one of them without the other then the Chunin would be summoned to knock them out and take them to safety, thus they failed the exams. However you obtained both and opened them together you were able to summon me here." Haku explained, "And I'm here to congratulate you for passing the second part of the Chunin exams."
"Well arigato, Haku." Naruto said.
"Since you have three days to spare before the five days are up you're free to wait around here until then." Haku continued.
"Thanks." Ino thanked him.
"Well try to relax a little." Haku ordered.
"Will do Haku," Naruto replies, "One thing is for sure. I gotta get out of this armor and take a shower. I'm sweating." He said removing his helmet to get some air and shake some sweat off along with revealing his helmet hair.
"I could use a good soak myself." Ino said flexing her arms.
Meanwhile with Kabuto and his team who went through the other door, appeared in another room, "It's just as you said. Sasuke has had a taste of the cursed mark." Kabuto told someone in the shadows.
"Excellent," A voice snickered, "You've done well, Kabuto."
"I live to serve you, although Naruto has offered me a membership into the Foot Clan." Kabuto explained.
"And are you considering it? It would break my heart if you suddenly betrayed me." The figure said almost threatening.
Kabuto smirked, "Not to worry. My loyalties only reside with you… Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru emerged from the shadows, smirking evilly, "Just what I like to hear."
(And that's the chapter.)